PAKISTAN

Location

country located in the mountainous region adjoining Central Asia and the Middle East.Has a 1,046 kilometer (650 mile) coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, the Republic of India in the east and the People's Republic of China in the far northeast.[Pakistan has been called part of the New Middle East.[8]

Capital- Islamabad

Largest city- Karachi

Currency- Pakistani Rupee

The estimated population of Pakistan is 172,800,000. making it the world's sixth most-populous country, behind Brazil and ahead of Russia.

Geography

Pakistan covers 340,403 square miles (881,640 km2) Apart from the 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) Arabian Sea coastline, Pakistan's land borders total 6,774 kilometres—2,430 kilometres (1,509 mi) with Afghanistan to the NW523 kilometres (325 mi) with China to the NE, 2,912 kilometres (1,809 mi) with India to the E and 909 kilometres (565 mi) with Iran to the SW

The northern and western highlands of Pakistan contain the towering Karakoram and Pamir mountain ranges, which include some of the world's highest peaks: K2 (28,250 ft; 8,611 m) and Nanga Parbat (26,660 ft; 8,126 m).

K2-2nd highest peak in the world.

The Baluchistan Plateau lies to the west, and the Thar Desert and an expanse of alluvial plains, the Punjab and Sind, lie to the east.

The 1,000-mile-long (1,609-km) Indus River and its tributaries flow through the country from the Kashmir region to the Arabian

Lahore Fort

Tomb of Allama Iqbal

Languages

multilingual country

English is the official language

Urdu is the national language.

Punjabi is the most commonly spoken language of Pakistan. The following are major languages spoken in Pakistan

Language

The following are major languages spoken in Pakistan:

Punjabi (Panjabi) 61 million

Pashto (three major varieties) 19 million

Sindhi 19 million

Seraiki (Saraiki) 14 million

Urdu 11 million

Balochi (three major varieties) 6 million

Religion

second-most populous Muslim-majority country

also has the second-largest Shi'a population in the world.

About 95% of the Pakistanis are Muslim. Almost 85% of Pakistani Muslims are Sunni Muslims and 15% are Shi'a Muslims

Religion

The Religious breakup of the country is as follows[13]:

Islam 173,000,000 (95%) (nearly 85% are Sunni Muslims and 15% are Shi'a Muslims).

Hinduism 3,200,000 (1.85%)

Christianity 2,800,000 (1.6%)

Sikhs Around 20,000 (0.04%)

Politics

Pakistan politics has taken place in the framework of a federal republicsystem of government has at times been parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential.In the current semi-presidential system, the President of Pakistan is the head of state, the Prime Minister is head of government, and there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is largely vested in the Parliament.

Economy

is the 26th largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power, and the 47th largest in absolute dollar terms.

Pakistan's economy mainly encompasses textiles, chemicals, food processing, agriculture and other industries.

The economy has suffered in the past from decades of internal political disputes, a fast growing population, mixed levels of foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India.

ClimatePakistan has four seasons: - a cool, dry winter from December through February; - a hot, dry spring from March through May- the summer rainy season, or southwest monsoon period, from June through September; - the retreating monsoon period of October and November.

Rainfall can vary radically from year to year, and successive patterns of flooding and drought are also not uncommon.

Traditional dress

Salwar kameez (shalwar qameez) is the national dress of Pakistan.

Salwars are loose trousers designed in various styles.

The salwar kameez is important especially during the festivals celebrated in Pakistan, for men as well as women.

Salwar kameez is also popular due to the comfort factor.

The kameez is large and loose fitting tunic worn with the baggy salwar.

Although the sherwani originated in India during the 18th century, it is also the national dress for men in Pakistan.

The achkan is yet another important dress of Pakistan.

An achkan is a long jacket, which also originated in the 19th century in India.

These are long sleeved coats reaching all the way to the knees. At times, achkan can even go lower.

HEALTH

Alternative therapies have been utilized by people in Pakistan who have faith in spiritual healers, clergymen, hakeems, homeopaths or even many quacks traditional medicine sector has become an important source of health care, especially in rural and tribal areas of the country

half the population (66%) lives in the rural part of the country

Poverty, compounded by illiteracy, low status of women, and inadequate water and sanitation facilities, has a deep impact on health indicators

two main divisions: the public domain and the private domain