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Little Pakistan
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Aziziya, Jeddah is also known as Little Pakistan

Little Pakistan is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Pakistani immigrants and people of Pakistani ancestry (overseas Pakistanis), usually in an urban neighborhood all over the world.[1][2][3][4]

Locations

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Australia

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See also: Pakistani Australians

Belgium

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Norway

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See also: Pakistani Norwegians

Oman

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See also: Pakistanis in Oman

Spain

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See also: Pakistanis in Spain

Saudi Arabia

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See also: Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

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United States

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See also: Pakistani Americans

Canada

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See also: Pakistani Canadians

United Kingdom

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See also: British Pakistani

England

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Scotland

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Wales

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Qatar

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In Qatar there isn't a specific “Little Pakistan” but rather a “Little South Asia” where South Asian bachelors and families form the majority

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Little Pakistan

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Little Pakistan is an in the Midwood and sections of , , centered on a mile-and-a-half stretch of Avenue between Church Avenue and Avenue H, populated predominantly by Pakistani immigrants and their descendants. This area, once a Jewish neighborhood, transformed into a vibrant hub for South Asian culture starting in the early 1980s, featuring butcher shops, Pakistani groceries, jewelry stores, and restaurants offering cuisine from and beyond. The community grew significantly following the , with the Pakistani population in expanding from about 15,000 to nearly 40,000 by 2000, and hosting the largest concentration, estimated at over 9,900 immigrants by the . Official city estimates place the total Pakistani population across the five boroughs at 73,000, though undercounting is likely due to informal migration networks. Residents, many working as taxi drivers or in small businesses, maintain strong ties to through remittances, mosques, and annual events like the Brooklyn Mela street festival celebrating independence. Following the , 2001 attacks, Little Pakistan endured widespread backlash, including FBI raids, mass detentions without , hate crimes, and business closures amid anti-Muslim sentiment, yet the community demonstrated resilience, with population and economic activity rebounding over the subsequent decade. This episode highlighted vulnerabilities in immigrant enclaves to policy-driven overreach and public prejudice, while underscoring the enclave's role as a self-sustaining economic and social anchor for overseas in the United States.

Overview and Definition

Ethnic Enclaves and Core Characteristics

Little Pakistan denotes ethnic enclaves characterized by concentrated populations of Pakistani immigrants and their descendants, featuring commercial districts with businesses oriented toward , goods, and services. The most prominent such enclave exists along Coney Island Avenue in the Midwood and Kensington sections of , New York, which hosts the largest Pakistani community in . This area emerged in the early 1980s, initially driven by the establishment of the Makki Masjid in 1982, which drew Pakistani settlers to the vicinity. Previously a predominantly white and Jewish neighborhood, it has since transformed into one dominated by Pakistani and Bangladeshi residents, with a landscape of butcher shops, restaurants emitting aromas of spiced meats and curries, jewelry stores, and apparel outlets selling traditional . Core features of these enclaves include robust ethnic economies sustained by chain migration, where newcomers rely on established networks for , , and cultural continuity. In Brooklyn's Little Pakistan, this manifests in family-run enterprises importing staples like rice, mangoes, and ethnic spices unavailable or costlier elsewhere, alongside services such as money transfer offices facilitating remittances to . Social cohesion is reinforced through mosques serving as hubs for religious observance and , with frequently spoken in daily interactions and public signage blending English and scripts. These enclaves often exhibit insularity, prioritizing intra-community ties over broader assimilation, which provides economic security but can limit external integration. Similar, though less distinctly branded, Pakistani concentrations appear in other North American locales, such as Gerrard Street East in , where Pakistani food vendors and shops contribute to a broader South Asian commercial strip informally termed Little Pakistan by locals. In the United States, pockets along in feature Pakistani businesses amid mixed South Asian demographics, emphasizing markets and eateries. Across these sites, common traits involve demographic clustering—often exceeding 10,000 individuals in urban hubs—facilitated by immigration from and provinces, and a focus on preserving Islamic practices and familial structures amid host-country pressures. Post-2001 security scrutiny has tested enclave resilience, prompting some outbound migration but ultimately strengthening internal solidarity through advocacy groups.

Historical Context

Migration Patterns and Early Settlement

Pakistani immigration to the United States remained minimal prior to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which abolished national-origin quotas and facilitated entry from non-European countries; from Pakistan's independence in 1947 until 1965, fewer than 2,500 individuals arrived, primarily students and professionals. Subsequent provisions and economic pull factors drove larger inflows, with over 75% of post-1965 migrants arriving between 1990 and 2009, often from urban centers like and seeking better opportunities amid Pakistan's political instability and economic challenges. Early arrivals tended to cluster in coastal cities, including New York, where chain migration—relatives joining established kin—accelerated community formation. In , Pakistani settlement patterns initially dispersed across and during the 1970s, but by the late 1970s and early , a concentrated enclave emerged along Coney Island Avenue in , transforming a formerly Jewish-dominated commercial strip into what became known as Little Pakistan. This shift was propelled by the wave, with migrants drawn to , proximity to transportation hubs for and delivery work, and emerging ethnic businesses like groceries stocking goods. The opening of Makki Masjid in 1982 served as a pivotal anchor, attracting devout families and fostering residential clustering through religious networks and word-of-mouth among expatriates. By 1990, Brooklyn's Pakistani population reached approximately 4,949, doubling to 9,903 by 2000 amid continued arrivals via visas and family sponsorships, though undocumented entries also contributed to undercounted growth. Early settlers, often from and provinces, prioritized vicinity to mosques and markets over suburban integration, establishing a self-sustaining hub that minimized initial cultural friction but reinforced ethnic insularity. This pattern mirrored broader South Asian diaspora strategies, prioritizing communal support in high-cost urban environments over immediate assimilation.

Influence of Immigration Policies and Global Events

The formation and expansion of Little Pakistan in Brooklyn's Midwood neighborhood were significantly shaped by the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which abolished national origins quotas that had previously restricted Asian immigration, including from . Prior to this legislation, only approximately 2,500 Pakistanis entered the between 1947 and 1965, primarily as students who later settled. The 1965 Act prioritized and skilled labor visas, enabling chain migration and drawing professionals, entrepreneurs, and laborers from to affordable urban areas like Avenue, where earlier Jewish and Italian residents had vacated. This policy shift facilitated the enclave's growth in the and , transforming the area into a hub for Pakistani-owned businesses such as groceries, restaurants, and import shops catering to newcomers. Subsequent immigration enforcement measures, particularly following the , 2001, terrorist attacks, profoundly disrupted the community. The Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), implemented in 2002, required registration of non-citizen males from 25 countries, including , leading to widespread fear, FBI raids, detentions, and deportations in Little Pakistan. Thousands of Pakistani men and their families relocated to or returned to to avoid scrutiny, resulting in the closure of around 30 businesses along Coney Island Avenue and a temporary exodus that hollowed out the enclave's commercial vitality. Although the community comprised largely law-abiding immigrants, these measures—enacted amid heightened concerns over Islamist —indiscriminately ensnared many, exacerbating economic decline and social isolation. Global events like the 9/11 attacks amplified these policy impacts, fostering Islamophobia and vigilante incidents that further eroded trust in U.S. institutions among residents. The subsequent dismantling of NSEERS in 2016 and gradual economic recovery have allowed partial rebound, with new waves of immigration sustaining the population, though lingering apprehensions from post-9/11 traumas persist. Earlier geopolitical factors, such as Pakistan's alignment with U.S. interests during the , indirectly supported skilled migration under the 1965 framework but did not directly precipitate enclave formation. Overall, liberalized entry policies built the community, while security-driven restrictions post-major global shocks tested its resilience.

Socio-Economic Dimensions

Economic Contributions and Occupations

In Brooklyn's Little Pakistan, along Avenue, Pakistani immigrants and their descendants predominantly occupy roles in transportation, retail, and service industries. Approximately 30% of Pakistani immigrants in work in production, transportation, and material moving occupations, with around 80% of those positions consisting of drivers and chauffeurs, reflecting the community's significant presence in the city's and rideshare sectors. An additional 25% are self-employed—the highest rate among Asian immigrant groups—often operating small-scale enterprises that bolster local commerce. These occupations align with the enclave's evolution into a commercial hub since the , where early migrants established butcher shops, groceries, and eateries to meet community needs while providing affordable labor to broader urban markets. Economic contributions stem largely from in ethnic-specific retail and food services, sustaining a vibrant strip of over a dozen Pakistani restaurants, clothing stores, and import shops that attract both locals and tourists, generating jobs primarily within the diaspora. These businesses have historically rebounded from disruptions like post-9/11 scrutiny, with reports noting at least four new restaurants opening by 2011 amid renewed foot traffic. However, recent challenges including and rising rents have strained operations, prompting community fundraising and highlighting vulnerabilities in this low-margin sector. Nationally, Pakistani immigrants contribute through diverse professional roles, with 32% in managerial or professional fields like and finance, though enclave residents skew toward working-class positions due to factors such as among recent arrivals. Despite these inputs, socioeconomic indicators reveal constraints: New York City Pakistanis have a median household income of $48,141—below the municipal average of $53,373—with 27.6% living in , higher than the city's 20.6% rate, and 58% relying on insurance. This profile underscores a reliance on essential, lower-wage labor (75% classified as essential workers) that fills critical urban gaps but yields limited upward mobility in the enclave, where population growth of 43% from 2010 to 2015 concentrated in has intensified competition for resources. Overall, while fostering cultural commerce and outflows exceeding $1 billion annually to Pakistan, the community's economic footprint emphasizes informal over high-value .

Demographic Profiles and Welfare Dependencies

The Pakistani population in New York City, with a dense concentration in Brooklyn's Little Pakistan enclave along Coney Island Avenue, totaled approximately 51,453 individuals identifying solely as Pakistani in 2015 American Community Survey data, comprising 45% of the city's Pakistani residents and aligning with the borough's overall count of 22,578 as of recent tabulations. This community is markedly youthful, with 31% under age 18, 65% in working-age brackets (18-64), and just 4% aged 65 or older, a distribution shaped by ongoing and larger family sizes averaging higher fertility rates than the U.S. norm. Foreign-born individuals constitute 66% of the group, with 59% of them naturalized citizens, reflecting chain migration patterns that prioritize over skilled labor visas predominant in national Pakistani inflows. Educational attainment lags behind national Pakistani American averages, with 25% of adults aged 25 and older lacking a and only 37% holding a or higher, compared to 59% college-educated nationally; this gap stems from the enclave's influx of recent, less-skilled migrants versus the U.S.-wide profile of professionals in , , and . Median household income in the community measures $48,141, far below the $108,100 national median for Pakistani households and the city's broader average, underscoring socioeconomic pressures in urban enclaves where living costs amplify vulnerabilities. Poverty affects 27.6% of NYC Pakistanis overall—exceeding the citywide rate of 20.6% and the national 12% for the group—with child poverty at 37.5%, often tied to large households and limited earning potential among new arrivals. This profile correlates with heightened welfare dependencies, as 58% rely on public insurance programs like Medicaid, double the citywide 40.3% rate and indicative of broader immigrant patterns where 51% of households access major welfare benefits versus 30% of native-born ones, driven by factors including non-employment-based immigration and lower initial human capital. In Little Pakistan specifically, these dynamics manifest in elevated use of food assistance and housing supports, though precise program uptake remains underreported due to data aggregation at the Asian subgroup level rather than national origin. Nationally, Pakistani households show reduced per-capita welfare consumption aligned with higher labor participation, but enclave concentrations perpetuate cycles of dependency through extended family networks and enclave economies centered on low-wage services like taxi driving and retail.

Cultural and Institutional Features

Religious Mosques and Community Centers

In the Jackson Heights area of , New York, recognized as a primary Little Pakistan enclave, the An-Noor Cultural Center operates multiple mosques and associated facilities that cater to the local Pakistani and South Asian Muslim population. Established as a on July 13, 2012, with prayer services commencing on December 1, 2012, it provides daily congregational prayers, Quranic education programs including Hifzul memorization courses and after-school maktab classes, and youth initiatives focused on spiritual development. These centers also administer community aid through funds like the Helping Hand for financial assistance and initiatives for outreach, reinforcing familial and religious networks within the immigrant community. Nearby, the Islamic Center of Jackson Heights, known as Masjid Abu Huraira in East Elmhurst, functions as a key religious hub, hosting five daily prayers and Friday Jumu'ah services for hundreds of worshippers. The center expanded with a new three-story inaugurated on March 18, 2023, following plans announced in 2018 to replace an older structure, thereby accommodating growing attendance from Pakistani-origin residents. Masjid Dar-ul Furqan, located at 35-06 72nd Street in Jackson Heights, similarly supports routine worship and basic community gatherings, serving as an accessible venue for local . In Brooklyn's Little Pakistan along Coney Island Avenue, Makki Masjid at 1089 Coney Island Avenue stands as a foundational institution, established in and credited with drawing initial waves of Pakistani settlers to the Midwood vicinity. The facilitates prayers, Islamic instruction, and social events, evolving into a commercial and cultural anchor amid surrounding businesses owned predominantly by . Tayba Islamic Center at 2165 Coney Island Avenue complements this by offering prayer spaces and community programs tailored to the area's demographics. These mosques often integrate community center functions, such as educational madrasas and event spaces for Eid celebrations or marriage counseling, which help mitigate cultural isolation for first-generation immigrants while instilling Islamic practices in youth. In Toronto's Gerrard India Bazaar vicinity, another Little Pakistan hub, institutions like Jami Mosque have historically united Pakistani through prayer services and social support since the mid-20th century, fostering early organizational ties amid migration surges. Overall, such facilities prioritize Sunni Hanafi traditions prevalent among Pakistanis, with services in alongside , though they accommodate diverse South Asian adherents without formal sectarian exclusions.

Preservation of Traditions Versus Adaptation

In Little Pakistan, the along Coney Island Avenue in , Pakistani immigrants maintain cultural traditions through specialized businesses and institutions that replicate elements of homeland life. butcher shops, grocery stores stocking Pakistani staples like rice and spices, and restaurants serving dishes such as and predominate, enabling adherence to dietary laws and culinary customs central to Pakistani identity. Traditional clothing outlets offer and dupattas, often customized for weddings and festivals, while jewelry stores specialize in sets favored in South Asian matrimonial traditions. These commercial hubs, numbering in the dozens since the , foster a sense of continuity amid migration, with the annual Brooklyn Mela street festival—held to mark Pakistan's Independence Day on August 14—featuring , , and performances that reinforce national pride and communal bonds. Religious and familial practices further underscore preservation, particularly among first-generation arrivals. The Makki Masjid, established in 1982, functions as a focal point for daily prayers, Quranic education, and social welfare, drawing families to observe Islamic rituals like iftars and Eid celebrations within the neighborhood. Urdu and regional languages such as Punjabi persist in households and informal interactions, with New York City's Pakistani population exhibiting higher rates of compared to the city average, correlating with lower incomes and concentrated settlement patterns. Family structures emphasize collectivism, including multigenerational living and parental authority over decisions like , often prioritizing within Pakistani or Muslim circles to uphold values against premarital relationships and substance use. Adaptation, however, emerges prominently among second-generation Pakistani Americans, driven by educational attainment and economic imperatives. With 33% holding bachelor's degrees—exceeding the U.S. average of 20%—younger residents pursue professional careers outside the enclave, facilitating exposure to broader American norms and reducing reliance on ethnic networks. This cohort navigates linguistic multiplicity, often proficient in English while grappling with heritage languages at home or community schools, though parental efforts to instill can create intergenerational strain. Civic engagement reflects partial assimilation, as 63% of Pakistani immigrants naturalize as U.S. citizens and form advocacy groups like the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent, yet low intermarriage rates—common among South Asians due to religious and familial preferences—signal ongoing ethnic retention over full cultural convergence. The enclave thus embodies a selective balance, where first-generation insularity preserves core traditions amid post-9/11 scrutiny, while subsequent generations leverage opportunities for socioeconomic mobility at the potential cost of diluted heritage ties.

Integration Dynamics

Evidence of Successful Assimilation

Pakistani Americans demonstrate economic assimilation through elevated household incomes and . In 2023, the median annual income of Pakistani-headed households reached $108,100, surpassing the $105,600 median for all Asian-headed households and exceeding the national U.S. median of approximately $74,580. Approximately 60% of hold at least a , contributing to their upward mobility in professional sectors such as , , and . In the , second-generation Pakistanis exhibit strong educational progress, with over 35% achieving tertiary qualifications, outpacing the attainment rates of peers in some metrics. This cohort also shows lower and economic inactivity compared to individuals, indicating labor market integration for certain subgroups. Political participation further evidences assimilation, as exemplified by , son of Pakistani immigrants, who has served as since 2016 and secured re-election in 2024, reflecting acceptance within mainstream civic institutions. High English proficiency among communities supports cultural adaptation, with 75% of reporting fluency, facilitating broader societal engagement. Longitudinal studies of Muslim migrants, including , indicate gradual convergence of social values toward host countries, with second-generation individuals bridging heritage and destination norms in areas like family structure and . In , Pakistani migrants exhibit high assimilation, aligning closely with native-born benchmarks.

Persistent Challenges and Causal Factors

Pakistani communities in Western countries, particularly in the , exhibit persistent socio-economic challenges, including elevated rates of and welfare dependency. In the UK, 30% of Pakistani families received in 2022, higher than the national average, reflecting broader patterns of economic inactivity and low-income households. Children in Pakistani households are 2.8 times more likely to live in low-income families compared to children, with rates reaching 53% in some metrics for larger families typical in these communities. These issues contribute to spatial segregation in enclaves like , where limited inter-ethnic mixing perpetuates isolation. Social challenges include higher involvement in specific crimes, such as sexual exploitation networks predominantly comprising men of Pakistani origin, as identified in multiple inquiries spanning decades. Government reports note failures to address ethnic patterns in these cases due to institutional reluctance, allowing persistence until recent data mandates. Youth from these communities also show elevated risks of criminal engagement, linked to enclave dynamics and inequality, with studies in highlighting cycles of poverty and limited opportunities exacerbating disorder. In , similar patterns emerge with Pakistani-origin households falling below poverty lines at disproportionate rates, straining integration. Causal factors trace primarily to immigration selection and chain migration policies. In the UK, early migrants from rural, low-education areas like Mirpur arrived via labor recruitment with limited skills, followed by that amplified low-wage, large-family structures without commensurate economic advancement. This contrasts with the , where skilled visa pathways attracted urban professionals, yielding better outcomes like upward income mobility for second-generation Pakistani-Americans. Cultural norms, including low female labor participation and community , reinforce enclaves by prioritizing ties over host-society engagement, compounded by inadequate English proficiency among first generations. In , gender-specific barriers, such as restricted mobility for women, further hinder broader assimilation, creating feedback loops of dependency and separation.

Controversies and Criticisms

Security Concerns and Radicalization Risks

In Western countries hosting Little Pakistan enclaves, such as those in New York, , and , security agencies have identified risks of Islamist radicalization among segments of the , often linked to exposure to extremist ideologies via mosques, online propaganda, and transnational family networks in , where militant groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS affiliates remain active. These concerns are amplified in ethnic enclaves, where limited integration can foster parallel societies susceptible to , as evidenced by counter-terrorism reports noting diaspora support for homeland conflicts evolving into threats against host nations. High-profile terrorism plots involving Pakistani-origin individuals underscore these vulnerabilities. In the United States, , a Pakistani immigrant, attempted the 2010 Times Square bombing, motivated by ideology acquired partly during visits to . More recently, in September 2024, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national residing in the U.S., was charged with conspiring to conduct an ISIS-inspired in , highlighting ongoing threats from radicalized members. In Canada, lax screening of over 118,000 Pakistani immigrants between 1996 and 2005 contributed to security gaps, with authorities noting inadequate vetting for 90% of post-2001 entrants from Pakistan-Afghanistan regions; this context framed the 2006 Toronto plot by homegrown extremists in Muslim-majority suburbs, including areas with heavy Pakistani settlement like Mississauga. In the , where Pakistani communities form significant enclaves, risks are particularly acute due to historical ties to Pakistani madrassas promoting Wahhabi-influenced doctrines. The 2005 bombings (7/7 attacks), which killed 52 people, were perpetrated by four British-born men of Pakistani descent—, , , and —who had trained in and embraced global jihadist narratives against Western societies. Counter-terrorism analyses indicate that such cases reflect a pattern where second-generation youth, facing identity conflicts in segregated communities, are drawn to militancy, with UK authorities linking multiple plots to Pakistani-origin networks. Law enforcement data reveals that while the vast majority of Pakistani immigrants pose no , the disproportionate involvement in plots—often involving support for designated groups like or TTP—necessitates targeted monitoring of enclaves, including scrutiny of remittances funding extremism and unvetted religious leaders. In November 2024, a Pakistani man in was sentenced to 14 years for aiding TTP and plotting an attack abroad, illustrating how ties sustain global networks. Efforts to mitigate risks include enhanced screening and community programs, though reports from agencies like CSIS in emphasize that incomplete assimilation in enclaves perpetuates vulnerabilities.

Social Issues Including Crime and Cultural Clashes

In Pakistani diaspora enclaves across Western countries, such as those in the UK, US, and Canada, social issues often stem from elevated crime involvement and cultural practices that conflict with liberal democratic norms. Government inquiries in the UK have documented disproportionate participation by men of Pakistani origin in organized child sexual exploitation networks, known as grooming gangs, with data indicating they are up to four times more likely to be reported for such offenses compared to the general population. A 2025 audit by Baroness Casey highlighted institutional reluctance to address the ethnic patterns due to concerns over accusations of racism, allowing networks to operate with impunity in towns like Rotherham and Rochdale, where hundreds of predominantly white underage girls were victimized over decades. These patterns trace causally to imported cultural attitudes from Pakistan, including patriarchal views devaluing non-Muslim women and clan-based loyalties that prioritize community protection over individual accountability to host-country laws. Broader crime statistics reveal overrepresentation of in violent offenses and disorder. Young men of Pakistani Muslim background in areas like exhibit higher associations with gang-related crime, exacerbated by socioeconomic factors intertwined with cultural insularity, contributing to a rise in the Muslim prison population from under 8,000 in 2002 to over 14,000 by 2021. In Brooklyn's Little Pakistan along Coney Island Avenue, community-led patrols emerged in 2015 to combat armed robberies and other street crimes targeting businesses, signaling persistent localized insecurity despite post-9/11 dispersal of residents. Similarly, Toronto's Thorncliffe Park enclave, home to a dense Pakistani concentration, grapples with linked to and ethnic segregation, where families opt for insular Muslim-majority areas over broader integration, perpetuating cycles of underachievement and unrest. Cultural clashes manifest in honor-based violence and resistance to Western . In January 2025, a Pakistani immigrant in New York fatally shot his 14-year-old daughter in an apparent tied to her perceived Westernized behavior, including use, reflecting tensions between imported familial controls and host-society freedoms. Such incidents, rooted in Pakistan's entrenched honor culture where family reputation supersedes individual rights, persist in diaspora settings despite legal prohibitions, with data showing hundreds of annual honor-based abuse cases disproportionately affecting South Asian communities. Enclave dynamics amplify these frictions by fostering parallel societies: mosques and kinship networks reinforce traditional norms like arranged marriages and gender segregation, hindering adaptation and fueling mutual distrust with non-Pakistani neighbors over issues like public displays of piety or attitudes toward alcohol and mixed-gender socializing. Empirical patterns suggest that without deliberate disruption of these imported hierarchies—often shielded by multicultural policies prioritizing community cohesion over universal rights—clashes escalate, as evidenced by Europe's broader struggles with unassimilated Muslim subgroups exhibiting lower endorsement of secular values.

Global Locations

United States

Little Pakistan in the primarily refers to a Pakistani ethnic enclave in the Midwood section of , New York, centered along a mile-and-a-half stretch of [Coney Island](/page/Coney Island) Avenue between Church Avenue and Avenue H. This neighborhood emerged in the early as Pakistani immigrants, drawn by and proximity to established South Asian networks, began settling in what was previously a predominantly Jewish area. The community's growth accelerated with the establishment of the Makki Masjid in , which served as a focal point for religious and social activities, attracting further migration from and fostering businesses such as groceries, restaurants, and import shops specializing in South Asian goods. By the late , it had become the largest concentration of Pakistanis in , with the area's commercial vibrancy supporting remittances and cultural continuity for immigrants often working in taxi driving, small retail, or . The enclave faced severe disruptions following the , 2001, attacks, as heightened national security measures targeted Muslim-majority communities. Under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), thousands of Pakistani men in were required to register, leading to detentions, deportations, and widespread fear; estimates suggest over 5,000 residents fled to or returned to to avoid compliance. Business revenues plummeted by up to 70% in the immediate aftermath due to reduced foot traffic and stigma, exacerbating economic strain in a reliant on informal networks. Despite these pressures, the population rebounded, with 's Pakistani residents increasing from 4,949 in 1990 to 9,903 by 2000, reflecting broader U.S. patterns and the enclave's resilience through organizations and legal advocacy. Beyond Brooklyn, Pakistani Americans form significant clusters in other cities without the formal "Little Pakistan" designation, such as Devon Avenue in Chicago, which hosts extensive Pakistani commerce including markets and eateries, and Sugar Land near Houston, where suburban developments accommodate professional migrants. These areas, part of metros like New York (leading with over 77,000 Pakistanis), Houston, and Chicago, demonstrate chain migration driven by family reunification and economic opportunities in tech, medicine, and entrepreneurship, though they lack the dense, street-level ethnic branding of Brooklyn's enclave. Overall, U.S. Pakistani communities emphasize mosque-centered organization and bilingual commerce, with integration varying by socioeconomic status—higher among educated arrivals in suburbs versus working-class urban dwellers.

Canada

The Pakistani diaspora in Canada totals approximately 303,260 individuals as of the 2021 census, comprising one of the largest South Asian ethnic groups in the country. The (GTA) hosts the majority, with over 162,710 people of Pakistani origin, particularly in suburbs like , where they represent about 5.76% of the local population, or roughly 41,000 residents. Immigration from began in earnest during the 1960s and accelerated post-1971, driven by economic opportunities and , leading to dense ethnic enclaves that preserve cultural ties while navigating Canadian urban life. In Toronto proper, Gerrard Street East stands out as a hub informally called Little Pakistan, lined with eateries, spice markets, and textile shops catering to the community. Adjacent neighborhoods like , Rexdale, and feature high concentrations of Pakistani families, mosques, and community organizations, with often described as a primary settlement area for new arrivals due to and ethnic support networks. These areas reflect patterns of chain migration from regions like and , fostering businesses such as bakeries and import stores that import goods from . Vancouver maintains a smaller but established Pakistani presence, particularly in suburbs like , supported by mosques and cultural events, though it lags behind in scale and density of commercial enclaves. Overall, these communities contribute to Canada's multicultural fabric through professional sectors like IT and healthcare, while maintaining ties via remittances and festivals.

United Kingdom

The is home to Europe's largest , numbering approximately 1.6 million people as of the 2021 census, with concentrations forming ethnic enclaves often termed Little Pakistan due to their cultural dominance, markets, mosques, and signage. These communities primarily trace origins to post-World War II labor migration from rural areas like Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, arriving via chain migration in the and to fill industrial roles in textiles and manufacturing. High residential segregation persists, with 31% of residing in just 10% of England's areas, fostering parallel social structures including networks and limited inter-ethnic mixing. Birmingham hosts the second-largest Pakistani population outside , with 67,449 residents identifying as Pakistani in 2021, comprising about 7% of the city's total and two-thirds UK-born. , particularly along Stratford Road, exemplifies a Little Pakistan enclave, characterized by dense South Asian businesses, traditional attire shops, and community institutions that replicate Pakistani urban life. Bradford follows as the third-largest hub, where Pakistanis constitute 25% of the 546,000 residents—around 140,000 individuals—concentrated in wards like Manningham and , earning nicknames like "Bradistan" for visible cultural markers such as numerous minarets and ethnic grocery outlets. Manchester's fourth-largest community, totaling 65,875 Pakistanis or 2.5% of the metropolitan area, clusters in Rusholme's "" (), , and , where Pakistani-owned eateries and festivals sustain a vibrant sub-economy tied to South Asian migration since the . London disperses its 290,000-plus Pakistanis across boroughs like Newham and Redbridge, with pockets in Lane mirroring homeland bazaars, though less monolithic than northern enclaves. These areas exhibit high rates—historically up to 60% cousin marriages in Bradford's community, linked to elevated genetic disorders—alongside socioeconomic challenges like below-average employment and educational outcomes compared to the national median.

Australia

In Australia, Pakistani-born residents numbered 89,633 according to the 2021 census, representing a 44.7% increase from 61,915 in 2016, driven primarily by skilled migration visas and family reunification. The community is concentrated in New South Wales, home to the majority, followed by Victoria, with smaller numbers in Queensland, Western Australia, and other states. By June 2023, the Pakistani-born population had further risen to 120,440, more than doubling since 2013 amid Australia's points-based immigration system favoring professionals in fields like information technology, engineering, and medicine. Significant concentrations exist in Sydney's western suburbs, including Auburn, Lakemba, , and Greenacre, where groceries, restaurants, and mosques form cultural hubs supporting Urdu-speaking networks and community events. In , communities cluster in northern areas like Broadmeadows and Coolaroo, as well as southeastern suburbs such as Dandenong, Clayton, and Mount Waverley, with the hosting a notable portion. These areas, often within broader multicultural zones with high Muslim populations, facilitate ethnic businesses and religious institutions but lack a singularly designated "Little Pakistan" enclave comparable to those in other countries. Demographically, the group skews male at 58.8%, with a median age of 33 years, reflecting younger working-age migrants; 53.3% hold citizenship, and labor force participation stands at 66.9%. Historical roots trace to mid-19th-century cameleers from the region of undivided , who transported goods across Australia's interior, though modern settlement accelerated from the 1970s with professional arrivals under easing visa policies. By the 2000s, chain migration and student pathways amplified growth, positioning as a predominantly urban, educated integrated via economic contributions despite occasional cultural clustering.

Other Western Countries

In , the Grønland district of features a prominent Pakistani community characterized by numerous Pakistani groceries, restaurants, and cultural businesses, earning it the informal designation of "Little Pakistan." This area reflects the broader concentration of in the Oslo metropolitan region, where over 84% of the country's Pakistani-origin population resides. As of 2022, hosts more than 40,000 individuals born in or with both parents born there, making one of the largest non-European immigrant groups. Approximately 80% of these immigrants trace their roots to in province, a town renowned for its networks to . Germany maintains a Pakistani diaspora of around 140,000, with notable communities in cities like , , and , where mosques, markets, and South Asian eateries form cultural hubs. In , events and gatherings have occasionally been described as evoking a "Little Pakistan" atmosphere due to the participation of South Asian . These enclaves support remittances and community ties back to but often face scrutiny over integration amid Germany's stricter citizenship policies post-2016. France's Pakistani population, numbering about 29,000 as of 2019, clusters in suburban areas like near , known for its markets offering Pakistani goods and cuisine such as and kebabs. Similar pockets exist in , with roughly 120,000 Pakistanis concentrated in northern industrial regions like , contributing to textile and agriculture sectors. In and the , smaller communities of 16,000-27,000 Pakistanis respectively engage in urban service industries, though without distinctly named enclaves comparable to those in .

Gulf States and Middle East

In the (GCC) states, Pakistani expatriates form the largest segment of the overseas , totaling approximately 4.5 million across the Middle East, driven primarily by labor migration for construction, services, and oil-related industries under the kafala sponsorship system. hosts the largest contingent, with around 2.6 million Pakistanis, many clustered in urban centers like and , where they establish informal ethnic hubs featuring Pakistani eateries, remittance services, and mosques catering to Sunni practices aligned with local Wahhabi norms. These communities often revolve around labor compounds on city outskirts for low-skilled workers and mixed expatriate neighborhoods for professionals, though formal "Little Pakistan" designations are rare due to the transient nature of migration and strict residency regulations. The (UAE) ranks second, with over 1 million Pakistanis, predominantly in and ; in , they comprise about 13% of the population or roughly 400,000 individuals, concentrated in areas such as Al Nahda, , Al Karama, and . These neighborhoods host Pakistani grocery stores stocking staples like basmati rice and spices, Urdu-medium schools such as the Pakistan School in , and community centers that facilitate cultural events, though socioeconomic divides separate labor camp residents from middle-class families in gated compounds. and similarly attract hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis, with clusters in ’s industrial zones and ’s district, where Pakistani workers dominate blue-collar sectors and remit billions annually to —exceeding $7 billion from alone in recent years. Beyond the GCC, smaller but notable Pakistani communities exist in other Middle Eastern countries like and , often mirroring Gulf patterns with concentrations near ports and construction sites; however, permanent settlement is limited by visa policies favoring temporary contracts, resulting in less entrenched enclaves compared to Western host countries. Middle-class migrants in cities like report everyday integration through shared Islamic values and cosmopolitan lifestyles, yet challenges persist from deportation risks and cultural to conservative host societies.

References

  1. https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/littlenyc/little-pakistan-brooklyn/
  2. https://apiahip.org/everyday/day-207-little-pakistan-brooklyn-new-york
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