Pakistan is a developing country with an interesting mix of
traditional cultures with modern technology and western science-based
achievements like computers, robotics, artificial intelligence/artificial
intelligence, biotechnology, etc. In general, the economy of Pakistan is fairly
developed; this has made it become one of the most economically successful countries in South Asia. However, due to the cultural difference between Europe
and Asia, it’s quite difficult for Pakistani citizens and expatriates to
integrate into society. The following article focuses on the lifestyle of
Pakistanis and how they interact with others.
Pakistan and its People
The majority of the population (92%) is Muslims, although there
is a sizable number of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs living here.
Islam forms the state religion and Islam can be followed in other religions if
you wish to practice those faiths. On the whole, Pakistanis are generally
friendly and warm people, though it is important to note that they are not
overly religious or religious at all. They believe in God and do not think that
the world should be run by humans.
Hinduism is also very widespread here, particularly among rural
areas. Although Islam is official, Islamic organizations such as the
Jamiat-e-Islami (Firm) which was formed in 1928, the Muslim League (1947-1948),
and the All-India Majlis-e-Shooraz, or AIMS (1979–2019) still exist.
Pakistan has a collectivist culture in the logic that people are
intensely co-dependent and faithful to those who are in their internal circle.
As in any collectivist culture, family, friends, neighbours, and sometimes even
strangers are often highly valued. This gives rise to a strong social network
within this environment.
Family Life
In Pakistan, a typical nuclear family consists of two parents and up to four children. Depending on where you live, the cost of raising your own children is quite high. Generally, women work outside of home, usually at jobs that pay relatively low wages and provide less benefits. Many young Pakistani women stay at home to take care of their families while their husbands go out to work. For men in particular, Pakistani wives make a huge contribution to the household income. Women in other Asian countries would take these duties off their shoulders. One reason why Pakistani wives are regarded well is because they help provide basic needs like food, medicine, clothing, and shelter. Most Pakistani girls graduate from secondary school and pursue further education; consequently, much more free time is available for them to attend university than in many similar Asian cities. Since the age of 15, men in Pakistan typically help their parents in business and continue the education. While some young males choose to enlist in the public sectors, others decide to focus on becoming police officers or any government officers rather than running their own businesses. Given that a higher percentage of females choose to remain at home, only about 80% of the total male workforce in Pakistan is employed in civilian occupations. Of the 16 million employed females, approximately 7 millions of who work in the informal sector.
Education
Although it is illegal to get married in Pakistan, Pakistani
women and girls continue to have legal access to the same educational
opportunities that were available when they were young. Education is available
to all Pakistani men and girls who meet minimum standards and pass exams.
Pakistani students undergo standard primary and secondary education for three
years. Following that, students receive their national examinations which
determine whether they will be admitted to universities in major cities.
Alongside primary and secondary schools, the government provides a wealth of
options to allow students to enjoy a wider range of career paths. Unlike
European nations, no university degree is required to work. Instead, various
vocational diplomas are offered. Students must first complete their schooling
before going on to study a full academic program. Each year, Pakistani tertiary
programs are released. After graduating, undergraduate degrees are awarded.
Dress Codes and Habits
Pakistan is a land where there is always a party-goer; every
day, dozens of teenagers, middle aged and elderly individuals gather together
in large groups on the streets. Even the smallest detail matters, from weather,
location, and color preference to what kind of shoes someone wears. This is
partly due to the fact that dress codes and practices vary greatly depending on
region. It’s also partly due to the fact that women, especially in smaller
urban centers, have been forced to wear modestly revealing clothing in public
for decades. Men generally don conservative clothes and sport a wide brimmed
black cap. These factors have led to variations within the dress code to ensure
that everyone isn’t seen as inappropriate. Additionally, since the independence
celebrations and election campaigns happen as frequent occasions, people are
given the privilege to change their outfits without giving a thought to being
judged. If you are planning a trip to Pakistan and cannot decide on what outfit
to wear, we recommend checking our guide to dressing for summer 2022 to see
examples of fashionable attires suitable for hot weather here.
Meals and Food
Unlike Europeans, Pakistani people cook much of their own food
regularly. More and more restaurants specializing in foreign cuisine are
opening up, allowing Pakistani families to eat out less often, and increase
their local culinary experiences. Nevertheless, street food and small eateries
are very popular. Traditional foods include rice (Baryani), Mutton
(Rosh,Karhai), parathas, and halwa buns. Popular dishes from Pakistan include
samosas and kebabs.
Since much of the population tends to live in big cities, the
concept of “street food” is taken seriously. When walking down the main
shopping street of Islamabad or Karachi, customers are likely to look for an
outlet that serves street food. Because of this, street food establishments
offer quite a lot of variety of delicious meals. The cheapest form of street
food can often be found near mosques, markets, and the entrance to temples.
Street stalls selling roasted meats provide another option. Dessert treats,
like ice cream cones, cookies, and cakes are sold alongside sweet and Savory snacks such as pakoras and sandwiches. Soups including cholay, pickles, khopan,
and kheema, are popular offerings too. Street vendors sell tea leaves or
dumplings using a special type of wood that has been soaked in water overnight
and then baked until the wood starts to deteriorate. Some sellers sell beer by
the glass and cold drinks such as soft drink sodas and juices outside. Other
foods available in local markets are fish and meatball, dal, noodles, and
khichdi. Small shops may also stock fruits like apples and pears.
In addition to eating out, people also tend to purchase
ready-made meals from food outlets for home consumption. In order to avoid
having food poisoning, some supermarkets include packaging in the boxes with
products so that consumers can identify them easily. To prevent spoilage of
produce, fresh produce is kept refrigerated as soon as possible after
harvesting.
Other Activities
Outside the tourist zone, people don’t really spend a lot of
money on leisure activities. Aside from enjoying festivals, parties, music
festivals, concerts, art and music exhibitions, Pakistani residents engage in
other recreation and sports activities. Sports activities include watching
soccer matches or cricket. Local teams play league football and participate in
hockey leagues around the city. Cricket involves teams competing against each
other to win tournaments. Soccer tournaments involve Pakistani clubs playing in
regional associations. Basketball and tennis are popular games that require
courts to be built and are held during winter. Golfers compete at golf courses
across the country. With sports being introduced to the masses over time,
Pakistani adults find themselves spending more time practicing in the gym than
getting active in nature. Another way to occupy your spare time is through
recreational activities such as swimming, horseback riding, skiing, rock
climbing, surfing, snowboarding, fishing, camping, skiing, diving, mountain
biking, mountaineering, hiking, bungee jumping, indoor and outdoor sports like
badminton and table tennis.
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