Pakistani-Origin Influencer in Canada Claims He’s Constantly Assumed to Be Indian — Slams Casual Racism

Pakistani-origin social media influencer Junaid Akram has shared his frustration over facing what he describes as recurrent racism in Canada, where people frequently misidentify him as Indian. Despite expecting a more respectful environment than what he faced in the Gulf, he says the experience of being lumped into “one big India” remains pervasive—and deeply irritating.

What He Says

Akram says that even after moving to Canada, where multiculturalism is often touted, he encounters daily “casual racism.” People in public or at his job at a fast food chain call him “Indian” automatically; when he corrects them—“No, I’m Pakistani”—they often don’t care. He says it’s disrespectful because it erases his identity and reflects ignorance about the diversity of South Asians.

He compares this to what he grew up with in the Gulf: non-White or non-Arab people often being assumed to be cheap labor, disregarded, or marginalized. He adds that his past experiences have made him somewhat immune to these slights, but the misidentification in Canada stings in a different way because he expected better.

On social media, his observations have sparked a mixed reaction: some users share similar stories and sympathize; others troll him, arguing that misidentification isn’t purposeful or that “everyone gets called Indian” anyway, or saying Pakistanis benefit from being mistaken for Indians.

What Makes It Controversial

• Identity erasure vs. Shared Stereotype: The issue isn’t just a simple mistake—Akram frames it as part of a pattern where Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and other South Asian identities are flattened into “Indian.” Some may argue that this misidentification is harmless. Akram insists it isn’t—calling it disrespectful and symptomatic of a lack of awareness.

• Expectation vs. Reality: Canada often presents itself on the world stage as a welcoming, inclusive society. Akram’s public claims challenge that narrative. People might be uncomfortable confronting the idea that even in places with strong multicultural policies, ground-level biases persist.

• The “Privilege” Narrative: Some netizens responded by suggesting that being misidentified as Indian is a kind of privilege—that India has more recognition globally, so being thought of as Indian might come with assumed respect. Hence some comments like “Be proud they think you’re Indian.” That stance, however, ignores the emotional toll and identity complexities attached to being misrecognized.

• Online Hate vs. Offline Reality: Akram notes that online hostility against Indians often spreads to all South Asians—he says Pakistanis are often tarred by association, even by people who don’t understand the distinctions. This raises broader concerns: even if someone is misidentified, they may still get subject to racism originally meant for others.

Why It Matters

• Cultural Understanding: His experiences highlight that many people—even in multicultural countries—do not understand the differences among South Asian nations. Terms like “Indian” are used as shorthand, often without malicious intent—but still harmful in erasing nuanced identities.

• Psychological Impact: Even “harmless” or “casual” racism can accumulate. For Akram and others like him, repeated misidentification chips away at the sense of being seen and respected for who they truly are.

• Policy & Social Awareness: Akram’s story points to gaps in cultural awareness in workplaces and communities. If people in service jobs, retail, or just daily life are misidentifying others frequently, there’s argument for better training or social campaigns to stress South Asian diversity.

The Takeaway

Junaid Akram’s candid expression of misidentification reinforces a larger truth: racism isn’t only overt acts of hate. It also lives in assumptions, in erasure, in what people refuse to see. His case forces us to ask: how many identities are rendered invisible by social shortcuts—and how much respect should cost if it requires nothing more than listening?