Pakistan

Sitting at the convergence of the Middle East and South Asia, long and slender Pakistan rubs its ice-capped mountain crown in Central Asia and dips its feet in the Arabian Sea. High mountains, ancient culture, Mughal cities and coastal deserts: from north to south, Pakistan’s sheer diversity is breathtaking.

Pakistan has six designated UNESCO World Heritage sites namely  Moenjodaro (Archeological ruins), Takht-i-Bahi (Buddhist ruins), Sahr-i-Bahlol (Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore), Makli Monuments, Fort Rohtas and ancient ruins of Taxila.

History

Today’s Islamic Republic of Pakistan was formed on 14 August 1947 as East Pakistan under the request of Islamic nationalists during the partition of India by the British. Initially, the country also had a Western part, which in 1971 became the independent country of Bangladesh.

In ancient times, the region was the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilisation (3000-1300 BCE), of which the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro are the most significant proof left today, near Larkana in Sindh.

From the middle of the first millennium BCE to the beginning of the second millennium, north-west Pakistan was also the cradle of the Indo-Aryan civilisation of Gandhara, centred in the present-day region of Peshawar and Swat Valley.

Geography and Nature

Being a long country that extends across different climatic and geographical regions, Pakistan’s landscapes are staggeringly diverse. From some of the world’s tallest mountains (including K2, the second-highest) to deserts, high-altitude plateaus, alpine lakes, fertile agricultural land and historical rivers like the Indus, the country is ever-changing.

The great mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindukush are the backbone of Pakistan’s Northern Areas and North-West Frontier. Punjab Province is a flat, alluvial plain crossed by five major rivers. Arid Sindh is hemmed to the east by the Thar Desert and the Rann of Kutch and to the west by the Kirthar range. The Balochistan Plateau, largely out of reach to international travellers, is an arid tableland encircled by dry mountains.

The Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan and it has five distinct kinds. Many birds like partridge, warblers, shikras, blue rock pigeon etc are found in different seasons. Reptiles like monitor and other wild lizards, geckos, etc may also be found in the country.

Amongst the flora of the park are the 225 species of plants. Prominent are the pistachios, juniper, wild olive, wild ash and wild almond. The world’s second highest mountain, the K-2, is in Pakistan. Other than K-2 Pakistan also has 5 peaks with height more than 8000m. Out of Top 10 highest mountains in the world, 2 are in Pakistan.

The desert of Thar is the only desert in the World which is fertile. The Thar desert is located in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. Thar desert is the 17th largest desert in the world. Pakistan offers all four seasons, Spring, Winter, Autumn, and Summer. In summer temperature often exceeds 48 °C and in winter the temperature goes down to 0 °C in some parts.

Port of Karachi, Gwadar Port and Port Qasim are the best three of six coastal areas in Pakistan. Bundal Island in Karachi, Manora in Karachi and Astola Island in Balochistan are also popular in Pakistan.

Official websites of Tourism department of four provinces of Pakistan are given as under:

• https://kptourism.com/
• http://www.tdcp.gop.pk/
• https://sindhculture.gov.pk/
• http://balochistan.gov.pk/

Economy

Pakistan has a semi-industrialised economy mainly focused on agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Since 2018, when former PM Imran Khan eased visa processes in order to boost tourism, Pakistan also has invested in its tourism industry.

The most popular activities are adventure tourism such as motorcycle tours, and mountaineering in the Northern Areas, where tourism initiatives have brought higher levels of income to Pakistani households.

The city of Sialkot, in northeast Pakistan, produces over half of the world’s soccer balls. The pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan has grown during the past recent decades. At the time of the independence of Pakistan in 1947, there were few production units in the country.

Currently Pakistan has more than 800 large volume pharmaceutical formulation units, including those operated by more than 25 multinationals present in the country.

People and Culture

Thanks to its historical, geographical, and ethnic diversity, Pakistan’s culture is a melting pot of Indian, Persian, Afghan, Central Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern influences.

The country consists of many ethnic groups among which are the Punjabis, Saraikis, Pothwaris, Kashmiris, Sindhis, Muhajirs, and Makrani in the south; the Baloch, Hazaras, and Pashtuns in the west; and the Dards, Wakhi, Baltis, Shinaki and Burusho communities in the north.

As Pakistan is the second largest Muslim nation in the world (after Indonesia), civil society is largely hierarchical and patriarchal. According to a strict interpretation of Islam, Pakistani women have limited autonomy and except for the national capital Islamabad, and to a lesser extent Punjab’s capital Lahore, women are pretty much absent from public spaces.

In Pakistan different provinces have different traditions of dance. For example in: Punjab Bhangra, Luddi, Sammi, Jhumar are famous dances. In Balochistan Lewa, Chap, Jhumar are famous dances. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Attan, Khattak Dance, Chitrali Dance, Sindh are famous. In Sindh Dhammal, HoJamalo and Jhumro are famous dances.

Important Dates

• Kashmir Day – 5 February
• Pakistan Day – 23 March
• Union Parishad Polls – 23 April
• Labour Day – 1 May
• Independence Day – 14 August
• Defence Day – 6 September
• Iqbal Day – 9 November