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Official Name Islamic Republic of Pakistan Official Religion Islam National Anthem approved in June, 1954 Verses Composed by: Abul Asar Hafeez Jullundhri Tune Composed by: Ahmed G. Chagla Duration: 80 seconds Pakistan National Flag Dark green with a white vertical bar, a white crescent and a five-pointed star in the middle. The Flag symbolises Pakistan's profound commitment to Islam and Islamic world. Father of the Nation Quaid-E-Azam Muhammad ali Jinnah Head of the State General Pervaz Musherraf Head of Government General Pervaz Musherraf Capital Islamabad History Pakistan traces its history back to 2,500 years B.C., when a highly developed civilization flourished in the Indus Valley. Excavations at Harrappa, Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and Mehr Garh have brought to light, the evidence of an advanced civilization existing even in more ancient times. Around 1,500 B.C., the Aryans overwhelmed this region and influenced the Hindu civilization, whose centre moved to Ganges valley, further east. Later, the Persians occupied the northern region in the 5th century B.C. up to the 2nd century AD. The Greeks came in 327 B.C., under Alexander of Macedonia, and passed away like a meteor. In 712 AD, the Arabs, led by Muhammad Bin Qasim, landed somewhere near modern Karachi and ruled the lower half of Pakistan for 200 years. During this time, Islam took roots in the soil and influenced the life, culture and traditions of the people. In the 10th century AD, began the systematic conquest of South Asia by the Muslims from Central Asia, who ruled here up to the 18th century. Then the British came and ruled for nearly 100 years over what is Pakistan now.  The Muslim revival began towards the end of the last century when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a renowned Muslim leader and educationist, launched a movement for intellectual renaissance of the Muslims of South Asia. In 1930, the well-known poet-philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, conceived the idea of a separate state for the Muslims of South Asia. In 1940, a resolution was adopted by the All-India Muslim League, demanding a separate independent home land for the Muslims. After 07 years of un-tiring struggle under the brilliant leadership of Quaid-e-Azam (the great leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan emerged on the world map as a sovereign state, on 14th August, 1947. Languages National Language Urdu Official Language: English Main Regional Languages Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi and Pashto Area 796,095 Sq. km. Provinces and their Areas Punjab: 205,344 Sindh: 140,914 North West Frontier Province: 74,521 Balochistan: 347,190 Federally Administered Tribal Areas: 27,220 Islamabad(Capital): 906 Time Zone Pakistan 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. Telephone Information Inward: +92, Faisalabad: 411, Hyderabad: 221, Islamabad: 51, Karachi: 21, Lahore: 42, Multan: 61, Rawalpindi: 51, Gilgit: 572, Skardu: 575, Peshawar: 91; Outward via operator or from ISD Public Call Offices (PCO). For internal calls, Card Phone booths are installed at all airport lounges and main business centres in most cities and towns. Public telephone, telex and fax facilities are available at the Customers Service Centres (CSC) or at private general stores and shops, identified by a sign displaying ‘PCO’ on green boards/lettering. Mobile phone can also be obtained from private companies on rental basis for short periods. Radio paging service is provided by DC Pager service at Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar. Population Muslim (97%), Hindu (1.5%), Christian (1%) and ;other minorities Ethnic composition 95% Muslims, 5% others Per capita income US$ 460 Currency Pak Rupee Exports Cotton, textile goods, rice, leather items  carpets, sports goods, fruits, handicrafts Sea Food (Fisheries) Imports dustrial equipInment, vehicles, iron ore,  petroleum, edible oil Government Parliamentary form Parliament It consists of two Houses i.e., the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House). The Senate is a permanent legislative body and symbolises a process of continuity in the national affairs. It consists of 87 members. The four Provincial Assemblies, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Federal Capital form its electoral college. The National Assembly has a total membership of 217 elected through adult suffrage (Muslim 207 and Minorities 10). National Flower Jasmine Major Cities Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad   Agriculture Major crops are cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane Total cropped area 22.14 million hectares Industry Textiles, cement, fertiliser, steel, sugar, electric goods, shipbuilding Energy Major sources: Oil, Coal, Hydel, Thermal, Nuclear and Liquid Petroleum Gas WAPDA's total installed power generating capacity: 11,246 MW Health Hospitals  830 Beds: 86,921 Doctors(registered): 74,229 Dentists(registered): 2,938 Nurses(registered: 22,810 Education Primary schools: 150,963 Middle schools: 14,595 High schools: 9,808 Arts  science colleges: 798 Professional colleges: 161 Universities: 35 (10 in Private sector) Transport  Communication Total length of roads: 228,206 km Pakistan Railway network: 8,775 km Railway stations: 781 Pakistan International Airlines: Covers 55 international and 38 domestic stations Major Airports: 6 - Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gwadar Seaports International : 2 - Karachi and Bin Qasim Domestic : 3 - Minora, Gwadar and Pasni Communications ;Post Offices: 13,419 Telephone connections: 2.47 million Public Call Offices: 10,000 Telegraph offices: 427 Employment Total Labour force: 37.15 million Agriculture sector: 47% Manufacturing/ Mining sector: 10.50% Others: 42.50% Media  Entertainment Pakistan Television (PTV) telecast entertainment programmes of music, plays/dramas and stage shows/talks from 05 TV Stations; Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. PTV has also started Ptv World which can be viewed in the Middle East and South Asia. A private Channel, Shalimar Television Network (STN), besides telecast of similar programmes, also re-telecast programmes of BBC, CNN, TNT Movies etc. Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has 22 radio stations throughout Pakistan which offer music, plays, news and talks in national and local languages. A PBC World Service from Islamabad presents programmes in a number of international languages. A private music channel, “FM100” has 24 hours music service from 04 major cities of Pakistan. All urban areas have cinema houses which run daily 03 shows of feature films in Urdu and other local languages. Some cinema houses in major cities run English movies also Banks Central Bank: State Bank of Pakistan Other Banks: National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Ltd., Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd., Allied Bank of Pakistan Ltd., First Woman Bank, Mehran Bank and the Bank of Punjab Specialised Banks: Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan, Federal Bank for Co-operatives, Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan, The Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank, Banker's Equity and National Development Finance Corporation Popular games Cricket, Hockey, Football Famous Mountain Peaks K-2 (Mt. Godwin Austin): 28,250 ft./8611 m  (2nd in World) Nanga Parbat : 26,660 ft./8126 m (8th in World) Gasherbrum-I: 26,470 ft./8068 m (11th in World) Famous Mountain Passes The Khyber Pass The Kurram Pass The Tochi Pass The Gomal Pass The Bolan Pass The Lowari Pass The Khunjrab Pass Rivers              There are five main rivers in Pakistan Ravi 901 km in length Jhelum 825 km Chenab 1242 km Rivers The Indus 2896 km Sutlej 1551 km Beas (tributary of Sutlej) 398 km Deserts Thar: Sindh Cholistan: Punjab Thal: Punjab Dams Mangla Dam Punjab Major Dams North West Frontier Province Warsak Dam North West Frontier Province Keenjar Sindh Manchar Sindh Lakes Saif-ul-Maluk NWFP Hanna Balochistan Satpara Northern Areas Kachura  Northern Areas Where to Stay ? Pakistan offers a wide range of accommodation. Modern, well equipped chain hotels like Sheraton and Avari (at Karachi & Lahore), Pearl Continental Hotels (at Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Bhurban and Abbottabad), Marriott (Karachi & Islamabad), Holiday Inn (Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Islamabad), Serena Hotels (Faisalabad, Quetta, Gilgit, Hunza and Saidu Sharif), Pine Park Hotels (Naran, Khannian & Shogran), Green Hotels (Nathiagali, Abbottabad, Peshawar), Shangrila Resorts & Hotels (Naran, Chilas, Skardu) offer good services and facilities. A government tax/duty up to o 17.5% is added to the rent at most places. There are official Dak Bungalows and Rest Houses at most of the hill stations and valleys, maintained by either Provincial Forest Department, Public Works Department (PWD) or by the local administration.  Advance booking is recommended. What to see ? Pakistan is a special interest destination. Its main attractions include adventure tourism in the Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism as found at Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harappa and Swat and early Muslim and Mughal heritage of Multan, Lahore, Thatta and Peshawar. From the mighty Karakorams in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus river in the South, Pakistan remains a land of high adventure and nature. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep, Camel and Yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching, are a few activities which entice the adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan.