Pakistan - A Brief Fact File

Pakistan is a South Asian country, located just aboveFurthermore, all the four provinces have their own
the Tropic of Cancer. It shares borders with Indiaindividuality and this all culminates to give a unique and
(East), China (North-East), Afghanistan (North West)exquisite identity to Pakistan. Urdu is the national
and Iran (West), while Arabian Sea (1046 km/650 mi)language of Pakistan and English is the official one.
marks its Southern boundary.Besides, other major lingos include Punjabi, Sindhi,
Pakistan gained sovereignty from British India onBalochi and Pashto. An increasing trend has been to
August 14, 1947. Its inception has been credited tomaster foreign languages like Chinese, German, and
many people, eminent of who were: the great thinkerArabic etc.
and poet Iqbal, and the Jinnah (Quaid-e-Azam or TheThis country has been blessed with a very diverse
Great Leader). Creation of Pakistan saw one of thelandscape and climate. Himalayas are in Northern part;
biggest migrations of history as millions of Muslims leftRivers and one of the world's most fertile agrarian
India for the new born state.lands in middle; beautiful desserts and a long coast line
Pakistan comprises of four provinces, namely Punjab,in South: all combine to make Pakistan a must-visit
Sind, Baluchistan and N.W.F.P; a capital territory andplace. Weather and climate is quite varied as well.
federally administered tribal areas (FATA). PakistanPakistan enjoys all four seasons, year long.
also exercises de facto authority over a part ofPakistan is situated at the crossroads of South Asia,
Kashmir area. The capital, Islamabad, was constructedthe Middle East, and Central Asia. Its strategic position
in the 1960s and is considered the greenest city in thehas also been cemented as landlocked Central Asian
country.states use Pakistan as their economic survival corridor.
Pakistan is an Islamic Republic and has a ParliamentaryDespite having, an excellent base to prosper on,
style of government. The Government representativesPakistan still is a developing country. However, recent
(for the National and Provincial Assembly) are selectedyears have seen some improvements and today
in a general election, who in turn selects the PresidentPakistan is included in the "Next Eleven" economies.
(Head of State). Prime Minister is usually the leader ofWith a GDP of US$167 billions and a per capita income
the largest political party in National Assembly.of US$ 2,942, Pakistan has the second largest
Provinces have an identical form of government aseconomy in South Asia, and 48th largest in the world.
well. Pakistan is an active member of United NationsHigh population (over 175 million and sixth-most
(UN), Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC),populous country), high poverty (25% of total
Commonwealth of Nations (CoN), South Asianpopulation), foreign debts (US$45 billion) and current
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC),economic recession have hindered the economic
Economic Corporation Organization (ECO),growth in recent years.
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Developing-8 (D8) andA lot can be judged about a country by observing
World Trade Organization (WTO). Pakistan is also ahow it is being portrayed in the media. Today, Pakistan
Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA).seems to be always in the limelight. Military operations
The culture of Pakistan is the result of amalgamationagainst terrorists, achievements in sports and terrorists'
of centuries old Indus Valley civilization; rule of ancientactivities against Pakistan etc are all you can learn
empires; conquerors and warriors of west, includingabout this otherwise great country.
Aryans, Greeks etc and Islamic Revolution.