an essay on cultures of pakistan

• Pakistani Culture, Customs, and Traditions

Officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Pakistan is a nation that is located in South Asia . The nation has multiple ethnic groups and cultures such as Punjabis, Kashmiris, Muhajirs, Pashtuns, Shinaki, and a few other communities scattered all over the country. Aside from their own cultures, these groups have come to form a new culture that has been heavily influenced by the neighboring countries and their cultures. Pakistan’s culture is unique among the other nations of South Asia. 

The country’s population speaks more than 60 languages . Among them all, Urdu is the national language with a huge portion of speakers at 75%. In addition to being a national language, Urdu is also a symbol of the Muslims as well as the lingua franca (or common language) of the country. Despite Urdu being the main language in the country, only 8% of the population uses it as a primary language. The other official language is English, which is used by the government and for legal matters. For the most part, the masses use a special variation of English that is known as Pakistani English. In addition to these two languages, the constitution recognizes Arabic as an important language in the teaching of Islam.

The most common language is the Punjabi language (44.15% of the population) and is mostly used in Punjab. Other languages include Sindhi (12%), which is mostly spoken in Sindh, Saraiki (10%), which is mostly spoken in Hindko, South Punjab, and the larger Hazara region, as well as other languages. In each of the five provinces of the nation, there is a provincial language that is not recognized by the national law.

Like in most other countries in Asia, the food in Pakistani is influenced by its neighbors. In the case of Pakistan, the foreign influence is from Afghanistan and the Middle East in general. The different regions of the country have differences in cooking styles and techniques. For example, the provinces of Sind and Punjab known for their spicy cuisine that is similar to Indian food. By contrast, northern and western provinces such as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prepare food that is mild and less spicy, which is similar to the cooking styles of Central Asia. Examples of Pakistani foods include the likes of biryani, boiled rice, and kebabs.

In addition to the local cuisines, international styles have affected the nation as well. In fact, fusion food (a mixture of foreign and local recipes) is a common practice, especially in the country’s urban areas. An example of fusion food is Pakistani Chinese Cuisine. Despite all these international effects, the diversity in the country always ensures a wide array of delicacies.

Pakistan has a rich collection of poems classified into different categories such as English poetry, Baluchi poetry, and Pashto poetry. Another category, Sufi poetry, is strongly rooted in the country. Since the region was strongly admired by Persian rulers in older periods, Persian poetry is quite popular as many poems about the region came from Persia. Poetry is not only practiced at the national level but also at the provincial level. Since Urdu became a national language after independence in 1947, most of the poems are now written in Urdu. Some of the renowned poets who have written poems in Urdu include the likes of Ahmad Faraz, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, and Faiz Ahmad Faiz.

Celebrations

Pakistan has several celebrations that it observes. Like any other country with a Muslim population, Pakistan observes the holy month of Ramadan . During this month, all Muslims fast from morning until evening and attend the mosques more often. In addition, there are related festivals such as Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha to mark the passing of the holy month of Ramadan.

Aside from religious celebrations, the nation also marks Independence Day on the 14 th of every August, which is representative of the day when Pakistan gained freedom from British India. To mark this special day, people gather for national prayers in mosques all over the country. In the morning, those who lost their lives in the fight for independence are remembered by a 21 cannon salute. Other events include singing the national anthem and decorating the cities and buildings.

Recreation and Sports

Field hockey is the officially recognized sport of Pakistan even though squash and cricket are more popular. The national field hockey team has had some success in the Hockey World Cup as it has won the trophy four times. The national cricket team has won the Cricket World cup of 1992 followed by a runners-up performance in 1999. The nation has also played host to the 1987 and 1996 Cricket World Cups. The cricket team has also won other accolades such as 2009’s ICC World Twenty20, the Austral-Asia Cup (three times), and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.

Internationally, the nation has participated in the Summer Olympics in sports including field hockey, athletics, shooting, boxing, and swimming. Hockey is the sport in which the Pakistanis have had the most success with after winning three gold medals in 1960, 1968, and in 1984. Since its introduction in 2005, A1 Grand Prix racing has gained some popularity as well. Another sport that is on the rise is soccer.

Architecture

The nation’s architecture goes all the way back to pre-Islamic periods to the post-colonial times. In fact, some of the structures such as the tombs of Bibi Jawindi, and Baha’is-Halim, which are all in the town of Uch Sharif, have been on UNESCO’s tentative list since 2004. Some of the pre-Islamic structures that are available to this day include Mohenjo Daro, Kot Diji, and Harappa. The Muslims introduced some classical techniques that are still available up to this day. Colonial times were dominated by an Indo-European style while post-colonial times are dominated by modern architecture.

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Pakistan: Culture and History Exploratory Essay

Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a large culturally diverse country located at the crossroads of the strategically significant expanses of South Asia, Central Asia and Western Asia, and borders Afghanistan and Iran in the western corridor, India in the eastern corridor, and China in the far northeast (Page et al 6). This brief attempts to examine the country’s history and culture.

Although Urdu is the official national language and lingua franca of Pakistan, Punjabi is the principal indigenous language in the country by virtue of the fact that it is spoken by an estimated 60 million individuals (Page et al 18). There exist marked differences between how the Urdu language is written using Arabic and Hindi characters.

Although the language uses the right-to-left alphabet modified from the Persian alphabet, it is important to point out that some characters do not exist in Hindi, implying that people using the Hindi characters have to employ some consonants from Arabic for use in words borrowed from Arabic/Persian only.

For instance, the ‘Z’ sound is not available in Hindi, necessitating speakers to use ‘J’ instead. Equally, some characters do not exist in Arabic or Persian, and are therefore borrowed from Hindi. The rules for gender in most of the characters which have been borrowed from the Hindi language do not change between Urdu and Hindi; however the rules for gender shifts in most of the words borrowed from the Arabic language.

Moving on to the issue of tribes, the major ethnic groups in Pakistan include “…Punjabis (44.68% of the population), Pashtuns (15.42%), Sindhis (14.1%), Seraikis (8.38%), Muhajirs (7.57%), Balochis (3.57%) and others (6.08%)” (Page et al 18).

While the Punjabis are an indo-Aryan tribal grouping of North Indian origin, the Pashtuns belong to the Eastern Iranian peoples, and the Sindhis are native to the Sindh province of Pakistan.

The Seraikis have no central place of origin, but the Muhajirs are immigrants who preferred to stay in Pakistan and changed their residence after the partition of British India to Pakistan. The Balochis are native to Balochistan – the largest province of Pakistan by land mass.

In discussing the main characteristics of Pakistani culture, it is imperative to mention that every great nation enjoys its own distinct culture, and Pakistan is no different in large part due to its distinctive culture that is grounded on Islamic values and traditions, as well as a rich historical background.

Pakistani culture draws its value propositions, belief systems and traditions from Islam, by virtue of the fact that it is actually a component of the contemporary Islamic civilization.

It is of essence to note that Pakistani culture is a striking combination of Punjabi, Sindhi, Pathan, Baluchi, Barohi, Seraiki and Kashmiri cultures, and that the society follows a patriarch system where each nuclear/extended family is headed by the senior most male member, who is responsible for the upkeep of the family.

Pakistani culture is not only characterized by a rich variety of colorful dress codes, but also a great tradition of fairs and festivals, including the Horse and Cattle shows of Lahore, the Polo festival of Gilgit, as well as the annual urs of Hazrat Daata Ganj Bakhsh.

Lastly, it is important to note that not only are Pakistani people great lovers of sports and games, such as hockey, cricket, soccer and squash, but they also enjoy great distinction in production of handicrafts at an international level (Civil Service of Pakistan para. 1-9).

Works Cited

Civil Service of Pakistan. Characteristics of Pakistani Culture and Important Traditions and Customs . 2012. Web.

Page, Shirley, Kim Sappe, Crystal Johnson, Carol Morgan and Barbara Dezmon 2009. Pakistan: Heritage Resource Packet . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2019, June 18). Pakistan: Culture and History. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pakistan-culture-history/

"Pakistan: Culture and History." IvyPanda , 18 June 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/pakistan-culture-history/.

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1. IvyPanda . "Pakistan: Culture and History." June 18, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pakistan-culture-history/.

Bibliography

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The Cultural Diversity of Pakistan

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The cultural and ethnic diversity across the four provinces of Pakistan makes this multi-ethnic country stand out. From Punjabis to Sindhis or from Pashtuns to Muhajirs, you will find it all within Pakistan. Pakistan is culturally, religiously, and ethnically a versatile land, and we will discover the true essence and beauty of these distinct cultures and their development through the ages below.

There is an extensive history of Pakistan’s land and how communities/ tribes from diverse backgrounds, with specific cultures and ethnicity, landed in Pakistan, creating a unified yet vicious web of cultures and traditions. Pakistan’s heritage culture reels back to the times of the Indus civilization, approximately five thousand years ago. Since then, the penetration of Islamic ideology has played a considerable role in shaping current Pakistan’s cultural dynamic. The cultural modifications in Pakistan were highly influenced by Arabic-Persian cultures and a few decades back by western cultures.

To date, numerous traditions, celebrations, food, and lifestyle has a hint of western and Indian cultures. Celebrations such as Holi (Hindu celebration), Christmas, and Thanksgiving (western celebrations) have become prevalent in Pakistan. The more we explore the culture of the west, the more we follow them.

Accommodating more than fifteen major ethnic groups, Pakistan is a land of cultural and ethnic heterogeneity. The most notable communities include Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns (Pathans), Balochi, Kashmiris, and Muhajirs (communities that migrated from India to Pakistan during the partition). The core communities for each ethnicity are primarily divided across provinces of Pakistan, i.e., Pashtuns are mainly concentrated in KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sindhis towards South, Punjabis towards East, and Balochis towards South-West. The intermixing of these several cultures, their traditions, and lifestyle are well-developed, and people are intrigued to learn about neighboring cultures within Pakistan.

Although Pakistan’s national language is Urdu, you will discover people communicating in various languages. Pashto, Urdu, Punjabi, Saraiki, and many others. Not to forget, the use of the English language in daily life has increased. If one observes, children are taught to communicate in English when they go to school. The teaching medium in educational institutes is a mix of both English and Urdu.

One remarkable ability in Pakistan’s society households is using two or more languages in homes like Urdu and Punjabi, Balochi and Seraiki, Sindhi and Urdu. It shows the cultural assortment and acceptability of different ethnic groups in our lives. With this artistic growth, the gap between fluent spoken and written Urdu languages rises. It may be a sign of us adopting other cultures at the expense of compromising the command of our national language.

Family Structure

One of the critical features of Pakistani culture can be termed “Collectiveness.” Various communities, families, and associates are highly interlinked and interdependent on one another. Social, political, and professional connections and relations are given immense regard making Pakistan a socially complex society. These loyalties within communities go across generations. The nature of this collectiveness explains the family set-ups in Pakistan. Large, extended families have lived together under one roof for decades, and to date, many family set-ups follow the same tradition.

However, with rising independence and primarily the influence of the western culture, many households have been divided so that each house caters to one particular family. People are inclined towards separate, independent homes to relieve them of financial constraints, have privacy and have a greater focus on their children and upbringing.

Food and Dining Etiquettes

Food is what brings Pakistani families and communities closer. Few traditional Pakistani foods include biryani and karahi. Pakistan is a Muslim country; hence, only halal meat is consumed. Pork or alcohol is not used in meal preparations. Food preparation and cooking style utilizes a lot of spices, rich, vibrant colors, and mouthwatering aromas. Along with desi (traditional) foods, food from other countries and cultures such as Korean, Indian, and American are also consumed regularly and are found on food menus in restaurants within Pakistan.

Dining etiquettes have been a significant part of Pakistani culture and heritage when it comes to food. It has been the same for decades: the entire family sits together (preferably on the floor) and eats. While eating, discussions are generally based around routine life and some words of wisdom from the elders. However, the family dining experience and culture have somehow diminished in the present times. Each family member eats according to their convenience, and the spirit of a close-knit, productive dining table family discussion seems to be lost.

Clothing and Fashion

Each particular culture and ethnic group have its traditional clothing piece which portrays its identity. For instance, in Sindhis, Ajrak is a popular clothing item. However, these conventional clothing pieces are still utilized today but with a touch of modern fashion. The styling and accessorizing of clothes have been a key in cultural growth and development.

The use of jeans and t-shirts is more common than the use of shalwar kameez in daily life. Youth of the nation predominantly revolutionizes lifestyle, getting inspiration from international market and fashion trends and incorporating them into their cultural wear. However, we need to think: Is this exposure adding to the artistic growth or erasing the traces of actual ethnicity of various cultures in Pakistan?

Gender Roles

Traditionally, gender roles were very distinct. Females remained in the households and took care of domestic chores while men used to work and earn money. However, cultural growth has variegated the gender roles. Nowadays, females are working in all sectors of life, including medicine, engineering, aeronautics, and business. Higher female education is given priority across all cultures, contrary to the traditional norms that focus on male education only. Females are gaining financial independence and are encouraged by families. Early marriages have significantly reduced as the focus is shifted to education, employment, and freedom.

Multi-culturalist Pakistan is the new Pakistan. The array of cultures, traditions, and the way they have evolved along the ages is simply beautiful. Exposure to copious cultures is an essential tool for personal growth. It is what defines Pakistan.

Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs. ~Thomas Wolfe

References:

Library Guides

Culture Trip

Cultural Atlas

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Maira Masood is a BS Biosciences student at NUST, Pakistan. She aspires to be a geneticist and wants to play an active part in spreading scientific awareness through writings. 

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About Pakistan

Exploring pakistan’s cultural diversity.

Pakistan is a country known for its rich and diverse cultural heritage, which is of utmost importance for the nation. The cultural diversity in Pakistan reflects the unique blend of different regions, religions, ethnicities, and traditions. This article aims to delve into the various aspects of Pakistan’s cultural diversity, showcasing its geographical, ethnic, and religious variations, festivals and celebrations, traditional music and dance forms, art and craftsmanship, culinary delights, clothing and fashion, languages and literature, cultural heritage sites, modern cultural expressions, and the promotion of cultural understanding.

Geographical Diversity

Pakistan is blessed with an array of diverse landscapes and geographical regions that play a significant role in shaping the local cultures and traditions. From the towering mountains of the Karakoram and the sprawling plains of Punjab to the sandy deserts of Sindh and the picturesque beaches of Balochistan, each region exhibits its own unique cultural identity. The geographical diversity of Pakistan not only influences the lifestyle and occupations of its people but also shapes their customs, festivals, and artistic expressions.

Ethnic Diversity

Pakistan is home to a multitude of ethnic groups, each with its distinct cultural practices, languages, and customs. The major ethnic groups in Pakistan include Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Balochis, and many more. Each group has its own set of traditions and rituals that have been passed down through generations, contributing to the vibrant cultural tapestry of the nation. Exploring the unique cultural heritage of these ethnic groups provides insights into the diverse traditions and values that coexist within Pakistan.

Religious Diversity

Religion plays a pivotal role in Pakistan’s cultural diversity, with Islam being the dominant religion. However, Pakistan also houses thriving communities of Hindus , Christians , Sikhs , and other religious minorities. These various religious groups celebrate their festivals with great fervor, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of different religious communities. The religious festivals hold immense significance for each community, fostering a sense of unity and belonging among its members.

Festivals and Celebrations

Pakistan is a land brimming with cultural and religious festivals that are celebrated throughout the year. From the colorful kite-flying festival of Basant in Punjab to the vibrant Navroz celebrations of the Ismaili community, each festival carries its own regional variations and cultural significance. Festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Diwali, Holi, Christmas, and Baisakhi bring together people from different backgrounds, promoting unity and cross-cultural interactions. These celebrations offer a glimpse into the rich cultural fabric of Pakistan and its people.

Traditional Music and Dance

The musical heritage of Pakistan is as diverse as its people. Various musical genres, such as Qawwali, Sufi music, classical music, folk music, and pop music, have roots in different regions of the country. Traditional musical instruments like the sitar, tabla, dhol, and harmonium are used to create enchanting melodies that resonate with the emotions of the listeners. Similarly, traditional dances, such as the Bhangra, Kathak, Attan, and Kalash dance, showcase the unique cultural expressions and traditions of different regions.

Art and Craftsmanship

Pakistan boasts a rich heritage of art and craftsmanship, with skills passed down through generations. The intricate art forms of calligraphy, pottery , miniature paintings, and woodwork reflect the exquisite craftsmanship of Pakistani artisans. These traditional crafts not only contribute to the aesthetics of the country but also play a vital role in the local economies, providing livelihood opportunities for skilled artisans in rural and urban areas.

Culinary Delights

Pakistan’s cuisine is a tantalizing blend of flavors, influenced by the diverse cultures and regions of the country. Each province and ethnic group has its own signature dishes and delicacies, such as biryani, nihari, karahi, sajji, and haleem, which are relished by people across the nation. Street food, such as gol gappay, samosas, and pakoras, adds an extra zest to the culinary scene. Exploring the culinary delights of Pakistan is like embarking on a gustatory journey through its cultural diversity.

Clothing and Fashion

Traditional clothing styles in Pakistan exhibit vibrant colors, intricate embroideries, and unique designs that represent different provinces and cultures. From the flowing shalwar kameez and dupatta of Punjab to the intricately embellished Sindhi ajrak and mirror work of Sindh, traditional attire is a visual reflection of cultural identity. Furthermore, modern fashion trends have also made an impact on traditional attire, with fusion wear and contemporary designs giving a fresh twist to traditional clothing.

Languages and Literature

Pakistan is home to a multitude of languages, further enhancing its cultural diversity. Urdu, the national language, serves as a unifying force among the diverse linguistic communities. Each language carries its own significance, with rich literary traditions and contributions to the global literary landscape. Pakistani literature, encompassing works in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto, and other regional languages, showcases the depth of cultural expressions and diverse narratives.

Cultural Heritage Sites

Pakistan is proud to be the custodian of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites that bear testimony to its cultural history. Sites like the Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens, Taxila, Mohenjo-daro, and Makli Necropolis offer glimpses into the ancient civilizations, architectural marvels, and artistic excellence of the region. Preserving and promoting these cultural heritage sites is essential for Pakistan to cherish its rich past and share it with future generations.

Modern Cultural Expressions

In the modern era, Pakistani art, music, and cinema have embraced a fusion of traditional and contemporary elements. This fusion creates a unique cultural expression that blends the essence of Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage with the influences of globalization. The Pakistani film industry, commonly known as Lollywood, has witnessed an evolution, producing films that capture the vibrancy of local cultures while addressing contemporary issues. Similarly, contemporary artists and musicians blend traditional instruments and themes with modern genres, creating a global appeal.

Promoting Cultural Understanding

Appreciation and respect for cultural diversity are vital for fostering harmony and inclusivity in society. Cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue play a pivotal role in promoting mutual understanding and breaking down barriers. Initiatives undertaken by various organizations and institutions in Pakistan aim to create platforms for people from different cultural backgrounds to come together, celebrate their diversity, and build bridges of understanding, paving the way for a pluralistic and inclusive society.

Pakistan’s cultural diversity serves as a source of national pride, highlighting the mosaic of traditions, languages, festivals, art forms, and craftsmanship that make it unique. Embracing this diversity enables a pluralistic society that values and respects the rich cultural heritage of its people. By preserving and promoting Pakistan’s cultural identity, the nation can create an inclusive environment that cherishes its past while adapting to the demands of a globalized world. Cultural diversity is not just a celebration; it is the backbone of a vibrant society built on the pillars of unity, tolerance, and coexistence.

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Cultural Tapestry: The Rich Diversity of Pakistani Culture, Traditions, and Festivals

Welcome to a deep dive into the rich and vibrant culture of Pakistan, a country that is a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, traditions, and festivals. Weaving together strands of various cultural influences, Pakistani culture presents a kaleidoscope of colors, flavors, sights, and sounds that are deeply rooted in its history and societal fabric.

Ethnic Diversity

Pakistan’s cultural richness stems from its ethnic diversity. The country is home to numerous ethnic groups, each carrying its unique customs, languages, and traditions.

The Punjabis, known for their vivacious spirit, make up the largest ethnic group. Their culture is marked by lively music, energetic dances like Bhangra, and a cuisine famous for its rich flavors.

The Sindhis, hailing from the Sindh province, are known for their Sufi traditions and richly embellished Ajrak prints. The Sindhi language, one of the oldest in the world, adds another layer to their vibrant culture.

In the mountainous north, you find the hardy and hospitable Pathans or Pashtuns. Their culture, steeped in the code of Pashtunwali, emphasizes honor, hospitality, and courage.

The Baloch and the Saraikis in the southwest and south-central regions respectively, add their distinctive customs, handicrafts, and languages to Pakistan’s cultural mix.

Celebrating Basant

Basant, or the festival of kites, is a quintessential part of Punjabi culture, celebrated with much fanfare in the city of Lahore. This spring festival paints the sky with a myriad of colorful kites, marking the end of winter.

The day of Basant is filled with excitement and friendly competition, as people of all ages engage in kite-flying duels. The night comes alive with the twinkling of lanterns and beats of Punjabi dhol, as people continue their celebrations.

Eid Festivities

In the Islamic calendar, two Eids are celebrated every year – Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Each of these festivals carries a unique religious significance and cultural celebration.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The celebration begins with a special prayer at the mosque, followed by a festive meal – the first daytime meal in a month. It’s a time of joy and generosity, with people often giving to the people with low-income and sharing treats with neighbors.

Eid-ul-Adha, or the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The day is marked by the sacrifice of an animal, usually a goat or a sheep, with the meat distributed among family, friends, and the less fortunate. This Eid is a profound reminder of the values of sacrifice and empathy in Islamic tradition.

Cultural Tunes and Moves

Pakistani music and dance forms are a reflection of its cultural diversity. Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music, is globally recognized, thanks to artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The Sindhis’ folk music and dance, which often carry Sufi influences, are a significant aspect of their culture.

Pashto music, with its Rabab instrument, is famous in the northern regions, while the Balochis’ folk music often speaks of love, war, and their tribal history. Bhangra and Luddi are popular Punjabi folk dances performed at festive events.

Nowruz: Welcoming the New Year

As winter retreats and spring blooms, the Persian New Year, Nowruz, is celebrated with grandeur, especially among the Parsi community and northern regions of Pakistan. This festival, symbolizing rebirth and renewal, marks the vernal equinox, typically falling around March 21.

In preparation for Nowruz, homes are thoroughly cleaned in a ritual known as ‘khaneh takani’ or ‘shaking the house’. A special table setting called ‘Haft Seen’, showcasing seven symbolic items starting with the Persian letter ‘S’, is arranged. These items include sprouts (sabzeh), dried fruit (senjed), garlic (sir), apples (sib), and others, each representing a different hope for the New Year.

The celebration continues for 13 days, filled with visits to family and friends, feasting on traditional food, and participating in outdoor activities.

Cultural Crafts

The cultural tapestry of Pakistan is incomplete without mentioning its traditional crafts. From the Sindhi Ajrak and Balochi embroidery to the Swati woodwork and Multani blue pottery, each region has its unique handicrafts that reflect their historical and cultural narratives.

Pakistan, with its plethora of ethnic groups, traditions, and festivals, offers a vibrant cultural landscape that tells a compelling story of its historical evolution and social dynamics. Whether it’s the lively Basant celebrations, the spiritual observance of Eid, the welcoming of spring with Nowruz, or the rich tapestry of ethnic traditions, each aspect provides a captivating insight into the cultural heart of Pakistan. It’s a beautiful confluence of traditions, values, and celebrations that echo the nation’s rich diversity.

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Thanks for this post. So much Ididn’t know, but isn’t that true of most of us! And tyhanks for subscribing to my blog.

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Home Essay Examples Culture

The Cultural Diversity Of Pakistan

• Category Culture
• Subcategory World Cultures

According to United Nation data, Pakistan’s population is 219,159,481, based on Worldometer elaboration, conducted on February6,2020 which is equal to 2.83% of the world’s population. Ethnically, Pakistan is a diverse country. Basically, Pakistan is divided in four provinces; Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and three territories; Islamabad capital territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Pakistani people are divided with respect to geography; carry a set of norms which, afterwards, identify them as a unique ethnic group. Major Pakistan ethnic groups regarding areas are Punjabi (Punjab), Sindhi(Sindh), Pashtun(Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Balochi (Balochistan), Saraikis(Southern Punjab) and Kashmiris(Kashmir). Despite it, Pakistani people are abide in low number in other areas as well and known as its ethnic groups, for example; Brahui, Hindko, Pahari, Shin, Burusho, Wakhi, Balti, Chitral, Muhajir,Yusufzai, Orakzai, Swati, Afridi, Wazir, Mohmand, Mahsud etc. Except for that, the people of northern Pakistan (Hunza, Chitral, Gilgit, Dir etc.) are known as unique people with respect to their norms and culture to the rest of the people of Pakistan. Pakistani people carry its own uniqueness of culture and customs with respect to its regional traditions. As thus every ethnic group has its own colour.

Cultural Diversity

Pakistan is an Islamic country which is a remarkable influential mark on every custom and tradition of Pakistan. Culturally, Pakistan is a rich country because Pakistani people are attached emotionally to their cultural and societal norms. These all cultural norms have been maintained since 1947 when Pakistan came into existence and justify their distant beauty. Pakistani people’s culture is greatly shaped up by their history, geographical and ethnic identities. Majorly, Pakistani culture is influenced by India, Persia, Iran, Afghan, Central Asians, South Asians and Western Asians. On the basis of physical features, food, historical bloodlines, language, customs and music, every group has its own cultural values. Cultural ethics of some of the ethnic groups are given below;

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• Punjabi: Punjabi culture is a culture of friendship and tolerance which is manifested by the teachings of saints and sufis. They teach to spread love all around irrespective of cast, religion and colour. Punjab is quite progressive in its culture as it is open to foreigners; open to foreign invaders(Afghanistan and Central Asia) in the past.
• Sindhi: Sindhi ethnic group is next to Punjabi group in size, it is second biggest ethnic group. Sindhi are closer to Indian culture than the rest of Pakistan. Just like Punjab, their culture norms are shaped up by the religious scholars, saints and sufi; the prominent names are Sachal Sermast, Shah Abdul Lateef Bhitai and Lal Shahbabz Qalander. Its culture is not as much advanced as of Punjabi because this area was limited connections with foreigners; this area was invaded once “Muhammad Bin Qasim”.
• Pashtuns: Pashtuns belong to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; culturally, it is strongly influenced by Afghanistan. Pashtuns are known for taking revenge, giving shelter, courage, generosity to defeat, self respect, justice, hospitality, tolerance and loyalty. Despite the strong influence of Afghan, its culture also shows strong attachment to Indian and culture as well. The famous poets and mystic figures of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are Rahman Baba, Khushaal Khan Khattak and Pir Baba whose ultimate message was love.

Dress Codes and Rituals

The national code of Pakistan is Shalwar Kameez for men and women. With the Shalwar Kameez, common accessories waistcoat, Achkan, Sher wani, Churidar Pajama, Jinnah cap, Khussa etc are worn all around Pakistan. As Pakistan is a culturally diverse country so regionally culture to culture rituals and dress codes vary. For example; Punjabi likes to wear kurta and dhoti and on the other hands women wear Lacha, kurta or Salwar Kameez with dupatta and wear bangles. Pashtun male wear Shalwar Kameez with waist coats on the other hand, as Khyber Paktinkhawa closely linked with Islamic norms, women wear Burqa or Chadar, restricting them to cover their heads and face. As dress codes, the ethnic groups have their own rituals just like special ritual dances of every ethnic group. Punjabi love to do “Bhangra” or “Ludi”.

Food Varieties

Pakistani foods are much similar to south Asia food varieties. The food varieties of Pakistan are greatly influenced by Asia, Central Asia and Middle eastern cuisines. Pakistani cuisine is richly flavored by spices, herbs and seasoning such as red chilli, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and garam masala. Pakistani people prepare their food as curry and later eat it with roti and most of the time curry is prepared with vegetables, meat and lentils. Rice is also common in Pakistani food items. Rice is used as fried, boiled, spicy and sweet dished. Despite it, as Pakistan is culturally rich to every region and culture carry its own delicious and famous dish.

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Essay on Pakistan: A Brief History and Overview

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• July 22, 2023
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“There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan.” (Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

Introduction

Pakistan got its independence on 14 th August 1947. The country’s main purpose was to live life freely as Muslims. Pakistan is located in the south of Asia. It is in the south of the Arabian Sea. It has 4 neighboring countries. Pakistan is in 33 rd rank among other countries based on area.

It is also known to be the third largest country in Asia based on land area. Pakistan’s border in the east is with India, which has a border of 3,323 kilometers; Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan is in the northwest it has a border of 2,640 kilometers; Pakistan’s border with Iran is in the west it has a border of 909 kilometers whereas Pakistan border with China is 523 kilometers long and is located in the northeast.

Pakistan Army is ranked as the 6 th strongest army among the 145 countries. Pakistan has the world’s second-highest mountain K2, with the third highest, Tirch Mir, and the three highest mountain ranges, i.e., Hindukush, Karakoram & Himalayas. Pakistan also has the world’s deepest sea port in Gwadar. Pakistan’s Edhi Foundation is the world’s largest ambulance service provider.

Sialkot (a city in Pakistan) produces half of the world’s balls, which resulted in Pakistan becoming the world’s largest hand-sewed football; these footballs are also used in FIFA World Cups. Tarbela Dam is the world’s largest earth-filled dam. Pakistan is the only Muslim country that has nuclear power. 

The world’s fourth-largest irrigation system is also in Pakistan. Out of 100% population, 96.2 percent of Muslims in Pakistan, 1.6% Hindus, Christians 1.59%, etc. Cholistan, Thar, and Thal are some of the famous desserts in Pakistan. 

Before writing essay on Pakistan , lets disucss its history first. Muslims of the subcontinent were not given the proper rights and were harassed for living according to the Islamic way. Pakistan was a dream for Allama Muhammad Iqbal that came true after many sacrifices and struggles of many Muslims.

The major effort and struggle was of Quid e Azam M.A. Jinnah. This effort to get a separate country started when Muslims started facing persecution. The idea of two nation theory was presented that Muslims and Hindus are different nations that can’t live together peacefully.

Quaid e Azam succeeded on 14 Aug 1947 when a new country known as Pakistan was formed. Initially, Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan, but due to the 1971 civil war and political problems, East Pakistan (Bangladesh) proclaimed its independence.

When Pakistan got its independence, it faced several problems, such as unfair boundary distribution, economic problems, the Kashmir dispute, electricity problems, division of financial assets, etc. Karachi was chosen as the capital of Pakistan Quaid e Azam was the first governor-general, and Liaquat Ali Khan was the prime minister. 

Pakistan is one of the lucky countries. It has all four seasons due to the location. Winter is from December to February, spring is from March to May, Summer is from June to September, and retiring monsoon or autumn is from October to November. This season and their time can differ according to the location, as Pakistan has all plains, plateaus, mountains, or hilly areas.

Pakistan has several rivers; the longest is Indus; other rivers are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Kabul. The amazing thing is that the coastal areas are normally dry and hot, whereas the lowland plains are cooler than coastal areas, and the uplands or Himalayas are much cooler than the plain; this means at the same time, all seasons can be seen in Pakistan. 

Region & Demography

Pakistan has a total area of 796,095 square kilometers. Pakistan has a total population of 207.68 million. The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad. Pakistan has 4 provinces, i.e., Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. Punjab was given to this province because of Punj (five) and Aab (Water), i.e., land of river. The population of Punjab is 110 million, Balochistan is 12.34 million, Sindh is 47.89 million, and KPK is 35.53 million.

The area of Punjab is a total of 50,362 square kilometers. The area of Balochistan is 347,190 square kilometers. The area of Sindh is 140,914 square kilometers. The area of KPK is 101,741 square kilometers. There are 170 districts in Pakistan. These districts are further divided into tehsil and union councils.

These districts include all the districts in provinces, Azad Kashmir, the capital territory, and Gilgit Baltistan. Pakistan is considered a young nation as the average age is 23.4, and the 104 million population is the age bracket of 25 to 30. 

Language & Culture

The national language of Pakistan is Urdu. More than 60 languages are spoken in different areas of Pakistan. The common language in Punjab is Punjabi, whereas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the language spoken is Pashto, and in Sindh and Balochistan, Sindhi and Balochi, respectively. Hindko, Saraiki, Kashmiri, Gujarati, and other languages are spoken in Pakistan.

The culture of Pakistan is based on Islam, and the main reason for having Pakistan as a separate country is to establish the culture of Islam freely. Several festivals and events are important in Pakistan, such as Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha, Ramadan, etc.

Other minorities can also easily celebrate their festivals, such as Christmas, Easter, Holi, Diwali, etc. Let’s talk about different people in provinces.

Punjab : People in Punjab are mostly warm-hearted and loving. Several tribes, clans, or castes have different cultures and traditions. Their culture and dresses are very bright and mix of colors.  

Balochistan : This province is considered to be barren lands and deserts and mountains, but this culture has a culture that is full of traditions, art, and craft, as well as embroidery females mostly do these things. These people are known for their festivals and tribes.  

Sindh : These people mostly have agricultural lifestyles. These people practice farming and fishing. These people are dominated by Sufis music. 

KPK : The people of KPK are mostly Pathans; they are the most hardworking people and always like to know more about their race; they are obsessed with the race. 

Economy is one of the important thing to discuss in this essay on Pakistan. The major sources of livelihood are agriculture, forestry as well as fishing. Pakistan is ranked in 43 of the major economies. Inflation will be approximately 19.87% in 2022. Around one-half of the laborers are doing these activities.

Several crops are the basis of a good economy, such as cotton, tobacco, pulses, chickpeas, sugarcane, wheat, rice, etc. Pakistan doesn’t have many minerals and energy resources. One-eighth of the labor is engaged in the manufacturing of products. The main imports of the nation are petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, fertilizers, etc., whereas the major exports are cotton, ready-made garments, dried fish, rice, leather goods, etc. 

Pakistan is one of the countries with great potential for providing education. Education is one of the most important factors in Pakistan. Although education is not up to the mark, many improvements are still being made, and many schools, colleges, and universities are being established.

HEC (Higher Education Commission) is the biggest institute in Pakistan responsible for overseeing, regulating, and accrediting the higher education efforts in Pakistan. The level of education depends on the financial resources and the commitment level of the government; in Pakistan, the resources are limited, and that’s why there are fewer teachers and education-providing facilities. There are a total of 218 universities in Pakistan. 

National Symbols 

The national symbols of Pakistan are

• Markhor (National Animal)
• Chukar (National Bird) 
• Deodar (National Tree)
• Jasmine (National Flower) 
• Allama Muhammad Iqbal (National Poet)
• Quaid e Azam (National Hero) 
• Shalwar Qameez (National Dress)
• Hockey (National Sports) 
• Indus River (National River)
• Okra (National Vegetable)
• Dolphin (National Aquatic Animal)
• Mango (National Fruit)

To conclude essay on Pakistan I would say that Pakistan has faced several challenges since its independence. But on the other hand, Pakistan is rich in culture and has a young population. This population can help Pakistan to become more economically stable and help Pakistan to prosper. This country had been faced several challenges, such as poverty, terrorism, and political instability, and done major improvements in many scenarios.

Pakistan’s strength is its location and size; this country also benefits from foreign aid and receives donations from IMF, World Bank, and the USA, which means that Pakistan has some good international relations. The major weakness of Pakistan is that people lack knowledge in different fields to become a more modernized society. Pakistan also lacks an efficient education system.

There is improper governance, a lack of an efficient education system, and health care problems that can lead to future difficulties for Pakistan . As Pakistan has faced many challenges in history, it can also face any other challenge with faith and strength. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

• How many times has martial law been applied in Pakistan? 

In total 4 martial laws have been applied 

First: 7th October 1958 (Iskandar Mirza)

Second: 25th March 1969 (Yahya Khan)

Third: 25th July 1997 (Zia ul Haq)

Fourth: 12th October 1999 (Pervaiz Musharraf) 

• Who was the first president of Pakistan?

The first president was Major General Iskandar Mirza; he was elected on 5th March 1956. 

• Who was the first Chief of Army Staff in Pakistan?

The first COAS of Pakistan was Lt. General Tikka Khan, appointed on 20th March 1972. 

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Pakistani Culture Essay History Salient Features

Table of Contents

Today we will discuss about Pakistani Culture Essay History Salient Features of Culture of Pakistan. Pakistan Culture is generally considered to be the basic identity of Pakistan nation as its trends, History, Silent Features, rituals and way of life form their culture of living, and this culture becomes their distinctiveness. Like all countries, Pakistan also does have the Culture which is circulated all over the territory but at the same time continuous amendments are being done to the national culture of the state. Let us have an overview of where the culture of Pakistan originated. Before independence in 1947, Pakistan was combined with the Sub Continent India, where Hindus and Muslims used to live together on one land. Before that, it was the Mughal Empire of Muslims that made us renowned and popular all over the globe and it is not surprising that still after hundreds of years we do have various features and reflections of that old traditional culture in our modern Pakistan.

Pakistani Culture Essay History Salient Features of Culture of Pakistan

So from those old days, the culture of Pakistan is being transferred and is being redefined at regular intervals. After the independence when the Muslims of Sub Continent got a separate homeland, it was the time when the real culture of Pakistan was being formed which was being made complementing the ideology on the basis of which the independence was being acquired. Sometimes it is the fact that the people living in any specific culture modify themselves to make them compatible with it, while in other cases people modify the culture which suits their way of life. Western countries are the major example of the second type in which people modify the culture as per their interest and their comfort. If we define the real concept of Culture then it can be stated in such a phrase that; “Culture” can be defined in many different ways, Culture may be defined as behavior peculiar to human beings, together with material objects used. Culture consists of language, ideas, values, attributes, beliefs, customs, codes, institutions, tools, works and arts, religion, law, morality, ceremonies, and festivals.

Silent Features of Pakistani Culture:

Being a Muslim and the country is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the culture of the country should be aligned with the teachings of Islam, the Quran, and Sunnah. The rules and regulations which are being established in the state are not contradictory to the teachings of Islam and that is why after the independence the name of the state was finalized as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Being an Islamic country the trend of Madaris and religious institutions are very much common and that has also given a unique identity for the Muslims as long beards and dresses of Shalwar Kameez are very much common which is concerned to be very important personality traits amongst the people of Pakistan. The constitution of the state is according to the rules and regulations of Islam. The national holidays of the state also include three major celebrations for Muslims, which are Eid-ul-Fitar, Eid-ul-Adha, and Eid Milad-un-Nabi (P.B.U.H). The fulfillment of all religious obligations is one of the most crucial and Significant characteristics of Pakistani Culture .

Pakistan does have a strong and traditional relationship with literature which is an important constituent of Pakistani culture. The poets and literature-associated people do tend to show their interest and focus on writing poems and literature on the religious beliefs, mankind and humanity, and praises of GOD and his Messenger (P.B.U.H). Pakistani culture has a very strong association with the Ulema; Mushaikh and Sufi poets Sufis like Lal Shahbaz, Data Ganj Baksh, Shah Abdul Lateef, Sachal Sarmast, Hazrat Sultan Bahu, and Waris Shah are considered to be renowned and very much popular amongst the national culture as they have rendered meritorious services for the spread of Islam in the Sub Continent.

There are so many languages which are being spoken in the country but when it comes to the national language solidarity is being observed as the national language of Pakistan is Urdu, which contributes a lot to the strengthening of the culture and the unity of the nation in Pakistan. The provincial languages are also very much important in Pakistani culture as each of the provinces does have their own local native language like; Pushto, Punjabi, Sindhi, Siraiki, Kashmiri, and Baluchi.

Pakistan is a sports-loving country in which the trend of sports not only on the major grounds but also on roads, streets, and small green belts is very much common which shows the affiliation of the people of Pakistan towards their sports. The national game of the country is Hockey but still a huge following for Cricket, Football, and Squash is being seen. The traditional culture of Pakistan also gives huge importance to games like Kabbadi and Wrestling.

Dresses have always been the most prominent feature in the culture of any country and that is why Pakistan does also have specific clothes which represent the national culture. The national dress of Pakistan is the Shalwar Kameez which is not just the national dress but also the main feature of the appearance of Pakistani culture. The official dress is the Sherwani with turbo or a round-topped cap which is also known as the Jinnah cap which was set after the respectable Quaid of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The dresses do vary in various provinces as well but that is just to represent their domestic identity but when it comes to nationality, then commonality and harmony are being observed which has literally fortified the culture of Pakistan.

Pakistan does have a very unique tradition, history, and culture as far as calligraphy & architecture is being concerned as the inheritance of this art in Pakistan is from the Muslim period of South Asia. The Mughals specially built different buildings, parks, monuments, places, Mosques & Forts. Their service in the field of art and architecture is a bright example of Islamic art & culture, as one of the very famous and long-lasting examples of this creativity and creation is the Taj Mahal which is located in Agra, India which was made by the emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his third and the most beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Pakistani arts in metalwork, tiles, furniture, rugs, designs/paintings, literature, calligraphy, and much more are diverse and renowned internationally. Pakistani architecture is unique with its infusion of Islamic, Persian, Turkish, and Indigenous styles.

Media is the all-important feature of the Culture of Media, which plays a vital role in establishing a strong basis for the national culture but unfortunately in Pakistan, the case is reversed as media is one of those negative features which are endangering the national culture. Traditionally, the government-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). There are several private TV channels showing news and entertainment. There are many FM radio channels too. The world is becoming a global village for which the media has also advanced itself is such a way that they have crossed all the limitations which were bound to follow. In the Pakistani culture media has the ultimate freedom which is negatively used, as Western trends and Indian media are becoming more and more threatening and that is just because our national media has given them that space to accommodate themselves which has promoted such values, ethics and traditions which are against the national culture of Pakistan.

Pakistan does have a culture of celebrating national days which have had various significances in the past. There are so many such special days celebrated annually in Pakistan, some of which, including; Independence Day (14 th August), Pakistan Day (23 rd March), Defence of Pakistan Day (6 th September), Pakistan Air Force Day (7 th September), the anniversaries of the birth (25 th December, a national holiday) and death (11 th September) of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the birth of national poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal (9 th November), etc.

In Islam, males are given more rights as compared to women in inheritance, but in Pakistani culture, this superiority is being taken in the other aspect, and that is why Pakistan is a country having a male dominant culture where males are considered to be the head of the family. In the tribal areas and rural areas of the country, the condition is even worse where people behave with their women like bosses and treat them as slaves. This is a very dark side of the national culture, although that is not everywhere as in Pakistan, women are given the highest esteem and respect in the society where they are respected and treated with dignity. This is the main reason for the upbringing of the culture of dowry in Pakistan. Men when getting married to women always want a lot of possession of the property in the concern of dowry which is another very alarming sign, as behind this curse there are several physical assaults on women, throwing of acid and in severe cases, even the murders are being done.

Pakistan Culture History Essay Conclusion :

Pakistan has a very unique mixed culture in which the various cultures from different provinces combine together to form an amalgamation of ethics, values, norms, and beliefs which forms a very charming and attractive national culture of Pakistan. But the problem arises when the people of Pakistan start adopting the culture of other people mainly India from the neighbors and Western countries. This is when the commonality of the national culture becomes threatened and imperil. Then very common example of this is the Mehndi function which is nowadays a very important function in all the weddings in Pakistan is not our culture, but it is being adopted from India, Basant festival which is celebrated with the utmost excitement and enthusiasm is being adopted again from India, and the unethical dresses in females and males are being adopted from the west. The people of Pakistan should stick to their own Pakistan culture and should always promote it by being its brand ambassador so that the entire world show knows and praise them due to their exquisite culture of Pakistan. So, this is complete details about Pakistani Culture Essay History Salient Features of Culture of Pakistan.

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14 Comments

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The Enchanting Tapestry of Pakistan Language

This text explores the diverse linguistic landscape of Pakistan, emphasizing the significance of language as the soul of its culture. It sheds light on Urdu, the official language, as a unifying force rooted in the cultural heritage of the region. Beyond Urdu, the narrative unveils the richness of regional languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi, each reflecting unique histories and identities. The coexistence of these languages forms a harmonious blend mirroring Pakistan’s multicultural essence. The text highlights the cultural influence of languages, such as Punjabi’s poetic nuances and Sindhi’s literary tradition. It further delves into Pashto’s role as a cultural artifact and Balochi’s representation of nomadic tales in Balochistan. Acknowledging the dynamic nature of Pakistan’s linguistic canvas, the essay recognizes English as a significant player in education and business, showcasing the nation’s openness to diverse linguistic influences. In essence, “Pakistan language” encapsulates a vibrant amalgamation, fostering unity and reflecting the resilience of a nation proud of its multifaceted heritage. Also at PapersOwl you can find more free essay examples related to Language.

How it works

Language is the soul of any culture, and in the case of Pakistan, this sentiment resonates deeply. The linguistic landscape of Pakistan is as diverse and rich as its cultural tapestry. The term “Pakistan language” encapsulates not just a singular entity but a vibrant mosaic of languages spoken across this South Asian nation.

One cannot delve into the linguistic panorama of Pakistan without acknowledging Urdu, the official language. Rooted in the cultural heritage of the region, Urdu serves as a unifying force, bringing together people from various ethnic backgrounds.

Its origins can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it evolved from a fusion of Persian, Arabic, and various local dialects. Today, Urdu stands as a symbol of unity, transcending provincial boundaries and serving as a medium for communication among Pakistan’s diverse populace.

However, Urdu is just one thread in the intricate fabric of Pakistan’s linguistic quilt. Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi are among the major regional languages that contribute to the linguistic diversity of the country. Each of these languages reflects the unique history, traditions, and identity of the communities that speak them. The beauty lies in the coexistence of these languages, forming a harmonious blend that mirrors the multicultural essence of Pakistan.

Punjabi, the most widely spoken language in Pakistan, is deeply ingrained in the culture of the Punjab province. With its poetic nuances and lyrical expressions, Punjabi has not only survived the test of time but has also influenced the cultural landscape of the entire country. Similarly, Sindhi, spoken in the Sindh province, possesses a distinct literary tradition that has thrived for centuries. It is a language that echoes the historical narratives of the Indus Valley civilization, adding a unique flavor to the linguistic diversity of Pakistan.

Moving towards the northwest, Pashto takes center stage in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Known for its robust oral tradition, Pashto is not just a means of communication but a cultural artifact that encapsulates the ethos of the Pashtun people. Meanwhile, in the southwestern province of Balochistan, Balochi holds sway, carrying within its lexicon the tales of the region’s nomadic past and the resilience of its people.

The linguistic landscape of Pakistan is not static; it is a dynamic canvas that continues to evolve. English also plays a significant role, serving as the language of instruction in educational institutions and a means of communication in the business and professional spheres. This linguistic fluidity is a testament to Pakistan’s openness to embrace diverse linguistic influences, adapting and evolving in an interconnected world.

In conclusion, the term “Pakistan language” encapsulates a rich amalgamation of languages that collectively contribute to the cultural vibrancy of this nation. Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, and English, among others, are threads in the intricate tapestry that makes up the linguistic identity of Pakistan. This linguistic diversity is not a source of division but a unifying force, reflecting the resilience and richness of a nation that takes pride in its multifaceted heritage.

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Short essay on Pakistani Culture

The culture of Pakistan includes various different cultures and societies of different ethnic backgrounds. In northern Pakistan there exists the Dardic, Wakhi and Burusho communities, the west comprises of the Baluch and the Pakhtoon, in eastern Pakistan there are the Muhajir and the Makarani communities and lastly in the east there are the Punjabis, Kashmiris and the Sindhis. The Pakistani culture is a mixture of all these cultures and ethnicities which have been significantly affected by the cultures of the neighboring countries including Turkish people, Persians, Afghans, Indians, the Southern and Central Asian Countries and of course for religious reasons the Middle East.

In older times Pakistan was known to be the heart of Culture due to its people of diverse backgrounds. There happens to be many cultural rituals and magnificent structures that have been adapted from the past ancient rulers and colonizers of the state. The Persian Empire is one empire which has had the greatest influence on Pakistan, in fact the rulers of the Persian Empire in Pakistan known as the satraps were once upon a time the wealthiest of the whole empire. Other significant empires which have had a great impact include the Afghan Empire, Mughal Empire and the British Empire (for a short duration).

The cultural history of Pakistan dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization which existed in 2800 – 1800 B.C., and was known for its amazing cities, organized sanitation, brilliant roads and exquisite societies. The culture of Pakistan seems to be so diverse because it has been invaded quite a few times and has been inhabited by a number of different people, each of them have left their traces of culture on the locals of the country. The more prominent invaders were the Greeks, Aryans, White Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongol, Afghans, Buddhists and other Eurasian groups until and including the British who finally left in the 1940s.

There are differences in the cultural practices of different ethnic groups in dress, food and religious aspects; they show varying influence from Tibet, Nepal, India and Eastern Afghanistan. Pakistan was the first state in South Asia which received the complete influence of Islam; it has developed a unique Islamic identity, which is different from the areas of further west.

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The sites and structures that Pakistan is home to include Zorastrian Fire Temples, Islamic Centers, Shia Shrines, Sufi Shrines, Sikh, Hindu and Pagan temples, gardens, palaces, tombs, historical structures and Mughal buildings. Pakistan is also known for its sculptures (Greco Buddhist friezes), ceramic crafts, jewelry, silk goods and engraved woodwork and metal work. The Pakistan society is predominantly multilingual and multicultural. The cultures within Pakistan though seem to have more similarities than differences as they have co-existed for several thousands of years (and seem to have the Aryan heritage).

More importantly after sixty years of integration in a state a unique Pakistani culture has emerged from within the many cultures that exist, especially in the urban areas where the various ethnic groups have lived together. The family values still hold respect and are significant, yet urbanization has increased the number of nuclear families, due to the socio economic constraints of the extended family in the traditional culture. Thus the culture of Pakistan is representative of its colorful history and the vibrant civilizations and empires that have existed in the region, however Pakistan has developed its own identity and culture amongst the many that have coexisted, by including variations of all the diverse ethnic cultures and practices of the various cultures.

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Pakistan — The history of Pakistan

The History of Pakistan

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

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Essay on Culture of Pakistan In Urdu

Back to: Urdu Essays List 1

پاکستانی کلچر پر ایک مضمون

پاکستان اسلامی جمہوریہ کے نام سے جانا جاتا ہے۔ پاکستان ایک ایسی قوم ہے جو جنوبی ایشیاء میں واقع ہے۔ اس قوم کے متعدد نسلی گروہ اور ثقافتیں موجود ہیں جیسے پنجابی ، کشمیری ، مہاجر ، پشتون ، شنکی ، اور کچھ دیگر کمیونٹیز جو پورے ملک میں پھیلی ہوئی ہیں۔ ان ثقافتوں کو چھوڑ کر یہ گروہ ایک نئی ثقافت کی شکل میں سامنے آئی ہے جو پڑوسی ممالک اور ان کی ثقافتوں سے بہت زیادہ متاثر ہوئے ہیں۔ پاکستان کی ثقافت جنوبی ایشیاء کی دوسری اقوام سے بھی منفرد ہے۔

پاکستان کی زبانیں

پاکستان ملک کی آبادی 60 سے زیادہ زبانیں بولتی ہے اور ان سب میں اردو کو قومی زبان بنایا گیا ہے جس کو بولنے والوں کا ایک بہت بڑا طبقہ ہے۔ اردو قومی زبان ہونے کے علاوہ مسلمانوں کی زبان بھی ہے۔ ملک میں اردو بنیادی زبان ہونے کے باوجود بھی آبادی کا صرف ٪8 طبقہ ہی اسے بنیادی زبان کے طور پر استعمال کرتا ہے۔ دوسری سرکاری زبان انگریزی ہے جو حکومت اور قانونی امور کے لئے استعمال کی جاتی ہے۔ بیشتر حصے میں عوام انگریزی کی ایک خاص تغیر کا استعمال کرتی ہے جسے پاکستانی انگریزی کہا جاتا ہے۔ ان دونوں زبانوں کے علاوہ عربی کو اسلام کی تعلیم میں ایک اہم زبان کا درجہ عطا کیا گیا ہے۔

ان کے علاوہ پاکستان کی سب سے عام زبان پنجابی زبان ہے۔ آبادی کا ٪ 44.15 حصہ اس زبان کا استعمال کرتا ہے اور یہ زبان زیادہ تر پنجاب کے آس پاس کے علاقوں میں استعمال کی جاتی ہے۔ دوسری زبانوں میں سندھی شامل ہے جو زیادہ تر سندھ میں بولی جاتی ہے۔ سرائیکی زبان جو زیادہ تر ہندوستان کے جنوبی پنجاب اور زیادہ تر خطوں میں بولی جاتی ہے۔ نیز اس میں دوسری زبانیں بھی شامل ہیں۔ قوم کے پانچوں صوبوں میں سے ہر ایک میں ایک صوبائی زبان موجود ہے جسے قومی قانون نے تسلیم نہیں کیا۔

پاکستان کا کھانا

ایشیاء کے بیشتر ممالک کی طرح پاکستان میں بھی کھانا اس کے پڑوسیوں سے متاثر ہوتا ہے۔ پاکستان کے معاملے میں بیرونی اثر و رسوخ عام طور پر افغانستان اور مشرق وسطی سے ہے۔ ملک کے مختلف خطوں میں کھانا پکانے کے انداز اور تکنیک میں کافی فرق ہوتا ہے۔ مثال کے طور پر صوبہ سندھ اور پنجاب اپنے مسالہ دار کھانوں کے لئے جانا جاتا ہے جو ہندوستانی کھانے سے کافی ملتا جلتا ہوتا ہے۔ اس کے برعکس شمالی و مغربی صوبوں جیسے آزاد جموں و کشمیر اور خیبر پختون میں ایسا کھانا تیار کیا جاتا ہے جو ہلکا اور کم مسالے دار ہوتا ہے جو وسطی ایشیاء کے باورچی خانے سے متعلق طرز کے جیسا ہے۔ پاکستانی کھانے میں بریانی ، ابلا ہوا چاول ، اور کباب سب سے زیادہ پسند کیے جاتے ہیں۔ مقامی کھانوں کے علاوہ بین الاقوامی طرز نے بھی قوم کو متاثر کیا ہے۔ در حقیقت فیوژن فوڈ ایک عام رواج ہے خاص طور پر ملک کے شہری علاقوں میں۔ فیوژن فوڈ کی ایک مثال پاکستانی چینی کھانا ہے۔

شعر و شاعری

پاکستان میں انگریزی شاعری ، بلوچی شاعری ، اور پشتو شاعری جیسے مختلف زمروں میں درجہ بند نظموں کا بھرپور ذخیرہ ہے۔ صوفی شاعری کا ایک اور زمرہ ملک میں مضبوطی سے جڑ گیا ہے۔ چونکہ اس خطے کو پرانے ادوار میں فارسی حکمرانوں کی زبردست پذیرائی حاصل تھی لہذا یہاں کی فارسی شاعری کافی مشہور ہے۔ شاعری صرف قومی سطح پر ہی نہیں بلکہ صوبائی سطح پر بھی کی جاتی ہے۔ چونکہ 1947 میں آزادی کے بعد اردو قومی زبان بن گئی تھی اور اب زیادہ تر نظمیں اردو میں ہی لکھی جاتی تھیں۔ اردو میں نظمیں لکھنے والے کچھ مشہور شاعروں میں احمد فراز ، احمد ندیم قاسمی ، اور فیض احمد فیض کے نام اہم ہیں۔

پاکستان میں بہت ساری تقریبات وقتاً فوقتاً عمل میں آتی رہتی ہیں۔ مسلمان آبادی والے کسی بھی دوسرے ملک کی طرح پاکستان بھی رمضان المبارک کا مقدس مہینہ مناتا ہے اور اس مہینے کے دوران تمام مسلمان صبح سے شام تک روزے رکھتے ہیں اور زیادہ کثرت سے مساجد میں شریک ہوتے ہیں۔ اس کے علاوہ رمضان المبارک کے مقدس مہینے کے موقع پر عید الفطر اور عید الاضحی جیسے تہوار بھی مناۓ جاتے ہیں۔

مذہبی تقریبات کے علاوہ قوم ہر 14 اگست کو یوم آزادی کے موقع پر جشن مناتی ہے جب پاکستان نے برطانوی ہندوستان سے آزادی حاصل کی تھی۔ اس خصوصی دن کے موقع پر ملک بھر میں کئی مساجد میں لوگ قومی نماز کے لئے جمع ہوتے ہیں۔ صبح آزادی کی جنگ میں اپنی جانوں سے ہاتھ دھو بیٹھنے والوں کو 21 توپوں کی سلامی کے ذریعے یاد کیا جاتا ہے۔ دیگر پروگراموں میں قومی ترانہ گایا جاتا ہے اور شہروں اور عمارتوں کو سجایا جاتا ہے۔

تفریح ​​اور کھیل

فیلڈ ہاکی پاکستان کا باضابطہ طور پر تسلیم شدہ کھیل ہے حالانکہ اسکواش اور کرکٹ زیادہ مقبول ہیں۔ قومی فیلڈ ہاکی ٹیم کو ہاکی ورلڈ کپ میں کچھ کامیابی ملی ہے کیوں کہ اس نے چار بار ٹرافی اپنے نام کی ہے۔ قومی کرکٹ ٹیم نے 1992 کا کرکٹ ورلڈ کپ جیتا ہے اور اس کے بعد 1999 میں رنر اپ کارکردگی کا مظاہرہ کیا تھا۔ قوم 1987 اور 1996 کے کرکٹ ورلڈ کپ کے میزبان بھی کھیل چکی ہے۔ کرکٹ ٹیم نے دیگر تعریفیں جیسا کہ 2009 کے آئی سی سی ورلڈ ٹی ٹوئنٹی، ایشیا کپ ، اور آئی سی سی چیمپئنز ٹرافی 2017 میں جیتا ہے۔

بین الاقوامی سطح پر قوم نے سمر اولمپکس میں کھیلوں میں حصہ لیا ہے جن میں فیلڈ ہاکی ، ایتھلیٹکس ، شوٹنگ ، باکسنگ ، اور تیراکی شامل ہیں۔ ہاکی وہ کھیل ہے جس میں پاکستانیوں نے سب سے زیادہ کامیابی 1960 ، 1968 ، اور 1984 میں تین طلائی تمغے جیتنے کے بعد حاصل کی تھی۔ 2005 میں اس کے آغاز کے بعد سے گراں پری ریسنگ نے بھی کچھ مقبولیت حاصل کی۔ ایک اور کھیل جو عروج پر ہے وہ فٹ بال۔

پاکستان کو بین الاقوامی سطح پر دستکاری میں بڑا امتیاز حاصل ہے۔ چنیوٹ کا لکڑی کا فرنیچر ، سیالکوٹ کا کھیلوں کا سامان اور ملتان اور حیدرآباد کی کڑھائی دنیا بھر میں مشہور ہے۔

پاکستانی موسیقی کی مختلف اقسام کی نمائندگی ہوتی ہے۔ اس میں قوالی اور غزل جیسے روایتی انداز کی زیادہ جدید شکلیں ہیں جو روایتی پاکستانی موسیقی کو مغربی موسیقی کے ساتھ ملا دیتے ہیں۔

پاکستان میں ثقافتوں ، لوگوں اور زمین کی تزئین کی آمیزش کی وجہ سے سیاحت کی صنعت بڑھ رہی ہے۔ موہنجوداڑو ، ہڑپہ اور ٹیکسلا کی قدیم تہذیبی کھنڈرات ، مراریی کے پہاڑی اسٹیشنوں تک ، اور شوگنان اور سری پای کی پیدل سفر والی پٹریوں ، ہر ایک کے پاس ہر طرح کے مسافر کو کچھ پیش کش ہے۔ پاکستان کے شمالی حصوں میں بہت سے پرانے قلعے اور برج ہیں۔ یہاں کے لوگوں کے ساتھ گلگت ، ہنزہ اور چترال کی وادیاں خاص طور پر خوبصورت مقامات ہیں۔

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College of Education and Human Development

Bushra amil: outstanding graduate student in literacy, language and culture.

Bushra Amil is the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student in Literacy, Language and Culture in the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. Her research interests include language and literacy, applied linguistics, translanguaging and TESOL. Before coming to UMaine she was an English (ESL) teacher in Pakistan. You can read a Q&A with Amil below.

What difference has UMaine made in your life and in helping you reach your goals?

UMaine has given me the opportunity to work in a diverse society and helped me gain the confidence to earn expertise in my field of learning and teaching.

Have you had an experience at UMaine that has changed or shaped the way you see the world? If so, tell us about it .

While working at UMaine, I am able to teach and interact with a diverse group of students and people from around the world in an academic setting and this has contributed to shaping both my professional and personal identity. I find UMaine as a junction point of multiculturalism and because of the safe and friendly environment that UMaine provides, I see various cultures blossoming in harmony.

Have you worked closely with a professor or mentor who made your UMaine experience better? If so, tell us about them.

The three people I have worked most closely with are my advisor Dr. Timothy Reagan, Dr. Susan Bennett-Armistead and Dr. Shihfen Tu. They have always provided invaluable support. It’s always been Dr. Reagan whom I most identify with because of his great research insights, excellent teaching style and wonderful disposition. For the two classes I taught at UMaine, Dr. Bennett-Armistead has been my mentor. She is someone I can always count on to support and mentor me, and I look to her for advice on all matters pertinent to my teaching. In addition to being a kind and encouraging faculty member, Dr. Tu has served as an inspiration to me as an administrator. She has consistently given me the encouragement and guidance I need to deal with challenging circumstances.

What advice do you have for incoming graduate students to help them get off to the best start academically?

Stay focused and work hard and you will achieve what you have aimed for.

Why UMaine?

I would say why not UMaine!? After all, this is an R1 university and most importantly, the College of Education and Human Development with its wonderful faculty aligns with my research interests. Other than that, who would not want to live in the beautiful state of Maine?

Favorite UMaine memory:

Going to the dance festival.

Special Thank You message:

I express my gratitude to the faculty of the Literacy, Language and Culture program for their consideration of me for this award. I’ll do everything in my capacity to keep improving and perform better in the future. UMaine has played a big role in who I am today.

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Indian government ordered killings in Pakistan, intelligence officials claim

Allegations of up to 20 assassinations since 2020 follow Canada’s accusation of Delhi role in murders of dissidents

The Indian government assassinated individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil, according to Indian and Pakistani intelligence operatives who spoke to the Guardian.

Interviews with intelligence officials in both countries, as well as documents shared by Pakistani investigators, shed new light on how India’s foreign intelligence agency allegedly began to carry out assassinations abroad as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019. The agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (Raw), is directly controlled by the office of India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, who is running for a third term in office in elections later this month.

The accounts appear to give further weight to allegations that Delhi has implemented a policy of targeting those it considers hostile to India. While the new allegations refer to individuals charged with serious and violent terror offences, India has also been accused publicly by Washington and Ottawa of involvement in the murders of dissident figures including a Sikh activist in Canada and of a botched assassination attempt on another Sikh in the US last year.

The fresh claims relate to almost 20 killings since 2020, carried out by unknown gunmen in Pakistan. While India has previously been unofficially linked to the deaths, this is the first time Indian intelligence personnel have discussed the alleged operations in Pakistan, and detailed documentation has been seen alleging Raw’s direct involvement in the assassinations.

The allegations also suggest that Sikh separatists in the Khalistan movement were targeted as part of these Indian foreign operations, both in Pakistan and the west.

According to Pakistani investigators, these deaths were orchestrated by Indian intelligence sleeper-cells mostly operating out of the United Arab Emirates. The rise in killings in 2023 was credited to the increased activity of these cells, which are accused of paying millions of rupees to local criminals or poor Pakistanis to carry out the assassinations. Indian agents also allegedly recruited jihadists to carry out the shootings, making them believe they were killing “infidels”.

According to two Indian intelligence officers, the spy agency’s shift to focusing on dissidents abroad was triggered by the Pulwama attack in 2019 , when a suicide bomber targeted a military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 40 paramilitary personnel. The Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility.

Modi was running for a second term at the time and was brought back to power in the aftermath of the attack.

“After Pulwama, the approach changed to target the elements outside the country before they are able to launch an attack or create any disturbance,” one Indian intelligence operative said. “We could not stop the attacks because ultimately their safe havens were in Pakistan, so we had to get to the source.”

To conduct such operations “needed approval from the highest level of government”, he added.

The officer said India had drawn inspiration from intelligence agencies such as Israel’s the Mossad and Russia’s KGB, which have been linked to extrajudicial killings on foreign soil. He also said the killing of the Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in 2018 in the Saudi embassy, had been directly cited by Raw officials.

“It was a few months after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi that there was a debate among the top brass of intelligence in the prime minister’s office about how something can be learned from the case. One senior officer said in a meeting that if Saudis can do this, why not us?” he recounted.

“What the Saudis did was very effective. You not only get rid of your enemy but send a chilling message, a warning to the people working against you. Every intelligence agency has been doing this. Our country cannot be strong without exerting power over our enemies.”

Senior officials from two separate Pakistani intelligence agencies said they suspected India’s involvement in up to 20 killings since 2020. They pointed to evidence relating to previously undisclosed inquiries into seven of the cases – including witness testimonies, arrest records, financial statements, WhatsApp messages and passports – which investigators say showcase in detail the operations conducted by Indian spies to assassinate targets on Pakistani soil. The Guardian has seen the documents but they could not be independently verified.

The intelligence sources claimed that targeted assassinations increased significantly in 2023, accusing India of involvement in the suspected deaths of about 15 people, most of whom were shot at close range by unknown gunmen.

In a response to the Guardian, India’s ministry of external affairs denied all the allegations, reiterating an earlier statement that they were “false and malicious anti-India propaganda”. The ministry emphasised a previous denial made by India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, that targeted killings in other countries were “not the government of India’s policy”.

In the killing of Zahid Akhund , an alias for the convicted Kashmiri terrorist Zahoor Mistry who was involved in the deadly hijacking of an Air India flight, the Pakistani documents say a Raw handler allegedly paid for information on Akhund’s movements and location over a period of months. She then allegedly contacted him directly, pretending to be a journalist who wanted to interview a terrorist, in order to confirm his identity.

“Are you Zahid? I am a journalist from the New York Post,” read messages in the dossier shown to the Guardian. Zahid is said to have responded: “For what u r messaging me?”

Millions of rupees were then allegedly paid to Afghan nationals to carry out the shooting in Karachi in March 2022. They fled over the border but their handlers were later arrested by Pakistani security agencies .

According to the evidence gathered by Pakistan, the killings were regularly coordinated out of the UAE, where Raw established sleeper cells that would separately arrange different parts of the operation and recruit the killers.

Investigators alleged that millions of rupees would often be paid to criminals or impoverished locals to carry out the murders, with documents claiming that payments were mostly done via Dubai. Meetings of Raw handlers overseeing the killings are also said to have taken also place in Nepal, the Maldives and Mauritius.

“This policy of Indian agents organising killings in Pakistan hasn’t been developed overnight,” said a Pakistani official. “We believe they have worked for around two years to establish these sleeper cells in the UAE who are mostly organising the executions. After that, we began witnessing many killings.”

In the case of Shahid Latif , the commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed and one of India’s most notorious militants, several attempts were allegedly made to kill him. In the end, the documents claim, it was an illiterate 20-year-old Pakistani who carried out the assassination in Pakistan in October, allegedly recruited by Raw in the UAE, where he was working for a minimal salary in an Amazon packing warehouse.

Pakistani investigators found that the man had allegedly been paid 1.5m Pakistani rupees (£4,000) by an undercover Indian agent to track down Latif and later was promised 15m Pakistani rupees and his own catering company in the UAE if he carried out the killing. The young man shot Latif dead in a mosque in Sialkot but was arrested soon after, along with accomplices.

The killings of Bashir Ahmad Peer , commander of the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, and Saleem Rehmani, who was on India’s most-wanted list, were also allegedly planned out of the UAE, with transaction receipts from Dubai appearing to show payments of millions of rupees to the killers. Rehmani’s death had previously been reported as the result of a suspected armed robbery .

Analysts believe Pakistani authorities have been reluctant to publicly acknowledge the killings as most of the targets are known terrorists and associates of outlawed militant groups that Islamabad has long denied sheltering.

In most cases, public information about their deaths has been scant. However, Pakistani agencies showed evidence they had conducted investigations and arrests behind closed doors.

The figures given to the Guardian match up with those collated by analysts who have been tracking unclaimed militant killings in Pakistan. Ajay Sahni, the executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in Delhi, said his organisation had documented 20 suspicious fatalities in Pakistan by unknown attackers since 2020, though two had been claimed by local militant groups. He emphasised that because of Pakistan’s refusal to publicly investigate the cases – or even acknowledge that these individuals had been living in their jurisdiction – “we have no way of knowing the cause”.

“If you look at the numbers, there is clearly a shift in intent by someone or other,” said Sahni. “It would be in Pakistan’s interest to say this has been done by India. Equally, one of the legitimate lines of inquiry would be possible involvement of the Indian agencies.”

Pakistan’s foreign secretary, Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, publicly acknowledged two of the killings in a press conference in January, where he accused India of carrying out a “sophisticated and sinister” campaign of “extraterritorial and extrajudicial killings” in Pakistan.

Islamabad’s accusations were met with scepticism by others, due to the longstanding animosity between the two neighbouring countries who have gone to war four times and have often made unsubstantiated accusations against the other.

For decades India has accused Pakistan of bankrolling a violent militant insurgency in the disputed region of Indian-administered Kashmir and of giving a safe haven to terrorists. In the early 2000s, India was hit by successive terrorist attacks orchestrated by Pakistan-based Islamist militant groups, including the 2006 Mumbai train blasts , which killed more than 160 people, and the 2008 Mumbai bombings , which killed 172 people.

Both countries are known to have carried out cross-border intelligence operations, including small bomb blasts. However, analysts and Pakistani officials described the alleged systematic targeted killings of dissidents by Indian agents on Pakistani soil since 2020 as “new and unprecedented”.

The majority of those allegedly killed by Raw in Pakistan in the past three years have been individuals associated with militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, and in several cases have convictions or proven links to some of India’s deadliest terrorist incidents, which have killed hundreds of people. Others were seen to be “handlers” of Kashmiri militants who helped coordinate attacks and spread information from afar.

According to one of the Indian intelligence officers, the Pulwama attack in 2019 prompted fears that militant groups in Pakistan were planning a repeat of attacks such as the 2008 Mumbai bombings.

“The previous approach had been to foil terrorist attacks,” he said. “But while we were able to make significant progress in bringing the terrorist numbers down in Kashmir, the problem was the handlers in Pakistan. We could not just wait for another Mumbai or an attack on parliament when we are aware that the planners were still operating in Pakistan.”

In September, the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, told parliament there were “credible allegations” that Indian agents had orchestrated the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh activist who was gunned down in Vancouver. Weeks later, the US Department of Justice released an indictment vividly detailing how an Indian agent had attempted to recruit a hitman in New York to kill another Sikh activist, later named as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Both men had been major advocates of the Khalistan movement , which seeks to create an independent Sikh state and is illegal in India. India denied any involvement in the killing of Nijjar, while according to a recent report , India’s own investigation into the Pannun plot concluded that it had been carried out by a rogue agent who was no longer working for Raw.

According to one Indian intelligence official, Delhi recently ordered the suspension of targeted killings in Pakistan after Canada and the US went public with their allegations. No suspicious killings have taken place so far this year.

Two Indian operatives separately confirmed that diaspora Khalistani activists had become a focus of India’s foreign operations after hundreds of thousands of farmers, mostly Sikhs from Punjab, descended on Delhi to protest against new farm laws. The protest ultimately forced the government into a rare policy U-turn, which was seen as an embarrassment .

The suspicion in Delhi was that firebrand Sikh activists living abroad, particularly those in Canada, the US and the UK, were fuelling the farmers’ protests and stirring up international support through their strong global networks. It stoked fears that these activists could be a destabilising force and were capable of reviving Khalistani militancy in India.

“Places were raided and people were arrested in Punjab, but things were actually being controlled from places like Canada,” said one of the Indian intelligence operatives. “Like other intelligence agencies, we had to deal with it.”

In the UK, Sikhs in the West Midlands were issued “threat to life” warnings, amid growing concern about the safety of separatist campaigners who Sikhs claim are being targeted by the Indian government.

Before the US and Canadian cases, a high-profile Khalistani leader, Paramjit Singh Panjwar , was shot dead in Lahore last May. Pakistani investigators claimed they had warned Panjwar that his life was in danger a month before he was killed and said another Khalistani activist living in Pakistan has also faced threats to his life.

Panjwar’s assassination is among those alleged to have been carried out by Indian operatives using what Pakistani agencies described as the “religious method”. According to the documents, Indian agents used social media to infiltrate networks of Islamic State (IS) and units connected to the Taliban, where they recruited and groomed Pakistani Islamist radicals to carry out hit jobs on Indian dissidents by telling them they were carrying out “sacred killings” of “infidels”.

These agents allegedly sought help from former IS fighters from the Indian state of Kerala – who had travelled to Afghanistan to fight for IS but surrendered after 2019 and were brought back through diplomatic channels – to get access to these jihadist networks.

According to an investigation by the Pakistani agencies, Panjwar’s killer, who was later caught, allegedly thought he was working on the instructions of the Pakistan Taliban affiliate Badri 313 Battalion and had to prove himself by killing an enemy of Islam.

The killing of Riyaz Ahmad , a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, in September last year was allegedly carried out by Raw in a similar manner. His killer, Pakistan believes, was recruited through a Telegram channel for those who wanted to fight for IS, and which had been infiltrated by Raw agents.

They have claimed the assassin was Muhammad Abdullah, a 20-year-old from Lahore. He allegedly told Pakistani investigators he was promised he would be sent to Afghanistan to fight for IS if he passed the test of killing an “infidel” in Pakistan, with Ahmed presented as the target. Abdullah shot and killed Ahmed during early morning prayers at a mosque in Rawalkot, but was later arrested by Pakistani authorities.

Walter Ladwig, a political scientist at King’s College London, said the alleged shift in strategy was in line with Modi’s more aggressive approach to foreign policy and that just as western states have been accused of extrajudicial killings abroad in the name of national security, there were those in Delhi who felt “India reserves the right to do the same”.

Daniel Markey, a senior adviser on south Asia at the United States Institute of Peace, said: “In terms of India’s involvement, it all kind of adds up. It’s utterly consistent with this framing of India having arrived on the world stage. Being willing to take this kind of action against perceived threats has been interpreted, at least by some Indians, as a marker of great power status.”

The allegations of extrajudicial killings, which would violate international law, could raise difficult questions for western countries that have pursued an increasingly close strategic and economic relationship with Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government, including pushing for intelligence-sharing agreements.

A former senior Raw official who served before Modi’s premiership denied that extrajudicial killings were part of the agency’s remit. He confirmed that nothing would be done without the knowledge of the national security adviser, who would then report it to the prime minister, and on occasion they would report directly to the prime minister. “I could not do anything without their approval,” he said.

The former Raw official claimed that the killings were more likely to have been carried out by Pakistan themselves, a view that has been echoed by others in India.

Pakistani agencies denied this, pointing to a list of more than two dozen dissidents living in Pakistan to whom they had recently issued direct warnings of threats to their lives and instructed them to go into hiding. Three individuals in Pakistan said they had been given these warnings. They claimed others who had not heeded the threats and continued their normal routines were now dead.

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A Guide to the Total Solar Eclipse

By Rivka Galchen

On April 8th, the moon will partly and then entirely block out the sun. The total eclipse will be visible to those in a hundred-and-fifteen-mile-wide sash, called the path of totality, slung from the hip of Sinaloa to the shoulder of Newfoundland. At the path’s midline, the untimely starry sky will last nearly four and a half minutes, and at the edges it will last for a blink. On the ground, the lunacy around total eclipses often has a Lollapalooza feel. Little-known places in the path of totality—Radar Base, Texas; Perryville, Missouri—have been preparing, many of them for years, to accommodate the lawn chairs, soul bands, food trucks, sellers of commemorative pins, and porta-potties. Eclipse viewers seeking solitude may also cause problems: the local government of Mars Hill, Maine, is reminding people that trails on Mt. Katahdin are closed, because it is mud season and therefore dangerous. I have a friend whose feelings and opinions often mirror my own; when I told her a year ago that I had booked an Airbnb in Austin in order to see this eclipse, she looked at me as if I’d announced I was bringing my daughter to a pox party.

Altering plans because of this periodic celestial event has a long tradition, however. On May 28, 585 B.C., according to Herodotus, an eclipse led the Medes and Lydians, after more than five years of war, to become “alike anxious” to come to peace. More than a hundred years before that, the Assyrian royalty of Mesopotamia protected themselves from the ill omen of solar eclipses—and from other celestial signs perceived as threatening—by installing substitute kings and queens for the day. Afterward, the substitutes were usually killed, though in one instance, when the real king died, the stand-in, who had been a gardener, held the throne for decades. More recently, an eclipse on May 29, 1919, enabled measurements that recorded the sun bending the path of light in accordance with, and thus verifying, Einstein’s theory of general relativity .

Any given spot on the Earth witnesses a total solar eclipse about once every three hundred and seventy-five years, on average, but somewhere on the planet witnesses a total solar eclipse about once every eighteen months. In Annie Dillard’s essay “ Total Eclipse ,” she says of a partial solar eclipse that it has the relation to a total one that kissing a man has to marrying him, or that flying in a plane has to falling out of a plane. “Although the one experience precedes the other, it in no way prepares you for it,” she writes. During a partial eclipse, you put on the goofy paper eyeglasses and see the outline of the moon reducing its rival, the sun, to a solar cassava, or slimmer. It’s a cool thing to see, and it maybe hints at human vulnerability, the weirdness of light, the scale and reality of the world beyond our planet. But, even when the moon blocks ninety-nine per cent of the sun, it’s still daylight out. When the moon occludes the whole of the sun, everyday expectations collapse: the temperature quickly drops, the colors of shadows become tinny, day flips to darkness, stars precipitously appear, birds stop chirping, bees head back to their hives, hippos come out for their nightly grazing, and humans shout or hide or study or pray or take measurements until, seconds or minutes later, sunlight, and the familiar world, abruptly returns.

It is complete earthly luck that total eclipses follow such a dramatic procession. Our moon, which is about four hundred times less wide than our sun, is also about four hundred times closer to us. For this reason, when the Earth, moon, and sun align with one another, our moon conceals our sun precisely, like a cap over a lens. (I stress “our moon” because other moons around other planets, including planets that orbit other stars, have eclipses that almost certainly don’t line up so nicely.) If our moon were smaller or farther away, or our sun larger or nearer, our sun would never be totally eclipsed. Conversely, if our moon were larger or closer (or our sun smaller or farther away) then our sun would be wholly eclipsed—but we would miss an ecliptic revelation. During totality, a thin circle of brightness rings the moon. Johannes Kepler thought that the circle was the illumination of the atmosphere of the moon, but we now know that the moon has next to no atmosphere and that the bright circle (the corona) is the outermost part of the atmosphere of the sun . A million times less bright than the sun itself, the corona is visible (without a special telescope) only during an eclipse. If we’re judging by images and reports, the corona looks like a fiery halo. I have never seen the sun’s corona. The first total solar eclipse I’ll witness will be this one.

The physicist Frank Close saw a partial eclipse on a bright day in Peterborough, England, in June, 1954, at the age of eight. Close’s science teacher, using cricket and soccer balls to represent the moon and the sun, explained the shadows cast by the moon; Close attributes his life in science to this experience. The teacher also told the class that, forty-five years into the future, there would be a total eclipse visible from England, and Close resolved to see it. That day turned out to be overcast, so the moon-eclipsed sun wasn’t visible—but Close described seeing what felt to him like a vision of the Apocalypse, with a “tsunami of darkness rushing towards me . . . as if a black cloak had been cast over everything” and then the clouds over the sun dispersing briefly when totality was nearly over. Close has since seen six more eclipses and written two books about them, the first a memoir of “chasing” eclipses (“ Eclipse: Journeys to the Dark Side of the Moon ”) and the second a general explainer (“ Eclipses: What Everyone Needs to Know ”).

“I’ve tried to describe each of the eclipses I’ve seen, and I do describe them, but it’s not really describable. There’s no natural phenomenon to compare it to,” he told me recently. Describing an eclipse to someone who hasn’t seen one is like trying to describe the Beatles’ “Good Day Sunshine” to someone who has never heard music, he said. “You can describe notes, frequencies of vibration, but we all know that’s missing the whole thing.” Total eclipses are also close to impossible to film in any meaningful way. The light level plummets, which your eye can process in a way that, say, your mobile phone can’t.

In the half hour or so before totality, as the moon makes its progress across the circle of the sun, colors shift to hues of red and brown. (Dillard, a magus of describing the indescribable, writes that people looked to her as though they were in “a faded color print of a movie filmed in the Middle Ages”—the faces seemed to be those of people now dead, which made her miss her own century, and the people she knew, and the real light of day.) As more of the sun is covered, its light reaches us less directly. “Much of the light that you will be getting is light that has been scattered by the atmosphere from ten to twenty miles away,” Close said. Thus the color shift.

He showed me the equipment that he has used to watch six eclipses: a piece of cardboard about the size of an LP sleeve, with a square cut out of the middle, covered by dark glass. “I used gaffer tape to affix a piece of welder’s glass,” he said. There are small holes at the edge of the board, so he can see how shadows change as the moon eclipses more, and then less, of the sun. When sunlight comes from a crescent rather than from a circle, shadows become elongated along one axis and narrowed along another. “If you spread out your fingers, and look at the shadow of your hand, your fingers will look crablike, as if they have claws on them,” Close said.

Each eclipse Close has seen has been distinct. On a boat in the South Seas, the moon appeared more greenish black than black, “because of reflected light from the water,” he said. In the Sahara, the millions of square miles of sand acted as a mirror, so it was less dark, and Close could see earthshine making the formations on the moon’s surface visible. At another eclipse, he found himself focussed on the appearance of the light of the sun as it really is: white. “We think of it as yellow, but of course that’s just atmospheric scattering, the same mechanism that makes the sky appear blue,” he said. When he travelled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with his family, in 2017, his seven-year-old grandson said, half a minute before totality, that the asphalt road was “moving.” “It was these subtle bands of darker and lighter, moving along at walking pace. The effect it gave to your eye was that you thought the pavement was rippling,” Close said. He had never seen that before.

The moon doesn’t emit light; it only reflects it, like a mirror. In Oscar Wilde’s play “ Salomé ,” each character sees in the moon something of what he fears, or desires. The etymology of “eclipse” connects to the Greek word for failure, and for leaving, for abandonment. In Chinese, the word for eclipse comes from the term that also means “to eat,” likely a reference to the millennia-old description of solar eclipses happening when a dragon consumes the sun. If the moon is a mirror, then the moon during a solar eclipse is a dark and magic mirror.

A Hindu myth explains eclipses through the story of Svabhanu, who steals a sip of the nectar of the gods. The Sun and the Moon tell Vishnu, one of the most powerful of the gods. Vishnu decapitates Svabhanu, but not before he can swallow the sip of nectar. The nectar has made his head, now called Rahu, immortal. As revenge, Rahu periodically eats the Sun—creating eclipses. But, his throat being cut, he can’t swallow the Sun, so it reëmerges again and again. Rahu is in the wrong, obviously, but in ancient representations of him he is often grinning. To me, he looks mischievous rather than frightening.

The first story I can remember reading that featured an eclipse is Mark Twain’s “ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court .” The wizard Merlin imprisons an engineer named Hank Morgan, who has accidentally travelled from nineteenth-century America to sixth-century Camelot. Morgan, a man who dresses and acts strangely for the sixth century, finds himself, as one would, sentenced to be burned at the stake. But he gets out of it—by convincing others that he is the cause of an eclipse that he knew would occur. As seems only natural for a beloved American story, it’s the (man from the) future that wins this particular standoff, over the ancient ways of Merlin.

To Close, the beginning of an eclipse feels like “a curtains-up statement from the heavens: Science works. Come back in an hour.” He finds it particularly moving that someone, using only measurements and reason, and the laws of celestial motion, could have predicted the April 8th eclipse down to the minute, maybe to the second. The eclipse that surprised the warring Medes and Lydians into peace may not have been a surprise to all; it is said to have been predicted by Thales of Miletus.

I asked Close if he’d ever met someone on his eclipse journeys who wasn’t much impressed. He said no. Still, it’s possible that I and my mirror friend both have the right intuition about this experience we’ve never had. In the last chapter of Roberto Bolaño’s novella “French Comedy of Horrors,” the young narrator witnesses an eclipse while at a soda fountain with his friends; he also witnesses the people around him witnessing the eclipse, including a couple doing a dance “that was somehow anachronistic but at the same time terrifying.” On his way home, he answers a ringing pay phone and finds himself in a lengthy conversation with a stranger who claims to be a member of the Clandestine Surrealist Group, writers living in Paris’s sewer system. The stranger invites the narrator (who wants desperately to be a poet) to join them, at an appointed time and place, months into the future—but says that they can’t pay for his ticket.

His whole eclipse day is banal (soda fountain, pay phone, the price of things) but also tempting, literally surreal, and like a dream. When our hero finally makes it home, at dawn, he sees Achille, the local drunk. Achille tells him that “the eclipse thing wasn’t such a big deal and that people were always getting excited about nothing. In his opinion, true and incredible things happened in the sky every day.” Nature’s everyday wonders might be the more clandestine ones. ♦

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NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

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New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.