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Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world and has
one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. Its territory
was a part of the pre-partitioned British India and has a long history
of settlement and civilisation including the Indus Valley Civilisation.
The region has been invaded by the Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Afghans,
Turks, and Mongols. The territory was incorporated into British
India in the nineteenth century. Since its independence, the country
has been characterized by periods of military and economic growth
interspersed with political instability.
The nation was founded officially as the Dominion of Pakistan in
1947, under the leadership of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim
League, and was renamed the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956.
Pakistan was a founding member of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC), Developing 8 Countries (D8) and Economic Cooperation Organization
(ECO). It is also a member of the United Nations (UN), World Trade
Organization (WTO), G33 developing countries, Group of 77 developing
nations (G77) and is a nuclear power.
2.1 Pre-Islamic era (7000 BCE-712CE)
2.2 Islamic Era (712-1857)
2.3 Colonial Era (1857-1947)
2.4 Nationhood (1947-present)
3 Government and politics
6 Geography and climate
7 Flora and fauna
11 Society and culture
11.2 Popular media
13 See also
15 Further reading
16 External links
The name Pakistan (IPA: [pa?k?st?a?n]) means Land of (the) Pure
in Urdu and Persian. It was coined in 1934 as Pakstan by Choudhary
Rahmat Ali, who published it in his pamphlet Now or Never. The
name represented the "thirty million Muslims of PAKSTAN, who
live in the five Northern Units of (British) India — Punjab,
Afghania (also known as North-West Frontier Province), Kashmir,
Sindh, and Baluchistan."
Main article: History of Pakistan
Pre-Islamic era (7000 BCE-712CE)
The Indus region which covers much of Pakistan, was the site of
several ancient cultures including the Neolithic era Mehrgarh, and
the Bronze era Indus Valley Civilization (2500 BCE - 1500 BCE) at
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
Waves of conquerors and migrants including Harappan, Indo-Aryan,
Persian, Grecian, Saka, Parthian, Kushan, White Hun, Afghan, Arab,
Turkics, and Mughal settled in the region throughout the centuries,
influencing the locals and being absorbed among them. However, while
the eastern provinces of Punjab and Sindh became aligned with Indo-Islamic
civilization, the western areas became culturally allied with the
Iranic civilization of Afghanistan and Iran. The region is a crossroads
of historic trade routes, including the Silk Road. The Indus Valley
Civilization collapsed in the middle of the second millennium BCE
and was followed by the Vedic Civilization, which extended over
much of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Successive empires and kingdoms
ruled the region from the Achaemenid Persian empire around 543
BCE, to Alexander the Great in 326 BCE and the Mauryan empire.
The Indo-Greek Kingdom founded by Demetrius of Bactria included
Gandhara and Punjab from 184 BCE, and reached its greatest extent
under Menander, establishing the Greco-Buddhist period with advances
in trade and culture. The city of Taxila (Takshashila) became a
major centre of learning in ancient times - the remains of the city,
located to the west of Islamabad, are one of the country's major
Islamic Era (712-1857)
In 712 CE, the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh
and Multan in southern Punjab. The Pakistan government's official
chronology states that "its foundation was laid" as a
result of this invasion. This would set the stage for several
successive Muslim empires in the Indian subcontinent, including
the Ghaznavid Empire, the Ghorid Kingdom, the Delhi Sultanate and
the Mughal Empire. During this period, Sufi missionaries played
a pivotal role in converting a majority of the regional Buddhist
and Hindu population to Islam. The gradual decline of the Mughal
Empire in the early eighteenth century provided opportunities for
the Afghans, Balochis and Sikhs to exercise control over large areas
until the British East India Company gained ascendancy over
Colonial Era (1857-1947)
The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny, in
1857 was the region's last major armed struggle against the British
Raj, and it laid the foundations for the generally unarmed freedom
struggle led by the Indian National Congress in the twentieth century.
In the 1920s and 1930, a movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, and displaying
commitment to ahimsa, or non-violence, millions of protesters engaged
in mass campaigns of civil disobedience. In early 1947, Britain
announced the end of its rule in India.
The All India Muslim League rose to popularity in the late 1930s
amid fears of under-representation and neglect of Muslims in politics.
On 29 December 1930, Allama Iqbal's presidential address called
for an autonomous "state in northwestern India for Indian Muslims,
within the body politic of India." Muhammad Ali Jinnah
espoused the Two Nation Theory and led the Muslim League to adopt
the Lahore Resolution of 1940 (popularly known as the Pakistan
Resolution), which ultimately led to the formation of an independent
Governor General Jinnah delivering the opening address on 11 August
1947 to the new state of Pakistan.The modern state of Pakistan was
established on 14 August 1947 with two Muslim-majority wings in
the eastern and northwestern regions of the British Indian Empire,
separated from the rest of the country with a Hindu majority, and
comprising the provinces of Balochistan, East Bengal, the North-West
Frontier Province, West Punjab and Sindh. The partition of the British
Indian Empire resulted in communal riots across India and Pakistan—millions
of Muslims moved to Pakistan and millions of Hindus and Sikhs moved
to India. Disputes arose over several princely states including
Jammu and Kashmir whose ruler had acceded to India following an
invasion by Pashtun warriors, leading to the First Kashmir War (1948)
ending with India occupying roughly two-third of the state. From
1947 to 1956, Pakistan was a Dominion in the Commonwealth of Nations.
The republic declared in 1956 was stalled by a coup d'etat by Ayub
Khan (1958–69), who was president during a period of internal
instability and a second war with India in 1965. His successor,
Yahya Khan (1969–71) had to deal with the cyclone which caused
500,000 deaths in East Pakistan.
Economic and political dissent in East Pakistan led to violent
political repression and tensions escalating into civil war
(Bangladesh War of Independence) (see also Causes of Separation
of East Pakistan) and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and ultimately
the secession of East Pakistan as the independent state of Bangladesh.
Estimates of the number of people killed during this episode vary
greatly, from ~30,000 to over 2 million depending on the source.
The two wings of Pakistan in 1970; East Pakistan separated from
the West wing in 1971 as an independent Bangladesh.Civilian rule
resumed from 1972 to 1977 under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, until he was
deposed and later sentenced to death in what amounted to a judicial
murder in 1979 by General Zia-ul-Haq, who became the country's third
military president. Pakistan's secular policies were replaced by
Zia's introduction of the Islamic Shariah legal code, which increased
religious influences on the civil service and the military. With
the death of General Zia in a plane crash in 1988, Benazir Bhutto,
daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was elected as the first female
Prime Minister of Pakistan. Over the next decade, she alternated
power with Nawaz Sharif, as the country's political and economic
situation worsened. Pakistan sent 5,000 troops to the 1991 Gulf
War as part of a US led coalition and specifically for the defence
of Saudi Arabia. Military tensions in the Kargil conflict
with India were followed by a Pakistani military coup d'état
in 1999 in which General Pervez Musharraf assumed executive
powers. In 2001, Musharraf named himself President after the forced
resignation of Rafiq Tarar. After the 2002 parliamentary elections,
Musharraf transferred executive powers to newly elected Prime Minister
Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who was succeeded in the 2004 Prime-Ministerial
election by Shaukat Aziz, followed by a temporary period in office
by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. On 15th November, 2007 the National
Assembly completed its tenure and so a caretaker government was
appointed with the former Chairman of the Senate, Muhammad Mian
Soomro as caretaker Prime Minister. However, the December 2007 assassination
of Benazir Bhutto underscores the instability of Pakistan's political
Government and politics
Main articles: Government of Pakistan and Politics of Pakistan
Parliament house in IslamabadThe government of Pakistan was based
on the Government of India Act (1935) for the first nine years after
independence. The first Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in
1956, but was suspended in 1958 by General Ayub Khan. The Constitution
of 1973, was suspended in 1977 by Zia-ul-Haq, re-instated in 1991
and is the country's most important document, laying the foundations
of government. Pakistan is a semi-presidential federal democratic
republic with Islam as the state religion. The bicameral legislature
comprises a 100-member Senate and a 342-member National Assembly.
The President is the Head of State and the Commander in Chief of
the Armed Forces and is elected by an electoral college. The prime
minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National
Assembly. Each province has a similar system of government with
a directly elected Provincial Assembly in which the leader of the
largest party or alliance becomes Chief Minister. Provincial Governors
are appointed by the President.
US President George W. Bush and President Musharraf in late 2006The
Pakistani military has played an influential role in mainstream
politics throughout Pakistan's history, with military presidents
ruling from 1958–71, 1977–88 and from 1999 onwards.
The leftist PPP, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, emerged as a major
political player during the 1970s. Under the military rule of Muhammad
Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan began a marked shift from the British-era secular
politics and policies, to the adoption of Shariat and other laws
based on Islam. During the 1980s, the anti-feudal, pro-Muhajir Muttahida
Qaumi Movement (MQM) was started by unorthodox and educated urban
dwellers of Sindh and particularly Karachi. The 1990s were characterized
by coalition politics dominated by the PPP and a rejuvenated Muslim
In the October 2002 general elections, the Pakistan Muslim League
(Q) (PML-Q) won a plurality of National Assembly seats with the
second-largest group being the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians
(PPPP), a sub-party of the PPP. Zafarullah Khan Jamali of PML-Q
emerged as Prime Minister but resigned on 26 June 2004 and was replaced
by PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as interim Prime Minister.
On 28 August 2004 the National Assembly voted 191 to 151 to elect
the Finance Minister and former Citibank Vice President Shaukat
Aziz as Prime Minister. Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of
Islamic religious parties, won elections in North-West Frontier
Province, and increased their representation in the National Assembly.
Prime Minister's Secretariat, IslamabadPakistan is an active member
of the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
(OIC), the latter of which Pakistan has used as a forum for Enlightened
Moderation, a plan to promote a renaissance and enlightenment
in the Muslim world. Pakistan is also a member of the major regional
organisations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). In the
past, Pakistan has had mixed relations with the United States especially
in the early 1950s when Pakistan was the United States' "most
allied ally in Asia" and a member of both the Central Treaty
Organisation (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation
(SEATO). During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s Pakistan was
a crucial US ally, but relations soured in the 1990s, when sanctions
were applied by the US over suspicions of Pakistan's nuclear activities.
The September 11, 2001 attacks and the subsequent War on Terrorism
have seen an improvement in US–Pakistan ties, especially after
Pakistan ended its support of the Taliban regime in Kabul. This
was evidenced by a drastic increase in American military aid, which
saw Pakistan take in $4 billion more in three years after the 9/11
attacks than in the three years before.
On November 3, 2007 President Musharraf declared an emergency rule
across Pakistan and purported to suspend the Constitution, imposing
martial law. In Islamabad, troops apparently entered the Supreme
Court and were surrounding the judges' homes and opposition leaders
like Benazir Bhutto, Imran Khan were put on house arrest. Justice
Abdul Hameed Dogar has been appointed as the new chief justice of
Pakistan, due to the refusal of the Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to
endorse the emergency order, declaring it unconstitutional, though
he himself took oath under PCO in 1999. In response, Pakistan
was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth of Nations on
22 November 2007.
Provinces and territories of PakistanMain articles: Subdivisions
of Pakistan and Districts of Pakistan
Pakistan is a federation of four provinces, a capital territory
and federally administered tribal areas. The government of Pakistan
exercises de facto jurisdiction over the western parts of the disputed
Kashmir region, organised as two separate political entities
(Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas). Pakistan also claims the Indian
state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The third tier of government was composed of 26 divisions with
two further tiers (districts and tehsils) administered directly
from the provincial level. The divisions were abolished in 2001
and a new three-tiered system of local government came into effect
comprising districts, tehsils and union councils with an elected
body at each tier. There are currently 107 districts in Pakistan
proper, each with several tehsils and union councils. The tribal
areas comprise seven tribal agencies and six small frontier regions
detached from neighbouring districts whilst Azad Kashmir comprises
seven districts and Northern Areas comprises six districts.
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)
Balochistan and NWFP also have Provincially Administered Tribal
Areas (PATA) which are being developed into regular districts.
Islamabad Capital Territory
Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Pakistani-administered portions of Kashmir:
Pakistan Navy ships taking part in Operation Inspired SirenMain
article: Military of Pakistan
The armed forces of Pakistan are a completely volunteer force and
are the seventh largest in the world. The three main components
are the Army, Navy and Air Force, supported by a number of paramilitary
forces which carry out internal security roles and border patrols.
The National Command Authority is responsible for exercise employment
and development control of all strategic nuclear forces and organizations.
The Pakistani armed forces are the largest contributors to United
Nations peacekeeping efforts, with more than 10,000 personnel deployed
in 2007. Pakistan provided a military contingent to the Coalition
during the first Gulf War and in the past Pakistani personnel volunteered
to serve in the armed forces of Arab countries involved in conflicts
Geography and climate
Main article: Geography of Pakistan
K2, at 8,611 metres (28,251 ft), is the second highest peak in the
world.Pakistan covers 340,403 square miles (881,640 km²),
approximately the combined land areas of France and the United Kingdom,
with its eastern regions located on the Indian tectonic plate and
the western and northern regions on the Iranian plateau and Eurasian
landplate. Apart from the 1,046 kilometre (650 mi) Arabian Sea coastline,
Pakistan's land borders total 6,774 kilometres—2,430 kilometres
(1,509 mi) with Afghanistan to the northwest, 523 kilometres (325
mi) with China to the northeast, 2,912 kilometres (1,809 mi) with
India to the east and 909 kilometres (565 mi) with Iran to the southwest.
The different types of natural features range from the sandy beaches,
lagoons, and mangrove swamps of the southern coast to preserved
beautiful moist temperate forests and the icy peaks of the Himalaya,
Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains in the north. There are an estimated
108 peaks above 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) high that are covered in
snow and glaciers. Five of the mountains in Pakistan (including
Nanga Parbat) are over 8,000 metres (26,000 ft). Indian-controlled
Kashmir to the Northern Areas of Pakistan and running the length
of the country is the Indus River with its many tributaries. The
northern parts of Pakistan attract a large number of foreign tourists.
To the west of the Indus are the dry, hilly deserts of Balochistan;
to the east are the rolling sand dunes of the Thar Desert. The Tharparkar
desert in the southern province of Sindh, is the only fertile desert
in the world. Most areas of Punjab and parts of Sindh are fertile
plains where agriculture is of great importance.
The climate varies as much as the scenery, with cold winters and
hot summers in the north and a mild climate in the south, moderated
by the influence of the ocean. The central parts have extremely
hot summers with temperatures rising to 45 °C (113 °F),
followed by very cold winters, often falling below freezing. Officially
the highest temperature recorded in Pakistan is 50.55 °C (122.99
°F) at Pad Idan. There is very little rainfall ranging from
less than 250 millimetres to more than 1,250 millimetres (9.8–49.2
in), mostly brought by the unreliable south-westerly monsoon winds
during the late summer. The construction of dams on the rivers and
the drilling of water wells in many drier areas have temporarily
eased water shortages at the expense of downgradient populations.
Flora and fauna
The Markhor is the national animal of PakistanThe wide variety of
landscapes and climates in Pakistan allows for a wide variety of
wild animals and birds. The forests range from coniferous alpine
and subalpine trees such as spruce, pine, and deodar cedar in the
northern mountains to deciduous trees such as the mulberry-type
Shisham in the Sulaiman range in the south. The western hills have
juniper and tamarisk as well as coarse grasses and scrub plants.
Along the coast are mangrove forests which form much of the coastal
In the south, there are crocodiles in the murky waters at the mouth
of the Indus River whilst on the banks of the river, there are boars,
deer, porcupines, and small rodents. In the sandy scrublands of
central Pakistan are found jackals, hyenas, wild cats, panthers,
and leopards while the clear blue skies abound with hawks, falcons,
and eagles. In the southwestern deserts are rare Asiatic cheetahs.
In the northern mountains are a variety of endangered animals including
Marco Polo sheep, Urial sheep, Markhor and Ibex goats, black and
brown Himalayan bears, and the rare Snow Leopard. During August
2006, Pakistan donated an orphaned snow leopard cub called Leo to
USA. Another rare species is the blind Indus River Dolphin of
which there are believed to be about 1,000 remaining, protected
in two major sanctuaries. In recent years the number of wild animals
being killed for fur and leather trading led to a new law banning
the hunting of wild animals and birds and the establishment of several
wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves.
Main article: Economy of Pakistan
Karachi port and harbour aerial viewPakistan is a rapidly developing
country and a major emerging market, with an economic
growth rate of 7 percent per annum for four consecutive years up
to 2007. Despite being a very poor country in 1947, Pakistan's
economic growth rate was better than the global average during the
subsequent four decades, but imprudent policies led to a slowdown
in the late 1990s. Recently, wide-ranging economic reforms have
resulted in a stronger economic outlook and accelerated growth especially
in the manufacturing and financial services sectors. There has been
great improvement in the foreign exchange position and rapid growth
in hard currency reserves in recent years. The 2005 estimate of
foreign debt was close to US$40 billion. However, this has decreased
in recent years with assistance from the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and significant debt-relief from the United States. Pakistan's
gross domestic product, as measured by purchasing power parity (PPP),
is estimated to be US$475.4 billion while its per capita income
(PCI) stands at $2,942. The poverty rate in Pakistan is estimated
to be between 23% and 28%. Pakistan's GDP growth rates have
seen a steady increase over the last 5 years. However, inflationary
pressures and a low savings rate, among other economic factors,
could make it difficult to sustain a high growth rate.
Downtown Lahore is a major commercial hub in the regionThe structure
of the Pakistani economy has changed from a mainly agricultural
base to a strong service base. Agriculture now only accounts for
roughly 20% of the GDP, while the service sector accounts for 53%
of the GDP with wholesale and retail trade forming 30% of this sector.
In the past few years, the Karachi Stock Exchange has increased
in value along with most of the world's emerging markets. Significant
foreign investments have been made in several areas including telecommunications,
real estate and energy.. Other major industries include
software, automotives, textiles, cement, fertilizer, steel, ship
building, aerospace and arms manufacturing.
Pakistan has the world's largest earth filled dam Tarbela, the
world's twelfth largest dam Mangla, and half a dozen additional
dams planned. Pakistan and China jointly built the world's highest
international road: the Karakoram Highway.
In November of 2006 China and Pakistan signed a Free Trade Agreement
hoping to triple bilateral trade from $4.2 billion (USD) to $15
billion (USD) within the next five years. Pakistan's exports
in 2007 amounted to $20.58 billion (USD).
Main article: Demographics of Pakistan
Major Ethnic Groups in PakistanPakistan has an estimated population
of 162,508,000 as of February 2008, Pakistan has the world's
sixth largest population, placing it higher than Russia, and lower
than Brazil. Pakistan is expected to surpass Brazil in population
by the year 2020 because of the high growth rate. Population projections
for Pakistan are relatively difficult because of the apparent differences
in the accuracy of each census and the inconsistencies between various
surveys related to the fertility rate, but it is likely that the
rate of growth peaked in the 1980s and has since declined significantly.
The population was estimated at 162,400,000 on July 1, 2005,
with a fertility rate of 34 per thousand, a death rate of 10 per
thousand, and the rate of natural increase at 2.4%. Pakistan also
has a high infant mortality rate of 70 per thousand births.
The major ethnic groups are - Punjabis (44.68% of the population),
Pashtuns (15.42%), Sindhis (14.1%), Seraikis (10.53%), Muhajirs
(7.57%), Balochis (3.57%) and others (4.66%). As of November 2007,
about 2 million registered Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan as
a result of the ongoing war and instability in Afghanistan.
Primary mother tongue language usage largely corresponds to ethnic
groups. Despite being a native language of a relatively small minority,
Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan, while
English is the official language, used in the Constitution and widely
used by corporate businesses, the educated urban elite, and most
universities. Punjabi is spoken by over 60 million people, but has
no official recognition in the country.
The demographics of religion in Pakistan were significantly influenced
in 1947 by the movement of Muslims to Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs
to India. Census data indicates that 96% of the population are Muslims,
(nearly 77% are Sunni Muslims and 20% are Shi'a Muslims). Minority
religions include Hinduism (1.85%), Christianity (1.6%), as well
as much smaller numbers of Sikhs (Around 0.04%), Parsis, Ahmadis,
Buddhists, Jews, and Animists (mainly the Kalasha of Chitral). Pakistan
is the second most populous Muslim-majority country and also
has the second largest Shi'a population in the world.
Main article: Education in Pakistan
University of the PunjabEducation in Pakistan is divided into five
levels: primary (grades one through five); middle (grades six through
eight); high (grades nine and ten, leading to the Secondary School
Certificate); intermediate (grades eleven and twelve, leading to
a Higher Secondary School Certificate); and university programs
leading to graduate and advanced degrees.
Pakistan also has a parallel secondary school education system
in private schools, which is based upon the curriculum set by the
University of Cambridge. Some students choose to take the O level
and A level exams, which are administered by the British Council,
in place of government exams.
There are currently 730 technical & vocational institutions
in Pakistan. The minimum qualifications to enter male vocational
institutions, is the completion of grade 8. The programmes are generally
two to three years in length. The minimum qualifications to enter
female vocational institutions, is the completion of grade 5.
All academic education institutions are the responsibility of the
provincial governments. The federal government mostly assists in
curriculum development, accreditation and some financing of research.
English medium education is to be introduced on a phased basis
to all schools across the country. Through various educational
reforms, by the year 2015, the ministry of education expects to
attain 100% enrolment levels amongst primary school aged children,
and a literacy rate of 86% amongst people aged over 10.
Society and culture
Main article: Culture of Pakistan
Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, a famous ghazal writerPakistan has a
rich and unique culture that has preserved established traditions
throughout history. Many cultural practices, foods, monuments, and
shrines were inherited from the rule of Muslim Mughal and Afghan
emperors. The national dress of shalwar qamiz is originally of Central
Asian origin derived from Turko-Iranian nomadic invaders and is
today worn in all parts of Pakistan. Women wear brightly coloured
shalwar qamiz, while men often wear solid-coloured ones. In cities
western dress is also popular among the youth and the business sector.
Pakistani society is largely multilingual and predominantly Muslim,
with high regard for traditional family values, although urban families
have grown into a nuclear family system due to the socio-economic
constraints imposed by the traditional joint family system. Recent
decades have seen the emergence of a middle class in cities like
Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, and Peshawar
that wish to move in a more liberal direction, as opposed to
the northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan that remain highly
conservative and dominated by centuries-old regional tribal customs.
Increasing globalization has increased the influence of "Western
culture" with Pakistan ranking 46th on the A.T. Kearney/FP
Globalization Index. There are an approximated four million
Pakistanis living abroad, with close to a half-million expatriates
living in the United States and around a million living in Saudi
Arabia. As well as nearly one million people of Pakistani descent
in the United Kingdom, there are burgeoning cultural connections.
Main article: Music of Pakistan
The variety of Pakistani music ranges from diverse provincial folk
music and traditional styles such as Qawwali and Ghazal Gayaki to
modern forms fusing traditional and western music, such as the synchronisation
of Qawwali and western music by the world renowned Nusrat Fateh
Ali Khan. In addition Pakistan is home to many famous folk singers
such as the late Alam Lohar, who is also well known in Indian Punjab.
The arrival of Afghan refugees in the western provinces has rekindled
Pashto and Persian music and established Peshawar as a hub for Afghan
musicians and a distribution centre for Afghan music abroad.
Main article: Cinema of Pakistan
Until the 1990s, the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation
(PTV) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation were the dominant media
outlets, but there are now numerous private television channels.
Various American, European, and Asian television channels and films
are available to the majority of the Pakistani population via private
Television Networks, cable, and satellite television. There are
also small indigenous film industries based in Lahore and Peshawar
(often referred to as Lollywood). Although Bollywood films have
been banned from being played in public cinemas since 1965,
Indian film stars are still generally popular in Pakistan due to
the fact that Pakistanis are easily able to buy Bollywood films
from local shops for private home viewing. But recently Pakistan
allowed selected Bollywood films to be shown by the Pakistani cinemas.
Main article: Holidays in Pakistan
Saint Patrick's Cathedral in KarachiThere are many festivals celebrated
annually in Pakistan which may or may not observe as holidays e.g.
Pakistan Day (23 March), Independence Day (14 August), Defence of
Pakistan Day (6 September), Pakistan Air Force Day (7 September),
the anniversaries of the birth (25 December)(holiday) and death
(11 September) of Quaid-e-Azam, (Allama Iqbal (9 November) and the
birth (30 July) and death (8 July) of Madar-e-Millat. Labour Day
(also known as May Day) is also observed in Pakistan on May 1 (holiday).
Several important festivals are celebrated by Pakistani Muslims
during the year, dependent on the Islamic calendar. Ramadan, the
ninth month of the calendar, is characterised by daytime fasting
for 29 or 30 days and is followed by the festival of Eid ul-Fitr.
In a second festival, Eid ul-Adha, an animal is sacrificed in remembrance
of the actions of Prophet Abraham (Arabic: Ibrahim) and the meat
is shared with friends, family, and the less fortunate. Both Eid
festivals are public holidays, serving as opportunities for people
to visit family and friends, and for children to receive new clothes,
presents, and sweets. Muslims celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the
birthday of the prophet Muhammad, in the third month of the calendar
(Rabi' al-Awwal. Muslims mark the Day of Ashurah on the 9th and
10th days of the first month (Muharram to commemorate the martyrdom
of Husayn bin Ali, (the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad).
Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Christians in Pakistan also celebrate
their own festivals and holidays. Sikhs come from across the world
to visit several holy sites in Punjab, including the shrine of Guru
Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, at Hasan Abdal in Attock District,
and his birthplace, at Nankana Sahib. There are also several regional
and local festivals, such as the Punjabi festival of Basant, which
marks the start of spring and is celebrated by kite flying.
Main article: Sport in Pakistan
Cricket is the most popular sport in PakistanThe official and national
sport of Pakistan is field hockey, although cricket is more popular.
The national cricket team has won the Cricket World Cup once (in
1992), were runners-up once (in 1999), and co-hosted the games twice
(in 1987 and 1996). Pakistan were runners-up in the inaugural 2007
ICC World Twenty20 held in South Africa. Pakistan was chosen to
host the 2008 ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament and co-host
the 2011 Cricket World Cup, with Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh.
Other popular sports in Pakistan include football, and squash. Squash
is another sport that Pakistanis have excelled in, with successful
world-class squash players such as Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan
winning the World Open several times during their careers.
At an international level, Pakistan has competed many times at
the Summer Olympics in field hockey, boxing, athletics, swimming,
and shooting. Pakistan's medal tally remains at 10 medals (3 gold,
3 silver and 4 bronze) while at the Commonwealth Games and Asian
Games it stands at 61 medals and 182 medals respectively. Hockey
is the sport in which Pakistan has been most successful at the Olympics,
with three gold medals in (1960, 1968, and 1984). Pakistan has also
won the Hockey World Cup a record four times (1971, 1978, 1982,
1994). Pakistan has also hosted several international competitions,
including the SAF Games in 1989 and 2004.
The Motorsport Association of Pakistan is a member of the Fédération
Internationale de l'Automobile. The Freedom Rally is a yearly off-road
race which takes place during the Independence celebrations.
Main article: Pakistani architecture
An example of the fusion of Greek and Indian Buddhist styles in
the Gandhara style: Representation of Buddha with HeraklesThe architecture
of the areas now constituting Pakistan can be designated to four
distinct periods — pre-Islamic, Islamic, colonial and post-colonial.
With the beginning of the Indus civilization around the middle of
the 3rd millennium B.C., an advanced urban culture developed
for the first time in the region, with large structural facilities,
some of which survive to this day.Mohenjo Daro, Harappa and
Kot Diji belong to the pre-Islamic era settlements. The rise of
Buddhism and the Persian and Greek influence led to the development
of the Greco-Buddhist style, starting from the 1st century CE. The
high point of this era was reached with the culmination of the Gandhara
style. An example of Buddhist architecture is the ruins of the Buddhist
monastery Takht-i-Bahi in the northwest province. The arrival of
Islam in today's Pakistan meant a sudden end of Buddhist architecture.
However, a smooth transition to predominantly pictureless Islamic
architecture occurred. The most important of the few completely
discovered buildings of Persian style is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam
in Multan. During the Mughal era design elements of Islamic-Persian
architecture were fused with and often produced playful forms of
the Hindustani art. Lahore, occasional residence of Mughal rulers,
exhibits a multiplicity of important buildings from the empire,
among them the Badshahi mosque, the fortress of Lahore with the
famous Alamgiri Gate, the colourful, still strongly Persian seeming
Wazir Khan Mosque as well as numerous other mosques and mausoleums.
Also the Shahjahan Mosque of Thatta in Sindh originates from the
epoch of the Mughals. In the British colonial age predominantly
representative buildings of the Indo-European style developed, from
a mixture of European and Indian-Islamic components. Post-colonial
national identity is expressed in modern structures like the Faisal
Mosque, the Minar-e-Pakistan and the Mazar-e-Quaid.
Main articles: Literature of Pakistan and Books and publishing in
Iqbal, the national poet of PakistanThe literature of Pakistan covers
the literatures of languages spread throughout the country, namely
Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pushto, Baluchi as well as English in
recent times and in the past often Persian as well. Prior to the
19th century, the literature mainly consisted of lyric poetry and
religious, mystical and popular materials. During the colonial age
the native seal under the influence of the western literature of
realism took up increasingly different topics and telling forms.
Today short stories enjoy a special popularity. The national
poet of Pakistan, Muhammad Iqbal, wrote mainly in the Persian language,
and additionally in Urdu. His works are concerned mostly with Islamic
philosophy. Iqbal's most well-known work is the Persian poem volume
Asrar-i-Khudi ("the secrets of the even"). The most famous
works of Urdu literature originated in the 14th century. The
most well-known representative of the contemporary Urdu literature
of Pakistan is Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Sufi Shah Abdul Latif is considered
one of the most outstanding mystical poets. Mirza Kalich Beg
has been termed the father of modern Sindhi prose. In Punjabi,
naats and qawaalis are delivered. The Pushto literature tradition
is a cultural link between Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.
Extensive lyric poetry and epic poems have been published in Pushto.
In Baluchi language songs and ballads are popular.
Main article: Tourism in Pakistan
The Lahore Fort, was rebuilt by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1566.Tourism
is a growing industry in Pakistan, based on its diverse cultures,
peoples and landscapes. The variety of attractions range from the
ruins of ancient civilisations such as Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and
Taxila, to the Himalayan hill stations, which attract those interested
in field and winter sports. Pakistan is home to several mountain
peaks over 7,000 metres (22,970 ft), which attracts adventurers
and mountaineers from around the world, especially K2. The people
of northern areas depend on tourism also. From April to September
tourist of domestic and international type visited these areas which
became the earn of living for local people. The northern parts of
Pakistan have many old fortresses, towers and other architecture
as well as the Hunza and Chitral valleys, the latter being home
to the Kalash, a small pre-Islamic Animist community, who claim
descent from the army of Alexander the Great. In the Punjab is the
site of Alexander's battle on the Jhelum River and the historic
city Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital with many examples of Mughal
architecture such as the Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb
of Jahangir and the Lahore Fort. To promote Pakistan's unique and
various cultural heritage, the prime minister launched "Visit