Pakistani-Germans refers to the ethnic community in Germany of Pakistani heritage or descent.
History
Roughly every fifth Pakistani in Germany has been living in Germany for over 15 years. Just over 25% or around every fourth Pakistani living in Germany today came to Germany less than four years ago. Many young Pakistanis have come to Germany recently as students of science and technology in prestigious universities. German Government has established German Academic Exchange Service in Islamabad. These highly educated Pakistanis are serving in various sectors of the German economy. According to Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland 1,116 Pakistanis were naturalized as German citizens in the year 2006. Almost a third of all Pakistanis in Germany live in Hesse. There are approximately 1900 Pakistanis living in the northern city-state of Hamburg, about 1500 in Frankfurt am Main and almost 1400 in Berlin and its suburbs. In 2009, the German government estimated the number of people of Pakistani descent residing in Germany at 76,173. The tradition of Pakistanis coming to Germany for higher education was pioneered by the philosopher Muhammad Iqbal. In 1907 Iqbal traveled to Germany to pursue a doctorate from the Faculty of Philosophy of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. Working under the supervision of Friedrich Hommel, Iqbal published a thesis entitled The Development of Metaphysics in Persia.
International students
Pakistanis have been attracted to Germany because of its low university tuition fees. This is a significant incentive, as some Pakistani students from middle income groups who find it expensive to study in places like the USA, UK, Canada and Australia. The Government of Pakistan through its Higher Education Commission has also sent hundreds of Pakistani researchers and scientists for training in German universities. Most major German universities have Pakistani student societies. Hundreds of institutes in Pakistan teach students German as their primary foreign language as part of an effort by Germany's top technical colleges to attract more Pakistani students. A recent study by Germany's Federal Employment Agency concluded that Pakistanis have been the most successful at finding work in the EU country over the past couple of years.
Religion
Most Pakistanis in Germany are Muslim, including Sunnis, Shias and other sects. There are also many Pakistani Hindus, Ahmadis, Sikhs, as well as a strong Christian community. ' s honour in Heidelberg, Germany.
