Pakistan: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}

| national_motto    = {{Transl|ur|''[[Īmān, Ittihād, Nazam]]''}}<br />{{native name|ur|{{Nastaliq|ایمان، اتحاد، نظم}}|italics=off|nolink=on}}<br />{{small|"Faith, Unity, Discipline"}}{{lower|0.2em|<ref name="The State Emblem">{{cite web |title=The State Emblem |url=http://www.infopak.gov.pk/Eemblem.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701023430/http://www.infopak.gov.pk/Eemblem.aspx |archivedate=1 July 2007 |publisher=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, [[Government of Pakistan]]. |access-date=18 December 2013}}</ref><!--end lower:-->}}

| national_anthem    = {{transl|ur|ALA-LC|''[[Qaumi Taranah|Qaumī Tarānah]]''}}<br />{{lang|ur|{{Nastaliq|قَومی ترانہ}}}}<br /><center>{{small|"The National Anthem"}}<br />[[File:Pakistan anthem - United States Navy Band.ogg]]</center>

| languages2                  = [[Hindko language|Hindko]] • [[Balti language|Balti]] • [[Pahari-Pothwari]] • [[Khowar language|Khowar]] • [[Burushaski]] • [[Kohistani language|Kohistani]] • [[Wakhi language|Wakhi]] • [[Yidgha language|Yidgha]] • [[Dameli language|Dameli]] • [[Kalasha-mun|Kalasha]] • [[Gawar-Bati language|Gawar-Bati]] • [[Domaaki language|Domaaki]] • [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] • [[Memoni language|Memoni]], [[Brahui language|Brahui]]

| ethnic_groups_year          = 2020<ref name="cia">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html "Pakistan"] The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency.</ref>

| religion_year              = 2017<ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=|title=POPULATION BY RELIGION|url=http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//tables/POPULATION%20BY%20RELIGION.pdf|journal=Pakistan Burau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan|volume=|pages=1|via=}}</ref>

   | 96.28% [[Islam in Pakistan|Islam]] {{small|([[State religion]])}}

   | 0.22% [[Ahmadis in Pakistan|Ahmadis]]

| sovereignty_note            = from the [[United Kingdom]]

| area_footnote              = {{efn|"Includes data for Pakistani territories of Kashmir; [[Azad Kashmir]] ({{convert|13297|km2|sqmi|disp=or|abbr=on}}) and [[Gilgit–Baltistan]] ({{convert|72520|km2|sqmi|disp=or|abbr=on}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geohive.com/cntry/pakistan.aspx |title=Pakistan statistics |publisher=Geohive |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406012611/http://www.geohive.com/cntry/pakistan.aspx |archivedate=6 April 2013}}</ref> Excluding these territories would produce an area figure of {{convert|796,095|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}."}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldatlas.com/as/pk/where-is-pakistan.html |title=Where is Pakistan?|website=worldatlas.com}}</ref>

| population_census_rank      = 6th

| GDP_PPP                    = {{increase}} {{nowrap|$1.254 trillion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=75&pr.y=3&sy=2017&ey=2024&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=564&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019 |website=IMF.org |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>}}

| GDP_PPP_rank                = 23rd

| GDP_PPP_per_capita          = {{increase}} $6,016<ref name="imf2" />

| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank    = 132nd

| GDP_nominal                = {{decrease}} {{nowrap|$284.2 billion<ref name="imf2" />}}

| GDP_nominal_per_capita      = {{decrease}} $1,388<ref name="imf2" />

| HDI                        = 0.560 <!--number only-->

| HDI_year                    = 2018<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->

| HDI_ref                    = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/2019-human-development-index-ranking|title=Human Development Report 2019|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=10 December 2019|accessdate=10 December 2019|format=PDF|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322121226/http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/ROU.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| drives_on                  = [[Right- and left-hand traffic|left]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-7-2005_pg3_5 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110085150/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-7-2005_pg3_5 |archivedate=10 January 2012 |title=Driving—the good, the bad and the ugly |author=Miguel Loureiro |date=28 July 2005 |work=Daily Times |access-date=6 February 2014 |location=Pakistan}}</ref>

| footnote_b                  = {{note|reference_name_b}} The Arabic language is officially recognised by the constitution of Pakistan.

The name '''Pākistān''' means ''Land of the Pure'' in [[Persian and Urdu]].

The name '''Pakistan''' (<small>English pronunciation:</small> {{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Pakistan.ogg|ˈ|p|æ|k|ᵻ|s|t|æ|n}} or {{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Pakistan-2.ogg|p|ɑː|k|i|ˈ|s|t|ɑː|n}}; {{lang-ur|پاکستان}} &nbsp;{{IPA|[paːkɪˈst̪aːn]}}) means ''[[-stan|Land of]] (the) Spiritually Pure'' in both [[Urdu]] and [[Persian language|Persian]] languages. Many [[South-central Asia]]n states and regions end with the element -''stan,'' such as ''Afghanistan,'' ''Pakistan,'' ''Balochistan,'' ''Kurdistan,'' and ''Turkistan.'' This -''stan'' is formed from the Iranian root *STA "to stand, stay," and means "place (where one stays), home, country". Iranian peoples have been the main inhabitants of the various land regions of the Ancient [[Persian Empire]]s now owned by the states for over a thousand years. The names are compounds of -''[[-stan|stan]]'' and the name of the peoples living there. Pakistan is a bit different; its name was coined on 28 January 1933 as ''{{sic|Pak|stan|hide=y}}'' by [[Choudhary Rahmat Ali]], a [[Pakistan Movement]] activist, who published it in his paper ''[[Pakistan Declaration|Now or Never]]''.<ref name="nowornever">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00islamlinks/txt_rahmatali_1933.html|title=Now or never: Are we to live or perish for ever?|author=Choudhary Rahmat Ali|publisher=Columbia University|date=28 January 1933|accessdate=4 December 2007}}</ref> by using the suffix -''istan'' from ''Baloch''istan preceded by the first letters of ''P''unjab, ''A''fghania, ''K''ashmir and ''S''indh. The name is actually an [[acronym]] that stands for the "thirty million Muslim brethren who lived in Pakistan—by which we mean the [[Islamic Republic of India|Five Northern units of India]] viz: [[Punjab (Pakistan)|'''P'''unjab]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|('''A'''fghan Province)]], [[Kashmir|'''K'''ashmir]], [[Sindh|'''S'''ind]], and [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Baluchis'''tan''']]".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chaudhryrahmatali.com/now%20or%20never/index.htm | title=Rahmat Ali ::Now or Never | publisher=The Pakistan National Movement | accessdate=14 April 2011 | author=Ali, Rahmat | pages=[Unknown] | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419012150/http://www.chaudhryrahmatali.com/now%20or%20never/index.htm | archivedate=19 April 2011 }}</ref> The letter ''i'' was incorporated to ease pronunciation and forms the linguistically correct and meaningful name.<ref name="davison">{{cite journal |author=Roderic H. Davidson|title=Where is the Middle East?|journal=Foreign Affairs|volume=38|pages=665–675|year=1960|doi=10.2307/20029452|issue=4}}</ref> Interestingly, a word almost the same in form, etymology, and meaning to the Iranian suffix -''stan'' is found in Polish, which has a word ''stan'' meaning "state" (in the senses of both polity and condition). It can be found in the example of a Polish name for the "United States of America," ''Stany Zjednoczone Ameryki'' (literally "States United of America").

'''<big>National Anthem:</big>'''

The [[Qaumī Tarāna|lyrics]] of the national anthem of Pakistan was written by [[Ahmed Ghulamali Chagla]] and was adopted as the country's national anthem on 13 August 1954. The music had actually been composed nearly three years before the lyrics were written to fit the tune.

'''<big>Flag:</big>'''

The [[Flag of Pakistan|flag]] is a green field with a white crescent moon and five-rayed star at its centre, and a vertical white stripe at the hoist side. Though the green colour is mandated only as 'dark green', its official and most consistent representation is Pakistan green, which is shaded distinctively darker.

The flag was designed by Syed Amir uddin Kedwaii and was based on the original flag of the Muslim League. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, just days before independence. The white colour on the flag represents the minorities and the green the Muslim majority. The crescent on the flag represents progress while the five-rayed star represents light and knowledge.

{{main|Government of Pakistan|Politics of Pakistan}}

'''Pakistan''' has a federal [[parliamentary system]].<ref name="gop1">{{cite web|url=http://202.83.164.26/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQN68AZ3dnIwN3C3MDAyOPYDNvXwMjQwNnI6B8pFm8n79RqJuJp6GhhZmroYGRmYeJk0-Yp4G7izEB3eEg-_DrB8kb4ACOBvp-Hvm5qfoFuREGWSaOigDeD0uL/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfVUZKUENHQzIwT0gwODAySFMyNzZWMzEwMDE!/|title=About Government|publisher=Government of Pakistan|accessdate=5 March 2009|archive-date=24 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024003102/http://202.83.164.26/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQN68AZ3dnIwN3C3MDAyOPYDNvXwMjQwNnI6B8pFm8n79RqJuJp6GhhZmroYGRmYeJk0-Yp4G7izEB3eEg-_DrB8kb4ACOBvp-Hvm5qfoFuREGWSaOigDeD0uL/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfVUZKUENHQzIwT0gwODAySFMyNzZWMzEwMDE!/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[head of state]] is an indirectly-elected ceremonial [[President of Pakistan|President]]. The [[Electoral college]] of the country, (composed of the [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]], the [[National Assembly of Pakistan|National Assembly]], and the four Provincial Assemblies) chooses a leadership representing the President of Pakistan for a five-year term. The president is also the [[Commander-in-Chief|Commander in Chief]] of the [[Pakistani military|Joint Armed Forces]]. The [[head of government]] is the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]], who is also indirectly elected.

The President's appointment and term are constitutionally independent of the Prime Minister’s term. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly or of a coalition in the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister is the head of government. Pakistan's legislature is made of a 100-member Senate (upper house) and a 342-member National Assembly (lower house). The Chief Justice of Pakistan is the chief judge who oversees the judicature's court system at all levels of command.

On 17 August 2018 Ex-cricketer Imran Khan was elected as the New Prime Minister of Naya Pakistan. Because In 2018, [[Imran Khan]] (the chairman of [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf|PTI]]) Won the [[2018 Pakistan general election]] with 116 general seats and so became the current 22nd [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]] in election of [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] for [[Prime Minister]] by getting 176 votes against [[Shehbaz Sharif]] (the chairman of [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PMLN]]) who got 96 votes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Imran Khan won Pakistan general election, 2018 and became the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/leader-of-the-house-national-assembly-to-elect-new-prime-minister-of-pakistan-today/ |accessdate=22 August 2018 |work=[[Daily Pakistan]]}}</ref> Pakistan is also headed by a "President", the Prime Minister Acts as the Leader of Pakistan.

=== Politics ===

Pakistan is officially a [[federal republic]], but during a long period in its history it changed to a democratic state and a military [[dictator]]ship. Military dictators include [[Ayub Khan]] in the 1960s, General [[General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]] in the 1980s.

Pakistan's two largest [[political party|political parties]] are the [[Pakistan Peoples Party|Pakistan People's Party]] and the government party [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]]. The [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] has also gained popularity in the past years.

On 27 December 2007, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, [[Benazir Bhutto]], was [[assassinate]]d. The reason is yet to be determined.

=== Administrative divisions ===

{{main|Administrative units of Pakistan|Districts of Pakistan}}

Pakistan is made up of four provinces, two territories and two special areas. Both special areas are in [[Kashmir]]. The provinces and territories are divided into 26 [[Divisions of Pakistan|divisions]] with now 147 [[Districts of Pakistan|districts]] directly divided from the provinces. Each district is divided into several [[tehsil]]s and each tehsil is divided into several union councils. There are around 596 tehsils and over 6,000 union councils in Pakistan.

'''Provinces''':

# [[File:Flag of Balochistan.svg|22px|Flag of Balochistan]] [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]]

# [[File:Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.svg|22px|Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] (formerly NWFP)

# [[File:Flag of Punjab.svg|22px|Flag of Punjab]] [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]<ref>Not to be confused with the Indian state of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]. Both together make up the [[Punjab region]].</ref>

# [[File:Flag of Sindh.svg|22px|flag of Sindh]] [[Sindh]]

Among the four provinces, Punjab has the most people but Balochistan is the largest province by area.

(Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also have [[Provincially Administered Tribal Area]]s<ref name="tribalareas">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrb.gov.pk/constitutional_and_legal/constitution/part12.ch3.html|title=The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Part XII|publisher=National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan|accessdate=14 February 2008|archive-date=20 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220170506/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/constitutional_and_legal/constitution/part12.ch3.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> (PATA) which are going to be regular districts.)

<li> [[File:Proposed Flag of Islamabad Capital Territory.svg|22px|flag of Islamabad Capital Territory]] [[Islamabad Capital Territory]]

<li> [[File:Flag of FATA.svg|22px|Flag of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas]] [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]]

'''Administrative Areas''' ([[Pakistan-administered Kashmir]])

<ol start=7>

<li> [[File:Flag of Azad Kashmir.svg|22px|flag of Azad Kashmir]] [[Azad Kashmir]]

<li> [[File:Flag of Gilgit Baltistan.svg|22px|Flag of Gilgit Baltistan]] [[Gilgit Baltistan]]

</ol>

India, Pakistan and China separately control parts of the Kashmir region. India and Pakistan's parts are divided by a [[Line of Control]]. The Pakistan–China border is internationally recognised. Trade is common between the 2 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.commerce.gov.pk/PCFTA.asp |title=Ministry Of Commerce |access-date=2009-04-25 |archive-date=2009-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129152659/http://commerce.gov.pk/PCFTA.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== National symbols ===

{{main|National symbols of Pakistan}}

{| class="infobox borderless"

|+ National symbols of Pakistan (Official)

| [[Markhor]]

| [[File:Markhor.jpg|50px]]

| [[Chukar]]

| [[File:Keklik.jpg|50px]]

! '''National tree'''

| [[Cedrus deodara]]

| [[File:Pedrengo cedro nel parco Frizzoni.jpg|50px]]

| [[Jasminum officinale]]

| [[File:Jasminum officinale.JPG|50px]]

| [[Snow Leopard]]

| [[File:Snow Leopard 13.jpg|50px]]

| [[Shaheen Falcon]]

| [[File:Vándorsólyom.JPG|50px]]

| [[Indus river dolphin]]

| [[File:Platanista gangetica.jpg|50px]]

| [[Indus Crocodile]]

| [[File:Persiancrocodile.jpg|50px]]

! '''National fish'''

| [[File:Mahasher.JPG|50px]]

| [[Bufo stomaticus]]

| [[File:Bufo stomaticus04.jpg|50px]]

! '''National butterfly'''

| [[Mimathyma ambica|Indian purple emperor]]

| [[File:VB 023 Indian Purple Emperor.jpg|50px]]

! '''National fruit'''

| [[Mango]]

| [[File:Chaunsa.JPG|50px]]

| [[Sugarcane]]

| [[File:Shentu - rural landscape east of Shanwei cun - P1260072.JPG|50px]]

| [[Sugarcane juice]]

| [[File:Sugarcanejuice.jpg|50px]]

| [[Okra]]

| [[File:Bucket of raw okra pods.jpg|50px]]

| [[Pakistani Biryani]] (Beef)

| [[File:Bukhari Rice ارز بخاري بالدجاج.JPG|50px]]

! '''National sport'''

| [[Field hockey]]

| [[File:HOCKEY ARGENTINA PAKISTAN.jpg|50px]]

! '''National dress'''

| [[Salwar kameez]]

| [[File:Zainab Chottani with her show stoppers.jpg|50px]]

| [[Faisal Mosque]]

| [[File:Shah Faisal Mosque (Islamabad, Pakistan).jpg |50px]]

| [[Mazar-e-Quaid]]

| [[File: Mazar-E-Quaid.jpg|50px]]

| [[Indus River]]

| [[File:Indus river from karakouram highway.jpg|50px]]

| [[K2]]

| [[File:K2, Mount Godwin Austen, Chogori, Savage Mountain.jpg|50px]]

==Economy==

{{Main|Economy of Pakistan}}

[[File:Ise building2.png|thumb|upright|left|ISE Towers in Islamabad]]

Pakistan has a semi-industrialized economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T3V-3Y21V48-F&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2d4b7d3ce3b0b4005140c271bb7312a7|title=Agricultural Economics : An analysis of industrial–agricultural interactions: a case study in Pakistan|publisher=ScienceDirect|accessdate=2 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="siteresources.worldbank.org">{{cite web|url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/PAKISTANEXTN/Resources/293051-1241610364594/6097548-1257441952102/balochistaneconomicreportvol2.pdf|title=World Bank Document|format=PDF|accessdate=2 January 2010}}</ref> The growth poles of the Pakistani economy are situated along the [[Indus River]].<ref name="siteresources.worldbank.org"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gecon.yale.edu/Pakistan.htm|title=Pakistan|publisher=Gecon.yale.edu|accessdate=2 January 2010|archive-date=20 July 2009|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090720074224/http://gecon.yale.edu/Pakistan.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Diversified economies of Karachi and Punjab's urban centres, coexist with less developed areas in other parts of the country.<ref name="siteresources.worldbank.org"/> Despite being a very poor country in 1947, Pakistan's economic growth rate has been better than the global average during the following four decades, but incautious policies led to a slowdown in the late 1990s.<ref name="econ_1990s">{{cite web|url=http://www.epb.gov.pk/v1/travelguide/|title=Economy|publisher=Pakistan Trade Development Authority|accessdate=8 March 2009|archive-date=20 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220114913/http://epb.gov.pk/v1/travelguide/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Recently, large economic reforms have resulted in a stronger economic outlook and sped up growth especially in the manufacturing and financial services sectors.<ref name="econ_1990s"/> Since the 1990s, there has been great improvement in the [[foreign exchange market]] position and rapid growth in hard [[currency]] reserves.<ref name="econ_1990s"/>

The 2005 estimate of foreign debt was close to US$40&nbsp;billion. However, this decreased with help from the [[International Monetary Fund]] and significant debt-relief from the United States. Pakistan's gross domestic product, as measured by [[purchasing power parity]], is estimated to be $475&nbsp;billion<ref name="imfdata">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2007/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2007&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=564&s=PPPGDP%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a=&pr.x=59&pr.y=1|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (PPP)|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=8 October 2007}}</ref> while its per capita income stands at $2,942.<ref name="imfdata"/> The poverty rate in Pakistan is estimated to be between 23%<ref name="wbundp">{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2006/06/20/top1.htm|title=WB, UNDP question poverty estimates|work=Dawn |location=Pakistan Group of Newspapers|date=20 June 2006|accessdate=12 February 2008}}</ref> and 28%.<ref name="ciapeople">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html#People|title=Pakistan: People|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|accessdate=12 February 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Mohenjo-daro Priesterkönig.jpeg|thumb|130px|"Priest King" of [[Indus Valley Civilization]]]]

Pakistan became [[Partition of India|Independent]] in 1947 from the [[United Kingdom]] which was known as the [[British Raj]]. The first organised people in Ancient Pakistan lived 9000 years ago. These people were the ones who made up the [[Indus Valley Civilization]],<ref>{{cite web

|url         = http://www.harappa.com/indus/indus1.html

|accessdate  = 18 June 2007

|date        = 1996

|publisher   = Harappa

|archiveurl  = https://www.webcitation.org/64LGyivx4?url=http://www.harappa.com/indus/indus1.html

|archivedate = 31 December 2011

|url-status  = dead

}}</ref> which is one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. After that, the Vedic period came. This also included parts of north-western [[Republic of India]]. Until 1971, Pakistan also included an area in the [[North-east India]] region. This is now called [[Bangladesh]]. It lost that area after a war with the Indian Army and the joint militant group of Indo-Bangladeshi alliance of [[Mitro Bahini]] of [[West Bengal]]. During recent times Pakistan has been in the centre of world politics. This is first because of its support to guerillas in [[Afghanistan]], following a Soviet [[invasion]] 1979, and later during the 1990s because of its cooperation with and support for the [[Taliban]] [[regime]] in [[Afghanistan]]. However, since 2000 Pakistan has supported the West in their war against fundamentalist [[terrorism]], including the removal of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Pakistan is a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]]. However, after the war in East Pakistan the country was excluded (between 1972-1989). It was also a member between 1999 and 2007, it was excluded in 2007 for a time but again became a member in 2008.<ref>[http://thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/34581/179063/120508cmag.htm Commonwealth lifts ban on Pakistan]</ref>

== Geography and climate ==

{{main|Geography of Pakistan}}

[[File:Paktopo de.jpg|thumb|left|This is a map of Pakistan and Kashmir, as it is seen from space.]]

There are many earthquakes in the area. The [[2005 Pakistan earthquake|earthquake in 2005]] with its [[epicenter|earthquake center]] in [[Kashmir]] is the strongest recorded so far. Over 100,000 people were killed or wounded on 8 October 2005.

[[File:K2 8611.jpg|thumb|[[K2]] at {{convert|8611|m|abbr=on}} is the second highest peak in the world]]

Pakistan covers {{convert|880940|km2|abbr=on}},<ref name="area_from_factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html World Factbook]. Retrieved 3 November 2006. {{Webarchive|url=https://www.webcitation.org/5UjJKaKRf?url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html |date=9 January 2008 }}</ref> roughly similar to the combined land areas of [[France]] and the UK. Its eastern regions are located on the Indian plate and the western and northern regions on the [[Iranian plateau]] and Eurasian landplate. Apart from the {{convert|1046|km|abbr=on}} [[Arabian Sea]] coastline, Pakistan's [[Borders of Pakistan|land borders]] total {{convert|6774|km|abbr=on}}—{{convert|2430|km|abbr=on}} with [[Afghanistan]] to the northwest, {{convert|523|km|abbr=on}} with [[China]] to the northeast, {{convert|2912|km|abbr=on}} with [[India]] to the south and east, and {{convert|909|km|abbr=on}} with [[Iran]] to the southwest.<ref name="ciafactbook">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html|title=Pakistan|publisher=CIA World Factbook|accessdate=21 April 2016| url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:MangoTree.jpeg|thumb|Mango Orchard in [[Multan]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]]]

The northern and western highlands of Pakistan contain the towering Karakoram and Pamir mountain ranges, which include some of the world's highest peaks, including [[K2]] {{convert|8611|m|abbr=on}} and [[Nanga Parbat]] {{convert|8126|m|abbr=on}}. The [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]] Plateau lies to the west, and the [[Thar Desert]] and an expanse of alluvial plains, the Punjab and [[Sindhustan|Sindh]], lie to the east. The {{convert|1609|km|abbr=on}} [[Indus River]] and its tributaries flow through the country from the disputed territory of [[Occupied Kashmir]] to the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107861.html|title=Pakistan|author=InfoPlease|accessdate=16 March 2009}}</ref>

Pakistan has four seasons: a cool, dry winter from December through February; a hot, dry spring from March through May; the summer rainy season, or southwest monsoon period, from June through September; and the retreating monsoon period of October and November. The beginning and length of these seasons vary somewhat according to location.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/pakistan/25.htm|title=Climate|author=U.S. Library of Congress|accessdate=16 March 2009}}</ref> Rainfall can change radically from year to year, and consecutive patterns of flooding and drought are also not uncommon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Pakistan-CLIMATE.html|title=Pakistna Climate|publisher=Encyclopedia of the Nations|date=28 March 2008|accessdate=16 March 2009}}</ref>

{{main|Languages of Pakistan}}

[[Urdu language|Urdu]] is replacing English as the national language of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://time.com/3975587/pakistan-english-urdu/ |title=Why Pakistan Is Replacing English With Urdu |author=Aditya Agrawal |date=28 July 2015 |website= |publisher=Time, Inc. |accessdate=21 April 2016}}</ref> English is still spoken among the Pakistani [[wikt:elite|elite]] and in most government [[Ministry (government department)|ministries]].<ref name="ciafactbook"/> Many people also speak [[Saraiki]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Hindko]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Balochi language|Balochi]], [[Brahui language|Brahui]] and [[Khowar language|Khowar]].

[[Shina language|Shina]] is also one of the regional languages of Pakistan. It is spoken in [[Gilgit-Baltistan]].

{{Main|Islam in Pakistan}}Most (97%) of the people are [[Muslim]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}} Most of the Muslims in Pakistan are [[Sunni]] Muslims (>75%) and some are [[Shia]] Muslims (20%). However a few [[minority group]]s exist. Pakistan also has some [[Christian]], [[Hindu]], [[Sikh]], [[Zoroastrians]] and [[Animism|animist]] minority groups in the [[north]]ern parts of the country.{{bar box

|title=Religion in Pakistan

|left1=Religion

{{bar percent|[[Islam in Pakistan|Islam]]|#009000|97}}

{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|#FF4500|1.5}}

{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Pakistan|Christianity]]|#9955BB|1.5}}

[[File:Sunset over Data Durbar.jpg|thumb|right|The famed 'Data Durbar' shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat [[Ali al-Hajvery]] in Lahore, is a famous for devotees from over the world.]]

After the split from [[British India]], [[Hinduism]] had much less importance in the newly created state of Pakistan, but has played an important role in its culture and politics as well as the history of its regions. In fact, Pakistan has the 5th largest population of Hindus, after [[Sri Lanka]].

The word ''Hindu'' comes from the [[Indus River|Sindhu]] (Indus River) of Pakistan. The Sindhu is one of the holy rivers of Hinduism. Thus, in many ways, the land which is today's heavily Muslim Pakistan has played an important part in the origin of Hinduism. There are about 3 million Hindus living in Pakistan.

=== Poverty ===

Poverty in Pakistan is a growing concern. Although the middle-class has grown in Pakistan, nearly one-quarter of the population is classified poor as of October 2006.

== Sports ==

{{further|Pakistan at the Olympics|Pakistan national field hockey team|Pakistan national football team}}

The national sport of Pakistan is [[field hockey]], although [[cricket]] is the most popular game across the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/saad-khan/the-death-of-sports-in-pa_b_498758.html|title=The Death of Sports in Pakistan|last=Khan|first=Saad|date=15 March 2010|work=The Huffington Post|accessdate=8 July 2010}}</ref> 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 and were the champions at the 2009 ICC World [[Twenty20]] held in England. The team also won two Asia Cups in 2000 and 2012. Lately however, Pakistani cricket has suffered heavily due to teams refusing to tour Pakistan after militants attacked the touring [[2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lankan team in March 2009]], after which no international cricket was played until May 2015, when the Zimbabwean team agreed to tour. However, now, with increased security, the [[Sri Lanka cricket team|Sri Lankan cricket team]] came for a tour as recently as 2019.

In addition to sports like field hockey, cricket, squash rackets, football and others, Pakistanis are also very keen on [[equestrianism]] of various types,and equestrian sports such as [[Polo]] and the traditional [[Tent pegging]] are played by many. Other traditional rural sports include two types of [[Wrestling]], [[Kabbadi]] and a martial art called [[Gatka]].

==Related pages==

* [[Religions of Pakistan]]

* [[List of rivers of Pakistan]]