Punjabi Shaikh (original) (raw)

Punjabi Shaikh and Pakistani sheikh or shaikh (Urdu: پنجابی شيخ) are a branch of the Shaikhs in South Asia. In Punjab, the title shaikh was given to recent converts and not to those of Arab descent as a polite euphemism. The Shaikh caste were originally agricultural and can be found in the Faisalabad and Chiniot regions of Punjab. However, in recent years they have become urbanised and are involved in business and trade. The Punjabi Shaikh tribe are a wealthy but small population in the Punjab. Notable people include Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, a Pakistani politician and businessman.