PakistanCultural Scrapbook

Daffnie Realpe

PopulationPakistan’s Population as of July 2010 is

184,404,791The birth rate is 25.3 births/1,000 populationThe death rate would be 7.06 deaths/1,000

populationThe nationality is PakistaniFemale Life Expectancy- 67.5 yearsMale Life Expectancy- 63.84 years

Population cont.

EthnicityEthnic groups would involve Punjabi 44.68%,

Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki 8.38%, Muhajirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, and other 6.28%

Ethnicity Cont.

Language Punjabi 48% Sindhi 12% Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10% Pashtu 8% Urdu (official) 8% Balochi 3% Hindko 2% Brahui 1%

• English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries)

• Burushaski• Other 8%

Language Cont.

Letters and words are completely different then what we are used to here

ReligionMost of Pakistan’s religion is Muslim 95% (Sunni

75%, Shia 20%)The other part of religion includes Christian and

Hindu 5%

Greetings Greetings are therefore often between members of the same sex;

however, when dealing with people in the middle class, greetings may be across sex lines.

Men shake hands with each other. Once a relationship is developed, they may hug as well as shake hands.

Women generally hug and kiss. Pakistanis take their time during greetings and ask about the person's health, family, and business success.

In general, this is not a culture where first names are commonly used, except among close friends.

Pakistani names often include a name that denotes a person's class, tribe, occupation, or other status indicator.

They may also include two names that have a specific meaning when used together, and the meaning is lost if the names are separated. It is best to ask a person how they wish to be addressed

Greetings Cont.

Pakistan Flag•The white and dark green field represents minorities & Muslim majority, respectively.•The crescent on the flag represents progress.•The five-rayed star represents light and knowledge.

Dating and MarriageMarriage in Pakistan takes a long time to finalize so

that it is officialSometimes the wedding dates are postponed until

the most important relatives arriveA typical Pakistani wedding has at least three main

customs involving the Henna ceremony (Rasme Henna), the vows or the Nikah which is a part of the actual wedding or Shaadi ceremony, and a subsequent Walima offered by the groom the groom’s family.

Most weddings are arranged by the family and they are still present to this day.

Dating and Marriage

Interpersonal Relationships

Direct interpersonal communication involves a direct face-to-face relationship between the sender and receiver of a message, who are in an interdependent relationship.

If invited to a home you will most likely have to remove your shoes. Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door.

Eat only with the right hand.You will be urged to take second and even third

helpings. Saying "I'm full" will be taken as a polite gesture and not accepted at face value.

Interpersonal Relationships

HolidaysPakistan Day - 23rd of March: On this day the

Pakistan Resolution (1940) is commemorated. Yome- e – Pakistan is the local name in Urdu

Independence Day - 14 th of August: On this day, the independence of Pakistan is celebrated all over the country. Yom-e-Istiqlal is the local name of this holiday in Urdu

Labour Day - 1st May: May Day or Labor Day is celebrated throughout the country on this day. In Urdu this day is called Yom-e- Karegar

Holidays Cont. Defence of Pakistan Day - 6th September: Yome-e- Difa is the

local name of this holiday. This day is celebrated as the Defence Day

Anniversary of the Death of Qaid- i- Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah - 11th September: In Urdu this day is called Yom-e-Wafat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

Birthday of a National Poet, Allama Iqbal - 9th November: The Urdu name of this day is Yom -e Viladat-e Muhammed Iqbal

Christmas Day- December 25 Boxing Day- December 26 Pakistan follows the islamic calendar, so they do certain

holidays as well.

Holidays cont.

Food and DrinksAs a whole, milk, lentils, seasonal sabzi (vegetables),

and flour and wheat products are the most abundant foods, forming the basis of Pakistani cuisine.

Chapatis is a flat bread made from wheat and is a staple at most meals. It is used to scoop up food in place of eating utensils.

Vegetables such as alu (potatoes), gobhi (cabbage), bhindi (okra), channa (chickpeas), and matar (peas) are eaten according to the season.

Dhal (or dal ) is a stew made with lentils, one of the most commonly eaten vegetables.

Food and Drinks cont.Pakistan prefer to make many Mango milk shakes are most

common in PakistanLike mostly everywhere else

in the world they do share in their part in supplying themselves with dairy products, like milk.

ClothingThere are many factors that help to establish

the identity of a nation despite all these influences. Be it the language or the sense of dressing, there are many more things, which speak volumes about the culture of a particular nation.

Salwar kameez (shalwar qameez) is the national dress of Pakistan. Salwars are loose trousers designed in various styles. Originally, the salwars were flared towards the bottom with embellishments or fancy cutwork.

Clothing Cont.The kameez is large and loose fitting tunic worn with the

baggy salwar. Men as well as women wear the same attire, with a difference in the colors used, fits, silhouettes and the kind of embellishments used.

The achkan is yet another important dress of Pakistan. An achkan is a long jacket, which also originated in the 19th century in India. These are long sleeved coats reaching all the way to the knees. At times, achkan can even go lower.

Apart from the traditional clothing worn by Pakistanis, on similar lines with India, one can see other forms of western attire as well. But the traditional clothing definitely has a strong foothold in the modern society even today.

Clothing Cont.

Salwar Kameez

The Achkan

The kameez Normal Clothing

Sports and RecreationA favorite for Pakistan is the sport cricket.The Pakistani national team won the World Cup

in 1992 and has a number of victories in one-day international competitions. Cricket is governed by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Pakistan has produced some of the world’s best players, including Asif Iqbal and Imran Khan.

Sports and Recreation cont.

Pakistani cricket team

Art In 1947 Lahore boasted of two art institutions and

an expanding artists’ community. Karachi had very little post-Partition art activity, which expanded and became enriched by the arrival of pioneering talent in the exodus of displaced people from all over the sub-continent.

The End