Pakistani families

A Short history of Pakistan

Pakistan is a vibrant and diverse country in South Asia, home to a rich mix of ethnic groups and languages. Since gaining independence from British rule in August 1947, Pakistan has a Muslim-majority population but has Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists.

Pakistan remains culturally and historically connected to Iran, Afghanistan, and India. Its capital city, Islamabad, lies in the scenic foothills of the Himalayas, while Karachi, the largest city, thrives along the Arabian Sea coast.

The largest group of British Pakistanis trace their heritage to Mirpur - Mirpuris are widely settled in Lancashire towns (particularly East Lancs) as well as  Bradford, Birmingham, Manchester, Luton, and Slough.

There are some Pakistanis from various parts of Punjab, including Attock, Rawalpindi, and Gujrat. Many settled in Lancashire towns (particularly East Lancs) Glasgow, Southall, and Birmingham.

 

Information for Schools

• The language spoken is Urdu. This is seen as the national language however only spoken natively by around 9% of the population but can be understood and used as a second language. Punjabi – Spoken by ~37% of the population, mainly in Punjab area. Families from the Mirpur region will speak Mirpuri or Potwari. Families you will find will record their language as Urdu but will be communicating in Punjabi or Mirpuri at home. It’s a good idea to ask what language they speak with their children all the time at home.
• Pakistan’s education system is diverse and evolving, shaped by cultural, economic, and regional factors. While education is a constitutional right for children aged 5 to 16, access and quality vary widely across the country. In Pakistan the government funded schools no longer exist so families have to pay for schooling through Private providers. Most of these are known as English Medium Schools as they deliver the curriculum on the whole through the English language.
• Very few children can read and write in Urdu (the language that is the written form for all Pakistanis even if they speak Punjabi/ Mirpuri/Potwari). This is due to schools in Pakistan not delivering learning in Urdu any longer, unless the pupils have been to rural schools where Urdu is used. You may find pupils can speak in Urdu but cant read or write in it. 
• Newly arrived families may not be familiar with online booking and communications portal systems. They might be unaware of the various food choices available and might need support logging to portals. In Pakistan schools do not provide free meals, so all pupils are required to bring their own packed lunch. School should inform parents about your food policy such as no nuts / healthy snacks etc.