Emergence of Saraiki National Identity and Demand for a Separate Province

Author(s) : Umer Farooq Dogar

Abstract:

Recent years have witnessed increasing number of voices in favor of creation of more administrative units in Pakistan. However, there is a lack of consensus as to whether these units should be created based purely on administrative lines or ethnic and nationalistic identity of people. Movement for Saraiki identity and a separate province based on this is among the strongest movements for new provinces in Pakistan. Economic disparity between various regions within Punjab has been cited as the main reason behind the development of pro-Saraikistan sentiments among people. Although the upper/central regions of current Pakistani Punjab have remained as an administrative unit separate from southern region i.e. Saraiki belt, the linguistic border between the dialects spoken in both areas is not clearly defined. However, starting in the 1970s, Saraiki nationalists have built up a very strong narrative supporting a separate identity for Saraiki language and people. Backed up by economic and social deprivation on one side and efforts of nationalists in standardization of Saraiki language on the other side, nationalistic sentiment has taken firm roots in indigenous people residing in Saraiki belt. Nonetheless, until very recently this nationalist agenda and the demand for separate province remained a bit away from mainstream political scenario. However, after the restoration of electoral democracy in 2008, demand for new provinces including that for Saraiki province has been gaining more support from mainstream political parties. Although, the establishment of a separate province for Saraiki speaking population still looks a bit difficult in near future, support for it among the key political players as well as general population both inside and outside the Saraiki belt is increasing day by day.