Pakistani Diaspora In UK: An Overview Of 2021 Census

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Bradford: The UK is home to the largest Pakistani community in Europe, with the population of British Pakistanis exceeding 1.5 million based on the 2021 Census. British Pakistanis are the second-largest ethnic minority population in the United Kingdom and make up the second-largest subgroup of British Asians.

The majority of British Pakistanis originate from the Azad Kashmir and Punjab regions, with a smaller number from other parts of Pakistan including Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Baluchistan.

According to the 2021 census, the cities or districts with the largest Pakistani/Kashmiri communities in England and Wales are London (290,549) Birmingham (195,102), Bradford (139,553), Manchester (65,875), Kirklees (54,795), Redbridge, (44,000) and Luton (41,143).

London has the highest number of Pakistanis but one of the lowest percentage ratios compared, for example, with Birmingham (17%), Bradford (25.5%), Luton (18.3% ), and Manchester (11.9%).

Bradford, my own city in the north of England, fondly referred to as “Little Pakistan”, and the ‘city of mills and mosques’, is the third-largest Pakistani community in the United Kingdom with a Pakistani percentage of 25.5% of the city’s total population.

In Scotland, the British make up the largest ‘visible’ minority representing nearly one-third of the non-white ethnic minority population. Glasgow has the largest Pakistani community making up 3.8% of the total population.

Rising Above Ordinariness: The Story of a Pakistani-Origin UK Citizen

Historically, migration to the UK from the region can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century British India, however, it was not until after the Second World War that the Pakistanis/ Kashmiris began to arrive in large numbers during the 1950s and 1960s.

Britain needed cheap labor for the realignment of its industries after the war and Pakistan, left somewhat impoverished after independence, needed new opportunities to lighten its burden of finding paid work for its citizens. This also coincided with the displacement of hundreds of thousands of families from the construction of the Mangla Dam in Mirpur (AJK) in the early 60’s and many took this opportunity to migrate to the UK.

The migration to the UK was made easier by Pakistan being a member of the Commonwealth. The early arrivals were allowed to enter and work in the UK without stringent immigration controls.

As Commonwealth citizens, they were eligible for most British civic rights. They found employment in the textile industries of Lancashire and Yorkshire, manufacturing in the West Midlands, and the car production and food processing industries of Luton and Slough. It was common for Pakistani employees to work night shifts and other less desirable hours.

It was not just the laborers that were invited over to work in the steel, textiles, and engineering industries, the British National Health Service (NHS), for example, recruited Pakistani Doctors from Pakistan in the 1960s.

When the UK experienced deindustrialization in the 1970s, many British Pakistanis became unemployed. The change from the manufacturing sector to the service sector was difficult for them, especially for those with little academic education.

Many turned to self-employment becoming taxi drivers, opening up food takeaways, small restaurants, market stalls, grocery shops, so on and so forth.

It may come as a surprise to some readers that a report by the University of Essex found that British Pakistanis identify with ‘Britishness’ more than any other Britons. The report showed that 90% of Pakistanis feel a strong sense of belonging in Britain compared to 84% of white Britons. This is understandable as British Pakistanis are into their 4^th / 5^th generational settlement and for them, Britain is their country of birth and home.

Despite considerable barriers of racism, Islamophobia, and discrimination at all levels of  British society, the 2021 census shows  Pakistanis making considerable progress in education, politics and the economy of the country, for example, 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.

The Global Impact Of Senseless Violence

British Pakistanis place much emphasis on owning their house as opposed to renting it. This is consciously and conspicuously encouraged among children.

Many first-generation British Pakistanis have invested in second homes or holiday homes in Pakistan. Although this trend is on a gradual decline in the third and subsequent generations, nonetheless, it is an important one. By heavily investing in Pakistan they had little funds available for investment in their UK businesses. In comparison, other migrant groups, like the Indian and  South Asian from East Africa, moved forward quickly by investing only in Britain.

Despite considerable progress, the 2021 census shows that   32% of British Pakistanis live in a deprived neighborhood compared to 10% for England overall. Consequently, many are reliant on the welfare state.

Despite the impediments of Racism and Islamophobia, British Pakistanis have taken considerable strides forward in business and politics. Sir Anwar Pervez, owner of one of the UK’s largest companies, the Bestway group, and his family have assets of £1.364 billion, placing them 125th on the Sunday Times Rich List 2021.

The Bestway Group also has a considerable investment in Pakistan to equally benefit the economy there. It is an example of how successful British-based Pakistani businessmen can contribute to the economy of Pakistan.

British Pakistanis are also becoming prominent in the political institutions of the country. Currently, there are 18 Muslim elected members of the British Parliament, the majority of these are of Pakistani heritage. There are also hundreds of Pakistani elected councillors serving on many city and town councils up and down the country.

My own city has 26 elected councillors and two members of Parliament, namely, Imran Hussain and Naz Shah. Sadiq Khan the Mayor of London is also of Pakistani heritage. The First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar, the Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, are both of Pakistani heritage.

The Labour Party has traditionally been the natural choice for many British Pakistanis. But more recently we have seen British Pakistanis branching out into the Conservative and other parties. This is an encouraging trend for widening the influence.

The success of British Pakistanis would be even greater if their forward was not persistently not thwarted by widespread racism and Islamophobia-based discrimination. Also, the maligned image of Pakistan does not help either. British Pakistanis cherish their links with Pakistan only to be put off by the political instability and strife in the country of origin.

The author is a British citizen of Pakistani origin with a keen interest in Pakistani and international affairs.