Pakistanis in South Africa

Pakistanis in South Africa
Total population
70,000 – 100,000^[1] 250,000 including neighbouring countries of Mozambique, Lesotho, and Botswana^[2]
Regions with significant populations
Fordsburg, Laudium, Grahamstown
Languages
Punjabi · Pashto · English · Urdu

Pakistanis in South Africa include Overseas Pakistanis and people of Pakistani descent who reside in South Africa.^[3]^{[needs update]} The majority of them live in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Grahamstown.

Many expatriates run spaza shops, cellphone stores; and the Johannesburg's Fordsburg is said to be among the best places in the country to find Pakistani cuisine. The influx of people arriving from Pakistan has increased significantly in the last 10 years.^[when?] Most of them are in grocery, electronics and cell phone businesses. They are also running a successful business of imported cars from Japan in Durban.^[4] In addition to business, many Pakistanis are working in the field of medicine throughout the country.

It has often been speculated that various Indian and Pakistani crime syndicates operate within the country,^[5] most of whom tend to be involved in drug smuggling. Similarly, the military wing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement had been using RSA for planning and preparation of their criminal activities.^[6]

In Feb 2010, a crowd of angry South African rioters, protesting unemployment issues burnt tyres and barricaded roads in a northern township in Johannesburg. Local media reported that Pakistani shopkeepers were among those whose premises were looted.

The Pakistan South Africa Association is a very effective organization that represents Pakistanis all over South Africa. It has 16 units that operate its offices from all provinces and has the central executive office in Pretoria. during covid lockdown they help the South African community a lot with daily food parcels, medicine e.t.c, city of Tshwane issued a letter of appreciation to acknowledge their efforts, Mr. Zahid Afzal is emerging a leader for Pakistani community who is currently serving the association as chairman social and welfare.^[7]

References

^ Jung Park, Yoon; Rugunanan, Pragna (July 2010). "Visible and Vulnerable: Asian Migrant Communities in South Africa" (PDF). The Atlantic Philanthropies. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
^ "Yearbook 2017-18" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. June 2019. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
^ 2004-2005 Yearbook - Overseas Pakistanis Foundation^{[dead link]}. opf.org.pk
^ Indian/Pakistani - SouthAfrica.net^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Indian, Pakistani crime syndicates active in South Africa. The Indian (2008-08-12). Retrieved on 2015-12-25.
^ "'MQM-South Africa was preparing for a full scale war with LEAs in Karachi'". 13 December 2018.
^ Pakistanis hit by rioting in South Africa. dawn.com (10 February 2010 )