Islam is the state religion of Pakistan. 95% of the population is Muslim. The minority community includes Hindus, Christians, Parsis, Kalash, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jews. The Constitution guarantees equal rights to Muslims and non-Muslims. 

The country has a strong and rich “Sufi” cultural heritage. The Sufi thought embodies religion, values, literature, education, and mysticism that have created an enduring impact on the presence of Islam in South Asia today. Today, there are thousands of Sufi shrines and mausoleums, which dot the landscape of Pakistan.

Shalwar-Kameez is the national dress of Pakistan and is worn by both men and women across the country. Each province has its own style of wearing the Shalwar Kameez accompanied by peculiar head dress and jewellery. Pakistanis wear a wide range of clothes from simple to exquisite colors and designs with different types of fabric (silk, chiffon, cotton, etc). Pakistani fashion is a combination of traditional and modern outfits, and it has become the cultural identification of Pakistan. Despite all modern trends, the regional and traditional dresses have developed their own significance as a symbol of native tradition. This regional fashion is not static but evolving into more modern and pure forms. Besides the national dress, domestically tailored suits and neckties are often and usually worn by men in the country. It is customary in offices, schools, and other popular gatherings.

Pakistan’s fashion has historically evolved in different phases and acquired its unique identity. The fashion industry has flourished well in the changing environment of the fashion world. The Pakistan Fashion Design Council, based in Lahore, organizes Fashion Week, and Fashion Pakistan, based in Karachi, organizes fashion shows in that city. Pakistan’s first fashion week was held in November 2009 and is now a regular feature.

Pottery here is a living history, a traditional craft that became an art, with its origins going back to 3,000 years B.C. Today, each region of Pakistan claims its own special jars and jugs of a variety of colours and patterns. Pottery here is a living history, a traditional craft that became an art, with its origins going back to 3,000 years B.C. Today, each region of Pakistan claims its own special jars and jugs of a variety of colours and patterns. Each of the regions in Pakistan has regional crafts unique to it:

Peshawar and adjoining areas in KPK boast hand-etched copper and brass decorations and housewares with elaborate floral and arabesque patterns. Carved marble fireplaces, tables, decorations, and patterns are well-known. Kashmir has exquisite chain-stitched embroidered fabrics and hand-woven wool shawls.

Lahore has hand-crafted sterling silverware. The cities of Chiniot and Gujrat in Punjab are fabled for their woodwork with copper and iron inlays. The craftsmanship is delicate and exquisite. The thriving industry has attracted many fine woodworkers and wood carvers from all over the country. Multan, in Southern Punjab, specializes in hand-crafted glazed terracotta tiles. Multan has been famous for its tiles for centuries. The table lamps made out of camel skin are a specialty, too. Bahawalpur is famous for elaborately embroidered shoes locally known as Khussas. The province of Balochistan produces fine hand-woven tribal rugs (Kilims). The artisans in the Thar desert and rural Sindh produce Chunarri (a kind of tie-and-dye fabric), Ajraks (elaborately block-printed fabric), and glass bangles.

Pakistan is a land of festivals, which are rooted in the diverse and rich culture of the country. The two biggest festivals are Eid-ul- Azha and Eid-ul-Fitr, which have Islamic significance. Eid al-Adha celebrates the sacrifice of the Prophet Abraham and coincides with the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Spring and harvest seasons are celebrated in the various provinces in their particular tradition. The birthdays of Sufi saints are also celebrated with reverence.

“Lok Virsa”, the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage based in Islamabad, organizes a festival every year, bringing the artisans, artists, and the folk culture from all across Pakistan to one place. The festival is a unique opportunity to witness the diverse folk traditions from across the country, along with seeing the local craftsmen in action and tasting cuisine from across Pakistan.

The variety of Pakistani music ranges from diverse provincial folk music and traditional styles such as Qawwali and Ghazal to modern forms fusing traditional and Western music, such as the synchronisation of Qawwali and Western music by the renowned Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The new trends in music include a sprouting of popular music bands experimenting with the fusion of rock, rap, pop, folk, and classical genres of music.

Until the 1990s, the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation were the dominant media outlets. Following the liberalization of the media in the early 2000s, there are now more than 80 private television channels. Various American, European, and Asian television channels and movies are available to the majority of the Pakistani population via cable and satellite television. There are also small indigenous movie industries based in Lahore and Peshawar (often referred to as Lollywood and Pollywood).

Pakistan has a rich gastronomic culture. Food is prepared with love and is an existential part everyday life. No event is complete without an extensive cuisine. Pakistani cuisine has imbibed various local flavours and tastes and was refined by the royal kitchens of sixteenth-century Mughal emperors.

Pakistan has a large variety of meat dishes compared to the rest of the sub-continent and most of those dishes have their roots in Central Asian, British and Middle Eastern cuisine. Chinese Xinjiang food also has some similarities with meat based Pakistani dishes.

Pakistani cooking uses spices, herbs and seasoning. Garlic, ginger, turmeric, red chilli and garam masala are used in most dishes, and home cooking regularly includes curry.

The staple food includes Chapati (a thin flat bread made from wheat) and rice, served with curry, meat, vegetables, and lentils. Rice is served plain or fried with spices and is also used in sweet dishes. Biryani, haleem, and daal are unique Pakistani dishes that have become popular across the world.

Black tea with milk and sugar is popular throughout Pakistan and is taken daily by most of the population. Lassi is a traditional drink in the Punjab and the rural Sindh region.

Sweets are an essential element of Pakistani culture. No wedding or celebration is complete without the distribution of sweets.