Society of Pakistan

Introduction

Pakistan is a country in South Asia with a population of about 233 million

people. It is a diverse and multiethnic society, with a majority of Muslims and
various ethnic groups such as Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, Pashtuns, and others.
Pakistan was created in 1947 as a homeland for Muslims in the region, but it
has faced many challenges since then, such as political instability, economic
crises, social inequality, terrorism, and natural disasters. In this essay, I will
explore some of the main aspects of Pakistani society, such as its culture,
religion, politics, economy, and social issues.
Culture

Pakistani culture is rich and varied, reflecting the influences of its history,
geography, and people. Pakistan has a vibrant and diverse artistic scene, with
various forms of music, literature, poetry, cinema, theater, and visual arts.
Some of the famous cultural icons of Pakistan include singers Nusrat Fateh Ali
Khan and Abida Parveen, poets Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Allama Iqbal, writers
Bapsi Sidhwa and Mohsin Hamid, filmmakers Shoaib Mansoor and Sarmad
Khoosat, and artists Sadequain and Gulgee. Pakistan also has a strong
tradition of sports, especially cricket, which is the most popular and widely
followed game in the country. Pakistan has won the Cricket World Cup once, in
1992, and has produced some of the world’s best players, such as Imran
Khan, Wasim Akram, and Javed Miandad.

Pakistan’s culture is also influenced by its regional diversity, as each province

and ethnic group has its own distinctive customs, languages, cuisines, and
festivals. For example, Punjab is known for its lively folk music and dance,
such as bhangra and luddi, its spicy and rich food, such as biryani and halwa
puri, and its colorful celebrations, such as Basant and Eid. Sindh is known for
its ancient and mystical heritage, such as the Indus Valley Civilization and
Sufism, its poetic and musical expressions, such as sindhi and ghazal, its
aromatic and vegetarian food, such as sindhi biryani and sai bhaji, and its
festive occasions, such as Sindh Festival and Holi. Balochistan is known for its
rugged and tribal culture, such as the Balochi language and dress, its nomadic
and pastoral lifestyle, such as camel and sheep herding, its simple and organic
food, such as sajji and khaddi kabab, and its cultural events, such as Nauroz
and Mela Chiraghan. Pashtun is known for its proud and hospitable culture,
such as the Pashto language and code of honor, its martial and adventurous
spirit, such as hunting and sports, its meaty and dairy food, such as chapli
kabab and makhani, and its social gatherings, such as jirga and attan.
Religion

Religion is a major factor in Pakistani society, as about 97% of the population

is Muslim, and Islam is the state religion. Pakistan was founded on the basis
of the Two-Nation Theory, which asserted that Muslims and Hindus were two
distinct nations that could not coexist in a united India. Therefore, Pakistan
was envisioned as a homeland for the Muslims of South Asia, where they could
practice their faith freely and without discrimination. However, Pakistan has
also faced many challenges and controversies regarding the role and
interpretation of Islam in its national life, such as the constitutional status of
minorities, the implementation of Islamic law, the rise of sectarianism, and
the influence of extremism.

Pakistan has a diverse and pluralistic religious landscape, with various sects,
schools, and movements within Islam, as well as other faiths and beliefs. The
majority of Pakistani Muslims belong to the Sunni branch of Islam, which is
further divided into sub-sects, such as Barelvi, Deobandi, Ahl-e-Hadith, and
Sufi. There is also a significant minority of Shia Muslims, who are further
divided into sub-sects, such as Twelver, Ismaili, and Bohra. There are also
smaller groups of Muslims, such as Ahmadiyya, who are considered non-
Muslims by the constitution, and Zikri, who are considered heretics by some.
Pakistan also has religious minorities, such as Christians, Hindus, Sikhs,
Buddhists, Parsis, and Bahais, who have their own places of worship, festivals,
and traditions, but also face discrimination, persecution, and violence.

Religion plays an important role in the personal and social lives of Pakistanis,
as it shapes their values, morals, identities, and behaviors. Pakistanis observe
various religious practices, such as praying, fasting, giving charity, performing
pilgrimage, and celebrating festivals. Some of the major religious occasions in
Pakistan include Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Muharram, Milad-un-
Nabi, Shab-e-Barat, and Ashura. Religion also influences the cultural,
political, and economic aspects of Pakistani society, as it inspires various
forms of art, literature, music, and architecture, as well as various
movements, parties, and organizations, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-
Labbaik, and Tablighi Jamaat.
Politics

Politics is a complex and contentious domain in Pakistani society, as it involves

various actors, institutions, and issues that shape the governance and direction
of the country. Pakistan has a federal parliamentary system of government,
with a bicameral legislature, a prime minister as the head of government, and
a president as the head of state. Pakistan also has a judiciary, which consists
of the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the lower courts, and an armed
forces, which consists of the army, the navy, and the air force. Pakistan has
four provinces, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and two
autonomous territories, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, each
with its own provincial or territorial government and assembly.

Pakistan has a turbulent and unstable political history, marked by frequent

changes of government, military coups, constitutional crises, and political
violence. Pakistan has experienced four military dictatorships, under Ayub
Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf, which lasted for a
total of 33 years. Pakistan has also witnessed three wars with India, over
Kashmir and Bangladesh, and one civil war, which resulted in the secession of
East Pakistan as Bangladesh. Pakistan has also faced various internal conflicts,
such as the Balochistan insurgency, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, and the
War on Terror. Pakistan has also struggled with various political issues, such
as corruption, accountability, democracy, human rights, and foreign relations.

Pakistan has a diverse and competitive political landscape, with various parties,
leaders, and ideologies vying for power and influence. Some of the major
political parties in Pakistan include Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),
Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida
Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and Awami
National Party (ANP). Some of the prominent political leaders in Pakistan
include Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Imran Khan, Altaf Hussain, Maulana
Fazlur Rehman, and Asfandyar Wali Khan. Some of the dominant political
ideologies in Pakistan include nationalism, liberalism, socialism, conservatism,
and Islamism.
Economy

Economy is a vital and challenging sector in Pakistani society, as it determines

the growth and development of the country and the welfare and prosperity of
its people. Pakistan has a mixed economy, with both public and private
sectors, and a market-based system, with some state intervention and
regulation. Pakistan has a diverse and dynamic economic structure, with
various sectors, such as agriculture, industry, services, and trade. Pakistan
also has various resources, such as land, water, minerals, energy, and human
capital. Pakistan also has various partners, such as China, the United States,
Saudi Arabia, and the European Union.

Pakistan has a promising and problematic economic performance, with periods

of progress and crisis, and indicators of potential and vulnerability. Pakistan
has achieved a high and sustained economic growth rate, averaging about 5%
per annum, and has become a middle-income country, with a GDP of about
$300 billion (about $920 per person in the US). Pakistan has also reduced its
poverty rate, from about 64% in 2001 to about 24% in 2015, and has
improved its human development index, from 0.499 in 2000 to 0.562 in 2019.
However, Pakistan has also faced various economic challenges, such as fiscal
and current account deficits, high inflation and unemployment, low savings and
investment, high debt and interest payments, and low tax and export
revenues. Pakistan has also suffered from various economic shocks, such as
the 2008 global financial crisis, the 2010 floods, the 2014 oil price slump, and
the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan has a complex and evolving economic vision, with various policies,
plans, and reforms that aim to enhance its economic performance and
potential. Pakistan has adopted various economic models, such as the Five-
Year Plans, the Structural Adjustment Program, the Vision 2025, and the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan has also implemented various
economic measures, such as the National Finance Commission Award, the
Benazir Income Support Program, the Ehsaas Program, and the IMF Extended
Fund Facility. Pakistan has also pursued various economic goals, such as
macroeconomic stability, fiscal consolidation, monetary discipline
Economy (continued)

, economic growth, social development, regional integration, and global

competitiveness.
Social Issues

Social issues are the problems and challenges that affect the quality and
equity of life in Pakistani society, as they relate to the values, norms, and
institutions that govern the social relations and interactions of its people.
Pakistan has various social issues, such as education, health, gender,
environment, and human rights. These issues are influenced by various factors,
such as culture, religion, politics, economy, and history. These issues also have
various impacts, such as social cohesion, social mobility, social justice, and
social change.
Education

Education is the process and outcome of acquiring and imparting knowledge,

skills, and values that enable individuals and groups to participate and
contribute to the society. Education is a fundamental right and a key factor
for human development and social progress. However, Pakistan has a low and
unequal level of education, as it faces various challenges, such as access,
quality, relevance, and governance. Pakistan has a low literacy rate, of about
60%, and a high dropout rate, of about 40%. Pakistan also has a large gender
gap, as only 54% of women are literate, compared to 70% of men. Pakistan
also has a wide regional disparity, as some areas, such as Balochistan and
FATA, have much lower literacy rates than others, such as Punjab and
Islamabad. Pakistan also has a poor quality of education, as it suffers from a
lack of resources, infrastructure, curriculum, teachers, and assessment.
Pakistan also has a low relevance of education, as it does not meet the needs
and aspirations of the society and the economy. Pakistan also has a weak
governance of education, as it faces issues of corruption, politicization,
fragmentation, and accountability.

Pakistan has various policies and initiatives to improve its education system,
such as the National Education Policy, the National Curriculum, the Education
Sector Reforms, the Higher Education Commission, and the National Education
Assessment System. Pakistan also has various programs and projects to
enhance its education outcomes, such as the Pakistan Education and Research
Network, the National Education Foundation, the National Commission for
Human Development, and the Pakistan Reading Project. Pakistan also has
various partners and donors to support its education sector, such as UNESCO,
UNICEF, USAID, DFID, and the World Bank.
Health

Health is the state and level of physical, mental, and social well-being that
enables individuals and groups to function and flourish in the society. Health is
a basic right and a vital factor for human development and social welfare.
However, Pakistan has a low and precarious level of health, as it faces various
challenges, such as disease, malnutrition, mortality, and morbidity. Pakistan
has a high burden of disease, as it suffers from various communicable and
non-communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, diabetes,
and cancer. Pakistan also has a high rate of malnutrition, as about 40% of
children under five are stunted, and about 15% are wasted. Pakistan also has
a high rate of mortality, as the life expectancy at birth is about 67 years,
and the infant mortality rate is about 55 per 1000 live births. Pakistan also
has a high rate of morbidity, as about 22% of the population is disabled, and
about 10% is mentally ill.

Pakistan has various policies and strategies to improve its health system, such
as the National Health Policy, the National Health Vision, the National Health
Strategy, and the National Action Plan. Pakistan also has various programs and
interventions to enhance its health outcomes, such as the Expanded Program
on Immunization, the Lady Health Workers Program, the Prime Minister’s
National Health Program, and the Sehat Sahulat Program. Pakistan also has
various partners and stakeholders to support its health sector, such as WHO,
UNDP, UNFPA, GAVI, and the Global Fund.
Gender

Gender is the social and cultural construction and expression of the roles,
responsibilities, and rights of men and women in the society. Gender is a
cross-cutting issue and a critical factor for human development and social
justice. However, Pakistan has a low and unequal level of gender, as it faces
various challenges, such as discrimination, violence, empowerment, and
participation. Pakistan has a high level of gender discrimination, as women face
various forms of social, economic, and legal disadvantages, such as lower
education, lower income, lower inheritance, and lower mobility. Pakistan also
has a high level of gender violence, as women suffer from various forms of
physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, such as domestic violence, honor
killing, rape, and acid throwing. Pakistan also has a low level of gender
empowerment, as women have limited access to and control over resources,
opportunities, and decision-making, such as land, credit, employment, and
politics. Pakistan also has a low level of gender participation, as women have a
low representation and voice in various spheres of public and private life, such
as parliament, cabinet, judiciary, and media.

Pakistan has various policies and laws to improve its gender situation, such as
the National Policy for Development and Empowerment of Women, the
Protection of Women Act, the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act, and
the Domestic Violence Act. Pakistan also has various programs and initiatives
to enhance its gender outcomes, such as the National Commission on the
Status of Women, the Benazir Income Support Program, the Aurat
Foundation, and the Uks Research Center. Pakistan also has various partners
and networks to support its gender sector, such as UN Women, CEDAW,
CSW, and AAWAZ.