Finland: Home away from home for Pakistanis

HELSINKI: Pakistanis have been living in Finland for several decades. According to an official estimate, there were around 3,750 Pakistanis in Finland in 2018 and that number has grown to over 7,000 now.

Majority of Pakistanis in Finland are highly educated and work in skilled professions such as IT, healthcare, and engineering. Despite the challenges of living in a foreign country, Pakistanis have found ways to adapt to their new environment and build a strong community.

One of the main challenges that Pakistanis face when moving to Finland is the language barrier. As Finnish is a notoriously difficult language to learn, most Pakistanis struggle to become fluent in it. However, the government here provides free language courses to immigrants with many Pakistanis taking advantage of these resources. By learning Finnish, Pakistanis can integrate better into the Finnish society and it also helps them find employment opportunities.

Another challenge that Pakistanis face in Finland is the cultural differences. The Finnish culture is known for being reserved and introvert, which can be difficult for people coming from more extrovert cultures like Pakistan. However, Pakistanis have found ways to adapt to the Finnish culture and build relationships with local people. They participate in events, such as music festivals and cultural celebrations, and join clubs and organisations that share their interests.

Winters in Finland are incredibly tough — freezing temperatures, snowstorms, and limited daylight hours. The country is located in the far north, which means that during the winter months the sun rises late and sets early and that results in just a few hours of daylight. Snowfall in Finland can also be very heavy, making it difficult to get around and causing disruptions to transportation. However, despite the challenges, Pakistani people have adapted to these harsh conditions and even embrace the winter as a time for outdoor activities like skiing, skating, and ice fishing.

Despite these challenges, Pakistanis have found many positive aspects of living in Finland.

Finland is known for having a high quality of life, with excellent healthcare, education, and social services. Pakistanis appreciate the safety and security of the Finnish society and enjoy the natural beauty of the country, with its lakes, forests, and Northern Lights.

One of the key ways that Pakistanis have adapted to life in Finland is by building a strong community. There are several Pakistani associations and organisations in Finland that provide support and resources to Pakistanis. These organisations offer language classes, cultural events, and networking opportunities to Pakistanis to connect with each other and with Finnish people.

Pakistanis in Finland face many challenges when adapting to life in a new country, but they have found ways to overcome them and build a strong community. By learning the language, participating in cultural events, and building relationships with Finnish people, Pakistanis in Finland have integrated into the Finnish society and found success in their careers and personal lives.

The writer is a Special Correspondent of Leading News

Email: inform.iramkhan@gmail.com