Turkmen in Pakistan
Total population | |
---|---|
c.6000 (2005)[citation needed] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
| |
Languages | |
Religion | |
Islam | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Estimates there are over 6,000 people of
Carpet industry
Turkmen in Pakistan are pioneers of a largely successful and reputable carpet industry. In order to make a living, many have taken on the role of producing Turkmen rugs which are in great demand both inside and outside the country. In Turkmen culture, carpet-weaving is a tradition tracing back to nomadic roots; today, the trade is the primary source of sustenance and economic opportunities for the community.[2] Those in the industry are consigned by Pakistani wholesalers who provide designs and patterns, with a pay of 2,000 to 3,000 rupees per square meter. By working each day from early in the morning until late in the evening, one person is usually able produce a square meter within a month.[2] The business has transformed Turkmen villages into giant sweatshops. Many Turkmen have claimed to be better off economically than the million or so Afghan refugees in Pakistan.[2]
Society
Most of the Turkmen are based in the northern parts of the country; the town of Babu, near
A considerable portion of Turkmen immigrants in Pakistan are originally Afghan nationals who migrated into the country less than two decades ago. A 2005 census showed there were over 6,000 Afghan Turkmen living in the province of Balochistan alone and they formed an overall 0.8% of the local Afghan population.[3]
See also
- Pakistan–Turkmenistan relations
- Turkmen in Syria