World Tourism Directory

Official Name
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Founder Name
M Ali Jinnah

Capital Name
Islamabad

Currency
Rupees

Area
796,096 square kilometres

Population:
148.723 million

Location:
South Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north.

Land boundaries:
Total 7,266 km (Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 580 km, India 2,240 km, Iran 909 km).

Coastline:
1,046 km

Climate:
Mostly hot, dry desert, temperate in northwest; arctic in north.

Terrain:
Flat Indus plain in east, mountains in north and northwest, Balochistan plateau in west and desert
in south.

Elevation Extremes:
Lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m, Highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin Austin - 8611 meters)

Independence:
14th August 1947
(from Great Britain)

National Day:
23rd March

Government Type:
Parliamentary

Administrative Divisions:
4 provinces (Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan)
Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT)
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)
Disputed Jammu & Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Religions:
Islam 97%, Christianity, Sikhism, Hinduism, and others 3%

Languages:
National language: Urdu
Official languages: Urdu and English
Regional Languages: Sindhi, Pushto, Punjabi and Balochi

Culture
Pakistan has a rich and unique and very beautiful cultural heritage that has actively preserved its established traditions throughout history of Paksitan. Where brothers are known as arms of their sisters. Father is respected more than anyone else. Mother is considered as the blessing for the whole home. Sisters are homage as the blessings of Almighty Allah and the Daugthers are esteemed as the bounty showers of happiness. In Pakistan people share their cheers and vows and always have open heart for others. They always hospitile their guests in their unique way. Pakistani society is largely multilingual and multicultural. Religious practices of various faiths are an integral part of everyday life in society. Education is highly regarded by members of every socio-economic stratum. The traditional family values are highly respected and considered sacred, although urban families have grown into a nuclear family system, owing to the socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional joint family system.Past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Gujarat, Abbottabad and Multan. The North-western part of Pakistan, bordering with Afghanistan, is highly conservative and dominated by regional tribal customs dating back to hundreds of years.