Abstract:
In Pakistan, caste and class systems are complex social phenomena with an old history that still have an impact on a wide range of aspects of society. Caste systems are found throughout South Asia, including Pakistan. Caste and class differences have an impact on social status, work prospects, and resource accessibility in Pakistan. The Christian group is severely marginalized in terms of both space and socioeconomic status, which forces them to live in inhospitable and unhygienic environmental conditions. In order to withstand the systemic injustice, they encounter, these underprivileged communities often found striving to carve out socioeconomic niches for themselves while living on the margin of the mainstream society. The purpose of this study is to investigate these relationships in the nation's capital, Islamabad, in order to comprehend the ways in which environmental justice, socioeconomic mobility, caste, and class interact. Pakistan is a society divided by class, caste, tribe, religion, and ethnicities. Urban Pakistan is no exception. In this study, I will be exploring the dynamics of caste in Islamabad city, the nation’s capital, focusing on the Christian community. Using ethnographic methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and archival research, I will investigate how caste-based discrimination meted out to them has added to their socioeconomically marginalized status and spatial segregation, forcing them to inhabit environmentally hazardous, unhealthy spaces. A qualitative research methodology was adopted, employing various sampling methods. Males were chosen using the convenient sample method, while females were selected using the snowball sampling approach. Key informants, including community leaders and social workers, were chosen using purposive sampling. Methods such as participant observation, informal discussions, key informant interviews, case studies, and in-depth interviews were utilized to address the research questions. By shedding light on the socio-environmental challenges faced by the Christian community, this research aims to inform policies related to minority rights, public health, and environmental justice. It shows how marginalized communities create a sociolect-economic niche for themselves, the social constraints they undergo, and how they navigate through socioeconomic and environmental challenges, asserting their rightful place in the larger society. The findings reveal that caste-based discrimination significantly impacts the Christian community's access to socio- economic resources, forcing many to live in unhealthy and dangerous environments. Despite the challenges, the Christian community has developed socio-economic niches and strategies to navigate these social constraints. The study underscores the critical role of political ecology in understanding the intersection of caste, class, and environment in urban settings. The behavior of healthcare workers in government hospitals is often reported as unsatisfactory compared to private clinics, creating organizational and cultural barriers between the Christian community and public health services. Power dynamics and corruption further exacerbate these issues, leading to distrust in government institutions. Poverty, cultural values, and a strong belief in traditional caste systems and religious stereotypes significantly influence health-seeking behaviors. The community's lack of trust in modern medicine and government health institutions drives them towards traditional practices, despite the evident socio-environmental hazards. By including the perspectives of these marginalized communities, the research hopes to inform policies related to minority rights, socioeconomically backward communities, public health policy, and goals of environmental justice more broadly. More importantly, it underscores the need for inclusive policies that address the structural inequities perpetuated by caste-based discrimination in urban Pakistan. It is hoped that this research will add to a greater understanding of inter-caste dynamics in urban settings and contribute to the discourse on sustainability and social justice.
