Assignment #2

Assignment topic: Ethnicity of Pakistan

Subject: Introduction to Sociology
Submitted to: Dr.Fahad Afridi
Submitted by: Makhzan Saleem
Class Code: BBA 2016
Semester: 3rd
Date: 26th December,2018
CECOS UNIVERSITY PESHAWAR
Ethnicity of Pakistan:
Pakistan is the world’s sixth most populous country with
a population of over 201 million inhabitants. With a land
area of 881,913km2, the country is the 36th largest in the
world. The territory forming Pakistan is considered the
cradle of civilization having been home to several
ancient cultures. Pakistan has been ruled by several
dynasties and empires including Mauryan, Achaemenid,
Mongol, Mughal, and Delhi Sultanate. There are over 60
languages spoken in Pakistan. Urdu is the official
national language, and a symbol of national unity
understood by 80% of the Pakistani. Pakistan has six
major ethnic groups and other ethnic minorities.
Punjabi:
Punjabi people are the ethnic majority in the Punjab
region of Pakistan and Northern India accounting for
44.7% of the population in Pakistan. The group belongs
to the Indo-Aryan ethnic group. Punjabi identity is
traditionally cultural, linguistic and geographical and is
independent of historical religion and origin. Punjabi
activities in the Indus Valley led to the early civilization in
the 5th and 4th millennium BC. During that same period,
the group was led by small kingdoms and tribes but was
later ruled by local kings. Punjabi people are tolerant of
several religions. However, Muslims and Hindus form
the religious majority among the Punjabi. Sikhism and
Christianity are also practiced in the area. Punjabi
culture is that of the Punjab region, one of the oldest
cultures in the world. The culture comprises of poetry,
spirituality, weaponry, music, cuisine, language, history,
and values.
Pashtun:
Pashtun is an ethnic group predominant in Afghanistan
and Pakistan characterized as warriors. This ethnic
group forms 15.4% of the Pakistani population. There
has been a debate as to who qualifies to be Pashtun but
the widely agreed view is that Pashtuns are Eastern
Iranian people who speak Pashto as their first language.
Traditionally, a Pashtun must be a Muslim and adhere to
Pashtunwali code thus only those with Pashtun fathers
qualify also to be a Pashtun. Pashtunwali code defines
the culture of the Pashtun and involves a self-governing
tribal system that controls all aspects of the group.
Guests seeking help from Pashtuns are highly regarded
and treated with dignity and respect.

Sindhi:
Sindhi are natives to the Sindh Province of Pakistan.
This ethnic group forms 14.1% of Pakistan’s population.
Sindh Province was one of the places to be influenced
by Islam because of its location. The Muslims had a
great influence on the Hindu who initially resided in the
region. After Pakistan independence in 1947, most of
the Sindhis migrated to India living a few of the group
behind. The Sindhis in Pakistan are mainly Muslims,
Hindus, and Sikhs. Sindhis culture is heavily influenced
by Islam especially the traditional first names.

Saraiki:
Saraiki is a subgroup of Punjabi people in Pakistan and
speaks Saraiki dialect spoken by the Punjabi. This
ethnic group forms 8.4% of the Pakistani population
although the majority of Saraiki are counted among the
Punjabi groups. Saraiki people practice several religions
but the majority is Muslims with Christian minority. The
culture of the Saraikis has been greatly influenced by
the Punjabis because of their close association.

Ethnic Differences and Ethnic Conflicts:

Changes in people’s affinity with any of them may occur
over time. Ethnic differences among people whether
physical or cultural, exist as part of human experience.
The recognition of these diversities may be intensified
as contacts between two groups grow. Ethnic
distinctiveness invokes an innate sense of people-hood. 

In many cases some groups gain privileges over others

on the basis of their ethnic differences. The
primary simulators of the ethnic differences are often
economic, social or political power. The cultural
differences referred to in ethnic interaction cannot
always be reduced without a loss of analytic
comprehension. Since one of the main insights from
formalist studies of ethnicity is that culture cannot be
treated as a fixed and bound system of signs. 

Ethnic differences are inevitably linked to violence on a

grand scale. The assumption that because conflicts are
often ethnic, ethnicity must breed conflict is a huge
mistake. But at some instances, ethnic diversities do
lead to violence and conflicts. One of the most
common cause of the ethnic conflicts is, people prefer
members of their own group and have active antipathy
towards out-group members making conflicts the
inevitable result. If the antipathies due to ethnic
diversities are so deep that they cannot be resolved,
then separation is the only workable solution left.

Genesis:
There are many factors which contribute to
enhance ethnicity in a region.
* The economic disparities are important in this
respect. In a heterogeneous society, economic
disparities strengthen ethnic identities. The
minority groups feel themselves threatened by the
dominant groups in terms of culture and ethnicity.
These feelings are intensified in the absence of
socio-economic justice. Socio–economic injustice
(for example, the denial of fundamental rights or
the neglect of economic rights such as access to
adequate food and housing) fosters ethnic
conflicts. When the state fails to protect an
individual’s rights and liberties, and to maintain
equitable opportunities among various groups,
marginal identities tend to perceive state
institutions and laws as unjust or oppressive. This
situation is further aggravated when some ethnic
groups are not drawn into mainstream politics by
the state. It increases their isolation from the state
structure and creates ethnic conflicts. The ethnic
groups can also tend to violence, if the situation
persists as the marginalized groups take violence
as the only way to vent their grievances. Therefore
socio-economic injustice develops the feelings of
alienation and deprivation among the marginalized
ethnic groups. This sense of alienation generates
conflicts and issues in the society and leads to the
demand for political autonomy. In short, ethnic
conflicts are closely related to divergent and
uneven levels of economic development. In this
situation, ethnic groups complain of or make
demands for a change in the distributive system. If
a group of people or some minority in a state is
deprived of its due share and suppressed
economically then this difference leads towards
ethnic tension. Economic disparities result into the
social bifurcation and fragmentation of society.
* Then there is the problem of Modernization and
Competition for Scarce Resources. It is another
aspect that needs to be taken into account while
analyzing the causes of ethnic conflict. Today
modernization is taking place all over the world. As
a result of modernization, uneven levels of
development exist. Discrimination in terms of
development and sharing of benefits among ethnic
groups creates disequilibrium in a society. In this
situation, underprivileged ethnic groups may
develop a perception of relative deprivation. 
* Then there is the presence of historical & cultural
factors. These are very significant with regard to
ethnic conflicts, especially in the context of Third
World states that are heterogeneous in nature.
Ethnicity is also commonly tied to territory.
Sometimes alterations in territorial boundaries can
lead to significant changes in ethnic identities.
Ethnic groups can fuse or split apart: such
processes may combine prehistoric sentiments.
Colonial powers exploited caste, racial, linguistic
and religious differences among indigenous
people of African and Asian countries to
perpetuate their rule. The imperial policies of the
colonial powers have politicized ethnic groups in
many colonies. This has been a divisive factor in
the Third World. Religious and linguistic diversities
are a common feature in these countries i.e.
majority – minority language issues, the question
of national – official language; religious cleavages
are a common phenomenon. Smaller cultural
entities feel threatened by the domination of larger
ethnic groups. The submergence and
marginalization of smaller groups create ethnic
tensions in society. Several ethnic conflicts have
raged around the world due to religious
differences. Religious identities are commonly
transformed over time into ethnic identities. 
* Demographic factor is another important reason
which enhances the element of ethnicity. Ethnic
problems emerge not only due to socio-economic
processes but also due to demographic changes
(migration, assimilation, etc.). Large-scale
migrations within the state, contribute to ethnic
conflicts. Inter-state migrations also create
problems of adjustment. In this way, ethnic conflict
starts between local people and outsiders
gradually. As Eriksen describes, when migrants
come into contact with people of a distinct culture,
traditions and identities, both the groups (migrants
and locals) attempt to retain their hold in the power
structure of the state. This situation leads towards
ethnic inconsistencies in most developing
heterogeneous societies. 
* Political factors are also responsible for ethnic
conflicts. Political turbulence ensures when all
ethnic groups do not get due representation in the
power structure and decision making process of
the state. In this situation ethnic groups tend to
identify themselves on the bases of their
respective regions. The elite also mobilizes ethnic
groups for political purposes, reshape their
identities and even form new ethnic groups and
nations. The modern nation state is comprised of
diverse ethnic communities especially in the
postcolonial era, which is why it has to face the
challenges of ethno-nationalist movements when
the political aspirations of nations are not
accommodated by the state. States adopting
strong assimilationist policies may become a
cause for the resistance from those ethnic groups
who are not willing to surrender their ethnic
identities. Ethnic groups may also attempt to seek
more political power to protect their political and
economic interests. These groups provide the
bases for political mobilization. It becomes a
serious threat to national solidarity and creates the
problem of social disagreement. It also obstructs
the path to national integration, resulting in ethnic
conflict.
* The working of external factors also gives rise to
ethnicity. These can also generate ethnic conflicts.
Sometimes ethnic groups get ideological and
financial support from external actors. History is
full of examples of countries with outside interests,
and cases of interference in the ethnic issues of
other countries. In the post-World War I period,
several treaties were signed between states
regarding the protection of each other’s national
minorities. The League of Nations guaranteed the
protection of minorities but it was not successful. A
number of bilateral treaties were signed between
states on the treatment of national, religious and
linguistic minorities during the period between
World War I and II. Subsequently the U.N. and
international agencies have guaranteed against
genocide and to protect human rights. 

Minor Ethnic Groups:

Pakistan’s minor ethnic groups include Muhajir who are
mainly of the Arabic origin forming 7.6% of the
population and Balochistan found in the southwestern
part of Pakistan forming 3.6% of Pakistani.
Ethnic Groups in Pakistan:
Pakistani Society what sort of Values:
Throughout Pakistan, as in most agrarian societies,
family organization is strongly patriarchal, and most
people live with large extended families, often in the
same house or family compound. The eldest male,
whether he is the father, grandfather, or paternal uncle,
is the family leader and makes all significant decisions
regarding the family and its members. Traditionally,
a womans place in society has been secondary to that
of men, and she has been restricted to the performance
of domestic chores and to fulfilling the role of a dutiful
wife and mother. However, in the Punjab, cotton picking
is exclusively a woman’s job, and women may keep the
money thus earned for their own purposes.
Pakistani Culture is very unique in terms of its social and
ethical values. These values are something which are
given due importance. This culture revolves around the
religion of Islam which teaches equality among every
human being that exists on this planet. Pakistan's
culture is very diverse. It has been invaded by many
different people belonging to different races. These
people include the white Huns, Persian Arabs, Turks,
Mongols, and various Eurasian groups. These groups
differ in there way of dressing, food, religion. Pakistani
culture consists of different cultures starting from the
Punjabis and sindhis to the tribal cultures of the eastern
most Pakistani provinces. Now these cultures have
strongly been influenced by surrounding cultures of
India, Central Asia and the Middle East along with other
places.
Pakistani society is largely multilingual and multicultural.
There are some similarities than differences that can be
found as most Pakistanis belong to Aryan heritage. Like
sindhis and Punjabis obviously have a language
difference. Traditional family values are known every
where in this multicultural environment. The rural areas
of Pakistan are still dominated by their own tribal
customs dating back hundreds of years.

Conclusion:

So it can be concluded in this way that whenever it is

talked about ethnicity in Pakistan, there is always a
negative response from people residing in different
ethnic regions. Witnessing the elders the young
generation also caught up by the ethnic fire and it burns
their harmonic feelings for each other. Masses are
forced to do riots for the sake and respect of their
particular regions. Not many governmental or non-
governmental institutions have taken any proper
remedial measures to remove the shade of different
cultures from the minds and to bring youth and the
masses under a single umbrella which is patriotism for
Pakistan.
All those who sincerely wish the country to stay intact
and strong, must consider seriously and try to
strengthen the only home that we have —Pakistan — at
this critical juncture. It has to be fought at several fronts
for the survival and it must not be weakened by
malicious politics. Otherwise, in the long run, there will
only be losers and no winners, except for our external
enemies.