 Punjabi Sheikhs from the Trans-Sutlej States in 1869 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | |
| Languages | |
| • Punjabi • English • Urdu | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Shaikhs in South Asia |
Punjabi Shaikh and Pakistani Sheikh or Shaikh (Urdu: پنجابی شيخ) are a branch of the Shaikhs in South Asia. In Punjab, the title shaikh was given to recent converts to Islam and not to those of Arab descent as a polite euphemism.[1]
The Shaikh caste were originally agricultural and can be found in the Faisalabad, Chiniot and Rawalpindi District regions of Punjab. However, in recent years, they have become urbanised and are involved in business and trade. The Punjabi Shaikh tribe are a wealthy but have a small population in the Punjab. Notable people include Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, a Pakistani politician and a businessman.[2][1][3]
- ^ a b Nyrop, Richard F. (1983). Pakistan a country study (4 ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 149.
- ^ Robinson, Rowena (20 February 2004). Sociology of religion in India. ISBN 9780761997818.
- ^ "Shaikhs of Rawalpindi District (Pothohar Plateau)". Digital South Asia Library - Imperial Gazetteer of India v.21, page 266. Retrieved 25 December 2022.