CULTURE OF PAKISTAN!

What Is Culture?
Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes,
meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe,
and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations
through individual and group striving.

About Pakistan:
The Islamic republic of Pakistan emerged as an independent sovereign state on 14th August
1947, as a result of the division of former British India. It lies between 23-35 to 37- 05 north
latitude and 60-50 to 77- 50 east longitude touching the Hindukush Mountains in the north and
extending from the Pamirs to the Arabian Sea.
Pakistan covers 796,095 sq.km with a population of 132.35 million according to population
census 1998.

It is divided into four provinces:

1) Sindh,
2) Punjab,
3) North West Frontier Province
4) Balochistan.

These cultures have been greatly influenced by, and have themselves influenced, many of the
surrounding countries' cultures, such as those of Afghanistan, Iran, India, Central Asia and the
Middle East. More recently western countries such as the UK, Germany and the USA have been
influenced by the Pakistani culture! In ancient times Pakistan was a major cultural hub, the home
of ancient civilizations, such as the Indus Valley Civilization - one of the first 'settled' peoples.
Many cultural practices and great monuments have been inherited from the time of the many
ancient rulers of the region. One of the most influenced cultures is that of the Persian Empire.
other key influences include the Afghan Empire and later the short lived but influential Mughal
Empire.

Pakistan has a rich cultural and ethnic background going back to the Indus Valley Civilization,
2800 BC – 1800 BC. A civilization remarkable for its ordered cities, advanced-planned sanitation,
straight roads and uniquely structured society. Present day Pakistan has been invaded many
times in the past. it has been occupied and settled by many different peoples each of whom have
left their imprint on the current inhabitants of the country. Some of the largest groups were the
'Aryans', Greeks, Scythians, Persians, White Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongols and other Eurasian
groups right up until the British who left in the late 1940s.

The region has formed a distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of South Asia, the
Middle East and Central Asia from the earliest times. There are differences in culture among the
different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion, especially where pre-Islamic
customs differ from Islamic practices. Their cultural origins also show influences from far afield;
including from: Tibet, Nepal, India and eastern Afghanistan. All groups show varying degrees of
significant influence from Persia, Turkestan and Hellenistic Greece. Pakistan was the first part of
the subcontinent to receive the full impact of Islam. Developing a unique Islamic identity and has
developed a distinct Islamic identity-historically different from that further west.

Ancient sites in Pakistan include: Zorastrian, Buddhist, Hindu and Pagan temples and shrines,
gardens, tombs, palaces, monuments, pleasure grounds and Mughal and Indo-Saracenic
buildings. Sculpture is dominated by Greco-Buddhist friezes, and crafts by ceramics, jewellery,
silk goods and engraved woodwork and metalwork.
1) PAKISTANI SOCIETY:
Pakistani society is largely multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural. Though cultures within the
country differ to some extent, more similarities than differences can be found as most Pakistanis
are of mainly 'Aryan' heritage and/or have lived side by side along the Indus River for the past
several thousand years and coexisted. However, over 60 years of integration, a distinctive
"Pakistani" culture has sprung up especially in the urban areas. Education is highly regarded by
members of every socio-economic stratum. The traditional family values are highly respected and
considered sacred, although urban families increasingly form nuclear families, owing to the socio-
economic constraints imposed by the traditional culture of extended family.

The past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as Karachi, Lahore,
Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Sialkot, Abbottabad and Multan.
The rural areas of Pakistan are regarded as more conservative and are dominated by regional
tribal customs dating back hundreds of years.

2) PAKISTANI RELIGION 'ISLAM':

Islam Is a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of the Islamic prophet
Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. The word Islam means
"submission", or the total surrender of oneself to God. An adherent of Islam is known as a
Muslim, meaning "one who submits [to God]".The word Muslim is the participle of the same verb
of which Islām is the infinitive. There are between 1 billion and 1.8 billion Muslims,
making Islam the second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity.

Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet,
through the angel Gabriel, and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (words and deeds
of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam.They do not regard Muhammad
as the founder of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original monotheistic faith
of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. Islamic tradition holds that Jews and
Christians distorted the revelations God gave to these prophets by either altering the
text, introducing a false interpretation, or both.

Islam includes many religious practices. Adherents are generally required to observe
the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five duties that unite Muslims into a community. In
addition to the Five Pillars, Islamic law (sharia) has developed a tradition of rulings
that touch on virtually all aspects of life and society. This tradition encompasses
everything from practical matters like dietary laws and banking to warfare and
welfare. Almost all Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, the Sunni
(85%) and Shi'a (15%). The schism developed in the late 7th century following
disagreements over the religious and political leadership of the Muslim community.
Islam is the predominant religion in much of Africa and the Middle East, as well as in
major parts of Asia. Large communities are also found in China, the Balkan Peninsula
in Eastern Europe and Russia. There are also large Muslim immigrant communities in
other parts of the world, such as Western Europe. Of the total world Muslim
population, about 20% live in the Arab countries (where Muslims comprise majority
populations, with Christian and other religious minorities of differing sizes by
country), 30% in the countries of the Indian subcontinent, and 15.6% in Indonesia
alone, which is the largest Muslim country in absolute numbers.

3) PAKISTAN LITERATURE:
Pakistan literature, that is, the literature of Pakistan, as a distinct literature gradually came into
being after Pakistan gained its nationhood as a sovereign state in 1947, while remaining largely in
the shadow of Indian English Literature. The common and shared tradition of Urdu literature and
English literature of India was inherited by the new state. Over a period of time, a body of
literature unique to Pakistan has emerged in nearly all major Pakistani languages, including Urdu,
English, Punjabi, Balochi, Pushto and Sindhi.
The nature of Pakistani literature soon after independence aroused controversy among writers
due to its being centred heavily on the negative events related to the India-Pakistan partition.
According to Gilani Kamran (GC University), Pakistani literature was expected to take a new
direction along with the new state of Pakistan at this point, but did not immediately meet this
expectation.

Saadat Hassan Manto (1912-1955), a prominent writer of short stories of the South Asia,
produced great literature out of the events relating to the India-Pakistan independence. The
literature, which came out of the period that followed, is considered to have been progressive in
its tone and spirit. According to several critics it had not only evolved its own identity, but also had
played a significant role in documenting the hardships and hopes of Pakistan in the latter part of
the 20th century.

Today, Pakistani literature has taken a shape of its own by depicting the complex class system
and common man. it also has evolved in merging Urdu literary forms and English literature that
means a lot of experimenatation. many writers of fiction borrow from English and vice versa.
Pakistani literature has its platform, Pakistan Academy of Letters, chaired by Iftikhar Arif, a
prominent figure in literary circles.

4) PAKISTANI POETRY:
Pakistan has a rich and diverse tradition of poetry. This tradition partakes of Urdu poetry,
Pakistan's national language and the regional languages of Pakistan including Sindhi poetry,
Pashto poetry, Punjabi poetry, Seraiki poetry, Baluchi Poetry, and Kashmiri poetry. Sufi poetry
known as Sufiana Kalam has a strong tradition in Pakistan and the poetry of popular Sufi poets is
often recited and sung.

Persian poetry, is still common in Pakistan because of the centuries of Persian influence on the
region. Many sufi poets wrote their Kalam in Persian. Pakistan's national poet Allama Mohammad
Iqbal also wrote many volumes of poetry in Persian.

Poetry is widely read across Pakistan. Gatherings for thr recitations of poetry known as Mushaira
frequently take place. Verses of popular poets are also used as political slogans by political
activists.

5) PERFORMING ARTS IN PAKISTAN:

a) Music
b) Dance
c) Drama and Theatre

A) MUSIC:
Pakistani music is represented by a wide variety of forms. It ranges from traditional styles such as
Qawwali and Ghazal to more modern forms that try to fuse traditional Pakistani music with
Western music. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was internationally renowned for creating a form of music
which synchronized Qawwali with western music. Popular forms of music also prevail, the most
notable being film music and Urdu and Punjabi pop music. In addition to this are the diverse
traditions of folk music, as well as modern styles such as rock with bands such as Junoon, Nazia
Hassan and Zohaib Hassan has been recognized internationally.

The Music of Pakistan includes diverse elements ranging from music from other parts of South
Asia as well as Central Asian folk music, Persian music, Turkish music, Arabic music as well as
more modern American music influences. With the multiple influences, Pakistani music has
emerged as a "fusion" of many other types of sounds together to form a distinctly Pakistani
sound.

Qawwali:
Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, particularly in areas with a
historically strong Muslim presence, such as southern Pakistan, and parts of North India. The
style is rare, though not entirely absent, in North and West Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Kashmir.
It's a vibrant musical tradition that stretches back more than 700 years. Often listeners, and even
artists themselves, are transported to a state of wajad, a trance-like state where they feel at one
with God, generally considered to be the height of spiritual ecstasy in Sufism, and the ultimate
goal of the practice.

Originally performed mainly at Sufi shrines or dargahs throughout the subcontinent, it has also
gained mainstream popularity. Qawwali music received international exposure through the work
of the late Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, largely due to several releases on the Real
World label, followed by live appearances at WOMAD festivals. Other famous Qawwali singers
include Pakistan's Sabri Brothers.

Although famous throughout the world, its hub remains the Punjab province of Pakistan from
where it gained entry into the mainstream commercial music industry and international fame.

Ghazal:
consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain. Each line must share the same meter. A ghazal may
be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love
in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century pre-Islamic Arabic verse. It is
derived from the Arabian panegyric qasida. The structural requirements of the ghazal are similar
in stringency to those of the Petrarcan sonnet. In its style and content it is a genre which has
proved capable of an extraordinary variety of expression around its central themes of love and
separation. It is one of the principal poetic forms the Indo-Perso-Arabic civilization offered to the
eastern Islamic world.

The ghazal spread into South Asia in the 12th century under the influence of the new Islamic
Sultanate courts and Sufi mystics. Although the ghazal is most prominently a form of Persian
poetry and Urdu poetry, today, it is found in the poetry of many languages.

Ghazals were written by the Persian mystics and poets Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi (13th
century) and Hafez (14th century), the Azeri poet Fuzuli (16th century), as well as Mirza Ghalib
(1797–1869) and Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938), who both wrote ghazals in Persian and Urdu.
Through the influence of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), the ghazal became very
popular in Germany in the 19th century, and the form was used extensively by Friedrich Rückert
(1788–1866) and August von Platen (1796–1835). The Kashmiri-American poet Agha Shahid Ali
was a proponent of the form, both in English and in other languages; he edited a volume of "real
ghazals in English".

B) DANCE:
Classical dances such as Kathak partonised by the Mughals are on the decline in Pakistan due to
lack of state patronage.

But folk dances are still popular in Pakistan and vary according to region such as:

Bhangra -Punjab
Luddi - Punjab
Dhammal - Performed at Sufi shrines/ dargahs in Punjab and Sindh
Attan - NWFP
Khattak Dance - NWFP

1) Bhangra:
Bhangra has developed as a combination of dances from different parts of the Punjab region. The
term "Bhangra" now refers to several kinds of dances and arts, including Jhumar, Luddi, Giddha,
Julli, Daankara, Dhamal, Saami, Kikli, and Gatka. Jhumar, originally from Sandalbar, Punjab,
comprises an important part of Punjab folk heritage. It is a graceful dance, based on a specific
Jhumar rhythm. Dancers circle around a drum player while singing a soft chorus.

A person performing the Luddi dance places one hand behind his head and the other in front of
his face, while swaying his head and arms. He typically wears a plain loose shirt and sways in a
snake-like manner. Like a Jhumar dancer, the Luddi dancer moves around a dhol player. Women
have a different and much milder dance called Giddha. The dancers enact verses called bolis,
representing a wide variety of subjects - everything from arguments with a sister-in-law to political
affairs. The rhythm of the dance depends not only the drums, but also on the handclaps of the
dancers. Daankara is a dance of celebration, typically performed at weddings. Two men, each
holding colorful staves, dance around each other in a circle while tapping their sticks together in
rhythm with the drums. Dancers also form a circle while performing Dhamal. They also hold their
arms high, shake their shoulders and heads, and yell and scream. Dhamal is a true folk-dance,
representing the heart of Bhangra. Women of the Sandalbar region traditionally are known for the
Saami. The dancers dress in brightly colored kurtas and full flowing skirts called lehengas. Like
Daankara, Kikli features pairs of dancers, this time women. The dancers cross their arms, hold
each other's hands, and whirl around singing folk songs. Occasionally four girls join hands to
perform this dance. Gatka is a Punjabi Sikh martial art in which people use swords, sticks, or
daggers. Historians believe that the sixth Sikh guru started the art of gatka after the martyrdom of
fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev. Wherever there is a large Khalsa Punjabi Sikh population, there will be
Gatka participants, often including small children and adults. These participants usually perform
Gatka on special Punjabi holidays.

In addition to these different dances, a Bhangra performance typically contains many energetic
stunts. The most popular stunt is called the moor, or peacock, in which a dancer sits on
someone's shoulders, while another person hangs from his torso by his legs. Two-person towers,
pyramids, and various spinning stunts are also popular.

2) Bhangra Outfits:
Traditional men wear a chaadra while doing Bhangra. A chaadra is a piece of cloth wrapped
around the waist. Men also wear a kurta, which is a long Indian-style shirt. In addition, men wear
Pugdee - also known as turbans - to cover their heads.

In modern times, men also wear turla - the fan attached to the pugdee. Colorful vest are worn
above the kurta. Fumans - small balls attached to ropes - are worn on each arm.

Women wear a traditional Punjabi dress known as a ghagra. A ghagra is a long colorful skirt
which fans out into a giant disk as a woman twirls. Women also wear duppattas, colorful pieces of
cloth wrapped around their neck. Many Bhangra songs make references to the duppatta. Also,
women wear suits called salwars kamiz; long baggy pants tight at the ankle (salwars) and a long
colorful shirt (qamiz).

These items are all very colorful and vibrant, representing the rich rural colors of Punjab.[16]
Besides the above, the Bhangra dress has different parts that are listed below in detail:

Turla or Torla which is a fan like adornment on the turban

Pag (turban, a sign of pride/honor in Punjab). This is tied differently than the traditional turban one
sees Sikhs wearing in the street. This turban has to be tied before each show
Kaintha (necklace), some men even wear earrings like the large hoops worn by the women
dancers
Kurta - Similar to a silk shirt, with about 4 buttons, very loose with embroidered patterns.
Lungi or Chadar, A loose loincloth tied around the dancer’s waist, which is usually very
decorated.
Jugi: A waistcoat, with no buttons.
Rammal: Small 'scarves' worn on the fingers. They look very elegant and are effective when the
hands move during the course of bhangra performance.

3) Khattak Dance:
Khattak is a swift martial sword-dance performed by professional dancers from the Khattak tribe
of Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is not a Pashtun folk dance, as is widely believed,
because Pashtun men do not enjoy dancing. The dance may also be confused with the classical
Indian style of dance known as Kathak, but is quite different.

Khattak is a dance performed very quickly, set to uptempo music featuring the piper, clarion, and
drums beaten with sticks. Up to 40 men dance together wielding swords or handkerchiefs,
performing acrobatic feats. The fast tempo of Khattak distinguishes it from other Atanr, which
start slow and pick up speed as the dance progresses.

The Khattak dance has three forms; Shahdola, Bhangrha, and Bulbullah. These words are not
found in the Pashto language, giving rise to the belief that the dance may have been "borrowed"
from another culture. The dance comprises 12 steps, which require great skill on the part of the
dancers. The dancer alternates between performing solo, and syncronizing with the rest of the
troupe.

In the Bhangrah, every member swirls while carrying swords. In the Derabi, two youths, each
carrying a sword and a handkerchief, start dancing in front of a man with a surnai, while the rest
of the troupe members wait for their turn. In the Laila, a group of four performers holding two
swords each perform stunts while moving in a circle.

Braghoni is the fastest and the most adventurous of all steps, which a single dancer performs
with three swords. He swings two swords in the air while holding the third in his mouth. Bulbullah
is the last of the twelve steps, staged without swords. The dancers sing a love song, instead of a
martial song, at a high pitch, which is meant to convey to the audience that they would like to be
tipped for their performance. At the end of the song, the drumbeat increases and the dance goes
on.

4) Attan Dance:
Attan is basically Afghan or Pashtoon's March Past or parade,which is usually performed by
Afghan in the time of war,lashkar and wedding.It is also called a traditional Pashtun/Afghan dance
and the national dance of Afghanistan. Participants move in circles while clapping their hands to
the rhythm and spinning around. The Attan is done differently in many of the different
pakhtoon/pashtun tribes. Some styles of Atan portray themes of war while others portray
celebration, especially for events such as marriage, engagements, family gatherings and also as
a prelude to the arrival of spring.

Performers often wear traditional, sequined Afghan dress. The Pashtun Attan has gone on to
become the national dance of Afghanistan where it is performed by Pashtuns and Persians alike.
Its duration differs from 10 minutes to 1 hour, it's a very popular dance especially by the
Paktyawals. Pakti's Attan is the most famous attan. there sre several types of Atan, but the most
famous one is the Atan of the Mangal, Ahmadzai, Zazai and Zadran tribes. Khan Qarabaghai,
Khair Mohammad Khandan, Amin Ulfat, Bahram Jan, Noor Mohammad Katawazai, Abdullah
Muqrai, Baryalai Samadi and Daud Hanif are the most famous Attan singers. There was an Attan
competition in Mississauga which was won by Mosa Nurzay Kakar, the best youth leader award
was won by Samir Nawabzadah Popalzay.
Attan dance is very popular in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan as well. Kamal
Mehsood one of the artist of South Waziristan Agency is known to be the promoter of different
Attan's Song and tunes. The Mehsood tribe have their unique styles performing Attan on the
beats of the drums. The beater of the drum known as "Dum", which instantaneously change the
rhythm, is circled by the performers. The Khattak Dance performed with swords is particularly
popular in Pakistan and even performed at various military and state occasions.

6) DRAMA AND THEATRE:

Studying theatre and the performing arts develops aesthetics. This in turn helps to develop an
appreciation for the arts which develop personality and teach careful analytical techniques with
which one is able to critically analyze things.These are very similar to stage plays in theatres.
They are performed by well-known actors and actresses in the Lollywood industry. The dramas
and plays deal with many themes from life events, often with a humorous touch.

7) VISUAL ARTS:
a) Painting
b) Architecture

A) Painting:
Ustad Allah Baksh, Ajaz Anwar, Ismail Gulgee, Jamil Naqsh and Sadequain are very prominent
painters of Pakistan. Pakistani vehicle art is a popular folk art.

B) Architecture:
The architecture of the areas now constituting Pakistan can be designated to four distinct periods
— pre-Islamic, Islamic, colonial and post-colonial. With the beginning of the Indus civilization
around the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C., an advanced urban culture developed for the first
time in the region, with large structural facilities, some of which survive to this day.[3]Mohenjo
Daro, Harappa and Kot Diji belong to the pre-Islamic era settlements. The rise of Buddhism and
the Persian and Greek influence led to the development of the Greco-Buddhist style, starting from
the 1st century CE. The high point of this era was reached with the culmination of the Gandhara
style. An example of Buddhist architecture is the ruins of the Buddhist monastery Takht-i-Bahi in
the northwest province.

The arrival of Islam in today's Pakistan meant a sudden end of Buddhist architecture. However, a
smooth transition to predominantly pictureless Islamic architecture occurred. The town of Uch
Sharif contains the tombs of Bibi Jawindi, Baha'al-Halim and Jalaluddin Bukhari, which are
considered some of the earliest examples of Islamic architechture in Pakistan and are on the
UNESCO World Heritage Site list. One of the most important of the few examples of the Persian
style of architecture is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam in Multan. During the Mughal era design
elements of Islamic-Persian architecture were fused with and often produced playful forms of the
Hindustani art. Lahore, occasional residence of Mughal rulers, exhibits a multiplicity of important
buildings from the empire, among them the Badshahi mosque, the fortress of Lahore with the
famous Alamgiri Gate, the colourful, still strongly Persian seeming Wazir Khan Mosque as well as
numerous other mosques and mausoleums. The Shahjahan Mosque of Thatta in Sindh also
originates from the epoch of the Mughals, as does the Mohabbat Khan Mosque in Peshawar.

In the British colonial age predominantly representative buildings of the Indo-European style
developed, from a mixture of European and Indian-Islamic components. Post-colonial national
identity is expressed in modern structures like the Faisal Mosque, the Minar-e-Pakistan and the
Mazar-e-Quaid.

8) LANGUAGES OF PAKISTAN:
Most of the languages of Pakistan are part of the family of Indo-European languages and span
the Indo-Iranian range of that family with the Indo-Aryan languages predominant in the east and
the Iranian languages the most significant in the west as well as Dardic languages in the north
and northwest.

History:
Urdu, a standardized register of Hindustani, is the national language of Pakistan and has
historical significance as a language developed during the Islamic conquests in the Indian
Subcontinent during the period of the Mughal Empire and was chosen as a neutral language to
unite the various groups of modern Pakistan. However, the language of the government and
commerce is English. Most secondary educational institutes and almost all universities use
English as the medium of instruction. Many other languages are spoken in Pakistan, including the
following regional tongues from largest to smallest: Punjabi, Pashtu, Sindhi,Balochi, Seraiki
(sometimes included within Punjabi, also called Seraiki, Sira'iki, Lahndi, Multani - from the city of
Multan, Derawali, Southern Punjabi, and Western Punjabi), Hindko, Brahui, Burushaski, Balti,
Shina, and Khowar (see Dardic languages). Brahui is a Dravidian language, its closest relatives
being spoken primarily in southern India, far removed from Pakistan. Balti is Sino-Tibetan and
Burushaski is a language isolate.
In addition, according to Ethnologue, Pakistan has a million speakers of Persian, a few of whom
are refugees from Afghanistan (mainly Tajiks and Hazaras) whose dialects vary from the
Hazaragi-speaking population, while others include an ethnic group called the Dehwaris. Smaller
groups include the Uzbeks and there is a large Kashmiri speaking population, largely refugees as
well who fled from the Vale of Kashmir.
Arabic and Persian are still taught as classical languages to a small number of students. Arabic is
popular due to its religious significance, but some Pakistanis do not learn to speak Arabic beyond
that required to read and recite Islamic prayers. Persian is an important literary language in
Pakistan.

Azad Kashmir- languages spoken= Mirpuri-Hindko, Pashto, Urdu

Languages:
According to the census, Pakistanis identified the following languages as their mother tongues
[figures rounded to nearest percent]: Punjabi 44%, Pashto 15%, Sindhi 14%, Seraiki 11%, Urdu
8%, Balochi 4%, others 4%
The majority of Pakistanis can speak or understand two or more languages.
» Major languages
The official language of Pakistan is English. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca.
~44% speak Punjabi as a first language, 15% Pashto, and 31% other languages such as (Sindhi,
Seraiki, Balochi, Hindkospoken in northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir also Mirpuri (AJK), and
Brahui.)

» Urdu (National Language)

Urdu is the national language, the lingua franca of the people. It is widely used, both formally and
informally, for personal letters as well as public literature, in the literary sphere and in the popular
media. It is a required subject of study in all primary and secondary schools. It is the first
language of most Muhajir. Urdu is Pakistan's national language and has been promoted as a
token of national unity, though less than 8% of Pakistanis speak it as their first language but it is
spoken fluently as a second language by all literate Pakistanis. Urdu by origin is an "Islamic
version" of Hindi language which was spoken for centuries in the neighborhood of Delhi and it
was known as Western Hindi, Hindvi, Dehlvi, Reekhta and Hindustani. It is written in a modified
form of the Arabic alphabet and its basically Indic vocabulary has been enriched by borrowings
from Arabic, Persian, English and other Indian languages. Urdu has drawn inspiration from
Persian literature and has now an enormous stock of words. The first poetry in Urdu was by the
Persian poet Ameer Khusru (1253-1325) and the first Urdu book "Woh Majlis" was written in 1728
and the first time the word "Urdu" was used by Saraj-ud-din Aarzoo in 1751. Urdu was an official
language in British India since 1835 and in India since 1947, where it is spoken by Muslim
population, is one of the 15 national languages recognized by the constitution.

» English (Official Language)

English is the official language, being widely used within the government, by the civil service and
the officer ranks of the military. Pakistan's Constitution and laws are written in English. Many
schools, and nearly all colleges and universities, use English as the medium of instruction.

» Punjabi (Provincial Language)

Punjabi is spoken as a first language by ~44% of Pakistanis, mostly in Punjab as well as by a
large number of people in Karachi. It is an important language since Punjabi is spoken by about
half of Pakistanis. However, Punjabi does not have any official status in Pakistan. The exact
numbers of Punjabi speakers in Pakistan is hard to find since there are many dialects/languages,
such as Seraiki, which some regard as part of Punjabi and others regard as separate language.
Punjabi is spoken by almost 60% of the population in Pakistan. The standard Punjabi dialects is
from Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Sheikupura districts of the Pakistani Punjab which was
used by Waris Shah (1722-1798) in his famous book "Heer" and is also now days langueage of
Punjabi literature, film and music; such as Lollywood. Other dialects are Multani or Siraiki in West
and South, Pothowari in North, Dogri in the mountain areas and Shahpuri in Sargodha area.

Punjabi is very old language and it was known as Sanskrit in Vedic-period (ca 4000 B.C.), Pali,
Prakart and Upbharnash in Ashok-period (273-32 B.C.) and Hindvi, Lahori and Multani under
Muslim period (711-1857). Punjabi literature was principally spiritual in nature and has had a very
rich oral tradition. The Great Sufi/Saint poetry has been the folklore of the Punjab and still sung
with great love in any part of Punjab.

In India it is the official language of the state of Punjab, and one of the 15 official languages
recognized by the Indian constitution. It is also spoken in the neighboring states of Haryana and
Himachal Pradesh. In addition about 25 percent of the people living in the New Delhi metropolitan
area speak Punjabi in everyday life. All told, there are about 25 million speakers in India.

» Pashto (Provincial Language)

Pashto is spoken as a first language by 15% of Pakistanis, mostly in the North-West Frontier
Province, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and in Balochistan as well as by immigrants to the
eastern provinces who are often not counted due to census irregularities. Additionally, Afghan
refugees are often outside the census count, but appear to be largely Pashto speakers from
Afghanistan. Pashto speakers are almost 8% of Pakistani population and more than 50% in
Afghanistan. Pashto has no written literary traditions although it has a rich oral tradition. There
are two major dialect patterns within which the various individual dialects may be classified; these
are Pakhto, which is the northern (Peshawar) variety, and the softer Pashto spoken in southern
areas. Khushal Khan Khatak (1613-1689) and Rehman Baba (1633-1708) were some big poets
in Pashto language.

» Sindhi (Provincial Language)

Sindhi is spoken as a first language by 14% of Pakistanis, in Sindh and parts of Balochistan.
Sindhi has very rich literature and is used in schools. Sindhi langugae contains Arabic words and
is affected by Arabic language to a great extent. The reason being Arab ruled Sindh for more than
150 years. Muhammad bin Qasim entered Sindh and conquered it in 712 AD. He remained here
for three years and set up Arabic rule in the area. According to historians, the social fabric of
Sindh comprises elements of Arabic society. Sindhi is spoken in Pakistan and is also one of the
constitutional languages of India. It is spoken by about 20 million people in the southern Pakistani
province of Sindh, Southern Pakistan, and by about 2½ million more across the border in India. In
Pakistan it is written in the Arabic script with several additional letters to accommodate special
sounds. The largest Sindhi-speaking city is Hyderabad, Pakistan. Sindhi literature is also spiritual
in nature and Shah Abdul Latif Bhattai (1689-1752) was one of its legendry poet who wrote Sassi
Punnu, Umar Marwi in his famous book "Shah jo Rasalo".

» Seraiki (Regional Language)

Seraiki is related to Punjabi and Sindhi (See Classification, below) Spoken as a first language by
11% of Pakistanis, mostly in southern districts of Punjab (see Seraikis). All most 10% of the
population of Pakistan speak Siraiki language. Dialects tend to blend into each other, into Punjabi
to the east, and Sindhi to the south. Until recently it was considered to be a dialect of Punajbi.
85% lexical similarity with Sindhi; 68% with Odki and Sansi. Dialects are Derawali, Khatki, Jangli
or Jatki and Riasti or Bahawalpuri.

» Balochi (Provincial Language)

Balochi is spoken as a first language by 4% of Pakistanis, mostly in Balochistan, Sindh and
southern Punjab. Baluchi language is spoken by almost 3% of the Pakistani population and is
very close to the Persian language itself. The name BALUCHI or BALOCHI is not found before
the 10th Century. It is believed that the language was brought to its present location in a series of
migrations from Northern Iran, near the Caspian Shores. Rakshani is the major dialect group in
terms of numbers. Sarhaddi, is a sub dialect of Rakshani. Other sub - dialects are qalati, Chagai-
kharani, Panjguri. Eastern Hill Baluchi or Northern Baluchi is very different from the rest.

» Gujarati (Regional Language)

Gujarati is spoken by 100,000 Pakistanis who reside in Lower Punjab and Sindh. All Parsi
(5,000), many Ismaili Muslims, and many Hindus (10,000 to 100,000) speak Gujarati. Many Parsi
and Ismaili Muslims are literate in Gujarati.

9) RECREATION AND SPORTS IN PAKISTAN:

Field hockey and Polo are the national sports of Pakistan but cricket is the most popular game[1].
Traditional games like Kabaddi and other well known games are also played. The Pakistan
Sports Board created in 1962 by the Ministry of Education as a corporate body for the purposes
of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable
to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a
national basis. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, now has control over the Pakistan
Sports Board. The PSB controls all 39 sporting federations. The Pakistan Sports Board is support
by the Pakistan Sports Trust which assists hard up players and associations so they can continue
participating in sports.

Over recent years there has been an increase in sporting activity in Pakistan, with Pakistani
sportsmen and women participating at many national and international events. Also, more
international tournaments now take place in Pakistan. The size of the teams Pakistan sends, and
the number of events they participate in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games has increased
since the turn of the century.

POPULAR SPORTS IN PAKISTAN:

a) Cricket:
Cricket has a huge following and based on attendance figures at games, is the most
popular sport in the country. Pakistan has produced many multi-talented players who
have been among the best batsmen and bowlers in the world. Almost all districts and
neighborhoods in Pakistan have a cricket team and people start playing from a young age.
Pakistan has won a lot of international cricket events, including the World Cup in 1992,
besides finishing as runners up in 1999 World Cup and 2007 World Twenty20. Pakistan's
cricket teams take part in domestic competitions such as the ABN-AMRO Cup, the ABN-
AMRO Patron's Trophy, ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup, and the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
International test and one-day matches are played between the Pakistan national team and
foreign opponents regularly. The Pakistan Cricket Board controls both the men’s and
women’s game. Women’s cricket is also very popular, with Kiran Baluch holding the
current record of the highest score in a women's test match with her 242. Notable
cricketers from Pakistan include Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, and Imran Khan.

b) Field Hockey:
he Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is the national governing body of field hockey in
Pakistan. The Pakistan Hockey Federation Women Wing (PHFWW) is the official
organization of women's field hockey in Pakistan. The Pakistan men's team has won three
gold medals at the Olympics and lifted the Hockey World Cup four times. It has also won
the most number of Asian gold medals and is the only Asian team to have won the
prestigious Champions Trophy with three titles. It has been consistently ranked amongst
the top teams in the world. Notable players include Sohail Abbas, Mohammed Saqlain
and Waseem Ahmad.

c) Squash:
Squash is another sport that has a large following in Pakistan, with Pakistan dominating
the sport for a period of time. Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan are considered legends of
the sport and have won several World Squash Championships and other tournaments.
Pakistani players have won the squash World Open 17 times, and British open 12 times,
the highest by any nation. Carla Khan, one of Pakistan's most successful sportswomen, is
one of a number of men and women who represent Pakistan. The Pakistan Squash
Federation is the governing body of the sport in the country. The Pakistan Open
tournament is one of the premier events of the sport in the country. Every province of the
country holds its own men's and women's championships. Some other notable players
from Pakistan include Hashim Khan, Torsam Khan and Qamar Zaman.

d) Polo:
Polo, a traditional sport played very widelyPolo, is one of the national sports, which is
believed to have originated in Central Asia, and continues to be an important sport there
with several large annual competitions. The Shandur Polo Tournament, played at the
world's highest pologround every June, is one of the biggest tourist draws to Chitral and
Gilgit in Northern Pakistan. The competition was created in the 1920s to promote
integration between the various tribes and the British rulers[2]. The Shandur Pass was
picked as the location because, at 11,000ft above sea level, it was seen as a ridge between
heaven and hell. Key tournaments of the season are the Uprising Day tournament in early
November in Gilgit, or the Pakistan Independence Day tournament in Skardu, early
August. The Pakistan Polo Association (PPA) organise the sport, and the national side
takes part in the Polo World Cup. Polo is played professionally with a number of
Argentine players playing in Pakistan. Notable players include Murad Ismail, Raja Sami
Ullah, and Hissam Ali Haider.

e) Football:
Football has always been the so-called poor man's sport but is really popular as a means
of entertainment and activity for all age groups. Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is the
official organization in Pakistan. Football (soccer) is played mostly on a local level,
primarily in Balochistan. These areas provide most of the players on the national team.
Pakistan Football Federation Women Organizing Committee (PFFWOC) is responsible
for women's football in Pakistan. In 2004, the Pakistan Premier League was established
and is the first division of Pakistani football. The Pakistan National Football Challenge
Cup is the national "knockout" cup competition in Pakistani football, run by the Pakistan
Football Federation. The Pakistan National Women’s Football Championship is the
annual women's championship. Notable players include Muhammad Essa, Zeshan
Rehman and Haroon Yousaf.

Other sports:
Athletics.
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Chess
Cycling
Gymnastics
Golf
Karate
Shooting
Snooker
Swimming
Taekwondo
Table Tennis
Tennis
Volleyball
Wrestling

10) FAMOUS PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN:

Here are the list of the famous people of pakistan and who served in the creation of
Pakistan.

Mohammad Iqbal
Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Liaquat Ali Khan
Chaudhury Mohammad Ali
Mohammad Ayub Khan
Sir Mohammad Zafrulla Khan
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Gen. Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq
Abdus Salam
Ghalib
Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Saadat Hasan Manto
Abdur Rahman Chughtai

Here is the list of those famous people who represented the country around the world in
various fields with their outstanding contributions. These Pakistani personalities have made
the country feel proud.

These personalities of Pakistan are:

1) Habib Wali Mohammad - He is from a rich industrial background, still chose singing as his
mainstream career and became popular as a ghazal singer in the court of King Bahadur Shah
Zafar, the last Mogul emperor.

2) Ishfaq Ahmed - Ishfaq Ahmed is a famous scientist who is felicitated with various awards in
the field of physics. He was once a senior member of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission-
PAEC in his long adventurous career.

3) Shakir Ali - Famous as a teacher and Pakistani artist, Shakir Ali was born in the year 1916 and
made the country proud with his works in the field of art and crafts till his last breath.

4) Kafeel Bhai Ghotki Walay - A painter by profession, who started his career from a very low
profile and then gradually became very famous in his field of art and painting that made his
country famous worldwide.

5) Prof. Anna Molika Ahmed - A fine arts pioneer in Pakistan and a famous artist herself, Prof.
Anna Molika Ahmed was a person who is always in the minds of the art and sculpture lovers with
her skillful art works.

These are the people who made their country famous around the world from different fields like
art and culture, music, science and other subjects. Contributions of these famous Pakistani
personalities are really unforgettable for the country

11) PAKISTANI CUISINE:

The Cuisine of Pakistan can be described as a fusion of cuisine from three Asian regions: Central
Asia, Middle East (especially Iran, owing to Pakistan's strong historical and ancestral links with
the country), and South Asia. Pakistani cuisine is often spicy and is known for its richness.

Within Pakistan, cuisine varies greatly from region to region, reflecting the country's ethnic,
cultural and culinary diversity. The cuisine in Eastern Pakistan, particularly Sindh and the Punjab
can be very hot and spicy characterizing the South Asian flavour. Food in Western Pakistan
particularly North-West Frontier Province, Baluchistan, Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir
involves the use of mild aromatic spices and relatively less oil is used characterizing affinities to
the Iranian and Central Asian peoples. The main course is served with wheat bread (naan) or
rice. Salad is generally taken with the main course rather than before. Assorted fresh fruit or
desserts are consumed for dessert.

However, meat plays a more dominant role in Pakistani food, compared to other South Asian
cuisines. According to a 2003 report, an average Pakistani consumed three times more meat
than an average Indian. Of all the meats, the most popular are: beef, goat, lamb, and chicken.
Seafood is generally not consumed in large amounts, though it was[citation needed] very popular
in the coastal areas of Sindh and the Makran coast of Balochistan.

Here are some famous dishes of Pakistan:

Curries:
Lahori Beef Karahi, served usually with freshly made tandoori naanCurries, with or without meat,
combined with local vegetables such as bitter gourd, cauliflower, eggplant, okra, cabbage,
potatoes, rutabaga, saag is one of the least common and unoften cooked for everyday eating and
drinking.

An iconic Pakistani dish is karahi, either mutton or chicken cooked in a tomato sauce. This dish is
enjoyed all over Pakistan and to reflect the country's diversity, karahi differs a little depending on
the region it is being cooked.

Korma a dish of Mughlai origins made of chicken or mutton and is typically eaten with rice is also
very popular in Pakistan.

Lentils:
Various kinds of pulses also make up an important part of the Pakistani dishes. Lentils, called
daal, have nevertheless traditionally been considered as an inexpensive food source and
hotel/restaurants may only offer a limited variety of these dishes. Lentil dishes are also typically
not served when guests are invited at home or during special occasions.

The one main exception is haleem (also known as Noah's pudding) which contains a variety of
lentils, rice, wheat, barley, appropriate vegetables if desired & sometimes even figs along with
meat. A batch of haleem will typically take over four to five hours to cook. Haleem is often served
on religious occassions such as Muharram. A similar dish of Kashmiri origin is Hareesa, which
also incorporates all the above mentioned & stewed slowly over a stove.

Tandoori/Barbecue:
Barbecue food is extremely popular and is a speciality of various cities of Punjab such as Lahore,
Gujranwala and Sialkot and the North West Frontier Province. All BBQ dishes incorporate a
variety of herbs and spices and are therefore very flavourful rather than being just dominated by
chilli. Among well known dishes are chicken tikka,Mutton Tikka, Sheekh Kebab, Bihari Kebab and
chakna. Sajji is a Baluchi dish from Western Pakistan, made of lamb stuffed with rice, that has
also become popular all over the country.

Rice Dishes:
Pakistan is a major exporter and consumer of rice. Basmati is the most popular type of rice
consumed in Pakistan.

Dishes made with rice include many varieties of pullao,

Punjabi pullaoYakhni Palao - meat & stock added. Creates a brown rice
Matar Palo - Palao made with peas
Maash Palao - A sweet and sour palao baked with mung beans, apricots, and Bulgur (a kind of
wheat). Exclusively vegetarian.
Biryani is a very popular dish in Pakistan and has many varieties such as Sindhi Biryrani. Tahiri,
which is also a form of vegetarian Biryani is also popular.

All of the main dishes (except those made with rice) are eaten alongside bread. To eat, a small
fragment of bread is torn off with the right hand and used to scoop and hold small portions of the
main dish. Pickles made out of mangoes, carrots, lemon etc. are also commonly used to further
spice up the food.

Varieties of bread:
Peshwari Naans made freshly at a tandoor (open oven)Pakistanis also eat flat round bread (roti)
as a staple part of their daily diet. Pakistan has a variety of breads, often prepared in a traditional
clay oven called a tandoor.

Some of these are:

1) Chapatis - Most common bread at home, made of whole wheat flour. They are thin and
unleavened.
2) Naan - Unlike chapatis, naans are slightly thicker, typically leavened with yeast and mainly
made with white flour. They may also be sprinkled with sesame seeds called Kulcha. They
are often served with Sri Paya and Nihari for breakfast.
3) Tandoor bread - These are extremely popular all over Pakistan. They are baked in a clay oven
and are consumed with just about anything.
4) Roghni naan - Naan sprinkled with sesame seeds and covered with a minute amount of oil.
5) Sheermal - Prepared with milk and butter, and is a vital part of food served in marriages, along
with Taftan. It is often sweetened and is particularly enjoyed by the kids.
6) Taftan. This is a leavened flour bread with saffron and small cardamom powder baked in a
clay oven.
7) Kandahari naan - Long naan originally from Western Pakistan.
8) Paratha - A flat many layered chapati separated by ghee (similar to pastry dough), originating
from Punjab. Parathas are commonly eaten for breakfast and can also be served with a variety of
stuffing.
9) Puri - Is typically eaten with Halwa or Bhujia (made out of chickpeas and potatoes).
10) Halwa Purian or Bhujia with Puri (now commonly known as Poorian) has also become a
typical breakfast in Pakistan. They are sold sometimes on make shift carts or otherwise in
breakfast stores.

Kababs:
Seekh Kababs - one of the famous Pakistani food specialitiesA Middle Eastern influence on
Pakistani cuisine is the popularity of grilled meats such as kababs or kababs. Kababs from
Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province tend to be identical to the Afghan style of
barbecue, with salt and coriander being the only seasoning used while kababs in Sindh tend to be
spicy. Lahore is famous for its kababs and they are spicy and are often marinated in a mixture of
spices, lemon juice and yoghurt.

Meat including beef, chicken, and lamb are prominent in Pakistani cuisine. Kababs made out of
lamb and chicken such as Seekh kabab, Shami kabab and Chapli kabab (a speciality of
Peshawar) are especially popular. Pork is not consumed in Pakistan due to Islamic dietary laws.

Types of kababs (mainly made of Beef or Lamb) are:

a) Seekh kabab
A long skewer of Beef mixed with herbs and seasonings.
b) Shami Kabab
A Shami Kabab is a small patty of minced beef or chicken and ground chickpeas and spices.

c) Chapli Kabab
A spicy round kabab made of ground beef and cooked in animal fat which is a speciality of the
North West Frontier Province.

d) Chicken Kabab
A popular kabab that is found both with bone and without. Not so common as the traditional
Kababs.

e) Lamb Kabab
The all lamb meat kabab is usually served as cubes.

f) Bihari Kabab
Skewer of Beef mixed with herbs and seasoning.

g) Shishleek
Grilled baby lamb chops (usually from the leg), typically marinated

h) Bun Kabab
A unique kabab sandwich.

Alhamra Restaurant and Bundukhan Kabab House are famous through Pakistan for their taste
and variety of Kababs. Kabab House is the most profitable food business in Pakistan.

Desserts:
Popular desserts include Peshawari ice cream, Sheer khurma, Kulfi, Falooda, Kheer, Rasmalai,
Phirni, Zardah, Shahi Tokray, Gajar ka Halwah, Karachi halwa, and Rubri. Pakistan has a long list
of sweets.

some of the most popular are:

1) Bal Mithai
2) Balushahi
3) Chum Chum
4) Gajar Halwa
5) Gulab Jaman
6) Halva
7) Imarti
8) Kheer
9) Motichoor Laddu
10) Malai Laddu
11) Malai Pan
12) Mung Halwa
13) Feerni
14) Qalaqand
15) Qulfi
16) Singori
17) Sohan Halwa

Famous sweet shops include Sohny Sweets Clifton, Dilpasand Sweets, Nirala Sweets, Shaheen
Sweets etc.
Chai:
Pakistanis drink a great deal of tea (chai). Both black and green tea (sabz chai/ qehwa) are
popular though qehwa is often served after every meal in the NWFP province. Kashmiri chai, a
pink milky tea with pistachios and cardamom, is drunk primarily at weddings and during the winter
when it is sold in many kiosks. In northern Pakistan (Chitral and the Northern Areas), salty
buttered Tibetan style tea is consumed.

Beverages:
Besides tea, there are other drinks that may be included as part of the Pakistani cuisine. All of
them are non-alcoholic as the consumption of alcohol is prohibited by Islam.

Lassi - Milk with yoghurt, with an either sweet or salty taste

Gola Ganda - Different types of flavours over crushed ice
Sugarcane juice (Ganaay ka ras)
Lemonade
Sherbet
Rooh Afza
Almond Sherbet
Sherbet-e-Sandal - Drink made with the essence of Sandle wood
Kashmiri Chai/Gulabi chai - A milky sweet tea/pink tea
Qehwa

During the 20th century, drinks such as coffee and soft drinks have also become popular in
Pakistan. It is very common to have soft drinks nowadays with Pakistani meals.

Eating Habits:
Pakistanis generally consume three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During
evening time, many families have tea which goes along with baked/fried goods from
local bakery (or prepared at home). During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the
eating patterns change to: Sehri and Iftar. It is considered proper to eat only with the right
hand as per Islamic tradition. Many Pakistani families particularly in rural areas still eat
their food served on a table cloth known as Dastarkhan which is placed on the floor.

Breakfast:
A typical Pakistani breakfast consists of: eggs (boiled/scrambled/fried/omelette), slice
bread (pan fried/toasted), parathas (lacha/qeema/kolcha) with tea or Lassi, qeema (mince
meat), fresh seasonal fruits (mangoes, apples, bananas etc), milk, honey, butter, jam,
shami kababs, and nuts. During holidays and weekends, halwa puri and channay is also
favoured. In the Punjab Sarson ka saag (Spinach) and Maaki ki roti (cornbread) is
common and in Karachi, breakfast might even include nihari and siri-payee (trotters and
head, usually goat or cow). Due to the hot weather and comparatively more amounts of
physical activity, Pakistani breakfasts tend to be very heavy.
Lunch:
A typical Pakistani lunch consists of meat curries or lentils along with bread or rice.
Another popular lunch dish is potatoes with meat. Other curries such as meat combined
with cabbage or biryani is also popular. Alternatively, for workers, nihari, bun kebab
sandwich, and fried fish is regarded highly.
Dinner:
Dinner is considered the main meal of the day as the whole family gathers for the
occasion. Lentils are almost never consumed for dinner as they are usually considered a
day time meal. Food which requires more preparation and which is more savoury (such
as haleem, pulao, kofte, kebabs) are prepared. These are served with rice or bread (or
both) along with yoghurt, pickle and salad. The dinner may (not commonly) be followed
by dessert ranging from anything from fruit to traditional desserts like kheer, gulab
jamun, shahi tukray, gajraila, qulfi or ras malai.

12) FESTIVALS OF PAKISTAN:

1) Ramadan:
The holiest month of the Islamic Calendar. It is widely observed in Pakistan during which
Muslim Pakistanis (about 97% of the population) fast, attend mosques with increased
frequency and recite Quran. Special foods are cooked in greater quantities, parties are
held and special accommodation is made by workplaces and educational institutes.

2) Chand Raat:
After an Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, just the night before Eid comes, everyone
gets ready for Eid. In the night known as Chaand Raat, girls put henna on their hands.
Most people have parties at their house. People go out for the last minute shopping for
gifts and sweets that will be given to friends and families. Even outside at the malls and
the plazas, there are many colourful lights. There are large crowds in the city center to
celebrate the beginning of Eid.

3) Eid celebrations:
The two Eids, Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha commemorate the passing of the month of
fasting, Ramadan, and the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael for God.
During these days there are national holidays and many festivals and events take place to
celebrate Eid. As Pakistan is a Muslim state, there are three days off for all businesses
and Government offices.
On the night before Eid, people search for the new moon to mark the end of Ramadan
and arrival of Eid ul-Fitr. The day starts with morning prayers, then returning home for a
large breakfast with family members. The day is spent visiting relatives and friends and
sharing gifts and sweets with everyone. During the evening people hit the town for some
partying, going to restaurants or relaxing in city parks.
On Eid ul-Fitr, money is given for charity and as gifts to young children.
On Eid ul-Adha, people may also distribute meat to relatives and neighbors and donate
food for charity.

4) Milaad un Nabi:
Milaad un Nabi is a known religious festival which is celebrated in many parts of
Pakistan. The Milaad is the celebration for the birthday of the Islamic prophet
Muhammad.

5) Muharram (Ashura):
In Pakistan, the first ten days of Muharram are observed officially. The 10th of
Muharram is marked in the memory of Hussain, the grandson of Muhammad, who was
martyr, along with 72 family members, friends and followers during the Battle Of
Karbala. It is marked mainly among the Shia community of Pakistan.

6) Jashn-e-Baharan:
Jashn-e-Baharan also referred to as Basant is a pre-Islamic Pinjabi festival that marks the
coming of spring. Celebrations in Pakistan are centered in Lahore and people from all
over the country and abroad come to the city for the annual festivities. Kite flying
competitions take place all over the city's rooftops during Basant (now prohibited). The
fertile province of Punjab was intimately tied via its agriculture to the different seasons of
the year. The arrival of Spring was an important event for all farmers and was welcomed
with a celebration, hence the origins of Jashn (celebration) Baharan (spring).

7) Nowruz:
This festival is like Nowruz of Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. In Northern Pakistan
(Chitral, Gilgit and Baltistan) Nowruz is celebrated as a socio-religious festival. It is also
celebrated with much fervour in Balouchistan and in almost all of Pakistan's major urban
centres. The day coincides with the Spring Equinox on March 21, but the celebration
continues for weeks. In Baltistan, the main feature of Nowruz is gifting of coloured eggs
to friends and polo matches. While in Balochistan, the festival is marked with outdoor
feasts, and the traditional jumping over a fire to wash away sins and usher in a fresh start.
The origins of this festival are pre-Islamic and date back to when Pakistan was part of the
Achaemenid and Sassanid Persian empires.

8) Independence Day:
On August 14, the people of Pakistan celebrate the day Pakistan gained its independence
from British India for an independent state for Muslims. There are many celebrations all
over the country, the streets are full of joyful people singing and dancing. Concerts are
held with many pop and classical singers. Parades are held in the capital city (Islamabad).
Many people decorate their houses and fly the flag of Pakistan. At night, fireworks are
used in many cities. Many people pray for the country and think how proud they are to be
Pakistanis.

9) Defense Day Parade:

September 6 is another patriotic day, when the Army of Pakistan is put on display for the
general public to show Pakistan arms. All Government officials attend the ceremony and
medals and recognitions are awarded to special people for their work. In March 2007,
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) put on display the new joint manufactured Chinese-Pakistani
aircraft called the JF-17 Thunder.

13) MARRIAGES IN PAKISTAN:

Like all over the world, marriages in Pakistan are full of hues, music and lot of food. Marriages
are generally arranged by the parents and the would be partners, however, the trend is changing
but at a much slower pace where marriages of own choice and choosing are allowed. Sometimes
the formal engagements may last from a few months to many years, depending on the age of the
couple. In most of the cases, the bride and groom meet for the first time on their wedding day. It
can be said that marriages in Pakistan are not a union of two individuals, but a long lasting
relation of two families.

Wedding rituals are elaborate and usually take four to five till the actual wedding day.

Marriage in Pakistan is a family event of happiness and festivity. The occasion of marriage brings
together all the family members and neighborhood under one roof.

A Pakistani marriage generally consists of four main ceremonies of nikah, mehndi, rukhsati and
valima however; such smaller events like mangani, mayoun, dholki are also celebrated by some
people along with main functions.

A) Mangni:
Mangni is the formal engagement or commitment of the couple destined to become married.
Rings are exchanged between boy and girl and a tentative wedding date is decided at this time.
After the engagement, formal preparations for the wedding start.

B) Deciding For Jehaz:

Jehaz is the next step after Mangani. There is this concept of Jahez (dowry or bride’s wealth) in
Pakistan which though doesn’t have any religious standing, but still people feel a need to give
dowry to their daughters in order to boost family’s social standing in the eyes of the boy’s family.
Similarly, boys family prepare burry to be given to the girl. This includes clothing and jewellary
and other house hold items.

C) Mayoun:
Mayoun is usually the first event of a wedding. From this day on, the bride is proscribed from the
groom's eyes till the day of marriage. Ubton, a herbal concoction is applied on bride’s face and
body. Everyone wears yellow clothes to blend into the colors of ubton. Some people also recite
Quran or hold Quran khawani at homes to seek Allah’s blessings. During Mayoun, friends and
family sit in circle with Dholak (a horizontal two-sided percussion drum) and sing traditional
wedding songs throughout the evening. The Mayoun generaaly merge in to Dholki. The elders
and relatives give her blessings and sadka money to the family maids and poor. Mithai (sweet) is
served.

D) Nikkah:
Nikah is the Islamic marriage contract. It takes place at the bride’s house or sometimes at the
Masjid. The headman of the village usually the Maulvi performs this ceremony. The bride and
groom must both have three witnesses present. A close male relative asks from girl her consent
and gets her signatures on the Nikahnama. Dried dates are served to guest to celebrate.
E) Mehendi:
Mehndi or Rasm e-Henna is generally celebrated couple of days before wedding. The bride wears
a yellow dress for this event and uses only light, or no, make up. Flowers are worn by women
like gajray (flower garlands) in place of jewellary. While the groom wears a white shalwar
kameez. The bride and the groom are brought forward under a decorative dupatta by their close
relatives and friends. The women of the family sing traditional wedding songs and dance on this
occasion. The bride’s palms and soles are decorated with intricate Mehndi designs. Shaadi,
Baraat or Rukhsati is the main day of marriage. It kicks off with Sehra-bandi. The groom wears a
sehra ( a veil of flowers) from his residence. Family members of the groom present him gifts or
salami (gift money). On this day the groom's family delivers wedding dress to the bride's family.
and then her family take's groom's dress attire to his family. The bride's family string hundreds of
colored lights over and around their home, creating an ostentanious announcement of theie
daughter's forthcoming wedding.

F) Barat:
The reception of barat is organized by the bride’s family so it traditionally takes place in the
bride’s home (hotels or marriage halls); tents may be set up to accommodate guests. The place is
suitably and auspiciously decorated with lights for the festive occasion. The bridegroom starts out
from his home in a form of procession on cars (traditionally on a decorated horse to the music of
shenai (a shrill flute) and dholak (drums)) with his family and friends. They are greeted by the
bride’s family with flowers garland and rose petals. It is customary for the bride's sisters and
friends to stop the barat from entering the arena until a sufficient amount of cash is given to them.
Other traditional rasams include doodh pilai (milk drinking), jooti chupai (hiding shoes). The
bride traditionally wears a heavily embroidered red outfit along with jewellary while the groom
wears sherwani with a sehra or turban. Food, sweets, pans are served afterwards in feast. Finally,
the Rukhsati takes place, when the groom and his family leave together with the bride. Usually
Quran is held over the bride for blessings. The departure of the bride becomes a very emotional
scene as she says farewell to the home of her parents and siblings to start a new married life.
(Traditionally, the bride leaves in Doli or paalki palanquin). Upon arrival at home, rasam like
Kheer-chattai (rice pudding licking) is performed. It is also customary for the bride's family to
offer gifts to the groom and his family members which is known as Salami.

G) Valima:
Valima is the final day of wedding celebrated at the house of the bridegroom. It mainly consists
of a feast dinner. The bride wears dress and jewellary provided by the groom’s family.

14) Pakistani Culture : Proper Wedding Gifts Or General Gifts From

Visitors:
Its customary to gift money in marriage ceremonies. Go to a bank or money exchange and have
the US D cashed in PK Rupees. I would say the proper amount to give would be about 1,000 to
3,000 Rs. as a gift. But it would be best for you to gift 1,000 Rs. to the bride and groom at the
actual ceremony day. Then give 500 or 1,000 Rs. to the woman or man of the house which you
are staying you can give it to them when you are sitting together talking as is proper. Throughout
the stay, offer to buy them a dinner outside, ice cream, or some refreshments. And before leaving
you may again give the bride or groom another 1,000 Rs. under the table as a blessing to their
marriage. Its very customary and very proper to give this way.
15) Popular media:
a) Television.
b) Radio.
c) Cinema.

a) Television:
Traditionally, the government-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has been
the dominant media player in Pakistan. The PTV channels are controlled by the
government and oppositional views are not given much time. However, past decade has
seen emergence of several private TV channels (news, entertainment) such as GEO TV,
AAJ TV, ARY Digital, Indus Vision, HUM, MTV Pakistan and others. Traditionally the
bulk of TV shows have been plays or soap operas, some of them critically acclaimed.
Various American, European, Asian TV channels and movies are available to a majority
of the population via Cable TV.
Television accounted for almost half of the advertising expenditure in Pakistan in 2002.

b) Radio:
After independence, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) was the sole radio channel
in Pakistan during 1947. The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation was formed on 14
August 1947 when Pakistan became independent. It was a direct descendant of the Indian
Broadcasting Company which later became All India Radio. At independence Pakistan
possessed three radio stations at Dhaka, Lahore and Peshawar. A major programme of
expansion saw new stations opened at Karachi and Rawalpindi in 1948, and a new
broadcasting house at Karachi in 1950. This was followed by new radio stations at
Hyderabad (1951), Quetta (1956), a second station at Rawalpindi (1960) and a receiving
centre at Peshawar (1960). During the 1980s and 1990s the corporation expanded its
network to many cities and towns of Pakistan to provide greater service to the local
people. Today, there are over a hundred radio stations due to more liberal media
regulations.

C) Cinema:
An indigenous movie industry exists in Pakistan, and is known as "Lollywood" as it is
based in Lahore, producing over forty feature-length films a year. In contrast, Indian
movies are popular in Pakistan despite a ban since the Pakistan-India War in 1965.
However, due to the massive film piracy industry in Pakistan, Indian Bollywood films
and American Hollywood films have made it to Pakistani movie shelves and home videos
for over thirty years. The Lollywood industry used to produce many Urdu films however
as Lahore became the headquarters of the film industry, slowly the number of Urdu films
decreased with the same rate of Punjabi language rising.
Pakistan also has another film industry based in Peshawar, North West Frontier Province
that produced Pashto language films. As demand for films has increased, Karachi has its
own version of film festivals, which includes the Kara Film Festivals where many film
producers, actors and film staff get together to celebrate achievements in the industry.
16) National Dress Of Pakistan:
The national dress of Pakistan is shalwar kameez for both men and women. It consists of
a long, loose fitting tunic with very baggy trousers. The dress is believed to be an
amalgamation of the dresses worn by the ancient Turks, Persians and Afghans (Pashtuns)
who have left their impression on the people and culture of Pakistan.
The men's version consists of solid, masculine colours and is almost always accompanied
by collar and buttons (similar to polo shirt). Men often wear a waistcoat over with the
shalwar kameez. The women's version almost never contains collar and buttons but is
often embroidered and consists of feminine colors and may feature lace or flower
patterns.
In the summer, a light, cotton version is often worn, while during the winter, a heavier,
wool version is worn.
The sherwani or achkan with karakuli hat is the recommended dress for male government
employees and officials, as it is not specifically associated with any of the provinces.
Most male government officials wear the formal black sherwani on state occasions.

17) Globalization:
Increasing globalization has amplified the influence of "Western culture" in Pakistan.
Pakistan ranks 56th in the world on the Kearney/FP Globalization index. Their position
on this index fell 10 spots from 2004 to 2006. Many Western restaurant chains have
established their franchises in major cities and towns in Pakistan.
A large Pakistani diaspora exists in the West. Whereas Pakistanis in the United States,
Canada and Australia tend to be professionals, the majority of them in the United
Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavia originally came from a rural background
belonging to the working class. A large number of Pakistani expatriates are also living in
the Middle East. These emigrants and their children influence Pakistan culturally and
economically, keeping close ties with their roots by travelling to Pakistan and especially
by returning or investing there.

18) Mercantile culture:

Pakistan's service sector accounts for 53% of the country's GDP. Wholesale and retail
trade is 30% of this sector. Shopping is a popular pastime for many Pakistanis, especially
among the well-to-do and the thirty-million strong middle class. The cities of Lahore,
Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad, Faisalabad and Quetta are especially known for the great
contrast in shopping experiences - from burgeoning bazaars to modern multi-story
shopping malls. In particular, Lahore and Karachi are peppered with colourful shopping
plazas.
Over 1,081 patent applications were filed by non-resident Pakistanis in 2004 revealing a
new found confidence.

19) Social Culture:

The direct translation of Pakistan's name means Land of (the) Pure, implying spiritual
purity.[citation needed] The roots of this spirituality would be based on the Islamic faith,
which prescribes strict sexual conservatism, especially when compared to the west.
[citation needed] Therefore, the following norms of a western society are usually strict
cultural taboos in Pakistan:
Public displays of affection, even by married couples. This however varies from place to
place and amongst various ethnic groups.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages by Muslims is officially illegal in Pakistan. Only
non-Muslim Pakistanis and non-Muslim foreigners are allowed to consume alcoholic
beverages (receiving government issued license). However, State and Christian/Parsi
owned brewery operate in Pakistan such as the Murree Brewery, Quetta Brewery, which
produces all sorts of alcoholic beverages and earn considerable revenue for the
government. Despite all the restrictions, there are reports that underground alcoholic
activities exist and have thrived ever since the law banning Alcohol consumption was
passed in the late 70's.

20) Economy of Pakistan:

The economy of Pakistan is the 26th largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing
power, and the 47th largest in absolute dollar terms. Pakistan's economy mainly
encompasses textiles, chemicals, food processing, agriculture and other industries. In
2005, it was the third fastest growing economy in Asia.
The economy has suffered in the past from decades of internal political disputes, a fast
growing population, mixed levels of foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing
confrontation with neighboring India. However, IMF-approved government policies,
bolstered by foreign investment and renewed access to global markets, have generated
solid macroeconomic recovery the last decade. Substantial macroeconomic reforms since
2000, most notably at privatizing the banking sector have helped the economy.
GDP growth, spurred by gains in the industrial and service sectors, remained in the 6-8%
range in 2004-06. In 2005, the World Bank named Pakistan the top reformer in its region
and in the top 10 reformers globally.
Islamabad has steadily raised development spending in recent years, including a 52% real
increase in the budget allocation for development in FY07, a necessary step toward
reversing the broad underdevelopment of its social sector. The fiscal deficit - the result of
chronically low tax collection and increased spending, including reconstruction costs
from the devastating Kashmir earthquake in 2005 was manageable.
Inflation remains the biggest threat to the economy, jumping to more than 9% in 2005
before easing to 7.9% in 2006. In 2008, following the surge in global petrol prices
inflation in Pakistan has reached as high as 25.0%. The central bank is pursuing tighter
monetary policy while trying to preserve growth. Foreign exchange reserves are bolstered
by steady worker remittances, but a growing current account deficit - driven by a
widening trade gap as import growth outstrips export expansion - could draw down
reserves and dampen GDP growth in the medium term.
Since the beginning of 2008, Pakistan's economic outlook has taken a dramatic downturn.
Security concerns stemming from the nation's role in the War on Terror have created
great instability and led to a decline in FDI from a height of approximately $8 bn to
$3.5bn for the current fiscal year. Concurrently, the insurgency has forced massive
capital flight from Pakistan to the Gulf. Combined with high global commodity prices,
the dual impact has shocked Pakistan's economy, with gaping trade deficits, high
inflation and a crash in the value of the Rupee, which has fallen from 60-1 USD to over
80-1 USD in a few months. For the first time in years, it may have to seek external
funding as Balance of Payments support. Consequently, S&P lowered Pakistan’s foreign
currency debt rating to CCC-plus from B, just several notches above a level that would
indicate default. Pakistan’s local currency debt rating was lowered to B-minus from BB-
minus. Credit agency Moody’s Investors Service cut its outlook on Pakistan’s debt to
negative from stable due to political uncertainty, though it maintained the country’s
rating at B2.The cost of protection against a default in Pakistan’s sovereign debt trades at
1,800 basis points, according to its five year credit default swap, a level that indicates
investors believe the country is already in or will soon be in default.
The middle term however may be less turbulent, depending on the political environment.
The EIU estimates that inflation should drop back to single digits in 2010, and that
growth should pick up to over 5% per annum by 2011. Although less then the previous 5
year average of 7%, it would represent a overcoming of the present crisis wherein growth
is a mere 3.5-4%.

21) SOCIAL ISSUES OF PAKISTAN:

Pakistan as a nation is a developing country and consequently she faces a wide array of
social problems: educational, economical, political, religious and a number of internal
ethnic conflicts. However that it is more important to address small issues first and then
work towards the annihilation of the larger ones. After all small steps lead to big changes
and transformations. Child Labour is a social issue within Pakistan and is considered a
violation of human rights by the United Nations. Pakistani society is such that, a poor
child can quite conveniently be deprived of basic education, only to feed the rest of his
family members. Anyone up to the age of 18 is a child and his basic right is to receive
education and proper upbringing rather than use his hands to destroy his own bright
future. Children are especially exploited in the third world countries as they are a cheap
source of labour and Pakistan children are used as labourers in the Sports Industry,
Carpet Industry and the Footwear and in glassware production. According to the Federal
Bureau of Statistics of Pakistan, 3.3 million out of 40 million children are working in
various industries, although child labour is strictly prohibited by law. Child Labour is a
serious social problem within Pakistan because the future and progress of any country
depends on an educated and enlightened youth and if a child is not properly socialized
then he/she will not be able to grow as confident and literate Pakistani citizens.

There are various reasons for exploitation of children within the economic sector of
Pakistan and such causes are directly related to the major social problems of Pakistan.
Sociological Variables as the Causes of Child Labour in Pakistan: The factors that
generate child labour within Pakistan are parental poverty and illiteracy; an irresponsible
political system; social and economic pressures; lack of education. Social attitudes in
Pakistan due to which a child is considered an adult at quiet an early stage due to
biological changes, also are a cause of exploitation of children below 18 years. Poverty is
a major social issue within Pakistan and as a result children are made to work in various
industries in order to support their financially poor parents.
The status of the family directly influences the choices available to a child and obviously
if a family is extremely poor with comparatively less resources then consequently, each
member, be it a child or an adult will be required to work and bring in money in order to
survive. The economic and family status in the rural areas of Pakistan id quite low and as
a result children are forced to work in various manufacturing and tertiary industries and
are also over-exploited.61.2 % of Pakistan is illiterate and poor education resulting in
limited exposure to human rights is a major cause of child labour.

Education is a sociological variable and is of extreme importance because it emancipates

a person from the grip of ignorance.
However most people in the rural areas have no access to educational institutions and
thus a child learns the tricks of trade from his father and instead of gaining education he
chooses to work as a labourer or is at times forced by parents’ due to their own lack of
basic knowledge. Pakistan does not have sound educational system under which a child
can be adequately socialized into becoming a productive member of society. Education is
not treated as a priority and inevitably child exploitation continues within our nation.
Girls and boys are forced to work as domestic servants in the homes of the upper middle
class or the richer elite. Thus class divisions become more prominent with the
exploitation of the poor by the rich and this leads to an inequitable distribution of wealth
and income. Pakistan is going through a serious social stratification problem and the rich
continuesto get richer whereas the poor continues to get poorer. Girls are exploited within
the rich households, are paid less and are often physically harassed by the male owners.
This leads to further sex and gender related issues and thus child labour needs to be
strongly curtailed. Pakistan needs a strong government and political structure to address
the issue of child labour. However President Musharraf’s government is a military
dictatorship which considers a nuclear programme a priority but banning child labour is
not a serious issue for them.

There are loopholes in the political structure of Pakistan and a weak government is a
main cause of the denial of rights of the citizens of a country. Therefore children’s rights
are largely ignored and deliberately avoided. For a positive change a democracy is
needed which will fight against child labour through reformative action and laws and
regulations. In Pakistan 7% of children working suffer from health problems and are
physically abused as well by their owners. These are all structural problems within the
social agencies of Pakistan which not only accelerate the rate of child labour but also set
a precedent for other developing nations to follow.

22) Attractions:

Pakistan has large number of beautiful places and attractions to visit. Popular tourist
destinations during holiday seasons are like Murree, Quetta, Swat Valley, Hunza, Ziarat,
Kaghan, Chitral and Gilgit.
 Pakistan also has a long history of different cultures and traditions. Some of the popular
and well-known archaeological sites are Mohenjo Daro, Harappa, Taxila, Kot Diji and
Mehr Garh..

23) Remove Shoes Outside The Mosques:

Removing the shoes outside the mosques before starting your prayers is also a Pakistani Culture.
When visitors enter the mousques they remove their shoes without caring if they will get their
shoes back or not but as this is in our culture, every individual respects this rule and follows it
everytime they go to the mousque. Even there is a rule for women that they must cover their hair
when they come to visit mosques for any purposes. It's also considered impolite to enter a mosque
during any of the five daily prayer times. Loud and intrusive behavior is not tolerated as is
smoking, displays of affection, walking in front of a person praying or joking around.
One final guidline is DONT photograph anyone you want in Pakistan as it is incredibly
offensive and in some areas may lead to a major confrontation.

24) Henna'S Hands:

If you are a woman and in Pakistan during Ramadan and Eid, you must - at the end of Ramadan -
get your hands hennared. Its so much fun and a very traditional thing to do. Buy new clothes,
shoes, and henna. The girls who apply this henna are so experienced and very artistic. In Pakistan
you will find the stalls everywhere just prior to EID.

25) 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.

26) Holidays:

There are many festivals celebrated annually in Pakistan - which may or may not be
observed as national public holidays - e.g.

Pakistan Day (23 March),

Independence Day (14 August),

Defence of Pakistan Day (6 September),

Pakistan Air Force Day (7 September),

the anniversaries of the birth (25 December, a national holiday)

and death (11 September) of Quaid-e-Azam,

birth of Allama Iqbal (9 November)

and the birth (30 July)

and death (8 July) of Madar-e-Millat.

Labour Day, (also known as May Day), is also observed in Pakistan on 1 May and is a
public holiday.

Several important religious festivals are celebrated by Pakistani Muslims during the year;
the celeberation days depend on the lunar Islamic calendar. Ramadan, the ninth month of
the calendar, is characterised by daytime fasting for 29 or 30 days and is followed by the
festival of Eid ul-Fitr. In a second festival, Eid ul-Adha, an animal is sacrificed in
remembrance of the actions of Prophet Abraham (Arabic: Ibrahim) and the meat is shared
with friends, family, and the less fortunate. Both Eid festivals are public holidays, serving
as opportunities for people to visit family and friends, and for children to receive new
clothes, presents, and sweets. Muslims also celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi - the birthday
of the prophet Muhammad - in the third month of the calendar (Rabi' al-Awwal) and
mark the Day of Ashurah on the 9th and 10th days of the first month (Muharram) to
commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn bin Ali. Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and
Christians in Pakistan also celebrate their own festivals and holidays. Sikhs come from
across the world to visit several holy sites in Punjab, including the shrine of Guru Nanak,
the founder of Sikhism, at Hasan Abdal in Attock District, and his birthplace, at Nankana
Sahib. There are also several regional and local festivals, such as the Punjabi festival of
Basant, which marks the start of spring and is celebrated by kite flying.

CONCLUSION:
Pakistani culture is a mixed culture as being a relatively new
country its culture is still in the process of evolution. The culture
of Pakistan bears strong influence of the Indian culture as before
partition it was part of the subcontinent. It is Muslim state but has a
strong influence of Hindu practices on its culture which is depicted by
the wedding ceremonies. The upper classes are strongly influenced by
the western culture and take great pride in associating themselves with
the westerners. The Pakistani society is male dominated but due to
persistent efforts of several NGOs voice has been raised in favor of
females' rights. A typical Pakistani family is headed by a male
member, usually the oldest male member of the group. He is usually the
main income earner of the family and guides the other members. Old
people are given positions of prestige, honor and respect in Pakistani
culture. Shalwar Kameez is the national dress and Pakistanis prefer to
wear simple dresses according to their region's climates.

Pakistan is extremely rich in its culture. And even better, every province (or state) of
Pakistan has its own unique culture. Pakistan is indeed a very interesting and beautiful
place to visit. But because of its poor tourism exposure, not everyone knows about it. It
has a rich culture. The northern part is really a must see. Being host to 3 mountain ranges,
The Himalayas, Hindukush Ranges and the Karakoram ranges, it has a number of peaks
including the second tallest peak on the face of this planet, K-2 also called the killer
mountain. Pakistan Is one of the richest country in world by nature, by culture, so the people of
Pakistan can consider themselves as a successfull king.
Increasing globalization has increased the influence of Western culture in Pakistan,
especially among the affluent, who have easy access to Western products, television,
media, and food. Many Western food chains have established themselves in Pakistan, and
are found in the major cities. At the same time, there is also a reactionary movement
within Pakistan that wants to turn away from Western influences, and this has manifested
itself in a return to more traditional roots, often conflated with Islam.

A large Pakistani diaspora exists, especially in the United Kingdom, United States,
Canada and Australia as well as in the Scandinavian nations. A large number of
Pakistanis are also living in the Middle east. These emigrants and their children influence
Pakistan culturally and economically, by travelling to Pakistan, and especially by
returning or investing there.

An anonymous Pakistani writer has said that three things symbolized Pakistan's material
culture in the 1990s: videocassette recorders locally manufactured Japanese Suzuki cars,
and Kalashnikov rifles. Although the majority of the people still reside in villages, they
increasingly take social cues from cities. Videocassette tapes can be rented in many small
villages, where residents also watch Cable News Network (CNN)--censored through
Islamabad--on televisions that are as numerous as radios were in the 1970s. The cities are
more crowded than ever; parts of Karachi and Lahore are more densely populated even
than Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. In many areas, tiny Suzuki automobiles have
replaced the bicycles and motorcycles that were in great demand merely a decade earlier.
Whereas urban violence was traditionally related to blood feuds, it has become more
random and has escalated dramatically.

REFRENCES:

1) www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Pakistan

2) www.pakistan.gov.pk/
3) www.pakistans.com
4) www.culture.gov.pk
5) www.pakistanpaedia.com/cul/CUL_3.html

6) www.shvoong.com.

7) www.kwintessential.co.uk