Religion

Most Pakistani Canadians are Muslims.^[6] Religion figures prominently in the lives of Pakistani Canadian families. The majority of Pakistanis belong to the Sunni sect of Islam;^[7] Pakistani Canadians also participate in and contribute to the larger Islamic community, which includes Arab Canadians, Iranian Canadians, Turkish Canadians, and Asian Canadians.^[8]

Islamic Pakistani Canadians have played important roles in many organizations, including:

• Anjuman Burhani – Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community^[9]
• Canadian Islamic Congress^[10]
• Canadian Shia Muslim Organization^[11]
• Islamic Society of North America^[12]
• Muslim Association of Canada^[13]
• Muslim Canadian Congress^[14]
• Muslim Student Association of Canada^[15][16]

Language

Most Pakistani Canadians speak English or French. However, many also speak a second or third language, as they often tend to keep hold of their native tongues, which includes Urdu, Punjabi.^[17][18]

Provinces

Provinces With Significant Population of Pakistani Canadians (2001 - 2021)^{[19][20][21][22][23]}

Province	2001	2011	2021
Ontario	52,830	109,295	212,650
Alberta	5,450	17,825	39,535
Quebec	7,990	12,470	16,645
British Columbia	6,270	9,770	19,050
Saskatchewan	495	3,195	7,640
Manitoba	565	1,810	5,030
Nova Scotia	305	490	1,285

Figures from the 2021 Canadian Census from StatsCan indicate that there are 303,260 Canadians who claim Pakistani ancestry.^[24]

Metropolitan Areas

Metro Regions With Significant Population of Pakistani Canadians (2001 - 2021)^{[19][20][21][22]}

City	2001	2011	2021
Toronto	43,035	90,610	162,710
Calgary	3,455	10,450	24,050
Montreal	7,890	12,220	16,060
Vancouver	5,680	8,865	15,765
Edmonton	1,745	5,480	12,765
Hamilton	2,055	3,705	8,820
Ottawa	2,255	3,910	7,885
Kitchener-Cambridge Waterloo	1,045	3,210	8,015
Saskatoon	255	1,705	4,150
Winnipeg	560	1,590	4,660
Oshawa	480	1,225	6,965
Regina	220	1,330	2,940
London	665	1,010	3,850

Local municipalities

There were 162,710 Pakistani-Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area per the 2021 Census, making it home to one of the largest Pakistani diaspora communities in North America.^[25][26] Per the 2021 Census, there were 41,705 Pakistani-Canadians residing within the actual city of Toronto;^[27] the majority of the community is concentrated throughout the suburbs of the GTA.

There are 41,025 Pakistani-Canadians residing in Mississauga per the 2021 Census, comprising 5.76% of the City's population.^[28] This is up from 27,345 recorded in the 2011 Census.^[29] Urdu is the 2nd most common reported mother tongue after English, and there are 55,765 Urdu speakers in Mississauga.^[30]

Pakistani-Canadians made up 3.81% of the population of Milton in 2011,^[31] per the 2021 census this number has tripled to 12.88%, making it one of the fastest growing Pakistani communities in the nation.^[32] Urdu is the 2nd most commonly spoken language, with 19,830 speakers per the 2021 Census.^[33]

There are 10,825 Pakistani Canadians living in Metro Vancouver per the 2016 Census.^[34] Most Pakistanis who live in Metro Vancouver reside in areas such as Surrey, which has 5,565 Pakistani Canadian residents per the 2016 Census.^[35]

Lifestyle and economics

Many Pakistanis have used an adaptation technique, and are accustomed to a bicultural lifestyle. At home they live as traditional a life as possible. The old values and hierarchical decision-making patterns are generally respected, and traditional clothing, food, decorations, and language provide the warmth and reassurance of the familiar.^[36] Pakistani Canadians who are members of the community believe in the symbolic importance of owning homes.^[37] Those who came to Canada from Pakistan via East Africa or the Gulf are more likely to be involved in business. A number of Pakistani Canadians are also traders and are primarily involved in exporting and importing goods to and from Pakistan. A number of Pakistani-Canadian businessmen and companies have participated in this development.^[37]

An important aspect of Pakistani participation in the Canadian economy has been the increasing number of Pakistani-Canadian women who work outside the home.^[38] The experience of Pakistani-Canadian women varies, from educated women with large social and economic freedom, to those separated in the community from traditional gender roles.^[38] Still, Pakistanis have shifted towards more freedom for Pakistani-Canadian women, including later marriages, more liberal attire, and greater social and economic freedom.^[38]

Young people who were born in Canada or brought as children share a particular set of issues and concerns with their parents and the wider Pakistani-Canadian community. Their perspective regarding adaptation and integration is generally not informed by significant direct experience of the culture and values of the homeland, and, as a result, parents and grandparents take on a mediating role. They have to decide what aspects of their traditional lifestyle and values must be left behind and what can be transferred to and re-established in their new home. Most significantly, they generally assume the responsibility for making these choices for their children as well. The family – even in its truncated form in the diaspora – is both the base for substantial cultural transfer and the source of intergenerational conflict.^[38]

Community and media

The Toronto Pakistan Day Event is a small scale event held on Pakistan Day to celebrate Pakistani culture.^[39] A number of Canadian television networks broadcast programming that features Pakistani-Canadian culture. These television shows often highlight Pakistani-Canadian events in Canada, and also show events from Pakistan involving Pakistanis who reside there, for example, The Voice of Pakistan – Vision TV (since 1971).