Pakistan Profile
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan borders Iran on
the west, India in the east. Afghanistan in the
North-West, China in the north and the Arabian Sea
on the south. Its total area is 803.950 Sq.Km with a
population of 128 million. As a predominantly Muslim
state, Pakistan emerged on the world map on 14
August 1947, as a result of the partition of the
Indian Sub-continent following the withdrawal of the
British. This year Pakistan celebrates its 50 years
of Independence.
Pakistan is a special interest destination. Its
main attractions include adventure tourism in the
Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism
as found in Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harrappa, and early
Muslim and Mughal heritage of Multan, Lahore. For
centuries, the ancient Silk Road remained the main
trading route between the South and the Central
Asia. After the construction of the Karakoram
Highway (KKH) along the same alignment, which joins
Pakistan with the Chinese Muslim autonomous region
of Xinjang, the ancient trade link has been revived.
The KKH has provided a great opportunity for
international travelers to explore the unspoiled
natural beauty, unique culture and traditions of the
Northern Pakistan together with other Silk Route
destinations like China, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan,
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Back To Top
Unique Mountains, Valleys and Glaciers: Northern
areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq. Km. are
fascinating as its southern region. Amidst towering
snow-clad peaks with heights varying from 1000 m to
over 8000 meter, the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza and
Skardu recall Shangri-La. The cultural patterns in
this region are as interesting as its topography.
The people with typical costumes, folk dances, music
and sports like polo and buzkashi provide the
traveller an unforgettable experience. Nowhere in
the world there is such a great concentration of
high mountains, peaks, glaciers and passes except
Pakistan. Of the 14 over 8000 peaks on earth, 04
occupy an amphitheatre at the head of Baltoro
glacier in the Karakoram range. These are:
At the western most end
of the Himalayas. In addition to that, there are 68
peaks over 7000m and hundreds which are over 6000 m.
The Northern Pakistan has some of the longest
glaciers outside Polar region;
- Siachen (72 km)
- Hispar (61 km)
- Biafo (60 km)
- Baltoro (60 km)
- Batura (64 km)
- Yenguta (35 km)
- Chiantar (34 km)
- Trich (29 km)
- Atrak (28 km)
The lower Himalayan valleys of Swat, Kaghan and
Chitral in the Hindukush range equally share the
beauty and diverse culture of the Northern Pakistan.
 See Also:
Pakistan Mountains
See Also:
Skardu - Siachen Glacier Pictures
Back To Top
From the mighty stretches of the Karakoram's in
the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus
river in the South, Pakistan remains a land of high
adventure and nature. Trekking, mountaineering,
white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and
desert jeep safaris, camel and yak safaris, trout
fishing and bird watching, are a few activities
which entice the adventure and nature lovers to
Pakistan.
Pakistan is endowed with a rich and varied flora
and fauna. High Himalayas, Karakoram and the
Hindukush ranges with their alpine meadows and
permanent snow line, coniferous forests down the
sub-mountain scrub, the vast Indus plain merging
into the great desert, the coast line and wetlands,
all offer a remarkably rich variety of Vegetation
and associated wildlife including avifauna, both
endemic and migratory. Ten of 18 mammalian orders
are represented in Pakistan with species ranging
from the world’s smallest surviving mammals, the
Mediterranean Pigmy shrew, to the largest mammal
ever known; the blue whale.
Back To Top
The Indus Valley Civilization was at its peak
from the 3rd till the middle of the 2nd millennium
BC Discovered in 1922, Moenjodaro was once a
metropolis of great importance, forming part of the
Indus Valley Civilization together with Harrappa
(discovered in 1923), Kot Diji and recent discovered
in Mehr Garh (Baluchistan). Moenjodaro is considered
as one of the most spectacular ancient cities of the
world. It had mud and baked bricks’ buildings, an
elaborate covered drainage system, a large state
granary, a spacious pillared hall, a College of
Priests, a palace and a citadel.
Harrappa, another major city of the Indus Valley
Civilization, was surrounded by a massive brick wall
fortification. Other features and plan of the city
were similar to that of Moenjodaro. The Kot Diji
culture is marked by well-made pottery and houses
built of mud-bricks on stone foundations.
Back To Top
Gandhara remains had once been the hallowed
centre of Buddhism, the cradle of the world famous
Gandhara sculpture, culture and learning. The
archaeological remains found in Taxila, Peshawar,
Charsadda, Takht Bhai, Swat Valley, and rock carving
&* inscriptions along the ancient Silk Route
(Karakoram Highway) has well recorded the history of
Gandhara. Lying in Haro river valley,. Taxila, the
main centre of Gandhara, is over 3,000 years old as
it had attracted the attention of the great
conqueror, Alexander in 327 BC, when it was a
province of the powerful Achaemenian Empire. It
later came under the Maurian dynasty and reached a
remarkable matured level of development under the
great Ashoka. Then appeared the Indo-Greek
descendants of Alexander’s warriors and finally came
the most creative period of Gandhara. The Kushan
dynasty was established in about 50 A.D. during the
next 20 years, Taxila, Peshawar and Swat became a
renowned centre of learning, philosophy, art and
trade. Pilgrims and travelers were attracted to
Gandhara from as far as China and Greece. In 5th
century AD, the White Huns snuffed out the last of
the successive civilizations that held unbroken sway
in this region for several centuries.
Back To Top
Pakistan is a treasure-house of Muslim
architecture. Lahore, the cultural heart of Pakistan
is situated along the bank of Ravi river. The city
has witnessed rise and fall of many dynasties like
Gaznevis (1021-1186), Ghoris (1186-1202) and Slaves
(1206-1524) before arrival of the Mughals. The city
was conquered by Babur of Ferghana (now in
Uzbekistan), the founder of the Mughal dynasty
(1524-1764). All the important monuments like the
Royal Fort, Badshahi Mosque. Wazir Khan’s Mosque,
Tombs of Jehangir, Asaf Khan, Noor Jehan, Anarkali,
the Shalimar Gardens and Hiran Minar etc., were
constructed during this period. On the other hand,
the shrines, mosques and forts located in and around
Multan and Bahawalpur are master pieces of Muslim
architecture. Some important buildings are; Forts at
Multan and Derawar (Bahawalpur), shrines of Shaikh
Bahauddin Zakaria, Shah Rukan-e-Alam, Hazrat Shams
Tabrezi at Multan and Tomb of Bib Jiwandi at Uchh
Sharif near Bahawalpur.
Many international Airlines have regular flights
to Karachi linking Pakistan with the rest of the
world. Islamabad and Lahore have flight from
Bangkok, Dubai, Beijing, Urmuqi, London, Copenhagen,
Frankfurt, New York, Paris and Jeddah. Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA), has linked major
cities and tourist destinations through daily
flights. |
