A few general tips for gift giving across cultures:

• Understand the protocol regarding gifts in the country where you will be doing business. Exchanging gifts is a highly-valued custom in some cultures, while in others it may be unimportant, inappropriate, or at times unlucky or insulting.

• If you are travelling for work check your company’s policies regarding gift giving.

• Also, Pakistani people would find it a remarkably nice gesture, if you non-Muslim friends greet them during their religious festivals. For example during Ramadan and Eid festivals wish them ‘Ramadan Mubarak’, ‘Eid Mubarak’

Find out when the time would be appropriate to present your gift in a meeting or outside of the office, in a social setting when you travel to another country. Setting and you natural of interaction with the person/people matters a lot. Nevertheless, we have complied few of the common and appropriate gifts.

1. Meal at nice restaurant

If you want to thank your host or friends take them out to a nice restaurant after you arrive to thank them for their help. Since its there country it is very safe and the restaurant people can help you with selection of food items.

2. Chocolates

Everyone loves chocolates and you can never go wrong with them. It is the safest choice especially if you don’t know your hosts very well (age, choice). Choose any Swiss chocolate and it will be perfect gift. If there is any speciality chocolate in your home country choose that.

3. Candies and Sweet delicacies

If you expect that your host have kids you can get them candies and give to their parents. It is especially cool to get something that is popular in your country. That way you hosts can taste some flavours from your home.

4. Popular Beverages

It is especially nice when you get to taste new traditional flavours. Bring you country beverage and make it for your host like tea or coffee. Or tell them to make and enjoy it. I loved it when my friend brought me fruit flavoured green tea from Sri Lanka.

5. Dry Fruits

Since bringing gift to another country is also a big consideration, go for dry items. Dry fruits are good choice. If your country has a popular dry fruit item bringing it as a gift is a nice gesture. We often overlook such item because we are used to them. But bring any local dry fruit and people would love it.

6. Personalised Gift

If you know your host and then go for something useful from home. Things like they might not find in their own country.

7. Books

Bring some popular book from your home country. So that they will learn about your country. I fell in love with Canada’s landscapes when I read an amazing book about Canada-gifted to us by Canadian friends.

8. Souvenirs

People love to decorate their shelves and study tables with cool souvenirs from all around the world. Add to their collection by gifting them something from your home.

9. Traditional Jewellery

Traditional jewellery are gifts people will remember you by every time they wear it. It is nice and thoughtful gift item.

10. T-Shirts

Clothing items are tricky when given as gifts since you don’t know their size. But t-shirts are safe bets. People would definitely wear them.

11. Cook Food for them

If you are staying with them or you have access to a kitchen you can cook for them. It is a nice personal touch and you don’t need create an elaborate meal. Just make one item, desert or bake something for them.