They came as dentists, restaurant owners, shoemakers and beauticians. They were Muslims and non-Muslims, old and young, families and individuals. For some, this migration to Pakistan was a stop-gap arrangement until they could fly to greener pastures, a few assimilated with the locals, while many remain nestled in a few corners of the country, living a contented, happy life.

The China-Pakistan connection runs deep; and this is not a reference to the political aspect. Ever since the Chinese first set foot on the sub-continent soil during the late 19th and early 20th century as silk traders, or enthralling one and all with exotic cuisines, they have made their presence felt. Peaceful, and unobtrusive, the Chinese settled quietly beside the locals, intermarrying and adopting their culture and language. Their footprints are embedded from the Karakoram Highway to coastal Karachi, as these introverted, yet friendly people left their mark on the various industries that have helped Pakistan grow.

It was in the 1940s when Chinese numbering in thousands, particularly Muslims, fled to the newly incepted Pakistan to avoid the communist rule and for better economic prospects. Many of them belonged to the ethnic minority, Uygurs, who were from Xinjiang or Sinkiang region (also known as Chinese Turkistan) which borders Pakistan. They primarily settled in northern Pakistan. The mid-50s saw more Chinese seeking shelter across the border in the wake of an uprising in Hotan (Khotan). The next two decades also witnessed waves of Chinese migrants.

“In the 1950s, a significant number of Chinese Muslims moved to Turkey when it opened doors of immigration to them,” says a Chinese gentlemen requesting anonymity, “Most of them were businessmen who were offered permits to run businesses as well as allowed to invest in land.”

The Chinese community further expanded when, during the 1980s, Pakistan became a major transit point for Uygurs going for Hajj. The temporary settlements soon found a permanent ground when a large number decided not to return to their native land. Not just them, but people studying in Egypt and Saudi Arabia also opted to make Pakistan their homeland, rather than return to China.

“Many Chinese migrants came and settled in the ’80s,” says a Chinese acupuncturist who prefers not to be named, “Karachi was then a beautiful city. And so cheap: eggs cost two rupees a dozen and rice could be bought for three rupees a kilo. There was no danger of being looted, and there was safety for women,” she reminiscences.

It was only natural that a prominent segment of the Chinese community opted for dentistry since there were few dental clinics back then, especially in Karachi. Chinese, many of whom had previously worked as dental assistants in Malaysia, began working as full-time dentists. Their contribution in this regard remains evident in the number of clinics that line the road reaching to Empress Market in Saddar, Karachi, even today. Lahoris would also remember a certain Chinese dentist whose special skill was fitting people with gold teeth. Later, acupuncturists also began to make their mark.

“When I first came and set up business, no one knew what acupuncture meant,” says the acupuncturist, “People thought that I was putting some medicine on the needles to help ease the pain. They would tell me, ‘Why don’t you give these needles to us, and we’ll do the treatment at home?’

“I came to Pakistan 30 years ago because one of my relatives was suffering from paralysis, and I had to treat her,” she continues, “My aunt persuaded me to stay back here since compared to China, the salaries were better here and the lifestyle overall was cheaper. Eventually, I was able to build a decent clientele, although of late, business is not so good, courtesy the law and order situation.”

Then there were the shoemakers; prominent among them were Hopson and Kingson in Lahore. Both were known for their exceptional handiwork and maintained high standards of quality. The textile industry of Pakistan also owes a lot to the Chinese community. Besides the fact that there were silk traders crossing the border long before independence, they also helped in setting up textile factories in the ’60s and the ’70s. Their invaluable contribution during the infant industrial stage was the stepping stone that gave way to future projects.

“My grandfather and a few others were pioneers in this field,” says Arif Shah, a Chinese descendant from his maternal side of the family, “As engineers, they helped with the setting up of machinery besides working in the capacity of advisers.”

When it comes to the food industry of Pakistan, none can deny the conspicuous presence of Chinese restaurants peppered across the country. One of the first such outlets was ABC Chinese restaurant located in Saddar, Karachi, and a favourite with gourmets. Founded by a certain Li Dianxian in 1930s, ABC was patronised by Zhou Enlai, the first premier of the People’s Republic of China. Unfortunately, it closed shop in 1988. South China Café was another example that served to packed halls.

Restaurant goers of the bygone days would also fondly remember Hong Kong restaurant on Victoria road. Pricier than other Chinese outlets, it continued to give competition to its contemporaries until it, too, died out. There were others too, like Hakka at Gurumandir and Four Seasons at Hotel Metropole. Each one of them, however, left behind a legacy and laid the foundation for numerous Chinese outlets that have sprung up in the country and the cuisine continues to delight the foodies.

There were, of course, salons run by Chinese women, especially at Tariq Road. Yet, a lot of the culture has died out in recent years. Most Chinese have either passed away, migrated to the West, or have returned to China. Many point towards the deteriorating law and order situation as the main culprit, while few address economics as the reason for this shift. Whatever the reasons may be, the fact remains that the Chinese contribution towards Pakistan’s growth will continue to shine.