the punjabi people (, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ panjābī people) are an indo-aryan ethnic group native to the punjab region in northwestern south asia (pakistan and india). they come from the punjab region, which has been home to some of the oldest civilizations in the world including one of the world's first and oldest civilizations, the indus valley civilization. the punjabi identity is usually cultural and linguistic, with punjabis being those whose first language is punjabi, an indo-european language.