Pakistani Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Pakistani families in Birmingham come from every part of Pakistan, but the largest number trace their roots to Mirpur in Azad Kashmir and to the Punjab. Men came first in the 1950s and 1960s to work in foundries, textile mills and on the buses, and were later joined by their families, building communities in Small Heath, Sparkbrook, Alum Rock, Washwood Heath and Bordesley Green.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 195,734 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Pakistani or British Pakistani; 67,449 people living in the city had been born in Pakistan; and 25,131 residents gave Urdu as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still. That makes people of Pakistani heritage Birmingham's largest ethnic group after White British.

Working for Birmingham

Today people of Pakistani heritage work in every part of Birmingham life. They are GPs, hospital consultants, pharmacists, dentists, teachers, lawyers, accountants, engineers, police officers, taxi drivers and councillors. Pakistani-owned businesses, from the restaurants of the Balti Triangle to wholesalers, garages and property firms, employ thousands of people.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Pakistani community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Eid in the Park at Small Heath has been one of the largest Eid gatherings in Europe, and the city's mosques are at the heart of community life. Cricket is a passion, and the Balti Triangle is known across Britain. Pakistani weddings, music and fashion bring colour to the city.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Pakistani community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.