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The society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous diverse
cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, and Sindhis in
east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch and Pashtun in the west;
and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi and Burusho communities in the north.
These Pakistani cultures have been greatly influenced by many of the
surrounding countries’ cultures, such as the Turkic peoples, Persian,
Afghan, and Indians of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Pakistan has a cultural and ethnic background going back to the
Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from 2800–1800 B.C., and was
remarkable for its ordered cities, advanced sanitation, excellent roads,
and uniquely structured society. Pakistan has been invaded many
times in the past, and has been occupied and settled by many different
peoples, each of whom have left their imprint on the current inhabitants
of the country. Some of the largest groups were the ‘Aryans’, Greeks,
Scythians, Persians, White Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Afghans,
Buddhists and other Eurasian groups, up to and including the British,
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