Pakistan National Flag Dark green with a white vertical bar, a white crescent and a five-pointed star in the middle. The Flag symbolises Pakistan's profound commitment to Islam and Islamic world.

Father of the Nation Quaid-E-Azam Muhammad ali Jinnah

The National Poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal

Head of the State General Pervaz Musherraf

Head of Government Shaukat Aziz

Capital Islamabad

History Pakistan traces its history back to 2,500 years B.C., when a highly developed civilization flourished in the Indus Valley. Excavations at Harrappa, Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and Mehr Garh have brought to light, the evidence of an advanced civilization existing even in more ancient times. Around 1,500 B.C., the Aryans overwhelmed this region and influenced the Hindu civilization, whose centre moved to Ganges valley, further east. Later, the Persians occupied the northern region in the 5th century B.C. up to the 2nd century AD. The Greeks came in 327 B.C., under Alexander of Macedonia, and passed away like a meteor. In 712 AD, the Arabs, led by Muhammad Bin Qasim, landed somewhere near modern Karachi and ruled the lower half of Pakistan for 200 years. During this time, Islam took roots in the soil and influenced the life, culture and traditions of the people.

In the 10th century AD, began the systematic conquest of South Asia by the Muslims from Central Asia, who ruled here up to the 18th century. Then the British came and ruled for nearly 100 years over what is Pakistan now. The Muslim revival began towards the end of the last century when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a renowned Muslim leader and educationist, launched a movement for intellectual renaissance of the Muslims of South Asia. In 1930, the well-known poet-philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, conceived the idea of a separate state for the Muslims of South Asia. In 1940, a resolution was adopted by the All-India Muslim League, demanding a separate independent home land for the Muslims. After 07 years of un-tiring struggle under the brilliant leadership of Quaid-e-Azam (the great leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan emerged on the world map as a sovereign state, on 14th August, 1947.

Languages Urdu (official), Sindhi ,Pashtu, Balochi, Punjabi,
Siraiki (a Punjabi variant), Hindko, Brahui, English, Burushaski
and other languages

Area 8,03,950 Sq. km. (including FATA and FANA).
Punjab: 205,344 Sindh: 140,914
North West Frontier Province: 74,521
Balochistan: 347,190
Federally Administered Tribal Areas: 27,220
Islamabad(Capital): 906

Time Zone Pakistan Standard Time is GMT plus 5 hours. It gets dark at about 5 p.m. in winter and at 7.30 p.m. in summer.

Telephone Infoemation Inward: +92, Dera Ghazi Khan: 641, Faisalabad: 411, Hyderabad: 221, Islamabad: 51, Karachi: 21, Lahore: 42, Multan: 61, Rawalpindi: 51, Gilgit: 572, Skardu: 575, Peshawar: 91; Outward via operator or from ISD Public Call Offices (PCO). For internal calls, Card Phone booths are installed at all airport lounges and main business centres in most cities and towns. Public telephone, telex and fax facilities are available at the Customers Service Centres (CSC) or at private general stores and shops, identified by a sign displaying on green boards/lettering. Mobile phone can also be obtained from private companies on rental basis for short periods. Radio paging service is provided by DC Pager service at Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar.

Population Muslim (97%), Hindu (1.5%), Christian (1%) and other minorities .

Ethnic composition 95% Muslims, 5% others

Per capital income US$ 460

Currency Pak Rupee

Exports Cotton, textile goods, rice, leather items carpets, sports goods, fruits, handicrafts Sea Food (Fisheries)

Exports vehicles, dustrial equipInment,iron ore,petroleum,edible oil

Government Parliamentary form
It consists of two Houses i.e., the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House).

Parliament The Senate is a permanent legislative body and symbolises a process of continuity in the national affairs. It consists of 87 members. The four Provincial Assemblies, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Federal Capital form its electoral college.
The National Assembly has a total membership of 217 elected through adult suffrage (Muslim 207 and Minorities 10).

National Flower Jasmine

Major Cities Islamabad Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot  Faisalabad  and Dera Ghazi Khan

Agriculture Major crops are cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane

Total cropped area 22.14 million hectares

Industry Textiles, cement, fertiliser, steel, sugar, electric goods, shipbuilding

Energy Major sources:
Oil, Coal, Hydel, Thermal, Nuclear and Liquid Petroleum Gas
WAPDA's total installed power generating capacity: 11,246 MW

Health Hospitals: 830
Beds: 86,921
Doctors(registered): 74,229
Dentists(registered): 2,938
Nurses(registered: 22,810

Education Primary schools: 150,963
Middle schools: 14,595
High schools: 9,808
Arts & science colleges: 798
Professional colleges: 161
Universities: 35 (10 in Private sector)

Transport & Communication Total length of roads: 228,206 km
Pakistan Railway network: 8,775 km
Railway stations: 781
Pakistan International Airlines: Covers 55 international and 38 domestic stations
Major Airports: 6 - Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gwadar

Seaports International : 2 - Karachi and Bin Qasim
Domestic: 3 - Minora, Gwadar and Pasni jor Airports: 6 - Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gwadar

Communications Post Offices: 13,419
Telephone connections: 2.47 million
Public Call Offices: 10,000
Telegraph offices: 427

Employment Total Labour force: 37.15 million
Agriculture sector: 47%
Manufacturing & Mining sector: 10.50%
Others: 42.50%

Media & Entertainment Pakistan Television (PTV) telecast entertainment programmes of music, plays/dramas and stage shows/talks from 05 TV Stations; Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. PTV has also started Ptv World which can be viewed in the Middle East and South Asia. A private Channel, Shalimar Television Network (STN), besides telecast of similar programmes, also re-telecast programmes of BBC, CNN, TNT Movies etc.

Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has 22 radio stations throughout Pakistan which offer music, plays, news and talks in national and local languages. A PBC World Service from Islamabad presents programmes in a number of international languages. A private music channel,FM100 has 24 hours music service from 04 major cities of Pakistan. All urban areas have cinema houses which run daily 03 shows of feature films in Urdu and other local languages. Some cinema houses in major cities run English movies also

Banks Central Bank: State Bank of Pakistan Other Banks: National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Ltd., Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd., Allied Bank of Pakistan Ltd., First Woman Bank, Mehran Bank and the Bank of Punjab
Specialised Banks: Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan, Federal Bank for Co-operatives, Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan, The Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank, Banker's Equity and National Development Finance Corporation

Popular games Cricket, Hockey, Football

Famous Mountain Peaks K-2 (Mt. Godwin Austin): 28,250 ft./8611 m  (2nd in World)
Nanga Parbat : 26,660 ft./8126 m (8th in World)
Gasherbrum-I: 26,470 ft./8068 m (11th in World)

Famous Mountain Passes
The Khyber Pass
The Kurram Pass
The Tochi Pass
The Gomal Pass
The Bolan Pass
The Lowari Pass
The Khunjrab Pass

Ravi 901 km
Jhelum 825 km
Chenab 1242 km

Rivers
The Indus 2896 km
Sutlej 1551 km
Beas (tributary of Sutlej) 398 km

Deserts
Thar: Sindh
Cholistan: Punjab
Thal: Punjab
Mangla Dam Punjab

Major Dams
Tarbela Dam North West Frontier Province
Warsak Dam North West Frontier Province
Keenjar Sindh
Manchar Sindh

Lakes
Saif-ul-Maluk NWFP
Hanna Balochistan
Satpara Northern Areas
Kachura Northern Areas

Where to Stay ? Pakistan offers a wide range of accommodation. Modern, well equipped chain hotels like Sheraton and Avari (at Karachi & Lahore), Pearl Continental Hotels (at Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Bhurban and Abbottabad), Marriott (Karachi & Islamabad), Holiday Inn (Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Islamabad), Serena Hotels (Faisalabad, Quetta, Gilgit, Hunza and Saidu Sharif), Pine Park Hotels (Naran, Khannian & Shogran), Green Hotels (Nathiagali, Abbottabad, Peshawar), Shangrila Resorts & Hotels (Naran, Chilas, Skardu) offer good services and facilities. A government tax/duty up to o 17.5% is added to the rent at most places. There are official Dak Bungalows and Rest Houses at most of the hill stations and valleys, maintained by either Provincial Forest Department, Public Works Department (PWD) or by the local administration. Advance booking is recommended.

What to see ? Pakistan is a special interest destination. Its main attractions include adventure tourism in the Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism as found at Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harappa and Swat and early Muslim and Mughal heritage of Multan, Lahore, Thatta and Peshawar. From the mighty 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, Camel and Yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching, are a few activities which entice the adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan.