Islamabad - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Definitely there is religious and ethnic prejudice against various groups but it is a sensitive issue to be discussed. Modern Pakistani women are quite liberated but generally there is no real gender equality. - Oct 2023
Not among elites or the diplomatic community, except for a fair bit of prejudice against Indian-Americans. - Jun 2022
Christian Pakistanis seem to be targeted. - Feb 2019
Many. Pakistan has been ranked as the second worst place in the world to be a woman. Many gender issues crop up even in the US Embassy workplace. As a woman, I've found it especially disturbing to live here (and I've lived in many conservative and Muslim counties before). - Jan 2017
Myriad, but you will face few of these directly as a foreigner. Westerners are generally assumed to be Christian and if you are a non-believer or unaffiliated, it's generally best to keep that to yourself except among friends. - Sep 2016
Religion is a major issue in Pakistan. The worst mistake you could possibly make in this country would be to publicly disrespect/offend Islam, Mohammed or the Quran in any way. Christians are widely respected. Jews are usually tolerated, but avoid raising the issue of Israel/Palestine if you're a staunch zionist). There are lots of other religions, but atheists are definitely NOT welcome in most environments. So if you have no belief, as was my case, it's safer to keep this to yourself. Also, the Sunni majority doesn't always see eye to eye with the Shia minority. In some conservative areas (but not among Pakistanis who usually interact with expats), women tend to be treated with less respect than men, but in Islamabad the gender prejudice is not that strong. It's perfectly safe for a woman to walk alone in public; but it may be uncomfortable, since 90% of people on the streets are men. Women tend to stay at home. There are no big problems with racism. - Sep 2015
Yup. - Aug 2015
yes--lots. Incessant leering even if you dress modestly. Religious violence. - Aug 2015
Of course there are. - Apr 2014
Yes, within the Pakistani community, there are lots of these issues, particularly amongst different levels of Pakistani elites, local men's attitudes towards women, Shia vs. Sunni Muslim tensions, regional rivalries and divisions, etc. - Feb 2014
Conservative Sunnis want to exterminate Shias (20% of the population) but they are a minority; yet the Parliament decided that Ahmadis were not Muslims (which they claim to be) and erased the word "muslim" from the tomb of their only Nobel Prize because he was Ahmadi. On the Gender front, Pakistan rated 3rd to last on the gender index in 2012. Women are still killed in the name of honor (even if they are innocent, just to settle a dispute between men over land for example) and are burned by acid thrown at their face (sometimes by their own family). - Dec 2013
You'll hear about the hatred and violence. And it's there. Pakistan is more of an army with a country, than a coherent nation where patriotic identity trumps tribal, feudal, regional, ethnic, or linguistic identity. Women are not treated well here and the darker the skin tone the more the racism comes out. But when one breaks past surface identities, it’s a whole new story. - Mar 2012
YES, YES and YES! - Aug 2011
I did not notice any as a white male. In Islamabad I heard very few complaints from anyone on this issue with one major exception: If you are Indian in any way shape or form Islamabad will be a bad city for you. Even if you speak Urdu, the locals do not care and the government will harass you. You will be stopped at checkpoints and you will be followed. I would strongly advise anyone of Indian descent to avoid Pakistan in general. - May 2011
Yes. It's Pakistan. My Jewish friends lie about their religion, if asked. While it's not uncommon to see Pakistani women driving in Islamabad, a Western woman is a novelty and will be stared at. I've been harassed at the checkpoints in town. Not too badly, just some rude gestures, but it's annoying nonetheless. - Jan 2010
Pakistan is, like Israel, the only country created since World War II to house a particular religion. There are prejudices against Shi'a Islam, particularly during Ashura, and also against Christianity. - Oct 2009
Women may experience this post differently from men. While Pakistanis are generally extremely warm and hospitable, women are frequently either stared at or ignored when attempting to obtain services. - Oct 2008
