Characteristics of Pakistani Society/Culture

Pakistani culture has developed gradually in the last 5000 years through an evolutionary
process. It has a rich historical background and is multifarious in its nature because of having
emerged after the mixture of many colours belonging to different regions of the world. It is rich in
its values and depicts an Islamic touch in every aspect of it. So the major significant characteristics
of the Pakistani culture include:

1) Mixed Culture:
People entered the Indus Valley through passes had different origins. They belonged to
Iran, Tooran, Arabia, Turkey, Central Asia, Greece, Iraq, Afghanistan and Europe. Each group
that arrived, brought their own traditions, customs, and ways of life. All these influenced not only
one another but also the local culture. Hence, a mixed culture cropped up on the soil of Pakistan.

The result of which is that the inhabitants of different provinces and areas of Pakistan have
their own values and traits. Their food, clothes, languages and traditions differ from one another
and their distinct entities can easily be recognized. Punjabis, Sindhis, Balochis, Pathans Brohis and
Kashmiris all lead their respective cultural life. That is why, Pakistan is a beautiful example of
multicultural society.

2) Religious Uniformity:
Pakistan is mostly inhabited by the Muslims, therefore, religious cooperation and
uniformity exists all over the country. The believers of Islam do not give any importance to race,
colour, caste and creed rather national cohesion and oneness is the goal of all Pakistanis. The nation
is an integrated whole and the relations of the people living in different areas are fast developing.

However, the Muslims not only cooperate with each other rather they also extend good
wishes for other non-Muslim communities. As a result the Christians, Parsis and Hindus are
leading safe and honorable life in Pakistan with equal rights to education, trade and employment.

3) Dress:
Basically Pakistani dress is simple and easy to use. But one can see a great variety in it as
the people of every province and area wear the dress according to their own traditions. Similarly,
different dresses are used in rural and urban areas such as the male members of the rural society
wear Dhoti, Kurta and Turaban. But Shalwar is now gradually replacing the Dhoti. While female
members like to wear Shalwar, Kurta and Dupatta, both in rural and urban areas. However, Shalwa,
Shirt, Sheerwani, Waistcoat, Coat and Pant are used by men in urban areas. The western dress has
also greatly influenced the urban areas and, hence, modern styled dresses are now very common
there.
4) Social Values:
The inhabitants of all the four provinces and areas of Pakistan believe in noble social
values. The life is simple but graceful. The elders are respected and the youngsters receive love
from them. Official and non-official system helps the needy and the helpless. Zakat and alms are
provided to the poor. The women possess respectable status and enjoy equal rights. Majority of
the families are maintaining joint family system. But in cities the single family system is growing
steadily due to change in social setup. The problems are resolved through dialogues and
consultation has become an important element in our day to day life.

5) Food:
Variety of food is available in Pakistan. People in different provinces and areas like
different food e.g. meat and fruit are preferred in N.W.F.P. and Balochistan, milk and lassi are part
of the food in Punjab and fish is favourite for people living near the sea and rivers but it is also
liked in almost all parts of the Pakistan. While special dishes are arranged in the marriage
ceremonies and other functions. However, now with the passage of time, tastes and preferences of
the people have got changed and different Italian, Indian, Arabian, Chinese and Singaporean dishes
are popular among them.

6) Languages:
Pakistan is a large country which comprises of four provinces, the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA) and Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA). All of these
component parts have their own regional languages such as Punjabi, Pashtu, Sindhi, Balochi,
Barohi and Kashmiri. But Urdu is the national language which is spoken and understood in all
parts of the country. Besides that, English is the administrative or official language.

7) Educational System:
Our educational system is still being run on the one given to us by Lord McHale. Although
different governments tried to do amendments in it, yet nothing better could be achieved. Rather
because of their blindly following the West, our institutions are being failed in the training of our
youth and in the transmission of our Islamic heritage.

8) Customs and Traditions:

 Different customs and traditions are observed in Pakistan on different occasions for
example:

a) Marriage:
Marriage is an Islamic as well as social responsibility. In Pakistan it is celebrated with a
number of multicoloured custom and norms such as mayoon, mehndi, baarat and walima despite
the fact that most of these are not included in our religion. But people do not give any importance
to it and spend a lot of money on show off.

b) Birth of a child:
Special parties are arranged on the occasion of the birth of a child. The relatives and friends
are invited. Aqiqa is performed. Azaan is called out in the ears of newly born baby to tell him/her
that he/she has born in a Muslim family. The nearly related people express their pleasures and
special gifts are presented for the new arrival.

c) Death Ceremonies:
All the relatives and friends get together at the house of the deceased to express their sorrow
and condolence. The dead body is given bath and wrapped in a white cloth, called coffin. Namaz-
e-Janaza is offered and the dead body is buried. All the related persons remain together in the
funeral ceremonies and pray to Allah for a better place of the deceased in world hereafter.
However, some families also arrange the Qul ceremony, Quran Khawani and Chehlum in which
the members of the deceased family share their grief with one another.

9) Urs and Festivals:

A large number of Urs and festivals are celebrated in Pakistan every year which
demonstrate our culture. Such as the annual urs of Hazrat Daata Ganj Bakhsh, Madhu Lal Hussain,
Baba Bulhay Shah, Baba Farid Gunj Shakar, Abdul Latif Bhitaii, Bahauddin Zakriya and many
more are celebrated to commemorate their anniversaries. Then fairs at the time of harvesting,
different cultural shows, Horse and Cattle shows, Tent pegging, horse races and dog races are also
arranged in which the people participate with great enthusiasm.

10) Sports:
Pakistani people are great lovers of sports and games. Modern games like hockey, cricket,
football, badminton, squash and table tennis are played throughout the country. But wrestling,
boxing, and athletics are also very popular among masses. Their tournaments are arranged at
district, provincial, national and international level in which the people participate with great
passion. Pakistan has achieved great successes in the field of sports and is well known for its
sportsmen such as Gama in Wrestling, Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram in cricket,
Shehnaz sheikh, Islahuddin, Ghulam Rsool and Akhtar Rasool in hockey and Jahangir and Jansher
in squash.

11) Fine Arts:

a) Architecture:
The Muslims have their own architecture which is the characteristic of the Pakistani
society. So whether it is a mosque, business institutes, educational institutes or homes mostly
people like spacious and Islamic style buildings. However, due to the excess of money and the
progress of means of communication, the people are being influenced by the architecture of other
countries and thus are creating modernity in their buildings.

b) Handicrafts:
The handicrafts in Pakistan are of great value and are highly appreciated all over the world.
Both men and women participate in their production and export them to many other countries of
which Europe and Middle East are the most important. Theses handicrafts not only reflect but also
promote our culture. So the most famous handicrafts of our country include: Khaddar of Kamlia,
sheets of Bhera and Multan, embroidery of Bhawalpur and Multan, wood work of Chiniot and
Gujrat, sports goods of Sialkot etc.

c) Painting:
Paintings of Pakistani artists have introduced Pakistan to the rest of the world. They have
created not only classical but also modern pieces of art which got worldwide popularity and thus
made their country to be truly proud of them. Abdur Rehman Chughtai, Sakhir Ali, Sadqain, Aslam
Kamal and many other Pakistani artists have touched the heights of fame in this regard.

d) Literature: Pakistani culture is rich in the literatures of Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu,
Baluchi and Kashmiri languages. Urdu literature boasts of the masterpieces of Maulana Azad,
Iqbal, Shibli, Hali, Ghalib, Manto and Faiz whereas the Punjabi literature stands out with great
names like Waris Shah, Sultan Bahu, Ghulam Farid, Bulhay Shah and Shah Hussain etc. Similarly,
Sindhi literature glitters with the masterpieces of Shah Abdul Latif, Sachal Sarmast, Shah Qadir
Bakhsh, and Faqir Nabi Bakhsh and the Pushto literature includes the names like Sheikh Saleh,
Raghoon Khan, Akhund dardeeza, Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba. While the Baluchi
literature is comprised of masterpieces of Jam Durk, Muhammad Ali, Zahoor Shah Hashmi, Ghani
Parvez, Hasrat Baluch, Abbas Ali Zemi and Aziz Bugti etc.