I’m not sure if I made this thread before but I’ll ask, how common are marriages between Punjabis Pakistanis and Sindhis, Baloch and Pashtuns, Pashtun and Punjabi marriages, do inter marriages happen, I’m punjabi and all of my family themselves are married to punjabis, I wonder what happens if I one day broke the chain lol
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
Crossing ethnic lines are oftne toughest in our part of world
It is tough in India, may be it is as tough in Pakistan.
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
I’m Punjabi too and they’re becoming quite common. I have a member of my family who’s married to a Sindhi and another to a Pashtun. Another is married to a English lady lol. If you break the chain it depends on how your family will take it. Each family is different. Some take it really bad and others accept it easily.
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
Not common among my circle of acquaintances. I know a couple of instances only. actually my cousin married a pathan. We are Punjabis.
But that marriage did not last long, her husband was momma’s boy extrordinaire. To the point where his mommy probably still wiped his arse, despite him being in his mid 30s.
Not to forget the huge difference in attitude towards life. Heaven knows what she saw in him. Obviously got nothing to do with his ethnicity, as the syndrome he suffered from can be found across all ethnicities.
If you are thinking of marrying outside your ethnicity, go for it. Its your life. I almost married a moroccan girl myself, but her father would have none of it. Turned out I was better off in the end, but the whole ethnicity issue is blown way out of porportion on here.
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
My parents are punjabi but I have married into a Pathan family (love marriage). There is a HUGE difference between the Pathan and Punjabi cultures…obviously in terms of the language, cooking/tastes and my hubby’s family in particular is quite strict about parda when we are in Pakistan. Also, despite the fact that hubby has lived for many years and is settled in the country which I was born in, at times the differences in our backgrounds does creep up. Something that seems acceptable to me, may not seem so acceptable to him. But at the end of the day, I think if the two people in the marriage (and their families) are supportive and open-minded, it can work. When I stayed with my hubby’s family in Pakistan (KPK) for a month I understood not one word of Pashto - seriously, it was like Chinese to me but then the second time we visited I started paying attention and now I can follow most of what the conversation is about (although hubby and I stick to English!) and can even speak a little of it. My point is- if the couple and their families are willing to compromise it can work. But there are differences in practices and customs (HA! My Punjabi family tried to tell me this prior to me rebelling and marrying a Pathan but I didn’t listen :p).
On the other hand, my cousin married an Urdu speaking guy from Karachi and she adjusted very easily into their lifestyle. Although her husband doesn’t understand Punjabi, they communicate well in Urdu and their customs and traditions appear to be more closely aligned than, say, that of punjabis and Pathans.
I think, as it becomes harder to find a good rishta, there is a rise in inter-ethnic marriages occurring. 10 years ago it would have been out of the question for me and my cousin to marry outside of the Punjabi culture but circumstances made it happen.
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
Only do it if you have the willpower to tolerate the differences and the changes and your families wishes.
otherwise stick to the norm and just marry a good UK girl since you;re in uk
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
thanks to all for your replies
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
Dude, my entire khandan is so broadly diversified by now, whether in Pakistan or here. So many in-laws from different ethnic backgrounds. Everybody is welcomed without even bothering where are they coming from. So their ethnicity is the least of our concerns.
So if it hasnt happened “yet” in your family, you can mark my words its coming very shortly. People are getting opened up and rightly so!
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
honor killing 
.
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
It’s not rare, that’s for sure. One of my mamus is married into a Pathan family, however they are Punjabi Pathans so don’t really speak Pashto anymore. The other is married into a Sindhi family but all of them live abroad and this was like 25 years ago so I am sure, it’s much more common now.
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
It’d be pretty cool if I was the first in my family to get married into different ethnicty family, but I doubt my father would let that happen
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
It’s not uncommon in the big cities and is getting increasingly common now, I have relatives married into almost every ethnic group in Pakistan, even balochis
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
Go for it 
And as far as your father goes, tell him about the encouragement of marrying into different tribes in Islam. 
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
Sadly this is where culture takes over Islam lol
Re: How common is inter-ethnic marriages in Pakistan?
My family are Punjabis and all married to other Punjabis. Not because we can’t or are not allowed to marry anyone other than Punjabis but because it’s apparently easier to get along/have more in common with your type. Meh, who knows.