Pakistanis in China
Encyclopedia
Pakistanis in China consist largely of temporary residents, including international student
s and cross-border traders. They are concentrated in the Xinjiang
autonomous region
of northwest China.
to send official scholarship students to China; the first batch of 300 were scheduled to enrol at 15 different universities in China in June 2005, with later batches of 500 each over the following five years. Their classes will use English as the medium of instruction
, while they will study Chinese on the side as a foreign language. The total number of Pakistani students across China was estimated at 1,000 . Xinjiang
is one of the major destinations for Pakistanis coming to China. , about 500 Pakistani international students were enrolled at universities in Xinjiang, the largest proportion—484—at Xinjiang Medical University
. The desire to attract Pakistani students was a major driver behind the university's decision to move away from using Chinese as their medium of instruction
, even though it has proven challenging for the professors there. They include about 120 students drawn from among the large migrant population of Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia
.
on renminbi
in border areas, Kashgar
, which is closer to Pakistan than other major cities of Xinjiang, was a popular destination for Pakistani traders as early as the 1990s. In accordance with a 1985 protocol agreement, the Khunjerab Pass
border crossing between Pakistan and China on the Karakorum Highway closes between January and April. This has sometimes caused difficulties for Pakistan traders who enter Xinjiang on border passes, as in 2004 when 700 traders were expelled.
Later on, a large community of Pakistani traders formed in Urumqi
, estimated at between 1,000 and 2,000 people. They tend to live in Uyghur neighbourhoods, but at the same time, there is a certain level of tension between Uyghurs and Pakistanis, due to the two groups' relative economic positions, as well as cultural disagreements over alleged laxness in the Uyghurs' practise of Islam. In the past, Uyghurs were able to benefit economically by playing an intermediary role for Pakistani traders who came to Xinjiang, selling them goods shipped north from Guangdong
where they were produced, or providing transport services; however, since the early 2000s, Pakistani traders have tended to go directly to Guangdong to purchase goods, and Han Chinese
-owned trucking firms have taken over much of the land cargo market in Xinjiang. Chinese media sometimes blame Pakistanis for increasing drug problems
in Xinjiang; however, Pakistani businesspeople claim that Afghans with false
Pakistani documents
are smuggling drugs and giving Pakistanis a bad name.
International student
According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
s and cross-border traders. They are concentrated in the Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
autonomous region
Autonomous regions of China
An autonomous region is a first-level administrative subdivision of People's Republic of China. Like Chinese provinces, an autonomous region has its own local government, but an autonomous region theoretically has more legislative rights. An Autonomous Region is a minority entity which has a...
of northwest China.
Students
In December 2004, Pakistan concluded an agreement with the China Scholarship CouncilChina Scholarship Council
The China Scholarship Council is the Chinese Ministry of Education's non-profit organization that provides Student financial aid to Chinese citizens and foreigners to study abroad or to study in China, respectively.-External links:**...
to send official scholarship students to China; the first batch of 300 were scheduled to enrol at 15 different universities in China in June 2005, with later batches of 500 each over the following five years. Their classes will use English as the medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
, while they will study Chinese on the side as a foreign language. The total number of Pakistani students across China was estimated at 1,000 . Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
is one of the major destinations for Pakistanis coming to China. , about 500 Pakistani international students were enrolled at universities in Xinjiang, the largest proportion—484—at Xinjiang Medical University
Xinjiang Medical University
Xinjiang Medical University is a medical university in Ürümqi the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It was ratified by the National Ministry of Education in 1998 and entitled by Jiang Zemin...
. The desire to attract Pakistani students was a major driver behind the university's decision to move away from using Chinese as their medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
, even though it has proven challenging for the professors there. They include about 120 students drawn from among the large migrant population of Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia
Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia
Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia are either Pakistani people who live in Saudi Arabia even though having been born outside Saudi Arabia, or are Saudi Arabian-born, but have Pakistani roots...
.
Traders
Due to the liberalisation of foreign exchange controlsForeign exchange controls
Foreign exchange controls are various forms of controls imposed by a government on the purchase/sale of foreign currencies by residents or on the purchase/sale of local currency by nonresidents.Common foreign exchange controls include:...
on renminbi
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
in border areas, Kashgar
Kashgar
Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...
, which is closer to Pakistan than other major cities of Xinjiang, was a popular destination for Pakistani traders as early as the 1990s. In accordance with a 1985 protocol agreement, the Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass
Khunjerab Pass is a high mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region within the disputed region of Kashmir and on the southwest border of the Xinjiang region of China...
border crossing between Pakistan and China on the Karakorum Highway closes between January and April. This has sometimes caused difficulties for Pakistan traders who enter Xinjiang on border passes, as in 2004 when 700 traders were expelled.
Later on, a large community of Pakistani traders formed in Urumqi
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
, estimated at between 1,000 and 2,000 people. They tend to live in Uyghur neighbourhoods, but at the same time, there is a certain level of tension between Uyghurs and Pakistanis, due to the two groups' relative economic positions, as well as cultural disagreements over alleged laxness in the Uyghurs' practise of Islam. In the past, Uyghurs were able to benefit economically by playing an intermediary role for Pakistani traders who came to Xinjiang, selling them goods shipped north from Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
where they were produced, or providing transport services; however, since the early 2000s, Pakistani traders have tended to go directly to Guangdong to purchase goods, and Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
-owned trucking firms have taken over much of the land cargo market in Xinjiang. Chinese media sometimes blame Pakistanis for increasing drug problems
Illegal drug trade in the People's Republic of China
The illegal drug trade in China is influenced by factors such as history, location, size, population, and current economic conditions which are good. China has one-fifth of the world's population and a large and expanding economy. Opium has played an important role in Chinese history since before...
in Xinjiang; however, Pakistani businesspeople claim that Afghans with false
Identity document forgery
Identity document forgery is the process by which identity documents issued by governing bodies are copied and/or modified by persons not authorized to create such documents or engage in such modifications, for the purpose of deceiving those who would view the documents about the identity or status...
Pakistani documents
Pakistani passport
Pakistani passports are issued to the citizens of Pakistan for the purpose of international travel. Directorate General Immigration and Passports of Ministry of Interior is responsible for issuing the passport...
are smuggling drugs and giving Pakistanis a bad name.
See also
- Israelis in ChinaIsraelis in ChinaIsraelis in China, as compared to other foreign communities, are not large in number. There are at most a few hundred in each of a few major cities, and possibly more scattered around in other locations outside of the major cities.- Beijing :...
- Chinese people in Pakistan
- South Asians in Hong KongSouth Asians in Hong KongHong Kong has a long-established South Asian population. As of the 2006 by-census, there were at least 44,744 persons of South Asian descent in Hong Kong. Many trace their roots in Hong Kong as far back as when most of the Indian subcontinent was still under British colonial rule, and as a legacy...
- Pakistanis in Hong KongPakistanis in Hong KongPakistanis are part of the South Asian minority population in Hong Kong. The 2006 census stated that there were 11,111 Pakistanis in Hong Kong, accounting for 0.2% of the total Hong Kong population. Pakistanis occupied 3.2% of the total number of 342,198 ethnic minority populations...