PAKISTAN - THE LAND OF BEAUTY & DIVERSITY

PAKISTAN emerged on the map of the world on 14th August, 1947. Lying between the latitudes of 23 Degrees 30 Minutes and 36 degrees 45Minutes north and between the longitudes of 61Degrees and 75 Degrees 31Minutes East, Pakistan stretches over 1,600 kms north to south and about 885 kms broad east to west covering a total area of 796,095 sq. kms. It comprises four provinces: Baluchistan, North-West Frontier, the Punjab and Sindh; the Federally Administrated Areas and the Federal Capital Area (Islamabad).

Pakistan is a land of diversified relief. In the north it is bound by the Himalayan ranges, the Karakoram range and the Hindukush beyond it. The Himalayas have an average elevation of 6,100 metres with some of the highest peaks in the world. K-2 (Mount Godwin Austin), 8,611 metres, is the highest peak of the Karakoram range and the second highest in the world. Tirich Mir, 7,736 metres, is the highest peak of the Hindukush. Below the Karakoram is the parallel range of the Himalayas extending far to the east and on to the west, ending up at the Naga Parbat Peak, 8,068 metres, standing 8th in world rating.

Pakistan's geo-strategic location makes it vital to the super powers and gives it potentially a decisive role in keeping balance of power in Asia and peace in the world. Pakistan is being described as: guarding the traditional invasion routes from Central Asia to the subcontinent" "as commanding the sea lanes from the oil gulf into the Arabian Sea" and as "blocking access to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean".

Out of the total area of 796,095 sq. kms, about 475,884 sq. kms in the north-west and west from a highly differentiated mountainous terrain. The remaining 320,211 sq. kms present a flat and gradational surface. The whole land, excluding most of Baluchistan, falls into the hydrological unit drained by the Indus system of rivers. The unit includes the north-western hills, northern and north-western sub-mountanious, upper and lower Indus plains and parts of Baluchistan, which is a region of small rivers. Large parts of it form areas of inland drainage.

Pakistan comprises six major physical divisions or regions:

(1) Northern mountains;
(2) Western off-shoots of the Himalayas;
(3) Baluchistan Plateau;
(4) Pothwar Plateau and the Salt Range;
(5) Upper and Lower Indus Plains; and
(6) The Thar Desert

South-Asia has attracted migrants from both north-east and north -west from times immemorial. For thousands of years, people have entered through these routes settling and mixing with the local population. These included Dravidians, Aryans, Greeks, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Arabs and Moughals. However, the dominant racial type in Pakistan is the Indo-Aryans. Some people in the Kalat region have the Dravidian traces. The Baluchs and Pathans are predominantly an admixture of Turks and Iranians, two of the important branches of the Aryans. The history of the Baluchs reflect their valour, love for freedom and fear of God. They lead a simple life and are honest and straightforward. The Pathans of the Northwest Frontier are born fighters. They are industrious and hard working. The Punjabi is mainly a farmer-soldier, though he is efficient and hard working in other occupations too. Usually tall, well built, active, forward-looking, disciplined and industrious, he makes a very fine soldier. The Sindhi way of working and living has a direct impact of Islam. Sindh is known as Bab-ul-Islam (Gateway to Islam).

The majority of the population is composed of Muslims. A small minority of Hindus, mostly big landlords, is settled mainly in the border districts of Sindh. Christians are widely spread and form about 3 percent of the total population. An economically notable minority, mostly settled in Karachi, is that of the Parsis numbering between 3-4 thousands. With the exception of the Head of the State and the Prime Minister, every post is open to them (the minorities). The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to profess, practice and propagate their religions. They have their elected representatives both in the Federal and Provincial Legislatures and also in the local bodies.

A number of languages are spoken in Pakistan. These languages heavily lean on Persian and Arabic. Urdu is the national language and forms a common linguistic link between the people of various regions.

English continues to be used for higher education, particularly in scientific and technical fields. Besides, English is mainly used for commercial, legal and other official business.

Located in the north of the tropic of cancer, Pakistan possesses a great range of climatic diversity, from some of the hottest in the world in Jacobabad and Sibi districts to the snowy cold parts of Baluchistan and northern mountain areas. Along the coastal belt, the climate is modified by sea breezes. Pakistan is on the margin of the monsoon climate. The rainfall is barely sufficient and thus it possesses a dry climate. Due to the diversity of the climate a large variety of crops is cultivated balancing the agricultural economy of the country. In plains, the minimum temperature in the month of January varies from 4oC to 15oC and in June/July from 30oC to 39oC. The maximum temperature in January varies from 17oC to 24oC and in June/July from 37C to 45oC.

Pakistan suffers from a general deficiency of rainfall. According to a latest study the mean annual rainfall varies from 5 to 100 CMS. More than 90 percent of the area receives less than 51 CMS. Around 75 percent of the mean annual rainfall occur during the months of July, August and September while that in the hot weather occasional light rains follow dust storms. Owing to high summer temperatures and the resultant high rate of evaporation and transpiration, the effectiveness of the rainfall is low except in the northern strip of mountains and adjacent lands

To learn more about Pakistan visit the following web sites:-

• www.tourism.gov.pk
• www.pakistan.gov.pk