Pakistan - The Land of Pure

Situated in the heart of the South Asian sub-continent, it is a country with its own fascinating history and cultural heritage. Pakistan was the site for one of the world's earliest human settlements, the great prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization, the crucible of ancient empires, religions and cultures.
Pakistan traces its history back to 2,500 years B.C. when a highly developed civilization flourished in the Indus Valley. Excavations at Harappa, Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and Mehr Garh have brought to light, the evidence of an advanced civilization existing even in more ancient times.
The landscape of Pakistan ranges from lofty mountains in the north, the Karakoram and the Himalayas, through dissected plateaus to the rich alluvial plains of the Punjab. Then follows desolate barrenness of Balochistan and the hot dry deserts of Sindh blending into miles and miles of golden beaches of Mekran coast.

Government

Pakistan is an Islamic Republic with its capital at Islamabad. It has four provinces: Balochistan, North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab and Sindh. Their respective capitals are: Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. In addition to provinces, are the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Pakistan has a federal structure of government.

Location And Geography

Pakistan is situated between latitude 24 and 37 degrees North and longitude 62 and 75 degrees East. The country borders Iran on the West, India on the East, Afghanistan in the North-West, China in the North and the Arabian Sea in the South. The great mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindukush form Pakistan's northern highlands of North West Frontier Province and the Northern Area; Punjab province is a flat, alluvial plain with five major rivers dominating the upper region eventually joining the Indus River flowing south to the Arabian Sea; Sindh is bounded on the east by the Thar Desert and the Rann of Kutch and on the west by the Kirthar range; the Balochistan Plateau is an arid tableland, encircled by dry mountains. Its total area is 803,940 Sq.Km and total land area is 778,720 Sq.Km. (including FATA and FANA).

Population (1998 Census)

Total Population: 130.58 million. Growth Rate: 2.61% per annum.
Density: 164 person per Sq. Km. Sex Ratio: 108 males to 100 females.

Religions And Languages

Muslim (97%), Hindu (1.5%), Christian (1%) and several other minorities.
National Language: Urdu
Official Language: English
Main Regional Languages: Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi and Pashto.

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