Buty of pakistan........: Some things about Pakistan........

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%