The Sindhi are the second largest ethnic group in Pakistan. Most of them live in the Sind province, which lies in the southeastern portion of the country, bordering India and the Indian Ocean. The Sindhi, named after the Sindhu (Indus) River, are said to be one of the oldest people groups in Pakistan. Most of them have lived there for centuries and call themselves the pukka, or "real" Sindhi. Some have traced their origin back to the Arab invaders who introduced Islam to Pakistan in 711 A.D.

In 1947, many Muslim Sindhi immigrated from present-day India to Pakistan, where they are still referred to as muhajireen (refugees). Sindhi Muslims and Hindus lived together in the same region prior to 1947. Today, however, most of the Muslim Sindhi live in Pakistan, and most of the Hindu Sindhi live in India. Other Sindhi are scattered all over the world, from the oil fields of the Middle East to business centers, such as Hong Kong and Singapore.

What Are Their Lives Like?Before the partition of Pakistan and India, the Hindu Sindhi owned most of the land. They also monopolized the areas of trade, industry, and education. The Muslim Sindhi were primarily unskilled laborers and tenants. However, when the Hindu Sindhi moved to India in 1947, the Sindhi culture was greatly affected. The vacuum that had been created in the Sind province was soon filled up with well-educated Muslim Sindhi and Urdu from India. These Muslims quickly acquired a place of importance in their new country.

Today, a majority of the Sindhi are engaged in irrigation farming. Their principal crops include wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, various fruits, and oilseed. Some farmers also raise sheep, goats, and camels. The Sindhi living in cities often work as merchants, physicians, lawyers, and teachers.