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Pakistan

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Chicago Public Schools | Office of Language and Cultural Education

South Asia Resource Guide | PAKISTAN 166

PAKISTAN

Official Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Area: 499,304 square miles

Population: 144,616,639

Languages: Urdu, English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balauchi

Religions: Muslim 97%; Christians, Hindu and others 3%

Life Expectancy: Total Population 61.4

Official Exchange Rate: 49.15 Pak Rupees = $1

Description:The Pakistani flag was designed by Ameerud-din-Khidwai. The national flag of Pakistan

is dark green in color with a white bar, a white crescent in the center and a five-pointed

star. The white and dark green field represent minorities and Muslim majority, respectively.

The crescent on the flag represents progress. The five-rayed star represents light and

knowledge

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National Anthem Of PakistanQaumi Tarana

Pak sarzamin shad bad

Kishware haseen shad bad

Tunishane azmealishan arze Pakistan

Markazeyaqin shadbad.

Pak sarzamin ka nizam quwate akhuwati awam

Qaum, mulk, Sultanat

Painda ta binda bad shad, bad man zele murad.

Parchame sitarao hilal

Rahbare tarraqio ka mal

Tarjumane mazishane hal jane istaqbal

Sayyai, khudae zul jalal.

Adopted in 1953

Written by Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez Jullandhuri (1900-1982)

Translation

National Anthem

Blessed be the sacred land,

Happy be the bountiful domain,

Symbol of great determination, Land of Pakistan

Blessings are with you, the core of faith.

The order of this Sacred Land

Is the strength of the brotherhood of the people

May the nation, the country, and the state

Shine in everlasting glory

Reach to the destination of our ambition.

This flag of the Crescent and the Star

Leads the way to progress and perfection,

Symbol of our past, glory of our present,

Strength of the future,Symbol of the protection of God

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IntroductionPakistan is the second largest nation of the South Asian subcontinent. It is about one fourth

the size of India. It lies in the Indus River Valley between the mountains of Afghanistan

with the famous Khyber Pass on the northwest, and the great Indian desert, called the Rann

of Katch, on the southeast. China is on its northern side, along with the disputed territory

(between Pakistan and India) of Kashmir. The Arabian Sea is on its southeast corner with a

busy port in the city of Karachi.

The objective of Pakistan was to become an exemplary modern religious state, a truly

Islamic republic, as affirmed by the name Pakistan, which was given by the Muslim poet

Muhammad Iqbal in 1930. The word Pakistan means, Land of the Pure. The creation

of Pakistan as an Islamic republic was based on the Islamic faith of a large section of

population in British India.

Today, 95% of the population is Muslim. Of these, 77% belong to the Sunni tradition.

Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Parsies make up the rest of the population.

The heritage of the people can be traced back to the earliest known urban culture in South

Asia. The two archeolological sites in PakistanMohanjodaro andHarrapa that date back to

2500 B.C. show cultures that had all the urban amenities and that were trading spices and

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precious stones with the neighboring states. A lot of artifacts have been discovered at these

sites including the well-known dancing girl and the priest.

Pakistan also has a famous Buddhist archeological site Taxila, which also includes a

museum. It is about 124 miles from the capital Islamabad and its museum displays some

very intricate Buddhas and Buddhist artifacts.

History

Independence Movement

During the British rule of undivided India, the elite class realized that people needed

education, political vision, and direction. This led to an era of reforms and participation

in government services. Many prominent individuals thoughtfully became the catalyst for

change.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1818-1898) emerged as the main advocate of reforming Muslim

society towards progress, representing a feeling that a rejection of the British would only

result in the Muslims of India disappearing into oblivion. He wanted advantages for Muslims

and was interested bringing reforms in Muslim education. In 1875, the British gave him

a grant to found the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental college, which later became AligarhUniversity. From there, a stream of educated Muslims went into government services.

Indian National Congress

In 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed. The party began to fight for the transfer

of power into Indian hands. Although some leading Muslims were members, it was viewed

with suspicion by most, including Sir Syed, as being a Hindu body, which would only ever

represent Hindu interests.

Dancing Girl Relic from

Mohanjodaro (2500 BCE)

Priest Relic from Mohanjodaro

(2500 BCE)

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All India Muslim League

In 1906, the All India Muslim League was formed. They petitioned the Viceroy that in any

political move, Muslim interests must be taken into account. The 1909 India Councils Act

granted Muslims separate electorates, where they could elect their own representatives

to the Legislative Council. Some people claim that this move foreshadowed the birth of

Pakistan.

Turnaround

Muslims began to feel isolated and their fears were boosted by European attacks on Muslim

countries such as the fight against Turkey in the First World War. More and more Muslims

decided to transfer to the Muslim League. In 1916, the Muslim League and the Congress

signed the Lukhnow Pact. Congress accepted separate Muslim electorates in return for

League support in its cause to drive out the British.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah 1875 -1948

Mohammad Ali Jinnah was initially a Congress member andendeavored to bring about the political union of Muslims and

Hindus. He left Congress in 1920, but the turning point came when

Congress leaders ignored Muslim demands for one third of the

seats in any future parliaments. Jinnah never trusted Congress after

several exclusions of Muslim interest in Congressional decisions.

He worked furiously to amass Muslim support for the League to

show the world that the League and the League only was the true

representation of Indias Muslims.

Pakistan Resolution

In March 1940, Jinnah submitted the Lahore Resolution, also knownas the Pakistan Resolution. This resolution established that Muslims

have a separate identity and therefore they are a separate nation. The

resolution demanded that the Muslim majority areas should be made

a separate Muslim state.

The idea of a separate Muslim state gained favor, despite opposition

from the Congress. It led to terrible violence as Muslims and Hindus

turned on each other in an atmosphere of unease about the future.

After Pakistans Independence a minaret called Minar-e-Pakistan

was constructed where the Pakistan Resolution had taken place.

Independence

Viceroy Louis Mount Batten announced that Pakistan would receive its independence on

August 14, 1947. The states had to vote for either India or Pakistan. Baluchistan, North

West Frontier Province and Sind voted to join Pakistan directly. Various princely states

(areas that were ruled by monarchs and that were run quite independently from the central

government) in the north, including Gilgit and Hunza, also acceded to Pakistan. When the

deadline passed, Kashmir still hadnt decided. New boundaries were drawn up dividing

Mohammad Ali Jinnah

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Bengal and the Punjab. The announcement of the new border resulted

in the greatest migration in the human history, as some seven to eight

million Muslims left India and the same number of Hindus made the

journey in the opposite direction. On August 14, 1947, the flag of

the newly formed Pakistan was hoisted in Karachi for the first time

The Governor General of the new Islamic state was Mohammad Ali

Jinnah.

1947 Present Day

The Islamic state of Pakistan was born. The primary concern of the new leaders was now to

ensure the economic survival of the country. It was no easy task; unlike India, Pakistan had

not inherited an organized government. In all areas the country had to start from scratch.

East and West Pakistan

Pakistan was geographically unique. No other country in the world was divided into two by

1,000 miles of foreign territory.

West Pakistan was larger but it was divided racially and had less population than East. East

Pakistan was smaller, comprising one seventh of the total area but its 45 million people that

were all racially Bengali represented 55 percent of the population. The only thing that the

two units really had in common was religion. Linguistically, culturally and economically,

there were great differences between East and West Pakistan.

Kashmir Issue

Much of Pakistans early history was dominated by the Kashmir issue and this has remained

a bone of contention between India and Pakistan ever since. At the time of the independence,

Kashmir, with its 80 percent Muslim majority, still hadnt chosen whether to join India or

Pakistan. The United Nations later determined a line of control, by which Azad Kashmir(part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan) was given to Pakistan and the rest of the Kashmir

remained with India.

Disturbances and Political Instability

When Mohammad Ali Jinnah died in 1948, Pakistan plunged

into mourning. He was succeeded by Khawaja Nazimuddin, a

distinguished Bengali with Liaquat Ali Khan as Prime Minister.

At this time, Pakistan was in search of a constitution. Liaquat Ali

Khan, a believer in a democratic secular state, worked towards

presenting a constitution but before he could proceed far, he

was assassinated in October 1951. A constitution was finallydrawn up in 1956, making Pakistan an Islamic Republic.

In East Pakistan, an autonomy movement was on the rise.

Military generals were not satisfied with politicians and they

reacted in 1958. The constitution was abolished and martial

law was declared. Iskandar Mirza, president at that time, was

forced to resign and was replaced by General Mohammad Ayub

Khan.

Liaquat Ali Khan

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East Pakistan Conflict

Ayub Khan handed over power to the Commander-in-Chief, General Agha Muhammad

Yahya Khan in March 1969. It was Yahya Khans aim to restore parliamentary democracy

and he set elections for the following year. In the elections, there were two main contenders;

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which towards the end of 1960s

had gained huge popular support in West Pakistan, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans AwamiLeague, which had emerged as the strongest party in East Pakistan. The election resulted

in Pakistan Peoples party winning the majority of seats in the west and Rahmans Awami

League winning by a big margin in the east. East Pakistan had a larger population than

the west and therefore had more seats. The Awami League claimed it was in a position

to dominate the new National Assembly. The two leaders were on a collision course. The

dispute led to strikes and Shaikh Mujibur Rahman declaring East Pakistan a separate state

in March 1971. The government of Pakistan was determined to keep the country intact but

the Awami League was to break away. But the separation movement concluded when India

declared war on Pakistan on December 12, 1971. Pakistan sustained a major loss and by

directly intervening in the conflict, India had supported the creation of the new independent

country of Bangladesh.

Rise and Fall of Bhutto

A rich Sindhi landlord with a western education, Bhutto had been a major figure on the

political scene for years. During his regime, the country prospered and was set on a course of

industrial and agricultural development. He gained popularity in villages and poor industrial

areas. He also continued to stay on top on the political stage in Pakistan and easily won

the next elections held in 1977. The opposition believed that the victory of Bhutto came

too easy and street demonstrations were held which brought unstable political unrest. He

declared martial law in Karachi, Lahore and Hyderabad.

General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq took advantage of the situation. He placed Mr. Bhutto under

house arrest and announced that he was taking over as chief administrator of martial law.

Once again, the military found itself ruling Pakistan: Bhutto was sentenced to death for

suspicion of ordering the murder of a political opponent and he was executed in Rawalpindi

on April 4, 1979.

Zia-ul-Haqs Regime

In his first address to the nation General Zia promised to hold elections within 90 days

according to the constitution but never did. He continued to govern the country for the next

nine years until his death in a plane crash in 1988.

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Continued Instability

In the 1988 elections, Ms. Benazir Bhutto became the Prime Minister. She

was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She ruled for only 20 months

before the President, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, relieved her of office in 1990

because of corruption, nepotism and ineffectiveness. Since then, two

major parties have been on the political forefront. One is the PakistanPeoples Party (PPP) led by Ms. Benazir Bhutto and the other is the

Islamic Democratic Alliance (originally formed by the Muslim League)

led by Punjabs Nawaz Sharif.

Present Situation

The last Prime Minister was Mian Nawaz Sharif and the President was Mr. Farooq Laghari.

However, General Musharraf took over through Martial Law in 1999. Elections were held in

October, 2002. Musharraf is currently the president of Pakistan (2003).

Future of Modern Democracy In PakistanThere are several factors that play a significant

role in shaping the infrastructure and function of

the government. Foremost among these obstacles

was an inherent regional division of the country

into four provinces. Since the regional identities of

these provinces have been the primary basis for the

formation of the political parties that have brought

people into the political process, the differences

among these regions have been strengthened on

the national level.

Today, another challenge to a stable, democratically

elected government in Pakistan is the disparity

between the rich and the poor, between the

traditionally entrenched, wealthy landowners and

the tribal leaders (chiefs of large communities)

versus the landless peasants and the poor tribal members.

At this writing, Pakistan remains in a period of transition. The nation

is still apprehensive about its survival as a unified, sovereign state. It

is threatened by divisive political, social, and religious forces and by

economical challenges both within and outside the country.

Benazir Bhutto

Prime Minister of Pakistan

Nasrullah Jamali

President of Pakistan Pervaiz Musharraf

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GeographyLocation: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran

and Afghanistan on the west, and China on the north

Area: Slightly less than twice the size of California

Total: 499,304 square miles

Land: 482,364 square miles

Water: 15,132 square miles

Coastline: 649 miles

Climate: Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in the northwest; arctic in the north

Terrain: Flat plains in the east; mountains in the north and northwest;

plateaus in the west

Extremes: Highest point: 28,250 feet high summit of the mountain K-2, the second-

highest point on the earth

Natural Resources: Extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal,

iron ore, copper, salt and limestone

Irrigated Land: 102,660 square miles

Government and AdministrationGovernment Type: Federal Republic

Capital: Islamabad

Administrative Divisions: 4 provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Sarhad (also calledNorth-West Frontier)

Overview

Pakistan is an Islamic Republic. It has four provinces;

Balochistan, North West Frontier (NWFP), Punjab

and Sindh. In addition to provinces, are the Federally

Administered Northern Areas (FANA) and Federally

Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Pakistan has a federal

structure. Parliament consists of two houses: Senate (upper

house) and the National Assembly (lower house).

Members of the National Assembly are directly elected on

adult (18 years) franchise basis and their term of office is

five years. The National Assembly determines the major

policy issues and passes annual budget and legislation.

It elects the Prime Minister from among its members. The Prime Minister forms his/her

cabinet from among members of the National Assembly and the Senate. Provinces have

their own elected legislative assemblies and Chief Ministers. A majority of the members

of the Senate are elected by the Provincial Assemblies.

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EconomyPopulation Below Poverty Line: 40%

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices: 5.2%

Labor Force: 40 million (agriculture 44%; industry 17%; services 39%)

Unemployment Rate: 7%

Industries: Textiles, food processing, beverages, construction material, clothing, paper

products, shrimp

Agriculture: Corn, jute,cotton, wheat, rice, sugar cane, fruits and vegetables

Exports: $8.6 billion annually

Imports: $9.6 billion annually

Debt External: $38 billion (2000 est.)

Economic Aid Recipient: $2 billion

Currency: Pakistani rupee

Currency Code: PKR

Exchange Rates: Pakistani rupees per U.S. dollar

59.15 (June 2003)

Major Exports: clothing, cotton yarn and thread, cotton

fabrics, raw cotton, rice, carpets, rugs, leather products,

hosiery products, sporting goods, surgical instruments

Major Imports: Pakistan imports industrial and agricultural

machinery, military hardware and petroleum products

Economic Overview

Pakistan is a developing, heavily populated country, suffering from internal political disputes,

lack of foreign investment, and costly confrontations with neighboring India. Pakistans

economic outlook continues to be marred by its weak foreign exchange position, which

relies on international creditors for hard currency inflows.

New Wealth and Classes

New wealth and new classes were created in Pakistan during the 1980s by jobs in the

Persian Gulf oil fields. At the peak, more than 2 million people from all parts of the countrywere sending home more then $4 billion a year, or about 10 percent of the countrys gross

domestic product. The loss of jobs during the Persian Gulf War had a double impact on

Pakistans economy. It cut in half the funds from overseas and increased the number of

unemployed people within the country.

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Soviet Invasion

The Soviet invasion in Afghanistan brought an influx of refugees and drug culture that also

affected the economy negatively. Imposition of sanctions by the United States following

Pakistans nuclear tests in May 1998, have further contributed to a decline in the countrys

economic growth.

Removal of Sanctions

In 2002, the United States government removed many

of the sanctions imposed on Pakistan. The International

Monetary Fund has restored $575 million of a $1.5

billion loan to finance Pakistans international debts in

efforts to stave off a financial crisis.

Although Pakistans plight has been extenuated by

international forces and events, most of these crises

have their origins within the country itself. There are

several areas of internal concern: a disproportionately

high defense budget (more than $4 billion per year), a

high rate of population growth (2.17%), and the need

for human resources development.

The limited opportunity for education in Pakistan is a

significant indicator of the need for human resources

development. The most recent census has placed the

level of literacy in the country at 42%.

The current government is faced with a $21 billion deficit in 2002-03. Foreign loans and

grants provide approximately 25% of government revenue, but debt service obligations

total nearly 50% of the government revenue expenditure. Although Pakistan successfully

Governments Endeavor to

Secure Funds

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negotiated a $600 million International Monetary Fund (IMF) Stand-By Arrangement,

future loan installments will be jeopardized if Pakistan misses critical IMF benchmarks on

revenue collection and the fiscal deficit. The present government has complied largely with

IMF recommendations to raise petroleum prices, widen the tax net, privatize public sector

assets, and improve the balance of trade.

However, Pakistans economic prospects remain uncertain; too little has changed despitethe new administrations intentions. Foreign exchange reserves hover at roughly $1 billion:

the Gross Development Product growth hinges on crop performance. The import bill has

been hammered by high oil prices, and both foreign and domestic investors remain wary of

committing to new projects in Pakistan .

EducationEducation is organized into five levels: primary (grades one through five); middle (grades

six through eight); high (grades nine and ten (culminating in matriculation); intermediate

(grades eleven and twelve) (equal to U.S. high school diploma). After intermediate there are

university programs leading to undergraduate and advanced degrees.

The number of polytechnical, commercial colleges and vocational

training centers is not large. Although the numbers of such institutions

has increased, there is still a compelling need to expand vocational

training.

Pakistan inherited a high standard of education from the Britsh.

Schools and colleges were only in cities and the cost of education

was relatively high but the institutions kept a high standard

of education. Most of the schools were run by convents or

private British organizations.

Pakistans educational sector collapsed slowly. The process

began in three fairly distinct phases with each phase leaving a deep impression on the

educational system. The first phase began in 1972 when the administration of Mr. Zulfikar

Ali Bhutto nationalized 80% of private educational institutions. This action increased the

number of schools run by the government without increasing any funds to education.

The second phase occurred also during the time of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto when

he allowed the politicization of college and university campuses in order to build support

for himself and his party among the countrys students.

The third phase brought Islam into the educational system. In the 1980s while Pakistan

was helping the United States expel the Soviet Union troops from Afghanistan, Military

ruler Zia-ul-Haq allowed a number of foreign governments to set up Dini-Madrassahs or

religious schools. These institutions provided instruction only in religion and ignored allother aspects of education.

But since 1987, a number of private institutions particularly in the largest city, Karachi, have

established themselves as the providers of quality education. Many of them are affiliated

with American or British institutions abroad. These privately administered schools, colleges

and universities constitute the system that supports the requirement of professionals for the

modern sector of the economy and society.

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Culture and SocietyPopulation: 144,616,639

(July 2001 est.)

Life Expectancy: Total population: 61.45

yearsNationality: Pakistani(s)

Ethnic Groups: Punjabi; Sindhi, Pashtun

(Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants

from India at the time of partition and

their descendants)

Religions: Muslim 97%; (Sunni 77%; Shia

20%); Christians, Hindu, and others 3%

Languages: Punjabi 48%; Sindhi 12%;

Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%; Pashtu 11%; Urdu (Official) 8%; Balochi 3%; Hindko 2%;

Brahui 1%; English (official and lingua franka of Pakistani elite and most governmentministries), Burushaski and others 5%

Literacy: 42.7% (age 15 and over can read and write)

Male: 55.3%

Female: 29%

The archeological sites of Pakistan are ancient: Buddhist monuments, Hindu temples,

Islamic palaces, tombs, gardens and Anglo-Mogul mansions - some in a state of dereliction

which makes their former grandeur more emphatic. Sculpture is dominated by Greco-

Buddhist reliefs, and crafts by ceramics, jewelry, silk goods and engraved woodwork and

metalwork.

Pakistans flotillas of mirror-buffed, chrome-sequined and vintaged Bedford buses andtrucks are dazzling works of art.

Dances

Dances can either be folk that are vigorous but graceful or they can be classical. In classical

dance many dancers have refined the genreKathak. It emerged as a mixture ofBharat Nat

Yam (the genre of dance in which stories about Hindu deities are

told) and folk dances. Music is either classical, folk or devotional

and the most patronized literature is a mix of the scholastic and

poetic.

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Dress

Shalwar Qamiz is

worn by both men

and women with

some differences in

styles. Shalwaris aloose trouser where

as kameez is a long

shirt touching the

knees.Kameez worn

by men is open on

the chest. Some

women also wear

sarees. In business

circles men wear western attire, trousers, shirts and ties, which are seen as the sign of

professionalism.

Food

Pakistani food is similar to that of northern

India, with a dollop of Middle Eastern influence.

This means baked and deep-fried breads (Nans,

Chapattis), meat curries, lentil mush (dhal), spicy

spinach, cabbage, peas and rice. Snacks like samosas

and tikkas (spiced and barbecued beef, mutton or

chicken) are delicious, while a range of desserts will

satisfy any sweet tooth. The most common sweet is

barfi, which is made of dried milk solids and comes

in a variety of flavors.

Pakistani Society

Pakistani society is a male-oriented society. The family is headed by a male member, usually

the oldest male member of the group. Elderly people are given positions of prestige, honor

and respect in Pakistani culture.

Kurta Shalwar

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Language

Urdu:Pakistans Official Language

According to the 1973 Constitution,

Urdu is the official language

although English remains in general

use in government, the military,

business and higher education.

The national language Urdu unites

all people and all communities,

irrespective of their mother tongue.

It is spoken as far north as Chitral,

Gilgit and Skardu and as far south

as Thatta and Karachi. The word

Urdu is of Turkish origin and

means army or camp. The

English word horde has the same

roots, so Urdu is quite simply, the

language of the camp. Scholars say

that it developed in Punjab and

the neighboring territories about

1,000 years ago out of a mixture of

local languages and of the Persian

language spoken by invading

armies from northern Persia that

included many words borrowed

from Arabic and Turkish.

Urdu is graceful and poetic with no

overly harsh gutturals to cause a foreigner to stumble in his/ her pronunciation. It is also

a language that lends itself to scholarship, artistic endeavor and poetry going back some

700 years.

Other Languages

There are 20 or more spoken languages in Pakistan. The most commonly spoken are Punjabi,

Sindhi, and Urdu which belong to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language

family.

Provincial languages are Punjabi (spoken by over 48 percent), Sindhi (spoken by 12

percent), Pashtu (spoken by 11 percent) and Baluchi (spoken by 4 percent of the population)

respectively. The rest of the 14% consist of people who either speak Urdu (people who came

to Pakistan from different parts of India in 1947) or people who speak dialects of provincial

languages like Brahvi and Hindko.

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Festivals and Religious Occasions

Basant

Basant, the festival of kites is said to have originated in India. It is popular in the masses,

particularly in the cities of the province of Punjab.

Basant occurs during spring when the trees are blooming and

everyone is carried away by the lighthearted beauty of the

kites. People watch and participate as the spring winds

whip brilliantly colored diamond shaped paper kites

into the air in such quantities that you can barely

see the sky above.

The kites of Basant are warriors, glorious opponents

who battle for control of all they survey. Once

the kite is airborne, it is an open invitation to a

severing contest - thePainch. The kites weapon is

its maanjha its wickedly armored string, whichthe kite flyers of basant spend many days preparing

and the treatment of which is an art in itself.

The string is coated in a mixture of rice paste and ground glass to

strengthen it and render it capable of slashing an opponents maanjha.

Religious Holidays

The religious holidays in Pakistan are celebrated according to

the lunar calendar, and other holidays like Independence Day,

Pakistan Resolution Day, Christmas Eve and New Years Day are

celebrated based on the solar calendar. During these holidaysPakistanis usually visit friends and family members, prepare

lavish meals, and attend special prayers.

Eid-al-Fitr

Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated after the month of fasting. The month of fasting is called Ramadan.

It serves as a reward for those who have fasted during the month of Ramadan. During

fasting one is not supposed to eat and drink from sunrise to sundown.

On Eid everyone starts out the day by wearing new clothes, and going to prayer. Afterwards,

people visit or entertain friends and family. Children usually receive gifts or money called

Eidi.

A sweet dish, sheer khorma, made of vermillion, milk and dried nuts is a specialty and is

served to every guest, visiting the house. Use ofIttir(traditional concentrated scents) or

general scents are worn and offered to visitors.

Eid-al-Azha

This holiday occurs on the tenth day of the twelfth month (Zilhaj) of the Islamic (Hijra)

calendar. The day commemorates the Prophet Abrahams devotion to God. He was willing

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to slay his son Ismael in sacrifice. Ismael was never killed; instead, Allah provided a lamb

for the sacrifice. This religious event has been celebrated by all the three monotheistic

religions Christians, Jews and Muslims.

Muslims sacrifice a lamb, and the meat is shared with family and friends and shared with

the poor. This holiday is observed in the same fashion as Eid al- Fitr. People visit friends and

family and gifts are exchanged.

Ashura

This holiday occurs on the tenth day of the month, Muharram, in the Islamic calendar. This

is a day of mourning. It commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammads grandson

Hussain and his followers at the battle of Kerbala. Hussain fought against tyranny, the

oppressive rule of Yazid that was against the teachings of Islam, in one part of the holy land

of Yasrib which is now in Iraq.

Milad-al-Nabi

This holiday occurs onthe twelfth day of the month Rabi-al-Awal in the Islamic calendar.

On this day, people celebrate the Prophet Muhammads birthday. They attend prayers,

remember the Prophet Muhammad, and his message of Islam. People also entertain/visit

with friends and family. People prepare Chiraghan, the illuminations of buildings with

colorful lights and hold Milad Meh-fils, thegatherings in which friends and relativesare

invited. During these gatherings Naats (songs in praise of the prophet) are recited and

Qawallis (a specific genre of singing that usually accompanies clapping along with the beat)

are sung.

Christmas

Christmas is celebrated by the Pakistani Christians on December 25.

Church activities, caroling, family get-togethers, and Christmas dinner

are all parts of the merriment.

Other Holidays

Mohammad Ali Jinnahs Birthday

This holiday is celebrated on December 25 by all Pakistanis. National flags are hoisted on

all government buildings and parades take place in all major cities. The tomb of the father

of the nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah is visited by thousands of people on this day.

New Years Eve, December 31. This is the first day of January (New Years) according to

the solar calendar.

Pakistan Resolution Day on March 23

Independence Day on August 14

Labor Day falls on May 1 every year

Defense Day on September 19

Remembrance Day for Martyrs by Islamic lunar calendar (10th Muharram)

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Traditional WeddingThe wedding ceremony is a main social event for

families in Pakistani society and culture.

Prior to the wedding celebration, a mendhi ceremony

takes place. The mendhi celebrates the upcomingmarriage. The word mendhi refers to the Henna paste

put on the brides hands and feet in elaborate and

ornate designs. During this occasion, the bride wears

yellow attire and waits for the grooms family to come

and bring mendhi and sweets. Dancing and singing,

accompanied by the playing of the dolkhi, a small

drum, is all part of the festivity.

The wedding ceremony is calledNikkah in the Muslim

faith. It is performed by anImam, a religious scholar,

who recites specific passages from the Muslim holy book,

the Quran. The Imam recites and explains passages thatdiscuss the roles and responsibilities of the newly wed

bride and groom. Often times, theNikkah takes place

in a mosque and is followed by the reception, which

is held in a banquet hall or hotel.

Traditional clothing and jewelry

is worn by the women while men

dress in elegant western style suits

or shalwar kameez. Shalwar is a

loose trouser where as Kammez

is a long shirt that extends till the

kness and is open at the chest.Children also dress in colorful

clothes.

The day after the Nikkah, a

valimareception takes place. This

reception is hosted by the family

of groom.

Mendhi Designs

Traditional Bride and Groom

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Arts and CraftsThe trend of traditional arts and crafts has descended through generations, starting from as

early as theMoenjodaro andHarrapan civilizations (5000 B.C.). They were the first ones to

make clay pots and various other art crafts in the subcontinent. Changes and developments

in the crafts have a valuable story to tell about the social structure, its altered patterns and

the history of the country and its people.

The Arab conquests beginning in the eighth century A.D. were recorded in the universally

encountered geometric patterns from the Islamic world. From gold jewelry to wool carpets,

craft products bear the hallmark of Islamic art and architecture blended with the more free

flowing asymmetric composition and mellow forms of indigenous South Asian Art.

The impact of British colonialism in turn left its mark, corrupting the taste of the urban

population who had tended to favor European design for homes and worn to the detriment

of the indigenous crafts.

Todays crafts clearly symbolize Pakistan, from jewelry and metalwork to hats and rugs, the

design itself is the insignia of the rich and the proud heritage.

Jewelry

The richest and the most elaborate items of jewelry seen in Pakistan are

those inherited from the Moghul period. These include gold chokers,

bracelets and earrings enameled and inlaid pieces are often incorporated

into standard necklaces of pearls, emeralds and rubies in the form of

pendants and clasps.

Frequently, tribal women and those living in mountain areas pierce their ears

along the outer ridge in order to wear several hoops and studs in conjunction with

drop earrings. Bangles and rings are particularly popular in Punjab where gold is

highly rated, as are pearls and rubies.

Other items of gold and silver are available for the wealthy in the shape of platters, trays,

serving vessels and chalices.

Metal Works

Several cities in Pakistan specialize in various

metal products like trays, cutlery, vases and

decorative items. The most popular designs

are probably the intertwined flowering vine

composed of rosettes and arabesques seen on a

large number of objects.

Wood Crafts

Muslim wood workers immigrated at the time of

partition from Kashmir and made their home in

Swat, Peshawar, Karachi Lahore and Rawalpindi.

These places are particularly remarkable for their

inlay work of metal, buffalo-horn and ivory. The

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wood-workers of Dera Ismail Khan and Chiniot (cities of the province Punjab) are highly

respected for their brass-inlaid products. The later particularly for their bold free-hand

designs.

Pottery

Potters, like metalworkers, frequently draw their inspiration fromantique objects, having inherited from within the family, techniques

handed down by the ancient master-potters of Persia and the Arab

heartlands. The blue on white ceramic glazing technique was perfected

in Iraq and Syria more then 1,000 years ago and those authentic

methods are still applied to the making of the magnificent turquoise

tile works of famous Persian mosques. River mud formed into tiles is

painstakingly handcrafted through each stage of glazing and baking

by a handful of family members, using their age-old technique. The

famous lattice design enjoys continued popularity while calligraphy

and miniature paintings are a recent addition on vases, plates and

wall pieces.

Astoundingly, the foot driven pottery

wheel of Mohen-jo-Daro Civilization

which is dated back to 2500 BCE is used

to this day. The Sindh province is noted

for its black and maroon, pre-firing

glaze. Sindhi artisans are celebrated also for their lacquer ware

decorated in patterns of blue, mustard and brick red providing

a welcome and lively contrast to their desert environment.

In Punjab, the two-color, red and blue, resin pottery made on

lathe machines, in the cities of Hang and Sargodha, is further

embellished with mirrors.

Weaving

Another widely practiced craft is basketry including mats, blinds,

fans, slippers and caps. They are woven from the leaves of the date

palm, wild rushes, reeds and weed-stalks. Weaving continued

to be the work of women who traditionally wove bread-

baskets for keeping the bread warm which they cooked

in large quantities. Decorated baskets bearing intricate

geometric patterns woven from pre-dyed grass, reeds

and leaves are commercially the most in demand.

Several agencies have been set up in rural areas

throughout the country. They encourage the mass

production of basketry goods. This has created spare

time jobs for women, men and children.

Vase made on wheel

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Carpets

Baluchistan is the major source of

folk carpets and rugs of various

types. Common design features

include interlocked tapestry

weave, striped and banded grounddecorated with squares and stars

enclosed in crosses, octagons, and

borders. Rows of stylized camels

are understandably popular

among the Baloch tribes as camel

is a useful animal in deserts and is

domesticated by these tribes.

A unique regional specialty is the

chamois leather rug from Sindh, embroidered in multi-colored silk, gold and silver.

Contemporary artisans favor the jewel-like beauty of the floral carpets in Persia and whichwere developed in India during the Mughal period. Medallion carpets, bearing a vase-like

central motif echoed in quarter circles in each corner, also continue in popularity as do

hunting or animal rugs.

During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan many craftsmen came with refugees and later

began producing Afghan style carpets on the outskirts of the cities of Quetta and Peshawar.

This distinct Afghan style has also become part of exporting carpets from Pakistan.

Popular Sports Played In Pakistan

National Sport Field Hockey

The game of field hockey is played on a rectangular field which is 100 yards (91.4 m) long

and 60 yards (55 m) wide and is divided by a center line and a 25 yard line in each half of

the field. The game is played on both grass fields and on artificial turf called astro, although,

for serious play, only astro turf is used because it is totally

flat and obviously far faster than grass. The goal cages are

4 yards/12 feet wide and 7 feet high and there is a striking

circle measured out 16 yards from each goal post. This

striking circle (semi-circle) is also known as the circle or

the D and a goal can only be scored from a shot taken

within this semi-circle. The ball cannot be lifted into the

circle but must be kept on the ground.

A field hockey game consists of two halves of 35 minutes

with an intermission of 5-10 minutes. The game is

continuous (as in soccer) with no time-outs.

The game is played by two teams of 11 players 10 players

and one goaltender. Although there are set positions

(forwards, backs, wings, etc.), the composition of any team is at the discretion of the coach

(what positions players play, etc.). The object of the game is to have scored more goals than

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your opponents by the games end, with one point being awarded for each goal scored as

in most games of this nature.

Kite fighting

Participants cover the strings of their kites with a mixture of

powdered glass and flour. Then they out maneuver each otherin order to cut the string of an opponents kite. They do this

by rubbing the strings together; children and young teenagers

mostly play this sport.

Guli Danda(similar to stick ball)

A polished stick of about one and a half feet is used to throw a smaller stick of about three

inches. The object is to hit the smaller stick at one of its pointed corners with the big stick,

making it jump in the air. The player then hits it again before it falls down. The challenge is

to hit the stick as far as possible. The player who hits it the furthest is the winner.

Rasakashi(Tug of war)Two teams pull the rope in their own direction and try to make the other team fall.

Kabbadi

In kabaddi, two teams compete with each other for higher scores, by touching or capturing

the players of the opponent team. Each team consists of 12 players, of which seven are on

the court at a time, and five in reserve. The two teams fight for higher scores, alternating

defense and offense. The court is as large as that for a dodge ball game. The game consists

of two 20 minute halves, with a break of five minutes for change of sides.

The kabaddi playing area is 41 feet by 32.8 feet, divided by a line into two halves. The side

winning the toss sends a raider. The raiders aim is to touch any or all players on theopposing side, and return to his court in one breath. The person, whom the raider touches,

will then be out. The aim of the opposing team, will be to hold the raider, and stop him

from returning to his own court, until he takes another breath. If the raider cannot return

to his court in the same breath he is declared out. Each team alternates in sending a player

into the opponents court.

Other Sports

Martial arts, soccer, archery, polo, badminton, volley ball, cricket,

squash, tennis and table tennis are some other sports that are popular

in Pakistan.

There are shows or exhibitions of live stock, agriculture and horticultural

products during the spring season (February 15 to April 15), during

summer and winter time, every year in all the big cities of Pakistan.

The Flowers and Honey Show is held from February 15 to March 15.

The Fruit and Vegetable Show is held during summer.

The Horse and Cattle Show is held during the winter season.

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Literature

Fiction

At the time of the partition in 1947, Pakistan shared the literary culture of the Indian

Sub-continent, which had a long standing and distinguished literary tradition. The

riots and displacement which occurred before and after independence and killed

thousands of people, gave birth to a situation in which the decline and fall

of human values brought into question many aspects of life. A literature

based on communal tension, massacres, arson, and the refugee camps

emerged. This fiction is generally known as the Tales of the Riots. The

most interesting aspect of this fiction was the quality of character study. The

larger issues of a newly born nation were added to simple characterization.

Short stories of this period can be treated as a micro-cosmic image of how

the new nation was formed and survived in the strain and stress of unwieldy

circumstances.

After ten years of independence the state of literature produced dissent among the writers.

Literature was expected to have a new direction. In 1960, Mohammad Ha-san Askari in

his Sitara Ya Badban (The Star or the Sail) made a calculated commentary on the western

influence on literature. He suggested that there is a need to go back to the roots, the old

literary tradition. He warned the writers against the modern western world which, accor-

ding to him alienated the spirit of man. While denouncing the west, he sought an ideal

unification of the spirit and the body in creative writing.

In 1964, Jilani Kamran in his book Nai Nazam ke Taqaze (Expectation from New Poetry)

pointed out that the real issue was not the foreign influence but the identity which could

define the literature produced in Pakistan. Soon a new phase in literature began where

progressive writers did a lot of experimenttation not only in themes but also in various

styles.

Poetry

Pakistan inherited poetry that was either romantic in nature or had the influence of Sufism.

In the 1970s, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ahmed Faraz started writing political poetry and gave

it a new dimension. In the past ten years, many women poets wrote to project the feminist

view of reality in the male dominated social order.

Art SceneIn the first ten years after independence, artists in Pakistan adopted modernism as a metaphor

for change and economic freedom. Society was no longer being viewed in stereotypes or

idealized images, but as an evolving nation faced with the challenges of transition.

In the early 1950s, Pakistani artists initiated experimentation in contemporary styles of fine

art. Modern art also seemed to be the chosen visual language that would propel man toward

personal success. In this milieu traditional art seemed inadequate to articulate the dreams

and fears of a generation poised to enter a new era of freedom.

The art that emerged from the studios of modernists, because of its economically advantaged

status, came to dominate the national art scene by the 1960s.

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The 1960s also saw the American

cultural impact on Pakistani

urban centers. Films and

publications were freely shown

and distributed, and media was

used to promote the popular

United States art movement

Abstract Expressionism.

Through visiting exhibitions

and historians, Pakistani artists

received considerable exposure to

abstract styles from America.

During the 1980s in the times of

martial law when General Ziaul-

Haq ruled the country, modern

art in general and figurative art

of any kind in particular was

discouraged. Islamic calligraphy

was patronized and the artists who

shifted their mode of expression

to calligraphy were rewarded.

An exhibition of the artist Colin

David was ransacked by activists

of a religious political party. This

party was given free hand in this

regard by the martial law regime.

The fear produced by this, set up

a trend in the flow of which many

artists compromised their talents to remain in the main stream.

Since 1990 after the return of democracy, calligraphy remained on the scene but many

artists felt free to express themselves in other modes and themes.

In this scenario, in the last decade many artists from the city of Karachi chose themes that

were comments on the terror that went on under the martial law regime. The works of these

artists include themes of social injustice and human rights violations particularly against

women under the laws made during the martial law. Some of the prominent artists are

Sadequain, Abida Zuberi and Nighat.

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Name:________________________________________________ Date: ____________________ STUDENT ACTIVITY

Study the numerical translations on the left and fill in the blanjs on the four problems

on the right.

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Chicago Public Schools | Office of Language and Cultural EducationSTUDENT ACTIVITY

How to play Mazdoori (the profession) a Pakistani game

Playing area: A large, clear space, indoors or outdoors

Number of players: four or more

Players are divided into two equal teams of two to 15 players each. For the first round

of the game, the players on one team are the workers, those on the other the employers.

Workers decided in secret what their trade or profession is. (They all choose the same

one.) The workers then come toward the other team chanting, If there is some work,

let us do it. You will never find workers as good as us!

They begin to pantomime their work, and the other team has to guess what it is. They

have two guesses, and if they guess correctly, they become the workers for the next

round of the game. If not, they remain the guessers.

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Chicago Public Schools | Office of Language and Cultural EducationSTUDENT ACTIVITY

Urdu Vocabulary

Study the names of the following objects and then fill in the blanks

Bird Pa-rin-da

Man Ma-rrd

Woman Au-rrat

Boy Larr-ka

Girl Larr-ki

Sun Su-raj

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Name:________________________________________________ Date: ____________________ STUDENT ACTIVITY

Moon Cha-nd

Tree Da-Ra-kht

Flower Pho-oall

Fill in the blanks

Flower _____________________________

Moon _____________________________

Tree _____________________________

Sun _____________________________

Man _____________________________

Woman _____________________________

Bird _____________________________

Boy _____________________________

Girl _____________________________

Date post:	03-Apr-2018
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