Pakistan - The Land Of Pure

Situated in the heart of the South Asian sub-continent, it is a country with its own fascinating history and cultural heritage. Pakistan was the site for one of the world's earliest human settlements, the great prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization, the crucible of ancient empires, religions and cultures. 

History
Pakistan is both an old and a new country. Long before Europeans began to abandon their tribal societies, cities flourished in the Indo-Gangetic plain, part of which form the present provinces of Punjab and Sindh. The cities of Harrappa and Mohenjodaro portray examples of great ancient civilizations present on this land, which is now Pakistan. Alexander the Great marched across the width of modern–day Pakistan establishing outposts of his brief empire. The social and cultural values of several of the world’s great religions (Hinduism, Buddhism and finally Islam) are rooted deep into this land, which was introduced to western secular values under the tutelage of the British.

From the 18th century the region came under British rule after the great Mughul Empire. Pakistan as a country was born in August 1947 when British India was partitioned as a result of demands by the Muslim League for an Islamic state in which Muslims of the subcontinent could perform rituals of Islam without any restriction from the state machinery. Large numbers of Muslims moved to the new state and up to one million people died in the bloodshed that accompanied partition. Pakistan had two ‘wings’ – West Pakistan (the present Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) separated by 1600 km of Indian Territory. A number of areas were disputed with India. Kashmir, the principal bone of contention, led to at least two major wars between India and Pakistan. But in spite of serious internal political and external inter regional conflicts, the country has to a great extent progressed socially and economically .

Geography
Located in South Asia, Pakistan shares an eastern border with India and a north-eastern border with China. Iran makes up the country’s south-west border, and Afghanistan runs along its western and northern edge. The Arabian Sea is Pakistan’s southern boundary with 1,064 km of coastline.

Climate
The north and west of Pakistan are arid; the south and much of the east experience a form of the tropical monsoon. Temperatures vary dramatically by season and with altitude, from the hot tropical coast to the cold mountains of the far north.

Culture
Pakistan is dotted with a variety of physical contours. It has lush green fertile plains, hot deserts, and beautiful valleys, snow clad mountains, almost sky touching peaks and a magnificent coastline. Having a diverse range of physical features it is quite obvious that customs, traditions and habits of people living in different regions vary dramatically.