Culture

"Culture is a complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, customs and
allother capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of a society."
Every great nation enjoys its own culture. Similarly, Pakistani culture is very distinct due to
itsIslamic nature and rich historical background.

Contents of Culture (Over all)

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)

Religion
Language
Tradition
Living Style
Believes
Ideas
Ethics
Habits
Rituals & Ceremonies

Overview of International Culture

Different Nations having different Culture Classify on the basis of Religion, Norms, Values,
Rituals, Language, living Styles. Now we discuss the culture of different Countries (e.g)
different Countries having different religions. Some of having faith on 1 God, His Prophet,
Day of Judgment, Holy book, some other having faith on animals, Moon, Stars, Sun,
Statues. Different concepts in food items (e.g) Halal Haram concepts. Some Are vegetarian,
non-vegetarian. Different Events in different cultures according to their religion like: Holly,
Eid, Christmas. Different languages according to their nations (e.g) Urdu, English, Spanish,
Persian, French etc.Different family structure joint family, separate family system.Different
nations having different dressing styles according to their cultures (e.g) Shalwar kameez,
jeans, sari, pent shirts etc.

Pakistans Culture
ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTING TO THEEVOLUTION OF PAKISTAN'S CULTURE:

 RELIGION
Islam
LANGUAGE
Urdu
Punjabi
Sindhi
Balochi
Pashto
Pathani
Seraiki
HISTORY
Common History creates a sense of belonging to one nation. Pakistan has a
commonhistorical background of almost 1000 years (712-1857 AD) of Muslim rule and
Indus valleycivilization (2500 BC).
GEOGRAPHY
Variety of physical contours:
Green fertile plains
Hot deserts
Beautiful valleys
Snow clad mountains
Magnificent coast line. Having a diverse range of physical features, customs,
traditions and habits of the people living in different regions has provided a rich cultural
heritage to Pakistan.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PAKISTANICULTURE
Pakistani culture has the following characteristics:
ISLAMIC VALUES

Pakistan is an Islamic civilization which draws its value and traditions from Islam (e.g)
belief inone Allah,Hazrat Muhammad P.B.U.H, brotherhood, equality and social justice
etc. Islam is religion of peace and patience.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LANGUAGES

Punjabi, Pashtu, Sindhi, Balochi, Barohi and Kashmiri are regional languages. However,
Urdu is the national language which is spoken and understood in all parts of the country.

MIXED CULTURE

Practically speaking Pakistani culture is a beautiful blend of the Punjabi, Sindhi, Pathan,
Baluchi, Barohi, Seraiki and Kashmiri cultures. In addition, the presence of Hindu
community in Sindh gives touches of dance and music in the Sindhi region. The Hindus
sing Bhejas but Pakistani culture has adopted Qawwali which is a praise of the Holy
Propher P.B.U.H.
RICH LITERATURE

Pakistani culture is rich in the literatures of Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baruhi, Baluchi
and Kashmiri languages.
MALE DOMINATED SOCIETY

Each family is headed by the senior most maleMember who is responsible for arranging
the bread and butter of the family.
VARIETY OF DRESSES

Pakistani culture is rich in variety of dresses: The people of Punjab, the Pathans of NWFP,
theBaluchi people and the Sindhis wear their own distinct dresses. These dresses are very
colourfuland prominent and give attractive look during national fairs and festivals.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

The culture of Pakistan has great tradition of Fairs and festivals. These are:
1) Horse and Cattle shows of Lahore
2) Polo festival
3) Ramadan
4) Chand Raat
5) Eid celebrations
6) Milaad un Nabi
7) Muharram (Ashura)
8) Jashn-e-Baharan
9) Independence Day
10)Defense Day Parade
11)Annual urs
SPORTS

Pakistani people are great lovers of sports and games. Modern games like hockey, cricket,
football, badminton, squash, table tennis, lawn tennis, wrestling, boxing, athletics are
played throughout the coutnry..
MARRIAGE

Considered as a social and emotional bond between two individuals and families.
Arrangemarriages are preferred. Wedding ceremony is characterized by Menhdi, dowry
and lavishparties from both brides and grooms families.
FAMILY LIFE

Male oriented with strong sense of family bond, generally preference is given to boys over
girls.
DRESS

Dress in a Muslim society like Pakistan is designed and intended to cover human
Body, as nudity is prohibited in Islam.
FOOD

About 98% of the daily diet of most Pakistani consists of four basic item~ Roti,
Rice,Vegetables and meat. Most Pakistani dishes are Nehari, Halwa puri, Korma, Haleem,
Biryani etc.
ANCIENT & MODERN

New ideas and, new technology exist side by side with the old. Mild houses withelectronic
bulb arid transistor, veiled women and fashion shows, automobiles and horsedrawntangas, nuclear energy and absence of clear drinking water.
CULTURAL HERITAGE

Pakistan has very valuable cultural heritage. Shah Jahan Masjid in Thatta, Shalimar
Garden, Badshahi Masjid, and Shahi Qila of Lahore are few examples of Mughal
architecture. Manyarchaeological sites in Pakistan are Moen-jo-daro, Harappa (Indus
valley civilization) and Taxila (Gundhara).

ART AND CRAFT

Islam prohibited from pictorial art, therefore as being a Muslim country emphasis in
Pakistan islaid on non pictorial form of Art like calligraphy, floral and geometrical design.
Sindh is famous for Ajrak, embroidery glass work and kashi work and. beautifuldecoration
pieces made of Sea shells and marble, Multan is famous for various articles of camelsskin,
Chiniot is for wood works, Peshawar is for Metal work and Baluchistan is for embroidery.

Meaning and Definition of Sub-culture:

The members of a specific subculture posses beliefs, values, and customs that set them
apart from other members of the same society. Sub-Culturedefines as a distinct culture
group that exist as an identifiable segment within a larger, more complex society. (e.g)
Punjabi, sindhi blochi, Kashmiri etc.Subculture may be based on religion, region,
language, age, gender and many other differences..
Religious Sub-culture:- It can be regarded as subcultures because of traditions
and customs that are tied to their beliefs and passed on from one generation to the
next.
Regional Sub-cultures:- It arises due to climatic conditions, the natural
environment and resources.
Age Sub-culture:- Marketers have attempted to identify age cohorts as sub-culture
because they produce unique shared values and behavoiurs. A generation or age
cohort is a group of persons who have experienced a common, social, political,
historical and economic environment.
Gender as Sub-culture:- Gender roles are described roles which mean that a role
is based on an attribute over which the individual has little or no control.
Achievement roles are based on performance criteria over which the individual has
some degree of control. For e.g.:- To some extent individuals can select their
occupation but they cannot generally determine their gender.
Researchers find it useful to categories women as traditional and modern, based on
their preference of one, or the other of two opposite lifestyles.
1) Traditional
2) Modern
The market of women or men is not as homogenous as one is likely to believe. Four
significant female market segments exist.
1)
2)
3)
4)

Traditional housewife
Trapped housewife
Trapped working women
Career working women

Cross culture

Cross-culture studies, a comparative tendency in various fields of cultural analysis

any of various forms of interactivity between members of disparate cultural groups.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Language
Dresses
Fast food
Valentine day
Speaking style
Living Style

Reference
1) International marketing (3rd edition) By: PALIWODA & THOMAS
2) Organizational Behaviour (3rd edition)By: Steven L McShane, Mary A.V Glinow,
Radha Sharma
3) Consumer Behaviour
(4th edition) By: David L.Loudon & Albert J.Della Bitta
4) Organizational Behaviour (10th edition) By: Fred Luthans
5) Management
By: Warren R. Plunkett, Raymond F. Attner, Germm S. Allen
6) Consumer Behaviour & Managerial Decision Making By: Frank R. Karder
7) International business (12th edition) By: John D.DANIELS, Lee H. RADEBAUGH,
Daniel P. SULLIVAN, Prashant SALWAN
8) Bridging the Cultural gap By: Penny Carte and Chris Fox
9) Consumer Behaviour (9th edition) By: Leon G. Schiffman, Leslie Lazar Kanuk
10) Consumer Behaviour (9th edition) By: Hawkins/Best/Coney