British Pakistanis

برطانوی پاکستانی
Distribution by local authority in the 2011 census.
Total population
United Kingdom: 1,662,286 – 2.5% (2021) England: 1,570,285 – 2.8% (2021)[1] Scotland: 72,871 – 1.3% (2022)[2] Wales: 17,534 – 0.6% (2021)[1] Northern Ireland: 1,596 – 0.08% (2021)[3]
Regions with significant populations
London Birmingham Bradford Manchester Kirklees Luton Slough Oldham
Languages
English (British andPakistani) · Urdu · Punjabi[a] · Pashto · Sindhi · Balochi · Brahui · Kashmiri · Khowar · Shina · Balti · others
Religion
MostlyIslam (92.6%) MinorityOthers (2.2%)[b] 2021 census, NI, England and Wales only[4][5]
Related ethnic groups
British Indians British Bangladeshis British Asians Pakistanis Pakistani diaspora Mirpuri diaspora Punjabi diaspora Sindhi diaspora Pashtun diaspora

This article containsUrdu text. Without properrendering support, you may see unjoined letters running left to right or other symbols instead ofUrdu script.

British Pakistanis orPakistani Britons areBritons or residents of theUnited Kingdom with ancestral roots inPakistan. This includes people born in the UK who are of Pakistani descent, Pakistani-born people who have migrated to the UK and those of Pakistani origin from overseas who migrated to the UK.

The UK is home to the largest Pakistani community inEurope, with the population of British Pakistanis exceeding 1.6 million based on the 2021 Census. British Pakistanis are the second-largestethnic minority population in the United Kingdom and also make up the second-largest sub-group ofBritish Asians. In addition, they are one of the largestOverseas Pakistani communities, similar in number to thePakistani diaspora in the UAE.^[6][7]

Due to thehistorical relations between the two countries, immigration to the UK from the region, which is now Pakistan, began in small numbers in the mid-nineteenth century when parts of what is now Pakistan came under theBritish India. People from those regions served as soldiers in theBritish Indian Army and some were deployed to other parts of theBritish Empire. However, it was following theSecond World War and the break-up of the British Empire and theindependence ofPakistan that Pakistani immigration to the United Kingdom increased, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. This was made easier as Pakistan was a member of theCommonwealth.^[8] Pakistani immigrants helped to solve labour shortages in the British steel, textile and engineering industries. TheNational Health Service (NHS) recruited doctors from Pakistan in the 1960s.^[9]

The British Pakistani population has grown from about 10,000 in 1951 to over 1.6 million in 2021.^[10][11] The vast majority of them live inEngland, with a sizable number inScotland and smaller numbers inWales andNorthern Ireland. According to the2021 Census, Pakistanis in England and Wales numbered 1,587,819 or 2.7% of the population.^[12][13] In Northern Ireland, the equivalent figure was 1,596, representing less than 0.1% of the population.^[3] The census in Scotland was delayed for a year and took place in 2022, the equivalent figure was 72,871, representing 1.3% of the population.^[2] The majority of British Pakistanis are Muslim; around 93% of those living inEngland and Wales at the time of the2021 Census stated their religion was Islam.^[14]

Since their settlement, British Pakistanis have had diverse contributions and influences on British society, politics, culture, economy and sport. Whilst social issues include high relative poverty rates among the community according to the 2001 census,^[15] progress has been made in other metrics in recent years, with the 2021 Census showing British Pakistanis as having amongst thehighest levels of homeownership in England and Wales.^[16][17]

The earliest period of Asian migration to Britain has not been ascertained. It is known thatRomani (Gypsy) groups such as theRomanichal andKale arrived in the region during theMiddle Ages, having originated from what is nowNorth India and Pakistan and traveled westward to Europe via Southwest Asia around 1000 CE, intermingling with local populations over several centuries.^[18][19][20]

Immigration from what is now Pakistan to the United Kingdom began long before Pakistan'sindependence in 1947. Muslim immigrants fromKashmir,Punjab,Sindh, theNorth-West Frontier andBalochistan and other parts of South Asia, arrived in theBritish Isles as early as the mid-seventeenth century as employees of theEast India Company, typically aslashkars and sailors in British port cities.^[21][22] These immigrants were often the first Asians to be seen in British port cities and were initially perceived as indolent due to their reliance on Christian charities.^[23] Despite this, some of the early Pakistani immigrants married localwhite British women because there were fewSouth Asian women in Britain.^[24]

During thecolonial era, Asians continued coming to Britain as seamen, traders, students, domestic workers, cricketers, political officials and visitors and some of them settled in the region.^[25] South Asian seamen sometimes settled after ill- treatment or being abandoned by ship masters.^[26][27]

Many early Pakistanis came to the UK as scholars and studied at major British institutions, before later returning to British India. An example of such a person isMuhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah came to the UK in 1892 and began an apprenticeship at Graham's Shipping and Trading Company. After completing his apprenticeship, Jinnah joinedLincoln's Inn, where he trained as a barrister. At 19, he became the youngest person fromSouth Asia to becalled to the bar in Britain.^[28]

Most early Pakistani settlers (then part of theBritish Raj) and their families moved from port towns to theMidlands, as Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, many expatriates mainly hailing from the city ofMirpur worked in munitions factories inBirmingham. After the war, most of these early settlers stayed on in the region and took advantage of an increase in the number of jobs.^[29] These settlers were later joined by their families.^[30]

In 1932, theIndian National Congress survey of 'all Indians outside India' (of which Pakistani regions were then a part) estimated that there were 7,128 Indians in the United Kingdom.^[31]

There were 832,500 Muslim Indian soldiers in 1945; most of these recruits were from what is now Pakistan.^[32] These soldiers fought alongside the British Army during theFirst andSecond World Wars, particularly in the former during theWestern Front and in the latter, during theBattle of France, theNorth African Campaign and theBurma Campaign. Many contributed to the war effort as skilled labourers, including as assembly-line workers in the aircraft factory atCastle Bromwich, Birmingham, which producedSpitfire fighter aircraft.^[32] Most returned to South Asia after their service, although many of these former soldiers returned to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s to fill labour shortages.

Following the Second World War, the break-up of theBritish Empire and the independence of Pakistan, Pakistani immigration to the United Kingdom increased, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. Many Pakistanis came to the UK following the turmoil during the partition of India and Pakistani independence. Among them were those who migrated to Pakistan upon displacement from India and then migrated to the UK; thus becoming secondary migrants.^[33] Migration was made easier as Pakistan was a member of theCommonwealth of Nations.^[8] Employers invited Pakistanis to fill labour shortages which arose in Britain after the Second World War.

As Commonwealth citizens, they were eligible for most British civic rights. They found employment in the textile industries ofLancashire andYorkshire, manufacturing in theWest Midlands and the car production and food processing industries ofLuton andSlough. It was common for Pakistani employees to work on night shifts and other less desirable hours.^[34]

Many expatriates began emigrating from Pakistan after the completion of theMangla Dam inMirpur, Azad Kashmir, in the late-1950s led to the destruction of hundreds of villages. Up to 5,000 people from Mirpur (5% of the displaced)^[35] left for Britain, while others were allotted land in neighbouringPunjab or used monetary compensation to resettle elsewhere in Pakistan.^[33] The British contractor which had built the dam gave the displaced community legal and financial assistance.^[36] Those from unaffected areas of Pakistan, such as the Punjab, also emigrated to the UK to help fill labour shortages. Pakistanis began leaving Pakistan in the 1960s. They worked in the foundries of theEnglish Midlands and a significant number also settled inSouthall, West London.^[37]

During the 1960s, a considerable number of Pakistanis also arrived from urban areas. Many of them were qualified teachers, doctors and engineers.^[34] They had a predisposition to settle in London because of its greater employment opportunities compared to the Midlands or theNorth of England.^[34] Most medical staff from Pakistan were recruited in the 1960s and almost all worked for theNational Health Service.^[38] At the same time, the number of Pakistanis coming over as workers declined.^[33]

In addition, there was astream of migrants fromEast Pakistan (now Bangladesh).^[30][39] During the 1970s, many East African Asians, most of whom already held British passports because they were brought to Africa by British colonialists, entered the UK fromKenya andUganda.Idi Aminexpelled all Ugandan Asians in 1972 because of his Black supremacist views and the perception that they were responsible for the country's economic stagnation.^[40] TheCommonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 andImmigration Act 1971 largely restricted any furtherprimary immigration to the UK, although family members of already-settled immigrants were allowed to join their relatives.^[41]

The early Pakistani workers who entered the UK came intending to work temporarily and eventually returning home. However, this changed into permanent family immigration after the 1962 Act, as well as socio-economic circumstances and the future of their children, which most families saw lay in Britain.^[33]

When the UK experienced deindustrialisation in the 1970s, many British Pakistanis became unemployed. The change from the manufacturing sector to the service sector was difficult for ethnic minorities and working-class White Britons alike; especially for those with little academic education. The Midlands and North of England were areas which were heavily reliant on manufacturing industries and the effects of deindustrialisation continued to be felt in these areas.^[42] As a result, increasing numbers of British Pakistanis resorted to self-employment. National statistics from 2004 showed that one in seven British Pakistani men work as taxi drivers or chauffeurs.^[43] Whilst social issues include high relative poverty rates (55%) among the community according to the 2001 census,^[15] progress has been made in recent years, however British Pakistanis alongsideBritish Bangladeshis are still the most likely ethnicity groups to have the highest rates of poverty.^[44] Despite relatively high levels of home ownership,^[17] 48 per cent of Pakistani households were classified as in poverty after housing costs in the three-year period to 2022/23. The equivalent figure for child poverty in Pakistani households stood at 58 per cent.^[44]

British Pakistanis by region and country

Region /Country	2021[46]		2011[50]		2001[54]		1991[57]
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
West Midlands	319,165	5.36%	227,248	4.06%	154,550	2.93%	98,612	1.91%
North West	303,611	4.09%	189,436	2.69%	116,968	1.74%	77,150	1.15%
Yorkshire and the Humber	296,437	5.41%	225,892	4.28%	146,330	2.95%	94,820	1.96%
Greater London	290,549	3.30%	223,797	2.74%	142,749	1.99%	87,816	1.31%
South East	145,311	1.57%	99,246	1.15%	58,520	0.73%	35,946	0.48%
East of England	99,452	1.57%	66,270	1.13%	38,790	0.72%	24,713	0.49%
East Midlands	71,038	1.46%	48,940	1.08%	27,829	0.67%	17,407	0.44%
North East	27,290	1.03%	19,831	0.76%	14,074	0.56%	9,257	0.36%
South West	17,432	0.31%	11,622	0.22%	6,729	0.14%	3,925	0.09%
England Total	1,570,285	2.78%	1,112,282	2.10%	706,539	1.44%	449,646	0.96%
Scotland	72,871[c]	1.34%	49,381	0.93%	31,793	0.63%	21,192	0.42%
Wales	17,534	0.56%	12,229	0.40%	8,287	0.29%	5,717	0.20%
Northern Ireland	1,596	0.08%	1,091	0.06%	668	0.04%	—N/a	—N/a
United Kingdom	1,662,286	2.48%	1,174,602	1.86%	747,285	1.27%	476,555[d]	0.87%

According to the2021 Census, Pakistanis in England and Wales enumerated 1,587,819 or 2.7% of the population.^[13][12] According to estimates by theOffice for National Statistics, the number of people born in Pakistan living in the UK in 2021 was 456,000, which makes it the third most common country of birth in the UK.^[59]

The ten local authorities with the largest proportion of people who identified as Pakistani were:Pendle (25.59%),Bradford (25.54%),Slough (21.65%),Luton (18.26%),Blackburn with Darwen (17.79%),Birmingham (17.04%),Redbridge (14.18%),Rochdale (13.64%),Oldham (13.55%) andHyndburn (13.16%). In Scotland, the highest proportion was inEast Renfrewshire at 5.25%; in Wales, the highest concentration was inNewport at 3.01%; and in Northern Ireland, the highest concentration was inBelfast at 0.14%.^[60]

The Pakistan government'sMinistry of Overseas Pakistanis estimates that 1.26 million Pakistanis eligible fordual nationality live in the UK, constituting well over half of the total number of Pakistanis in Europe.^[11][61] Up to 250,000 Pakistanis come to the UK each year, for work, to visit or other purposes.^[62] Likewise, up to 270,000 British citizens travel to Pakistan each year, mainly to visit family.^[62][63] Excluding British citizens of Pakistani descent, the number of individuals living in the UK with aPakistani passport was estimated at 188,000 in 2017, making Pakistan the eighth most common non-British nationality in the UK.^[64]

The majority of British Pakistanis originate from theAzad Kashmir andPunjab regions, with a smaller number from other parts of Pakistan includingSindh,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Gilgit-Baltistan andBalochistan.^{[65][66][34][67]}

The cities or districts with the largest communities, by Pakistani ethnicity in the England and Wales 2021 census, are as follows: Birmingham (pop. 195,102), Bradford (139,553), Manchester (65,875),Kirklees (54,795),Redbridge (44,000) and Luton (41,143).^[68]

In the2011 UK Census, 1,174,983 residents classified themselves as ethnically Pakistani (excluding people ofmixed ethnicity), regardless of their birthplace; 1,112,212 of them lived in England.^[10] This represented an increase of 427,000 over the 747,285 residents recorded in the2001 UK Census.^[69]

DemographerCeri Peach has estimated the number of British Pakistanis in the 1951 to 1991 censuses. He back-projected the ethnic composition of the 2001 census to the estimated minority populations during previous census years. The results are as follows:

At the time of the 2021 Census, the local authorities with the largest proportion of British Pakistanis werePendle (25.59%),Bradford (25.54%),Slough (21.65%),Luton (18.26%) andBlackburn with Darwen (17.79%). The distribution of people describing their ethnicity as Pakistani in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was as follows:^[60][3][2]

Greater London has the largest Pakistani community in the United Kingdom. The 2021 Census recorded 290,549 Pakistanis living in London.^[60] However, it only forms 3.3% of London's population, which is significantly lower than other British cities. The population is very diverse, with comparable numbers ofPunjabis,Pashtuns andMuhajirs, and smaller communities ofSindhis andBalochs.^[65][6] This mix makes the Pakistani community of London more diverse than other UK communities, whereas a high proportion of Pakistani communities inNorthern England came fromAzad Kashmir.^[34]

The largest concentrations are inEast London, especially inRedbridge,Waltham Forest,Newham andBarking and Dagenham. Significant communities can also be found in the boroughs ofEaling,Hounslow, andHillingdon inWest London andMerton,Wandsworth andCroydon inSouth London.^[73]

Birmingham has the second-largest Pakistani community in the United Kingdom. The 2021 Census recorded that there were 195,102 Pakistanis living in Birmingham, making up 17% of the city's total population.^[60]

The largest concentrations are inSparkhill,Alum Rock,Small Heath andSparkbrook.^[74]

Bradford has the third-largest Pakistani community in the United Kingdom. The 2021 Census recorded 139,553 Pakistanis, making up 25.5% of the city's total population.^[60]

The largest concentrations are inManningham,Toller,Bradford Moor,Heaton,Little Horton andKeighley.^[73]

Manchester has the fourth-largest Pakistani community in the United Kingdom. The 2021 Census recorded 65,875 Pakistanis, making up 11.9% of the city's total population.^[60]

The largest concentrations are inLongsight,Cheetham Hill,Rusholme andCrumpsall.^[73]

In the wider area ofGreater Manchester, there were 209,061 Pakistanis, making up 7.3% of the population. The towns ofOldham andRochdale have significant Pakistani populations, at 13.5% and 13.6% respectively.^[60]

A significant number of Manchester-based Pakistani business families have moved down theA34 road to live in the affluentHeald Green area.^[75] The late ProfessorPnina Werbner associated the suburban movement of Pakistani-origin Muslims in Manchester with the formation of "gilded ghettoes" in the sought-after commuter suburbs ofCheshire.^[37]

The 2021 Census recorded 41,143 Pakistanis in Luton, making up 18.3% of the total population.^[60]

The largest concentrations are inBury Park,Dallow andChallney.^[73]

The 2022 Census recorded 30,912 Pakistanis in Glasgow, making up 4.98% of the city's total population.

There are large Pakistani communities throughout the city, notably in thePollokshields area of South Glasgow, where there are said to be some 'high standard' Pakistani takeaways and Asian fabric shops.^[76]

Pakistanis also make up the largest 'visible' ethnic minority inScotland, representing nearly one-third of the non-White ethnic minority population.^[77]

Most British Pakistanis speak English, and those who were born in the UK considerBritish English to be their first language. First-generation and recent immigrants speakPakistani English.Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, is understood and spoken by many British Pakistanis at a native level, and is the fourth-mostcommonly spoken language in the UK.^[78][79] Some secondary schools andcolleges teach Urdu forGCSEs andA Levels.^[80]Madrassas also offer it.^[81][82] According to Sajid Mansoor Qaisrani, Urdu language periodicals of the 1990s published in UK used to focus exclusively on South Asian issues, with no relevance to British society.^[83] Coverage of local British issues and problems of local Pakistanis in the UK used to be sparse.^[83] Beyond Pakistani youth's interest in identifying with their ethnicity and religious identity, Urdu was of little use to them in finding suitable employment opportunities.^[83]

The majority of Pakistanis in Britain are from Azad Kashmir and the neighbouringPothohar Plateau in Northern Punjab who speakPahari-Pothwari as their mother tongue. Due to thisPahari-Pothwari is the second most spoken mother tongue in the UK, even surpassing Welsh.^[84]

As a large proportion of Pakistanis in Britain are from Punjab,Punjabi is commonly spoken amongst Pakistanis in Britain. Other Punjabi dialects are spoken in Britain, making Punjabi the third-most commonly spoken language.^[78][85]

Other significant Pakistani languages spoken includePashto,Saraiki,Sindhi,Balochi and a minority ofothers. These languages are not only spoken by British Pakistanis, but by other groups such asBritish Indians,British Afghans orBritish Iranians.^[86]

Many British Pakistanis have emigrated from the UK, establishing a diaspora of their own. There are around 80,000Britons in Pakistan,^[87][88] a substantial number of whom are British Pakistanis who have resettled in Pakistan. The town ofMirpur in Azad Kashmir, where the majority of British Pakistanis hail from, has a large expatriate population of resettled British Pakistanis and is dubbed "Little England".^[89][90][91]

Other British Pakistanis have migrated elsewhere to Europe, North America, Western Asia and Australia.Dubai, in theUAE, remains a popular destination for British Pakistani expatriates to live although there is no minimum wage and few anti-racism groups.^[92]

Pakistanis in Hong Kong were given full British citizenship in 1997 during thehandover of Hong Kong, when it ceased being a British colony to prevent them being made stateless.^[93] Previously, as Hong Kong residents, they held the status ofBritish Overseas Territories citizens.^[94][95]

Over 90% of Pakistanis in the UK are Muslims. The largest proportion of these belong to theSunni branch of Islam, mainlyDeobandi (of theTablighi Jamaat) and SunniBarelvi, with a significant minority belonging to theShia branch.^[65]

Mosques, community centres and religious youth organisations play an integral part in British Pakistani social life.^[96]

Religion	England and Wales
	2011[97]		2021[98]
	Number	%	Number	%
Islam	1,028,459	91.46%	1,470,775	92.63%
No religion	12,041	1.07%	18,533	1.17%
Christianity	17,118	1.52%	12,327	0.78%
Hinduism	3,879	0.34%	1,407	0.09%
Sikhism	3,283	0.29%	590	0.04%
Judaism	440	0.04%	264	0.02%
Buddhism	700	0.06%	230	0.01%
Other religions	588	0.05%	1,005	0.06%
Not Stated	58,003	5.16%	82,691	5.21%
Total	1,124,511	100%	1,587,822	100%

British Pakistanis maintain a range of cultural, religious and commercial practices shaped by both Pakistani heritage and British urban life. Public celebrations commonly includePakistan Independence Day (14 August), alongside the Islamic month ofRamadan and the festivals ofEid al-Fitr andEid al-Adha.^[99]

Large outdoor festivals and melas (community festivals) form a visible part of British Pakistani and wider British South Asian cultural life in several cities. The Birmingham and Sandwell Mela has been reported as attracting tens of thousands of visitors, with reporting noting about 45,000 visitors in 2011 and more than 120,000 visitors in 2015; a later case study described the event as drawing over 60,000 visitors in 2023.^[100][101] The Bradford Mela has been described as attracting crowds exceeding 100,000 in its peak years.^[102] Manchester’s Mega Mela has been described as drawing audiences in excess of 70,000.^[103] In London, Eid in the Square in Trafalgar Square has been described by the Greater London Authority as welcoming more than 20,000 people.^[104]

British Pakistani commercial life is often associated with distinctive high streets and retail clusters, including areas known for South Asian food, fashion and jewellery. InNewham,London, Green Street hosts the East Shopping Centre, described in press coverage as a “boutique Asian shopping centre”.^[105]

Across several UK cities, British Pakistanis have contributed to identifiable “late-night” food streets, dessert cafés and chai venues. Manchester’s “Curry Mile” on Wilmslow Road (Rusholme) is widely associated with the city’s evening economy and a dense concentration of South Asian restaurants and related businesses.^[106] In Bradford, Leeds Road (BD3) has been promoted as a food-and-drink corridor containing restaurants, cafés, dessert parlours and takeaways, including chai venues.^[107] In Birmingham, Ladypool Road and surrounding streets are strongly associated with balti restaurants and related dining culture in the area commonly referred to as the “Balti Triangle”.^[108] Other well-known South Asian commercial streets include Alum Rock Road in east Birmingham, noted for its concentration of Asian shops and restaurants.^[109] In Luton, Dunstable Road (Bury Park) is promoted as a “bustling shopping quarter” where visitors engage with South Asian culture through independent shops and food venues.^[110] Similar clusters of Pakistani and South Asian restaurants, dessert cafés and retail outlets are also found on high streets in towns with large British Pakistani populations, including Luton, Slough, High Wycombe, Pendle, Blackburn, Rochdale and Oldham.

A recent example of youth-oriented evening socialising has been described in Birmingham around “A38 Last Exit”, a drive-in food court concept linked in reporting to alcohol-free late-night social spaces with mobile food vendors and café culture.^[111][112]

• 
  Night-time view of the Curry Mile on Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, Manchester, a major South Asian restaurant corridor.
• 
  Sanam restaurant on Leeds Road, Bradford, part of a South Asian dining and retail corridor.
• 
  Shops and restaurants on Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, associated with the Balti Triangle area.

British Pakistani cuisine forms a major part of the wider British South Asian food sector and the UK restaurant economy. A widely cited estimate (often attributed to Food Standards Agency factfiles in secondary reporting) placed the UK South Asian “curry” eating-out sector at around£3.2 billion annually and serving about2.5 million customers each week.^[113][114]

Birmingham is strongly associated with the development of “balti” as a style of curry, and the city’s Balti Triangle has been promoted as a culinary destination linked to this tradition.^[115] The UK government has described “Birmingham balti” as the first curry in Europe to apply for protected name status under the Protected Food Name scheme.^[116][117]

Chicken tikka masala is widely regarded as an Indo-British dish and has long been among the most popular curry dishes in the United Kingdom. Its precise origin is disputed; however, it is widely attributed in press and culinary accounts toAli Ahmed Aslam, a Pakistani-born chef and restaurateur in Glasgow, who is said to have created the dish at his Shish Mahal restaurant in the 1970s by adding a spiced tomato-cream sauce to chicken tikka to suit local customer preferences. A campaign reported in 2009 sought European protected-status recognition for a Glasgow origin claim, although alternative origin stories continue to be cited in food history sources.^[118][119]

The expansion of the British Empire led tocricket being played overseas.^[120][121]Aftab Habib,Usman Afzaal,Kabir Ali,Owais Shah,Sajid Mahmood,Adil Rashid,Amjad Khan,Ajmal Shahzad,Moeen Ali,Zafar Ansari,Saqib Mahmood,Rehan Ahmed andShoaib Bashir are Pakistani-origin sportspeople who have played cricket forEngland.^[122][123] Similarly,Asim Butt,Omer Hussain,Majid Haq,Qasim Sheikh andMoneeb Iqbal have representedScotland.Imad Wasim became the first Welsh-born cricketer to represent Pakistan.^[124][125] A number of former Pakistani cricketers have pursued professional cricket in England, and in the course of doing so, attained British citizenship or residency; they includeAzhar Mahmood,^[126]Mohammad Akram,Mushtaq Ahmed,^[127]Saqlain Mushtaq,^[128]Junaid Khan,^[129]Zafar Gohar,^[130] andMohammad Amir.^[131] There are several other British Pakistanis, as well as cricketers from Pakistan, who play Englishcounty cricket.^[132][133]

Many young British Pakistanis find it difficult to make their way to the highest level of playing for England, despite much talent around the country. Many concerns about this have been documented although the number of British Pakistanis making progress in representing England is on the rise.^[134]

ThePakistan national cricket team enjoys a substantial following among British Pakistanis, with the level of support translating to the equivalent of ahome advantage whenever the team tours the UK. The "Stani Army" is a group consisting of British Pakistanis who follow the team, especially when they play in the UK. The Stani Army is seen as the "rival" fan club to India's "Bharat Army".^{[135][136][137][138][139]} England and Pakistan share a long cricketing relationship, often characterised by rivalries.^[140][141]

Football is also widely followed and played by many young British Pakistanis.Masood Fakhri was the first player fromSouth Asia to play in England, where he played forBradford City before retiring.^[142] Many players on thePakistan national football team are British-born Pakistanis who became eligible to represent the country because of their Pakistani heritage.Zesh Rehman played briefly forFulham, becoming the first British Asian to play in thePremier League, before also playing for the English youth national teams until eventually opting for Pakistan.^[143]Easah Suliman became the first player of Asian heritage to captain an England football side, having done so at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 levels,^[144] until eventually opting for Pakistan at senior level.^[145][146] Suliman played every game at centre back in theEngland Under-19s victoriousUEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign in July 2017, scoring the opening goal in England's 2–1 final victory overPortugal.^[147]

Zidane Iqbal made his first-team debut forManchester United on 8 December 2021 as an 89th-minute substitute in aChampions League match againstYoung Boys.^[148] Thus, he became the first British-born South Asian to play for the senior club, and the first ever British South Asian to play in theChampions League.^[149][150]

Other notable British Pakistani footballers includeAdnan Ahmed,Atif Bashir,Otis Khan,Adil Nabi,Rahis Nabi andHarun Hamid.

Boxing is commonly practised among British Pakistanis.Amir Khan is regarded as one of the most successful British boxers of all time, and is credited with popularising boxing amongst British Pakistanis, as well as inspiring South Asian involvement in all aspects of British boxing.^{[151][152][153]}

Usman Ahmed,Jawaid Khaliq,Kash Farooq,Adam Azim,Hamzah Sheeraz andShabaz Masoud are other notable British Pakistani boxers.^[154][155]

Hockey andpolo are commonly played in Pakistan, with the former being a national sport, but these sports are not as popular among British Pakistanis, possibly because of the urban lifestyles which the majority of them embrace.Imran Sherwani was a hockey player of Pakistani descent who played for the English and Great Britain national field hockey teams.^[156]

Adam Khan is a race car driver fromBridlington, Yorkshire. He represents Pakistan in theA1 Grand Prix series. Khan is currently the demonstration driver for theRenault F1 racing team.^[157]Ikram Butt was the first South Asian to play international rugby for England in 1995.^[158] He is the founder of theBritish Asian Rugby Association and the British Pakistani rugby league team, and has also captainedPakistan. He is the currentWBA Worldlight welterweight champion and2004 Summer Olympics silver medalist.^[159]Matthew Syed was a table tennis international, and the English number one for many years.^[160]Lianna Swan is a swimmer who has represented Pakistan in several events.^[161]

A number of British Pakistani writers are notable in the field of literature. They includeTariq Ali,Kamila Shamsie,Nadeem Aslam,Mohsin Hamid and others.^[162]

Through their publications, diaspora writers have developed a body of work that has come to be known asPakistani English literature.^[163]

A report of a study conducted by TheUniversity of Essex found British Pakistanis identify with 'Britishness' more than any other Britons. The study is one of several recent studies that have found that Pakistanis in Britain express a strong sense of belonging in Britain. The report showed that 90% of Pakistanis feel a strong sense of belonging in Britain compared to 84% of white Britons.^[164]

English Pakistanis tend to identify much more with the United Kingdom than with England, with 63% describing themselves in aPolicy Exchange survey as exclusively "British" and not "English" in terms of nationality, and only 15% saying they were solely English.^[165]

Around 70% of all British Pakistanis trace their origins to the administrative territory ofAzad Kashmir in northeastern Pakistan, mainly from theMirpur,Kotli andBhimber districts.^[166][167]

Christopher Snedden writes that most of the native residents of Azad Kashmir are not ofKashmiri ethnicity; rather, they could be called "Jammuites" due to their historical and cultural links with that region, which is coterminous with neighbouringPunjab andHazara.^[168][169] Because their region was formerly a part of theprincely state of Jammu and Kashmir and is named after it, many Azad Kashmiris have adopted the "Kashmiri" identity, whereas in an ethnolinguistic context, the term "Kashmiri" would ordinarily refer to natives of theKashmir Valley region.^[170] The population of Azad Kashmir has strong historical, cultural and linguistic affinities with the neighbouring populations of upperPunjab andPotohar region of Pakistan.^[171][172]

The first generation migrant from Azad Kashmir were not highly educated, and being from rural settlements, had little or no experience of urban living in Pakistan.^[7] Migration fromJammu and Kashmir began soon after theSecond World War as the majority of the male population of this area and thePotohar region worked in the British armed forces, as well as to fill labour shortages in industry. But the mass migration phenomenon accelerated in the 1960s, when, to improve the supply of water, theMangla Dam project was built in the area, flooding the surrounding farmlands. Up to 50,000 people from Mirpur (5% of the displaced) resettled in Britain. More Azad Kashmiris joined their relatives in Britain after benefiting from government compensation and liberal migration policies. Large Azad Kashmiri communities can be found inBirmingham,Bradford,Manchester,Leeds,Luton and the surrounding towns.^[173]

The Azad Kashmiri expatriate community has made notable progress in UK politics and a sizeable number of MPs,councillors, lord mayors and deputy mayors are representing the community in different constituencies.^[174]

Punjabis make up the second-largest sub-group of British Pakistanis, estimated to make up to a third of all British Pakistanis.^[175] With an equally large number fromIndian Punjab, two-thirds of all British Asians are ofPunjabi descent, and they are the largest Punjabi community outside of South Asia,^[175] resulting in Punjabi being the third-most commonly spoken language in the UK.^[78][85]

People who came from the Punjab area integrated much more easily into theBritish society as early Punjabi immigrants to Britain tended to have higher education credentials and found it easier to assimilate because many already had a basic knowledge of the English language (primarilyPakistani English).^[37] Research byTeesside University has found the British Punjabi community of late has become one of the most highly educated and economicallysuccessful ethnic minorities in the UK.^[176]

Most Pakistani Punjabis living in the UK trace their roots to villages of thePothohar region (Jhelum,Gujar Khan,Attock) of northern Punjab, along with villages in the Central Punjab (Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Gujrat, and Sargodha) region, while more recent immigrants have also arrived from large cities such asLahore andMultan.^[7][177] British Punjabis are commonly found in the south of England, the Midlands, and the major cities in the north (with smaller minorities in formermill towns in Lancashire and Yorkshire).^[178]

PakistaniPashtuns in the United Kingdom mainly originate from the provinces ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa and northernBalochistan in Pakistan, though there are also smaller communities from other parts of Pakistan, such asPashtuns of Punjab fromAttock.^[36] There are several estimates of the Pashtun population in the UK.Ethnologue estimates that there are up to 87,000 nativePashto-speakers in the UK; this figure also includes Afghan immigrants belonging to the Pashtun ethnicity.^[179] Another report shows that there are over 100,000 Pashtuns in Britain, making them the largest Pashtun community in Europe.^[180]

Major Pashtun settlement in the United Kingdom can be dated over the course of the past five decades. There is a British Pashtun Council which has been formed by the Pashtun community in the UK.

British Pashtuns have continued to maintain ties with Pakistan over the years, taking keen interest in political and socioeconomic developments in Pakistan.^[180]

There are over 30,000Sindhis in Britain.^[181][86]

There is a smallBaloch community in the UK, originating from theBalochistan province of southwestern Pakistan and neighbouring regions.^[182] There are many Baloch associations and groups active in the UK, including the Baloch Students and Youth Association (BSYA),^[183][184] Baloch Cultural Society, Baloch Human Rights Council (UK) and others.^[185]

Some Baloch political leaders and workers are based in the UK, where they found exile.^{[186][187][188][189]}

There is also a significant albeit smaller communityMuhajirs in the UK.^[182] Muhajirs originally migrated from present-day India to Pakistan following thepartition of British India in 1947. Most of them settled in Pakistan's largest cityKarachi, where they form the demographic majority. Many Muhajir Pakistanis later migrated to Britain, effecting a secondary migration.^[33]

Altaf Hussain, leader of theMuttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)—the largest political party in Karachi, with its roots lying in the Muhajir community—has been based in England in self-imposed exile since 1992. He is controversially regarded to have virtually "ruled" and "remotely governed" Karachi from his residence in the north London suburb ofEdgware.^[190][191] Another notable includes the 2016 Mayor of LondonSadiq Khan, who is of Muhajir origin.^[192]

There is also a PakistaniHazara community in the UK, concentrated particularly inMilton Keynes, northeastern London, Southampton and Birmingham. They migrated to the UK fromQuetta and its surroundings, which is historically home to the large Hazara population in Pakistan.^{[193][194][195]}

British Pakistanis show distinctive health patterns compared with the general UK population, reflecting demographic structure, socioeconomic conditions, and South Asian–associated disease risk profiles. Large UK cohort, registry, and genomic studies conducted since the 2010s have expanded the evidence base on health outcomes in this population.

Several large UK research programmes include substantial British Pakistani participation.Genes & Health is a community-based genomic and health study of British Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage populations, with over 100,000 volunteers whose genetic data are linked to NHS health records. Publications from the programme report elevated levels of autozygosity and identify recessive genetic contributions to both rare disorders and common diseases, with implications for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and inherited conditions.^[196]

TheBorn in Bradford longitudinal cohort studies have followed tens of thousands of children and families and have produced widely cited research on congenital anomalies, child health, diabetes risk, and changing marriage patterns among Pakistani-heritage families. Cohort analyses report measurable declines in parental cousin marriage across successive birth cohorts and identify both genetic and socioeconomic factors associated with health outcomes.^[197]

Health Survey for England ethnicity analyses report that people of Pakistani ethnicity have among the highest prevalence of diagnosed type 2 diabetes in England after age standardisation.^[198] Studies also report earlier average age of onset compared with the White British population.

Medical literature attributes elevated diabetes risk in South Asian populations to a combination of genetic susceptibility, adiposity patterns, and early-life influences. Reviews describe developmental origins mechanisms — sometimes termed the “thrifty phenotype” hypothesis — in which fetal and early-childhood undernutrition is associated with higher later-life metabolic disease risk.^[199]

Large cardiovascular datasets in England report higher coronary heart disease diagnosis rates and earlier onset among Pakistani and other South Asian groups compared with the White British population.^[200]

Cancer incidence varies by ethnicity and age structure. Because the British Pakistani population is younger on average than the White British population, crude overall cancer incidence rates are lower. Registry-based studies of South Asian populations in England report lower rates of several smoking-related cancers and differing patterns in some gastrointestinal and liver cancers.^[201]

Screening programme data have reported lower participation in some cancer screening programmes — including breast, cervical, and bowel screening — among certain South Asian groups, including Pakistani communities, with disparities associated with language, access, and deprivation. NHS programmes have introduced targeted outreach approaches to improve uptake.^[202]

UK disability prevalence increases substantially with age.^[203] Because the British Pakistani population has a younger age distribution than the White British population, direct comparison of crude all-age disability rates is affected by demographic structure.

UK child cohort and education-linked studies report that Pakistani-heritage children are not consistently overrepresented in special educational needs and disability (SEND/SEN) categories after adjustment for socioeconomic factors. Some cohort analyses report similar or lower recorded rates compared with White British children in the same study populations.^[204]

Consanguineous marriage (marriage between biological relatives, most commonly first cousins) occurs in parts of the British Pakistani community, with substantial regional variation. Settlement studies show that Pakistani populations are geographically concentrated, and patterns observed in specific cities are not necessarily representative nationally.^[205]

Bradford cohort research reports declining prevalence of first-cousin parentage across successive birth cohorts, with unrelated parents forming a growing majority in more recent cohorts.^[206] Qualitative studies in the same population describe changing attitudes among younger and UK-born participants regarding marriage within kinship networks.^[207]

Medical cohort studies report that first-cousin parentage is associated with increased relative risk of autosomal recessive disorders and congenital anomalies, while also noting that absolute risk remains low and is modified by factors such as maternal education and access to healthcare.^[208]

UK sexual health surveillance reports that diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates vary primarily by age, deprivation, and behavioural factors. National surveillance summaries generally report lower recorded STI diagnosis rates among South Asian ethnic groups, including Pakistani populations, compared with the White British population, while cautioning that testing patterns and healthcare access influence recorded rates.^[209]

Data from the2021 Census shows that 33% of British Pakistanis in England and Wales hold degree level qualifications, compared to 31% of White British people. This has increased since 1991, when the figures for both groups holding a degree were 7% and 13%, respectively.^{[210][211][212]}

25% of British Pakistanis in England and Wales did not have qualifications, compared to 18% of White British people, making them of one of the least qualified major groups.^{[211][213][212]}

According toDepartment for Education statistics for the 2024–25 academic year, educational attainment among pupils of Pakistani ethnicity in England shows a mixed profile across GCSE and A-level measures, with comparatively strong performance at Key Stage 4 and lower outcomes on top-grade A-level indicators.^[214][215]

At GCSE level (Key Stage 4), Pakistani pupils performed slightly above the national average and ahead of White British pupils on headline attainment measures. Pakistani pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 46.5, compared with a national average of 46.0 and 44.4 among White British pupils.^[214] In core subject attainment, 45.1% of Pakistani pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics, broadly in line with the national average of 45.4% and higher than the 43% recorded for White British pupils. Among pupils eligible for free school meals, 36% of Pakistani pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics — around 10 percentage points above the national FSM average and approximately 17 percentage points higher than FSM-eligible White British pupils.^[214]

At A level, attainment for Pakistani students was below both the national and White British averages on higher-grade measures. Pakistani students recorded an average points score per A-level entry of 32.0, compared with 35.9 nationally and 35.2 among White British students.^[215] 83.1% of Pakistani candidates achieved at least two A levels, compared with 86.2% nationally and 84.7% among White British students. At the highest attainment threshold, 10.6% of Pakistani students achieved three A*–A grades, compared with 17.0% nationally and 14.3% among White British students.^[215]

In 2023, a British Pakistani girl achieved a record 34 GCSE qualifications. In addition, her IQ was registered at 161, which put her ahead ofAlbert Einstein^[216]

SeveralMuslim schools also cater to British Pakistani pupils.^[217][218]

There are 97,000 UK-domiciled British Pakistani students in the 2024–25 academic year, this represents 4.5% of all UK-domiciled students.^[222] In 2017, approximately 16,480 British Pakistani students were admitted to university, almost a two-fold increase from 8,460 in 2006.^[223]

In 2021, 58.4% of British Pakistanis chose to continue their studies at the university level. This was a higher rate than average nationally (44%), and higher than the rate for White British (39%).^[224]

Science and mathematics are the most popular subjects at A-Level and degree level among the youngest generation of British Pakistanis, as they begin to establish themselves within the field.^[225]

In addition, there are over 10,000Pakistani international students who enrol and study at British universities and educational institutions each year.^[62][226] There are numerous student and cultural associations formed by Pakistani pupils studying at British universities.

Urdu courses are available in the UK and can be studied at GCSE and A-Level.^[80][227] Urdu degrees are offered by several British universities and institutes, while several others are also hoping to offer courses in Urdu, open to established speakers as well as beginners, in the future.^{[228][229][230][231]}

The Punjabi language is also offered at GCSE and A-Level,^[232] and taught as a course by two universities:SOAS, University of London (SOAS)^[233] andKing's College London.^[234] Pashto is presently taught at SOAS and King's College London as well.^[235]

British Pakistanis participate in the UK economy through paid employment, self-employment, small business ownership and professional occupations. Labour market outcomes vary by region, age profile and household composition. Official statistics show lower overall employment rates and higher economic inactivity than the UK average, alongside comparatively high rates of self-employment and entrepreneurship.^[236] Household income surveys show greater concentration in lower income bands and higher measured poverty rates, partly associated with larger average household sizes and lower rates of dual-earner households.^[237][238]

At the same time, major government housing surveys and Census-based reporting show that Pakistani home-ownership rates typically fall in the low-to-mid 60% range, clustering around roughly six in ten households depending on the dataset, year and geography.^{[239][240][237]} Qualitative and academic research documents collective and informal financial practices in some British Pakistani communities—including rotating savings schemes (kameti/committee savings), interest-free family lending and other informal support networks—used to support home purchase, business formation and household resilience.^[241][242]

House of Commons Library analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) labour market data reports that around 60% of people of Pakistani ethnicity aged 16–64 are in employment, with employment rates differing by gender (approximately 71% for men and 47% for women). The same analysis reports that around 66.8% of working-age Pakistanis are economically active (about 608,000 people), while 33.2% (about 303,000) are economically inactive; economic inactivity is higher among women, with roughly 46% of working-age Pakistani women recorded as inactive. The number of unemployed people of Pakistani ethnicity aged 16–64 is around 72,000.^[236]

Census 2021 data for England and Wales reported an unemployment rate of 9.8% for people of Pakistani ethnicity aged 16 and over, and an economic inactivity rate of 40.8% for ages 16–64; Census-based estimates are derived from much larger population counts but are less up to date than survey estimates.^[236]

ONS Census 2021 occupation data for England and Wales show that UK-born British Pakistanis are strongly represented in higher-skill jobs. In the core working ages (25–49), around half of UK-born Pakistanis are employed in the top occupational groups (managers, professionals, and associate professional/technical roles), a profile that is broadly comparable to the UK-born White British average in the same age bands and higher than the British Pakistani population overall (which includes a larger foreign-born share).^{[243][244][245]}

Self-employment rates are higher than the UK average among Pakistani-origin workers. ONS Annual Population Survey-based analysis cited by the House of Commons Library indicates that the combined Pakistani and Bangladeshi category has among the highest self-employment rates of major ethnic group groupings (around 16% of those in work). ONS labour market datasets cited in the same briefing report approximately 79,000 self-employed people of Pakistani ethnicity aged 16 and over, of whom around 70,000 are men.^[236]

Household survey data also indicates a relatively high role for self-employment income in Pakistani households. Family Resources Survey tables for 2023–24 show that self-employment contributes a larger share of total gross household income for Pakistani households (around 11%) than for White households (around 8%).^[237]

Research on tax compliance and measurement notes that self-employment income is more difficult to measure than employee earnings^[e] and that audit-based studies find under-reporting in self-assessment.^[246][247]

Pakistani-origin workers are represented in professional and public service occupations, including medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. According toGeneral Medical Council statistics as of March 2024, there were 21,280 doctors from Pakistan registered in the UK,^[248] and 2,100 dentists of Pakistani ethnicity were registered with theGeneral Dental Council as of 2017.^[249] In total, Pakistani-origin doctors make up 6.1% of all doctors in the UK^[250] and Pakistan is one of the largest source countries of foreign young doctors in the UK.^[251] As of 2021, Pakistanis represented 8% of the NHS in England's junior doctors, 4% of the consultants and 10% of the other specialists.^[252]

In transport, government statistics show that taxi and private-hire driving is a predominantly male occupation and that Asian or Asian British drivers make up a substantial share of drivers in England (42% in 2022).^[260] In London, Transport for London licensing data for taxi drivers (black cabs) record Pakistani ethnicity at around 1% of licensed taxi drivers in published datasets. However, around 14% of all PHV taxi drivers in London are of Pakistani ethnicity.^[261][262]

In private security, Security Industry Authority (SIA) data published monthly include a breakdown of licence holders by nationality and show that Pakistani nationals are among the largest non-UK nationality groups in the licensed workforce, constituting 16% of all licensed holders.^[263]

British Pakistani entrepreneurs have established businesses across wholesale, retail and hospitality. The Bestway Group, founded by Sir Anwar Pervez, owns the Well Pharmacy chain and Bestway Wholesale, which operates retail brands including best-one and Bargain Booze.^{[264][265][266]}

British Pakistani-founded restaurant businesses also operate as regional and national chains. For example, the BBC reported that restaurateur Shabir Hussain founded the Akbar's chain in Bradford in 1995 and later expanded to multiple UK cities.^[267]

British Pakistani entrepreneurs have founded and scaled a number of prominent halal fast-food brands in the UK. For example, the fried-chicken chain Dixy Chicken was founded by British Pakistanis in 1986,^[268] while entrepreneur Mohammed Khalid is widely credited with founding Chicken Cottage, which grew into a major UK franchise.^[269] More recently, the UK and international expansion of German Doner Kebab has been led by the Glasgow-based Sarwar family, with Athif Sarwar (a British Pakistani businessman) serving as chairman of GDK International.^{[270][271][272]}

Family Resources Survey data show Pakistani households are more concentrated in lower gross weekly household income bands than White households, though present across the distribution.^[237] The Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports higher measured poverty rates after housing costs for people in Pakistani households than for people in White-headed households (using equivalised household income).^[238] Analysts note that lower second-earner participation (including lower female employment rates) contributes to lower measured household incomes for some Pakistani families, while also highlighting that self-employment income can be difficult to measure accurately and that informal transfers and shared living arrangements are not fully captured in standard income measures.^{[236][246][247]}

Receipt of state support varies by benefit type and reflects differences in age structure and household composition. Government “Ethnicity facts and figures” analysis (based on the Family Resources Survey) reports that White British families were the most likely to receive the State Pension, while Pakistani and Bangladeshi families were among the most likely to receive Child Benefit.^[273]

Government-commissioned qualitative research reports that overcrowding is more common among South Asian households, including Pakistani households, due to a combination of housing supply constraints, affordability pressures, larger family sizes and preferences for extended-family living; the research also notes that extended households can provide shared childcare and pooled financial resources alongside space pressures.^[274]

Many first-generation British Pakistanis have maintained strong transnational ties through regular travel, remittances and investment in property in Pakistan. Media reporting has described remittance-funded construction and large “returnee” housing in Mirpur (Azad Kashmir), sometimes characterised as “Little Britain”, linked to long-standing migration from the area to the UK.^[275][276] A Migration Observatory briefing (using World Bank bilateral estimates for 2021) reported that Pakistan was among the top estimated destinations for remittances from the UK, while noting that remittance measurement can be incomplete and may exclude informal channels.^[277]

ONS analysis of the Wealth and Assets Survey (April 2016 to March 2018) reported substantial variation in median total household wealth by ethnicity. Median wealth for Pakistani-headed households was below the White British median but above several other minority ethnic groups in the same period.^[278]

^[278]

A British Council study (in partnership with the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy) estimated that annual philanthropic giving by the Pakistani diaspora in the UK totals around £1.25 billion (including monetary giving, in-kind giving and time volunteered) to causes in both the UK and Pakistan, withzakat-motivated donations forming a substantial component of monetary giving. The report also noted that face-to-face fundraising—often through mosques, including Friday collections—was a common mechanism for mobilising donations, and that health and education were frequently supported in Pakistan-based giving.^[279]

Community fundraising for overseas humanitarian and development projects has also been reported in UK regional media. For example, a Derby charity dinner supporting the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) reported raising £55,000 and described cumulative fundraising by the local community for the charity since 2005 at over £500,000.^[280] Over £300,000 was recently fundraised in Blackburn for Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT).^[281]

Notable films that depict the lives of British Pakistanis includeMy Beautiful Laundrette, which received aBAFTA award nomination, and the popularEast is East which won a BAFTA award, aBritish Independent Film Award and aLondon Film Critics' Circle Award.The Infidel looked at a British Pakistani family living in East London,^[282] and depicted religious issues and the identity crisis facing a young member of the family. The filmFour Lions looked at issues of religion and extremism. It followed British Pakistanis living inSheffield in the North of England. The sequel toEast is East, calledWest is West, was released in the UK on 25 February 2011.^[283]

Citizen Khan is a sitcom developed byAdil Ray which is based on a British Pakistani family inSparkhill, Birmingham, dubbed the "capital of British Pakistan".^[284] The soap operaEastEnders also features many British Pakistani characters.^[285] PakistaniLollywood films have been screened in British cinemas.^[286][287] IndianBollywood films are also shown in British cinemas and are popular with many second generation British Pakistanis and British Asians.^[288]

BBC has news services inUrdu andPashto.^[289][290]In 2005, the BBC showed an evening of programmes under the titlePakistani, Actually, offering an insight into the lives of Pakistanis living in Britain and some of the issues faced by the community.^[291][292] The executive producer of the series said, "These documentaries provide just a snapshot of contemporary life among British Pakistanis—a community who are often misunderstood, neglected or stereotyped."^[291]

The Pakistani channels ofGEO TV,ARY Digital and many others are available to watch on subscription. These channels are based in Pakistan and cater to thePakistani diaspora, as well as anyone of South Asian origin. They feature news, sports and entertainment, with some channels broadcast in Urdu/Hindi.

Mishal Husain is of Pakistani descent, and a newsreader and presenter for the BBC.^[293]Saira Khan hosts the BBC children's programmeBeat the Boss.Martin Bashir is a Christian Pakistani^[294] who worked forITV, thenAmerican Broadcasting Company, before becomingBBC News Religious Affairs correspondent in 2016.

TheBBC Asian Network is a radio station available across the entire UK and is aimed at Britons of South Asian origin under 35 years of age.^[295] Apart from this popular station, there are many other national radio stations for or run by the British Pakistani community, includingSunrise andKismat Radio of London.

Regional British Pakistani stations includeAsian Sound of Manchester,Radio XL and Apni Awaz of Bradford andSunrise Radio Yorkshire which based in Bradford.^[296] These radio stations generally run programmes in a variety of South Asian languages.

The Pakistani newspaper theDaily Jang has the largest circulation of any daily Urdu-language newspaper in the world.^[297] It is sold at several Pakistani newsagents and grocery stores across the UK. Urdu newspapers, books and other periodical publications are available in libraries which have a dedicated Asian languages service.^[298] Examples of British-based newspapers written in English include theAsian News (published byTrinity Mirror) and theEastern Eye. These are free weekly newspapers aimed at all British Asians.^[299][300]

British Pakistanis involved in print media includeSarfraz Manzoor, who is a regular columnist forThe Guardian,^[301] one of the largest and most popular newspaper groups in the UK.Anila Baig is a feature writer atThe Sun, the biggest-selling newspaper in the UK.^[302]

British Pakistanis are represented in politics at all levels. In 2019 there were fifteen British Pakistani MPs in theHouse of Commons.^[311] Notable members have included Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Sadiq Khan^[312] andHome Secretary,Sajid Javid,^[313] described byThe Guardian as a 'rising star' in the Tory party.^[314]The Guardian stated that, "The treasury minister is highly regarded on the right and would be the Tories' first Muslim leader", whereasThe Independent said he could become the nextChancellor of the Exchequer,^[315] which he did in July 2019.^[316] The2019 United Kingdom general election saw a record number of British Pakistani candidates.^[317]

Notable British Pakistanis in theHouse of Lords includes Minister for Faith and Communities and formerchairman of theConservative PartySayeeda Warsi,^[318]Tariq Ahmad,Nazir Ahmed,^[319][320] andQurban Hussain.^[321]Mohammad Sarwar of the Labour Party was the first Muslim member of theBritish parliament, being elected in Glasgow in 1997 and serving until 2010.^[322] In 2013, Sarwar quit British politics and returned to Pakistan, where he joined the government and briefly served as theGovernor of Punjab.^[323] Other politicians in Pakistan known to have held dual British citizenship includeRehman Malik,^[324]Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan,^[325] and some members of the Pakistaninational and provincial legislative assemblies.^[326][327]

In 2007, 257 British Pakistanis were serving as elected councillors or mayors in Britain.^[328] British Pakistanis make up a sizeable proportion of British voters and are known to make a difference in elections, both local and national.^[329] They are much more active in the voting process, with 67% voting in the lastgeneral elections of 2005, compared to just over 60% for the country.^[330]

Apart from their involvement in domestic politics, the British Pakistani community also maintains keen focus on thepolitics of Pakistan and has served as an importantsoft power prerogative in historical, cultural, economic and bilateralrelations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.^[331][332] Major Pakistani political parties such as thePakistan Muslim League (N),^[333]Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,^[334] thePakistan Peoples Party,^[335] the Muttahida Qaumi Movement^[336] and others have political chapters and support in the UK.

Some of the most influential names in Pakistani politics are known to have studied, lived or exiled in the UK.^[337] London, in particular, has long served as a hub of Pakistani political activities overseas.^{[337][338][339][340]} The British Azad Kashmiri community has a strong culture ofdiaspora politics, playing a significant role in advocating the settlement of theKashmir conflict and raising awareness ofhuman rights abuses in Indian-administeredJammu and Kashmir.^{[341][342][343]} Much of Pakistani lobbying andintelligence operations in the UK are focused on this key diaspora issue.^[344]

TheLabour Party has traditionally been the natural choice for many British Pakistanis. The Labour Party are said to be more dependent on votes from British Pakistanis than the Conservative Party.^[345] British Pakistani support for Labour reportedly fell because of party's decision to take part in theIraq War,^[346] when a substantial minority of Muslim voters switched from Labour to theLiberal Democrats.^[347] A 2005 poll carried out byICM Research (ICM) showed that 40% of British Pakistanis intended to vote for Labour in 2010, compared to 5% for the Conservative Party and 21% for the Liberal Democrats.^[348] However, according to survey research, 60% of Pakistani voters voted Labour in the subsequent general election,held in 2010^[349] and this figure rose to more than 90% in the2017 general election.^[347]

High-profile British Pakistani politicians within the Labour Party includeShahid Malik andLord Nazir Ahmed, who became the first Muslimlife peer in 1998.^[350] Sadiq Khan became the first Muslim cabinet minister in June 2009, after being invited to accept the post by then-Prime MinisterGordon Brown.^[351]Anas Sarwar served as an MP for Glasgow Central between 2010 and 2015, and was elected as leader of theScottish Labour Party in February 2021.^[352]Shabana Mahmood is the current LabourHome Secretary.

Some commentators have argued the Conservative Party has become increasingly popular with some British Pakistanis, as they become more affluent.^[354] However, analysis of a representative sample of ethnic Pakistani voters in the 2010 general election from the Ethnic Minority British Election Study shows that 13% of them voted Conservative, compared to 60% Labour and 25% Liberal Democrat.^[349]

The proportion of British Pakistanis voting Conservative fell in the 2015 and 2017 general elections.^[347]Michael Wade, chairman of theConservative Friends of Pakistan, has argued that while polls have shown that only one third of British Pakistani men would never vote Conservative, "the fact is that the Conservative Party has not been successful in reaching out to the British Pakistani community; and so they, in turn, have not looked to the Conservative Party as the one that represents their interests".^[355]

The Conservative Friends of Pakistan aims to develop and promote the relationship between the Conservative Party, the British Pakistani community and Pakistan.^[356]David Cameron opened a new gym aimed at British Pakistanis in Bolton after being invited by Amir Khan in 2009.^[357] Cameron also appointed Tariq Ahmad, Baron Ahmad of Wimbledon, a Mirpuri-born politician, alife peerage. Multi-millionaireSir Anwar Pervez, who claims to have been born Conservative,^[358] has donated large sums to the party.^[359][360] Sir Anwar's donations have entitled him to become a member of the influential Conservative Leader's Group.^[361]

Shortly after becoming the Conservative Party leader, Cameron spent two days living with a British Pakistani family in Birmingham.^[362] He said the experience taught him about the challenges of cohesion and integration.^[362]

Sajjad Karim was amember of the European Parliament beforeBrexit. He represented North West England through the Conservative Party. In 2005, Karim became the founding chairman of the European Parliament Friends of Pakistan Group. He is also a member of the Friends of India and Friends of Bangladesh groups.^[363]Rehman Chishti became the new Conservative Party MP forGillingham and Rainham in 2010.^[364] Sayeeda Warsi was promoted to chairman of the Conservative Party by theprime minister shortly after the 2010 UK general election. Warsi was the shadow minister for community cohesion when the Conservatives were in opposition before the 2010 election. She was the first Muslim and first Asian woman to serve in a British cabinet. Both of Warsi's grandfathers served with theBritish Army in the Second World War.^[365]

In the2003 Scottish Parliament elections, Scottish Pakistani voters supported the Scottish National Party (SNP) more than the average Scottish voter.^[366] The SNP is a centre-leftcivil nationalist party that campaigns for the independence of Scotland from the United Kingdom. SNP candidateBashir Ahmad was elected to theScottish Parliament to representGlasgow at the2007 election, becoming the firstmember of the Scottish Parliament to be elected with aScottish Asian background.^[367] On 29 March 2023,Humza Yousaf was electedFirst Minister of Scotland, becoming the first British Pakistani to hold this position, and simultaneously the first Muslim leader of a European country.^[368] He also served as leader of theScottish National Party between 2023 and 2024.

Salma Yaqoob is the former leader of the left-wing, anti-ZionistRespect Party. The small party has seen success in areas such as Sparkbrook in Birmingham and Newham in London, where there are large Pakistani populations. Qassim Afzal is a senior Liberal Democrat politician of Pakistani origin. In 2009 he accompanied the thenDeputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to meetings with Pakistan's president,Asif Ali Zardari.^[369] There has never been a Pakistani MP in theLiberal Democrats.

The chance of a Pakistani being racially attacked in a year is greater than 4%—the highest rate in the country, along withBritish Bangladeshis—though this has come down from 8% a year in 1996.^[370]

Police recorded figures also showed that in 2018–19, the highest proportion of victims (18%) of racially aggravated hate crimes were of Pakistani ethnicity.^[371] Between 2005 and 2012, just over half of the victims of Islamophobic incidents in London were Pakistani in ethnic appearance.^[372]

The term "Paki" is often used as a racist slur to describe Pakistanis and can also be directed towards other non-Pakistani South Asians. There have been some attempts by the youngest generation of British Pakistanis toreclaim the word and use it in a non-offensive way to refer to themselves, though this remains controversial.^[373]

In 2001,riots occurred in Bradford. Two reasons given for the riots weresocial deprivation and the actions of extreme right wing groups such as the National Front (NF).^[374] TheAnti-Nazi League held a counter protest to a proposed march by the NF leading to clashes between police and the local South Asian population, with the majority of those being involved being of Pakistani descent.^[375][376]

Starting in the late 1960s,^[377] and peaking in the 1970s and 1980s, violent gangs opposed to immigration took part in frequent attacks known as "Paki-bashing", which targeted and assaulted Pakistanis and otherSouth Asians.^[378] "Paki-bashing" was unleashed afterEnoch Powell's inflammatoryRivers of Blood speech in 1968,^[377] and peaked during the 1970s–1980s, with the attacks mainly linked tofar-rightfascist, racist andanti-immigrant movements, including thewhite power skinheads, theNational Front, and theBritish National Party (BNP).^[379][380]

These attacks were usually referred to as either "Paki-bashing" or "skinhead terror", with the attackers usually called "Paki-bashers" or "skinheads".^[377] According to Robert Lambert, "influential sections of the national and local media" did "much to exacerbate" anti-immigrant and anti-Pakistani rhetoric.^[380] The attacks were also fuelled by systemic failures of state authorities, which included under-reporting of racist attacks, the criminal justice system not taking racist attacks seriously, and racial harassment by police.^[377]

As per a 2013YouGov research, British Pakistanis are seen to not integrate into society as well when compared to immigrants of African or Eastern European background but conversely they're also perceived to be "as hard-working as well as more entrepreneurial and less likely to be either leaning on the state or a drain on the economy than the other groups", and also "as less threatening in general and less corrupt than Eastern Europeans."^[381]

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