INTERETHNIC IDENTITY AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS AMONG BALOCH AND PUNJABI STUDENTS IN LAHORE
Abstract
This qualitative study explores how Punjabi and Baloch university students in Lahore construct inter-provincial identities and perceive one another within academic and social contexts. Using purposive and snowball sampling, 15 in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed through Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. The analysis generated four major themes: (a) provincial identity, highlighting both pride and feelings of otherness; (b) language and communication, where Punjabi students benefited from a bilingual advantage while Baloch students often experienced stigma; (c) media, stereotypes, and reframing through direct contact, which revealed the tension between negative portrayals and lived interactions; and (d) campus interactions, which simultaneously fostered solidarity in times of crisis and reinforced divides through student politics and social clustering. Findings indicate that Baloch students, as a minority, often asserted their identity while navigating marginalization, whereas Punjabi students experienced a normative and privileged sense of identity. Despite these asymmetries, positive peer interactions and cultural exchange activities occasionally bridged divides and nurtured mutual respect. The study suggests that universities can play a transformative role in fostering national cohesion by strengthening cultural exchange programs, institutional support for diversity, and structured opportunities for inter-provincial dialogue.
Keywords: Inter-provincial identity, perceptions, ethnic diversity, academic context, social context.
