Western Culture in Pakistan
Pakistani society is undergoing a massive cultural change rapidly. The deep rooted embedded cultural values in our society are becoming hollow and gradually fading away. Various catalysts of change are responsible for this scenario, the foremost being the deep impact of westernization. The European and American culture is slowly embraced in by our society. The role of media is enormous here . Westernization has been spread through out our country because of the media. The TV channels shows various newscasters and different characters in the dramas wearing westernized clothes.
The catalougs, magazines, billboards etc clearly show the impact of westernization all over Pakistan. You can see the catalougs of StoneAge for example. Magazines and certain tv shows discuss extremely open issues that are out of the scene if people take into account our culture, tradition and religious values. The media of today is exploiting the personalities of new generation. It presents the western world in such a glittering way that anybody can become its victim.
I have seen many youngsters who have acquired the western culture like dressing, way of talking and eating…each and every thing reflects their obsession for the western culture. They loved to be called American or British than Pakistanis…its really shameful that we have lost our true identity and are following others….. a PROBLEM most Pakistanis are facing today especially the youth. Each country has its own mother language and they are not just a way of communication but also a part of their culture.
Most of the people are not proud to speak our own language now and this is mostly seen in the middle and upper class. Most pakistanis are moving away from their mother language and adopting english. By adopting english we are not just adopting their language but also their culture, values, customs and traditions and in the process are forgetting our own culture. This confusion started when the British came to rule our land and since then people have been trying to copy their language and have associated it with prestige and class.
This problem has been furthur aggravated by the excessive exposure and the media influence. Even our education is now focusing too much on English at all levels. It is true that English is an international language and is used worldwide, everybody should know it in order to excel abroad. Hence we need to find a balance between our choice of language between one that represnts our culture and the other that will take us to international markets These days western influence can be seen all around, but most specifically it can be seen in the way pakistanis have started dressing up.
Whatever fashion becomes popular abroad, it is being adopted by people here, without thinking that it is not meant for their body type or cultural values. Also the pakistani fashion industry is so inspired by the foreign styles that they dont even hesitate before introducing revealing clothes in their collection Eid in Pakistan is slowly and steadily loosing its charm and importance in the youngsters Muslims. When they are children and young, especially for the children aging from 18yrs onwards, they have become bored of eid and are less interested in its preparations.
Nowadays, with the changing trends in fashion and lifestyle, youngsters have become too much influenced by media and their surroundings that their interests have diverted elsewhere. For example, they are more enthusiastic about Holi, Diwali, Christmas, Halloween, and New Year. All these celebrations are not included in our culture but yet we find them more amusing and enjoyable. The main concern should be that how far this influence going to effect the young generation of today?!
Also if these non Islamic celebrations keep on proceeding, our own cultural identity will be lost soon? Westernization has intruded so deeply into our culture that the Islamic values and “Adaabs” have faded away. The obligations of a Muslim have long been forgotten. No longer do people respond to the call for prayers, No longer do they keep fasts in Ramzan, in fact, they eat or smoke openly. Alcohol, prostitution, drugs are becoming regular and despite their openness, no actions are being taken to eliminate them from our society.
