Culture & Society of Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa
BY
Safdar Mehmood
Student ID:2021A8015926007

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FLAG OF KPK

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Introduction
 Formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province
(NWFP)
 Located in the north-west of the country.
 Khyber Pass links the province to Afghanistan
 Established: July 1, 1970
Capital: Peshawar
Area: 74,521 sq.km
Population: 35.53 million (2017)
 The main ethnic group in the province is Pashtuns;
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Languages
 Urdu (national)
 Pashto (provincial)
 English (official)
Regional languages
Pashto, Hindko, Khowar, Kalami, Torwali,Shina,
Saraiki, Gujari, Maiya, Bateri,Kalkoti, Chilisso, Gowro,
Kalasha- mondr,Palula, Dameli, Gawar- Bati,
Yidgha,Burushaski, Kyrgyz, Wakhi

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Pashto
 Dominant language of the Province
 Belongs to the Irani branch of the Aryan family of languages.
 It has two main dialects: a 'softer' dialect and a 'harsher' dialect. •
 The softer/Pashto dialect: southwestern and southeastern dialects.
 The harsher/Pakhto dialect: northwestern (also called central) and
northeastern dialects. •
 Pashto is spoken as a first language by 15.5% (28-30 millions) of
Pakistanis, mostly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Balochistan
as well.
 The Pashto has rich written literary traditions as well as an oral
tradition.

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 PASHTO CULTURE& HERITAGE

 Based on Islam and Pashtunwali (is the

traditional lifestyle of the Pashtun people)
 Culture highlighted since the time of
Alexander the Great in around 330 BC.
 Under little outside influence

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Pashtunwali
Code of conduct
“Pashtuns believe that their social code produces men, who are superior to those
produced under the Western model, and they have no desire to have a new social
system imposed on them by outsiders” (Thomas H. Johnson and M. Chris Mason, “No
Sign Until the Burst of Fire”, p. 61).
Main components of Pashtunwali
I. Melmastia (hospitality)
II. Badal (to seek justice or take revenge against the wrongdoer)
III. Nanawatai (sanctuary) to seek refuge in the house of another, seeking asylum
against his enemies
IV. A Pashtun at all times is expected to defend his land, family, women and property
against invaders.

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Pashtunwali
Other main components of Pashtunwali
 Tureh (bravery)
 loyalty
 Imandari (righteousness)
 Ghairat (courage/honour); at all times a Pashtun
must display courage
 Namus (sexual honour of women)
 Nang (honour):A Pashtun must defend the weak
around him.
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 Jirga System

 Assembly of tribal elders.

 Take decision on issues based on harmony.
 Disputes between two or more people are heard
by this Council of Elders.
 In tribal regions, the jirga is still used as a court
for criminal offences

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Literature
 Pashto-speakers have long had a tradition of oral literature, including
proverbs, stories, and poems. Written Pashto literature saw a rise in
development in the 17th century mostly due to poets like Khushal Khan
Khattak (1613–1689), who, along with Rahman Baba (1650–1715), is
widely regarded as among the greatest Pashto poets
 The first Pashto teaching text was written during the period of Ahmad
Shah Durrani (1722-1772)by Pir Mohammad Kakerr with the title of
Ma'refa al- Afghāni ("Introduction of Afghani [Pashto]").
 First grammar book of pashto verbs was written in 1805 titled Riāz al-
Muhabat ("Training in Affection") by Nawab Mohabat khan. • Another
book of pashto words entitled Ajayeb al-Lughat (Wonders of languages)
was written by Nawabullah yar khan in 1808

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Dress
 Pathan men usually wear
shalwar kameez with Turban.
This Turban is a symbol of
honour for them.
 Males usually wear Kufi ,
Kandahari cap ,
Lungi (turban of honour),
Pakol as traditional headgear.
 Leaders mostly wear a karakul hat.
 Famous footwear of pathan is Peshawari chappal

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Dress
 Pashtun women tend to wear a 'standard' Afghan
outfit made up of trousers (partug), a dress with
long sleeves and full skirt (kamiz), some form of
head covering (shal).
 They also tend to make hand made jewelry which
is appreciated all over the world.

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Marriage System
 Arranged marriages are usually the only choice for
the rural people but also very common among those
living in urban areas.
 Wadah (marriage) as a general rule, is arranged by
parents in Pashtun society and the boy and the girl
themselves do not play any role in the negotiations.
This is because of the fact that Pashtuns are
conservative by nature.
 Due to this conservatism, it becomes hard for the
boy to choose a girl for himself.
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Family System
 An attractive feature of the Pukhtoons way of
life is the joint family system.
 Which signifies their deep love for the
family's solidarity and welfare.
 The desire of joint life come out from a
consideration of economic security and
integrity

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Folk music and dances
 Traditional Pashto music is mostly classic
ghazals, using
• Rubab
• Sitar
• Tabla
• Harmonium
• Flute and several other musical instruments

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Types of dances
 Attan dance Folk dance of Pashtuns tribes of
Pakistan including the unique styles of Quetta and
Waziristan.
 Khattak dance
 Mahsud Attan (Dance)
 Waziri dance
 Chitrali dance
 Gumhar and Gatka popular dance of hazara
division
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Crafts
 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not famous just for its natural beauty, but also
for its handicraft work.
 The products of KPK are very famous all over the country, and also
exported to the other countries.
 Handmade products that include,
• Woodwork
• Chappal making
• Stones jewelry Vessels of brass and copper
• Woolen fabrics
• Leather work
• Carpets
• caps made of mountain sheep wool

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 Foods
 Famous Items:
• Tikkah
• Sugi ka halwa
• Kahwa
• Chapali kabab
• Kabali pulao
• Special long naans
• Saag Roti of jawar(maize).
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Thanks

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