Whether you are a Pakistani expatriate thinking of returning
home or a foreigner coming to Pakistan, you should be aware of the business
norms in Pakistan. Listed below are some of them:
- Certain formalities are followed before a
meeting
Suppose you visit your outsourced supplier
to check on the progress of a certain product. Ideally you would like to be
given updates straight ahead. However in Pakistan you might expect some greetings
and similar formalities such as offers of tea, etc before the meeting starts.
- People get personal and take interest in your
life
Some of your colleagues might ask you
questions related to your personal life and your interests. They are just
trying to be friendly and would like to know you better. If you don’t feel
comfortable answering, you can tell them that in a subtle manner.
- Close relationships are valued more in Pakistan
than the business itself
Suppose for instance that one of your
subordinate’s children gets very sick and concurrently he has a very important
meeting with one of your clients, he then might skip the meeting and attend to
the wellbeing of his child.
- Respect and contribution according to gender and
experience
Respectful behavior in a workplace is
usually shown to a person possessing vast experience, is older in age or a
person of the opposite gender. Smart people possessing expertise in their areas
are also admired by peers. However the latter might need to prove his
contribution since it is usually not recognized.
- Check progress of subordinates rigorously
There is a tendency in Pakistan that
subordinates might not respond actively to the work that is assigned to them.
They thus need to be supervised closely most of the times. Similarly you might
sometimes find people coming late for team meetings and not delivering on time.
Having said that the young generation entering the work force is much more
aware, bright and likes to work independently and be given confidence.
- Norms of closing a project
Formally closing a business project might involve
some religious ceremonies like the completion of the Holy Quran in a single day,
or some other formal events like a reception for stakeholders etc. In some
cases informal closures such as outdoor activities like bbq parties are also held.
Image by AndyRob
