Pashtuns (also known as Pathans or Pakhtuns) are the second-largest ethnic group in Pakistan, making up approximately 15.4% of the total population (around 43.6 million people according to the 2023 census). They primarily inhabit the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and northern Balochistan, although Karachi hosts the largest urban concentration of Pashtuns in the world.
Pashtunwali: They are guided by an unwritten social and ethical code called Pashtunwali, which emphasizes hospitality (Melmastia), revenge or justice (Badal), and sanctuary (Nanawatay).
Language: Their mother tongue is Pashto, an Eastern Iranian language. Despite its massive speaker base, it holds no official status at the federal level in Pakistan, where Urdu and English dominate.
Religion: They are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslims (Hanafi school), and their identity deeply intertwines Islamic values with tribal traditions.
Photo Gallery: © Jordi Zaragozà Anglès / Pakistan - 2000
Extended info about Pashtun People