A Brief Description In 1947, as British rule came to an end in India, Pakistan was created when the Muslim-dominated parts of India (to the west and east) of Hindu India, were given autonomy. Those two partitions were called East and West Pakistan and they were separated (right down the middle) by India. The city of Islamabad, with its mix of traditional Islamic architecture styles and modern features, became the capital city when it was officially moved here from Karachi in 1959. Then, in 1971, East Pakistan demanded independence, and after a bloody civil war it was transformed into what is now called the country of Bangladesh. West Pakistan, now present-day Pakistan, has been in constant dispute with India over the Kashmir Region, and after many wars and border disputes, the status of the area remains in limbo. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. Today, the long-term goal of both nations is military stability, and promising discussions continue. As one of the most populous countries in the world, Pakistan, and its friendly, hopeful people, face enormous economic and social problems; fortunately it possesses immense natural resources, and when mixed with its low labor costs, the future potential is positive for this ever-changing country. Read more about Pakistan here. The stunning scenery of northern Pakistan! Travel the World through Poster Art! Facts and Figures Name Pakistan (long form) Islamic Republic of Pakistan Population 162,419,900 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City Islamabad (965,000) Currency Pakistani Rupee (PKR) Currency Converter here Languages Punjabi (48%), Sindhi (12%), Siraiki (10%), Pashtu (8%), Urdu (8%), others Flag here National Day March 23 Religions Sunni Muslim (77%), Shi'a Muslim (20%) Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 33º 40' N, 73º 08' E Relative Location Pakistan, part of the Indian Subcontinent, and positioned in the Middle East, a recognized geographical region of southwestern Asia, is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. The country is bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, China, India and the Arabian Sea. Land Statistics Coastline 650 miles (1,046 km) Land Areas (land) 300,665 sq miles (778,720 sq km) (water) 9,738 sq miles (25,220 sq km) (TOTAL) 310,403 sq miles (803,940 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms The heartland of Pakistan, the Punjab Plain, is disected by the Indus River and fronts its border with India; southwest, the arid and dry Baluchistan Plateau extends to its border with Iran. The country's most dramatic landscape is north, as the western edges of the Himalayas, including the (Hindu Kush,) is home to some of the tallest peaks in the world. The highest point in the country of Pakistan, K2, or (Mount Godwin-Austen), is the second tallest mountain on the planet. Photo here. The mountainous areas of the west-central, along the border with Afghanistan, include the Ras Koh, Safed Koh and Toba Kakar ranges The Indus River and its numerous tributaries (one of the world's most significant waterways) drain the entire country. Highest Point K2 - 28,250 ft. (8.611 m) Lowest Point Arabian Sea - (0 ft.) (0 m) Land Divisions 4 provinces, including Balochistan, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab and Sindh. It also includes the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Islamabad Capital Territory. NOTE: The Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.

Maps Pakistan (large color) Map here Pakistan Outline Map here Pakistan CIA version here Pakistan Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indian Subcontinent Map here Kashmir Region Map here Middle East Landforms here Middle East Map here Middle East Outline Map here Middle East Rivers here Tsunami Map (December 2004) here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Recommended Links Pakistan (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! Pakistan Earthquake (relief and reconstruction) here Pakistan Embassy (Washington, DC) here Pakistan Government (official site) here Pakistan Line (newspaper) here Pakistan Photos at TrekEarth.com here Pakistan Tourism here Time and Weather Time Zone (UTC +5) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info: here Climate From the Arabian Sea, to the high mountain of the north, Pakistan's weather varies widely. In general terms (south and east of the mountains) the country is hot and dry in the summer months, with very little rain. Along the southern coastal areas humidity is very high. In the northern and western mountains, summers are much cooler, and winter brings heavy snow. Throughout the Hindu Kush and the rugged peaks of the far north, Arctic-like conditions in winter are the norm. The heaviest rain (central and south), falls July through September, while winters do bring some light rain. In the central Punjab region, May - July are the hottest months, with daily high temps averaging near 90º f. High temps above 100º f are common. Winter lows seldom fall below 40º f. The coastal areas enjoy milder, more consistent temperatures, with daily highs averaging near 85º f., and winter lows near 55º f. Happiness in Pakistan is a laptop and a great view!

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This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 18 November 2009
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/pakistan.html