Pakisan - Land Of The Pure

Pakistan, "Land of the Pure", officially the Islamicmountains in the north. There are an estimated 108
Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in Southpeaks above 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) high that are
Asia that overlaps with the Greater Middle East. Itcovered in snow and glaciers. Five of the mountains
has a thousand-kilometre coastline along the Arabianin Pakistan (including the majestic famous Karakoram
Sea in the south and borders Afghanistan and Iran toRange peak of K2 the official declared National
the west, India to the east and the People's RepublicMountain and Nanga Parbat) are over 8,000 metres
of China in the far northeast.(26,000 ft). Linking Indian-occupied Kashmir to the
Pakistan was established as a modern state in 1947,Northern Areas of Pakistan and running the length of
as one of the two parts of the partitioned Britishthe country is the Indus River with its many
India, but the region has a long history of settlementtributaries. To the west of the Indus are the dry, hilly
and civilisation including the Indus Valley Civilisation.deserts of Balochistan; to the east are the rolling
The region was invaded by Afghans, Greeks,sand dunes of the Thar Desert. Most areas of Punjab
Persians, Arabs, and was incorporated into British Rajand parts of Sindh are fertile plains where agriculture
in the nineteenth century. Since independence,is of great importance. The climate varies as much as
Pakistan has experienced times of significant militarythe scenery with cold winters and hot summers in
and economic growth, and times of instability, withthe north and a mild climate in the south, moderated
the loss of East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh).by the influence of the ocean. The central parts have
Pakistan has an extensive ancient history thatextremely hot summers with temperatures rising to
overlaps with the histories of Ancient India, Iran and45 ºC (113 ºF), followed by very cold
Afghanistan. The region was a crossroads of historicwinters, often falling below freezing.
trade routes, including the Silk Road, and was settledMany cultural practices, foods, monuments, and
over thousands of years by many groups includingshrines in Pakistan were inherited from the rule of
Dravidians, Indo-Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Scythians,Muslim Mughal and Afghan emperors. The rich variety
Parthians Kushans, White Huns, Afghans, Turks,of Pakistani music ranges from diverse provincial folk
Mongols and Arabs.music and traditional styles such as Qawwali and
Pakistan is divided into four provinces viz., NorthGhaza Gayaki to modern forms fusing traditional and
West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab, Sindh andwestern music, such as the synchronisation of
Balochistan. The tribal belt adjoining NWFP is managedQawwali and western music by the renowned Nusrat
by the Federal Government and is named FATA i.e.,Fateh Ali Khan.
Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Azad Kashmir andTourism is a growing industry in Pakistan, based on
Northern Areas have their own respective politicalits diverse cultures, peoples and landscapes. Examples
and administrative machinery, yet certain of theirinclude ancient civilization ruins such as Mohenjo-daro,
subjects are taken care of by the FederalHarappa and Taxila, to the Himalayan hill stations that
Government through the Ministry of Kashmir Affairsattract those interested in field sports and winter
and Northern Areas.sports. Pakistan is home to several mountain peaks
Pakistan has an estimated population of 165,803,560,over 7000m, which attracts adventurers and
as of April 2006, which is the world's sixth largestmountaineers from the around the world, especially
population . Census data indicates that 96% of theto K2. The northern parts of Pakistan have many old
population are Muslims of whom nearly 80% arefortresses, towers and other architecture as well as
Sunni Muslims and 19% are Shi'a Muslims. Thethe Hunza and Chitral valleys, the latter being home
remainder comprises of Christians and Hindus, Jews,to the small pre-Islamic animist Kalasha community
Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Ahmadis, and Animists (mainly thewho claim descent from the army of Alexander the
Kalash in Chitral). Urdu is the national language ofGreat. Punjab is the site of Alexander's battle on the
Pakistan, but English is the official language used inJhelum River and the historic city Lahore, Pakistan's
the Constitution and widely used by corporatecultural capital with many examples of Mughal
businesses, the educated urban elite and mostarchitecture such as the Badshahi Masjid and the
universities. Punjabi is spoken by over 60 millionShalimar Gardens.
people, but has no official recognition in the country.Pakistan is growing up a bit slowly in
The population comprises several main ethnic groups,telecommunication. Though a few multinational
most of whom speak Indo-Iranian languages -companies started operating there, calling Pakistan
Punjabis, Pakhtuns, Sindhis, Seraikis, Muhajirs, Balochisfrom other countries and through VOIP is not that
and others.cheap. Most services started their Pakistan phone
The different types of natural features in Pakistancard rate from 12 cents. Pakistan calling card is
range from the sandy beaches, lagoons, andavailable in various pc2phone service websites based
mangrove swamps of the southern coast toon Pakistan and other countries. Several prepaid
preserved moist temperate forests and the icycalling card and phone card companies are available to
peaks of the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kushcall both to and from Pakistan.