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Pakistan

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Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a major nation located in South Asia.

It ranks as the 33rd-largest country in the world by total land area. The nation is the fifth-most populous country on Earth, with over 241.5 million people. As of 2023, it holds the second-largest Muslim population globally. Islamabad serves as the national capital. However, Karachi remains the largest city and the primary financial center.

KHIURBANSKYLINE
KHIURBANSKYLINE

The geography of Pakistan is defined by its diverse borders and water features. To the south, the country meets the Arabian Sea. The southwest is bordered by the Gulf of Oman. To the southeast, the Sir Creek marks a boundary. Pakistan shares land borders with several neighbors. India lies to the east, while Afghanistan sits to the west. Iran is located to the southwest, and China is to the northeast.

Kashmir map
Kashmir map

The country also shares a maritime border with Oman. In the northwest, the narrow Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan separates Pakistan from Tajikistan.

Pakistan is a land of immense historical depth and ancient civilizations. The region contains some of the earliest evidence of human activity in South Asia. Stone tools from the Lower Palaeolithic period were found in the Soan Valley.

Indus.A2002274.0610.1km
Indus.A2002274.0610.1km

The Neolithic site of Mehrgarh in Balochistan dates back 8,500 years. Later, the Indus Valley Civilisation flourished with urban centers like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. The Gandhara civilisation also emerged at a crossroads of different cultures.

Gandhara Buddha (tnm)
Gandhara Buddha (tnm)

This civilization connected trade routes between India, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Many powerful empires have controlled these lands throughout history. The Achaemenid, Maurya, Kushan, and Gupta empires all held territory here. During the medieval period, the region saw the spread of Islam. This was influenced by Arab conquerors and Sufi missionaries. Successive Muslim empires, such as the Ghaznavids and the Delhi Sultanate, ruled the area. The Mughal Empire later introduced high Persian culture and architecture.

View of Makli by Usman Ghani (cropped)
View of Makli by Usman Ghani (cropped)

Notable Mughal cities included Multan, Lahore, Peshawar, and Thatta.

The modern state of Pakistan was born from the Pakistan Movement. This movement sought a dedicated homeland for the Muslims of British India. In 1933, activist Choudhry Rahmat Ali coined the name "Pakistan." He used it as an acronym for Panjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh, and Baluchistan. In Persian and Urdu, the name translates to "land of the pure."

Liaquat Ali Khan 1945
Liaquat Ali Khan 1945

Following elections in 1946, Pakistan gained independence in 1947. This occurred through the partition of British India. The partition caused a massive migration and significant loss of life.

Partition of India 1947 en
Partition of India 1947 en

Political structures in Pakistan have evolved significantly since 1947. Initially, the nation was a dominion of the British Commonwealth. It adopted a republican constitution in 1956. At that time, the country consisted of two provinces: East Pakistan and West Pakistan. However, East Pakistan seceded in 1971 to become the nation of Bangladesh.

Ayubkhanandbhutto
Ayubkhanandbhutto

Since then, the government has alternated between civilian and military rule. It has shifted between democratic and authoritarian systems. It has also moved between secular and Islamist governance.

Today, Pakistan is recognized as a middle power nation. It possesses the world's seventh-largest standing armed forces. The country is also a declared nuclear-weapons state. Economically, it is considered an emerging and growth-leading economy. A large and rapidly growing middle class supports this development.

Tv Assembly Line 1
Tv Assembly Line 1

The nation faces complex challenges, including poverty, illiteracy, and corruption. It remains an active member of many global groups. These include the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

SCO meeting (2022-09-16)
SCO meeting (2022-09-16)

It is also designated as a major non-NATO ally by the United States.

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🖼️ Images & Media (40)
File:State emblem of Pakistan.svg
State emblem of Pakistan.svg
National anthem of Pakistan, instrumental.oga
File:Gandhara Buddha (tnm).jpeg
Gandhara Buddha (tnm).jpeg
File:View_of_Makli_by_Usman_Ghani_(cropped).jpg
View_of_Makli_by_Usman_Ghani_(cropped).jpg
File:Partition of India 1947 en.svg
Partition of India 1947 en.svg
File:Liaquat Ali Khan 1945.jpg
Liaquat Ali Khan 1945.jpg
Pakistan.ogv
File:Ayubkhanandbhutto.jpg
Ayubkhanandbhutto.jpg
File:The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee meets the President of Pakistan Mr. Pervez Musharraf on the sidline of 12th SAARC Summit in Islmabad on January 5, 2003.jpg
The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari...
File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_PAK_present.svg
Koppen-Geiger_Map_PAK_present.svg
File:Indus.A2002274.0610.1km.jpg
Indus.A2002274.0610.1km.jpg
File:Markhor_Horns_(5779055412).jpg
Markhor_Horns_(5779055412).jpg

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