 PAKISTAN
LOCATIONPakistan is situated between latitude 24 and 35 degrees North and longitude 62 and 75 degrees East.The country borders Iran on the West,India in the East
,Afghanistanin the North-West and China in the North-West to North-East.There are four Provinces in Pakistan SINDH ,PUNJAB ,BALOCHISTAN And NWFP(North West Frontier Province).
POPULATION
Total Population:165.58 million(cencus 2006).Growth Rate:2.8% per annum.
MAJOR CITIES
Karachi 16 million,Lahore 8.5million,Faisalabad 3 million,Rawalpindi 1 million,Hyderabad 800,000 Islamabad 340,286.
AREA803,950 Sq.km.(including FATA and FANA).
CLIMATEPakistan has well defined seasons;Winter (December - February),Spring (March - April),Summer (May - September)and Autumn(October - November).During summer in plains,the temperature may
go as 46C.Between July and August,the monsoon brings an average 38 to 51 cms of rain to plain and 152 to 202 cms.
RELIGIONMuslim 97%, Hindu 1.5%, Christian 1% and several other minorities.
LANGUAGESNational Language:URDO. Official Language:English Main Regional Languages:Punjabi,Sindi,Balochi and Pushto.
ECONOMYGDP:1,672 billion Rupees per captia income:13;176 Rupees(1995)
MAJOR EXPORTS:Raw cotton and cotton products,rice,fish and fish products,carpets and rugs,leather and leather goods,sports and surgical goods etc.
MAJOR IMPORTS:Tea,petroleum and its products,edible oils,chemical fertilizers,milk and milk food, agricultural machinery,transport equipment,medicines,iron and steel.
GOVERNMENTPakistan is an Islamic Republic and its capital is Islamabad.Pakistan has four provinces;Balochistan,North West Frontier Province(NWFP),Punjab and Sindh.Pakistan has a federal structure.Parliament
consist of the lower house(National Assembly) and the uper house(Senate).
HISTORYPakistan traces its history back to at least 2,500 yesrs before Christ,when a highly developed civilization flourished in the indus valley area.Excavations at Harappa,Moenjodaro
and Kot Diji have brought to light evidence of an advanced civilization existing even in most ancient times.Around 1,500 B.C. the Aryans overwhelmed this region,then Persion occupied the northern region in 5th century B.C. up to 2nd century A.D.the Greeks came in 327 B.C.,under the Alexender of
Macedonia.In 712 a.D. the Arabs,led by Muhammad Bin Qasim,landed somewhere near modern Karachi.During this time Islam took roots in the soil and influenced the life,culture and traditions of the people.In the 10 th century A.D.,began the systematic conquest of Indopaksitan by the Muslim from Central Asia
who ruled up to the 18th century A.D.,When the British became master of the land and ruled for nearly 200 years.At last under the brilliant leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali
Jinnah,Pakistaan emerged on the map of the world as a sovereign state on 14th August 1947.
CURRENCYBasic unit of currency is Rupee which is divided into Paisas.Currency notes of 5,10,50,100,500,1000 Rupees are in use.Coins of 5,10,25,50 Paisa and 01,02 and 05 Rupee are in circulation.
TIME ZONEPakistan Standard Time is GMT plus 5 hours.It gets dark at about 5 p.m in winter and at 7.30 p.m in summer.
For ForeignersTourist from the following countries do not need visa to enter Pakistan for the period specified as under;
1)Iceland,Maldives,Singapore,South Korea,Zambia And Mauritius :For 3 Months
2)Hong Kong,Nepal And Western Samoa : For 1 Month
3) Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago : For unlimited period
Important Cities of Paksitan
KARACHI
The capital of Sind Province.Majority of the people speak Sindi language.Karachi is the country bustling center of commerce and industry,the largest metropolis in Pakistan with a population of 10 million.In terms of history it sprang up "overnight".Once a sleepy fishing village with a population of 8,000,Karachi was the first place in subcontinent to be annexed
by the British in 1843.The Governer General,Sir Charles Napier was the first to recognise Karachi possibilities with its advantage of a sheltered,natural harbour on the coast of the Arabian Sea.Today several impressive building commemorate Karachi colonial era.Still it was not until the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 and emerged of Pakistan
then the city began to achieve international recognition and prominence.Karachi now has an international airport ,two ports, and railway and is linked to the rest of country by broad highways.
Important places in Karachi are, Quaid-e-Azam Mazar,Wazir Mansion(1860),Mereweather Tower(1892),Sind High Court(1921),Masjid-e-Tooba(1969),Karachi University,Beeches,Water Sports,Sind Madressah-tul-Islam(1885),Flagstaff(1865),
National Museum,P.I.A. Planetarium,Zoological Garden(1860) etc.
LAHOREThe capital of Punjab Province.Majority of the people speak Punjabi language.Legend has it that Lahore was founded by two sons of Lord Rama about 4,000 years ago.
Historically it has been proved that Lahore is about 2,000 years old.For 200 years beginning from about 1525 A.D.,Lahore was a thriving cultural center of the great Mughal Empire.
Mughal Emprors beautified Lahore,with Palaces,Gardons and Mosques.Lahore is the second largest city in pakistan and the provincial capital of Punjab.Elevation 213 meters above sea level,Area approximately 500 kms,Population 5.5 million.Laying on the main trade and invasion routes to the subcontinent.Lahore
is linked with the rest of country by air,rail and road.It lies on the Grand Trund Road or the Shahrah-e-Azam which connected Kabul with Calcutta.
The road was originally built by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri in the 16 th century(1540 to 1545).There are a lot of places for visiting like:Royal Fort (Lahore),Miti Masjid,Shalimar Gardans(1642)Golden Mosque(1674),
Wazir Khan Mosque(1683),Minar-e-Pakistan(height 196 feet)Shrine of Data Sahib,Allama Iqbal tomb,Jahanjir Tomb(1637),Qutbuddin Aibak Tomb(1210),Nur jehan Tomb(1645),
Lahore Museum,Jallo Park,Changa Manga,Hiran Minar,Harrapa etc.
PESHAWARThe capital of North West Frontier Province.Majority of the people speak Pushto language. Peshawar derives its name from a Sanskrit word "Pushpapura"meaning the city of flowers.Alexender legions and the southern wing of his army were held up here in 327 B.C. for fourty days at a fort excavated recently 27 kms north east of Peshawar near Charsadda.The Mughal Empror Babur marched through historic Khyber Pass to conquer South Asia
in 1526 and set up the Empire in ther Indo-Pakistan subconent.The pass and the valley have resounded to the tramp of marching feet as successive armies hurtled down the crossroads of history ,pathway of commerce ,migration and invasion ,by Aryans,Scythians,Persians,Greeks,kushans,Huns,Turks,Mongols and Mughals.Remember,we are in the land of the Pathans
a completely male-dominated society.North and south of peshawar spreads the vast tribal area where lives the biggest tribal society in the world.Peshawar is the great Pathan city.
There are many places in Peshawer to see .LikeMahabat khan Mosque(1670),
Balahisar Fort(1526-30),Peshawer Museum,Khyber Pass,Warsak Dam,Peshwar University etc.
QuettaThe capital of Balochistan.Majority of the people speak Balochi language.Situated at an elevation of 1677 meters,Quetta is one of the best known hill resort.Winters are
severe but summer are delightful.The Quetta valley abounds in fruit orchards.
ISLAMABADIslamabad the new capital of pakistan is a well planned modern city with large public buildings,attrective parks,newly built beautiful Shah Faisal Mosque and well laid shopping centers.
MULTANLocated 300 kms from Lahore is the historic city of Multan.Alexender is said to have passed through the area in about 326 B.C.
FAISALABADA 140 kms west of lahore is Faisalabad.It is known as the Manchister of Pakistan because it is famous for its textile industry.
GUJRANWALAGujranwala is situated about 65 kms to the north of lahore.This city has developed a wide range of industries .
Distances from Islamabad
PLACE DISTANCE(in Kilometers)
Mingora 277
Abbottabad 122
Balakot 200
Bahrain 319
Besham 272
Chilas 493
Chitral 365
Dir 265
Gilgit 630
haripur 80
Hunza 730
Kohat 185
Kaghan 275
Kalam 386
Muzaffarabad 145
Mardan 154
Malakand pass 211
Murree 62
Nathigali 105
PAttan 312
Peshawer 174
Sost 814
Skardu 745
Saidu Sharif 266
Tarbela Dam 110
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