‍The Cultural Family Life Library

CFAB has initiated this project because serious case reviews have highlighted that social work professionals sometimes require further support and training to work with families whose culture or religion differs from their own. Culture-specific training can help inform practice and avoid the risk of inadvertently enabling situations that put some children at risk. Some professionals also feel they lack the tools or confidence to build on cultural strengths, or to question specific cultural practices, potentially hindering better outcomes for children. This is an introductory guide intended for social workers supporting families in the UK. This guide may also be of interest to education, health and legal professionals, supporting children and families from different communities.  

An introduction to working with families with heritage from Pakistan

Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a relatively young country, coming into existence during the Partition of British India in 1947, which created two independent nations, India and Pakistan (comprising of West and East Pakistan). East Pakistan then became the separate nation of Bangladesh in 1971, after a war relating to the marginalisation of Bengalis in East Pakistan.

Pakistan, a country with strong Islamic traditions, is not only young in terms of its inception but also in population demographics, with two-thirds of the population under the age of 30, according to the 2017 census.

Pakistan is the 5th most populous country in the world, with a population estimated at 245 million, and is a country known for its ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. Pakistan’s culture is a mixture of Indian, Persian, Afghan, Central Asian, South Asian and Western Asian influences due to its geographical, ethnic and historical diversity.

‍

This introductory guide covers topics including:

• A short history of the Pakistani diaspora in the UK
• Pakistani migration to the UK
• Ethnic groups in Pakistan
• Religion and Islamophobia
• Communication
• Family structure and dynamic
• Marriage
• Divorce
• 'Honour-based' abuse
• Disability
• Working with social services in Pakistan
• Perception of social services
• Culturally relevant networks and resources

‍

‍