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PAKISTAN is an unspoilt tourist destination with a
variety of contrast geographical features from the warm beaches of Arabian
Sea to the snow covered lofty mountains in the north. The cultures equally
vary along with its landscape. People, living in the deserts, fertile plains
and at the foot of mighty mountains, present a colorful variety of
languages, cultures and ancient civilizations. Therefore, it is quite
impossible to avoid the flavour and fragrance of its deep past. This country
traces its history back from about 10,000 years ago. Along the banks of
Indus and its tributaries, grew civilization after civilization. In seventh
millennium BC Mehergarh was a sizable village that by 6000 BC grew into a
town of 3000 people living in red mud brick houses. Indus Valley
Civilization (3500 BC), Gandhara Civilization (500 BC) and the civilization
of Mughul era are the most famous heritages of the land, now called
Pakistan. British entered in the Sub Continent for trade in 1600 AD and by
1857 AD, gradually colonized the whole region. In 1947, South Asia got
freedom in the form of two domains; Pakistan and India.
People belong to various ethnic and linguistic groups
presenting a colorful blend of different cultures. Urdu is the lingua franca
but English is also widely spoken by literate urban strata. Pakistan (140
million populations) is a federation of four provinces viz., Punjab, Sindh,
Baluchistan and North West Frontier Province. Islamabad, the newly built
city, is the capital but Karachi situated at the shores of Arabian Sea, is
the largest city and main centre of commerce and industry.
Pakistan is in the northwest part of South Asia. The eastern and
southern parts of the country are dominated by the Indus River and
its tributaries. Most of Pakistan's population lives along the
Indus. West of the Indus the land becomes increasingly arid and
mountainous. To the north the land rises to the great mountains of
the Hindu Kush and Karakoram—including K2, the world's second
highest mountain after Everest, at 8,611 meters (28,250 feet).
The
military has loomed large in Pakistan, the western portion of a
bifurcated country created for Muslims when the British relinquished
predominantly Hindu India in 1947. Relations with New Delhi,
embittered by claims to Kashmir, worsened as a result of India's
role in East Pakistan's rebirth as Bangladesh in 1971. Military rule
followed Gen. Zia-ul-Haq's 1977 coup that toppled Prime Minister Ali
Bhutto. After Zia's death in a plane crash in 1988, Benazir Bhutto,
daughter of the former prime minister, became the first woman
elected to lead a Muslim nation. She restored civil rights, but was
plagued by problems: continuing tension and a presumed nuclear arms
rivalry with India, 3.5 million refugees from the war in
neighboring
Afghanistan, and a growing trade in heroin. Ousted in 1990, Bhutto
was re-elected in 1993; her government was dismissed in 1996 on
charges of corruption. Political unrest and a general failure of
government followed the election of a new prime minister in 1997.
Two years later a military coupled to General Pervez Musharraf
becoming president. National and provincial elections were held in
2002, with these assemblies giving President Musharraf a vote of
confidence in 2004.
Tensions with India came to a head in 1998 when both that country
as well as Pakistan conducted nuclear tests. Kashmir is the key
issue for India and Pakistan. Pakistan's interest in Kashmir focuses
on protecting the Muslim population in that region and in securing
the headwaters of the Indus River, the country's lifeline.
Agriculture is concentrated in the extensively irrigated Indus
Basin. Despite an increase in cotton, wheat, and rice production,
feeding the growing population is a constant challenge. Favorable
relations with China have been a pillar of Pakistan's foreign
policy—helping to offset the power of India. Since 2001 Pakistan has
been a key U.S. ally in the war on terrorism and in bringing
democracy to neighboring Afghanistan.
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