The Pakistani Diaspora in UK: Evolution, Integration and Challenges

Abstract

United Kingdom (UK) hosts the largest Pakistani migrant population in Europe. The Pakistani diaspora constitutes the second largest ethnic minority residing in the UK, after British Indians (ONS, 2011). According to the 2011 census, there were a total of 1,174,983 people of Pakistani descent in the UK, a number that has grown from only 5000 in 1951. The proportion of Pakistani born population with British nationality was around 69 per cent of the total (ONS, 2011). This paper first presents a historical background for the Pakistani presence in the United Kingdom and examines its evolution over time. The key question of the integration of Pakistani migrants into British society followed by a review of their ties with the home country is also addressed in this paper. This analysis is conducted with the purpose of identifying the main challenges faced by the Pakistani diaspora in the UK.