Islamic Republic of Pakistan
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged as an independent State on 14
August 1947. It comprises four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier
and Baluchistan, besides the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Islamabad
is the federal capital. Over 97 per cent of the country's population is
Muslim.
Pakistan covers an area of 796,095 sq.km. lying between latitude 24 degree
and 37 degree North and longitude 62 degree and 75 degree East. The country
borders Iran on the West, while India in the east, Afghanistan in the north
and north-west and the People's Republic of China in the north-west to north
east.
Climatically, Pakistan enjoys a considerable measure of variety. North and
north- western high mountain ranges are extremely cold in winter while the
summer months from April to September are very pleasant. The vast plains of
the Indus Valley are extremely hot in summer and have cold weather in
winter. The coastal strip in the South has a temperate climate. There is
general deficiency in the rainfall. In the plains the annual average ranges
from 13 cm. In the northern parts of the lower Indus plains to 89 cm. In the
Himalayan region. Rains are monsoonal in origin and fall late in summer.
