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Some stories are pushed into the shadows
Opinion
Opinion at Parchayi is a space for perspectives, reflections, and critical discussions on the realities faced by Pakistani women in the UK. Writers share insights on social issues, policy, culture, and lived experiences, offering deeper understanding beyond the headlines. By giving space to diverse viewpoints, this section encourages dialogue and thoughtful engagement with the issues that matter.
The Double Standard of Modesty
Growing up Pakistani means learning very early that what you wear is everyone’s business. At home, it’s: “Dupatta lo.” “Change that, guests are coming.” “You’re Pakistani, not goray log.” Outside, it’s: “Why are you so covered?” “Are your parents strict?” “You’d look better if you dressed more normally.” So basically, you can’t win... Pakistani Girls Are Raised to Self-Police... Pakistani girls are taught to think three steps ahead before leaving the house. Is the top too tig
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Growing Up ‘Too Foreign’ at School and ‘Too Western’ at Home
For many second-generation South Asians, identity is not something you discover; it’s something you constantly negotiate. At school, you’re reminded that you’re different. Your lunch smells unfamiliar. Your name is mispronounced, then shortened without asking. Your parents’ accents become a punchline. You’re asked where you’re “really” from, even though you were born down the road. At home, the message quietly shifts. You’re told you’ve changed. That you’re becoming “too We
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The “clean girl” aesthetic is hitting a little too close to home.
The slick bun, oiled hair, minimal makeup look is everywhere right now... It’s being called the “clean girl” aesthetic, and it’s framed as calm, put-together, and effortless. For a lot of Pakistani girls who grew up in the West, it doesn’t feel new. It feels familiar, in a slightly uncomfortable way. Growing up, many of us went to school with oiled hair and tight braids because that’s what our mothers did. It wasn’t about trends or aesthetics. It was about care, routine, and
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Who really is the "Magazi Khuda?"
Let’s talk about a sentence we’ve all heard: “Shohar tumhara magazi khuda hota hai.” People say it casually like it’s advice, like it’s religion, like it’s normal. But think about it for a second. Why does marriage in our culture keep slipping into the language of worship? There is a hadith people love to quote: If Allah had allowed worship of anyone other than Himself, He would have commanded women to worship their husbands. This hadith can be found in Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi an
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Top Stories and Breaking News
Canadian Researcher’s Disappearance in Lahore Triggers Investigation
Canadian doctoral researcher Hamza Ahmad Khan, who arrived in Pakistan earlier this month for academic work, was reported missing on February 19 after leaving his residence in the city’s Defence Housing Authority area late at night. Police registered a kidnapping case against unidentified persons after his friend filed a First Information Report (FIR, police complaint) alleging he had not returned home. The case drew attention from human rights groups and activists, who urged
Q&A: Zahrah Ahmad — A Pakistani Psychologist on Belonging, Barriers and Breaking In
Zahra Ahmed is a trainee clinical psychologist in Scotland. In this conversation, she speaks about representation, growing up Pakistani in the UK, and what it means to enter a field where people like her are still rare. Q: Can you tell us about your background and how you ended up in psychology? Zahra Ahmed: I actually wanted to be a teacher at first. But as I learned more about mental health, I realised how much stigma there is in our culture; we don’t talk about depression,
UK Raises English Requirement for Work Visas, Leaving New Families in Limbo
New UK immigration rules that will be raising English language requirements are beginning to hit Pakistani workers and families, particularly those who have recently moved or are in the middle of bringing relatives to the country. From the 8th of January 2026, applicants for major work visas, including the Skilled Worker route, must now prove B2-level English, up from the previous B1 standard. While the government says the change will improve integration and workplace communi
How Visa Rules Reshape Pakistani Families
For Pakistani families, visas aren’t just paperwork. Behind every rejected application or delayed renewal is a family forced to adapt. Parents living apart from their children. Spouses starting marriages on FaceTime. Grandparents are growing old without seeing their grandchildren in person. This is what immigration policy looks like on the ground. For many Pakistani couples, marriage doesn’t automatically mean living together. Spouse visas can take months or years, with incom
The Double Standard of Modesty
Growing up Pakistani means learning very early that what you wear is everyone’s business. At home, it’s: “Dupatta lo.” “Change that, guests are coming.” “You’re Pakistani, not goray log.” Outside, it’s: “Why are you so covered?” “Are your parents strict?” “You’d look better if you dressed more normally.” So basically, you can’t win... Pakistani Girls Are Raised to Self-Police... Pakistani girls are taught to think three steps ahead before leaving the house. Is the top too tig
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