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January 6, 2026

PAKISTAN

Don't forget to enter this month's cultural quiz! Simply answer the question below to be in with a chance of winning a cross-cultural book.

"What is the name of the mountain located in Pakistan that is also the second tallest mountain in the world?"

Send your answers to mail@babelgroup.co.uk

Pakistan is the second most populous country in South Asia, with a relatively large population of over 252 million people. Land is bound to Iran in the West, Afghanistan to the North-West, China to the North, and India to the East with the Arabian Sea forming along its South coast. The Western Himalaya range spreads out in the north through the Kashmir region. The capital city is Islamabad located in the north of Pakistan; however, the most populated city is Karachi in the south, with over 20 million residents and ranked as a beta-global city with its more linguistically, religiously and ethnically diverse population. Both Islamabad and Karachi, as well as the city of Lahore, are popular with expats for their modern infrastructure, international schools and vibrant urban culture.

The land of modern-day Pakistan is home to one of the oldest human civilisations, with the land of the Indus Valley having been inhabited for at least 5,000 years. The country has been influenced by the many empires and cultures it has been home to, most recently by the dissolution of British rule and the Partition of India in the 1947.

Pakistan is linguistically heterogenous, with over 70 languages spoken throughout the country as a first language. Urdu is the sole national language and one of two official languages by law, taught in all schools and used for government, legal, and business matters. English is lingua franca and most Pakistanis living in the major cities will speak English to near fluency. Other major languages found in Pakistan include Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki and Balochi.

Pakistan now has a mixed economy where state-owned enterprises continue to play a significant role alongside a large private sector. Agriculture remains the backbone of economic life, employing a large share of the population. Another defining industry is textiles and garment manufacturing. Furthermore, as Pakistan invests in new infrastructure and energy diversification, the sector continues to influence both economic mobility and regional cooperation. Pakistan’s IT sector has also gained global attention, especially in software development, where young professionals are driving change.

Business Culture in Pakistan

Pakistan is a highly collectivist society where loyalty is given without doubt to family, friends and neighbours. Pakistani business culture places a strong emphasis on hierarchy. The older and more experienced an individual is the more respect is shown to them. Decisions are usually made top-down, meetings may involve open dialogue, but final choices are often made by senior leaders. This structure helps maintain clarity and order, especially in larger organisations. At the same time, younger professionals and startups are adopting more collaborative, fast-paced styles, reflecting global trends.

Relationships lie at the heart of professional life. Trust, respect, and personal rapport often serve as the foundation for successful partnerships. Family-owned businesses and relationship-based professional networks are common, and personal connections may influence hiring and partnerships. Business discussions begin with informal conversation. Hospitality plays an important role as well, and guests are frequently offered tea or refreshments as a gesture of goodwill.

Maintaining social harmony, known locally as “izzat” (honour/respect), has utmost importance in business matters, leading Pakistanis to avoid giving open or direct criticism, instead favouring diplomatic wording. Understanding nonverbal cues, and indirect hints are as important as the words themselves. Decisions may take time, however, once trust is established, business partnerships often become strong, reliable, and long-lasting.

Two key considerations should be made when doing business in Pakistan. Firstly, the cultural diversity of the population. The country’s regional backgrounds and their distinct traditions, shape different communication styles, negotiation approaches, and workplace expectations. Urban centres like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad tend to be more fast-paced and cosmopolitan, while smaller cities and rural areas often hold more tightly to traditional norms. Secondly, be aware of doing business during Ramadan. A country where most people observe a fast from dawn until dusk every day for a month, results in nationwide reduced or modified schedules. Meetings are often preferred early in the day, and evening activities pause until after sunset. Simple gestures, like avoiding lunch meetings or being flexible with deadlines near sunset, build goodwill.

Organisations often operate with a clear chain of command, where senior leaders are expected to provide direction and make final decisions. Respect for authority is deeply embedded in workplace culture, so employees may hesitate to openly challenge a manager’s viewpoint in public settings. At the same time, managers are expected to act as mentors and protectors of their teams. Leadership is often viewed not just as a position of power but as one of guidance, responsibility, and personal involvement.

Pakistanis prefer to draw out conversations and speak in a roundabout way so as to make sure they reach their point delicately. The best way to reach an understanding is to ask open-ended questions, allow the person to reach an answer in their own time and not disrupt the speaker’s response. In negotiations, patience is valuable as business deals may take time, especially when trust is still forming. However, once relationships are established, cooperation often becomes smooth and loyal. For discussions with someone they do not have an established relationship with Pakistanis tend to prefer to conduct it within a group rather than one-to-one.

It is considered rude to make prolonged direct eye contact with someone when talking to them as it signifies arrogance in Pakistani culture. Instead, lower your gaze to remain respectful but remain facing them. As in many Asian cultures there is a distinction in the use of separate hands. The right hand should be used to greet someone, to offer an item, and to eat and drink with, while the left is used for cleaning and removing dirt. Forgetting this rule can cause offence, such as giving a gift with the left hand, as it is perceived as rude and disrespectful. Pakistanis tend not to smile too often at strangers and those with which they are not too familiar. They tend to present a more serious front but will become more open and friendly once a good relationship has been established. It is common in Pakistan for people of the same gender to show platonic physical affection for one another, men may put their arms around each other’s shoulders when conversing. However, it is taboo to show public displays of affection between opposite genders, including between married couples.

The standard greeting in a business setting would be to say “Hello Mr/Ms…” whilst offering a firm handshake with the right hand. For women it is optional to shake hands with men. Dress code in international offices are Western business formal or business casual depending on both the type of industry and the level of importance you hold at the organisation. For both men and women, it’s advised to avoid wearing anything figure hugging, revealing or too flashy.

Elders are always to be treated with the utmost respect, and failure to do so may cause others to respect you less and be less open to doing business with you. Avoid speaking of anything that could be controversial such as politics, religion and regional issues with neighbouring countries. It is normal for personal questions to be asked such as about one’s family and personal matters. Pakistani’s take great pride in their cuisine and are always eager to share it with others, so do not be surprised if you are offered food and drinks regularly. Showing interest and enjoying local cuisine is always a positive step towards building good relations with your Pakistani colleagues.

Inspired? To find out how you can work more effectively with your international colleagues, clients or suppliers, please get in touch for a sample course outline for our cross-cultural workshop or language classes.  All our courses are tailored to suit your needs and are delivered 'live' online and in-company.

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