Back to School Checklist Pakistan 2026: The Complete Stationery Items List
Every year it's the same scramble. School reopens in a week, the supply list from school is somewhere in a WhatsApp group, and you're standing in a shop trying to remember whether the geometry box was on the list or not.
This guide fixes that. Below is a complete back to school checklist for Pakistani parents — a full stationery items list, plus what actually changes from grade to grade, and how to pick the things that matter most (the bag, the bottle, the lunch box) so they last the whole year instead of falling apart by October.
The Complete Stationery Items List
Start here. This is the master list — most schools ask for some version of it.
Writing essentials
- Pencils (a pack, not two — they disappear)
- Eraser and sharpener
- Ball pens and gel pens (from Class 3 onwards, usually blue and black)
- Fountain ink pen (many Pakistani schools still require one from Class 4–5)
- Highlighters for older students
- Pencil box or pencil pouch to hold it all
Paper and books
- Notebooks and registers in the sizes your school specifies
- A school diary for homework and notes
- Drawing book or sketch pad
- Rough work notebook
Maths and geometry
- Geometry box (compass, divider, protractor, set squares)
- Ruler and scale
- Calculator for senior classes
Art and craft
- Colour pencils, crayons, or markers
- Water colours or paint set
- Glue stick and safety scissors
- Chart paper for projects
Daily carry
Nice to have (but kids will ask for them)
- Stickers — for rewards, decorating notebooks, and craft projects
- Name labels for everything, because everything gets lost
What Changes by Grade
The list above is the full version. What your child actually needs depends on the class.
Nursery to KG (ages 3–5)
Keep it light and simple. A small backpack that doesn't overwhelm a tiny frame, a spill-proof water bottle they can open themselves, jumbo crayons and thick pencils (easier for developing grip), and a colouring book. Skip the geometry box, skip the fountain pen. At this age the bag should weigh almost nothing.
Class 1 to 3 (ages 6–8)
This is when the load starts building. A proper backpack with padded straps, a pencil box with the basics, colour pencils, a drawing book, and a lunch box that opens without a fight. Notebooks arrive in bulk. This is also the age where a trolley bag starts to make sense if your child is carrying books daily.
Class 4 to 8 (ages 9–13)
The full list applies. Geometry box, fountain pen, highlighters, a bigger bag with a laptop or file compartment, and a water bottle that holds enough for a long day. Books get heavy here — pay attention to the bag.
Class 9 and above
Fewer toys, more function. A sturdy backpack, quality pens, a calculator, and a large water bottle. Stationery choices become more personal — let them pick.
How to Pick a School Bag That Lasts
The school bag is the single most-used item on this list. It gets thrown, dragged, overloaded, and rained on — for 200 school days a year.
Look at the straps first. Thin, unpadded straps dig into shoulders and are the first thing to tear. Padded, adjustable, wide straps spread the weight properly.
Check the stitching, not the print. Cartoon characters sell the bag; double stitching keeps it alive. Look at the seams where the straps meet the body — that's where cheap bags fail.
Match the size to the child, not the price. A bag that's too big encourages overpacking. As a rule, the bag shouldn't be wider than your child's shoulders or hang below the lower back.
Consider a trolley bag if the daily load is heavy. Doctors have been warning about backpack weight for years — Pakistani school bags routinely cross the recommended 10% of body weight. A trolley bag rolls the load instead of putting it on developing shoulders. The trade-off: stairs. If your child's classroom is on the third floor with no lift, a good backpack beats a trolley.
Browse school bags, backpacks, and trolley bags at Bachaa Party.
Choosing a Water Bottle That Actually Survives
The best water bottle in Pakistan for a school child is the one that doesn't leak into the bag and doesn't get left behind.
Stainless steel vs plastic. Steel bottles keep water cold for hours — a real advantage in Karachi and Lahore heat, where an August school day can hit 40°C. They're heavier but last for years. Plastic bottles are light and cheaper, and easier for younger kids to handle. For nursery and KG, light plastic wins. From Class 3 onwards, steel is worth it.
Test the lid. A screw-top with a silicone seal beats a flip-cap for leak resistance. If the bottle can lie sideways in the bag without leaking, it passes.
Size it right. 500ml is enough for a half-day. Full-day students need 750ml–1L. Insulated tumblers have become popular with older students for the same reason adults like them — cold water at 2pm, not lukewarm water.
Explore water bottles, stainless steel bottles, and plastic bottles.
Lunch Box and Lunch Bag
The lunch box needs to do two things: seal properly, and open easily. Those goals fight each other.
A latch that a six-year-old can't open by themselves means an unopened lunch. A latch that's too loose means daal in the school bag. Look for boxes with a firm clip and a silicone gasket — and let your child practise opening it at home before school starts.
Steel lunch boxes hold heat longer and don't stain. Plastic ones are lighter and usually have better compartments. An insulated lunch bag keeps things fresh in the heat and adds a second layer of protection if the box does leak.
Shop lunch boxes and lunch bags.
The Things Parents Forget
Every year, the same items get remembered a week too late.
- A school diary — most schools require one and don't sell it. Get it before day one.
- Extra pencils and erasers — the first pack lasts about three weeks.
- Glue stick — needed for the first art project, always at short notice.
- A white board or magic slate for practice at home. Cheaper than notebooks and better for drilling tables and spellings.
- Name labels or a marker — write the name on the bottle, the box, and the bag. It's the difference between losing them once and losing them monthly.
When to Buy
Don't wait for September. Schools across Pakistan reopen in the first two weeks of September, and that's exactly when the shops are crowded, the good bags are sold out, and the sizes you need are gone.
Buy the big items — bag, bottle, lunch box, shoes — in early to mid August. Buy the consumables — pencils, notebooks, erasers, glue — closer to reopening, so you know exactly what the school list says.
Where to Buy
Bachaa Party stocks the complete back to school range — school bags, water bottles, lunch boxes, and the full stationery list — online with express delivery across Pakistan, and at 13 stores nationwide including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
Everything on this checklist is in one place: browse the full school supplies collection and tick the list off in one go.
Good luck with the new school year — and remember to write the name on the water bottle.