Pakistanis in Singapore
Encyclopedia
The majority of Pakistanis in Singapore enter the country as university students. More than 100 Pakistani students study in the National University of Singapore
alone. In 2009, 22300 Pakistanis visited Singapore for tourism. Pakistanis living in Johor Bahru
also use Singapore for their transit route for international travel, because of cheaper travel cost and shorter travel time duration travelling from the Singapore Changi Airport
, as opposed to the nearest major Malaysian international airport in Kuala Lumpur
, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
.
While Pakistanis are a distinct people from Indians
, in Singapore, Pakistanis are often referred to as Indians, as in Singapore, an Indian is commonly defined to be a person of South Asian paternal ancestry.
.
First-generation and second-generation Pakistanis in Singapore, like the Arab community
, lose their identity quickly because of assimilation within the local Malay community
, with whom they share a common culture and religion. Because of these similarities they generally also tend to intermarry with the Malays. They speak the Malay language
, in addition to English
and Urdu
.
There is also a Singapore Urdu Development Centre offering classes in Urdu
language to the children of Pakistanis, whereas Singapore Pakistani Association promotes Pakistani culture in Singapore in collaboration with the Pakistan high commission in Singapore. Singapore has also named one of its roads after Pakistan, the "Pakistan Road" in Sembawang
,.
controlled by MUIS
have been named after Islamic personalities also revered by Muslims in Pakistan, namely Masjid Moulana Muhammad Ali, named after Maulana Mohammad Ali
Johar the famous Sub-continent leader leader and prominent figure of Khilafat Movement
, and Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique
, named after Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi, a prominent Barelvi
scholar of sub-continent. The Tableeghi Jamaat have weekly gathering at the Angolia Masjid, while the Pakistani Bohra
visit the Anjumane Burhani Singapore Jamaat. However, the majority of Pakistani Sunnis frequent whichever masjid is close to their locality.
Ustaz Mohammed Iqbal Abdullah, a renowned Islamic scholar from Singapore, is a graduate of International Islamic University Islamabad
, and currently director of Azizah Chishty Quranic Centre.
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
alone. In 2009, 22300 Pakistanis visited Singapore for tourism. Pakistanis living in Johor Bahru
Pakistanis in Malaysia
Pakistanis in Malaysia form the largest Pakistani diaspora community in southeast Asia and the tenth-largest in Asia as a whole.-Employment:Figures from Pakistan's Ministry of Labour, Manpower, and Overseas Pakistanis show 10,000 Pakistanis working in Malaysia. A few sources have claimed many as...
also use Singapore for their transit route for international travel, because of cheaper travel cost and shorter travel time duration travelling from the Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
, as opposed to the nearest major Malaysian international airport in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur...
.
While Pakistanis are a distinct people from Indians
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in Singapore, Pakistanis are often referred to as Indians, as in Singapore, an Indian is commonly defined to be a person of South Asian paternal ancestry.
Culture
Pakistanis in Singapore generally come from a middle class background, with the majority working in engineering and business fields. Most Pakistani groceries, foodstuff, and restaurants can be found in Little IndiaLittle India, Singapore
Little India is an ethnic neighbourhood found in Singapore that has Tamil cultural elements. Little India lies to east of the Singapore River—across from Chinatown, located west of the river—and north of Kampong Glam. Both areas are part of the urban planning area of Rochor...
.
First-generation and second-generation Pakistanis in Singapore, like the Arab community
Arab Singaporean
The majority of the Arabs in Singapore are Hadhramis tracing their ancestry from the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula called Hadhramaut, which is now part of the Republic of Yemen. The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen PDRY was formed on 30 November 1967 when it achieved independence...
, lose their identity quickly because of assimilation within the local Malay community
Malays in Singapore
Malays in Singapore are defined by the Singaporean government using the broader and antiquated "Malay race" concept, rather than modern-day Malay ethnic group. Although Malays have inhabited the area that is now Singapore since the 17th century, most of the Malays in Singapore today are immigrants...
, with whom they share a common culture and religion. Because of these similarities they generally also tend to intermarry with the Malays. They speak the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
, in addition to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
.
There is also a Singapore Urdu Development Centre offering classes in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
language to the children of Pakistanis, whereas Singapore Pakistani Association promotes Pakistani culture in Singapore in collaboration with the Pakistan high commission in Singapore. Singapore has also named one of its roads after Pakistan, the "Pakistan Road" in Sembawang
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
,.
Religion
Pakistanis in Singapore follow similar religious affiliations as the people of Pakistan. Two of the masjid in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
controlled by MUIS
MUIS
MUIS is an abbreviation for:*Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura*Mongol Ulsyn Ikh Surguuli, The National University of Mongolia...
have been named after Islamic personalities also revered by Muslims in Pakistan, namely Masjid Moulana Muhammad Ali, named after Maulana Mohammad Ali
Maulana Mohammad Ali
Maulana Mohammad Ali Jouhar was an Indian Muslim leader, activist, scholar, journalist and poet, and was among the leading figures of the Khilafat Movement....
Johar the famous Sub-continent leader leader and prominent figure of Khilafat Movement
Khilafat Movement
The Khilafat movement was a pan-Islamic, political campaign launched by Muslims in British India to influence the British government and to protect the Ottoman Empire during the aftermath of World War I...
, and Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique
Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique
Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique, or Abdul Aleem Siddique Mosque is a mosque in Singapore that was built as a recognition of Moulana Shah Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi’s immortal work of spreading the faith of Islam and the message of peace in Singapore and elsewhere around the world.-Profile:Maulana...
, named after Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi, a prominent Barelvi
Barelvi
Barelvi is a term used for the movement of Sufi , Sunni Islam originating in the Indian subcontinent.The Movement is known as Ahle Sunnat movement to its followers....
scholar of sub-continent. The Tableeghi Jamaat have weekly gathering at the Angolia Masjid, while the Pakistani Bohra
Mustaali
The Musta‘lī Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept Al-Musta'li as the nineteenth Fatimid caliph and legitimate successor to his father, al-Mustansir...
visit the Anjumane Burhani Singapore Jamaat. However, the majority of Pakistani Sunnis frequent whichever masjid is close to their locality.
Ustaz Mohammed Iqbal Abdullah, a renowned Islamic scholar from Singapore, is a graduate of International Islamic University Islamabad
International Islamic University Islamabad
The International Islamic University, Islamabad is a seat of Islamic learning in Pakistan....
, and currently director of Azizah Chishty Quranic Centre.
Notable people
- Saad JanjuaSaad JanjuaSaad Khan Janjua is a Pakistani born Singaporean cricketer. Janjua is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium pace. He was born at Lahore, Punjab.-International career:...
- Cricketer in Singapore National Cricket team. - Shauket Aziz - Former Pakistani PM, spend several years working in Singapore Citibank in 1990s.
- Faisal Manzoor ArainFaisal Manzoor ArainDr. Faisal Manzoor Arain worked as an architect in Pakistan, and a projects manager in Saudi Arabia. He holds a Ph.D. in project management from the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, a Bachelor degree in architecture from Dawood College of Engineering and...
- PhD graduate of the National University of Singapore. - Captain Muhammad Jalaluddin SayeedCaptain Muhammad Jalaluddin SayeedCaptain Muhammad Jalaluddin Sayeed, is the founding director of Neptune Orient Lines , a Singapore based shipping company. He hold vast experience as a maritime sailor.-Early life:Sayeed was born in December 1920 in Hyderabad Deccan...
- NOL'sNeptune Orient LinesNeptune Orient Lines Limited , is a Singapore-based global transport company with core businesses in container shipping and supply chain management...
founding Managing Director, and Singapore maritime industry key pioneer.
See also
- Pakistan-Singapore relations
- Singapore Airlines Flight 117Singapore Airlines Flight 117On March 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked in flight by four male passengers who claimed to be Pakistanis. The aircraft landed at Singapore...
- Pakistanis in BruneiPakistanis in BruneiUp to 300 Pakistanis work in Brunei , of these there are around 30 Pakistani medical doctors working in various healthcare departments of Brunei. Adding up the spouses and children of these Pakistani workers in Brunei, makes up the total population of Pakistanis in Brunei to be about 500.Pakistan...