Capital: Islamabad
Population: 190,291,129
Brief History of Pakistan:
The
land that is today Pakistan was part of the Indus Valley civilization thousands
of years ago. This civilization flourished until 2000 BC. In the coming
centuries, the area would be invaded by numerous empires and civilizations
primarily from the west. These included the Persians, the Greeks (Alexander the
Great), the Arabs (who established the religion Islam in the area), and the
Ottoman Empire. From the 1500s to the 1600s the Mughal Empire dominated and
thrived in the area of Pakistan.
In the 18th century the British came to region
and took over the area of Pakistan, then part of India. They would rule up until
1947. In 1947 the British split up India into three parts: India, Pakistan, and
East Pakistan; which would later become Bangladesh.
India and Pakistan have long fought over a disputed region called Kashmir.
In 1998 Pakistan conducted nuclear weapons
testing. This was in response to India performing its own nuclear tests.
Relations are still strained between the two countries.
The Geography of Pakistan
Total
Size: 803,940 square km
Size
Comparison: slightly less than twice the size of California
Geographical
Coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E
World
Region or Continent: Asia
General
Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in west
Geographical
Low Point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Geographical
High Point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Climate: mostly
hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Major
cities: Karachi 13.125 million; Lahore 7.132 million; Faisalabad 2.849
million; Rawalpindi 2.026 million; ISLAMABAD (capital) 832,000 (2009)
Economy of Pakistan
Major
Industries: textiles
and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper
products, fertilizer, shrimp
Agricultural
Products: cotton,
wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Natural
Resources: land,
extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore,
copper, salt, limestone
Major
Exports: textiles
(garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather goods, sports goods,
chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs
Major
Imports: petroleum,
petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation equipment, edible oils,
paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea
Currency: Pakistani rupee (PKR)
National
GDP: $488,400,000,000
The People of Pakistan
Type of
Government: federal
republic
Languages
Spoken: Punjabi
48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official)
8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of
Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National
Holiday: Republic
Day, 23 March (1956)
Nationality: Pakistani(s)
Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%,
Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%
National
Symbol: star
and crescent
National
Anthem or Song: Qaumi
Tarana (National Anthem)
