Understanding differences; Acting on commonalities

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Pakistan

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Pakistan

In recent years, Pakistan has been facing multiple crisis situations. The country has been marked by deep societal cleavages, widespread civil instability, and a slow but steady erosion of state legitimacy and the rule of law. A fragile democracy with poor governance, it has been marked by structural violence manifesting itself in the form of a war with neighbors, as well as through internal ethnic and sectarian insurgencies that have further divided Pakistani society. While conflicts at the inter-state level have been fuelled by security concerns such as terrorism and border loyalty, the sources of micro-conflicts at the grassroots level have been numerous, and include inter-ethnic tensions, caste-related discrimination, religiously motivated grievances, and competition over resources.

Quick Facts

  • Capital City: Islamabad

  • Population: 184 million

  • Population below poverty line: 43 million

  • Literacy rate: Male: 63% / Female: 35.2% Total: 49.9%

  • People: Punjabi 48%, Siraiki 10%, Sindhi 12%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%

  • Languages spoken: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, Urdu, Balochi, English, other local languages.

  • Religions: Islam 97%, Hinduism, Christianity and others 3%

In the circumstances where there is lack of stable government, economic growth, or basic services and physical security, people often turn away from the rule of law and common ideology hence seek to mobilize themselves in search of solutions which may be positive or negative and that’s why Pakistan is currently facing several distinct but inter-related conflicts, both international and domestic.

In 2007, Search for Common Ground began working in Pakistan through its Urdu edition of the Common Ground News Service. This edition of the news service distributes five constructive Urdu articles to newspapers and online outlets each week. To date we have had more than 420 reprints in Urdu outlets in addition to many more in English and more than 800 subscribers to the Common Ground Urdu News Service. In addition to this, 20 Pakistani civil society practitioners and journalists from the electronic and print media have been brought together to develop techniques on covering Muslim-Western issues and topics relating to conflict resolution. This resulted in TV and radio hosts changing their talk shows towards more constructive formats, away from inflammatory rhetoric and point-scoring.

In October 2009 SFCG conducted a Religious Writers' Workshop which brought together writers from five Muslim sects of Pakistan. Contributors to religious newsletters were invited to attend the workshop with the objective to encourage self-reflection around the issues they cover. The workshop also provided training on journalistic ethics and writing skills, while encouraging the development of a network amongst thought-leaders from different Muslim groups by convening them around a common goal.

SFCG formally established its office in Pakistan 2010 and currently implementing various projects for promoting peace and long term stability in country by working with variety of stakeholders i.e. Youths, Policy Makers, women, political leaders and general people of Pakistan. The SFCG Pakistan ongoing projects are as under: