Culture of Pakistan

One question is often asked - "What is culture? How can it be defined and what does it do?"

“Culture” can be defined in many different ways. Culture may be defined as behavior peculiar to human beings, together with material objects used. Culture consists of language, ideas, beliefs, customs, works and arts, religion, law, ceremonies and festivals.

O Mankind, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other.

Culture is a thin but very important veneer that you must be careful not to scratch. People from different cultures are basically the same and respond in the same way

Pakistani culture is most valuable for Pakistani people that people like to represent Pakistani culture everywhere in the world very honorarily

akistan is a Muslim country and Islam is the official religion. Islam is the religion which is professed and practiced by the people of Pakistan.

Pakistani culture can be called as “Mixed Culture”. Although the majority of people in Pakistan are Muslims by birth and faith, there is a strong influence of Hindu culture on the present Pakistani culture. The shadows of this influence are quite visible on the marriage ceremonies and festivals like “Basant”.

Dowry Systems and heavy expenditures on the marriage of girls is done, which is inherited from Hindu society because in Hindu society there is no share of women in the inheritance of their parents. Although women are given a share in the inheritance of their parents in Pakistani society, there are huge expenditures on the marriages of daughters.

English is the official language in Pakistan, but the national language is Urdu, which is widely spoken and understood throughout the country. Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Baluchi and Kashmiri are the regional languages.

Pakistani society is a “Male Oriented Society”, where they are given full protection and great respect. The family is headed by a male member, usually the oldest male member of the group. He guides the other members. Old people are given positions of prestige, honor and respect in Pakistani culture.

Social life is simple. Social customs and traditions reflect Islamic touch: people are very much conscious about their social traditions and feel pride in following them.

Dress in a Muslim society like Pakistan is designed and intended to cover human body, as nudity is prohibited in Islam. So, people of Pakistan prefer to wear simple dresses according to their climate.

Pakistani handicrafts are gaining popularity in the world market day by day, as Pakistani craftsman are considered as the best in their craftsmanship. Pakistan is famous for its high standard items of glass, silver, wooden furniture, pottery, marble goods and things made of camel skin.

Cricket, Hockey, Football, Kabbadi, squash, badminton, and wrestling are the major sports in Pakistan. Ulema, Mushaikh and Sufi poets occupy highly honored places in Pakistani culture.

The society and culture of Pakistan, comprises frequent assorted cultures and national groups as the Punjabis, Kashmiri and Sindhis in the east; the tribal cultures of the Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the very old Dardic and Tajik communities in the north. These Pakistani cultures have been greatly influenced by many of the surrounding countries’ cultures, such as the Turkish, Persian, Afghan, and Indians of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.

In antique times, Pakistan was a major cultural center. Many cultural practices and great monuments have been inherited from the time of the ancient rulers of the region. One of the greatest cultural influences was that of the Persian Empire, of which Pakistan was a part. In fact, the Pakistani satraps were at one time the richest and most productive of the massive Persian Empire. Other key influences include the Afghan Empire, Mughal Empire and later, the short lived but influential, the British Empire.

Pakistan has a cultural and ethnic background going back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from 2800–1800 B.C., and was remarkable for its ordered cities, advanced sanitation, excellent roads, and uniquely structured society. Pakistan has been invaded many times in the past, and 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, Afghans, Buddhists and other Eurasian groups, up to and including the British, who left in the late 1940s.

Linkage between Fashion and Culture of Pakistan

Fashion Pakistan has arranged information to let you know about culture of Pakistan as Pakistani fashion designs for dress, products, accessories are always oriented keeping in mind of aspects pertaining to Pakistani culture. This is due to fact that people of Pakistan never compromise fashion that tends to deviate from norms pertaining to culture of Pakistan which is fusion of south Asian & central Asian cultures and we already know that many cultural practices have been inherited from Mughals. Pakistani culture is also a form of eastern culture which is popular throughout the world due to its uniqueness, exclusiveness and matchlessness which one can also find in eastern fashion.

How could we say this we are copying America?

Yes, this is the exact question we should ask from us in everyday life. We are influenced by USA in huge way in following points

• Our 30’s-40’s age persons not everyone but substantially they follow Americans in way of talking, fashion , behaving  and even thinking.
• Middle age generation impacts strongly on the young ones in schools, colleges and in universities. Now the real impact is on them, they tried to copy every bit as they could. The way they use to watch Hollywood movies, they got more influenced from that to copy the culture of USA High Schools.
• Rise in the culture of Girl/Boy friend Culture. Should we really need this culture to have some girl/boy friend?
• Our Fashion shows, might not present any type of Islamic and Pakistani culture. Once such type of shows were to be on hatred list of Pakistanis due to dresses, and characters of those models. Today, this is our status to have links with Fashion Models.
• Rise of divorce culture in cities. Due to increase in dating culture of any age. Increase in the news e.g. Doctor kills his wife, for any affair and who knows that doctor even too have such an affair with someone else.
• Fast food habits increased. Pizza, McDonalds, Dominos, blab la!  We just knew we love fast food, but unaware of this why such fast food culture raised in USA.

Posted in: Informatics