Pakistan |
Background: |
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan have fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but recent discussions and confidence-building measures may be a start toward lessened tensions. |
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Pakistan |
Location: |
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north |
Geographic coordinates: |
30 00 N, 70 00 E |
Map references: |
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Area: |
total: 803,940 sq km |
Area - comparative: |
slightly less than twice the size of California |
Land boundaries: |
total: 6,774 km |
Coastline: |
1,046 km |
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm |
Climate: |
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north |
Terrain: |
flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west |
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m |
Natural resources: |
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone |
Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands |
Geography - note: |
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent |
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Pakistan |
Population: |
162,419,946 (July 2005 est.) |
Nationality: |
noun: Pakistani(s) |
Ethnic groups: |
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants) |
Religions: |
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3% |
Languages: |
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8% |
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Pakistan |
Country name: |
Cconventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
Government type: |
Federal republic |
Capital: |
Islamabad |
Administrative divisions: |
4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh |
Independence: |
14 August 1947 (from UK) |
National holiday: |
Republic Day, 23 March (1956) |
Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims |
Executive branch: |
note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for three years from the coup date; on 20 June 2001, MUSHARRAF named himself as president and was sworn in, replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more years; on 1 January 2004, MUSHARRAF won a vote of confidence in the Senate, National Assembly, and four provincial assemblies |
Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court |
International organization participation: |
ARF, AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
Flag description: |
green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam |
National Emblem of Pakistan
The National Emblem of Pakistan was adopted in 1954 upon approval by the government. The emblem is usually colored green, and that with the addition of the crescent and star at the top represent the Islamic majority religion of Pakistan.
In the center of the emblem is a shield that represents agriculture through a portrayal of the four major crops of Pakistan at the time of its adoption: cotton, jute, tea, and wheat.
The floral wreath around the shield is representitive of the history of Pakistan, as the wreath is a Mughal design.
Finally, the scroll at the bottom contains the national motto of Pakistan in Urdu. The motto is a saying of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and reads from right to left' 'Iman, Ittehad, Nazm which is translated into "Faith, Unity, Discipline"
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Emblem_of_Pakistan"
National Flower | Jasmine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National Tree | Deodar (Cedrus Deodara). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National Animal | Markhor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National Bird | Chakor (Red-legged partridge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flora | Pine, Oak, Poplar, Deodar, Maple, Mulberry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fauna | The Pheasant, Leopard, Deer, Ibex, Chinkara, Black buck, Neelgai, Markhor, Marco-Polo sheep, Green turtles, River & Sea fish, Crocodile, Waterfowls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Popular games | Cricket, Hockey, Football, Squash. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tourist's resorts | Murree, Quetta, Hunza, Ziarat, Swat, Kaghan, Chitral and Gilgit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Archaeological sites | Moenjo Daro, Harappa, Taxila, Kot Diji, Mehr Garh, Takht Bhai. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major Cities | Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major Crops | Cotton, Wheat, Rice and Sugarcane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agricultural Growth Rate | 4.15% in 2002-03 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total cropped area | 22.0 million hectares | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Industry | Textiles, Cement, Fertiliser, Steel, Sugar, Electric Goods, Shipbuilding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Energy |
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Health |
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Education |
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Transport & Communication |
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Seaports |
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Communications |
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Employment |
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Media |
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Banks |
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Famous Mountain Peaks |
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Famous Mountain Passes |
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Rivers |
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Famous Glaciers |
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Deserts |
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Lakes |
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Major Dams |
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Currency: Pak. Rupee.
Courtesy: http://www.infopak.gov.pk/public/govt/basic_facts.html
Edited by Ms. Bholi Bhali - 18 years ago