Individual International Interview in Pakistan - Assignment Example

? Individual International Interview & Paper s s Number Individual International Interview & Paper Sitting on the couch and being faced by a Pakistani, I wondered how different the word ‘Pakistan’ sounded from what I heard and from what I had known. Ali was an immaculate man from Pakistan I had met through one of my contacts. He was smart, intelligent and spoke wisely. It was him who, sitting in my drawing room, unfolded stories from Pakistan, over a cup of coffee. Pakistan – or The Islamic Republic of Pakistan – is located in Southern Asia, encased by the Arabian Sea, India, China, Afghanistan and Iran. It lies within the latitudes 24 and 37 degree north and longitude 62 and 75 degree east. The country consists of five provinces - Baluchistan, Punjab, Sind, Khyber Pakhtun Khwa and Gilgit/Baltistan - and its capital is named Islamabad. Pakistan has one of the richest and most diverse cultures in the world. It is because this land had seen a number of invaders in the past including Whites, Persians, Turks and Mongols who had spread their own culture across this land. For this very reason we get to see diversity in culture throughout Pakistan with different ethnic groups having their own preferences when it comes to food, dressing, lifestyle etc. Increased globalization has brought further diversity to the country with Western culture increasingly being adopted by the people (“Pakistan Culture”, 2009). Ali himself comes from a Westernized background with many of his friends educated abroad, who love hanging out at international food chains and who openly drink. This defies my research since I found that alcohol was banned in Pakistan. But then there are so many things that are banned in the US too but still people do them. Religion shapes many of the Pakistan’s customs. Muslim religious festivals are celebrated as per the Islamic calendar with Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid Miladun Nabi and Eid-ul-Adha being the most joyous events. Weddings are another of the most celebrated Pakistani customs in their unique traditions with millions being spent on extravagant festivities. This defies the Islamic ideology that weddings should be as simple as possible, but then it’s a once in a lifetime occasion, says Ali. Employment forms in Pakistan range from menial labor to jobs at multinational companies. The minimum wage per month of a Pakistani is Rs.10,000 (USD 100) and that is why many families live below the poverty line. Entrepreneurship has seen a rise in recent times and many people have switched to self created jobs. Induction of multinationals have brought good fortune to locals and created highly paid jobs. But people like Ali have moved out of the country for better job opportunities and better lifestyles. Since Pakistan is a developing country, the road network is not that of an international standard and is absent in much part of the country. Public transportation through buses is the most common means of traveling, with the slightly stable families using motor bikes and the ones economically sound use petrol and gas driven cars. Pakistan also has a sound air that connects cities and countries. Though a railway network is also present, the experience is not worth trying, says Ali. Infrastructure within Pakistan varies from city to city. From mud houses to high rises, one can find it all. The metropolitan city homes a number of high rises and is a safe abode for businesses and other activities. Recently a sky-scraper by the name of Centaurus and designed by a British architectural company was officially inaugurated in the capital city. These developments hold a brighter future for the country’s growth and economy. Pakistan is one of the two countries of the world, made on religious lines of Islam and that is what is practiced by the majority of citizens. Almost 98% of Pakistanis are Muslim while the remaining 2% are either Hindu, Christians or other minority groups. My research led me to believe that Pakistanis were taken by religion in every aspects of life but what Ali explains to me defies my stereotyped images of the country. Pakistani food is widely popular for the array of tastes and its spiciness. They vary widely from region to region and hold some resemblance to Indian cuisines. International food, especially Italian and Chinese are quite popular too, with several restaurants devoted exclusively to such cuisines. Ali is one of those youngsters who prefer international cuisines over locals. Media in Pakistan are free. Last few years have witnessed a surge in television channels which are quite popular amongst the masses. Pakistani dailies are published not just in English and Urdu (the national language) but in local languages as well. Television channels are mostly run in the local languages and attempts at English language channels have failed in the past due to low viewership. Unlike Western cultures, men and women in Pakistan do not socialize as avidly and are divided because of their genders. Though one may find a tinge of Western socializing trends in metropolitan cities of Pakistan, majority of Pakistani men and women obey certain limitations set by the society. As one moves into more remote areas, s/he finds women not socializing with men at all, many of them being offended with the idea of mere talking to a male outsider. Ali is unlike them and says he most of his friends are female Pakistanis. Yet again, my research and Ali’s words contradict, leaving me perplexed. Pakistan is still a third world country, struggling to move ahead in time. Lack of adequate resources have marred proper progress and tense political situations have made matters even worse. To date, many Pakistani cities are void of adequate communication channels and thus are cut from the rest of the world. The recent broadband revolution has made internet access easier and has played a positive role in development of human society. Education is one of those unfortunate sectors in Pakistan that has not seen good times. The education infrastructure is weak and feeble and despite the presence of schools half of the country’s children can be found either in workshops or on roads. Female education is further despised and thus women have never enjoyed those rights in Pakistan that Western women enjoy. Nevertheless part of the country has a very good educational structure with many international institutes having a presence in the country. People who can afford send their children abroad – similar to the many friends of Ali. Pakistanis have their own traditional clothes called shalwar kamiz. Due to increased Western influence, more liberal Pakistanis have switched to Western clothing. Ali too enjoys casual look and feels comfortable in jeans and a tee. This trend has let international pret brands make a presence in Pakistan. Reference Pakistan Culture. (2009). Retrieved from http://pakistan.saarctourism.org/pakistan-culture.html Read More