The changing face of Pakistani migration to the UK

This paper brings together a range of data sources to chart cohort change in the human capital characteristics of Pakistani immigrants to the United Kingdom over the last 50 years. We demonstrate how restrictions on labour migration and family reunification have transformed characteristics of new arrivals while still maintaining some elements of chain migration patterns. Despite these changes, we note substantial consistency in the socio-cultural characteristics of Pakistani origin UK residents across cohorts, specifically in identity, religiosity and social networks. We reflect on the implications of these patterns of change and continuity