Pakistan Culture: Religion, Festival and Health

Background information

Pakistan culture represents the millennial generation. Pakistan came into existence to provide its people with a way of life based on Islam. Our ancestors came from India. The people of Pakistan are Muslims or at least follow Islamic traditions and Islamic ideals. Most Pakistanis belong to the Sunni sect, the major branch of Islam. After World War II Pakistan gained independence from British rule on August 14, 1947. We came to America in October and were sponsored by our uncle. We came here for better education and we live in Youngstown Ohio. Our uncle’s family already lives here so it’s easier for us because they already got a house for us. They support us a lot. But there was a bad experience as well because we didn’t know the language.

On the first day of school, we didn’t have friends so it was difficult for us to communicate. American culture is totally different from our culture. We are not allowed to wear jeans and shirts in Pakistan. We have different lifestyles, traditions, values, and customs. In Pakistan, we have different schools for boys and girls. Boys and girls can not study together. But here everybody studies together and live together. Women are far more likely to stay at home than go out to work, mostly women are not allowed to work outside.

Current information

In Pakistani culture, families traditionally tend to stay together. The family structure most common in Pakistan is the extended family structure. It is clear as crystal that the Pakistani and American cultures differ in so many ways. While families in the Pakistani culture are closely knit, families in the American culture draw apart as they grow older. However, Pakistani culture is not as liberal the American culture. In Pakistan, people are very narrow-minded but here people are very broad-minded. In Pakistan, girls are not allowed to go outside alone and do not have co-education. Girls and boys are allowed to study separately. Religious occasions such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and the 9th and 10th of Muharram are announced as public holidays in Pakistan. Other public holidays include Independence Day, defense day, the birthday of the founder of Pakistan Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and many more. Eid ul Fitr is one of the most celebrated holidays in Pakistan as it is the celebration of Ramadan coming to an end. Eid is a joyous holiday as the whole country celebrates it exuberantly and with much enthusiasm. People go the extra mile to help the poor and hand out as much Zakat as they can in the way of Allah. Eid and Ramadan are truly two occasions that bring the whole country together.

Urdu is both the official language and national language of Pakistan. When we came here we didn’t know the language and it was very difficult to communicate and we didn’t have a job. In our culture, we are not allowed to date anybody and before marriage. Muslim men and women should relate as brothers and sisters, and avoid any interaction that might lead to sexual or romantic activity prior to marriage. Husbands are generally the main source of income in households throughout Pakistan. Wife do not have the right to work outside. The main role of the wife is a housewife. Children are not allowed to stay separate after 18 years of age. All family lives together grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts live under the same roof. Typically, fathers hold a stronger position in the family as they are earning individuals who run the family. They are more likely to make important decisions on account of the family.

Personal reflection

Islam teaches the importance of both belief and practice. In Pakistani culture, the male members of the family have the key position. The family is headed by a male and usually, he will be the sole source of income for other members of the family. Family comes first in Pakistan due to religious, cultural, economic, and societal values. Pakistani society is not led by individualism but rather by collectivism, where family and other relationships stand strong. They love to celebrate, no matter the occasion, and feasting, giving presents, throwing parties, and having regular large gatherings with friends and family are all very common. Traditional gender roles in Pakistan are fairly marked in that women are far more likely to stay at home than go out to work. Women may not cover their hair, they are most likely to wear conservative outfits which do not leave their bare arms or legs exposed. Outfits are also loose in nature and do not overtly display the figure.

In the United States of America, people are more individualistic and independent whereas, in Pakistan, society is more collectivistic and interdependent. In Pakistan when you are making a decision you take into consideration your family, friends, and community. You might have the best decision in your self-interest, but if your family or close friends are not happy with the decision, you might give up. However, in the United States, you can go for what you think is best for you. . Dating is a part of US culture. If a man likes a lady they usually start dating and may get into a relationship. This relationship usually leads to romance and marriage. However, in Pakistan dating is considered taboo due to social disapproval as well as religious restrictions. The Pakistani culture to me is about friendship, it’s about loyalty and it’s about respect. I still love my culture. I like the traditional dresses of my culture. A number of languages are spoken in Pakistan.

I’m proud to call myself a Pakistani because there are so many aspects of my culture that I love and hold close to my heart. It’s important to stay in touch with your cultural heritage and roots regardless of where you live, how modern you become some parts of you will always reflect your hometown. In other countries are legal to drink alcohol but In our culture alcohol is generally considered to be haraam (forbidden) in Islam, only the most conservative countries actually impose a legal ban on it. In our culture tattoos are not allowed. Tattooing causes impurity and tattoos were prohibited. One of the best things about Pakistani Culture is that it is influenced by Islam. This has resulted in not only Hospitality becoming a large part but helpfulness as well. When you drive down the street, a lot of times you can see total strangers helping each other. This gives a very positive vibe to the entire city that you are in.

There are some bad things about social issues in Pakistan like poverty and slums. Pakistan’s spirit lives on and the nation continues to hope and work for a better future. Family comes first in Pakistan due to religious, cultural, economic, and societal values. Pakistani society is not led by individualism but rather by collectivism, where family and other relationships stand strong. Cultural and religious beliefs encourage Pakistanis to show love and respect towards guests. In Islam especially, a guest is a blessing from God. Pakistan and American both cultures have their distinct attributes; both cultures provide the people living there with a sense of belonging and an identity.

Issues of wellness

The intensity of the growing problem can also be understood by looking at the fact that limited research has been carried out at the national level in the sector of youth mental disorder. Mental health disorders have far-reaching impacts on the young population. In many cases, young individuals who are facing tremendous difficulties in their lives are unable to recognize their mental health symptoms. It is because of the stigma and shame against psychological health care prevalent in our society. Depression is usually an outcome of social, psychological, and physical factors. Depression symptoms can vary from person to person but the common ones are changes in appetite and sleeping patterns, lack of concentration, anxiety, hopelessness, and in extreme cases suicidal thoughts. One of the major issues the country is facing is a shortage of water. Pakistan may have been the first modern post-colonial state to embrace the idea of religious purification. Health issues are leading to new kinds of diseases that are difficult to treat because of lack of finances and economic conditions. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Environmental issues in Pakistan include deforestation, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, climate change, pesticide misuse, soil erosion, natural disasters, and desertification.

I would give advice to the future generations of my family to keep our country clean so we will not have any health issues. If people want to live physically fit they have to do exercise daily and take good nutrition. Mental health is very important for human health we should eat a good meal and think positively. Emotional and mental health is important because it’s a vital part of your life and impacts your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.It plays an important part in the health of your relationships and allows you to adapt to changes in your life and cope with adversity. We should go outside and talk to other people and make social relationships which is good for our health. Allow everybody to work cooperatively, honestly, and fairly with others. Give equal rights to everyone and support. Do not focus on class and caste system we have to finish this system because this is very common in Pakistan and it’s not good. If we make relationships with others and accept others with their faults and imperfections is good for us.

I think everyone is equal and everyone has equal rights. Pakistanis are Muslims. In Pakistan, health problems increase daily and treatment is scarce due to poor financial, economic, and environmental conditions. Poverty is the paramount reason for poor health conditions. We should maintain ourselves healthy and fit. Health is a very important and main thing in human life. I will give advice to future generations to eat healthily and stay healthy. Five things that are important in life are social, emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical health. We should maintain these and focus on these and we will stay healthy. We should treat other people friendly and help others and give money to needy people. In Pakistan girls and boys live like brothers and sisters. They treat each other with honesty and respect others. The belief system is very important. Morality comes from religion and without faith, you can’t be expected to have morals. Find the meaning, hope, comfort, and inner peace in your life. Many people find spirituality through religion. Some people find it through music, art, or a connection with nature. Others find it in their values and principles.                           

Works Cited

1. Ahmed, S. (2014). Understanding Pakistani Culture: A Comparison with Western Culture. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(5), 1-7.
2. Ali, S. S., Khalid, M., & Zaman, K. (2017). Understanding Pakistani culture through Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, 22(3), 63-76.
3. Bukhari, A., & Khan, H. R. (2018). Cultural Differences between Pakistan and the United States: A Comparison. Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 9(1), 39-48.
4. Choudhry, S., & Akram, S. (2018). Comparison of Pakistani and American Cultures in Light of Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions. Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 10(1), 25-40.
5. Farooq, M. (2019). A Comparative Study of Pakistani and American Culture. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 19(2), 1-10.
6. Hameed, I., & Bhatti, M. A. (2016). A Comparative Study of Pakistani and American Culture. Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 4(2), 62-74.
7. Kausar, R., Mahmood, S., & Cheema, S. (2019). Cultural Differences between Pakistan and the United States: A Literature Review. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 9(4), 37-47.
8. Khan, N. U. (2015). The impact of culture on Pakistani immigrants in the United States. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 54(2), 225-237.
9. Shahzadi, I. (2018). Pakistani and American Culture: A Comparison. Journal of Language and Literature, 9(2), 71-75.
10. Ziauddin, A., & Hussain, M. (2017). Cultural Differences between Pakistan and the United States: A Review of Literature. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(9), 101-110.