33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

populous nation, poses a threat to regional and international security. However, the country has expanded its economy and begun addressing energy shortages and investing in infrastructure, steps that have begun to boost the economic growth vital to improved stability 9 . CULTURAL TRADITIONS: Family organization is strongly patriarchal, and most people live with large extended families, often in the same house or family compound. The eldest male, whether he is the father, grandfather, or paternal uncle, is the family leader and makes all significant decisions regarding the family and its members. Traditionally, a woman’s place in society has been secondary to that of men, and she has been restricted to the performance of domestic chores and to fulfilling the role of a dutiful wife and mother. However, in the Punjab , cotton picking is exclusively a woman’s job, and women may keep the money thus earned for their own purposes. Endogamy is widely practiced, often to a degree that would be considered inappropriate in Western society; the preferred marriage for a man within many Pakistani communities is with his father’s brother’s daughter . Pakistani clothing styles are similar in many ways to those found in India. The shalwar - kamiz combination — a long knee-length shirt over loose-fitting pants is the most common traditional form of attire. As a more formal overgarment, men wear a knee-length coat; women frequently wear a light shawl. Among conservative Muslim communities, women sometimes wear the burqa, a full-length garment that may or may not cover the face 10 . Festivals play an important part of the culture. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the two main religious festivals. They are celebrated with great happiness throughout the country 11 . The women of Pakistan are regular voters as are the men, and women also are regular attendees at colleges. Islam gives women rights to child custody, to alimony, and to inheritance, and they also have the right to conduct business and enter any profession. Women are engaged in agriculture production and the services sector. Women judges have been appointed to four high courts as well as several lower courts and a 10 percent quota was established for women to become police officers. There are growing numbers of violent crimes against or involving women and the government has introduced the concept of women police stations, which have been opened in Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Abbottabad in the North West Frontier 12 . GENDER RELATIONS: G ender relations in Pakistan rest on two basic perceptions: that women are subordinate to men, and that a man's honour resides in the actions of the women of his family. Thus, as in other orthodox Muslim societies, women are responsible for maintaining the family honour. To ensure that they do not dishonour their families, 9 USIP 2017 10 https://www.britannica.com/place/Pakistan/Daily-life-and-social-customs 11 http://www.sharnoffsglobalviews.com/pakistani-culture-traits-244/ 1 2 http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Pakistan.html