The main languages of Pakistan are Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki, Urdu and Balochi, which between them are the mother tongue of over nine in ten Pakistanis, according to the 2023 census. Urdu is the national language and the one almost everyone understands, so it is all a traveller needs to get by anywhere in the country. English is an official language too, used on motorway signs, in hotels and in offices. Beyond those, there are more than 70 languages spoken as first languages, many of them in the mountains of the north.
This guide explains which language you will hear where, how much Urdu and English carry you, and a few phrases in the big regional languages that are worth learning.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| National language | Urdu |
| Official languages | Urdu and English; Sindhi is also official in Sindh |
| Largest mother tongue | Punjabi, about 37% (2023 census) |
| Number of languages | More than 70 first languages; Ethnologue lists 80 |
| What travellers need | Urdu everywhere; English in hotels, airports and cities |
| Scripts | Urdu, Punjabi (Shahmukhi), Sindhi, Pashto and Balochi all use Perso-Arabic scripts |
Which languages are spoken in Pakistan?
The 2023 census asked about mother tongue, meaning the language people grew up speaking at home. The figures cover the four provinces and Islamabad; Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir are counted separately, which is why northern languages look tiny in the national figures.
| Language | Share of population (2023) | Heartland |
|---|---|---|
| Punjabi | 37.0% | Central and northern Punjab |
| Pashto | 18.1% | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Balochistan, Karachi |
| Sindhi | 14.3% | Sindh |
| Saraiki | 12.0% | South Punjab |
| Urdu | 9.25% | Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities |
| Balochi | 3.38% | Balochistan |
| Hindko | 2.32% | Hazara and old Peshawar |
| Brahui | 1.16% | Central Balochistan |
The key point for travellers is the gap between mother tongue and everyday use. Only about one Pakistani in ten grew up speaking Urdu, but it is the language of school, television, signs and conversation between people from different regions, so it is understood across the country.
Urdu: the language that works everywhere
Urdu is the national language under Article 251 of the Constitution and the language Pakistanis use with each other when they don't share a mother tongue. If you speak Urdu, you can travel from Karachi to Khunjerab without trouble. In the north, people in Hunza, Skardu or Chitral will switch to Urdu for you even though it is their second or third language.
For a short list of Urdu phrases for directions, shopping and hotels, see our Urdu phrases for travellers.
How far does English get you?
English is an official language, and you will find it on motorway signs, in airports, banks and hotels, on menus in city restaurants, and among educated Pakistanis everywhere. Drivers, shopkeepers and rural families often speak little. Overseas visitors who speak no Urdu can still manage a trip, especially with a guide; our guide to whether people speak English in Pakistan goes into this in detail.
Punjabi and Saraiki: Punjab
Punjabi is the most spoken mother tongue in Pakistan, heard all over Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot, and in the Potohar region around Rawalpindi in the Pothwari form. In Pakistan it is written in Shahmukhi, a Perso-Arabic script. Even Urdu-speaking Lahoris switch into Punjabi in the bazaar.
A few phrases:
- Ki haal ae? How are you?
- Kinne da ae? How much is it?
- Theek ae. It's fine. OK.
Saraiki is the language of south Punjab, around Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan, and parts of neighbouring provinces. It is close to Punjabi, and Punjabi speakers can follow much of it. Travelling through Multan or Uch Sharif, you will hear Saraiki in the shrines and markets.
Sindhi: Sindh
Sindhi is the mother tongue of most of rural Sindh and is an official language in the province, written in its own Perso-Arabic alphabet of 52 letters. In Karachi and Hyderabad, Urdu is more common on the street. Thar has its own languages and dialects, close to Sindhi and Rajasthani.
- Saeen. A respectful form of address, used much as you would use "sir" or "ji".
- Meharbani. Thank you; the same word works in Urdu.
Sindhi hospitality has its own vocabulary, and using saeen with an elder or a host is noticed and appreciated.
Pashto and Hindko: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Pashto is the language of most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and of northern Balochistan around Quetta, and Karachi has a large Pashto-speaking population. It has a strong oral tradition of poetry, and people take pride in it.
- Staray ma shey. "May you not be tired", the everyday greeting to someone who has been working or travelling. The reply is khwar ma shey.
- Sanga ye? How are you?
- Manana. Thank you.
- Da pa tso dey? How much is this?
Hindko is spoken in Hazara, around Abbottabad and Mansehra on the way north, and in Peshawar's old city. On the drive to Naran or the Kaghan valley, much of what you hear in the bazaars is Hindko rather than Pashto.
Smaller languages in the province include Khowar in Chitral and Kalasha, spoken only in the Kalash valleys, along with Torwali and Kohistani in the upper Swat and Indus valleys.
Balochi and Brahui: Balochistan
Balochi is spoken across most of Balochistan and on the Makran coast, and by Baloch communities in Karachi and Sindh. Brahui, spoken in central Balochistan around Kalat, is a Dravidian language, related to the languages of southern India rather than to its neighbours, which makes it one of the puzzles of South Asian linguistics. Pashto dominates the north of the province. Urdu is understood throughout.
The languages of the north
Gilgit-Baltistan and the northern valleys have the greatest variety of languages in the country, often changing from one valley to the next:
- Shina: the main language of Gilgit, Astore and Diamer, including Chilas and the Fairy Meadows area.
- Burushaski: spoken in Hunza, Nagar and Yasin. It is a language isolate, unrelated to any other known language. Our Burushaski guide explains more.
- Wakhi: spoken in Gojal, upper Hunza, around Gulmit, Passu and Sost, and across the border in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and China.
- Balti: spoken in Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu, a Tibetic language related to Ladakhi.
- Khowar: spoken in Chitral and in Ghizer, on the road to Phander.
In Azad Kashmir, most people speak Pahari-Pothwari, with Gojri among the Gujjar communities and Kashmiri in pockets including parts of the Neelum valley. Our guides to languages of the Northern Areas and languages spoken in Azad Kashmir go into each region.
Does language matter for your trip?
For getting around, no. Urdu, or English with a little patience, will carry you everywhere covered by our Pakistan travel guide. For the trip itself, a little effort goes a long way. A greeting in Pashto in Swat, saeen to a host in Sindh or a question about Burushaski in Karimabad usually starts a conversation that Urdu alone would not.
Where it matters most is with older people and women in rural areas, who may speak only the local language. Here a guide or driver from the area is the bridge, and is worth having for that alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national language of Pakistan?
Urdu is the national language, under Article 251 of the Constitution. Urdu and English are both official languages, and Sindhi is also official in Sindh.
What is the most spoken language in Pakistan?
Punjabi is the most common mother tongue, at about 37% of the population in the 2023 census. Urdu is the most widely understood, because it is used across the whole country as a common language.
How many languages are spoken in Pakistan?
More than 70 languages are spoken as first languages, and Ethnologue lists 80 established languages in Pakistan.
Can I travel in Pakistan with only English?
Yes, especially in cities and hotels, and on a guided trip. Outside the cities, drivers and shopkeepers often speak little English, so a few Urdu phrases help a great deal.
What language do people speak in Hunza?
Burushaski in central Hunza and Nagar, Wakhi in upper Hunza (Gojal), and Shina in some lower villages. Almost everyone also speaks Urdu.
Is Urdu the same as Hindi?
Spoken Urdu and Hindi are very close in everyday use, but Urdu is written in a Perso-Arabic script and draws more on Persian and Arabic vocabulary, especially in formal speech.
