Pakistani Society and Culture
Islam:
Islam is practised by the majority of Pakistanis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives.
Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening.
Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed.
During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing.
The Family:
The extended family is the basis of the social structure and individual identity.
It includes the nuclear family, immediate relatives, distant relatives, tribe members, friends, and neighbours.
Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationships, even business.
Nepotism is viewed positively, since it guarantees hiring people who can be trusted, which is crucial in a country where working with people one knows and trusts is of primary importance.
The family is more private than in many other cultures.
Female relatives are protected from outside influences. It is considered inappropriate to ask questions about a Pakistani's wife or other female relatives.
Architecture:
The architecture of Pakistan is assorted in nature, as every nation that invaded and settled in this country has left a mark on it. In ancient times, this Islamic country was a part of the Indus Valley Civilization and the architectures of Mohenjo Daro, Harappa and Kot Diji, are considered as the heritage sites.One can also see the Buddhist monuments that were constructed during the time when Buddhism was prevalent in Pakistan. The advent of the Moghuls put an end to the Buddhist architecture. During this time, due to the influence of Greeks and Persians, there was an amalgamation of these styles in the architecture of the country which was known as the 'Greco-Buddhist' style.The invasion of the Mughal empire led to the development of Islamic architecture.
