Pakistani Americans

Immigrants from modern-day Pakistan (formerly British India) had been immigrating to America as early as the nineteenth century, working in agriculture, logging, and mining in the western states of California, Oregon, and Washington.[https://archive.org/details/pakistanisinamer0000taus Pakistanis in America] March 2, 2012 The passage of the Luce-Celler Act of 1946 allowed these immigrants to acquire U.S. citizenship through naturalization. Between 1947 and 1965, only 2,500 Pakistani immigrants entered the United States; most of them were students who chose to settle in the U.S. after graduating from American universities, according to reports from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. This marked the beginning of a distinct Pakistani community in America. However, after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the INS Act of 1965 into law, eliminating per-country immigration quotas and introducing immigration on the basis of professional experience and education, the number of Pakistanis immigrating to the U.S. increased dramatically.[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/us/21devon.html Pakistanis in U.S.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227135914/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/us/21devon.html |date=December 27, 2016 }}, May 20, 2010. As of the 1990 U.S. Census, the Pakistani-American population was 100,000. By 2005, that figured more than doubled to 210,000.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201PR&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201T&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201TPR&-ds_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_&-reg=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201:045;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201PR:045;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201T:045;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201TPR:045&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-format=|author=United States Census Bureau|title=US demographic census|access-date=November 19, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212034406/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201PR&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201T&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201TPR&-ds_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_&-reg=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201:045;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201PR:045;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201T:045;ACS_2005_EST_G00_S0201TPR:045&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-format=|archive-date=February 12, 2020}} In 2023, Monroe Township High School, in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, launched the first high school cricket team in New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://www.fox5ny.com/video/1229269.amp|title=Abeer Khan decided to turn cricket into something his whole community can enjoy|publisher=FOX5NY|date=June 2, 2023|access-date=June 3, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/05/nj-high-schooler-launches-historic-cricket-team-signaling-the-sports-growth.html?outputType=amp|title=N.J. high schooler launches historic cricket team, signaling the sport's growth|author=Corey Annan|date=May 25, 2023|access-date=June 3, 2023}} In Texas, Zain Haq, launched the first ever official High School Cricket League with the formation of the San Antonio High School Cricket Association (SAHSCA).{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=SBG San Antonio {{!}} David |date=2024-01-23 |title=San Antonio student establishes America's first high school cricket league at CAST STEM |url=https://news4sanantonio.com/news/instagram/san-antonio-student-establishes-americas-first-high-school-cricket-league-at-cast-stem-sports-international-team-education |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=WOAI |language=en}}

File:WIKITONGUES- Scarlett speaking Urdu.webm]]

The classification of Pakistani Americans by the U.S. Census Bureau has historically been subject to change. For the purposes of the 1970 U.S. Census, all South Asians were categorized as white.{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/india/1066287/for-one-year-all-the-south-asians-in-the-us-were-considered-white/|title = For one year, all the South Asians in the US were considered "white"| date=September 2, 2017 }} For the purposes of the 2020 U.S. Census, Pakistani Americans were categorized as Asian Americans.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/fact-sheet/asian-americans-pakistanis-in-the-u-s/ |title=Pakistanis | Data on Asian Americans |access-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203213646/https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/fact-sheet/asian-americans-pakistanis-in-the-u-s/ |url-status=live }}

In a study on the ethnic identification of South Asian Americans based on the 1990 U.S. Census, a sample of 299 Pakistanis living in the United States showed that, while 6.7% identified as white and 0.3% identified as black, a grand majority identified as Asian.{{cite journal | last1 = Morning | first1 = A | year = 2001 | title = The racial self-identification of South Asians in the United States | url = https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3a5f/ba0bf35af9a36b2479c3c1d28af1148e9ae6.pdf | journal = Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies | volume = 27 | issue = 1| page = 72 | doi = 10.1080/13691830125692 | s2cid = 15491946 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190109205347/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3a5f/ba0bf35af9a36b2479c3c1d28af1148e9ae6.pdf | archive-date = 2019-01-09 }}

{{Historical populations

|type=USA

| percentages = pagr

|2000|204,309

|2010|409,163

|2011|390,861

|2012|409,966

|2013|480,585

|2014|489,166

|2015|518,769

|2016|500,433

|2017|544,640

|2018|526,956

|2019|554,202

|2021|629,946

|estref=

|2023|684,438|cols=2|align=center|footnote=Sources:{{cite web |author1=Jessica S. Barnes and Claudette E. Bennett |title=The Asian Population:2000 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B02018%3A%20ASIAN%20ALONE%20OR%20IN%20ANY%20COMBINATION%20BY%20SELECTED%20GROUPS&g=0100000US&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B02018 |website=ASIAN ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED GROUPS |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014202159/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B02018%3A%20ASIAN%20ALONE%20OR%20IN%20ANY%20COMBINATION%20BY%20SELECTED%20GROUPS&g=0100000US&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B02018 |archive-date=14 October 2022 |date=October 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=The Asian Population: 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2012/dec/c2010br-11.pdf |website=The Asian Population: 2010 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728165237/https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2012/dec/c2010br-11.pdf |url-status=live }}}}

File:Top of Rock Cropped.jpg, including New York City, Central New Jersey, as well as Long Island in New York, is home to the largest Pakistani American population.]]

In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there were 629,946 U.S. residents of Pakistani descent, an increase from 409,163 at the 2010 Census. Some studies estimate the Pakistani population to be much higher, and in 2005, the Embassy of Pakistan in the U.S. found that the population exceeded 700,000.{{cite web |url=http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pr-10061601.html |title=Press Releases 2010 |publisher=Embassy of the United States Islamabad, Pakistan |date=June 16, 2010 |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129082055/http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pr-10061601.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 }}{{cite journal |author=Aminah Mohammad-Arif |url=https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/55 |title=The Paradox of Religion: The (re)Construction of Hindu and Muslim Identities amongst South Asian Diasporas in the United States |journal=South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal |issue=1 |publisher=Samaj.revues.org |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306225632/http://samaj.revues.org/index55.html |archive-date=March 6, 2012 |doi=10.4000/samaj.55 |year=2007 |doi-access=free }} Pakistan is the 12th highest ranked country of origin for immigration to the U.S.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pakistanlink.com/nayyer/12212001.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022065513/http://www.pakistanlink.com/nayyer/12212001.html|url-status=dead|title=Pakistan Link - Nayyer Ali|archivedate=October 22, 2006}}

Perhaps 50% of Pakistani Americans speak Punjabi, 30% speak Urdu, and the remainder speak languages such as Sindhi, Pashto, Baloch, Memoni, and Kashmiri.{{cite web| url=http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Pakistani-Americans.html| title=PAKISTANI AMERICANS| access-date=April 10, 2006| first=Tinaz| last=Pavri| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506231600/http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Pakistani-Americans.html| archive-date=May 6, 2006}}

The most systematic study of the demography of Pakistanis in America lies within Dr. Adil Najam's book [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674023666 Portrait of a Giving Community], which estimates a population of 500,000.[https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/15/pakistani_americans_in_boston_area_fear_being_singled_out/ Pakistanis in New England] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520035624/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/15/pakistani_americans_in_boston_area_fear_being_singled_out/ |date=May 20, 2010 }}. Retrieved May 19, 2010.

File:Distribution of Americans claiming Pakistani Ancestry by county in 2018.png

All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia are ranked below based on the estimated population of residents of Pakistani descent according to the 2018 American Community Survey:

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

1. {{flag|New York}} – {{nts|77,352}}
2. {{flag|Texas}} – {{nts|74,712}}
3. {{flag|California}} – {{nts|63,038}}
4. {{flag|Illinois}} – {{nts|35,496}}
5. {{flag|Virginia}} – {{nts|32,474}}
6. {{flag|New Jersey}} – {{nts|28,792}}
7. {{flag|Maryland}} – {{nts|20,140}}
8. {{flag|Florida}} – {{nts|17,783}}
9. {{flagcountry|Georgia (U.S. state)}} – {{nts|14,436}}
10. {{flag|Pennsylvania}} – {{nts|12,580}}
11. {{flag|Michigan}} – {{nts|11,415}}
12. {{flag|Massachusetts}} – {{nts|8,466}}
13. {{flag|North Carolina}} – {{nts|6,721}}
14. {{flagcountry|Washington (state)}} – {{nts|6,483}}
15. {{flag|Connecticut}} – {{nts|6,454}}
16. {{flag|Ohio}} – {{nts|5,131}}
17. {{flag|Missouri}} – {{nts|4,776}}
18. {{flag|Indiana}} – {{nts|4,049}}
19. {{flag|Wisconsin}} – {{nts|3,134}}
20. {{flag|Arizona}} – {{nts|2,786}}
21. {{flag|Oklahoma}} – {{nts|2,588}}
22. {{flag|Minnesota}} – {{nts|2,415}}
23. {{flag|Tennessee}} – {{nts|2,338}}
24. {{flag|Alabama}} – {{nts|2,055}}
25. {{flag|Louisiana}} – {{nts|1,987}}
26. {{flag|Colorado}} – {{nts|1,969}}
27. {{flag|Kansas}} – {{nts|1,758}}
28. {{flag|Nevada}} – {{nts|1,663}}
29. {{flag|Arkansas}} – {{nts|1,623}}
30. {{flag|Iowa}} – {{nts|1,393}}
31. {{flag|Kentucky}} – {{nts|1,255}}
32. {{flag|Oregon}} – {{nts|1,194}}
33. {{flag|Delaware}} – {{nts|1,082}}
34. {{flag|South Carolina}} – {{nts|966}}
35. {{flag|District of Columbia}} – {{nts|801}}
36. {{flag|Rhode Island}} – {{nts|775}}
37. {{flag|Utah}} – {{nts|751}}
38. {{flag|New Mexico}} – {{nts|704}}
39. {{flag|New Hampshire}} – {{nts|679}}
40. {{flag|West Virginia}} – {{nts|556}}
41. {{flag|Mississippi}} – {{nts|547}}
42. {{flag|Nebraska}} – {{nts|445}}
43. {{flag|Idaho}} – {{nts|309}}
44. {{flag|Maine}} – {{nts|266}}
45. {{flag|North Dakota}} – {{nts|186}}
46. {{flag|Wyoming}} – {{nts|156}}
47. {{flag|Alaska}} – {{nts|136}}
48. {{flag|South Dakota}} – {{nts|117}}
49. {{flag|Hawaii}} – {{nts|75}}
50. {{flag|Vermont}} – {{nts|63}}
51. {{flag|Montana}} – {{nts|53}}

{{div col end}}

File:Americans with Pakistani Ancestry by state.svg

All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia are ranked below based on the estimated percentage of residents of Pakistani descent according to the 2018 American Community Survey:

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

1. {{flag|New York}} – {{nts|0.394%}}
2. {{flag|Virginia}} – {{nts|0.386%}}
3. {{flag|Maryland}} – {{nts|0.335%}}
4. {{flag|New Jersey}} – {{nts|0.324%}}
5. {{flag|Illinois}} – {{nts|0.277%}}
6. {{flag|Texas}} – {{nts|0.268%}}
7. {{flag|Connecticut}} – {{nts|0.180%}}
8. {{flag|California}} – {{nts|0.161%}}
9. {{flagcountry|Georgia (U.S. state)}} – {{nts|0.140%}}
10. {{flag|Massachusetts}} – {{nts|0.124%}}
11. {{flag|District of Columbia}} – {{nts|0.117%}}
12. {{flag|Michigan}} – {{nts|0.115%}}
13. {{flag|Delaware}} – {{nts|0.114%}}
14. {{flag|Pennsylvania}} – {{nts|0.098%}}
15. {{flagcountry|Washington (state)}} – {{nts|0.089%}}
16. {{flag|Florida}} – {{nts|0.086%}}
17. {{flag|Missouri}} – {{nts|0.078%}}
18. {{flag|Rhode Island}} – {{nts|0.073%}}
19. {{flag|North Carolina}} – {{nts|0.066%}}
20. {{flag|Oklahoma}} – {{nts|0.066%}}
21. {{flag|Indiana}} – {{nts|0.061%}}
22. {{flag|Kansas}} – {{nts|0.060%}}
23. {{flag|Nevada}} – {{nts|0.057%}}
24. {{flag|Arkansas}} – {{nts|0.054%}}
25. {{flag|Wisconsin}} – {{nts|0.054%}}
26. {{flag|New Hampshire}} – {{nts|0.051%}}
27. {{flag|Iowa}} – {{nts|0.044%}}
28. {{flag|Ohio}} – {{nts|0.044%}}
29. {{flag|Minnesota}} – {{nts|0.044%}}
30. {{flag|Louisiana}} – {{nts|0.043%}}
31. {{flag|Alabama}} – {{nts|0.042%}}
32. {{flag|Arizona}} – {{nts|0.040%}}
33. {{flag|Colorado}} – {{nts|0.036%}}
34. {{flag|Tennessee}} – {{nts|0.035%}}
35. {{flag|New Mexico}} – {{nts|0.034%}}
36. {{flag|West Virginia}} – {{nts|0.030%}}
37. {{flag|Oregon}} – {{nts|0.029%}}
38. {{flag|Kentucky}} – {{nts|0.028%}}
39. {{flag|Wyoming}} – {{nts|0.027%}}
40. {{flag|North Dakota}} – {{nts|0.025%}}
41. {{flag|Utah}} – {{nts|0.025%}}
42. {{flag|Nebraska}} – {{nts|0.023%}}
43. {{flag|Maine}} – {{nts|0.020%}}
44. {{flag|South Carolina}} – {{nts|0.019%}}
45. {{flag|Alaska}} – {{nts|0.018%}}
46. {{flag|Idaho}} – {{nts|0.018%}}
47. {{flag|Mississippi}} – {{nts|0.018%}}
48. {{flag|South Dakota}} – {{nts|0.014%}}
49. {{flag|Vermont}} – {{nts|0.010%}}
50. {{flag|Hawaii}} – {{nts|0.005%}}
51. {{flag|Montana}} – {{nts|0.005%}}

{{div col end}}

{{See also|New York City ethnic enclaves#Pakistani}}

The Greater New York City Combined Statistical Area, consisting of New York City, Long Island, and adjacent areas of New York State, as well as nearby areas in New Jersey (extending to Trenton), Connecticut (extending to Bridgeport), and Pike County, Pennsylvania, comprises by far the largest Pakistani-American population of any metropolitan area in the United States, receiving the highest legal permanent resident Pakistani immigrant population.{{cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/files/statistics/publications/LPR11.shtm|title=Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2011 Supplemental Table 2|publisher=U.S. Department of Homeland Security|access-date=July 11, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808080130/http://www.dhs.gov/files/statistics/publications/LPR11.shtm|archive-date=August 8, 2012}} Within the greater metropolitan area, New York City itself hosts the largest concentration of Pakistani Americans of any U.S. city proper, with a population of approximately 34,310 as of the 2000 U.S. Census, primarily in the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aafny.org/cic/briefs/pakistani.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050425120644/http://www.aafny.org/cic/briefs/pakistani.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Census Profile: NYC's Pakistani American Population|archivedate=April 25, 2005}} These numbers made Pakistani Americans the fifth largest Asian American group in New York City. From 2000 to 2006, this figure had increased from 34,310 to 60,000. When including illegal immigrants in population figures, the population expands to roughly 70,000.{{cite news| url=http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/12/28/nyregion/brooklynlarge.jpg| title=Pakistanis in New York City (graphic)| work=The New York Times| access-date=May 20, 2010| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023233620/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/12/28/nyregion/brooklynlarge.jpg| archive-date=October 23, 2010}} Pakistan International Airlines served John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens until 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275467/pakistan-international-ends-new-york-service-in-late-oct-2017/|title=Pakistan International ends New York service in late-Oct 2017|work=Routesonline|access-date=June 8, 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612161403/https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275467/pakistan-international-ends-new-york-service-in-late-oct-2017/|url-status=live}} While New York City has celebrated North America's largest Pakistan Day parade for decades, New Jersey's first annual Pakistan Day parade was held on August 16, 2015, in Edison and Woodbridge, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2015/08/pakistan_day_parade.html|title=Pakistan Day Parade a display of pride in their heritage and America|author=Ed Murray|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|date=August 16, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819231556/http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2015/08/pakistan_day_parade.html|archive-date=August 19, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/icymi-pakistan-day-parade-be-held-sunday-woodbridge-edison-0|title=ICYMI: Pakistan Day Parade To Be Held Sunday In Woodbridge, Edison|author=Michelle Sahn|publisher=Woodbridge Patch|date=August 15, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817074813/http://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/icymi-pakistan-day-parade-be-held-sunday-woodbridge-edison-0|archive-date=August 17, 2015}}

It has been estimated that 10,000 Pakistanis work in Silicon Valley, most of whom work in the information technology, software development, and computer science sectors.Aatif Awan (2 December 2019), [https://www.menabytes.com/pakistani-startups-next-big-thing/ "Opinion: Why Pakistani startups are the next big thing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217131118/https://www.menabytes.com/pakistani-startups-next-big-thing/ |date=December 17, 2019 }}, MENAbytes. Retrieved 17 December 2019. From 1990 to 2000, the San Francisco Bay Area's Pakistani population increased from 3,477 to 6,119, an increase of 76%.[http://www.weareca.org/index.php/en/era/1960s-Present/pakistanis.html We are California, Featured group Pakistanis, Pg 1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513083719/http://www.weareca.org/index.php/en/era/1960s-Present/pakistanis.html |date=May 13, 2009 }} Retrieved September 8, 2011

Predating modern-day Pakistan, Muslims from the British Raj immigrated in waves starting in 1902 to the West Coast, most notably in Yuba City, California, in search for mining and logging jobs. Some of the oldest Muslim communities and largest Sikh communities in the U.S. remain in Yuba City to this day.

Devon Avenue has a cross street named for Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah as well as Mahatma Gandhi to honor both the Indian and Pakistani businesses there.{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/944.html |title=Pakistanis |publisher=Encyclopedia of Chicago |date=2005 |author=Ajay K. Mehrotra |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109110911/http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/944.html |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}

File:Pakistani born population in US.jpg

Texas has a large Pakistani population, estimated at 70,000 people as of 2018. They are primarily concentrated in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio metropolitan areas.Source needed

The community consists of professionals involved in medicine, IT, and engineering; textiles, manufacturing, real estate, and management; as well as those working in small businesses such as travel agencies, motels, restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations.{{cite web |url=http://www.pakistanconsulatehouston.org/localcom.asp |title=Consulate General of Pakistan Houston |publisher=Pakistanconsulatehouston.org |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309202041/http://www.pakistanconsulatehouston.org/localcom.asp |archive-date=March 9, 2014 }}

Newly arrived Pakistani immigrants mostly settle in cities such as New York City; Paterson, New Jersey; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Boston; San Diego; San Francisco; Chicago; Denver; and Detroit.{{cite web |url=http://www.pal-c.org/pkamericans.html |title=Pakistani American Leadership Center |publisher=PAL-C |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403150811/http://www.pal-c.org/pkamericans.html |archive-date=April 3, 2015 }} As with other South Asians, Pakistanis generally settle in major urban areas. Pakistani Americans are also prevalent in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New England, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Seattle, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Wisconsin and Utah.[http://www.pakconsulatela.org/oview.html Community Overview - Pakistan Consulate General] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125095233/http://www.pakconsulatela.org/oview.html |date=November 25, 2010 }}. Retrieved November 29, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Pakistani.html |title=Pakistani ancestry maps |publisher=Epodunk.com |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507082436/http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Pakistani.html |archive-date=May 7, 2014 }} Fremont, California, has the largest Pashtun population in the U.S., many of which emigrated from Pakistan.

U.S. localities with the highest percentages of Pakistani ancestry include Madison Park, New Jersey (5.7%);[http://www.city-data.com/top2/h84.html Cities with Pakistani Ancestry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731085016/http://www.city-data.com/top2/h84.html |date=July 31, 2010 }}. Retrieved May 22, 2010. Herricks, New York (4.1%); Boonton, New Jersey (4%);{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=18667 |title=Boonton, NJ |publisher=Epodunk.com |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232522/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=18667 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }} Lincolnia, Virginia (3%);{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=25532 |title=Lincolnia, VA |publisher=Epodunk.com |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525214403/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=25532 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }} Stafford, Texas (2%);{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=27087 |title=Stafford, TX |publisher=Epodunk.com |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525214400/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=27087 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }} and Avenel, New Jersey (2%).{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=18463 |title=Avenel, NJ |publisher=Epodunk.com |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525214309/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=18463 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }}

{{unreferenced section|date=March 2011}}

File:Desi Bethak Taste of Karachi Pakistani restaurant.jpg, Virginia]]

As with the terms "Asian American" or "South Asian American," the term "Pakistani American" is an umbrella term applying to a variety of views, values, lifestyles, and appearances. Although Pakistani Americans retain a strong ethnic identity, they are known to assimilate into American culture while at the same time keeping the culture of their ancestors. Pakistani Americans are known to assimilate more easily than many other immigrant groups because they have fewer language barriers (English is a co-official language of Pakistan and widely spoken in the country among professional classes), higher educational credentials (immigrants are disproportionately well-educated among Pakistanis), and come from a similarly diverse, relatively tolerant, and multi-ethnic society. In addition to national identity, many Pakistani Americans also identify with their ethnic group (i.e. Punjabi, Pashtun, Sindhi, Muhajir, Baloch etc)

Pakistani Americans are well represented in the fields of medicine, engineering, finance and information technology. Pakistani Americans have brought Pakistani cuisine to the United States, and Pakistani cuisine has been established as one of the most popular cuisines in the country with hundreds of Pakistani restaurants in each major city and several similar eateries in smaller cities and towns. There are many Pakistani markets and stores in the United States. Many of such establishments cater to a broader South Asian audience due to similarities in cuisine. Some of the largest Pakistani markets are in New York City, Central New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Dallas and Houston.

Pakistani Americans often retain their native languages, such as Urdu or Punjabi.{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/USFocus/display.cfm?ID=672 |title=Migration Information Source - Spotlight on the Foreign Born of Pakistani Origin in the United States |publisher=Migrationinformation.org |access-date=May 11, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530120652/http://www.migrationinformation.org/USFocus/display.cfm?ID=672 |archive-date=May 30, 2010 }} As English is an official language in Pakistan and is taught in schools throughout the country, many immigrants coming to the United States generally have an ability to speak the English language.[http://www.weareca.org/index.php/en/era/1960s-Present/pakistanis_2.html Pakistanis in California Pg 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728172450/http://www.weareca.org/index.php/en/era/1960s-Present/pakistanis_2.html |date=July 28, 2011 }}. Retrieved May 21, 2010.

Many Pakistanis in the United States speak some of Pakistan's various regional languages such as Punjabi, Saraiki, Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto and Kashmiri.

Most Pakistani Americans are Muslims. Religion figures prominently in many Pakistani American families.

The majority of Pakistanis are Sunni Muslims, although a significant minority are Shi'ite or Ahmadiyya Muslims. In smaller American towns which do not have mosques within an hour's driving distance, Pakistani Americans make trips to attend the nearest one mainly on major religious holidays and occasions,such as Eid. Pakistani Americans worship at mosques alongside other Muslims who often trace their ancestry to other parts of the Islamic world; mosques in the U.S. are usually not specific to a particular nationality or ethnic group.

Pakistani Americans also participate in and contribute to the larger Islamic community, which includes Americans of Arab, African, Indian, Bangladeshi, Iranian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Indonesian, Malaysian, Albanian, and Bosnian descent. Pakistanis are part of the larger Muslim community's efforts to educate the country about Islam's principles and teachings. Pakistani Americans have played important roles in the Muslim Students Association (MSA), which caters to the needs of Islamic students across the U.S. Pakistani Americans have also significantly contributed to the Islamic Society of North America and Islamic Circle of North America, which are both considered offshoots of the MSA.

Although most Pakistani Americans are Muslims, some are Hindus, Christians, or Zoroastrians. Pakistani Christians, like Asian Christians, worship at churches all over the country and share in the religious life of the dominant Christian culture in America. Pakistani Hindus mainly originate from Karachi and religiously associate with fellow Hindus from India. In recent times, Pakistani Zoroastrians (called Parsis) mainly emigrated from Lahore and Karachi to the U.S.{{Cite web|title=The Parsi Community in Karachi, Pakistan|url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-11-28/parsi-community-karachi-pakistan|access-date=2021-01-21|website=The World from PRX|date=August 15, 2013 |language=en|archive-date=May 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508130633/https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-11-28/parsi-community-karachi-pakistan|url-status=live}} Pakistani Zoroastrians religiously associate with fellow Zoroastrians from Iran.

{{main|Music of immigrant communities in the United States#Pakistan}}

Pakistani Americans have made many contributions to the U.S. in science, politics, the military, sports, philanthropy, and business.

Shahid Khan is a Pakistani-American billionaire businessman who is owner of an auto-parts company and the NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars. As of 2012, his net worth was estimated to exceed $6 billion, being ranked at #179 on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2012/09/05/shahid-khan-the-new-face-of-the-nfl-and-the-american-dream/|title=Shahid Khan: The New Face Of The NFL And The American Dream|author=Brian Solomon|date=5 September 2012|work=Forbes|access-date=17 March 2015|archive-date=September 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922134935/http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2012/09/05/shahid-khan-the-new-face-of-the-nfl-and-the-american-dream/|url-status=live}} Forbes also ranked him the 491st wealthiest person in the world.[http://www.forbes.com/profile/shahid-khan/ Shahid Khan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226013820/https://www.forbes.com/profile/shahid-khan/ |date=December 26, 2018 }} on Forbes

Amir Hussain is a scholar of Islam and President of the American Academy of Religion. Scholars, such as Omar Suleiman and Nouman Ali Khan, preach Islam in the country.

In 2002, the community contributed nearly $1 billion in philanthropic activities (including value of volunteered time.){{cite book |author=Adil Najam |title=Portrait of a Giving Community: Philanthropy by the Pakistani-American Diaspora |publisher=Harvard University Press |date=2006 |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674023666 |isbn=9780674023666 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525213426/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674023666 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }} Since the Pakistani diaspora has spread internationally over the years, many Pakistanis living abroad choose to donate time, money, and talent to further development in Pakistan. Pakathon, for example, aims to empower Pakistanis through innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.

File:Wasimkhanwithbush.jpg and Laura Bush with Pakistani-American U.S. Army Sgt. Wasim Khan at the 2004 State of the Union Address, U.S. Capitol building, February 1, 2004.]]

Pakistani-American soldiers compose a sizable proportion of the over 4,000 Muslim service members in the U.S. military.{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20091122-Fort-Hood-soldier-says-Army-4398.ece|title=Fort Hood soldier says Army, Islam share common values|work=Dallas News|date=November 22, 2009|access-date=November 15, 2014|first=Gretel C.|last=Kovach|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129013259/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20091122-Fort-Hood-soldier-says-Army-4398.ece|archive-date=November 29, 2014}} As of February 2008, 125 Pakistan-born service members were serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, out of the 826 U.S, service members born in South Central Asia. This figure does not include U.S.-born service members of Pakistani ancestry.{{cite news|url=http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/immigrants-us-armed-forces|title=Immigrants in the U.S. Armed Forces|work=Migration Policy Institute|date=May 15, 2008|access-date=November 16, 2014|first=Jeanne|last=Batalova|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204052912/http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/immigrants-us-armed-forces|archive-date=December 4, 2014}}

Pakistani-American service members have assisted in U.S. intelligence operations, and have worked as interpreters, interrogators, and liaison officers in Afghanistan. Their knowledge of local languages such as Pashto and Dari helps facilitate coordination activities.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-25-fg-khan25-story.html|title=U.S. Heroes Whose Skills Spoke Volumes|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 20, 2014|date=May 25, 2002|first=Ron|last=Tempest|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20141122235038/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/may/25/world/fg-khan25|archive-date=November 22, 2014}}

{{Rquote|right|The overall number of Afghan and Pakistani Americans involved in the war effort has not been released, although their recruitment by the CIA and U.S. Defense Department agencies has been very public. Because most of their work was secret, few of the men have received any public recognition.|Los Angeles Times}}

• Cpt. Humayun Saqib Muazzam Khan was a Pakistani-American soldier who posthumously received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was killed in Iraq and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-considine/lets-honor-muslim-america_b_3339838.html|title=Honoring Muslim American Veterans on Memorial Day|work=Huffington Post|date=May 26, 2013|access-date=November 15, 2014|first=Craig|last=Considine|author-link=Craig Considine (academic)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115132922/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-considine/lets-honor-muslim-america_b_3339838.html|archive-date=November 15, 2014}} Khan's parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, appeared at the 2016 Democratic National Convention to challenge Donald Trump's views on Muslims.{{cite news|last1=Ballhaus|first1=Rebecca|title=Khizr Khan, Father of Muslim Army Officer Killed in Iraq, Challenges Donald Trump|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/khizr-khan-father-of-muslim-army-officer-killed-in-iraq-challenges-donald-trump-1469757165|work=Wall Street Journal|date=July 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525140426/https://www.wsj.com/articles/khizr-khan-father-of-muslim-army-officer-killed-in-iraq-challenges-donald-trump-1469757165|archive-date=May 25, 2017}}
• Another Pakistani American who received both a Bronze Star and Purple Heart was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan who died in Iraq.{{cite web|url=http://pakpac.net/Fort%20Hood%20shooting/Pakistani%20Americans%20in%20US%20military.asp |title=Pakistani Americans in US military |work=Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee |access-date=November 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129022955/http://pakpac.net/Fort%20Hood%20shooting/Pakistani%20Americans%20in%20US%20military.asp |archive-date=November 29, 2014 }} Others have served in different capacities, such as working as military commissaries abroad.{{cite book|title=The Illustrated History of American Military Commissaries: The Defense Commissary Agency and its predecessors, since 1989|publisher=Government Printing Office|isbn=9780160872464|page=475}}
• Naveed Jamali is an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.{{cite news|last1=Getlen|first1=Larry|title=This ordinary Joe brought down a Russian spy at Hooters|url=https://nypost.com/2015/06/14/how-a-new-york-civilian-brought-down-a-russian-agent/|access-date=June 3, 2017|work=New York Post|date=June 14, 2015|archive-date=June 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609120700/http://nypost.com/2015/06/14/how-a-new-york-civilian-brought-down-a-russian-agent/|url-status=live}}
• Atif Qarni is a former U.S. Marine who served for eight years, including in Iraq; he is a Democratic politician who was appointed as the 19th Virginia Secretary of Education.{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1275546|title=Footprints: Marine turned teacher countering Trump's rhetoric|first=Hasan|last=Khan|date=August 5, 2016|website=Dawn.com|access-date=December 24, 2017|archive-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905214904/https://www.dawn.com/news/1275546|url-status=live}}

• Shayan Khan is an actor and film producer.

• Gibran Hamdan, a quarterback, is the first player of Pakistani descent to play in the NFL.
• Mustafa Ali is the first wrestler of Pakistani descent to compete for the WWE.

File:Shahid Khan 2012.jpg, a Pakistani-American billionaire]]

The Pakistani American community generally lives in a comfortable middle-class, upper-middle-class and upper-class lifestyles.{{cite web |url=http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/1298/9812104.html |title=Pakistani American millionaires |publisher=Washington-report.org |access-date=June 6, 2014 |archive-date=September 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907033019/http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/1298/9812104.html |url-status=live }} Many Pakistani Americans follow the residence pattern set by other immigrants to the United States that when they increase their wealth, they are able to own or franchise small businesses; including restaurants, groceries and convenience stores, clothing and appliance stores, petrol and gas stations, newspaper booths, and travel agencies. It is common to include members of the extended and immediate family in the business.

Members of the Pakistani community believe in the symbolic importance of owning homes; accordingly, Pakistani Americans tend to save money and make other monetary sacrifices earlier on in order to purchase their own homes as soon as possible. Members of the family and sometimes the closer community tend to take care of each other, and to assist in times of economic need. Hence, it would be more common to turn to a community member for economic assistance rather than to a government agency. This leads to relatively low use of welfare and public assistance by Pakistani-Americans. According to the 2000 Census, the mean household income in the United States in 2002 was $57,852 annually, whereas for Asian households, which includes Pakistanis this was $70,047. A separate study conducted by the American Community Survey in 2005, showed the mean and median incomes for Pakistani male full-time workers were US$59,310 and US$42,718 - respectively compared to the average male American full-time workers' mean and median incomes of US$56,724 and US$41,965 - respectively.{{cite web |url=http://ir.ide.go.jp/dspace/bitstream/2344/839/1/196_oda.pdf |title=Pakistani Migration to the United States: An economic perspective |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718172352/http://ir.ide.go.jp/dspace/bitstream/2344/839/1/196_oda.pdf |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }} A 2011 report based on data from the 2010 US Census reported the median household income of Pakistani-American families at $63,000, which was considerably higher than the American family income average of $51,369.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/720994/how-affluent-are-the-pakistani-americans|title=How affluent are the Pakistani-Americans?|work=Dawn|date=24 May 2012|access-date=14 August 2016|first=Michael|last=Kugelman|quote=According to a 2011 report by the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice (AACAJ), which draws on data from the 2010 US Census and other US government sources, the median household income of Pakistani-American families is nearly $63,000. This is considerably higher than the figure for families in America on the whole ($51,369).|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126071229/https://www.dawn.com/news/720994/how-affluent-are-the-pakistani-americans|url-status=live}}

There is also incidence of poverty in the Pakistani community and in particular around the growing number of new immigrants that migrated from less privileged backgrounds in Pakistan. These migrants tend to take low-paying jobs involving manual or unskilled labor and tend to live in large cities where such jobs are readily available and in particular New York, where as of the 2000 census, poverty rates for Pakistanis in relation to the total New York population were higher overall, with 28% of Pakistanis living in poverty, which is greater than the general New York City poverty rate of 21%.{{cite web|url=http://www.aafny.org/cic/briefs/pakistani.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725220920/http://www.aafny.org/cic/briefs/pakistani.pdf |archive-date=July 25, 2011 }} Compared with those immigrants that arrived from 1965 who were either professionals or students and considered to be middle- and upper-class, the newer migrants tended to be worse off economically.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9a0HmfY6w3QC&q=pakistani&pg=PA1|title=New Cosmopolitanisms|access-date=March 17, 2015|isbn=9780804767842|last1=Rajan|first1=Gita|date=February 9, 2006|publisher=Stanford University Press |archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326125754/https://books.google.com/books?id=9a0HmfY6w3QC&q=pakistani&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}

According to American Factfinder, Pakistani Americans are high achievers academically and tend to be better educated as compared to other heritage groups in the United States with 89.1% being at least high school graduates {{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=26 July 2019 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820053605/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }} and about 54% holding a bachelor's degree or higher professional degree. Additionally it was found that over 30% of Pakistani Americans hold graduate or professional degrees.

{{See also|Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America}}

An increasing number of Pakistani Americans work in the medical field. The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America, [http://www.appna.org/ APPNA], has been meeting in various locations across the United States for the past 30 years. As of 2022, there were more than 20,000 doctors practicing medicine in America who are of Pakistani descent.{{cite journal |date=2022 |title=APPNA IMPACT |url=https://appna.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Annual-Journal2022.pdf |journal=APPNA Annual Journal |publisher=Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=18 |access-date=9 May 2025 |quote=Today, APPNA, the largest Pakistani organization in the US, represents over 20,000 physicians of Pakistani origin in North America, with diverse contributions in their respective disciplines and to their local communities.}} Pakistan is the fourth highest source of IMG doctors in the U.S.{{cite web |url=http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/international-medical-graduates/imgs-in-united-states/imgs-country-origin.shtml |title=IMGs by Country of Origin |publisher=Ama-assn.org |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223124502/http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/international-medical-graduates/imgs-in-united-states/imgs-country-origin.shtml |archive-date=December 23, 2010 }} and they are chiefly concentrated in New York, California, Florida, New Jersey and Illinois.[http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/18/img-workforce-paper.pdf] [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121004054654/http%3A//www%2Eama%2Dassn%2Eorg/ama1/pub/upload/mm/18/img%2Dworkforce%2Dpaper%2Epdf Archived copy] at the Library of Congress (October 4, 2012). Pakistan is also the fourth highest source of foreign dentists licensed in the United States.[http://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)62131-0/abstract Foreign-trained dentists licensed in the United States] Retrieved July 8, 2011 US congressmen and congresswomen have lauded the contributions of Pakistani medical professionals to the country's healthcare system.{{cite web |last=Imtiaz |first=Huma |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/303012/us-should-appologise-to-pakistan-nato-pay-reparations-to-soldiers-congressman-kucinich/ |title=US should apologise to Pakistan, NATO pay reparations to soldiers: Congressman Kucinich |date=December 6, 2011 |publisher=Tribune.com.pk |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805055917/http://tribune.com.pk/story/303012/us-should-appologise-to-pakistan-nato-pay-reparations-to-soldiers-congressman-kucinich/ |archive-date=August 5, 2014 }}

This table shows the areas of work that Pakistanis are employed in and compares people that are born in the U.S., those born in Pakistan and those who are American nationals:{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5PSYZMs8TzEC&q=pakistani&pg=PP9|title=Asian Americans|access-date=March 17, 2015|isbn=9781412905565|last1=Min|first1=Pyong Gap|year=2006|publisher=Pine Forge Press |archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326125735/https://books.google.com/books?id=5PSYZMs8TzEC&q=pakistani&pg=PP9|url-status=live}}

{{small|1=Note: FB1 = Pakistani born, NB2 = American born Pakistani and NB3 = All American nationals}}

The New York Times estimated that there were 109,300 workers born in Pakistan in all occupations in the US in 2007. With the top 10 occupations in ascending order being; sales-related, managers and administrators, drivers and transportation workers, doctors, accountants and other financial specialists, computer software developers, scientists and quantitative analysts, engineers and architects, clerical and administrative staff, and teachers.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/07/us/20090407-immigration-country.html#view=52140 | work=The New York Times | title=Immigration and Jobs: Where U.S. Workers Come From | date=April 7, 2009 | access-date=May 20, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812032100/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/07/us/20090407-immigration-country.html#view=52140 | archive-date=August 12, 2010 }}

Since the September 11 attacks in 2001, Pakistani Americans began reporting incidents of discrimination, especially in places such as airports.{{cite web |title=Who is Anila Daulatzai? Students Urge Boycott of Southwest Demanding Justice For Muslim Professor |url=https://muslimmatters.org/2017/10/23/who-is-anila-daulatzai-students-urge-boycott-of-southwest-demanding-justice-for-muslim-professor/ |website=Muslim Matters |access-date=1 January 2022 |date=23 October 2017 }}{{cite web |title=A Sikh champion of Muslims |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/131169/sikh-champion-muslims/ |website=Daily Times |access-date=1 January 2022 |date=28 October 2017 }}{{cite web |title=The pregnant woman who was dragged off a plane by police disputes Southwest Airline's account of what happened |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-dragged-off-southwest-airline-flight-by-police-threatens-to-sue-2017-10 |website=Business Insider |access-date=1 January 2022 |date=5 October 2017 }} After the September 11 attacks, several Pakistani Americans started identifying themselves as Indians to avoid discrimination and for better business and economic opportunities.{{cite web |title=Pakistanis pose as Indians after NY bomb scare |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-timessquare-backlash/pakistanis-pose-as-indians-after-ny-bomb-scare-idUSTRE64655Y20100507 |website=Reuters |access-date=23 March 2020 |date=7 May 2010 |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114111303/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-timessquare-backlash/pakistanis-pose-as-indians-after-ny-bomb-scare-idUSTRE64655Y20100507 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Pakistanis pose as Indians after NY bomb scare |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/11555/pakistanis-pose-as-indians-after-ny-bomb-scare |website=The Express Tribune |date=May 7, 2010 |access-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230433/https://tribune.com.pk/story/11555/pakistanis-pose-as-indians-after-ny-bomb-scare |url-status=live }}

As a result of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks perpetrated by the Pakistan based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which killed 6 American citizens, as well as the killing of Osama bin Laden near the Pakistan Military Academy in Abottabad, there was a massive rise in anti-Pakistan sentiments.{{cite web|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-binladen-pakistan-isi-idUSTRE74408220110505/|title= Special report: Why the U.S. mistrusts Pakistan's spies|work= U.S.|last1= Chris Allbritton|first1= Mark Hosenball}}{{cite web |date=1 December 2008 |title=Six US citizens killed in Mumbai attacks: State Dept |url=http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=255384 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202075440/http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=255384 |archive-date=2 December 2008 |access-date=22 October 2015 |website=Turkish Press}}

File:President bush with US special envoy to OIC.jpg, the First U.S. envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, with then President Bush, February 27, 2008, in the Oval Office.]]

Since the second wave of immigration in 1965, the Pakistani American community has not been politically inclined, but this is now changing, with the community starting to contribute funds to their candidates of choice in both parties, and running for elected office in districts with large Pakistani American populations. In recent times, Pakistani American candidates have run for the state senate in districts of such city boroughs as Brooklyn, New York. Because the community is geographically dispersed, the formation of influential voting blocs has not generally been possible, making it difficult to for the community to make an impact on politics in this particular way. However, there are increasing efforts on the part of community leaders to ensure voter registration and involvement. In 1989, observing the need for greater political coordination, activism and advocacy, a group of Pakistani Americans founded The Pakistani American Political Action Committee (PAKPAC).Tinaz Pavri, "Pakistani Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs (3rd ed., vol. 3, Gale, 2014), pp. 425–436. [https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3273300139/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=8a8c93d6 online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326125809/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CCX3273300139&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=8a8c93d6 |date=March 26, 2021 }}

Historically, Pakistani Americans have tended to vote Republican due to the shared ideology of conservatism and the perceived notion that Republican Presidents and leaders are more pro-Pakistani than Democrats. This was evident during the 2000 Presidential Election, as Pakistani Americans voted in overwhelming numbers for Republican candidate George W. Bush.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} That trend reversed itself in 2004, after George W. Bush's first term in office. His policies alienated Muslims at home and abroad, and Pakistanis were no exception.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} When George W. Bush was up for re-election, Pakistani Americans voted for Democratic candidate John Kerry. Former Pakistan diplomat Mohammed Sadiq (diplomat) helped establish the internship program at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C. Mr. Sadiq also helped the Pakistani American community organize and launch the Pakistan Caucus in Capitol Hill.

In the past, especially during the Cold War and the War on Terror under the Bush administration, there was the perceived notion that Republicans were more pro-Pakistani than Democrats. However, that trend reversed itself from 2011 onwards. Since then, there has been an increasing anti-Pakistani sentiment among Republican congressman which has alienated some Pakistani-Americans.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} Some Republican presidential candidates have criticised the Democrats policy toward Pakistan. During the 2012 Republican Party presidential debates, the Republican candidates questioned whether the United States could trust Pakistan. Texas governor Rick Perry called Pakistan unworthy of US aid because it had not done enough to help fight al-Qaeda.{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/1124/1224308054813.html | title=Republican contenders target Pakistan and Iran | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=November 24, 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129181732/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/1124/1224308054813.html | archive-date=November 29, 2011 }} In the same year a bill was introduced by Dana Rohrabacher in the US House of Representatives proposing a hefty reduction in aid to Pakistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/world/64888-let-pak-lose-aid-for-inaction-us-bill.html|title=The Pioneer|access-date=December 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222111529/http://www.dailypioneer.com/world/64888-let-pak-lose-aid-for-inaction-us-bill.html|archive-date=December 22, 2015}} President Obama has vowed to veto any proposed anti-Pakistan bills.{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/379517/obama-might-veto-bill-calling-for-economic-restrictions-on-pakistan/|title=Obama might veto bill calling for economic restrictions on Pakistan: White House|work=The Express Tribune|date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204191517/http://tribune.com.pk/story/379517/obama-might-veto-bill-calling-for-economic-restrictions-on-pakistan/|archive-date=February 4, 2015}} President Obama also courted the Pakistani-American community for votes and money for his 2012 re-election campaign. In March 2012, Obama traveled to Houston, Texas for this purpose and at a dinner organised by Pakistani entrepreneurs, the President managed to raise $3.4 million in just a few hours for his re-election campaign. President Obama also pledged to continue sending aid and selling military equipment to Pakistan. According to polls, most Pakistani-Americans have now switched their votes to the Democratic Party.{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=40269|title=Obama seeks Pakistani Americans support for reelection - WORLD - geo.tv|date=March 17, 2012|access-date=March 17, 2015|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326125743/https://www.geo.tv/|url-status=live}}

In 2013, during the second inauguration of Barack Obama, the re-elected President praised the members of the Pakistani community in America and said, "I am about to go speak to the crowd in Chicago, but I wanted to thank you first. I want you to know that this was not fate and it was not an accident. You made this happen." Talking to the Daily Times via telephone, US business leader Muhammad Saeed Sheikh said Obama in his address told that he would spend the rest of his presidency honoring the Pakistani-American support and doing what he can to finish what he started. Obama continued his praise and said, "You organised yourselves block by block. You took ownership of this campaign 5 and 10 dollars at a time. And when it was not easy, you pressed forward."{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\11\08\story_8-11-2012_pg5_7|title=Re-elected Obama praises Pak community|work=Daily Times|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416085320/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C11%5C08%5Cstory_8-11-2012_pg5_7|archive-date=April 16, 2013|access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live}}

In the 2016 presidential election, a majority of Pakistani Americans (88%) voted for Hillary Clinton.{{Cite web|date=16 May 2017|title=2016 Post-Election National Asian American Survey|url=https://naasurvey.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/NAAS16-post-election-report.pdf|access-date=12 May 2021|website=National Asian American Survey}} A exit poll conducted by AALDEF showed that an overwhelming majority (89%) of Pakistani Americans backed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-13|title=AALDEF Exit Poll: Asian Americans Favor Biden Over Trump 68% to 29%; Played Role in Close Races in Georgia and Other Battleground States|url=https://www.aaldef.org/press-release/aaldef-exit-poll-asian-americans-favor-biden-over-trump-68-to-29-played-role-in-close-races-in-georgia-and-other-battleground-states/|access-date=2021-11-16|website=AALDEF|language=en}}

In January 2019, Sadaf Jaffer became the first female Pakistani-American mayor, the first female Muslim American mayor, and the first female South Asian mayor in the United States, of Montgomery in Somerset County, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2019/05/first-female-muslim-mayor-in-the-us-calls-this-nj-town-home.html|title=First female Muslim mayor in the U.S. calls this N.J. town home|author=Olivia Rizzo|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|date=May 21, 2019|access-date=May 21, 2019|quote=She is now the first female South Asian mayor of a New Jersey municipality and the first female Muslim mayor in the state. She is also believed to be the first female Muslim mayor, female Pakistani-American mayor and first female South Asian-American mayor first in the nation, according to Religionnews.com.|archive-date=May 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524015524/https://www.nj.com/news/2019/05/first-female-muslim-mayor-in-the-us-calls-this-nj-town-home.html|url-status=live}}

In January, 2021, Ali Zaidi (lawyer) became the first deputy White House National Climate Advisor serving in the Joe Biden administration.{{cite web |title=Adjunct professor Ali Zaidi chosen as Biden's deputy national climate advisor |url=https://www.stanforddaily.com/2020/12/30/adjunct-professor-ali-zaidi-chosen-as-bidens-deputy-national-climate-advisor/ |website=The Stanford Daily |date=December 31, 2020 |access-date=4 March 2021 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209025152/https://www.stanforddaily.com/2020/12/30/adjunct-professor-ali-zaidi-chosen-as-bidens-deputy-national-climate-advisor/ |url-status=live }}

In March, 2021, President Biden nominated Dilawar Syed to serve as Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration.{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces Key Nominee for the Small Business Administration |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/03/president-biden-announces-key-nominee-for-the-small-business-administration/ |website=White House |date=March 3, 2021 |publisher=White House |access-date=4 March 2021 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309214347/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/03/president-biden-announces-key-nominee-for-the-small-business-administration/ |url-status=live }}

In June, 2021, Lina Khan became the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission.{{cite web|last1=McCabe|first1=David|date=15 June 2021|title=Biden Names Lina Khan, a Big-Tech Critic, as F.T.C. Chair|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/15/technology/lina-khan-ftc.html|access-date=15 June 2021|website=The New York Times|language=en}}

{{Main|Pakistan – United States relations}}

File:Pakistani american rally.JPG against President Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule in November 2007.]]

Several paid TV channels are available for viewing; Pakistani TV serials, reality TV shows and political talk shows are popular among expatriates. These channels can also be viewed on the internet. Pakistani Americans maintain a deep interest in the society and politics of their country of origin. Funds are raised by the community in the US for various political parties and groups in Pakistan. From all the Pakistani diaspora, Pakistani Americans raised the largest number of funds to help Pakistan due to the 2005 earthquake. Tensions among ethnic groups like the Sindhis, Punjabis, Pashtuns, and Baluchis in Pakistan are not reflected in interaction between these subgroups in the US.

The Pakistani community in the United States also remits the largest share of any Pakistani diaspora community since 2002/03, surpassing those from Saudi Arabia which from 2000/01 were $309.9 million and increased to $1.25 billion by 2007/08 and during the same period remittances from the United States increased from $73.3 million to $1.72 billion.

In 2012 the Election Commission of Pakistan granted Overseas Pakistanis the right to vote in future Pakistani general elections. By allowing the setting up of polling stations in embassies and consulates, this move was welcomed by those Pakistanis living abroad particularly in America who stated "Overseas Pakistanis make enormous contributions to the development of Pakistan".[http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/15/overseas-pakistanis-get-right-to-vote.html Overseas Pakistanis get right to vote] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217195241/http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/15/overseas-pakistanis-get-right-to-vote.html |date=February 17, 2012 }} March 1, 2012[https://web.archive.org/web/20150403174002/http://app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=179937&Itemid=2 Pakistani-Americans hail voting rights move] March 1, 2012

Traditionally British Airways has been the main route to Pakistan because London is halfway between Pakistan and the United States. Pan Am was the last full American carrier to pull out of Karachi airport during the late 1980s, due to financial structuring and the hijacking of Flight 73 in September 1986.{{Cite news |last=Khan |first=Kamran |date=1987-02-16 |title=PAN AM RESUMES FLIGHTS TO KARACHI |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/16/pan-am-resumes-flights-to-karachi/75831b19-ac1b-4646-9c35-de4df5d321c3/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |issn=0190-8286}} Since September 11, 2001 the hope of American airlines serving Pakistan was no longer possible. In order to avoid stopping somewhere with poor human rights, Pakistani Americans are liaising for a resumption with EU Carriers such as Lufthansa, or Gulf carriers like Etihad, Emirates, or Qatar Airways.

Non-stop flights have been operated by Pakistan International Airlines, but in June 2020, the US FAA prohibited flights from PIA due to pilots certification concerns after a major scandal erupted.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-09|title=U.S. Bans Pakistan International Airlines Flights Over Pilot Concerns|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-07-09/us-bans-pakistan-international-airlines-flights-over-pilot-concerns|access-date=2020-07-10|website=US News via Reuters}}

• Nadia Ali is a Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter, prominent in electronic dance music and the voice of iiO's 2001 single "Rapture", which dominated dance charts across the world.
• In the comedy television series Silicon Valley, Dinesh Chugtai is the lead software engineer in the fictional tech company Pied Piper. He is originally from Islamabad and is often seen speaking Urdu and making remarks about his homeland. Dinesh has a sarcastic personality and is known for his frequent quarrels with co-worker Bertram Gilfoyle. The character is played by Pakistani-American actor Kumail Nanjiani.
• In the sitcom Seinfeld, Babu Bhatt is a Pakistani immigrant befriended by Jerry Seinfeld in the episode "The Cafe". He appears again in "The Visa", in which he moves into Jerry's building, but Babu is deported to Pakistan due to Jerry not giving him his immigration paperwork (which was mistakenly delivered to his mailbox).
• Mr. Capone-E is a rapper from San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles, California.
• Nadia Yassir, a character on the hit TV show 24, portrayed a fictional Pakistani American.{{cite web|url=http://television.aol.com/tv-celebrity-interviews/marisol-nichols|title=Television News, Reviews and TV Show Recaps - HuffPost TV|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724132200/http://television.aol.com/tv-celebrity-interviews/marisol-nichols|archive-date=July 24, 2008}}
• In 2007, The CW aired the comedy series Aliens in America. The show is about a Wisconsin family that hosts a Pakistani exchange student.{{cite web|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20058683,00.html|title=Aliens In America - EW.com|work=Entertainment Weekly's EW.com|access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022055040/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20058683,00.html|archive-date=October 22, 2012}}
• Faran Tahir is a Pakistani-American actor who has appeared in American television shows such as 24, Monk, and Justice. He also starred as the captain in the 2009 Star Trek film.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
• Iqbal Theba is a Pakistani actor who played Principal Figgins on Glee
• The latest character in Marvel Comics to take up the mantle of Ms. Marvel is Kamala Khan, a Pakistani American in the Millennial Generation (Generation Y). Her character and comic (of which she is the title character) have received critical acclaim, along with being a commercial success.{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=6953|title=Review: Ms. Marvel #1 - Comic Book Resources|work=Comic Book Resources |access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306092936/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=6953|archive-date=March 6, 2015}} A Ms. Marvel TV series was released, with Pakistani-Canadian actress Iman Vellani playing the title character. Vellani reprises the role in the 2023 film The Marvels.
• The Kominas are a Boston-based Pakistani American band, prominent in the punk and taqwacore scenes, appearing in the documentary film Taqwacore in 2009.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
• The fourth season of the American thriller television series Homeland takes place in Islamabad, Pakistan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1136621|title=Pakistan in Homeland: Finally, an accurate portrayal!|last=Ghias|first=Shehzad|date=October 8, 2014|website=www.dawn.com|access-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306232942/http://www.dawn.com/news/1136621|archive-date=March 6, 2016}}
• The American comedy television series The Brink focuses on a geopolitical crisis in Pakistan.
• The American military drama television series Last Resort is set in Pakistan.
• Madam Secretary{{'s}} first season's episode three is based on a diplomatic crises with Pakistan.
• The 2016 HBO miniseries The Night Of revolves around a Pakistani-American family based in Queens, New York.
• Dilshad Vadsaria is a Pakistani-American actress who played Rebecca Logan on the ABC Family television program Greek

• Pakistan day flag raising events are held throughout the US around March 23 and August 14 every year.{{cite web|url=http://www.pacanj.org/past-events/archives|title=Flag Raising 2011 - Pak-American Community Association|access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142754/http://www.pacanj.org/past-events/archives|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}
• Pakistan Independence Day Parade: The event is held every year around August 14 (the date Pakistan was established in 1947) in New York City
• The First International Urdu Conference was held in the United Nations Headquarters in New York in June 2000. The conference was organized by Urdu Markaz New York.
• APPNA Conference: This event is organized every year by APPNA (Association of Pakistani Physicians in North America). The conference attracts hundreds of Pakistani American physicians and their families from all over North America. APPNA's doctors have also volunteered their time and services for a free health care event taking place throughout June 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.southasiamail.com/news.php?id=69762|title=South Asia Mail|access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402173222/http://www.southasiamail.com/news.php?id=69762|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}
• Pakistan Independence Day Festival of Battery Park: This is the largest gathering of Pakistani Americans in United States which was founded by a political and social activist, Khalid Ali.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
• In April 2010, the USA Cricket Association signed a deal with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host games in America. The PCB said that they had reached an agreement with the USA Cricket Association and anticipated games starting in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5698138-usa-cricket-board-signs-deal-with-new-zealand-pakistan-to-play-in-us|title=Sports|access-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013142743/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5698138-usa-cricket-board-signs-deal-with-new-zealand-pakistan-to-play-in-us|archive-date=October 13, 2012}} This is also due to the large Pakistani American and Pakistani expatriate community residing in the United States.

{{Main list|List of Pakistani Americans}}

{{Portal|Pakistan|United States}}

• Overseas Pakistani
• Baloch Americans
• Pashtun Americans
• Punjabi Americans
• Punjabi Mexican Americans
• Sindhi Americans
• Americans in Pakistan
• Pakistan–United States relations
• Indian Americans
• Afghan Americans
• Iranian Americans

{{Reflist}}

• Malik, Iftikhar Haider. Pakistanis in Michigan: A Study of Third Culture and Acculturation (AMS Press, 1989).
• Mosbah, Aissa, Ahmed Mukt Abdhamid Abusef, and Salah Belghoul. "Migration and Immigrant Entrepreneurship among Pakistanis: An Assessment of the State of Affairs." Journal of Management and science, 15.2 (2017): 45–53. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aissa_Mosbah/publication/322631624_Migration_and_Immigrant_Entrepreneurship_among_Pakistanis_An_Assessment_of_the_State_of_Affairs/links/5a64b850a6fdccb61c57ed8e/Migration-and-Immigrant-Entrepreneurship-among-Pakistanis-An-Assessment-of-the-State-of-Affairs.pdf online]
• Najam, Adil. Portrait of a Giving Community: Philanthropy by the Pakistani American Diaspora (Harvard University: Global Equity Initiative, 2007).
• Pavri, Tinaz. "Pakistani Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs (3rd ed., vol. 3, Gale, 2014), pp. 425–436. [https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3273300139/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=8a8c93d6 online]
• Taus-Bolstad, Stacy. Pakistanis in America (Lerner Publications, 2006).
• Williams, Raymond Brady. Religions of Immigrants from India and Pakistan: New Threads in the American Tapestry (Cambridge University Press, 1988). [https://www.jstor.org/stable/27500831?seq=1 online review]

• [https://www.mei.edu/center-pakistan-studies Center for Pakistan Studies, Middle East Institute]

{{Pakistan–United States relations}}

{{Overseas Pakistani}}

{{Asian Americans}}

{{Demographics of the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Asian diaspora in the United States

Category:Pakistani diaspora in the United States

America

Category:South Asian diaspora in the United States