Pakistani Community

Pakistani Community in Hamilton | General Information about Pakistan

Pakistani Community in Hamilton

• Population in Hamilton:

  2000 people, about 400 families.

• History of immigration:

  Immigration began in the early 1960s, however a major wave of immigrants came in the 1990s. Some immigrants came to Canada from the US after 9/11.

• Major Languages:

  Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Kahsmiri, Kohar and Baluchi.

Common Foods

Pakistani community's common foods are spicy curry, biryani, rice and vegetables and halal meat.

Traditional Clothing

Womens clothing: Shalwar, Kemeez, colorful

Mens clothing: Shalwar, Kemeez (white or gray)

There are over a dozen different Afghani clothing types for different ethnic groups and geographic areas. All of these clothes together compose the overall Afghan clothing culture.

Art and Culture

• Hamilton Visual Artists:

  Nazia Zeb

• Local Musicans

  Omar Khan

• Theatre:

  Lahore, Peshawar Islamabad, Karachi theatre.

• Music:

  Folk lore, Sitar, Rubab, Tabla, Dolkai

• Dance:

  Folk dance is the same as Indian cultural dance. However, dances are banned in some parts of Pakistan, for example in Peshwar under the current religious government.

• Archaeological / Cultural sites:

  Buddhist civilization in NWFP, Mohinjodharo and Harrapa.

• Music:

  Mehdi Hassan, Gular Begum, Khyal Mohhamd, Noor Jehan.

• Visual Arts:

  The most popular Pakistani visual artists are Abdul Rahman hughtai, Gulgee, Jamal Shah, Abid Ali and Firdos Jamal.

• Musical instruments :

  The most common traditional Pakistani musical instruments are the sitar, the tabla, the tambura, the sarod, the rubab and the harmonium. All these instruments are made of wood.

  The background of Pakistan's music connects to Buddhism and Hinduism. However, the Pashito Rubab came from Afghanistan.

• Areas of residence of the community's members in Hamilton:

  The majority of the community members live in the East end of Hamilton and Hamilton Mountain.

• Major occupations of the community's members:

  Many Pakistani people work as cab drivers, security officers, general laborers, engineers, community workers, factory workers, store owners, bankers and lawyers.

• Community Organizations/Associations in Hamilton:

  The main associations in Hamilton are the Pakistan Students Association and the Pakistan Association of Hamilton.

  Purpose: The Pakistan Students Association represents the norms and trends of Pakistan and the Pakistani people. It is a student organization that provides opportunities to students at McMaster University to explore the ethnic and cultural background of Pakistan. It also aims to promote better understanding of the Pakistani people, their culture and values in an environment as diverse as canada. It holds many social, cultural, educational and athletic events throughout the year.

  Person in charge: Ali Radhi

  Organization Address:
  
  McMaster University, Hamilton Hall Rm 406, 1280 Main St W
  Hamilton, ON
  L8S 4K1
  
  905-929-8944
  m_alijafri@yahoo.com

General Information about Pakistan

• Location:

  Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west, China in the north.

• Climate:

  Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

• Capital City:

  Islamabad

• Major Languages:

  Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Baluchi, Hindko, Urdu, Kohar, Kashmiri, Potohari.

• Holidays:

  Republic Day, 23 March (1956), 14 August 1947 (from UK), Eid Days (6 numbers). The most celebrated event is the Eid

• National Symbols:

  
  

  Symbolism of the flag: The white and dark green field represents the religious minorities & Muslim majority, respectively. The crescent on the flag represents progress. The five-rayed star represents light and knowledge.

• National anthem:

  The Qaumi Tarana("National Anthem")listen