Abstract:
The Pakistani Diaspora in North America is both young and new,
therefore, there is lack of systemic study on Pakistani immigrants flow
into North America and their characteristics. In this backdrop, the paper
looks at the engagement of the Pakistani-North Americans in the
countries of origin and destination while existing in transnational spaces.
Governments are looking for avenues to increase their collaboration
with diaspora communities. This interest is not only limited to economic
sphere but also encompasses a range of other resources that can be
mobilized through transnational and other networks for mutual benefit.
This paper also highlights that Canada’s officially multicultural
environment appears less inclusive for diaspora communities in socioeconomic terms than assimilationist America. There are, however,
studies on Muslims or South Asians (mostly Indians) in America from
which insights and parallels can be drawn. While the interest in the
diaspora and their links to home countries have been reiterated in
international debates and discussions, they are central to the
development discourse of Pakistan, given the critical role they have
played through remittances sent back to Pakistan.
