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DEFINITION

Culture may be defined as an integral whole which affects human ideals, actions and
modes of
living. According to E.B. Taylor,
"Culture is a complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, customs
and all
other cupabilitics and hubits acquired by man as a member of u society."

Every great nation enjoys its own culture. Similarly, Pakistani culture is very
distinet due to its

Islamic nature and rich historical background.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY

The society of Pakistan (Urdu; “4 p44) comprises numerous diverse cultures and
ethnic
groups from the Punjabis and Sindhis in the east to the tribal cultures of the
Baloch and Pashtun
in the west and the ancient Dardic in the north. These Pakistani cultures have been
greatly
influenced by many of the surrounding countries’ cultures, such as those of
Turkish, Persian,
Afghan, and Indians of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Tn ancient times, Pakistan was a major cultural hub and the home of ancient
civilizations, such as
the Indus Valley Civilization - one of the first ‘settled’ peoples. 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 is that of the Persian Empire. Other key influences
include the
Afghan Empire and later the short lived but influential Mughal Empire.

Pakistan has a rich cultural and ethnic background going back to the Indus Valley
Civilization,
2800 BC — 1800 BC. A civilization remarkable for its ordered cities, advanced-
planned
sanitation, straight roads and uniquely structured society. Present day Pakistan
has been invaded
many times in the past. it 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 and
other
Eurasian groups right up until the British who left in the late 1940s.

‘The region has formed a distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of
South Asia,
the Middle East and Central Asia from the eacliest times."! There are differences
in culture
among the different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion,
especially where
pre-Islamic customs differ from Islamic practives. Their cultural origins also show
influences
from far afield; including from: Tibet, Nepal, India and eastern Afghanistan. All
groups show
varying degrees of significant influence from Persia, Turkestan and Hellenistic
Greece, Pakistan
was the first region of the South Asia to receive the full impact of Islam and has
developed a
distinct Islamic identity, historically different from that further west.!"!

Presentation Report

Ancient sites in Pakistan include: Zorastrian, Buddhist, Hindu and Pagan temples
and shrines,
gardens, tombs, palaces, monuments, pleasure grounds and Mughal and Indo-Saracenic
buildings. Sculpture is dominated by Greco-Buddhist friezes, and crafts by cerami
silk goods and engraved woodwork and metalwork.

swellery,

Pakistani society is largely multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural. Though

cultures within
the country differ to some extent, more similarities than differences can be found
as most
Pakistanis are of mainly ‘Aryan’ heritage and/or have lived side by side along the
Indus River for
the past several thousand years and coexisted. However, over 60 years of
integration, a
distinctive "Pukistani" culture has sprung up especially in the urban areas.
Education is highly
regarded by members of every socio-economic stratum. The traditional family values
are highly
respected and considered sacred, although urban families increasingly formnuclear
familie:
owing to the socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional culture of
extended family.

The past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as
Karachi, Lahore,
Rawalpindi, Hy , Quetta, F Sukkur, Peshawar, Sialkot, A and Multan.
The rural areas of Pakistan are regarded as more conservative and are dominated by
regional
tribal customs dating back hundreds of years

ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE

EVOLUTION OF PAKISTAN'S CULTURE

% RELIGION

Religion is not only a base of the social system of Pukistun but it is also an
effective force
that can provide the meeting ground for all the regional cultures of Pakistan

@ LANGUAGE

A common language could create natural understanding to such on extent that speaker
and
listener comes together at one cultural level. Among the other regional languages
and
dialects Urdu is the language which is spoken and understood throughout the
country.

% HISTORY

Common History creates a sense of belonging to one nation. Pakistan has a common
historical background of almost 1000 years (712-1857 AD) of Muslim rule and Indus
valley
civilization (2500 BC).
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GHEUUKAPHY

Variety of physical contours; it has green fertile plains, hot deserts, beautiful
valleys, snow clad
mountains and magnificent coast line. Having a diverse range of physical features,
customs,
traditions and habits of the people living in different regions has provided a rich
cultural heritage
to Pakistan

CHARACTERISTICS OF PAKISTANI
CULTURE

Pakistani culture has the following characteristics:

ISLAMIC VALUES

Pakistani culture is actually a part of the contemporary Islamic civilization which

draws its value
and traditions from Islam and rich Islamic history. Majority of population
comprises of Muslims
and follows teachings of Islam, i-e., belief in one Allah, Prophethood of Hazrat
Muhammad
P.B.U.H, brotherhood, equality and social justice ete. Islam is religion of peace
and patience.
Pakistani society is very cooperative. National calendar is marked by religious
days which are
observed with great devotion.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LANGUAGES

Pakistan is a large country which comprises of four provinces, the Federally

Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA) and Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA). A\ll of these
component
parts have their own regional languages. As such Punjabi, Pashtu, Sindhi, Balochi,
Barohi and
Kashmiri are regional languages. However, Urdu is the national language which is
spokin and
understood in all paris of the country.

MIXED CULTURE
Practically speaking Pakistani culture is a beautiful blend of the Punjabi, Sindhi,
Pathan,
Baluchi, Barohi, Seraiki and Kashmiri cultures. In addition, the presence of Hindu
community in

Sindh gives touches of dance and music in the Sindhi region. The Hindus sing Bhejas
but
Pakistani culture has adopted Qawwali which is a praise of the Holy Propher
P.B.U.H.

RICH LITERATURE
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Pakistani culture is rich in the literatures of Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu,

Raruhi, Baluchi and
Kashmiri languages. Urdu literature bousts of the masterpieces of Maulana Azad,
Iqbal, Shibli,
Hali, Ghalib, Agha Hashar, Manto and Faiz whereas the Punjabi literature stands out
with great
names like Waris Shah, Sultan Bahu, Ghulam Farid, Bulhay Shah and Shah Hussain etc.
Similarly, Sindhi literature glitters with the masterpieces of Shah Abdul Latif,
Sachal Sarmast,
Shah Qadir Bakhsh, and Faqir Nabi Bakhsh. The Pushto literature also boasts of
names like
Sheikh Saleh, Raghoon Khan, Akhund dardeeza, Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba,
The
Baluchi literature comprises of masterpieces of Jam Durk, Muhammad Ali, Zahoor Shah
Hashmi, Ghani Parvez, Hasrat Baluch, Abbas Ali Zemi and Aziz Bugti ete.

MALE DOMINATED SOCIETY

Pakistani society is dominated by male members. Each family is headed by the senior
most male
member who is responsible for arranging the bread and butter of the family.

VARIETY OF DRESSES

Pakistani culture is rich in variety of dresses: The people of Punjab, the Pathans
of NWEP, the
Baluchi people and the Sindhis wear their own distinct dresses. These dresses are
very colourful
and prominent and give attractive look during national fairs and festivals.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

The culture of Pakistan has great tradition of Fairs and festivals. These fairs are
held in all parts
of the country. Moreover, annual urs of great saints are held to commemorate theit
anniversaries.
On these occasions, fairs are also held in which people take part in great numbers.
Qut of these
the Horse and Cattle shows of Lahore, Mianwali and Sibi are famous wheseas the Polo
festival
fo Gilgit is prominent at national and international level. Moreover annual urs of
Hazrat Daata
Ganj Bakhsh, Madhu Lal Hussain, Baba Bulhay Shah, Baba Farid Gunj Shakar, Baba Gulu
Shah, Pir Jamaat Ali Shah, Abdul Latif Bhitaii, Hazrat Noshah Ganj Bakhsh, Bari
Imam, Lal
Shahbaz Qalandar, and Bahauddin Zakriya are celebrated with great fervour.

SPORTS

Pakistani people are great lovers of sports and games. Modern games like hockey,
cricket,
football, badminton, squash, table tennis and lawn tennis are played throughout the
coutnry. In
addition wrestling, boxing, und athletics are also very popular among masses.
Pakistan has
produced great sportsmen in the past. These include Bholu in Wrestling, Hanif,
Miandad, Imran,
Wasim Akram, and Inzamam in cricket, Shehnaz sheikh, Islahuddin, KHalid mahmood,
Akhtar
Rasool, and Munir Dar in hockey and Jahangir, Jansher in squash.

HANDICRAFTS
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ETHNIC DIVERSITY

Immigration from central Asia, Afghanistan, Middle East, Turkey

and Persia over the countries complicated the racial mixture of the country.
Pathan,
Balochi, Sindhi and Punjabi are the four major groups of people who are living in
Pakistan. A proportion of the population belongs to Urdu speaking who arrived in
Pakistan at the time of partition from different part of India. There is a unifying
sense
of being Pakistani too but regional loyalty is more powerful then the sense of
being
Pakistani.

MARRIAGE

Considered as a social and emotional bond between two individuals und families.
Arrange
marriages are preferred. Wedding ceremony is characterized by Menhdi, dowry and
lavish
parties from both brides and grooms families.

FAMILY LIFE
Male oriented with strong sense of family bond, generally preference is given to
boys over girls.
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About 98% of the daily diet of most Pakistani consists of four basic item~ Roti,
Rive,
Vegetables and meat. Most Pakistani dishes are Nehari, Halwa puri, Korma, Haleem,
Biryani
ete.

ANCIENT & MODERN

New ideas and, new technology exist side by side with the old for ex. Mild houses
with
electronic bulb arid transistor, veiled women and fashion shows, automobiles and
horse-drawn
tangas. nuclear energy and absence of clear drinking water

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Presentation Report

Pakistan has very valuable cultural heritage. Shah Jahan Masjid in Thatta, Shalimar
Garden,
Badshahi Masjid, and Shahi Qila of Lahore are few examples of Mughal architecture.
Many
archaeological sites in Pakistan are Moen-jo-daro, Harappa (Indus valley
civilization) and Taxila
(Gundhara).

ART AND CRAFT

Islam prohibited from pictorial art, therefore as heing a Muslim country emphasis
in Pakistan is
laid on non pictorial form of Art like calligraphy, floral and geometrical design.
People living in
different areas of Pakistan make different articles from the raw materiel available
in their areas
for example Sindh is famous for Ajrak, embroidery glass work and kashi work and.
beautiful
decoration pieces made of Sea shells and marble, Multan is famous for various
articles of camels
skin, Chiniot is for wood works, Peshawar is for Metal work and Baluchistan is for
embroidery.

FESTIVALS

Ramadan

Chand Raat

Fid celebrations

Milaad un Nabi

Muharram (Ashura

Jashn-e-Baharan

Independence Day

Defense Day Parade

ROLE OF EDUCATION IN SOCIETY

Education is very important and vital part of our lives without which our lives
would have no
meanings and would be leading our lives in a way that wild animals do. Education
teaches the
mamner (o live and move in society and help us making our lives and society to be a
better place
to live.
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society runs deeply through all that we are and have achieved. In fact, I contend
that without
education the civilized society would not be possible. Education defines what a
civilized society
is. Education does not “polish off” a society and make it that little bit mote
civilized, it is not the
icing on the cake when everything else has been dealt with, but rather is the
fundamental pillar
of the structure that helps to makes society civilized in the first place”.

(Speech by Olwyn Fnright TD, Spokesperson on Fducation and Science)

Now as we realized that education plays a vital role in any society and the quality
of education is
also very important.

What education teaches us in an Islamic society (Pakistan) is what are right ways
and what are
wrong, it aware us with respect and tells us ubout our Holy Prophet und his model
life and trains
us to love Allah and his Prophet and to aim and try to walk on way Holy Prophet
(SAWW)
shown to us and it makes us functional Muslim Pakistani, and the sole purpose to
demand
Pakistan (freedom to live life as Muslim)

Being a Muslim the main and sole purpose is to worship Allah and enjoy life
discovering his
things, his creations and the whole universe was made for man to discover and
remember Allah.
But our educational system glided a bit from the way and made Islamite and Islamic
teachings a
different subject, Islamic teachings are mostly looked like another subject in
educational
institutes, just take the class memorize it and pass the examination, it’s not
taught as a code of
life as a guide to live and as the root of all subjects.

ur educational system is making Islam just another subject. How can we hope for a
truly

Islamic member of society from an institute when we never told him that the worldly
issues and
jobs are in the end to live a life according to Islam and to worship Almighty
Allah.

CONCLUSION

Presentation Report