Abstract

This paper presents the problem of Ethnicity in the context of national identity and political legitimacy in Pakistan. The question of Ethnicity has become a complicated and intimidating problem in developing and underdeveloped states. Ethnicity is a comprehensive term, according to the perspective this term can be defined in different ways in the context of ethnicity can be defined as a shared cultural identity concerning with similar practices, beliefs and linguistic features, which are transferred to one generation to other. Today in Pakistan and indeed elsewhere in the developing world, issues of ethnicity and national identity continue to be of great importance for political legitimacy. The logic of national identity can be established by accepting the legitimacy of the authority in the state. Ethnicity paves the path of regional/ tribal politics in Pakistan. Consequently, performance of the institutions is meager and generating tension that deters the development in the state. Politically and economically state suffers and also creating disunity in the national level.