The national identity of any state consists of an amalgamation of cultural elements to which the majority of the nation's citizens can relate. These cultural elements are both varied and diverse, including religious, linguistic and gastronomic aspects to name a few.
The vast majority of the Pakistani population identifies with a common national identity, though several provincial subcultures have continued to exist in the background. To say that Pakistan may be losing this national identity implies that such an identity is non-evolving and constant and thus any change in the cultural behaviour of the Pakistani people would indicate a negative 'loss' of identity.
I think that the changes that have come about in the national identity of the Pakistani people are, quite to the contrary, the result of a natural process of adaptation and evolution which the national identities of all countries in the globalized world of the twenty-first century are subject to.
The national identity of Pakistan has historically held a strong relation to the religion of the majority. Cultural festivals, conservative norms and practices which take their root from Islamic traditions form such a great part of the everyday lives of the majority of Pakistani citizens that the culture itself is often considered one of conservatism.
Of the many changes that have come about in Pakistani cultural behaviour in recent years has been a marked drift away from conservative views, perhaps best personified by the Pakistani youth. Though religious beliefs could be argued to be just as strongly a part of the average Pakistani's belief system as before, the general acceptance for less conservative forms of dress and behaviour typically associated with 'western' culture indicates a certain shift away from the more reserved norms of yesteryears. Though still a taboo in many parts of the country, matters regarding sexuality have come to the forefront of late, though in different manners then may be seen elsewhere. The legal recognition of the 'third-sex' for example, and the proliferation of ideas about contraceptive use across the country (adapted to Pakistani society with the phrase 'family planning') are both relatively recent developments and indicate a definite drift towards what might otherwise be termed a 'modern' society.
The media in any country serves as a plain indicator of current societal preferences, whether by way of the kind of entertainment that is being presented or the manner in which this is done. Perhaps following international trends and pressures, the media in Pakistan has, independent of its content, gone through a process of great change regarding the degree of freedom that it has been granted by the state. Now free to say almost anything, the media in Pakistan has shown great evolution of content, with the freedom being accorded to the media being credited by some as being a catalyst in the evolution process of the kind of content that the Pakistani population is exposed to.
Evidence of the great influence of foreign cultures on Pakistani entertainment is found easily in the recent Pakistani music industry. Gone are the days where lyricism and poetry were the core of any Pakistani song. Modern day Pakistani music has incorporated 'Rap' and 'Pop' styles from the west and is using the emphasis that such styles place on beat and rhythm to escape the great importance that was formerly accorded to the poetic lyrics. Where formerly the lyrics of songs were written in a pure and unadulterated form of one of the provincial languages, modern-day renditions focus on a mélange of different dialects along with great usage of English. That the music industry in Pakistan has been influenced by foreign cultures in our globalised world is clear, and as such, the impact of the music industry on the Pakistani identity has also been in the direction of change.
To many, the cuisine and gastronomical aspects of Pakistan are a clear indicator of change. Any debate focusing on the potential merits or demerits of globalisation in Pakistan will quote the competition that is created between multinationals like Mc.Donalds and the local 'daal-chawal walas' as evidence of the 'evils' of globalisation. The fact that a major part of the food market in Pakistan is now occupied by such MNCs is only a testament to the fact that Pakistani tastes have changed and incorporated dishes that were otherwise foreign. It is more interesting, still, to notice that with Mc.Donalds and its partner 'hamburger chains', a plethora of local chains has also opened up which offer the people similar products but with Pakistani 'twists' adapted to the domestic market. This adaptation of foreign dishes to local tastes serves as one of many examples of how Pakistani culture is able to imbibe the 'imported' elements of foreign cultures and thus add to the pre-existing national identity, without losing any of its originality in the process. The flourishing 'coffee cultures' that hold huge markets in major cities in Pakistan further emphasise this drift away from typically Pakistani behavior.
The examination of these facets of Pakistani culture and societal behavior serves to show that changes to our national identity have, indeed, been brought about at a result of foreign influences in our globalized world. The question remains as to whether these changes or adaptations of our culture qualify as a 'loss' of identity. I believe that the Pakistanis of today are just as 'Pakistani' as their forefathers, but that the definition of the modern day Pakistani has been slightly altered.
Today's Pakistani has different tastes, which are more in line with those that may be found in the west, but are different from western tastes nonetheless. Where modern-day students in Pakistan may not be as well versed in pure Urdu poetry of centuries past, they are more proficient in English and are adapting English itself in order to produce a Pakistani voice. The identity of Pakistan is influenced by those of other countries, just like foreign states are greatly influenced by Pakistani cultural elements such as fashion and music. The globalized world allows all national identities in the world to undergo a constant process of evolution and change, which to me is nothing short of a growth of the identities rather than a loss of them.