Indian culture (?) in Pakistan??

[Paan Singh]

one intersting point in program --->

they said,

we considers all pakistanis as terrorist

 

[Truth Teller]

What do you mean Pakistani and indian culture is the same? Even within india all of your different ethnic groups don't share the same culture, customs, language, cuisine, ect. and since majority of Pakistanis and indians are not ethnically the same... we don't share much in common with indians. Maybe Pak Punjabis have somethings in common with Punjabi Sikhs.. but that really it.

I think hindu and Islamic culture in general is pretty different.

 

[UnitedPak]

The best way for a Pakistani to answer this question is by raising another question:

What is Pakistani Culture?

Anybody?

Wat i gather from above video and on this forum ...pakistani culture is mixture(khichidi) of central asians,greeks,
islamic cultures of arabs,turks,perssians etc. minus the culture of the land of indus valley civilization.

Pakistani culture is the Punjabi, Pashtun, Kashmiri, Sindhi and Baloch cultures, which are all native to the Indus Valley and all have gained significant influence from Central Asia and Islam.

Care to define "Indian culture", since some members seem to think they have a theka of the culture described above?

 

[Truth Teller]

Now these same indians who insult Pakistanis, our nation, try to claim our history and civilizations as their own, are going to be offended and start calling us racists because we say we are not the same as them.

 

[MZUBAIR]

Some Pak channels are allowed in india.

Which channels...list them.

 

[jayron]

Come on.. its the right opportunity to repost that Fareed Zakharia and Your Foreign Minister pic comparison.

 

[Paan Singh]

Which channels...list them.

only ptv,which i saw once in life on tv many years ago

 

[Paan Singh]

we have many foreign channels like ftv,ptv,ren tv,axn etc

i include all important channels

 

[Truth Teller]

Come on.. its the right opportunity to repost that Fareed Zakharia and Your Foreign Minister pic comparison.

If we post it, then indians will feel offended and complain about racism , and the post will be deleted, the poster will be banned... trust me.. i have no problem posting it.

 

[Truth Teller]

.................................

 

[MZUBAIR]

The best way for a Pakistani to answer this question is by raising another question:

What is Pakistani Culture?

Anybody?

The society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis, and Muhajirs in the east; the tribal cultures of the Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic and Tajik communities in the north.

So u see there are number of nations (majority Muslims) have cultural differences but not major.

In ancient times, Pakistan was a major cultural hub. Many cultural practices and great monuments have been inherited from the time of the ancient rulers of the region. Now the modren era modified many things.

Pakistani society is largely multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural. (But not Hindi, There is no part of Pakistan where Hindi is Spoken...this is one of the difference of India, even Hindu of Pakistan speaks Urdu not hindi language)

National Language
Common language of Pakistan is Urdu, and national Potery and literature written in Urdu.

Dances

Bhangra -Punjab
Luddi - Punjab
Dhammal - Performed at Sufi shrines/ dargahs in Punjab and Sindh
Attan - Folk dance of Pashtuns tribes of Pakistan including the unique styles of Quetta and Waziristan
Khattak Dance - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Jhumar - Siraiki and Balochi folk dance
Ho Jamalo Sindhi dance
Lewa - Baluchi folk dance

Cuisine
More then 95% of Pakistani eat Pakistani food.Main dishes of salan, with or without meat and cooked with vegetables or lentils, there are a number of provincial specialties such as karahi, biryani and tikka, in various forms and flavours, eaten alongside a variety of breads such as naan, chapati and roti, Saag, Dahi etc.

Pakistani dont drink Cow Piss like Indians

Pakistani festivals
In Pakistan, People only celebrate Pakistani festivals... no Indian, no bassant or any thing which is not Pakistani.

Ramadan
Chand Raat
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Adha
Milaad un NabiMilaad
Muharram (Ashura)
Independence Day (Pakistan)


Pakistani Dress
Shalwar Qameez
More then 95% men women wear Shalwar Qameez.


Sorry MODS:-

Why the hell these Indians flaming as they always do...Nation Problem


LOVE PAKISTAN

PROUD TO BE PAKISTANI

 

[Iqbal_Brar]

Then why do you people consider us terrorists? Why does Indian gov not allow Pakistani channels in India? Why the double standards and hypocrisy???

there is no law banning Pakistani channels in India... we used to get PTV back in 90s in punjab but dat was on antenna not dish.. india's laws don't let any foreign country, not only pakistan, directly beam channels inn.. there are only very very small number of channels.. maybe like BBC international which are allowed to run like that with special permission.. but every other channel needs to either set up base in India or tie up wid Indian channel... like CNN tied up with GBN to run in india (thats why its called CNN-IBN)... CNBC tied up with tv-18 of India (called CNBC-Awaaz)... Bloomberg tied up with UTV (thats why called Bloomberg-UTV)... ESPN tied up with Star Sports of India (thats why called ESPN-Star)... history channel was tied up with Star tv... than there are channels which have actually set up base in India to run... channels like.. Discovery channel (totally indian version run from India)... Fox channel run from within india.. disney channel run from india... cartoon network run from india.... soo no country's channels are directly beamed in... if Pakistani channels want to operate in India.. they have to either find Indian tv partner orrr move and set up a base in India.... Pakistani gtv i know is launched on dish tv in india but if they want to fully launch on local cable than they have to open up base in india which they have said that they are planning to do...

 

[Desert Fox]

The best way for a Pakistani to answer this question is by raising another question:

What is Pakistani Culture?

Anybody?

Pakistani culture part 1: (to indians)

Facts and Statistics

Location: Southern Asia, bordering Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

Capital: Islamabad

Population: 159,196,336 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)

Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other (inc. Sikh) 3%

Language in Pakistan

Urdu is the only official language of Pakistan. Although English is generally used instead of Urdu in this regard. English is the lingua franca of the Pakistani elite and most of the government ministries.

Urdu is closely related to Hindi but is written in an extended Arabic alphabet rather than in Devanagari. Urdu also has more loans from Arabic and Persian than Hindi has.

Many other languages are spoken in Pakistan, including Punjabi, Siraiki, Sindhi, Pashtu, Balochi, Hindko, Brahui, Burushaski, Balti, Khawar, Gujrati and other languages with smaller numbers of speakers.

Pakistani Society & Culture

Islam

. Islam is practised by the majority of Pakistanis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives.
. Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening.
. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed.
. During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing.

The FamilyMap of Pakistan

. The extended family is the basis of the social structure and individual identity.
. It includes the nuclear family, immediate relatives, distant relatives, tribe members, friends, and neighbours.
. Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationships, even business.
. Nepotism is viewed positively, since it guarantees hiring people who can be trusted, which is crucial in a country where working with people one knows and trusts is of primary importance.
. The family is more private than in many other cultures.
. Female relatives are protected from outside influences. It is considered inappropriate to ask questions about a Pakistani's wife or other female relatives.
. Families are quite large by western standards, often having up to 6 children.

Hierarchical Society

. Pakistan is a hierarchical society.
. People are respected because of their age and position.
. Older people are viewed as wise and are granted respect. In a social situation, they are served first and their drinks may be poured for them. Elders are introduced first, are provided with the choicest cuts of meat, and in general are treated much like royalty.
. Pakistanis expect the most senior person, by age or position, to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group.
. Titles are very important and denote respect. It is expected that you will use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name.
Etiquette & Customs in Pakistan

Meeting and Greeting

. Greetings are therefore often between members of the same sex; however, when dealing with people in the middle class, greetings may be across sex lines.
. Men shake hands with each other. Once a relationship is developed, they may hug as well as shake hands.
. Women generally hug and kiss. Pakistanis take their time during greetings and ask about the person's health, family, and business success.
. Pakistani names often include a name that denotes a person's class, tribe, occupation, or other status indicator.
. They may also include two names that have a specific meaning when used together, and the meaning is lost if the names are separated. . It is best to ask a person how they wish to be addressed.
. In general, this is not a culture where first names are commonly used, except among close friends.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. If invited to a Pakistani's home, bring the hostess a small gift such as flowers or good quality chocolates.
. Men should avoid giving flowers to women.
. Do not give white flowers as they are used at weddings.
. If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female relative.
. Do not give alcohol.
. Gifts are not opened when received.
. Gifts are given with two hands.

Dining Etiquette

. If invited to a home you will most likely have to remove your shoes. Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door.
. Dress conservatively.
. Arrive approximately 15 minutes later than the stipulated time when invited to dinner or a small gathering.
. You may arrive up to one hour later than the stipulated time when invited to a party.
. Show respect for the elders by greeting them first.
. In more rural areas, it is still common to eat meals from a knee-high round table while sitting on the floor.
. Many people in urban areas do not use eating utensils, although more westernized families do.
. When in doubt, watch what others are doing and emulate their behaviour.
. Guests are served first. Then the oldest, continuing in some rough approximation of age order until the youngest is served.
. Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins.
. You will be urged to take second and even third helpings. Saying "I'm full" will be taken as a polite gesture and not accepted at face value.
. Eat only with the right hand.
Business Etiquette & Protocol in Pakistan

Building Relationships & CommunicationCustoms in Pakistan

. Third-party introductions are a necessity in this relationship-driven culture.
. Pakistanis prefer to work with people they know and trust and will spend a great deal of time on the getting-to-know-you part of relationship building.
. You must not appear frustrated by what may appear to be purely social conversation. Pakistanis are hospitable and enjoy hosting foreign guests.
. Relationships take time to grow and must be nurtured. This may require several visits.
. Pakistanis often ask personal questions as a way to get to know you as a person.
. If possible, it is best to answer these questions.
. Pakistanis do not require as much personal space as most western cultures. As such, they will stand close to you while conversing and you may feel as if your personal space has been violated. Do not back away.
. Pakistanis are generally indirect communicators.
. Always demonstrate deference to the most senior person in the group.
. In general, Pakistanis speak in a roundabout or circuitous fashion. Direct statements are made only to those with whom they have a long-standing personal relationship.
. They also use a great deal of hyperbole and similes, and go out of their way to find something to praise.
. Be prepared to flatter and be flattered.
. Pakistanis prefer to converse in a non-controversial manner, so they will say they "will try" rather than admit that they cannot or will not be able to do something.
. Therefore, it is important to ask questions in several ways so you can be certain what was meant by a vague response. Silence is often used as a communication tool.
. Pakistanis prefer to do business in person. They see the telephone as too impersonal a medium for business communication.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are necessary and should be made, in writing, 3 to 4 weeks in advance, although meetings with private companies can often be arranged with less notice.
. The best time to schedule meetings is in the late morning or early afternoon.
. If at all possible, try not to schedule meetings during Ramadan. The workday is shortened, and since Muslims fast, they could not offer you tea, which is a sign of hospitality.
. You should arrive at meetings on time and be prepared to be kept waiting.
. Pakistanis in the private sector who are accustomed to working with international companies often strive for punctuality, but are not always successful.
. It is not uncommon to have a meeting cancelled at the last minute or even once you have arrived.
. In general, Pakistanis have an open-door policy, even when they are in a meeting. This means there may be frequent interruptions. Other people may wander into the room and start a different discussion.
. Meetings are formal.
. Business meetings start after prolonged inquiries about health, family, etc.
. Never inquire about a colleague's wife or daughters.
. During the first several meetings, business may not be discussed at all as the relationship is still being developed.
. Maintain indirect eye contact while speaking.

Negotiating

. Companies are hierarchical. Decisions are made by the highest-ranking person.
. Decisions are reached slowly. If you try to rush things, you will give offense and jeopardize your business relationship.
. The society is extremely bureaucratic. Most decisions require several layers of approval.
. It often takes several visits to accomplish simple tasks.
. If you change negotiators, negotiations will have to start over since relationships are to the person and not the company that they represent.
. Pakistanis are highly skilled negotiators.
. Price is often a determining factor in closing a deal.
. Pakistanis strive for win-win outcomes.
. Maintain indirect eye contact while speaking.
. Do not use high-pressure tactics.
. Pakistanis can become highly emotional during negotiations. Discussions may become heated and even revert to Urdu (the national language). It is imperative that you remain calm.

Business Card Etiquette

. Business cards are exchanged after the initial introduction.
. Include any advanced university degrees or professional honours on your card, as they denote status.
. Business cards are exchanged using the right hand only or with two hands.
. Make a point of studying any business card you receive before putting into your business card holder.

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/pakistan.html

 

[Desert Fox]

Ethnic groups of Pakistan (par 2): Pashtuns

Pashtuns People

Ibrahim Lodi · Sher Shah Suri · Rahman Baba
Khushal Khan · Mirwais Hotak · Ahmad Shah Durrani

Ayub Khan · Abdur Rahman Khan · Amanullah Khan
Abdul Ghaffar Khan · Abdul Ahad Momand · Hamid Karzai

Pashtuns (Pashto: پښتون Paṣ̌tun, Pax̌tun, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns), also called Pathans (Urdu: پٹھان, Hindi: पठान Paṭhān) or ethnic Afghans, are an Eastern Iranian ethno-linguistic group with populations primarily in Afghanistan, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Mianwali District, Attock District and in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. The Pashtuns are typically characterized by their usage of the Pashto language and practice of Pashtunwali, which is an ancient traditional living by special codes that has been preserved until modern day.







Pashtun society consists of many tribes and clans which were not politically united until the rise of the Hotaki followed by Durrani Empire in the early-18th century. Pashtuns played a vital role during the Great Game from the 19th century to the 20th century as they were caught between the imperialist designs of the British and Russian empires. For over 300 years, they reigned as the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan with nearly every ruler being a Pashtun. More recently, the Pashtuns gained worldwide attention during the 1980s Soviet war in Afghanistan and with the rise and fall of the Taliban, since they are the main ethnic contingent in the movement. Pashtuns are also an important community in Pakistan, where they have attained the presidency, high positions in the military, and are the second-largest ethnic group.


Demographics

The Pashtuns are the world's largest (patriarchal) segmentary lineage ethnic group. The total population of the group is estimated to be around 42 million, but an accurate count remains elusive due to the lack of an official census in Afghanistan since 1979. There are an estimated 60 major Pashtun tribes and more than 400 sub-clans.

The vast majority of Pashtuns are found in an area stretching from southeastern Afghanistan to northwestern Pakistan. Additional Pashtun communities are found in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and in the Khorasan Province of eastern Iran. There is also a sizeable community in India, which is of largely putative ancestry. Smaller Pashtun communities are located in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Europe and the Americas, especially in North America.

Important metropolitan centers of Pashtun culture include Kandahar, Quetta, Peshawar, Jalalabad and Swat. Kabul, Ghazni, and Kunduz are ethnically mixed cities with large Pashtun populations. The city of Karachi in Pakistan hosts one of the largest Pashtun populations in the world. In addition, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore also has sizable Pashtun population.

Pashtuns comprise roughly 15.42% of Pakistan's population, or 25.6 million people. In Afghanistan, they make up an estimated 42% of the population, according to the CIA World Factbook.[20] The exact numbers remain uncertain, particularly in Afghanistan, and are affected by approximately 1.7 million Afghan refugees that remain in Pakistan, a majority of which are Pashtuns. Another 937,600 registered Afghans live in Iran, according to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). A cumulative population assessment suggests a total of around 42 million across the region.

History and Origins/

The history of the Pashtun people is ancient, and much of it is not fully researched. Since the 2nd millennium BC, cities in the region now inhabited by Pashtuns have seen invasions and migrations, including by Indo-Iranians, Iranian peoples, Indo-Aryans, Medes, Achaemenids, Mauryas, Scythians, Kushans, Hephthalites, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, British, Russians, and more recently by the NATO forces.

There are many conflicting theories about the origin of Pashtuns, some modern and others archaic, both among historians and the Pashtuns themselves. Ahmad Hasan Dani, a popular Pakistani historian from Islamabad, believed that Gandhara was an ancient land of the Pashtuns. However, according to other historians and experts, the true origin of the Pashtuns is unknown.

Balochis:

The Baloch or Baluch (بلو&#1670 are the majority ethnic inhabitants of the region of Balochistan in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia, including parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is believed that they belong to the larger Iranian peoples.


The Baloch people speak Balochi, which is a branch of the Iranian languages. They mainly inhabit mountainous terrains, which have allowed them to maintain a distinct cultural identity and resist domination by neighboring rulers. The Baloch are predominantly Muslim, with most belonging to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. Some 60 percent of the total Baloch population live in Pakistan. About 25 percent inhabit the contiguous region of southeastern Iran. In Pakistan the Balochi people are divided into two groups, the Sulaimani and the Makrani, separated from each other by a compact block of Brahui tribes.

Despite contrasts and a variety of economic and cultural patterning – the Baloch social structure remains tribal. Tribal society is in all cases governed by a very definite constitution and system of laws regulating marriage, inheritance, religious observance, dispute resolution, decision-making, duties, rights and so forth. The Tribal society is the social system organized around extended family relations where rights and duties are conferred by tribal law, based on relationships of kinship. Baloch society has been formed through many influences; among the most important are tribalism and nomadism.

HISTORY / ORIGIN:

The South-Western region of Pakistan surrounded by the Afghan and Iranian borders is Balochistan. This is the largest province by area of the country. Historians suggest that Balochi people are directly descended from Amir Hamza, one of Muhammad’s uncles and they migrated into the transnational area of Balochistan from Syria. These migrations from Syria mainly occurred in about 5th century and were almost completed by the end of 7th century. Until the 12th century, Balochistan was inhabited by independent semi-nomadic groups, organized under respective clans. With the passage of time, the population of this region increased giving rise to the present tribal system in the area.

Officers of the 27th Bombay Native Infantry (1st Balochis), made up of Balochs, from the British Indian Army circa 1867.

Historians have several opinions about the origin of the name Baloch. Some suggest that with the arrival of Iranian tribes called Baluch, the province began to be known as Balochistan and its inhabitants were called Balochis. Others also maintain that the Baloch owe their name to Babylonian King 'Belus', also the name of their god. Some researchers also claim that the word Baloch is made up to two Sanskrit words Bal meaning strength or power and Och meaning high or magnificent.

Baloch men in their national dress, 1910.

LANGUAGES:

The language spoken by Baloch people is Balochi. Today only about 3% of Pakistani population speaks this language. This language is mainly spread by nomadic tribes and is mostly oral with rich poetry and legends passed down by word of mouth. Jam Darang is known as the most important Balochi writer of love ballads in Balochi culture. Balochi is unfortunately one of the most neglected languages in the country. Most of the inhabitants are immigrants or government officers who don’t speak Balochi, which leads Balochi to be rarely spoken in most of the province. Brahui is the second most common language amongst Balochi people. It is a language of unknown origins with many Iranian words. Pashto is another language spoken by the Balochs.

FESTIVALS:

The Baloch people celebrate several social and religious festivals. The two major Religious festivals of Eid-ul-Azha and Eid-ul-Fitr are celebrated in the region. On these occasions people embellish their houses, wear new dresses, prepare special means and arrange get-togethers. One of the most popular festivals of the region is Sibi festival that has its roots to Mehergar, an archaeological site of ancient human civilization. Folk music performance, traditional dances, handicrafts stalls, cattle shows and other amusing activities attract the people from all over the country. Buzkashi is another popular festival demonstrating the valor of Balochs. It is celebrated by two teams riding on horses showing their skills to snatch goat from the other.

ARTS AND MUSIC:

Baloch has a rich musical culture. Music has a significant role on all occasions except ceremonies of death. Most of the Balochi Music is based on Zaheerag which is a kind of melancholic music. The instruments used are mainly a flute, locally called Nal, Tamboora and Soroz. Thanksgiving dances are made of joy at the time of positive weather changes and harvests, which are collectively performed in groups. A special religious dance is carried out by a Baloch sect known as Chogaa. Another common Baloch folk dance is known as Dochaap. In this dance men gather and dance in groups, clapping hands with the movement of foot, neck and head with rhythmical music on drums. On various occasions, women also move in a circle clapping their hands. Other dances include the Lewa, which is thought to be of Arabic origin, along with Latti and Hambo said to be of ancient Balochi origin, are also very popular.

Baloch people give a great importance to the occasion of birth. The occasion is celebrated by music, singing and dancing. Women visit and sing domestic songs such as ‘Sipath’ praise songs to the mother.

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE:

According to researchers, no sophisticated religious institutions are evident in Baloch society. There are regular tribal institutions instead of religious priesthoods. Baloch people are distinguished for their attitude towards religious tolerance. They have a more liberal and secular mindset compared with the other nations across the country. Despite the fact that Baloch are considered to be secular, Baloch society is dominated by tribal chiefs, locally called Sardars. Honor killings for violating the laws are common. These traditional tribal punishments, which contradict Pakistani as well as International Laws, have come to the light due to awareness campaigns of NGOs and Government Agencies.

LIFESTYLE:

Due to the rugged and irregular terrain, agricultural activities are difficult to carry out. The scarcity of a plentiful supply of water is another reason for this province to remain neglected in agricultural developments. As a result, people mainly lead a nomadic lifestyle bringing up their animals and moving from place to place in search of pastures. Lower Coastal Region of the province also gives chance for productive fishing activities and these are mostly exported. The province is rich in mineral resources, which provide most of the job opportunities for local people. The entertainment in Baloch culture is limited to games, music and dancing. The most popular among the games for the adults is horse racing and archery. Betting on the games by participants themselves or by on-lookers is in fashion.

Baloch people are extremely hospitable. A guest is a mark of respect and held in honor. Even the enemy, once entered in the house, would get the treatment of an honored guest. On the other hand, bravery and courage are the only criteria for getting respect from the common folk. Everybody fully praises the men who fall in battle, or die in avenging a wrong done to him or his neighbor

CULTURAL DRESSES:

The cultural dressing in Baloch tradition is very much similar to that of Pashtuns tribes with some dissimilarity. Men usually wear a turban, a headdress consisting of a long cloth wrapped around head. They also wear a wide loose trouser, locally called a shalwar with knee long shirts, locally called qamis. The dress of women also consists of shalwar and qamis with a delicate embroidery work on mirror pieces. A long piece of cloth, termed as chaddar is worn by women cascading down the shoulders and used to cover their heads.

Panjabis

The Punjabi people (Punjabi:ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ,پنجابی also Panjabi people) are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group from South Asia. They originate from the Punjab region, which has been host to some of the oldest civilizations in the world including one of the world's first and oldest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization. The Punjabi identity is primarily cultural and linguistic, with Punjabis being those whose first language is Punjabi, an Indo-European and Indo-Scythian tongue. In recent times, however, the definition has been broadened to include also emigrants of Punjabi descent who maintain Punjabi cultural traditions, even when they no longer speak the language.

Allama Dr. Sir Mohammad Iqbal
علامہ محمد اقبال



Punjabis are mostly and primarily found in the Punjab region, of India and Pakistan, which forms the present Indian state of Punjab and Pakistan province of Punjab , this is because the Punjab region was divided between the two nations at independence from Britain. In Pakistan, Punjabis comprise the largest ethnic group at roughly 60% of the total population of the country and reside predominantly in the province of Punjab and Azad Kashmir. In India, Punjabis represent about 3% of the population. The majority of Punjabi-speaking people in India can be found across the greater Punjab region which comprises the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Besides these, large communities are also found in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian states of Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

Punjabi is the dominant language spoken in Pakistan, and 11th most spoken language in India and 3rd most spoken language in South Asia. According to the Ethnologue 2005 estimate[5], there are 88 million native speakers of the Punjabi language, which makes it approximately the 11th most widely spoken language in the world. According to the 2008 Census of Pakistan[6], there are approximately 76,335,300 native speakers of Punjabi in Pakistan, and according to the Census of India, there are over 29,102,477 Punjabi speakers in India[7]. Punjabi is also spoken as a minority language in several other countries where Punjabis have emigrated in large numbers, such as the United Kingdom (where it is the second most commonly used language[8]) and Canada, where in recent times Punjabi has grown fast and has now become the fourth most spoken language.[9]. Punjabi is the 2nd most common language in the UK after English. The 4th most common spoken language in Canada after English, French and Chinese. There are also sizable communities in United States, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Persian Gulf countries, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Punjabis are ethno-linguistically and culturally related to the other Indo-Aryan peoples of South Asia. There are an estimated 120 million Punjabis around the world.

Pakistani Punjabis

Punjabis make up almost 45% of the population of Pakistan. The Punjabis found in Pakistan belong to groups known as biradaris, which descend from a common male ancestor. In addition, Punjabi society is divided into two divisions, the zamindar groups or qoums, traditionaly associated with farming and the moeens, who are traditionally artisans. Zamindars are further divided into qoums that claim pre-Islamic ancestry such as the Rajput, Jat, Shaikhs or (Muslim Khatri), Kambohs, Gujjars, Dogars and Rahmani (Muslim Labana). Zamindar groups claiming Central Asian or Middle Eastern ancestry include the Gakhars, Khattar, Awan, Mughal and Arain, comprising the main tribes in the north of the province, while Khagga, Bodla, Jhandir, Daudpota, Gardezi, Syed and Quraishi are found in the south, all of whom claim Arab ancestry. Immigrants from neighbouring regions, such as the Kashmiri, Pashtun and Baluch ,also form important element in the Punjabi population. Pashtun tribes like the Niazis and the Khakwanis, are integrated into Punjabi village life. Especially the members of the Niazi tribe, who see themselves as Punjabis first. They have big communities in Mianwali, Bakkar, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh. Major Moeen groups include the Lohar, Khateek, Rawal, Chhimba Darzi, Teli, Julaha, Mallaah, Mirasi and Muslim Shaikhs, who are associated with a particular crafts or occupation.



Punjabis have traditionally and historically been farmers and soldiers, which has transferred into modern times with their dominance of agriculture and military fields in Pakistan. In addition, Punjabis in Pakistan have been quite prominent politically, having had many elected Members of Parliament. As the most ardent supporters of a Pakistani state, the Punjabis in Pakistan have shown a strong predilection towards the adoption of the Urdu language but nearly all speak Punjabi, and still identify themselves as ethnic Punjabis for the most part. Religious homogeneity remains elusive as a predominant Islamic Sunni-Shia population and a Christian minority have not completely wiped out diversity since the partition of British India. A variety of related sub-groups exist in Pakistan and are often considered by many Pakistani Punjabis to be simply regional Punjabis including the Seraikis (who overlap and are often considered transitional with the Sindhis) and Punjabi Pathans (which publications like Encyclopædia Britannica consider a transitional group between Punjabis and Pathans.


Language:
Due to vast area of land where Punjabi is spoken, different local variations or dialects have developed.

Majhi: Spoken in the heart of Punjab i.e., Lahore , Sialkot, Gujaranwala, Gurdaspur, Amritsar. Most of the population of Punjab lives in this area and linguists also say that Majhi dialect is the "Tixali boli" i.e., it has been influenced by all other dialects.

Malwi: Spoken in the east Punjab area of Ludhiana, Ambala, Bathinda, Ganganagar, Maleerkotla Fazilka, Ferozepur. This area (Malwa) is the southern and central part of present day Indian Punjab. Also includes the Punjabi speaking areas of Haryana, viz. Ambala, Hissar, Sirsa, Kurukhetra etc. (northern parts of Haryana mainly).

Doabi: Land between the rivers of Beas and Satluj is called Doaba. Do Aaba lierally means "the land between two waters" in Persian. It includes Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, and large number of Punjabis from this area have gone out to U.K., USA, Canada or elsewhere.

Pothohari: The area where Pothohari is spoken extends in the north from Kashmir to as far south as Jehlum and Gujar Khan and includes the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. The whole area (i.e. the north-west of Punjab) is beautiful scenic area. It's here that the beautiful hilly resorts of Murree, Ayubia, Nathia-Gali lies. This dialect is similar to some extent to the Hindko dialect of Punjabi which is spoken in Peshawar, Nowshehra, Mansehra all these areas lie in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan where majority language is Pashto, but Hindko speakers area also found in sizable numbers.

Jhangvi: The region where Jhangvi is spoken stretches from Khanewal to Jhang and includes the cities of Faisalabad, Chiniot. Jhangvi dialect is also called the "Jangli" dialect of Punjabi. This is the land of Heer/Ranjha. Their tomb is located in Jhang city. Sultan Bahu is an important saint of this area.

Multani: The dialect spoken in Multan, Bahawalpur, Khairpur, Daira Ghazi Khan, Muzafar Garh i.e., southern deserts of Punjab is called Multani (also Lehndi by some) and perhaps differs from Punjabi more than any other dialect. This is the land of Muslim Sufis, perhaps "Shah Shams Sabazwari" who came to Multan in 1165 AD was the first in a long series of Sufis to base themselves in Multan.

Clothing: Women's clothing normally consists of a piece of colorful cloth that women wear around their necks. Salwar kameez's and duppattas come in a variety of colors and designs. Many stores specialize and sell only these articles of clothing. Men and boys generally wear loose pants or slacks with a collared shirt or t-shirt. Some males also wear the kurta pajama, a shirt and pant outfit, especially the Punjabi farmer. On their head, many Sikhs also wear bhuggs, or turbins. In winter, both women and men generally wear a woolen shawl, a small blanket, around their necks. Many men wear jackets and woolen caps as well.

Music: There are many different varieties of Punjabi music. Traditional Punjabi music includes instruments such as the dhol drum, flute, dholak, and tumbi. Singers such as Pathanay Khan mainly based his music on the dholak and tumbi. Many other artists use dhol drum as their primary instrument. People generally refer to Punjabi music based on the dhol drum as Bhangra. These days, besides using the traditional instruments, some artists use computers and Western instruments to accompany their Bhangra music. Many races of people and religions made up the cultural heritage of the Punjab. Punjab is the land where spiritual aspirations arose. This heroic land bore numerous invasions, and after all its suffering, did not entirely lose its glory and its strength.

Sindhis

Sindhis (Sindhi: سنڌي (Perso-Arabic), सिन्धी (Devanagari)) are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province of Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Muslim, Zorastrian, Hindus and Christians. After the Partition of India in 1947, a large number of Indian Muslim refugees (Muhajirs) flocked into Pakistan and settled in the prosperous Sindh region. At the same time Sindhi Hindus migrated to India in large numbers.



Muhammad Ali Jinnah Urdu: محمد علی جناح
Father of The Nation Pakistan


Ubaidullah Sindhi,Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto,Benazir Bhutto


Mumtaz Bhutto,Danish Kaneria,L.K. Advani

Sindhhi refers to an Indo-Aryan language speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating in Sindhh which is part of present day Pakistan. Sindhhis that live in Pakistan are predominantly Muslim, while many Sindhhi Hindus emigrated to India when British India was divided in 1947. Some Sindhhi speaking people of formerly untouchable castes known as Haris and practising what is generally known as folk Hinduism are still found in rural Pakistan.

History:

Sind is one of the four provinces in Pakistan located at the Southern border. The province of Sind has its name derived from the famous River Indus. In Sanskrit, the province was dubbed Sindhu meaning an ocean. Around 3000 B.C, Dravidian cultures developed and give rise to the Indus Valley Civilization. According to the Historians, Indus Valley Civilization declined due to the natural disasters such as floods but the invasions of Indo- Arians caused the sudden collapse of it.

In the recent history, Sindh was conquested by the British in 1843. Sind province remained the part of British India until 1947 when it was made one of the provinces of Pakistan.

Languague:

Sindhi language evolved over a period of 2400 years. The language of the people of Sindh, after coming in contact with the Aryan, became Indo-Aryan (Prakrit). Sindhi language, therefore, has a solid base of Prakrit as well as Sanskrit, the language of India, with vocabulary from Arabic, Persian, and some Dravidian - descendants from Mediterranean sub-continent. Initially, Sindhi had close contacts with Arabic- speaking Muslims. Therefore the language adopted many of the Arabic words.

Sindhi language is also greatly influenced by Sanskrit and about 70% of the words in Sindhi are of Sanskrit origin.Sindhi is a very rich language with a vast vocabulary; this has made it a favourite of many writers and so a lot of literature and poetry has been written in Sindhi. It has been the inspiration for Sindhi art, music, literature, culture and the way of life. The language can be written using the Devanagri or Arabic script

Festivals:

The people of Sind love their religion and the two festivals of Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr are celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm. Different domestic festivals are arranged by the local people to provide people with new things they buy on Eid’s occasion. On different occasions, the Folk dance of Bhagat is also performed by professionals to entertain the visiting people. Hence, a Sindhi Cultural Festival is a compound of folk dances, music and cheap entertainment for local people.

Lifestyle:

People of Sindh are more inclined towards an agricultural based lifestyle. The fertile Indus Plains provide a valuable source of income for the local people who practice farming on these lands. Inland fishing is also practiced along the Indus River in Upper Sind providing further opportunities for local people. Nomadic way of lifestyle is commonly seen in the desertic regions of Thar where people move from place to place in search for drinking water sources along with their animals.

Arts and Music:


Sindhi society is dominated by great Sufis, the mystics and the martyrs. It has always been the land of peace, love, romance, and great cultural and artistic values. There were the great theologians of the Naqshbandi order in Thatta who translated the fundamentals of the religion of Islam into their mother tongue. There were the great Sufi (mystic) poets like Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai who was the cherisher of truth and spent all his life in its propagation, pursuit and quest. Bhitai was also an excellent musician. He invented a new type of musical instrument, Tambura (drone instrument), which till today, is a primary source of music in rural Sindh. The beauty of Shah's verses is enhanced by his blending of traditional Indian rag with the Sindhi folk songs and music.


Siraikis

The Saraiki people (Perso-Arabic: سرائيکی, Gurmukhi: ਸਰਾਇਕ&#2624 or Multani people (Perso-Arabic: ملتانی, Devanagari: मुल्तानी, Gurmukhi: ਮੁਲਤਾਨ&#2624 are an ethnic group from the south-eastern areas of Pakistan, especially in the area of the former princely state of Bahawalpur and the districts of Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Sehwan, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Hyderabad, Sindh, Mirpurkhas, Multan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, MuzafarGarh, Layyah, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Dera Ismail Khan, Karachi. A significant number of Saraikis also reside in India, with most concentrated in the state of Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat.[1] The Saraikis maintain that they have a separate language and culture, but their language is often viewed as a dialect of Sindhi or Punjabi. While the majority of Saraikis follow Islam, a few also follow Hinduism and Sikhism.

History

At the time of independence of Pakistan in 1947, Muslims constituted between 90 to 75% of the population of Saraiki speaking region of West Pakistan. While the Hindus and Sikhs constituted between 10 and 25% of the population of the regions in West Punjab, nearly all Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India in 1947, while a substantial number remigrated later to the United Kingdom from India, among other countries. The Muslims of East Punjab were also around 45%, nearly all migrated to Pakistani and Saraiki areas. Sindh also had Hindus and Sikhs population of 25% at time of independence of West Pakistan, most of them migrated to India, many of them remigrated from India to the other parts of the world.

A Saraiki campaign (struggle) grew in the 1960s with the aims of establishing language rights and stopping what was seen as exploitation and repression by the traditionally Punjabi dominated government. Saraiki land has always been very fertile, producing much of Pakistan's wheat and cotton. However little money has been re-invested, and this has led to impoverishment and underdevelopment. The current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousuf Raza Gilani, is Saraiki native, and has initiated several projects to uplift the region particularly in and around Multan.

The campaign continued on into the 1970s, by which time political activists had drawn up a map of a proposed new province to be carved out of central Pakistan named Saraikistan[citation needed], including most of southern Punjab and Dera Ismail Khan in the North-West Frontier Province (this excluded Sindhi and Baloch areas, possibly because of strong nationalist movements in those regions). The movement, however, was not an independence movement, but rather a movement for the establishment of a separate province within Pakistan.

In 1977 General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq took power in a coup of Pakistan. Under his strongly centralist rule the Saraiki movement went underground. The death of General Zia in a plane crash in 1988 gave the impetus for the Saraiki movement to re-emerge. By now the aims were to have a Saraiki nationality recognised, to have official documents printed in Saraiki, a Saraiki regiment in the army, employment quotas and more Saraiki language radio and television (recently one channel is working).

In 1993 moves were made to settle Biharis in Saraiki areas. This was resisted violently by the Saraikis and the plan was eventually shelved.

Mountain tribes of Pakistan:

THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER: THE PATHANS

The Pthans (also Pushtun, Pakhtun, ethnic Afghan, or Pashtun) are an ethno-linguistic group consisting mainly of eastern Iranian stock living primarily in eastern and southern Afghanistan, and the North West Frontier, Federally Administered Tribal Area and Baluchistan provinces of Pakistan. Large additional colonies can be found in the, Northern Area and Azad Kashmir and there are thought to be about 3 million in the city of Karachi, 1 million in Islamabad/ Rawalpindi and an additional million in Lahore, as well as being scattered throughout other parts of Afghanistan. There are smaller communities in Iran and India, and a large migrant worker community in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. The Pathans are typically characterized by their language, their pre-Islamic indigenous code of honor and culture Pashtunwali, and adherence to Islam.

@indians: read more at this link: Explore Pakistan | People & Culture| THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER: THE PATHANS

 

[FNFAL]

Then why do you people consider us terrorists? Why does Indian gov not allow Pakistani channels in India? Why the double standards and hypocrisy???

I tried once, but then they were primary concerned with the punjabis of pakistan.
Its like they just give snub out the other groups.