Broadly speaking, Pakistanis can be divided into 'Urdu-wallahs' i.e. those who speak their local language, wear local costume and are practicing Muslims, and 'English-wallahs', i.e. those who speak English, went overseas to university, wear foreign dress and are secular in outlook. The latter are a small minority. It is reported that the country is gradually becoming less tolerant towards foreign influences. Society is male-dominated and only in the cities is women educated and part of the salaried workforce. Great respect is shown to older men and no-one will interrupt while they are speaking. Most families are extended and several generations live under the same roof. The exceptions are modem urban families who tend to have their own house or apartment.
The majority of Pakistanis are practicing Muslims and observe the fast of Ramadan (Ramzan) which ends with the two-day feast of Eid-ul-Fitr. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are not allowed to drink, eat or smoke between sunrise and sunset. Expatriates should take care not to give offence to those who are observing the fast, for example, by offering a visitor a cup of tea or by drinking or smoking in their presence. Some hotels will serve food to guests in their rooms only. Muslims do not eat pork in any form and are prohibited from consuming alcohol. Traditionally, everything, including food and drink, should always be offered and accepted with the right hand only. Pakistanis whom expatriates meet socially will generally have experience of foreign ways; nevertheless, guests should take care not to praise their host's possessions since a very strict Muslim may feel obliged to present them as a gift.
Many Muslim women are in purdah, particularly in the country districts, and wear a heavy veil in public. Visitors are advised not to take photographs of Muslim women. At present, the country is ruled by the Sharia, the law of the Quran Shareef. Penalties are strict and foreign nationals should take care not to offend against local customs. Women should dress modestly, preferably wearing dresses with long sleeves and longer (well below knee-length) skirts. Heads should be covered and long dresses of a dark color worn when visiting mosques and other religious places, particularly those off the tourist routes. If invited to a local home for a meal, it is acceptable to arrive up to an hour late. Families entertain mostly at home rather than going out for meals. Guests can expect to be asked all kinds of personal questions about their family circumstances, number of children, size of income etc. Anyone without children will be viewed with surprise and pity.
The relationship between spouses in public is very formal and displays of affection between the sexes are not common. Pakistani women generally do not shake hands with men. Some expatriate women adopt the local dress of long, loose-fitting tunic and baggy trousers, partly because it is comfortable but mainly because it deters against unwanted male attention, the result of magazines and films from overseas.
Smoking is not allowed in many public places and alcohol is banned in the country generally, although foreigners can obtain alcoholic drinks in the international hotels. However, foreigners should never drink in public. Note that penalties for possession of drugs are severe - long jail sentences and large fines. Trafficking in drugs is a capital offence. It should be noted that as a result of the introduction of ordinances of Islamic Law, visitors and foreign residents in Pakistan should be aware of the heavy penalties likely to be incurred for offences such as drinking alcohol and taking drugs publicly; importing, exporting, transporting, manufacturing, processing, bottling, selling, giving and serving alcohol and drugs; sexual offences; theft and robbery.
Meet American who wants to live in Pakistan... by faizanmaqsood1010
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6548838
The majority of Pakistanis are practicing Muslims and observe the fast of Ramadan (Ramzan) which ends with the two-day feast of Eid-ul-Fitr. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are not allowed to drink, eat or smoke between sunrise and sunset. Expatriates should take care not to give offence to those who are observing the fast, for example, by offering a visitor a cup of tea or by drinking or smoking in their presence. Some hotels will serve food to guests in their rooms only. Muslims do not eat pork in any form and are prohibited from consuming alcohol. Traditionally, everything, including food and drink, should always be offered and accepted with the right hand only. Pakistanis whom expatriates meet socially will generally have experience of foreign ways; nevertheless, guests should take care not to praise their host's possessions since a very strict Muslim may feel obliged to present them as a gift.
Many Muslim women are in purdah, particularly in the country districts, and wear a heavy veil in public. Visitors are advised not to take photographs of Muslim women. At present, the country is ruled by the Sharia, the law of the Quran Shareef. Penalties are strict and foreign nationals should take care not to offend against local customs. Women should dress modestly, preferably wearing dresses with long sleeves and longer (well below knee-length) skirts. Heads should be covered and long dresses of a dark color worn when visiting mosques and other religious places, particularly those off the tourist routes. If invited to a local home for a meal, it is acceptable to arrive up to an hour late. Families entertain mostly at home rather than going out for meals. Guests can expect to be asked all kinds of personal questions about their family circumstances, number of children, size of income etc. Anyone without children will be viewed with surprise and pity.
The relationship between spouses in public is very formal and displays of affection between the sexes are not common. Pakistani women generally do not shake hands with men. Some expatriate women adopt the local dress of long, loose-fitting tunic and baggy trousers, partly because it is comfortable but mainly because it deters against unwanted male attention, the result of magazines and films from overseas.
Smoking is not allowed in many public places and alcohol is banned in the country generally, although foreigners can obtain alcoholic drinks in the international hotels. However, foreigners should never drink in public. Note that penalties for possession of drugs are severe - long jail sentences and large fines. Trafficking in drugs is a capital offence. It should be noted that as a result of the introduction of ordinances of Islamic Law, visitors and foreign residents in Pakistan should be aware of the heavy penalties likely to be incurred for offences such as drinking alcohol and taking drugs publicly; importing, exporting, transporting, manufacturing, processing, bottling, selling, giving and serving alcohol and drugs; sexual offences; theft and robbery.
Meet American who wants to live in Pakistan... by faizanmaqsood1010
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6548838
