business manners of pakistani people

Culture and Business Etiquettes/Manners in

Pakistan

By Dr. Ali Kashif2012.01.19

[email protected] Southern Power Co. Ltd.

mailto:[email protected]

Pakistani Names

Pakistani names often include a name that denotes a person's class, tribe, occupation, family, or other status indicator. Asif Ali Zardari Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain Benazir Bhutto Marvi Memon Hina Rabbani Khar Hakeem Saeed

Common Casts/Family name: Memon, Chaudhary, Hussain, Zardari, etc.

Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Pakistani Names…

They may also include two names that have a specific meaning when used together, and the meaning is lost if the names are separated. Ishrat-ul-Ibaad

It is best to ask a person how they wish to be addressed.


Hierarchical Society Pakistan is a hierarchical society. People are respected because of their age and

position. Older people are viewed as wise and are granted

respect. In a social situation, they are served first and their drinks

may be poured for them. Brothers, Sisters, and too some extent friends of parents

are also treated with same respect like parents.


Respected people

Titles are very important and denote respect. It is expected that you will use a person's title and

their surname until invited to use their first name.

Some people can be respected on religious grounds such as who have performed Hajj, who have beard, or who follow teaching of Islam.

In family set up, son and brother-in-law are very respected and given special welcome.


Preferences in People

When it comes to making a decision regarding people such as hanging out, choosing someone for some position, they prefer to chose someone who has similar culture, language, ideology, or from his cast (brathery-ism). This decision sometimes comes consciously and

sometimes unconsciously. Such as Sindhi will prefer Sindhi on other provinces

people because of language and culture. People can give preferences to others with similar

cast.


Meeting and Greeting In Pakistan, personal space is less than western

countries, while greeting, people sometime stand too close.

When you meet someone, shake hands. Usually firmness of a person handshaking will tell you how

much he is happy or welcome you. In normal cases, if junior meet senior, he hand shake softly

and gives a bow gesture. If you meet junior, you can pat him on his shoulder or arm

and ask him, how are you. It shows you take care of him.


Meetings and Greetings…

If you want to greet and give respect, if you are sitting, stand up and shake hand. If he is walking and you are walking too, better stop for a

while and greet him. Men shake hands with each other.

If they get frank, they may hug as well as shake hands.

Women shake hand and also hug. Women do ask a lot of questions to each other about

their wearing such as clothes price, quality, from where did they buy.. etc


Meetings and Greetings…

Pakistanis take their time during greetings and ask about the person's health, family, and business success.

Usually people are extremely hospitable in villages, sometime they even will push you to be their guests, and if you reject directly, they can mind it.

Pakistani will meet you warmly, they can be your friends easily, but they take their time to trust on you when it comes to matter of business and especially family.


For Foreigner Women If a foreigner woman visit Pakistan, following are my

suggestions. Do not get frank quickly with men especially when

there are only men around, take your time to know him.

You may get frank with Pakistani women. Avoid wearing dresses like skirt. Jeans is common to wear in big cities like Karachi,

Islamabad, Lahore, etc. If you are visiting village areas, better wear local

dress or Pakistan national dress.Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Family The extended family is the basis of the social structure

and individual identity. It includes the nuclear family, immediate relatives, distant

relatives, tribe members, friends, and neighbours. Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationships,

even business. In rural areas like villages, many families are living in a joint

system. They cook together and do dealings with other families or

people like a unit. Father or oldest brother is usually head of family. Head of family usually make many decisions, sometimes with

discussion and sometimes without discussion with family.Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Family…

In cities, joint family system is not common, however, parents chose to live with one son usually youngest son or oldest.

The family is more private than in many other cultures.

Female relatives are protected from outside influences. Men usually do not discuss outside problems at home.

It is considered inappropriate to ask questions about a Pakistani's wife or other female relatives directly.


Extended Family List of extended family is sometime very long.

However, this culture is changing in cities, but exists in villages. Friends, neighbor, colleague’s sisters and mother are

treated like your own sister and mother. Females in neighbors are treated like sisters or

daughters. Son-in-law or brother-in-law of one house is treated like

son-in-law and brother-in-law of whole village.


Neighbor Rights

In religion Islam, there are special rights mentioned of neighbors and in some situations their rights are more than relatives. In Pakistan, people care about their neighbors. Exchanging food items or other daily life goods is

common. If they cook something special, they sent some part of it

to their neighbors. In emergency situations, neighbors are usually first to

call and they are first who come to help. However, this culture is more stronger in villages than

cities.Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Gift Giving Etiquette Do not give alcohol. Gifts are not opened when received. Gifts are given with two hands. In business sector, gifts depends from type of

receiver. Some people do not like to receive gifts, they think it is

bribery. Some people like to exchange gifts. Best gifts for high class people (bureaucrat, diplomat, etc)

can be cultural gifts.


Gift Giving Etiquette… If invited to a Pakistani's home, bring the hostess a small

gift such as flowers or cake or cookies or fruit. Men should avoid giving flowers to women.

If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female relative.

However, it is very common to buy gifts for their children.


Dining Etiquette If invited to a home you will most likely have to

remove your shoes. Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door.

Dress conservatively. Pakistanis usually do not go empty hands, better buy

something for kids or for family like cake, chocolate, fruit, sweets, etc.

Arrive approximately 15 minutes later than the stipulated time when invited to dinner or a small gathering.

Show respect for the elders by greeting them first.


Dining Etiquette…

Many people in urban areas do not use eating utensils, although more westernized families do. When in doubt, watch what others are doing and

emulate their behavior. Guests are served first. Then the oldest, continuing

in some rough approximation of age order until the youngest is served.

Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins.

.Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Dining Etiquette…

You will be urged to take second and even third helpings. Saying "I'm full" will be taken as a polite gesture If you are guest, keep always some room in stomach. There will be many dishes that were not served yet,

and will be served after meal such as sweet dishes, fruits, tea with cookies, etc.

If you are full and guest insist, take little for good gesture.

Eat with the right hand.Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Traveling

If you are traveling with a driver If want to get close to him, sit on front seat. Usually to keep distance, high officials sit at back seat.

If your host is driving, sit at front. If traveling in a group, let the older or respected or

senior sit at the front with driver. While traveling, Pakistanis usually like to talk a lot.

Women became close friends in a journey. There is a saying in Pakistan, if you want to know

someone do


Traveling…

There is a saying in Pakistan, if you want to know someone do business with him, eat with him, or travel with him. Pakistanis people judge your manners from eating. They see how open hearted you are in dealings. They see your behavior in traveling.

These three things really help Pakistanis to make an impression or image about someone.


Contents Social Gatherings Business Card Etiquettes

How to exchange business Cards Style of business cards

Building Relationships and Communications Business Meetings Etiquettes Negotiating

Deadlines Follow up


Social gatherings If peers or some official invite you for social

gatherings, better except it. Pakistani love to invite each other in casual meals and

they pay in turns. So if you are invited there and someone insist to pay, let

him pay. Do not mention, but if you happen to eat next time, ask him to let you pay as he paid last time.

They crack a lot of jokes.


Social gatherings… Do not start discussing work in social gatherings,

Pakistani think, if you want to know someone, eat with him or travel with him or do some business with him

If they like you in social gatherings, they will help you in business or at work also.

Some people drink in Pakistan in private circles. If someone offer, choice is yours


Business Card Etiquette

Business cards are exchanged after the initial introduction.

Include any advanced university degrees or professional honors' on your card, as they denote status.

Business cards are exchanged using the right hand only or with two hands.

Make a point of studying any business card you receive before putting into your business card holder.


Style of Name Cards Usually in Government sector, cards are simple with

stamp, name, designation/ department and office number.

In public and private sector, people have details mentioned including e-mails, cell phone numbers.

Usually people in private sector go for expensive cards with a lot of details on it.


Building Relationships & Communication

Third-party introductions are a necessity in this relationship-driven culture.

Pakistanis prefer to work with people they know and trust and will spend a great deal of time on the getting-to-know-you part of relationship building.

You must not appear frustrated by what may appear to be purely social conversation.

Pakistanis are hospitable and enjoy hosting foreign guests..


Building Relationships & Communication…

Relationships take time to grow and must be nurtured. This may require several visits.

Pakistanis often ask personal questions as a way to get to know you as a person. If possible, it is best to answer these questions.

Pakistanis do not require as much personal space as most western cultures. As such, they will stand close to you while conversing

and you may feel as if your personal space has been violated. Do not back away..



Pakistanis are generally indirect communicators. Always demonstrate deference to the most senior

person in the group. In general, Pakistanis speak in a roundabout or

circuitous fashion. Direct statements are made only to those with whom

they have a long-standing personal relationship. They also use a great deal of hyperbole and similes,

and go out of their way to find something to praise..



Be prepared to flatter and be flattered. Pakistanis prefer to converse in a non-controversial

manner they will say they "will try" rather than admit that they

cannot or will not be able to do something. Therefore, it is important to ask questions in several

ways so you can be certain what was meant by a vague response.

Silence is often used as a communication tool. Pakistanis prefer to do business in person. They see

the telephone as too impersonal a medium for business communication.Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Business Meeting Etiquette Appointments should be made in writing, 3 to 4

weeks in advance, (Government Sector usually) meetings with private companies can often be

arranged with less notice. The best time to schedule meetings is in the late

morning or early afternoon. If at all possible, try not to schedule meetings during

Ramadan. The workday is shortened, and since Muslims fast,

they could not offer you tea, which is a sign of hospitality.


Business Meeting Etiquette…

You should arrive at meetings on time and be prepared to be kept waiting. Pakistanis in the private sector who are accustomed to

working with international companies often strive for punctuality, but are not always successful.

It is not uncommon to have a meeting cancelled at the last minute or even once you have arrived.

In general, Pakistanis have an open-door policy, even when they are in a meeting. This means there may be frequent interruptions. They even can take phone calls.


Business Meeting Etiquette…

Other people may wander into the room and start a different discussion.

Meetings are formal. Business meetings start after prolonged inquiries

about health, family, etc. During the first several meetings, business may not

be discussed at all as the relationship is still being developed.


Negotiating Companies are hierarchical. Decisions are made by

the highest-ranking person. Decisions are reached slowly. If you try to rush

things, you will give offense and jeopardize your business relationship.

The society is extremely bureaucratic. Most decisions require several layers of approval.

It often takes several visits to accomplish simple tasks.. .


Negotiating… If you change negotiators, negotiations will have to

start over since relationships are to the person and not the company that they represent.

Pakistanis are skilled negotiators. Price is often a determining factor in closing a deal. Pakistanis strive for win-win outcomes.

Pakistanis can become highly emotional during negotiations.

Discussions may become heated and even revert to Urdu (the national language). It is imperative that you remain calm.


Negotiating…

Do not use high-pressure tactics. Best is to show them you have references, but do

not say that as a threat or warning, just show them you are an important person.

In worst cases, do not depend on one person, try to explore different channels.

Do not lose any person.


Deadlines

Pakistani are sometimes reluctant to deadlines. In Government Sector, do not push them. Better be

friendly. If private sector, such as subcontractors, you can

push.


Follow-up

After deciding everything, sometimes you have to follow up with memos or phone calls.

If he is an authoritative person, better try to talk casually and show you just called to talk or know his health or something. At the end you can just remind him about the deadline

or pending work politely. If you are talking to junior, do not be social, be direct.


business manners of pakistani people

Small Business & Entrepreneurship