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History
Pakistan
traces its history back to 2,500 years B.C., when a highly
developed civilization in the Indus Valley, excavations at
Harappa, Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and Mehr Garh have brought to
light, the evidence of an advanced civilization existing even
in more ancient times.
Around 1,500 B.C., the Aryans
overwhelmed this region, and influenced the Hindu
civilization, whose center moved to Ganges Valley, further
east. Later, the Persians occupied the northern region in the
5th century B.C. up to the 2nd century A.D. The Greeks came in
327 B.C., under Alexander of Macedonia, and passed away like a
meteor. In 712 AD, the Arabs, led by Muhammad Bin Qasim,
Landed somewhere near modern
Karachi
and ruled the lower half of
Pakistan
for two hundred years. During this time, Islam took roots in
the soil and influenced the life, culture and traditions of
the people.
In the 10th century AD, began
the systematic conquest of South Asia by the Muslims from
Central Asia
, who ruled here up to the 18th century,. Then the British
became the masters of the land and ruled for nearly 200 years
and for only 100 years over what is
Pakistan
now. The Muslim revival began towards the end of the last
century when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a renowned Muslim leader and
educationist, launched a movement for intellectual renaissance
of the Muslims of South Asia. In 1930, the well known poet -
philosopher, Allama muhammad Iqbal, conceived the idea of a
separate state for the Muslims of the
South Asia
. In 1940, a resolution was adopted by the all-India Muslim
League, demanding a separate dependent homeland for the
Muslims of South Asia. After seven years of un-tiring struggle
under the brilliant leadership of Quaid-e-Azam (The great
leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah,
Pakistan
emerged on the world map as a sovereign state, on 14th August,
1947.
Government
Pakistan
is an Islamic republic with its capital at
Islamabad . It has four provinces: Balochistan,
North West Frontier Province (NWFP),
Punjab and Sindh. Their respective capitals
are Quetta ,
Peshawar , Lahore
and Karachi
. In addition to provinces, are the Federal
Administered Northern Areas (F.A.N.A) and Federal Administered
Tribal Areas (F.A.T.A).
Pakistan has a federal structure.
Parliament consists of National Assembly and the Senate.
Members of the National Assembly are directly elected
on the adult franchise base and there term of office is
five years. The National Assembly determines the major
policy issue and passes annual budget and legislation.
It elects the Prime Minister from among its members. The
Prime Minister forms his / her cabinet from among members
of the Assembly and Senate. Provinces have their own elected
legislative Assemblies and Chief Ministers. Majority of
the members, of the upper house are elected by the Provincial
Assemblies.
Location
& Geography
Pakistan
is situated between latitude 24 and 37 degrees north
and longitude 62 and 75 degrees east. The country
borders
Iran
on the west,
India
in the east,
Afghanistan
in the north-west,
China
in the north and
Arabian sea
on the south. The great mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the
Karakorams and the Hindukush form Pakistan's northern
highlands of the north-west frontier province and the Northern
Area; Punjab province is a flat, alluvial plain with five
major rivers dominating the upper region eventually joining
the Indus river flowing south to the Arabian sea; Sindh is
bounded on the east by the thar desert and the Rann of Kutch
and on the west by the Kirthar range; the Balochistan plateau
is an arid tableland, encircled by dry mountains.
Climate
Pakistan
has well defined seasons; Winter (December - February), Spring
(March - April), Summer (May - September) and
Autumn (October - November). During summer in central and
southern parts of the country, the temperature may go as high
as 45oC. However, the northern regions have very pleasant
weather during summers. Between July and August, the season
brings an average 38-51cm of rain to plains and 152-203cm in
lower Himalayan valleys of Murree, Kaghan, Swat and Azad
Kashmir.
Languages
National
language : URDU
Official language : ENGLISH
Main Regional Languages : Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi and Pashto.
Time
Zone
Pakistan
Standard Time is GMT plus 5 hours. It gets dark at about
05:00pm in winter and at 07:30pm in summer.
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