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Tamils in Pakistan

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Tamils in Pakistan

There is a small community of Tamils in Pakistan. Some Muslim Tamils migrated from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and settled in Karachi after the independence in 1947. These Muslim Tamils have integrated with the Urdu speaking Muhajir community. Although there also some Tamils that have been since early 20th century when Karachi was developed during the British Raj. There are also Sri Lankan Tamils that arrived during the Sri Lankan Civil War and these Tamils are mostly Hindus. The Madrasi Para area behind the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre is home to 100 Tamil Hindu families. The Maripata Temple is located in this neighborhood which is the biggest Tamil Hindu temple in Karachi. In addition, Drigh Road and Korangi also have a Tamil population.

The Catholic community also has a number of Tamils within its ranks. Emmanuel Nicholas, the schoolteacher of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, was a Sri Lankan Tamil and Victor Gnanapragasam, Bishop in Quetta are among the distinguished Tamil Catholic community of Pakistan.

Notable people

  • Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Indian-American Nobel laureate born in pre-independence Lahore
  • Mani Shankar Aiyar, Indian diplomat and politician born in Lahore; served as Indian consul-general in Karachi from 1978 to 1982
  • Emmanuel Nicholas, former schoolteacher of Yousuf Raza Gilani
  • Victor Gnanapragasam, Catholic bishop
  • References

    Tamils in Pakistan Wikipedia