Pakistan is the partner country this year, and Faisal Malik from Lahore, a first timer to the fair, said: “Setting up a stall at the IITF was only an excuse for coming to India.”

Nargis Sadaat from Karachi, though, has been a regular since 1995, setting up her stall of bridalwear every year. And the response, she said, has been good every year. “We have managed to sell all our goods every time we come here,” she said.

But there are hiccups nevertheless: while several stalls were still to open on Day One of the fair, many pointed out that they have been waiting for consignments to be cleared by the Customs office. “We had sent the consignment more than two weeks back but it has still not been cleared,” Malik said. “Only clothes we had brought with us are on display at the moment.”

He said consignments of several others have met a similar fate.

M Shoaib Ishaq, from Ambers Collection in Karachi, said there’s still reason enough to rejoice: “Customers here are crazy about clothes from Pakistan, and we know what colours, design and embroideries appeal to them.” But he said there’s need to facilitate contact and open up trade opportunities further: “While we find that clothes Pakistan are immensely popular here, there is little opportunity to export directly to India besides this trade fair.

“Instead, our products have to come here via Dubai.”

THE HIGH THREE: Return of the Kabuli-wallah
After a successful stint last year, the Afghanistan pavilion is back, with several new entrants. “Since last year our brand has been the figure of the Kabuli-wallah, which has a tremendous draw here,” said Walid Tamim of Afghanistan Investment Support Agency. Besides a steady popular demand for dry fruits, considerable investments were also made in the area last year. This year carpets, spices, garden products and handicrafts are also on sale.

Evil-eyes do the trick
Nazar Boucuck, a shop selling nazar or Turkish evil eye charms, seems to have caught the fancy of Delhi. Set in jewellery, trinkets, wall and car hangings, the charm is meant to ward off ill-effects of “evil eye”; the tradition goes back to 600 years in Turkey.