PAKISTAN
Pakistan is a sovereign country in South Asia. With a population exceeding 180 million people, it is the sixth most populous country in the world. Located at the crossroads of the strategically important regions of South Asia, Central Asia and Western Asia, Pakistan has a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west and north, Iran to the southwest and China in the far northeast. It is separated from Tajikistan by Afghanistan's narrow Wakhan Corridor in the north, and also shares a marine border with Oman.
Physical regions
The northern highlands
The northern highlands include parts of the Hindu Kush, the Karakoram Range, and the Himalayas. This area includes such famous peaks as K2 (Mount Godwin Austen, at 8,611 meters the second highest peak in the world). More than one-half of the summits are over 4,500 meters, and more than fifty peaks reach above 6,500 meters. Travel through the area is difficult and dangerous, although the government is attempting to develop certain areas into tourist and trekking sites. Because of their rugged topography and the rigours of the climate, the northern highlands and the Himalayas to the east have been formidable barriers to movement into Pakistan throughout history.
The Indus plain
The name Indus comes from the Sanskrit word sindhu, meaning ocean, from which also come the words Sindh, Hindu, and India. The Indus, one of the great rivers of the world, rises in southwestern Tibet only about 160 kilometres west of the source of the Sutlej River, which joins the Indus in Punjab, and the Brahmaputra, which runs eastward before turning southwest and flowing through Bangladesh. The catchment area of the Indus is estimated at almost 1 million square kilometres, and all of Pakistan's major rivers—the Kabul, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej—flow into it. The Indus River basin is a large, fertile alluvial plain formed by silt from the Indus. This area has been inhabited by agricultural civilizations for at least 5,000 years.
Sistan Basin
Balochistan is located at the eastern edge of the Iranian plateau and in the border region between Southwest, Central, and South Asia. It is geographically the largest of the four provinces at 347,190 km² or (134,051 square miles) of Pakistani territory; and composes 48% of the total land area of Pakistan. The population density is very low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. The southern region is known as Makran. The central region is known as Kalat.
Demography
Population of Pakistan, 1961–2003
Population:
187,343,000 (2011 est.)
Growth rate:
1.6%
Birth rate:
31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Life expectancy:
63.39 years (2009 est.)
–male:
62.4 years (2009 est.)
–female:
64.44 years (2009 est.)
Fertility rate:
3.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years:
36.7% (male 33,037,943/female 31,092,572)
15-64 years:
59.1% (male 53,658,173/female 49,500,786)
65-over:
4.2% (male 3,495,350/female 3,793,734) (2009 est.)
Sex ratio
At birth:
1.00 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Under 15:
1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
15-64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
65-over:
0.82 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Nationality
Nationality:
noun: Pakistani
Major ethnic:
See Ethnic groups of Pakistan
Language
Official:
See Languages of Pakistan
Spoken:
See List of Pakistani languages by number of native speakers
Climate
Pakistan's climate is dry and hot near the coast, becoming progressively cooler toward the northeastern uplands. The winter season is generally cold and dry. The hot season begins in March, and by the end of June the temperature may reach 49° C (120° F ). Between June and September, the monsoon provides an average rainfall of about 38 cm (15 in) in the river basins and up to about 150 cm (60 in) in the northern areas. Rainfall can vary radically from year to year, and successive patterns of flooding and drought are not uncommon.
The Importance
Pakistan is not touted as “the next big thing” for nothing. Tourists never run out of sights to explore and activities to enjoy in Pakistan. The architectural wonders in capital city Lahore are reminiscent of the world-renowned Taj Mahal in India. The verdant lands, arid deserts, and snow-capped mountains in the Hindu Kush are among the must-visit landscapes. Pakistan’s towering mountain ranges make the country ideal for visitors who find thrill in activities such as trekking, hiking, water sports, and mountaineering.
Natural Recources
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, located in South Asia has 650 miles of coastline on the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The west is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran. India is to the east and China in the far northeast. The country is strategically located between South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Land is a valuable natural resource.
Other natural resources include an extensive natural gas supply, some oil, hydro power potential, coal (although not high quality), iron ore, copper, salt, and limestone. Agricultural products are wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, eggs, fruit, vegetables, milk, beef, and mutton. Primary industry includes textiles, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, shrimp, fertilizer, and paper products. Major exports are textiles, rice, leather goods, sports goods, carpets, rugs, and chemicals. Pakistan imports petroleum, machinery, plastic, edible oil, iron, steel, tea, and paper.
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