Pakistan

Map courtesy of travel.state.gov

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the world's sixth most populous country. 61% of Pakistan's 180 million people are age 24 or younger and 96% are Muslim. Islam permeates Pakistani culture, politics, and society from the sounds of the calls to prayer to generous hospitality. Pakistani culture is ethnically and linguistically diverse but in general, is formal, hierarchical, and patriarchal. Seniority is valued and respect for elders is a hallmark of relationships.

Many of Pakistan's classical and folk arts are shared with (and sometimes overshadowed by) those of India. And the religious and political tensions and hostilities between these two states have sometimes resulted in culture grabs on both sides. E.g. Qawwali (Sufi devotional music with roots in ancient Persia and popular still in Delhi and other parts of India) is one of Pakistan's best known cultural exports, while kathak dance, previously found throughout the subcontinent, is now sometimes referred to as an Indian classical dance, and rarely practiced in Pakistan.

Pakistanis born since the 1947 partition of the British Raj are creating a vibrant contemporary culture. The contemporary arts scene in Pakistan is dynamic and growing. Experimentation and synthesis (of Pakistani, broader South Asian, other eastern and western forms and expressions) are integral to much of the work being created by visual, literary and performing artists.