Definition

CULTURE:

The system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviours, and artifacts that the members
of society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are transmitted from
generation to generation through learning
Culture consists of the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics common to
the members of a particular group or society. Through culture, people and groups define
themselves, conform to society's shared values, and contribute to society. Thus, culture includes
many societal aspects: language, customs, values, norms, mores, rules, tools, technologies,
products, organizations, and institutions. This latter term institution refers to clusters of rules and
cultural meanings associated with specific social activities. Common institutions are the family,
education, religion, work, and health care.
Popularly speaking, being cultured means being well‐educated, knowledgeable of the
arts, stylish, and well‐mannered. High culture—generally pursued by the upper class—refers to
classical music, theater, fine arts, and other sophisticated pursuits. Members of the upper class
can pursue high art because they have cultural capital, which means the professional credentials,
education, knowledge, and verbal and social skills necessary to attain the “property, power, and
prestige” to “get ahead” socially. Low culture, or popular culture—generally pursued by the
working and middle classes—refers to sports, movies, television sitcoms and soaps, and rock
music. Remember that sociologists define culture differently than they do cultured, high culture,
low culture, and popular culture.
source: https://www.tamu.edu/faculty/choudhury/culture.html

TYPES OF CULTURE (GLOBAL)

Different Cultures of the World

1-AFRICANS:-
African Festivals: In addition to the traditional Muslim festivals like Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-
ul-Adha and other universal festivals like New Year celebration and Christmas, there are several other
festivals in Africa. Many of the African festivals are oriented around the farming and harvesting cycles.
Some of these popular festivals include Kwanzaa, Yam Festival, Adae Kese festival, Festival of Opet,
Homowo, Sed festival and the Osirian festival.

African Tribes: There are a number of African tribes in the African continent. The Afar tribes are
found in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. The Anlo-Ewe tribes were once inhabitants of Notsie,
from where they migrated in 1474 and are currently found in the Southeastern areas of Republic of
Ghana. The Amhara tribes are found in Ethiopia, Ashanti tribes in central Ghana, Bakongo tribes along
the Atlantic coast and the Bambara tribes are located in Mali. The Bemba tribes are located in Zambia,
the Berber tribes in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. The Bobo tribes are found in Western
Burkina Faso and Mali. The Bushmen tribes are located in the Kalahari Desert.
The Chewa tribes are located in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
2-AMERICANS:-
American People: The American society is a blend of native Americans as well as a large
number of immigrants from various countries like Ireland, Germany, Poland, Italy, Latin
America, Asia and Africa. Having gone through a phase of racial discrimination, the United
States of America today recognizes four races in the country - Native American,
African-American, Asian and European American.

American Festivals: In addition to the traditional Christmas, Good Friday and New Year
celebrations, Americans also celebrate various other festivals like Hanukkah, Thanksgiving,
Easter, Halloween, St.Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipper.

3-INDIA

Indian Religions: India is a secular country, which includes a diverse population,

with various religions. Some of the prominent religions followed in India remain
to be Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity.

Indian Art: Indian art essentially goes hand in hand with the cultural history, religion and
fundamental Indian philosophies. The rock carvings, Chola fresco paintings, Madhubani
paintings are some instances of ancient Indian art. Indian Music is also a prominent
element of Indian culture which traditionally includes Carnatic and Hindustani music.

4-Chinese
Chinese culture is known to be one of the four most ancient civilizations of the world.
Therefore, its culture is very vivid and diverse. It also boasts of a very elaborate written history
which holds some of the oldest facts about the richness of Chinese culture. There are many facets
attached to Chinese culture and civilization; such as their medicine, food, marshal art forms.

5-Japanese
Japan's culture is laden with so many elements like Japan's music, costume, dance, attire,
food, and many such things that it becomes imperative to know it, inside out.
Geisha, Samurai, Kimono, are only some of the elements which have drawn
everyone's attention since decades. There are lots which need to be explored.

6-GREEK
When we come across the etymological background of words in many comprehensive
studies, most often we come across those words which have been introduced into the English
dictionary, but their origin is from Greek scriptures. It goes without saying that Greek culture is
rich and vast. It has got immense information which until deeply studied, remains beyond
understanding.

7-Irish
Apart from the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and the Irish Stout, there are many other
things which amount to the emergence of the Irish culture. Irish cuisine is a noted aspect of the
long trails of the struggle that Ireland had to go through in the times of economic downturn. There are
many tales which narrate the importance of potato and kale in Irish cuisine. However, things have
changed immensely with the passage of time.

SOURCE:- http://www.buzzle.com/articles/different-cultures-of-the-world.html
REASON OF CHANGING A CULTURE:-

REASONS FOR CHANGING CULTURE:-

PhysicalEnvironment:
Major changes in the physical environment are very compelling when they happen. The desert
wastes of North Africa were once green and well populated. Climates change, soil erodes and lakes
gradually turn into swamps and finally plains. A culture is greatly affected by such changes although
sometimes they come about so slowly that they are largely unnoticed. Human misuse can bring very
rapid changes in physical environment which in turn change the social and cultural life of a people.
Deforestation brings land erosion and reduces rainfall. Much of the wasteland and desert land of the
world is a testament to human ignorance and misuse.

Population changes:
A population change is itself a social change but also becomes a casual factor in further
social and cultural changes. When a thinly settled frontier fills up with people the hospitality
pattern fades away, secondary group relations multiply, institutional structures grow more
elaborate and many other changes follow. A stable population may be able to resist change but a
rapidly growing population must migrate, improve its productivity or starve. Great historic
migrations and conquests of the Huns, Vikings and many others have arisen from the pressure of
a growing population upon limited resources.

Isolation and Contact:

Societies located at world crossroads have always been centers of change. Since most
new traits come through diffusion, those societies in closest contact with other societies are
likely to change most rapidly. In ancient times of overland transport, the land bridge connecting
Asia, Africa and Europe was the centre of civilizing change. Later sailing vessels shifted the
centre to the fringes of the Mediterranean Sea and still later to the north- west coast of Europe.
Areas of greatest intercultural contact are the centers of change. War and trade have always
brought intercultural contact and today tourism is adding to the contacts between cultures says
Greenwood. Conversely isolated areas are centers of

Social Structure:
The structure of a society affects its rate of change in subtle and not immediately
apparent ways. A society which vests great authority in the very old people as classical China
did for centuries is likely to be conservative and stable. According to Ottenberg a society which
stresses conformity and trains the individual to be highly responsive to the group such as the
Zunis is less receptive to the change than a society like the Ileo who are highly individualistic
and tolerate considerable cultural variability

Attitudes and Values:

To people in developed nations and societies change is normal. Children there are
socialized to anticipate and appreciate change. By contrast the Trobriand Islanders off the
coast of New Guinea had no concept of change and did not even have any words in their
language to express or describe change. Societies differ greatly in their general attitude
toward change. People who revere the past and preoccupied with traditions and rituals will
change slowly and unwillingly. When a culture has been relatively static for a long time the
people are likely to assume that it should remain so indefinitely. They are intensely and
unconsciously ethnocentric; they assume that their customs and techniques are correct and
everlasting.

SOURCE:http://www.tutor2u.net/business/blog/organisational-culture-the-reasons-for-
changes-in-organisational-culture
PAKISTANI CULTURE
Islamic Values:
Pakistani culture is actually a part of the contemporary Islamic civilization which draws
its value and traditions from Islam and rich Islamic history. Majority of population comprises of
Muslims and follows teachings of Islam, i-e., belief in one Allah, Prophethood of Hazrat
Muhammad P.B.U.H, brotherhood, equality and social justice etc. Islam is religion of peace and
patience. Pakistani society is very cooperative. National calendar is marked by religious days
which are observed with great devotion

National and Regional Languages:

Pakistan is a large country which comprises of four provinces, the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA). All of
these component parts have their own regional languages. As such Punjabi, Pashtu, Sindhi,
Balochi, Barohi and Kashmiri are regional languages. However, Urdu is the national language
which is spokin and understood in all parts of the country.

Mixed Culture:
Practically speaking Pakistani culture is a beautiful blend of the Punjabi, Sindhi, Pathan,
Baluchi, Barohi, Seraiki and Kashmiri cultures. In addition, the presence of Hindu community in
Sindh gives touches of dance and music in the Sindhi region. The Hindus sing Bhejas but
Pakistani culture has adopted Qawwali which is a praise of the Holy Propher P.B.U.H.

Rich Literature:
Pakistani culture is rich in the literatures of Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baruhi,
Baluchi and Kashmiri languages. Urdu literature boasts of the masterpieces of Maulana Azad,
Iqbal, Shibli, Hali, Ghalib, Agha Hashar, Manto and Faiz whereas the Punjabi literature stands
out with great names like Waris Shah, Sultan Bahu, Ghulam Farid, Bulhay Shah and Shah
Hussain etc. Similarly, Sindhi literature glitters with the masterpieces of Shah Abdul Latif,
Sachal Sarmast, Shah Qadir Bakhsh, and Faqir Nabi Bakhsh. The Pushto literature also boasts of
names like Sheikh Saleh, Raghoon Khan, Akhund dardeeza, Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman
Baba. The Baluchi literature comprises of masterpieces of Jam Durk, Muhammad Ali, Zahoor
Shah Hashmi, Ghani Parvez, Hasrat Baluch, Abbas Ali Zemi and Aziz Bugti etc.

Variety of Dresses:
Pakistani culture is rich in variety of dresses: The people of Punjab, the Pathans of
NWFP, the Baluchi people and the Sindhis wear their own distinct dresses. These dresses are
very colourful and prominent and give attractive look during national fairs and festivals.

Fairs and Festivals:

The culture of Pakistan has great tradition of Fairs and festivals. These fairs are held in
all parts of the country. Moreover, annual urs of great saints are held to commemorate their
anniversaries. On these occasions, fairs are also held in which people take part in great numbers.
Out of these the Horse and Cattle shows of Lahore, Mianwali and Sibi are famous wheseas the
Polo festival fo Gilgit is prominent at national and international level. Moreover annual urs of
Hazrat Daata Ganj Bakhsh, Madhu Lal Hussain, Baba Bulhay Shah, Baba Farid Gunj Shakar,
Baba Gulu Shah, Pir Jamaat Ali Shah, Abdul Latif Bhitaii, Hazrat Noshah Ganj Bakhsh, Bari
Imam, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, and Bahauddin Zakriya are celebrated with great fervour.
Sports:
Pakistani people are great lovers of sports and games. Modern games like hockey,
cricket, football, badminton, squash, table tennis and lawn tennis are played throughout the
coutnry. In addition wrestling, boxing, and athletics are also very popular among masses.
Pakistan has produced great sportsmen in the past. These include Bholu in Wrestling, Hanif,
Miandad, Imran, Wasim Akram, and Inzamam in cricket, Shehnaz sheikh, Islahuddin, KHalid
mahmood, Akhtar Rasool, and Munir Dar in hockey and Jahangir, Jansher in squash.

Handicrafts:
Pakistan enjoys great distinction in handicrafts at international level. Wooden furniture of
Chiniot, sports goods of Sialkot and embroidery of Multan and Hyderabad is world famous.

Dances

Kathak -classical dance that developed in the royal courts of the Mughals.

Folk dances are still popular in Pakistan and vary according to region such as:

Folk dances of Punjab

1. Bhangra
2. Luddi
3. Sammi

Jhumar - Saraiki, Punjabi and Balochi folk dance

Balochistan

1. Lewa - Balouch folk dance from Makran region

2. Chap - Balouch folk dance performed at weddings
3. Jhumar - Saraiki, Punjabi and Balochi folk dance

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

1. Attan - Folk dance of Pashtu's tribes of Pakistan including the unique styles of Quetta and
Waziristan.
2. Khattak Dance - sword dance of Khattak tribe in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
3. Gumhar and Gatka - Popular dance of hazara division Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
4. Chitrali Dance - Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Sindh

1. Dhammal - Performed at Sufi shrines/ dargahs in Punjab and Sindh

2. Ho Jamalo - Sindhi dance
3. Jhumro

SOURCE:- http://www.diplomatlink.com/intro-pak-culture/
FACTOR PROMOTING CULTURE CHANGE IN PAKISTAN.
Factors promoting pakistani cultures are:-

Literature:-

Think of it as an exotic country with its own sense and style of living. There is the
literary side to Pakistan, where people are being encouraged to speak out and create awareness
about societal issues. Think Lahore-born Mohsin Hamid, author of Moth Smoke (2000) and The
Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007).
Classic Urdu literature from the Mughal era remains a pivotal part of Pakistani literature,
which she shares with her neighbour India.
But as well as a strong literary pedigree, people are learning to be more accepting towards ideas
presented through different forms of media. Young people seem to be the quickest to adopt these
new ideas. Freedom of speech is being encouraged.
There are many festivals being held to promote the growing book reading culture, by which
young literary enthusiasts are getting a taste of South-Asian literature. These literary festivals
have been attended by thousands of young and elderly Pakistanis and have shown great success
so far, of course there is definitely room for improvement!

MEDIA :-

Back in the early days, Pakistan’s only television channel was PTV, now there are
numerous channels that cater to a diverse range of needs, such as current events, entertainment
and sports.
A lot of the popular ones have managed to create a good name outside of the country as
well, such as in Western countries and the Middle East. Some note-worthy examples are Hum
TV and ARY Digital.
Television and media also has a lot of influence. Domestic programs have helped many
expatriates feel connected to their roots. There has been a definite improvement in the quality of
services and content being provided.
Furthermore, Pakistanis are respecting and promoting their own culture. People are
watching more television programs that are made in Pakistan. The rapid growth in popularity of
Pakistani television dramas is a clear example of this. TV actors are treated like Bollywood stars
in Pakistan.
Pakistan has also always been a very musical country. People will find music in every
corner, whether it be in villages or metropolitan areas. The genres range from classical music all
the way to Pakistani pop and rock.
Projects such as Coke Studio have immensely supported musicians like Hadiqa Kiani, Ali
Zafar and Atif Aslam. They have helped to develop and reinvent the image of Pakistani music.
There have been drastic changes in the quality of music being produced. Moreover, it has further
helped people to embrace their own culture.

EDUCATION :-
Pakistan is also beginning to create a better lifestyle for women and for people living in
poverty through the introduction of education. Its progress might be slow, but it is there.
Statistics show the number of female knowledge workers working in Pakistan today is higher
than they have ever been. Many families are giving importance to education before marriage.
Women are getting more say in decisions made regarding their own lives.
 Due to the acceptance of the importance of education; patriotic and wealthy citizens are
contributing in the shape of financial aid, education, medical and social services. Some examples
of organisations include TCF (The Citizens Foundation), Edhi Foundation, SIUT (Sindh Institute
of Urology and Transplantation) and the Indus Hospital.

FASHION:-
There has also been a clear increase in the love for fashion. Especially for Pakistani
women who immediately devour new trends in fashion. Indeed, even a lot of foreign brands have
taken advantage of this. In cities there are larger shopping malls being made. Brands such as
Ego, Generation and Khaadi are just a few of the favorites.
Pakistan’s fashion has been fusing western and eastern styles together, like never seen
before. Women’s styles range from bright to earth colors and from simple to complex styles.
People going towards the textile and fashion industries have bright futures ahead of them.
The number of young designers like Sana Safinaz, Maria B and Zaheer Abbas have
helped revolutionise Pakistani fashion to be contenders on an international scale, and this can be
seen in the number of Pakistan Fashion Week’s taking place across the globe.

INTERNET:
Pakistan is also going through the age of the internet. Many new businesses have used
websites such as Facebook as a stepping-stone. People are finding easier ways to connect with
each other; relatives from different parts of the world can converse like they are sitting right next
to each other! Many young people have access to information that helps them with all aspects of
their education.
This is also helping the youth understand and learn about different cultures. People who
are exposing themselves to such knowledge are steadily able to think in a broader perspective.

SOURCE:- http://www.desiblitz.com/content/cultural-changes-pakistan