Trends in Contemporary Linguistics

Submitted to: Dr. Zahoor Hussain

Submitted by: Muhammad Sanwal

Section A
Roll No. o9
Programme: M. Phil. (English)
2nd Semester

Institute of Southern Punjab (ISP)

Multan
 Ethnic Groups in Pakistan

Introduction
An ethnic group or ethnicity is a category of people who identify with each other, usually
on the basis of presumed similarities such as a common language, ancestry, history,
society, culture, nation, race or social treatment within their residing area.

For example, various ethnic, “national,” or linguistic groups from Africa, Asia and the
Pacific Islands, Latin America, and Indigenous America have long been combined
together as racial minority groups (currently designated as African American, Asian,
Latino and Native American or American Indian, respectively).

Situation in Pakistan:
The major ethnic groups of Pakistan include Muslim Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis,
Saraikis, Muhajirs, Baloch, Paharis, Hindkowans, Chitralis and other smaller groups.
Smaller ethnic groups found throughout the nation
include Kashmiris, Kalash, Siddi, Burusho, Wakhis, Khowar, Hazara, Shina,
Kalyu Baltis and Jatts.
Pakistan's census does not include the 1.7 million naturalized refugees from
Afghanistan mainly found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with significant populations in
the cities of Karachi and Quetta. Most of these Afghan refugees were born in Pakistan
within the last 30 years and are ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Baloch and Turkmen.

Punjabis are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group and they are the largest ethnic group
in Pakistan by population, numbering approximately 110 million people and thus
consisting of 50.0%% of Pakistan's total population of 220 million in 2020. The Punjabis
found in Pakistan belong to groups known as biradaris (literally 'brotherhood').

Pashtuns (also referred to as 'Pukhtuns' or 'Pathans'), an Iranian ethno-linguistic group,

are Pakistan's second largest ethnicity (consisting 15% of the population). They are
native to the region known as Pashtunistan, an area west of the Indus River including
the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan, constitute a significant
diaspora community in the cities of Lahore, Punjab and Karachi, Sindh and are also a
major ethnic group among the 1.7 million Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers in
Pakistan. They speak Pashto and Urdu, and are divided into tribes such
as Afridi and Yousafzai. They make up an estimated 35 million of Pakistan's total
population and are mostly adherent to Sunni Islam.
The Sindhis are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group who speak the Sindhi
language and are native to the Sindh province of Pakistan and they are Pakistan's third
largest ethnicity (consisting 14% of the country). Sindhis are predominantly Muslim.
Sindhi Muslim culture is highly influenced by Sufi doctrines and principles and some of
the popular cultural icons of Sindh are Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Lal Shahbaz
Qalandar, Jhulelal and Sachal Sarmast.

The Saraikis are an ethnolinguistic group in central and southeastern Pakistan, primarily
southern Punjab. Their language is Saraiki, which has similarities to Punjabi and Sindhi.

Muhajirs (meaning "refugees") are also called "Urdu Speaking people." Muhajirs are a
collective multiethnic group who emerged through the migration of Indian Muslims from
various parts of India to Pakistan starting in 1947, as a result of the world's largest mass
migration. The majority of Muhajirs are settled in Sindh mainly
in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpur Khas. Sizable communities of Muhajirs are
also present in cities including Lahore, Multan, Islamabad, and Peshawar.

According to Dr. Akhtar Baloch, Professor at University of Karachi, the Balochis

migrated from Baluchistan during the Little Ice Age and settled in Sindh and Punjab.
According to Professor Baloch, the climate of Baluchistan was very cold and the region
was inhabitable during the winter so the Baloch people migrated in waves and settled
in Sindh and Punjab.

Kashmiri are a Dardic (subgrouping of Indo-Aryan) ethnic group native to the Kashmir
Valley and Azad Kashmir. The majority of Kashmiri Muslims are Sunni.[24] They refer to
themselves as "Kashur" in their mother language. Kashmiri Muslims
are descended from Kashmiri Hindus and are also known as 'Sheikhs'. Presently, the
Kashmiri Muslim population is predominantly found in Kashmir Valley. Smaller Kashmiri
communities also live in other regions of the Jammu and Kashmir state. One significant
population of Kashmiris is in the Chenab valley region, which comprises
the Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of Jammu. There are also ethnic Kashmiri
populations inhabiting Neelam Valley and Leepa Valley of Azad Kashmir. Since 1947,
many ethnic Kashmiri Muslims also live in Pakistan. Many ethnic Kashmiri Muslims from
the Kashmir Valley also migrated to the Punjab region during Dogra and Sikh rule and
adopted the Punjabi language. Surnames used by Kashmiris living in Punjab include
Dar (Dhar), Butt (Bhat), lone, Mir, Khuwaja (a term used by converts just like sheikh),
Wain (Wani), Sheikh (Saprus), etc.

The Hazara people, natives to the present day Hazarajat (Hazaristan), are a Persian-
speaking people mostly residing in all Pakistan and specially in Quetta. Some are
citizens of Pakistan while others are refugees. Genetically, the Hazara are a mixture
of Turko-Mongols and Iranian-speaking peoples, and those of Middle East and Central
Asia. The genetic research suggests that they are closely related to the Eurasian and
the Uyghurs. The Pakistani Hazaras estimated population is believed to be more than
1,550,000.

Ethnic conflicts are caused mainly by social and political systems that lead to inequality
and grievances and do not offer forums for the peaceful expression of differences.
Ethnic identity is the underlying cause of conflicts. In ethnic conflicts the goals of at least
one party are defined in ethnic terms, and the conflict, its causes, and potential
remedies are perceived along ethnic lines. The conflict is usually not about ethnic
differences per se but over political, economic, social, cultural, or territorial matters.

Ethnic disputes emerge in times of sweeping political, economic, and social change(s).
Grievances and polarizing leadership lead to mobilization, ranging from political action
to violent acts such as terrorism, armed uprisings, and guerrilla and civil wars.
Contemporary Pakistan is perhaps going through the same stage.