It’s hard to characterize a nation of a 185 million, however, Pakistanis are people with strongly defined traits that easily set us apart from the rest of the world. We don’t know how we ended up the way we are but it is our identity and pride!

1. An overwhelming passion.

Pakistanis are largely passionate people about pretty much everything. Whether it’s discussing politics, showing up for dharnas, cussing out the cricket team, or rivaling with the “other party” for wedding dances or bargaining – we do it all with an unwavering passion.

2. The ability of ‘jugaar’.

Jugaar loosely refers to a means to an end. Pakistanis can find a quick fix for everything and I mean EVERYTHING. Whether it’s getting pirated movies, saving money, putting a bucket under a dripping roof or mixing two leftovers to prepare a new dish for next day; there is a jugaar for everything.

3. Sense of humor commonly known as “chuss”.

It can be crude, lame and also defies the norms of decency, diplomacy, curtsey, logic and ethics at the same time (talk about talent). Our sense of humor is often ill timed and if taken seriously, it can break us. Despite all this, it makes everyone laugh (mostly because it sounds funnier than it actually is) and is probably one of our most vital surviving mechanisms in tough times.

4. Food determining everything.

Food is an integral part of our culture. Whether it’s a family gathering, wedding, get together, prayer, religious ceremony, festival or funeral (mayyat ki biryani joke largely derives from this fact), food comes first and in big quantities. Our cuisine is vast, full of flavors and insanely delicious because after all, we live to eat! Overeating is an everyday feat.

5. A high sense of optimism usually illustrated by “hojaiga yaar!”

This statement has emerged in the face of unspeakable adversity, horrific problems, desperation and overpowering gloom in a manner of such composed self-assurance and care-free confidence that you actually believe in it. “You are still playing when you have four assignments due tomorrow!”, “We need 13 runs off of 2 balls!” or “How will we survive with rocketing inflation, widening unemployment, increasing debt, diminishing resources, corruption, high crime rate, tense political ties and ravaging electricity shortages?” can all be answered with a “hojaiga yar”.

6. Ability to constantly talk.

Pakistanis love to talk. We can talk about anything and everything or just nothing. Whether it’s politics (of any country), sports, technology, religion, outer space or life after death, we won’t hesitate to start talking about it. This doesn’t necessarily mean we actually possess any factual knowledge – just a strong opinion, confidence and the stamina!

7. Our biggest fear in life: “log kia kahainge!”

As is popularly said, “Log kia kahainge” has crushed more dreams than anything else in the world! Our parents instilled the fear of other people’s judgmental opinions into the very core of our existence since we were young children. As a result, we had to get better grades than all the kids we knew, conduct ourselves properly to gain all the aunties’ approval and not delay getting married when we came of age.

8. An undying curiosity for what everyone else is doing wrong in their aamaal naama.

The fact that Pakistanis are known for their hospitality and warmth cannot be denied. We never hesitate to reach out, share our food and even our roof, if need be. However, our concern for others soon enough extends to their private affairs as well. “Auntiyan” have confidently taken over this responsibility of finding out why some girls are not getting married while they are still ‘young’, how much is someone earning, why does someone’s marriage ‘seem’ to be failing etc.

9. Willingness to provide free advice.

It is often said by wise men that nothing in life is free but turns out they were wrong! There is one such thing: never-ending advice in Pakistan. We will become doctors if you are sick (haldi in doodh is good for everything), financial advisers if you have money problems (take loan yar!), fashion experts at weddings, marriage counselors at any given day and if all else fails, there is one advice that can solve any problem: it’s the evil eye, do “dum”!

10.  Living life on edge.

Reckless overtaking in two-way traffic, one wheeling for fun, washing bathrooms with acid while not wearing protective gloves, electricians climbing up on poles with no protection, open manholes, cyclists holding on to the back of a moving truck because they were too tired, overcrowded vehicles, a herd of cows in the middle of a highway, leaking gas pipes, faulty steamers and open wires are all in a day’s work for us.

11.  Lacking a sense of time.

Being late has become expected of us. Be it 5 minutes or 50, it is actually expected. A common discussion that often takes place in households before leaving for a wedding includes deciding how late to show up because it’s a universal fact that ‘Baraat is always late’.

I wouldn’t know to take these traits essentially as criticism or a reality check (most probably we should) because let’s face it: “This is Pakistan. Yahan sub chalta hai!”

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