The Socio-Economic Significance of Shrines in Pakistan

Abstract

In the context of the socio-economic value, shrines are an essential part of the Pakistani culture and religious life of millions of citizens. Shrines or places associated with Sufi saints are not only places of worship and spiritual healing but also economic destinations. This paper looks at the role of these religious places, in what might be referred to as ‘religious tourism’, and the support and sustenance they offer to a host of people whether as sellers of goods, as guards, or even as makers of crafts. However, it is also a fact that during Urs or various other religious festivals, a large number of pilgrims visit the shrine, thus increasing the economic turnover for the neighbouring businesses and adding to the informal economy. Such economic factors show why shrines are important in supporting communities especially in rural and semi urban areas. Besides the economic importance, shrines in Pakistan have great social importance as they create social cohesion and interaction irrespective of the status of persons in society. These shrines are also inclusive and often show the syncretic side of Sufism which acts as a uniting factor between the different sects of the Muslim population. The practices related to the shrines reflect a common framework of people’s interactions and help to strengthen the collective identification with the given norms and values. Moreover, shrines are centres of charity and social assistance, where donations are used to help the needy and, thus, contribute to the stabilisation of society. The paper also discusses the difficulties that are being observed as the shrines are being threatened by modernization and religious militancy. Although shrines remain important socio-economic organisations, they are now under pressure from new conditions such as urbanisation, state indifference and opposition from some religious groups. Such an analysis shows that there is a need to adopt a more complex approach to protect such cultural heritage sites because of their many-folded roles to society. This way, Pakistan can continue to strike a balance between the past and the present because shrines carry a socio economic importance.

Keywords: Shrines, Socio-economic Role, Urbanization, Cultural Heritage, Social Assistance.