Ethnicity, marginalization, and politics: Saraiki identity and the quest for a new Southern Punjab province in Pakistan

This article discusses the complicated relationship between ethnicity, marginalization, and politics regarding Saraiki identity and the quest for a new province in Pakistan. Mainstream political parties have started raising the concerns regarding the unequal distribution of economic resources between various regions in the country for various ethnic and political reasons. It is shown here that the social construction of Saraiki identity is associated with cultural and economic marginalization. These various forms of marginalization of Saraiki areas or Southern Punjab over decades have triggered ethnic mobilization, leading to the quest for a new province. Some political implications of the proposed province for the Pakistani state and learning from this case are also analysed.