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Pakistan - The Land Of
Pure
Situated in the heart of the South Asian
sub-continent, it is a country with
its own fascinating history and cultural heritage. Pakistan was the site for
one of the world's earliest human settlements, the great prehistoric Indus
Valley Civilization, the crucible of ancient empires, religions and
cultures.
Pakistan traces its history back to 2,500 years B.C. when a highly developed
civilization flourished in the Indus Valley. Excavations at Harappa,
Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and Mehr Garh have brought to light, the evidence of an
advanced civilization existing even in more ancient times.
The landscape of Pakistan ranges from lofty mountains in the north, the
Karakoram and the Himalayas, through dissected plateaus to the rich alluvial
plains of the Punjab. Then follows desolate barrenness of Balochistan and
the hot dry deserts of Sindh blending into miles and miles of golden beaches
of Mekran coast.
Government:
Pakistan is an Islamic Republic with its capital at Islamabad. It has four
provinces: Balochistan, North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab and
Sindh. Their respective capitals are: Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi.
In addition to provinces, are the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA)
and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Pakistan has a federal
structure of government.
Location And Geography:
Pakistan is situated between latitude 24 and 37 degrees North and longitude
62 and 75 degrees East. The country borders Iran on the West, India on the
East, Afghanistan in the North-West, China in the North and the Arabian Sea
in the South. The great mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakoram and
the Hindukush form Pakistan's northern highlands of North West Frontier
Province and the Northern Area; Punjab province is a flat, alluvial plain
with five major rivers dominating the upper region eventually joining the
Indus River flowing south to the Arabian Sea; Sindh is bounded on the east
by the Thar Desert and the Rann of Kutch and on the west by the Kirthar
range; the Balochistan Plateau is an arid tableland, encircled by dry
mountains. Its total area is 803,940 Sq.Km and total land area is 778,720
Sq.Km. (including FATA and FANA).
Population (1998 Census):
Total Population: 130.58 million. Growth Rate: 2.61% per annum.
Density: 164 person per Sq. Km. Sex Ratio: 108 males to 100 females
Climate:
Pakistan has well defined seasons; Winter (December - February), Spring
(March - April), Summer (May - September) and Autumn (October - November).
During summer in central and southern parts of the country, the temperature
may go as high as 45C. However, the Northern regions have very pleasant
weather during summers. Between July and August, the monsoon brings an
average 38 to 51 cm of rain to plains and 152 to 203 cm in lower Himalayan
valleys of Murree, Kaghan, Swat and Azad Kashmir.
Religions And Languages:
Muslim (97%), Hindu (1.5%), Christian (1%) and several other minorities.
National Language: Urdu
Official Language: English
Main Regional Languages: Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi and Pashto
Pakistan as a Tourist Destination:
Pakistan is a special interest destination. Its main attractions include
adventure tourism in the Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism
as found in Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harrappa, and early Muslim and Mughal
heritage of Multan, Lahore, Thatta, Peshawar, Swat. Besides this, birds
watching Jeep safaris, desert safaris, trekking and mountaineering are
readily available tourist specialized products.
For centuries, the ancient Silk Road remained the main trading route between
the South and the Central Asia. After the construction of the Karakoram
Highway (KKH) along the same alignment, which joins Pakistan with the
Chinese Muslim autonomous region of Xinjang, the ancient trade link has been
revived. The KKH has provided a great opportunity for international
travelers to explore the unspoiled natural beauty, unique culture and
traditions of the Northern Pakistan together with other Silk Route
destinations like China, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Primary Attractions:
a) Unique Mountains, Valleys and Glaciers:
Northern areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq.Km. are fascinating as its
southern region. Amidst towering snow-clad peaks with heights varying from
1000 m to over 8000 meter, the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu recall
Shangri-La. The cultural patterns in this region are as interesting as its
topography. The people with typical costumes, folk dances, music and sports
like polo and buzkashi provide the traveler an unforgettable experience.
Nowhere in the world there is such a great concentration of high mountains,
peaks, glaciers and passes except Pakistan. Of the 14 over 8000 peaks on
earth, 4 occupy an amphitheater at the head of Baltoro glacier in the
Karakoram range. These are: K-2 (8611 m, world second highest), Broad Peak
(8047m), Gasherbrum I (8068m) and Gasherbrum II (8035m). There is yet
another which is equally great, that is, Nanga Parbat (8126m) at the western
most end of the Himalayas. In addition to that, there are 68 peaks over 7000
m and hundreds which are over 6000 m. The Northern Pakistan has some of the
longest glaciers outside Polar region; Siachen (72 km), Hispar (61 km.),
Biafo (60 km.), Baltoro (60 km.), Batura (64 km.), Yenguta (35 km.),
Chiantar (34 km.), Trich (29 km.) and Atrak (28 km.). The lower Himalayan
valleys of Swat, Kaghan and Chitral in the Hindukush range equally share the
beauty and diverse culture of the Northern Pakistan.
b) Nature and Adventure:
From the mighty stretches of the 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 safaris, camel and yak safaris,
trout fishing and bird watching, are a few activities, which entice the
adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan.
Pakistan is endowed with a rich and varied flora and fauna. High Himalayas,
Karakoram and the Hindukush ranges with their alpine meadows and permanent
snow line, coniferous forests down the sub-mountain scrub, the vast Indus
plain merging into the great desert, the coast line and wetlands, all offer
a remarkably rich variety of vegetation and associated wildlife including
avifauna, both endemic and migratory. Ten of 18 mammalian orders are
represented in Pakistan with species ranging from the world's smallest
surviving mammals, the Mediterranean Pigmy Shrew, to the largest mammal ever
known; the blue whale.
c) Indus Valley Civilization:
The Indus Valley Civilization was at its peak from the 3rd till the middle
of the 2nd millennium BC Discovered in 1922, Moenjodaro was once a
metropolis of great importance, forming part of the Indus Valley
Civilization together with Harrappa (discovered in 1923), Kot Diji and
recently discovered in Mehr Garh (Balochistan). Moenjodaro is considered as
one of the most spectacular ancient cities of the world. It had mud and
baked bricks' buildings, an elaborate covered drainage system, a large state
granary, a spacious pillared hall, a College of Priests, a palace and a
citadel. Harrappa, another major city of the Indus Valley Civilization, was
surrounded by a massive brick wall fortification. Other features and plan of
the city were similar to that of Moenjodaro. The Kot Diji culture is marked
by well-made pottery and houses built of mud-bricks on stone foundations.
d) Gandhara Heritage:
Gandhara remains had once been the hallowed center of Buddhism, the cradle
of the world famous Gandhara sculpture, culture and learning. The
archaeological remains found in Taxila, Peshawar, Charsadda, Takht Bhai,
Swat Valley, and rock carving &* inscriptions along the ancient Silk Route (Karakoram
Highway) has well recorded the history of Gandhara. Lying in Haro River
valley,. Taxila, the main center of Gandhara, is over 3,000 years old as it
had attracted the attention of the great conqueror, Alexander in 327 BC,
when it was a province of the powerful Achaemenian Empire. It later came
under the Maurian dynasty and reached a remarkable matured level of
development under the great Ashoka. Then appeared the Indo-Greek descendants
of Alexander's warriors and finally came the most creative period of
Gandhara. The Kushan dynasty was established in about 50 A.D. during the
next 20 years, Taxila, Peshawar and Swat became a renowned center of
learning, philosophy, art and trade. Pilgrims and travelers were attracted
to Gandhara from as far as China and Greece. In 5th century AD, the White
Huns snuffed out the last of the successive civilizations that held unbroken
sway in this region for several centuries.
e) Mughal And Early Muslim Heritage:
Pakistan is a treasure-house of Muslim architecture. Lahore, the cultural
heart of Pakistan is situated along the bank of Ravi River. The city has
witnessed rise and fall of many dynasties like Gaznavis (1021-1186), Ghoris
(1186-1202) and Slaves (1206-1524) before arrival of the Mughals. The city
was conquered by Babur of Ferghana (now in Uzbekistan), the founder of the
Mughal dynasty (1524-1764). All the important monuments like the Royal Fort,
Badshahi Mosque. Wazir Khan's Mosque, Tombs of Jehangir, Asaf Khan, Noor
Jehan, Anarkali, the Shalimar Gardens and Hiran Minar etc., were constructed
during this period. On the other hand, the shrines, mosques and forts
located in and around Multan and Bahawalpur are master pieces of Muslim
architecture. Some important buildings are; Forts at Multan and Derawar (Bahawalpur),
shrines of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria, Shah Rukan-e-Alam, Hazrat Shams Tabrezi
at Multan and Tomb of Bib Jiwandi at Uchh Sharif near Bahawalpur.
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