The Less Equal Migrants Of Karachi: Marginality And Multiplicity Of Identity Among The Burmese And Bengali Communities In Pakistan

Abstract

The paper presents a thematic analysis of contemporary literature addressing socio-economic positioning of migrant Burmese and Bengali communities of Karachi.  The two communities are ethnically marginalized for their migrant status in Pakistan while living in a metropolis known for its migrant demographic structures and infrastructures.  Despite living in Pakistan for several decades, majority of both Burmese and Bengali migrants of Karachi are denied Pakistani citizenship status and are officially registered as “aliens”, living unlawfully in Pakistan. The literature analysis depicts that the two selected migrant communities are prone to state repression and harassment owing to their alien status, building on the theory of divisive role of citizenship by Isin (2012). It also makes them vulnerable to informal and often criminal means of livelihood to sustain life without citizenship status of Pakistan which makes it further easier for police and state agencies to ethnically portray them as “born criminals”; undeserving of Pakistani citizenship status. The paper concludes that both migrant background and ethnic identity of these communities add up to their marginality and limited access to Pakistani citizenship rights. Despite support and promises from various leading political parties of Pakistan, these communities have not been entitled to Pakistani citizenship right and remain marginalized without any access to public health, education, intercity mobility or formal economy in Pakistan.