Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Understanding Pakistani Culture
    Understanding Pakistani Culture
    Understanding Pakistani Culture
    Ebook117 pages1 hour

    Understanding Pakistani Culture

    By Naeem Harry

    5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    There are millions of Pakistanis living throughout the world, and from time to time
    they will need medical, spiritual, and psychological care. This can only be successfully given if their culture is understood.

    My thought is that I begin my book, Understanding Pakistani Culture, with an explanation that I am from Pakistan and I now live in the United States. I am a spiritual counselor who visits patients in hospitals to help them, and sometimes I encounter patients born in Pakistan. Because their customs are often so different from US customs, those wishing to help do not understand their needs. My thought has been to write a book about Pakistani customs to bring forward the understanding.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateNov 8, 2012
    ISBN9781477286869
    Understanding Pakistani Culture
    Author

    Naeem Harry

    Naeem Harry is a chaplain who gives spiritual care to the patients.

    Related to Understanding Pakistani Culture

    Related ebooks

    Popular Culture & Media Studies For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      A History Of Faith

      Sep 9, 2019

      A History Of Faith
      5 min read

    • Article

      Wrinkles In Time

      Aug 9, 2020

      Wrinkles In Time
      17 min read

    • Article

      Single In The City

      Sep 6, 2019

      Single In The City
      8 min read

    • Article

      T.v. Presenter And Podcast Host Lorraine Kelly On Why We Need To Do More To Help Elderly People Get The Right Care

      Feb 20, 2023

      When my mum fell ill and was admitted to hospital last year, I realised it was time for us to have a conversation about the future. She had been experiencing symptoms such as swollen legs for a while and then suddenly took a turn for the worse. It wa

      2 min read

    • Article

      Here To Help

      Oct 5, 2022

      Q My six-year-old daughter has started to run out of the room to get changed when her grandparents are there and has asked for them not to come into the bathroom when she has a shower. I worry she’s getting a negative image about her body, and I real

      3 min read

    • Article

      Reader Letter Of The Week

      Jan 5, 2020

      Dear Jude, My elderly mother is a wonderful woman hanging on to her independence. My father died a few years ago. We want to respect Mum’s wishes about living in her own home, but she will need care. I work full-time and have teenage children – a t

      1 min read

    • Article

      Ask Dr Louise

      Feb 11, 2022

      Q I went with my boyfriend to visit his family for three weeks during the holidays. It was terrible, to say the least. His family are very affluent but they are the most horrid people. While my boyfriend has a good heart and seems to be humble, his f

      3 min read

    • Article

      Here To Help

      Feb 1, 2023

      Here To Help
      3 min read

    • Article

      Ask Dr Louise

      May 26, 2023

      Q I had a carefree childhood until the onslaught of Covid. My father, who had an excellent, high-paying job, died of the disease and my mother also contracted Covid, which has left her with health problems such as often being fatigued, having breathi

      3 min read

    • Article

      Ask Dr Louise

      Dec 22, 2023

      Q I married my husband 12 years ago and we have an eight-year-old daughter. My husband is a US citizen who came to work in South Africa. Then he suddenly wanted to move to Pakistan, where he received a good employment offer. He promised that if we we

      3 min read

    • Article

      Ask Dr Louise

      Aug 21, 2020

      Q This has just been the most awful year of my life! During lockdown my father died and we had to bury him with almost nobody present. Then I lost my job because my employer could no longer keep his business going. To top it all off, my wife also los

      3 min read

    • Article

      Here To Help

      Oct 4, 2023

      Q My ex-daughter-in-law sadly passed away recently. My grandchildren mainly lived with her and her new husband. My son had them to stay every other weekend and one day in the week. He is a devoted father. My son wants the children to come and live

      3 min read

    • Article

      Here To Help

      Apr 10, 2024

      Q I have a few opinionated friends who offer their views in the name of love and support. Sometimes it’s helpful but often it’s hurtful. I’m not going to turn my back on them so how do I change my reaction so I’m not upset? Ruth, Oxford A It’s int

      3 min read

    • Article

      When Roses Bloom

      Jun 3, 2020

      When Roses Bloom
      4 min read

    • Article

      Winning Letter

      Jun 16, 2023

      I THINK I’m hitting that mid-year winter slump. It’s cold, dark and beyond irritating to navigate the complications brought on by Eskom (a washing machine full of not-quite-done laundry because I miscalculated the loadshedding schedule doesn’t exactl

      6 min read

    • Article

      ‘I Hate my Reality’

      Jul 22, 2022

      ‘I Hate my Reality’
      11 min read

    • Article

      Column: The Best Holiday Gift For The Senior In Your Life? Time And Attention.

      Dec 21, 2018

      In this season of giving and gathering, it's a good time to remember that the best gift of all might be the one that can't be bought, wrapped or overnighted. Time. So often we struggle with what to give the people on our lists when maybe all they rea

      6 min read

    • Article

      Helping Loved Ones Through the Last Years

      May 18, 2021

      When my parents downsized to a duplex, we thought we had their final years all figured out — finances, housing and medical care. Unfortunately, things rarely work out the way you plan them. Within a few years of moving from our family home, my father

      6 min read

    • Article

      My Parents Pay For My Tuition. How Can I Be Independent?

      Apr 28, 2023

      I am a woman in my early 20s, an international student, in the first year of a five-year medical degree. I’m completely financially dependent on my parents. I can’t apply for student loans, and the savings I had from my previous job are nowhere near

      2 min read

    • Article

      Everybody Has A Story

      Jun 4, 2023

      Everybody Has A Story
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Understanding Pakistani Culture

    5/5

    2 ratings1 review

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5

      "Understanding Pakistani Culture" by Naeem Harry offers a nuanced and insightful exploration of Pakistan's diverse cultural tapestry. Through engaging prose and thoughtful analysis, Harry captures the essence of Pakistani traditions, values, and societal dynamics, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of this vibrant and complex culture.

    Book preview

    Understanding Pakistani Culture - Naeem Harry

    UNDERSTANDING PAKISTANI

    — CULTURE —

    NAEEM HARRY

    US%26UKLogoB%26Wnew.ai

    AuthorHouse™

    1663 Liberty Drive

    Bloomington, IN 47403

    www.authorhouse.com

    Phone: 1-800-839-8640

    © 2012 Naeem Harry. All rights reserved.

    No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

    Published by AuthorHouse 11/02/2012

    ISBN: 978-1-4772-8687-6 (sc)

    ISBN: 978-1-4772-8686-9 (e)

    Library of Congress Control Number: 2012920715

    Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

    Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

    This book is printed on acid-free paper.

    Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

    CONTENTS

    Introduction

    Chapter 1     Families

    Chapter 2     Physical Characteristics And Preferences

    Chapter 3     Individual Behavior

    Chapter 4     Social Behavior

    Chapter 5     Education

    Chapter 6     Food

    Chapter 7     Health

    Chapter 8     Rural Pakistan

    Chapter 9     Poverty And Wealth

    Chapter 10   Cultural Beliefs

    Chapter 11   Outdoor Life And Transportation

    Chapter 12   Entertainment

    Chapter 13   Deceased Family Relatives

    Chapter 14   Folklore

    I would like to dedicate this book to my wife, Mariam Nawab.

    INTRODUCTION

    There are millions of Pakistanis living throughout the world, and from time to time they will need medical, spiritual, and psychological care. This can only be successfully given if their culture is understood.

    My thought is that I begin my book, Understanding Pakistani Culture, with an explanation that I am from Pakistan and I now live in the United States. I am a spiritual counselor who visits patients in hospitals to help them, and sometimes I encounter patients born in Pakistan. Because their customs are often so different from US customs, those wishing to help do not understand their needs. My thought has been to write a book about Pakistani customs to bring forward the understanding.

    Do you know that Pakistanis prefer never to eat alone? There are always one or two people present. One of my friends shared this story with me when she was hospitalized in Rochester, New York. An elderly Pakistani woman who spoke no English was sharing my friend’s semi-private room and the old woman refused to eat. Nurses and hospital staff urged her but she would not. It became a worry. Fortunately, it was pointed out to the hospital staff that someone needed to sit with the woman while she ate her meals. This was an important Pakistani custom. And so, someone sat with her at mealtime and the old woman began to eat. The problem was solved.

    Again, there are millions of Pakistanis living throughout the world and care for some will be needed. This can only be successfully given if the culture is understood.

    CHAPTER 1

    FAMILIES

    Elders are Leaders

    Elders are respected by all family members who are younger than they are and they are like a father or uncle to everyone. An elder is under no obligation to respect younger family members, but he should love every member. Even if he scolds or insults, this must be tolerated because it is understood that he is teaching.

    They are never called by name. Instead, they are called an uncle or aunt. If someone calls them by name, this is considered disrespectful. Eye contact with an elder is forbidden because he holds power and must not be challenged. Eye contact would be the first step toward disobedience and disrespect.

    Pakistanis normally do not make their own decisions, and instead, decisions are made by male elders. There are no independent decisions. Every decision has an influence on a family, and so every decision comes from the family, not from an individual.

    Male Earnings

    Generally it is the male’s earnings that support the family. When a family consists of more than seven members, one person’s earnings cannot support the whole family. Normally, the income is not more than thirty dollars a month and a large family will create a problem. Everyone is under an obligation to support the family in some manner. This is a sacred obligation. People sacrifice to keep this obligation. Once one is born into a family, there is no separation until one breathes his last breath. If a daughter cannot support the family financially, she will support it morally.

    Culturally, the concept of self care does not exist because all family members live for each other, and each must look after the other. If one is sick, he has to be looked after by the other family members. Every moment of his life is to be lived for others, not for himself. No one can claim that it is his time to die. Every life and energy is for each other.

    Male and Recognition

    A Pakistani male is recognized as a male if he is able to feed his family. His wife may be employed and earning money, but still, her husband will only be recognized as a male if he is able to bring income home.

    Husband and Wife Relationship

    Culturally, the wife is subordinate to the husband and she has to obey his orders. To be a good wife, she must understand very well the art of obedience. If she does not obey, there are consequences. The husband is under no obligation to his wife, and because he is considered above his wife, he does not have to listen to her.

    Men at Home

    Husband and wife responsibilities are divided in Pakistani society. It is not the husband’s responsibility to help his wife at home, and the majority of husbands will sit and watch their wives cleaning and cooking. Women train males not to work at home because it is insulting.

    Fathers

    Traditionally, families in Pakistan follow a strict way of living. Today, however, the the electronic media show cultures that are free and modern and different from the traditional culture of Pakistan. This difference begins to cause problems for a Pakistani male who will become a father. Now, a potential father may go through the following stages:

    Before marriage, he dreams of having a beautiful bride who will care for him, his future children, and his household as a joint family. He dreams he will have children, preferably two boys and two girls, and he plans to educate them without any discrimination.

    After marriage, he begins his life with his wife and children. He loves equally his male and female children and he tries to provide equal opportunities to them.

    When his children reach the age of sixteen,

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1