Greeting

Greeting is an important part of the meeting, which in Pakistan is traditionally given ample time. When interacting with a Pakistani partner, do not rush straight into a discussion of business matters. On the contrary, invest time in the greeting procedure. This will strengthen your relationship.

The accepted form of greeting in the business environment in Pakistan is a handshake. Men who are friends may hug or pat each other on the arm, shoulder, back. A rather formal and polite relationship is maintained for a very long time with foreign colleagues.

The handshake is necessarily accompanied by a verbal greeting, also common in the Arab world: As-salamu alaikum, which means Peace be with you. The response is to say Wa alaykum as-salam, which means And to you peace.

If your conversation with a Pakistani colleague is in English, don't be surprised when your colleague responds with "Hello"and a polite question "How are you?"your colleague starts to tell you how he is doing. In Pakistan, it is customary to really answer this question rather than limiting yourself to the formal phrase "I'm fine, thank you" as is done in many countries of the world.

The corporal contact as well as eye contact between the sexes is not accepted because of the Muslim traditions that are strong in this state. Foreign women should wait for an initiative from a man before extending a hand to greet him. The same applies to foreign men, who should pay attention to the woman's behavior in this situation.

The traditional Pakistani greeting in formal situations is the right hand gesture, which the speaker places on his chest in the heart area. At this time the speaker tilts his head slightly as if bowing to the other person. With this gesture the speaker expresses his sincere feelings and respect towards the interlocutor. It is also a form of greeting in Arab countries such as Iraq.

When greeting a Pakistani colleague for the first time, be as respectful and deferential as possible.

In that country it is common to greet the older person first. Such a person is unlikely to start a conversation on his or her own, but will encourage a younger person to do so if he or she starts the conversation.

In this country, it is customary to greet your older colleague first.

Introduction

Pakistan has several naming traditions, which vary according to a person's ethnic group, region, clan or religion. Most Pakistani names have Arabic, Indo-Persian and Turkish roots.

Family or clan identity is important and traditionally treated with great respect. For this reason, many Pakistanis add the name of their family or clan to their family name.

Duties, professional qualifications, academic titles and degrees are important in Pakistan. These regalia help to determine the status of the interlocutor, to understand his position in the company/organization. So when you address a partner, especially during first meetings or in formal situations, always give your title/degree and only then your partner's last name.

If you do not know or have no title, qualifications, degree, or rank, use polite forms of address, such as Mr, Ms, Mrs, Miss, followed by the person's last name.

Colleagues and peers call each other by their first names. Foreign partners should not take the initiative to use first names. Wait for your Pakistani counterpart to suggest you do so

Many Pakistani women keep their maiden name after marriage because Islamic law does not require a mandatory change of last name after marriage.

Many women retain their maiden name after marriage.

Exchange of Business Cards

In business practices in Pakistan, business cards are usually exchanged at the beginning of a meeting.

Business cards should contain all the necessary standard information, including name, title, company name, current contact information.

If you have academic degrees or titles, such as master, PhD or doctorate, put them on your business card. Your status will certainly be enhanced, because in Pakistan, education is highly valued.

Pakistan is a multi-ethnic and multilingual state. The official languages of the state are Urdu and English. Although the latter can be considered a British colonial legacy, it is accepted and widely spoken in Pakistan. For this reason, the text of the business card may be in English.

There is no special ritual in the business card handing in the business practice of Pakistan.

When you receive your business card, please remember that business cards, like any other paper or document, should be passed with your right hand and not your left.

When your Pakistani colleague passes it to you, use both hands to pay attention to the business card and show respect to your business associate.

Then receiving your business card, do not handle it carelessly such as putting it aside, writing on it, or bending it.

Small Talk: Overview

The small talk is an important part of Pakistan's business practices, a kind of prelude to negotiations. It is important for Pakistani businessmen to get to know their potential partner, because building relationships is at the core of any business. These conversations create a sense of trust between partners, a very important category in the East.

Be aware that personal topics are not taboo topics in Pakistani culture. You might be asked if you are married and how many children you have, what your education is, and you might even be asked about your culture and religion.

No one should ever be too hasty in small talk. Getting ahead of the curve on business-related topics can cause your project to go off without a start. Show sincere interest in the partner, his interests and preferences, such as sports or travel. Behave naturally, in a friendly and engaging way.

In your interactions, especially with older people, it's important to be as polite and courteous as possible. Pakistanis tend to treat guests with respect and expect the same treatment when they themselves visit.

In the beginning of a business relationship, Pakistanis tend to be somewhat formal and reserved, believing that emotional displays, including boisterous language and flashy behavior, are indicators of immaturity and lack of experience.

As in other countries, younger generations are less formal, seeming relaxed and informal in their style.

As in other countries, younger people tend to be informal and more outgoing.

Preferred Topics

Family issues are traditionally an important topic of conversation in Pakistani society. Take a personal interest in your partner, ask about his or her health and affairs, and ask questions about the family. Don't mention any female family members.

At the same time, share information about yourself. Your partner will want to know about your background, education, experience, qualifications, etc.

Your Pakistani counterpart will certainly appreciate your positive remarks about the rich history and culture of this eastern country. Pakistanis are proud of their heritage and their past achievements.

Pakistan is known for its festivals, national celebrations, and cultural events. Some of them are religious in nature, such as Eid al-Adha, the Day of Sacrifice. However, there are also a number of secular holidays that are widely celebrated in this country, such as Independence Day or Pakistan Day.

Travel, including cities and attractions in Pakistan to visit.

Sports, especially cricket.

Relevant business matters.

Food, food, cuisine.

Taboo Topics

Family is generally a popular topic in Pakistani business culture, but questions and conversations about the female half of the family - wives, mothers, sisters and especially daughters - should be avoided.

Religion and anything related to Islam is a rather sensitive topic that should not be touched on in conversation. Don't make remotely critical remarks.

Political topics are best avoided altogether, especially discussions of regional issues, like the India-Pakistan dispute over disputed territories in Kashmir.

In dealing with Pakistani colleagues avoid discussing the politics of other countries, especially Israel and the US.

avoid local issues, even if you know them well.

Personal Space

In this culture, the distance between people is shorter than in Central and Northern Europe, for example, or in the United States. In particular, this is because people are used to living rather crowded lives, they feel comfortable communicating when they are less than half a meter away.

Don't take this as insulting or even aggressive behavior. Try not to try to increase this distance by taking a step back, for example, as this will be interpreted negatively.

If Pakistani men stand fairly close to one another during conversations, the distance between speakers increases dramatically when a woman appears.

Pakistanis can be described as active and emotional. Pakistanis tend to use a great deal of body language and gestures as they converse.

Physicians use physical touch as a sine qua non of verbal communication in Pakistani society. They include patting the shoulder, the hand, the back, and long handshakes. This, of course, applies only to men, who should not touch women under any circumstances.

Have a non-intrusive eye contact with your Pakistani partner while communicating. A staring straight ahead will be considered rude behavior.

In your conversations with your Pakistani partner, keep eye contact in a non-intrusive manner.

Communication Specifics

Pakistan is a multinational state and a multi-ethnic state, so the style and manner of communication may differ depending on which ethnicity you are dealing with.

In general, Pakistani speech is not straightforward. On the contrary, they often have some subtext which is influenced by factors such as the relationship between the speakers, their status in society and the situation of communication itself. In Pakistani society, there is an undeniable emphasis on relationships, and it is important to be tactful, avoid snap judgments and generally not express thoughts too linearly.

The avoidance of harsh language primarily refers to the word "no," which many try not to use in speech because it can cause a loss of face and thus disrupt harmony. If the speaker does need to express a negative answer, it will look rather evasive in Pakistan.

When talking, avoid asking general questions that require a "yes" or (especially) "no" answer, especially if your question could be interpreted as a request. Your partner will probably agree to do what he is asked, but it will be something he would not want to do. Instead of a direct refusal, he will politely but evasively agree. It is important to catch some nonverbal indication of his true intent. The way consent is expressed, whether warm and emotional or reserved and cautious, can provide some clues.

Such hidden meanings are well understood in Pakistani society. However, foreigners will have to take the time to understand them and learn to respond to them appropriately. So be careful and discreet when talking to your partner.

If you are sitting at a low table or on the floor at a particular event, take note of the position you assume. Your partner should not see the bottom of your shoes, it's considered a very rude, even insulting gesture, since feet are considered a dirty part of the body.