Geography & General area
Pakistan is located at the latitude of 23° - 27° North and 61° - 76°
east in the Northern Hemisphere. Its occupies an area of 796095 Square KMs or 31043 Square
Miles. It shares a long border with India in the east, In the south there is the Arabian
sea , the South west is bordered with Iran , North west with Afghanistan & North east
shares a high altitude border with China.
Physically it is the vast valley of mighty Indus river; which runs through
the whole country as its blood line. North Pakistan inherits one of the highest land of
the world. the three great mountain ranges Himalayan, Karakorums, & Hindukush meet in
a very complex system of mountains, separated by narrow gorges of the rivers. Each
mountain range though so close to each other, has a character of its own. The Indus in its
early stage cutting through the Himalayas and Karakorums reaches the Hindu Raj (Hindukush)
range and Gilgit river. Then the Indus flows in (still young ) between Himalayas &
Hindu Raj mountain ranges. Making a very dramatic valley . Dry rugged mountains turn to
the green & wet foothills of Himalayas & Hindukush mountains. After meeting with
the Kabul river it takes its gigantic gorge into plains. In Punjab it is divided into five
rivers which rejoin just before Sind south east , where eventually it dies in a vast delta
at Arabian sea.
This fabulous land of river Indus houses about 130.5 Million people
belonging to many ethnic groups and tribes. Administratively it is divided into 4
provinces and a centrally administered area (FATA) In the south it is Sindh province. In
the South west Baluchistan, Northwest is called North west province and in the east is
Punjab the largest population wise province . The North eastern areas and some areas in
North west are controlled by the central government.
Languages & Culture.
The National language is Urdu understood by most of the people all over
the country. Most of the Schools teach Urdu as the first language. Each province has its
own language and unique traditions and culture. Punjab's Language is Punjabi, Sind Speaks
Sindhi, Baluchistan Balouchi and North west has Pushto language. Beside that there are
about 15 different dialects and languages spoken in the different parts of the country.
Bazaars and marriages are the main center of cultural activities. In every city there is a
typical bazaar with crowds of People and heaps of merchandise. Marriages are also bustling
affairs large No. of guests 500 - 3000 and a lot of activity are the key features of a
marriage. Each tribe adds a spice to its marriages, hence every marriage looks
different.The women wear colorful dresses but very modest. Where as men wear more plain
dresses with turbans or caps. Again each province has a costume & cap of its own.
History.
Pakistan emerged on the map of world in 1947 but this land has one of the
oldest history of the world.This land being a very strategic point between east & West
has always been one of the top listed places to conquer by different dynasties and kings.
It has received numerous races which ruled it and left their marks behind. Hence Pakistan
has so many different tribes and a variety of of colorful traditions. Chronological order of some important dates in the history
of Pakistan is given on this site.
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