Pakistanis in Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Pakistanis in Switzerland consist of migrants from Pakistan
to Switzerland
and their descendants. As of 2004, there were 3,000 Pakistani nationals living in the country. The community is one of the largest among Muslims in Switzerland
. Many Pakistani expatriates entered the country as political asylum seekers. They are concentrated predominately in Zürich
and Bern. There are a small number of Pakistani scientists working at CERN
.
In addition, Pakistan maintains an important diplomatic presence in Switzerland through its embassy as well as a Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva
. There is a Swiss Pakistan Society, a non-political and non-denominational organisation of Pakistani nationals living in Switzerland.
The small Ahmadiyya movement in Switzerland
was initially established and run by founders from Pakistan. There are a number of Pakistanis working as high-tech experts in information technology and the health sector. In 2008, while discussing the launch of the Swiss art and film festival in Karachi
, the Swiss ambassador to Pakistan praised the contributions of the community and conversed on extending more opportunities in the future.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and their descendants. As of 2004, there were 3,000 Pakistani nationals living in the country. The community is one of the largest among Muslims in Switzerland
Islam in Switzerland
According to the Confederate census of 2001, a total number of 310,807 Muslims were living in Switzerland which made up 4.26% of the total population. In 2009 there were an estimated 400,000 Muslims in Switzerland, accounting to around 5% of the total population....
. Many Pakistani expatriates entered the country as political asylum seekers. They are concentrated predominately in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Bern. There are a small number of Pakistani scientists working at CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
.
In addition, Pakistan maintains an important diplomatic presence in Switzerland through its embassy as well as a Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. There is a Swiss Pakistan Society, a non-political and non-denominational organisation of Pakistani nationals living in Switzerland.
The small Ahmadiyya movement in Switzerland
Ahmadiyya in Switzerland
Ahmadiyya , is a religious movement founded towards the end of the 19th century and originating with the life and teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad...
was initially established and run by founders from Pakistan. There are a number of Pakistanis working as high-tech experts in information technology and the health sector. In 2008, while discussing the launch of the Swiss art and film festival in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, the Swiss ambassador to Pakistan praised the contributions of the community and conversed on extending more opportunities in the future.
Notable people
- Sabrina JaleesSabrina JaleesSabrina Jalees is a female Canadian comedian, dancer, actor, host and writer from Toronto, Ontario, who writes a weekly column in the Toronto Stars ID section....
- Canadian entertainer, host and writer of Pakistani-Swiss descent - Yasmin Aga Khan - Swiss-born Pakistani philanthropist
- Aga Khan IVAga Khan IVPrince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
- Imam of Ismailis