The Pakistani Community

 

Every August since 1978, members of Toronto’s Pakistani community have marched in a parade from Nathan Phillips Square to Queen’s Park to celebrate Pakistan’s Day of Independence. This colourful ceremony, followed by speeches and a cultural program of patriotic songs and folk dances, symbolizes the close co-operation of the community’s major organizations and media in celebrating Pakistani culture in the city.

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Although the history of the Pakistanis dates back 5,000 years to the Mohan-Jo-Daro civilization, Pakistan is a relatively new nation that achieved its independence in 1947. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is located on the Arabian Sea between Afghanistan and India. Following Pakistan’s independence, there was a large exodus of Pakistanis, and in the late 1950s and early ’60s, the first people began to immigrate to Canada indirectly from the United States, Britain, Germany, and France.

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In the 1960s, the Muslim community established Islamic centres in a rented building on Dundas Street West and at St. Mary’s Church on Bathurst Street. A building on Rhodes Avenue was purchased and became the Islamic Community Centre. Today, the focal point of religious life for Toronto’s Pakistani community is the Jami Mosque on Boustead Avenue, established in the early 1970s. The Mosque is open 24 hours a day and has a major research library. It operates a weekly radio program and hosts lectures and programs featuring Muslim scholars from around the world.

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In the early 1970s, a second wave of immigrants arrived from Pakistan. These new settlers eventually sponsored their families to come to Canada. Today, Toronto’s Pakistani community numbers close to 50,000 people.

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The Pakistan Canada Association, established in 1968, was the community’s first organization in the city. In 1982, the National Federation of Pakistani Canadians, with headquarters in Ottawa, was formed as an umbrella organization to help promote the group’s separate identity from the South Asian and East Indian communities in Canada. The federation sponsors seminars and publications on issues related to the Pakistani community in Canada and organizes a women’s conference and youth conference on Labour Day weekend.

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Shops carrying imported clothing and carpets from Pakistan can be found throughout Toronto. The community’s rich cultural traditions are manifested through the music of the tabla and sitar, and art exhibits by internationally acclaimed Pakistani artists. In 1988, the community entered Metro’s International Caravan for the first time with the Lahore Pavilion, which featured the exciting sword dances of the Pathan tribesmen, carpet weaving demonstrations, and a bazaar of brassware, fabrics, saris, jewelry, and artifacts.

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Places to Go

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Pakistani restaurants, spice shops, and sari boutiques are found around the city, particularly in East Toronto in the Pape, Gerrard, Coxwell, and Donlands area. Butcher shops sell Halal meat (slaughtered in a ritual manner), video stores carry Pakistani movies, and splendid Pakistani carpets are sold in rug stores.

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Popular Pakistani cuisine includes tandoori chicken (cooked in a clay oven using charcoal), samosas (deep fried turnovers stuffed with spiced ground meat or potatoes and peas), chat (a sauce made with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, radishes, and mint), and chicken, lamb, and beef curries. Desserts include halwah (sweet wheat or carrot puddings), and accompanying most meals is naan (unleavened bread from a clay oven) and puris (puffy breads deep-fried in oil).

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Shala-Mar, (391 Roncesvalles Ave), serves appetizers such as cumin-scented vegetable samosas and pakora with fresh vegetables in light batters; main courses include karahi chicken and lamb biryani and an assortment of curry dinners, including chicken, beef, shrimp, and vegetable.

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Pakistani fare can be sampled at Pita Delight, (Tel. 416-299-3833, 2360 Midland Ave).

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Pakistani videos can be rented from Videohome, (Tel. 416-748-1702, 130 Westmore Dr).

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Halal meats such as lamb, goat, beef, and chicken, as well as other groceries are available at Madina Halal Meat & Grocery, (Tel. 416-461-0404, 1063 Danforth Ave); and Indo Canada Bakery, (Tel. 416-469-3753, 1002 Danforth Ave).

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Rugs from Pakistan are sold at Karakashian Rug Gallery, (Tel. 416-964-1995, 1257 Bay St); and Tapis d’Orient, (Tel. 416-658-7518, 1440 Bathurst St).

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Islamic literature can be found at Islamic Centre of Toronto (Jami Mosque), (Tel. 416-769-1192, 56 Boustead Ave); and ICNA Book Service, (Tel. 416-609-2452, 100 McLevin).

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Religious Centres, Schools and Other Institutions

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•   JAFFARI MOSQUE, (Tel. 905-881-1763, 7340 Bayview Ave., Thornhill).

•   ISLAMIC CENTRE OF TORONTO (JAMI MOSQUE), (Tel. 416-769-1192, www.jamimosque.com, 56 Boustead Ave). The mosque is open 24 hours a day and holds services every Friday.

•   ISLAMIC FOUNDATION OF TORONTO INC., (Tel. 416-321-0909, www.islamicfoundation.ca, 441 Nugget Ave). The foundation completed a project in 1995 on Markham Road, between Sheppard and Finch avenues, which includes a large prayer hall, research library/reading room, gymnasium, cafeteria, and other facilities that cater to the needs of Muslim Torontonians.

•   MADINAH MASJID, (Tel. 416-465-7833, www.madinahmasjid.org, 1015 Danforth Ave).

•   MAKKI MASJID, (Tel. 905-458-8778, 8450 Torbram Rd., Brampton).

•   MALTON ISLAMIC ASSOCIATION, (Tel. 905-671-2991, 6836 Professional Ct., Mississauga).

•   MASJIDE ALNOOR, (Tel. 416-658-6667, 277 Scott Rd).

•   REXDALE MUSSALAH, (Tel. 416-744-3474, 1770 Albion Rd).

•   ISLAMIC COMMUNITY SCHOOL, (Tel. 905-272-4303, 1525 Sherway Dr). A full-time elementary public school run by the Islamic community.