Pakistani Canadians

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Pakistani Canadians
Canadiens d'origine pakistanaise (French)
Urdu: پاکستانی کینیڈین
Toronto’s Gerrard St. East, also known as Little Pakistan
Total population
303,260[1] (0.81%)
Regions with significant populations
 Ontario212,650
 Alberta39,535
 Quebec16,645
 British Columbia19,050
Languages
L1: English, French
L2: Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi[2][3]
Religion
Majority:
Sunni Islam
Minority:
Shi'a Islam, Twelvers, Ismaili, Ahmadiyya, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, and Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Pashtun Canadians, Pakistani diaspora, Muslim Canadians

Pakistani Canadian refers to the community in Canada of Pakistani heritage or descent. It can also refer to people who hold dual Pakistani and Canadian citizenship. Categorically, Pakistani Canadians comprise a subgroup of South Asian Canadians which is a further subgroup of Asian Canadians.

Terminology[edit]

There is no official classification of Pakistani Canadians. However, they are usually defined by Asian or South Asian.

History[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2001 74,015—    
2006124,730+68.5%
2011155,310+24.5%
2016215,555+38.8%
2021303,260+40.7%

Punjabi people from the Punjab region that would later become Pakistan were among the pioneers who migrated from British India to British Columbia at the turn of the century. By 1905, as many as 200 participated in the building of that first community from modern-day Pakistan, which for a time had a small makeshift mosque in Vancouver. But most of these immigrants were sojourners rather than settlers, and they either returned to Pakistan in 1947 or moved on to the United States. Subsequently, Canada imposed a ban on South Asian immigration that remained in place until after World War II.[citation needed]

Pakistanis began migrating to Canada in small numbers in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Immigration regulations gave preference to those with advanced education and professional skills, and the Pakistanis who came during this period, and throughout the 1960s, generally had excellent credentials. Many of them considered themselves to be sojourners, who had come to earn but not to settle or were students who intended to return home when their degree programs were completed. While some went back, others remained to become the founding members of the Pakistani-Canadian community.[4]

Pakistani nationals were registered in undergraduate and graduate programs at McGill University in Montreal as early as 1949, and at the University of Toronto from 1958 on. By the mid-1950s, there were five or six Pakistani families living in Montreal in addition to the students. This was probably the then largest concentration of Pakistanis in the country. Throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s most who arrived were young men pursuing graduate or professional studies.[citation needed]

Pakistanis have integrated well into Canadian society, partly due to the Canadian Government's policies and assistance given to all immigrants settling in the country.[5]

Demography[edit]

Religion[edit]

Main article: Islam in Canada

Most Pakistani Canadians are Muslims.[6] Religion figures prominently in the lives of Pakistani Canadian families. The majority of Pakistanis belong to the Sunni sect of Islam;[7] Pakistani Canadians also participate in and contribute to the larger Islamic community, which includes Arab Canadians, Iranian Canadians, Turkish Canadians, and Asian Canadians.[8]

Islamic Pakistani Canadians have played important roles in many organizations, including:

Language[edit]

Most Pakistani Canadians speak English or French. However, many also speak a second or third language, as they often tend to keep hold of their native tongues, which includes Urdu, Punjabi.[17][18]

Geographical distribution[edit]

Provinces[edit]

Provinces With Significant Population of Pakistani Canadians (2001 - 2021)[19][20][21][22][23]
Province 2001 2011 2021
Ontario Ontario 52,830 109,295 212,650
 Alberta 5,450 17,825 39,535
 Quebec 7,990 12,470 16,645
 British Columbia 6,270 9,770 19,050
 Saskatchewan 495 3,195 7,640
 Manitoba 565 1,810 5,030
 Nova Scotia 305 490 1,285

Figures from the 2021 Canadian Census from StatsCan indicate that there are 303,260 Canadians who claim Pakistani ancestry.[24]

Metropolitan Areas[edit]

Metro Regions With Significant Population of Pakistani Canadians (2001 - 2021)[19][20][21][22]
City 2001 2011 2021
Ontario Toronto 43,035 90,610 162,710
Alberta Calgary 3,455 10,450 24,050
Quebec Montreal 7,890 12,220 16,060
British Columbia Vancouver 5,680 8,865 15,765
Alberta Edmonton 1,745 5,480 12,765
Ontario Hamilton 2,055 3,705 8,820
Ontario Ottawa 2,255 3,910 7,885
Ontario Kitchener-Cambridge Waterloo 1,045 3,210 8,015
Saskatchewan Saskatoon 255 1,705 4,150
Manitoba Winnipeg 560 1,590 4,660
Ontario Oshawa 480 1,225 6,965
Saskatchewan Regina 220 1,330 2,940
Ontario London 665 1,010 3,850

Local municipalities[edit]

There were 162,710 Pakistani-Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area per the 2021 Census, making it home to one of the largest Pakistani diaspora communities in North America.[25][26] Per the 2021 Census, there were 41,705 Pakistani-Canadians residing within the actual city of Toronto;[27] the majority of the community is concentrated throughout the suburbs of the GTA.

There are 41,025 Pakistani-Canadians residing in Mississauga per the 2021 Census, comprising 5.76% of the City's population.[28] This is up from 27,345 recorded in the 2011 Census.[29] Urdu is the 2nd most common reported mother tongue after English, and there are 55,765 speakers in Mississauga.[30]

Pakistani-Canadians made up 3.81% of the population of Milton in 2011,[31] per the 2021 census this number has tripled to 12.88%, making it one of the fastest growing Pakistani communities in the nation.[32] Urdu is the 2nd most common reported mother tongue, with 19,830 speakers per the 2021 Census.[33]

There are 10,825 Pakistani Canadians living in Metro Vancouver per the 2016 Census.[34] Most Pakistanis who live in Metro Vancouver reside in areas such as Surrey, which has 5,565 Pakistani Canadian residents per the 2016 Census.[35]

Culture[edit]

Lifestyle and economics[edit]

Many Pakistanis have used an adaptation technique, and are accustomed to a bicultural lifestyle. At home they live as traditional a life as possible. The old values and hierarchical decision-making patterns are generally respected, and traditional clothing, food, decorations, and language provide the warmth and reassurance of the familiar.[36] Pakistani Canadians who are members of the community believe in the symbolic importance of owning homes.[37] Those who came to Canada from Pakistan via East Africa or the Gulf are more likely to be involved in business. A number of Pakistani Canadians are also traders and are primarily involved in exporting and importing goods to and from Pakistan. A number of Pakistani-Canadian businessmen and companies have participated in this development.[37]

An important aspect of Pakistani participation in the Canadian economy has been the increasing number of Pakistani-Canadian women who work outside the home.[38] The experience of Pakistani-Canadian women varies, from educated women with large social and economic freedom, to those separated in the community from traditional gender roles.[38] Still, Pakistanis have shifted towards more freedom for Pakistani-Canadian women, including later marriages, more liberal attire, and greater social and economic freedom.[38]

Young people who were born in Canada or brought as children share a particular set of issues and concerns with their parents and the wider Pakistani-Canadian community. Their perspective regarding adaptation and integration is generally not informed by significant direct experience of the culture and values of the homeland, and, as a result, parents and grandparents take on a mediating role. They have to decide what aspects of their traditional lifestyle and values must be left behind and what can be transferred to and re-established in their new home. Most significantly, they generally assume the responsibility for making these choices for their children as well. The family – even in its truncated form in the diaspora – is both the base for substantial cultural transfer and the source of intergenerational conflict.[38]

Community and media[edit]

The Toronto Pakistan Day Event is a small scale event held on Pakistan Day to celebrate Pakistani culture.[39] A number of Canadian television networks broadcast programming that features Pakistani-Canadian culture. These television shows often highlight Pakistani-Canadian events in Canada, and also show events from Pakistan involving Pakistanis who reside there, for example, The Voice of Pakistan – Vision TV (since 1971).

Relations with Pakistan[edit]

Main article: Canada–Pakistan relations

Pakistan International Airlines serves Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport three times a week non-stop to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and has been one of the most profitable routes in the entire network.[40]

Politics[edit]

Embassy of Pakistan in Ottawa
Main article: High Commission of Pakistan in Ottawa

Canadians of Pakistani origin[edit]

Main article: List of Pakistani Canadians

Wajid Khan and Rahim Jaffer were members of the House of Commons of Canada. Wajid Khan represented the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville district of Ontario as a Conservative Member of Parliament[41] while Rahim Jaffer was a Conservative Member of Parliament for the Edmonton—Strathcona district of Alberta.[42] Currently there are two Pakistani-Canadian women serving in the 42nd Canadian Parliament: Iqra Khalid representing Mississauga-Erin Mills[43] and Salma Zahid representing Scarborough Centre.[44] Both women are Liberal Members of Parliament elected to seats in Ontario. Pakistani Canadians can also be found in the provincial legislatures as well as on municipal councils.

Salma Ataullahjan,[45] a Toronto artist and community activist,[46] was named a Canadian Senator by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on 9 July 2010, and will sit with the Conservative caucus. With this appointment, Ataullahjan became the first Canadian senator of Pakistani Pushtun descent.

Shafiq Qaadri is a family doctor and politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Etobicoke North for the Ontario Liberal Party.[47][48][49]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census Canada [Country] and Canada [Country]".
  2. ^ "Census Stirs Urdu-Punjabi Languages Clash Within Pakistani Community". HuffPost. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Canadian authorities requested to include Urdu, Punjabi Shahmukhi in Canadian census – Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Loss of security alarms Pakistani Canadian". Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2011. Alt URL Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ The Muslim Community in North America. p. 133.
  6. ^ "2014 World Population Data" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  7. ^ The Muslim community in North America. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  8. ^ "96F0030XIE2001015 – Religions in Canada". 2.statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Welcome To Anjuman-E-Burhani (Toronto) Website". torontojamat.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Canadian Islamic Congress -". Canadian Islamic Congress. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  11. ^ "The American Muslim (TAM)". www.theamericanmuslim.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Home – ISNA". ISNA. Archived from the original on 17 October 2004. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  13. ^ canada, Muslim Association of. "MAC – Home". www.macnet.ca. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  14. ^ "The MCC Mission". muslimcanadiancongress.info. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014.
  15. ^ Muslim Student Association of Canada Archived 4 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Ahmadyya Muslim Community "Muslim Canadian Congress". Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  16. ^ "MSA National". MSA National. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Census Stirs Urdu-Punjabi Languages Clash Within Pakistani Community". HuffPost. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Canadian authorities requested to include Urdu, Punjabi Shahmukhi in Canadian census – Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Ethnic Origin (232), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". Statistics Canada. 21 January 2003. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data". Statistics Canada. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  21. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (8 May 2013). "Statistics Canada: 2011 National Household Survey Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  22. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (8 February 2017). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  23. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Canada [Country]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  24. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Canada [Country]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  25. ^ "ASIAN ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED ETHNIC GROUP". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 10 July 2022. the entire states of New York and Texas have 77,352 and 74,712 residents of Pakistani origin respectively, and there are 122,950 just in the GTA alone (see additional source in footnote 8 and table above).
  26. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (8 February 2017). "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Toronto [Census metropolitan area], Ontario and Ontario [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  27. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Toronto, City (C) [Census subdivision], Ontario;Mississauga, City (CY) [Census subdivision], Ontario;Milton [Population centre], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  28. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Toronto, City (C) [Census subdivision], Ontario;Mississauga, City (CY) [Census subdivision], Ontario;Milton [Population centre], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  29. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (8 May 2013). "2011 National Household Survey Profile - Census subdivision". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  30. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Mississauga, City (CY) [Census subdivision], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  31. ^ "NHS Profile, Milton, T, Ontario, 2011". Statistics Canada. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.. Source says 3185 out of 83575 are of Pakistani origin this works out to 3.81%.
  32. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Toronto, City (C) [Census subdivision], Ontario;Mississauga, City (CY) [Census subdivision], Ontario;Milton [Population centre], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  33. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (9 February 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Milton, Town (T) [Census subdivision], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  34. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (8 February 2017). "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Vancouver [Census metropolitan area], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  35. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (8 February 2017). "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Surrey, City [Census subdivision], British Columbia and Greater Vancouver, Regional district [Census division], British Columbia". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  36. ^ Saleem A, Steadman KJ, Fejzic, J (5 August 2020). "Utilisation of Healthcare Services and Medicines by Pakistani Migrants Residing in High Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis". Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 21 (5): 1157–1180. doi:10.1007/s10903-018-0840-4. PMID 30499044. S2CID 53979154.
  37. ^ a b Encyclopedia of Canada's peoples. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  38. ^ a b c d "Community Life and Family and Kinship | Multicultural Canada". Multiculturalcanada.ca. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  39. ^ Canada, Employment and Social Development (14 August 2013). "Minister Kenney issues statement recognizing Pakistan Independence Day". www.canada.ca.
  40. ^ "Pakistan International Airlines – Home". Piac.com.pk. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  41. ^ "Wajid Khan – Mississauga-Streetsville". Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  42. ^ "Rahim Jaffer – Edmonton-Strathcona". Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  43. ^ "Profile – Khalid, Iqra". lop.parl.ca. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  44. ^ "Profile – Zahid, Salma". lop.parl.ca. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  45. ^ "Salma Ataullahjan" Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Toronto Star
  46. ^ "PM appoints new senator before crucial budget vote" Archived 21 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Toronto Star, 9 July 2010
  47. ^ "Etobicoke North: Summary of valid votes cast for each candidate". Elections Ontario. 2 October 2003. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014.
  48. ^ "McGuinty Government Working To Reduce Injury in Ontario". Ottawa: Canada NewsWire. 23 August 2007. p. 1.
  49. ^ "In Brief". South Asian Focus. Brampton, Ontario. 13 December 2011. p. 1.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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