|
|
|
| Sunday, 6 November 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Pakistan... 'Land of the Pure' When you think of Pakistan, the first thing that comes to mind is the recent unfortunate natural disasters which killed many people. But, this beautiful country, rich in culture and breathtaking landscapes has much to offer. Today we will have a closer look at this amazing country. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia that overlaps onto the Greater Middle East and Central Asia. Pakistan borders India, Afghanistan, Iran (Persia), China and the Arabian Sea. With around 163 million inhabitants, it is the sixth most populous country with the second largest Muslim population. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and SAARC.It was formerly a major part of the British Empire as western British India before gaining independence in 1947 through the Partition of India. The name of the country "Pakistan" in Urdu means Land of the Pure. Pakistan has the world's sixth largest population, more than Russia, but less than Brazil. Because of Pakistan's high growth rate, it is expected to overtake Brazil in population before 2025. Based on the high fertility rates of the 1980s, demographers had projected that Pakistan would be the third most populous nation by 2050. Pakistan has a rich and unique cultural heritage, and has actively preserved its established traditions throughout history. Many cultural practices and monuments have been inherited from the rule of Mughal emperors. Because of Pakistan's geography, it inherits a rich and unique culture, and has actively preserved its established traditions throughout history. The Pakistani national dress, Shalwar Kameez is one of the clothing styles inherited from these rich cultural roots. Pakistani society is largely multilingual and multicultural. Religious practices of various faiths are part of everyday life in society. Education is highly regarded by members of every socio-economic class. Traditional family values are highly respected and considered sacred. The Northwestern part of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan, is highly conservative and dominated by centuries-old regional tribal customs. The majority of the people of Pakistan are Muslim. Most (75 per cent) are Sunni, some (20 per cent) are Shia, and the rest belong to a number of smaller sects. Pakistan has a small non-Muslim population, mostly consisting of Christians (2.5 per cent), while the remaining 1.2 per cent includes Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Jews, and Animists (mainly the Kalash in Chitral). Pakistan is also the birthplace of three major world religions, Sikhism, Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism. Although today there are few Sikhs in Pakistan, Pakistani Punjab was the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism as well as the Sikh conqueror Ranjit Singh. In addition, Pakistan is also the birthplace of Mahayana Buddhism, the form of Buddhism practised by most Buddhists today, including those in China, India, Japan, Vietnam, and Korea. It is also the birthplace of Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism. The early formation of the Hindu religion may have taken place here, either amongst the Indus Valley Civilization or along with the Indo-Aryan migration into the area and with the composition of the earliest of the sacred scriptures, the Rig Veda. But most academics believe Hinduism formed along the Ganges River further east instead. Urdu and English are both recognised as the official languages of Pakistan. Punjabis comprise the largest ethnic group in the country. Pakistan has four provinces, two territories, and also administers parts of Kashmir. The provinces are further subdivided into a total of 105 districts. The most popular sport in Pakistan is cricket. Pakistan has produced several of the best batsmen and bowlers in the world, including Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Shoaib Akhtar. Almost every district and neighbourhood in Pakistan has its cricket team and most people start playing from a young age. Pakistan has won many international cricket events, including the World Cup in 1992. ***** Fact File Official name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan Father of the Nation: Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah President of Pakistan: General Pervez Musharraf Prime Minister of Pakistan: Shaukat Aziz Capital: Islamabad Population: 159,196,336 (July 2004.) Ethnic composition: 97 per cent Muslims (77 per cent Sunni, 20 per cent Shi'a), 3% Christian, Hindu and others Currency: Pak Rupee Languages: Urdu (national language), English (official) and many other languages including Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Salaiki. Literacy rate: 45.7 per cent Government: Parliamentary form Parliament: It consists of two Houses i.e., the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House). The Senate is a permanent legislative body and symbolises a process of continuity in the national affairs. It consists of 87 members. The four Provincial Assemblies, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Federal Capital form its electoral college. The National Assembly has a total membership of 217 elected through adult suffrage (Muslim 207 and Minorities 10). National flag: Dark green with a white vertical bar, a white crescent and a five-pointed star in the middle. The flag symbolises Pakistan's profound commitment to Islam and the Islamic world. National anthem: The Anthem portrays Pakistan as the centre of faith and freedom, a land of beauty and strength drawn from the people and the country. The words touch upon the various facets of national life. The anthem was approved in June 1954. Verses were composed by Abul Asar Hafeez Jullundhri. State emblem The State Emblem consists of: 1. The crescent and star which is symbol of Islam 2. The shield in the centre shows four major crops 3. Wreath surrounding the shield represents cultural heritage 4. Scroll contains Quaid's motto: Unity, Faith, Discipline National flower: Jasmine Pakistan's official map: Drawn by Mian Mahmood Alam Suhrawardy (1920-1999) 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 buk, neelgai, Markhor, marcopolo sheep, green turtles, river and sea fish, crocodile, water fowls Popular games: cricket, hockey, football Major cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
