Overseas Pakistani
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Total population | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8,800,000 Approximately 4.6% of the Pakistani population | |||||||||||||
Regions with significant populations | |||||||||||||
Saudi Arabia | 13,500,000 | ||||||||||||
United Arab Emirates | 1,600,000+ | ||||||||||||
United Kingdom | 1,460,000+ | ||||||||||||
United States | 700,000 | ||||||||||||
Bangladesh | 500,000[1][2] | ||||||||||||
Canada | 155,310 | ||||||||||||
Italy | 151,000+ | ||||||||||||
Kuwait | 150,000+ | ||||||||||||
Qatar | 90,000[3] | ||||||||||||
Oman | 85,000 | ||||||||||||
Greece | 80,000 | ||||||||||||
Bahrain | 80,000 | ||||||||||||
France | 75,000 | ||||||||||||
Germany | 75,000 | ||||||||||||
Spain | 70,000 | ||||||||||||
China | 65,000 | ||||||||||||
Malaysia | 56,000 | ||||||||||||
Hong Kong | 55,000 | ||||||||||||
Norway | 39,134 | ||||||||||||
Australia | 31,277 | ||||||||||||
Libya | 30,000 | ||||||||||||
Thailand | 25,000 | ||||||||||||
Denmark | 21,642 | ||||||||||||
Turkey | 60,000 | ||||||||||||
South Africa | 40,800 | ||||||||||||
Languages | |||||||||||||
English, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki, Balochi, other languages of Pakistan and the languages spoken in the respective country of residence. | |||||||||||||
Religion | |||||||||||||
Predominantly Islam (Sunni, Shia & Ahmadiyya) with small numbers of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism and Sikhism. |
The Pakistani diaspora refers to overseas Pakistanis, who are Pakistani citizens that have migrated to another country, as well as people who are of Pakistani descent. According to the Pakistani Government, there are around 8 million Pakistani people living abroad with a vast majority of them residing in the Middle East.[4] Pakistan ranks 10th in the world for remittances sent home in 2012 at $13 billion.[5][6]
Overseas Pakistani
The term Overseas Pakistani is officially recognized by the Government of Pakistan. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis was established in 2008 to exclusively deal with all the matters and affairs of the overseas Pakistanis such as attending to their needs and problems, intending schemes and projects for their welfare and working for resolution of their problems and issues. Overseas Pakistani workers are the second largest source of Foreign Exchange Remittances to Pakistan after exports and over the last several years, the foreign exchange remittances have maintained a steady rising trend, with a recorded increase of 21.8% from $6.4 billion in 2007-08 to $7.8 billion during 2008-09. In 2009-10, Pakistanis sent home $9.4 billion, the 11th largest in the world.[6] By 2012, Pakistan increased its ranking to 10th in the world for remittances sent home at $13 billion per annum.[5][6] In the first six months of fiscal year 2014 Pakistanis sent home $7.9 billion showing continuously increasing trend and projected to touch around $16 billion at the end of the FY14.[7] The Overseas Pakistani Division (OPD) was created in September 2004 within the Ministry of Labour and Manpower. Since 2004, it has recognized the importance of overseas Pakistanis and their contribution to the economy. Together with Community Welfare Attaches (CWAs) and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), all three are improving the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. The division aims at providing better services to the overseas Pakistanis through improved facilities at airports, setting up suitable schemes in housing, education and health care. Its largest effort is facilitating the rehabilitation of returning overseas Pakistanis.
Overseas Pakistanis Foundation
The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) was established July 1979, with its head office at Islamabad and regional offices in all provincial capitals as well as Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The objective of the OPF is to advance the welfare of the Pakistanis working or settled abroad and their families in Pakistan by identifying their problems and contributing to their solutions. These include health care, financial aid, foreign exchange remittance and education.[8]
OPF Schools
The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation operates more than 150 schools in 43 cities across Pakistan, offering preschool, primary, secondary and preparation for local SSC and the international GCE education. Most of its students opt to take the GCE O and AS/A Levels organized by the CIE of UCLES. It also has established international projects in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. The head office of the OPF school is located in Islamabad, administering the system through Six main regional offices:
- Regional Office Karachi, Sindh (ROK)- Karachi Metropolitan Area and Sindh
- Regional Office Lahore, Punjab (ROL) - Punjab
- Regional Office Multan, Punjab (ROM) - Some Divisions of Punjab under ROM like Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan
- Regional Office Northern Areas, Mirpur (AJK) - Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
- Regional Office Pehsawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (ROP)- Khyber Pakthunkhwa
- Regional Office Quetta, Balochistan (ROQ)- Balochistan
Foreign Community Welfare Attaches
Community Welfare Attaches (CWA's) are located in 18 cities around the world. There primarily function is to establish and maintain close contacts with the foreign firms who are in need of manpower for their ventures in different countries, and to aid in the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. CWA's are currently located in:[9]
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Sharjah, UAE
- Toronto, Canada
- Doha, Qatar
- Dubai, UAE
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Kuwait City, Kuwait
- London, England
- Manchester, England
- Milan, Italy
- Brescia, Italy
- Muscat, Oman
- Oslo, Norway
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Tripoli, Libya
- Seoul, South Korea
- Manama, Bahrain
National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)
The Computerized National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, also called NICOP, was conceived by NADRA as a project by mutual resolve of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), the Ministry of Labour & Manpower, and the Interior Ministry. The scheme calls for the creation of a comprehensive database of Pakistanis who either work abroad or hold a dual nationality. The NADRA Ordinance envisages issuance of NICOPs to Pakistani workers, emigrants, citizens, or Pakistanis holding dual nationality, having been registered under the NADRA Ordinance. The ordinance entrusts NADRA with the task of registering the overseas Pakistanis. NICOP, in addition to providing the authenticity of the individual, allows the NICOP holder to visa-free entry to Pakistan.
Pakistan Origin Card (POC)
Like the NICOP, the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) is issued by NADRA to eligible overseas Pakistanis. However, the major difference between the two is that a POC is only issued to people of Pakistani origin, i.e., those who are citizens of other countries but have some Pakistani background including former nationals.[10] It cannot be issued to those with dual nationalities, with one being Pakistani, as the NICOP is meant for those individuals.[11]
Little Pakistan
"Little Pakistan" is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Pakistanis or people of Pakistani ancestry (overseas Pakistani), usually in an urban neighborhood.
Returning Overseas Pakistanis
Millions of Pakistanis immigrated to various countries abroad during the 1970s and 1980s. Unlike European immigrants who settled permanently in the new world, many Pakistanis who immigrated abroad considered themselves to be sojourners, who left to earn money abroad but not to settle, or were students who intended to return to Pakistan when their degree programs were completed.
From The Middle East
Since the independence of Pakistan in 1947, there has been a large population of Pakistanis in the Middle East, mainly in Saudi Arabia. However, since the 1990s, many of them have opted for countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait. Pakistanis who immigrated to these countries or who were born in these countries tended to stay close to Pakistani culture. Many "International Pakistan Schools" were opened to cater for the large population and for them to study under the same boards as Pakistani students at home. As a result, those returning to Pakistan from the Middle East have found it much easier to adjust. Pakistanis from the Middle East can be found throughout the country today and these people are usually fluent in Urdu, English and their regional language. They are most likely involved in trading, media, telecommunications, banking, and aviation.
From Europe
Since the 1990s, a large number of Pakistanis who settled in Europe have been returning to Pakistan. Those who were born in Europe have also maintained close links to Pakistani culture. However, there are some instances of children not learning Urdu while growing up or being accustomed to Pakistani culture. As a result, those who return from Europe do experience "culture shocks". Those returning from Norway can be mostly found in Kharian in the Punjab province, whereas those from northern England can be found in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (mainly Mirpur), Jhelum, Attock, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Punjab (Rawalpindi).
From America
Very small numbers of Pakistanis from Canada and the United States have historically returned to Pakistan. Although they frequently visit Pakistan during the summer and winter vacations, permanent settlement had not been popular amongst them until 2001. Since the September 11 terrorist attacks and the recent Financial crisis of 2007–2010, a large number of Pakistani Americans and Pakistani Canadians have begun to return. The population of returning expatriates from the Americas, who tend to have excellent credentials, has increased significantly due to new job opportunities in Pakistan.[12] Many from North America are found in the major cities of Pakistan, mainly Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Faisalabad and Peshawar. Large populations can also be found in smaller cities and towns, such as Sialkot. Those returning from North America have tended to find jobs easier in Pakistan and are involved in a wide scope of fields, primarily healthcare, engineering, law, banking, information technology, mass media and industry.
Population by country
Population of Pakistanis abroad, by country.[13]
Continent / Country | Articles | Overseas Pakistani Population |
---|---|---|
Asia | 32,756,301 | |
Saudi Arabia | Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia | 1,550,000 |
United Arab Emirates | Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates | 1,600,000 |
Bangladesh | Pakistanis in Bangladesh | 500,000 |
Kuwait | Pakistanis in Kuwait | 150,000 |
Qatar | Pakistanis in Qatar | 90,000[3] |
Malaysia | Pakistanis in Malaysia | 55,851[14] |
Oman | Pakistanis in Oman | 85,000 |
Bahrain | Pakistanis in Bahrain | 80,000 |
Hong Kong | Pakistanis in Hong Kong | 55,000 |
China | Pakistanis in China | 65,000 |
Turkey | Pakistanis in Turkey | 60,000 |
Afghanistan | Pakistanis in Afghanistan | 12,000 |
Iran | Pakistanis in Iran | 11,000[15] |
South Korea | Pakistanis in South Korea | 10,423[16] |
Japan | Pakistanis in Japan | 10,299[17] |
Jordan | Pakistanis in Jordan | 8,000[18] |
Thailand | Pakistanis in Thailand | 25,000 |
Singapore | Pakistanis in Singapore | 3,600 |
Nepal | Pakistanis in Nepal | 2,546 |
Kyrgyzstan | Pakistanis in Kyrgyzstan | 1,500 |
Philippines | Pakistanis in Philippines | 1,000 |
Israel | Pakistanis in Israel | 1,000 |
Lebanon | Pakistanis in Lebanon | 1000[19] |
Yemen | Pakistanis in Yemen | 3000 |
India | Pakistanis in India | 761 |
Syria | Pakistanis in Syria | 600 |
Mongolia | Pakistanis in Mongolia | 525[20] |
Vietnam | Pakistanis in Vietnam | 515 |
Kazakhstan | Pakistanis in Kazakhstan | 500 |
Brunei | Pakistanis in Brunei | 500[21] |
Iraq | Pakistanis in Iraq | 456 |
Myanmar | Pakistanis in Burma | 451 |
Indonesia | Pakistanis in Indonesia | 600 |
Sri Lanka | Pakistanis in Sri Lanka | 10000 |
Turkmenistan | Pakistanis in Turkmenistan, Beluch | 243 |
Azerbaijan | Pakistanis in Azerbaijan | 200 |
Maldives | Pakistanis in Maldives | 300 |
Uzbekistan | Pakistanis in Uzbekistan | 75 |
Tajikistan | Pakistanis in Tajikistan | 30 |
Palestine | Pakistanis in Palestine | 26 |
Europe | 7,255,000[22] | |
United Kingdom | British Pakistanis, Pakistanis in London | 1,460,000[22] England: 1,360,000 (2010)[23] Scotland: 90,000 (2010)[24] Wales: 9,000 (2010)[25] Northern Ireland: 1000 (2010)[26] |
Italy | Pakistanis in Italy | 151,000 |
Greece | Pakistanis in Greece | 80,000 |
Spain | Pakistanis in Spain | 70,000[27] |
France | Pakistanis in France | 60,000 |
Germany | Pakistanis in Germany | 75.000.[28] |
Norway | Pakistani Norwegians | 39,200[29] |
Denmark | Pakistanis in Denmark | 21,642(est.2012)[30] |
Netherlands | Pakistanis in the Netherlands | 19,408(est.2012)[31] |
Belgium | Pakistanis in Belgium | 14,500 |
Ireland | Pakistanis in Ireland | 22,000 |
Sweden | Pakistani Swedish | 5,250 |
Portugal | Pakistanis in Portugal | 5,000 |
Austria | Pakistanis in Austria | 3,500 |
Switzerland | Pakistanis in Switzerland | 2,415 |
Ukraine | Pakistanis in Ukraine | 1,612 |
Russia | Pakistanis in Russia | 1,500 |
Cyprus | Pakistanis in Cyprus | 1,100 |
Romania | Pakistanis in Romania | 710 |
Finland | Pakistanis in Finland | 525 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Pakistanis in Bosnia and Herzegovina | 416 |
Poland | Pakistanis in Poland | 180 |
Estonia | Pakistani Estonia | 150 |
Latvia | Pakistani Latvia | 150 |
Lithuania | Pakistani Lithuania | 150 |
Belarus | Pakistani Belarus | 150 |
Albania | Pakistanis in Albania | 100 |
Hungary | Pakistanis in Hungary | 145 |
Czech Republic | Pakistanis in Czech Republic | 35 |
Slovakia | Pakistanis in Slovakia | 30 |
Slovenia | Pakistanis in Slovenia | 29 |
Iceland | Pakistanis in Iceland | 65 |
Bulgaria | Pakistanis in Bulgaria | 27 |
Moldova | Pakistanis in Moldova | 26 |
Serbia | Pakistanis in Serbia | 25 |
Croatia | Pakistanis in Croatia | 24 |
Kosovo | Pakistanis in Kosovo | 14 |
Republic of Macedonia | Pakistanis in Macedonia | 14 |
Others | 1620 | |
Americas | 3,587,720 | |
United States | Pakistani American | 700,000[32][33] |
Canada | Pakistani Canadian | 155,310 |
Cuba | Pakistani Cuban | 10,000[34] |
Peru | Pakistanis in Peru | 750 |
Chile | Pakistanis in Chile | 800 |
Brazil | Pakistanis in Brazil | 680 |
Mexico | Pakistanis in Mexico | 250 |
Bolivia | Pakistanis in Bolivia | 50 |
Argentina | Pakistanis in Argentina | 55 |
Paraguay | Pakistanis in Paraguay | 12 |
Colombia | Pakistanis in Colombia | 10 |
Suriname | Pakistanis in Suriname | 3 |
Africa | 88,821 | |
South Africa | Pakistanis in South Africa | 40,800 |
Somalia | Pakistanis in Somalia | <9,200[35][36] |
Libya | Pakistanis in Libya | 30,000 |
Sudan | Pakistanis in Sudan | 3000 |
Kenya | Pakistanis in Kenya | 2,862 |
Tanzania | Pakistanis in Tanzania | 1,200 |
Egypt | Pakistanis in Egypt | 1000 (2011)[37][38] |
Zimbabwe | Pakistanis in Zimbabwe | 800 |
Nigeria | Pakistanis in Nigeria | 792 |
Zambia | Pakistanis in Zambia | 450 |
Botswana | Pakistanis in Botswana | 160 |
Ghana | Pakistanis in Ghana | 152 |
Niger | Pakistanis in Niger | 62 |
Mauritius | Pakistanis in Mauritius | 65 |
Morocco | Pakistanis in Morocco | 38 |
Algeria | Pakistanis in Algeria | 34 |
Djibouti | Pakistanis in Djibouti | 30 |
Senegal | Pakistanis in Senegal | 26 |
Comoros | Pakistanis in Comoros | 11 |
Madagascar | Pakistanis in Madagascar | 11 |
Seychelles | Pakistanis in Seychelles | 5 |
Others | 773 | |
Oceania | 64,277 | |
Australia | Pakistani Australian | 31,277[39] |
New Zealand | Pakistani New Zealander | 9,000[40] |
Total Overseas Pakistani Population | 8,803,226 |
See also
Diasporas of Pakistani ethnic groups
- Baloch diaspora
- Kashmiri diaspora
- Hazara diaspora
- Muhajir diaspora
- Pashtun diaspora
- Punjabi diaspora
- Sindhi diaspora
- Saraiki diaspora
Related diasporas
- Afghan diaspora
- Iranian diaspora
- Indian diaspora
Other
References
- ↑ "Citizenship for Bihari refugees". BBC. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ↑ "SC rejects plea regarding repatriation of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh". The Express Tribune. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Qatar´s population by nationality bq magazine Retrieved 15 December 2014
- ↑ "Pride and the Pakistani Diaspora". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mohammad. "OP News Discussions - Voice of Overseas Pakistanis - Page 2". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1199807908806/Top10.pdf
- ↑ Shahid Iqbal. "Overseas Pakistanis remit $7.8bn in six months". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Overseas Pakistanis Foundation". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ Government of Pakistan, Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment
- ↑ POC NADRA Retrieved 23 January 2010
- ↑ NICOP Pakistan High Commission, UK Retrieved 23 January 2010
- ↑ Vaswani, Karishma (2008-07-06). "Returning Pakistanis praise new lives". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
- ↑ Year Book, 2004–2005 (PDF), Islamabad: Ministry of Labour, Manpower, and Overseas Pakistanis, retrieved 2009-09-19
- ↑ Iftikhar A. Khan. "Overseas Pakistanis’ vote: ECP, Nadra for caution". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ Overseas Pakistanis Foundation 2004-2005 Yearbook pg 31 Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ↑ 출입국·외국인정책본부. "통계연보(글내용) < 통계자료실 < 출입국·외국인정책본부". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "統計表一覧 政府統計の総合窓口 GL08020103". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Middle East uprising: Pakistanis safe in Syria, Jordan despite revolt, officials say". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "INTERVIEWS OF AMBASSADOR" Embassy of Pakistan in Lebanon web site
- ↑ Censuses
- ↑ Pakistan navy men visit BT
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "The Pakistani Diaspora in Europe and Its Impact on Democracy Building in Pakistan" Paper at Idea
- ↑ "Check Browser Settings". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ Pakistanis in Scotland
- ↑ Pakistanis in Wales
- ↑ Pakistanis in Northern Ireland
- ↑ "Cementing ties: Trade between Pakistan and Spain can grow 10 times: ambassador". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ Bundesamt für Flüchtlinge und Migration, Dr. habil. Sonja Haug Stephanie Müssig, M.A. Dr. Anja Stichs (Hrsg): Muslimisches Leben in Deutschland, 2009: page 76, chart 5
- ↑ Immigration and immigrants
- ↑ Danish Institute of Statistic http://www.statistikbanken.dk/FOLK1
- ↑ "CBS StatLine - Population; sex, age, origin and generation, 1 January". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Press Releases 2010 - Embassy of the United States Islamabad, Pakistan". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP8&prodType=table Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - ↑ "THE PLIGHT OF PAKISTANI MEDICAL STUDENTS IN CUBA" 17 September 2009, Overseas Pakistani Friends
- ↑ Tyagi, Vidya Prakash (2009). Martial races of undivided India. G. Publishing House. p. 12. ISBN 9788178357751.; 8,200 Baloch, 1989 est.
- ↑ David B. Barrett, George Thomas Kurian, Todd M. Johnson (2001). World Christian Encyclopedia: The world by segments : religions, peoples, languages, cities, topics. Oxford University Press. p. 672. ISBN 019510319X.; under 1,000 Indo-Pakistanis, 2001 est.
- ↑ "BBC News - Egypt: India and Pakistan move to help nationals". BBC News. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Pakistan nationals in Egypt are safe: Basit". www.oneindia.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Migration Australia 2009-10" Australian Government web site
- ↑ "Pakistan: Living On Borrowed Time" 29 December 2007, Scoop News
External links
- National Database and Registration Authority
- An outline of the immigration pattern of the Pakistani community in Britain
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs Division
- The Asian Population Census report 2010
- Pakistan Cultural Association -Australia
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