Pakistan

Geography

Pakistan is situated in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, with Afghanistan and Iran on the west, India on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the south. The name Pakistan is derived from the Urdu words Pak (meaning pure) and stan (meaning country). It is nearly twice the size of California.

The northern and western highlands of Pakistan contain the towering Karakoram and Pamir mountain ranges, which include some of the world's highest peaks: K2 (28,250 ft; 8,611 m) and Nanga Parbat (26,660 ft; 8,126 m). The Baluchistan Plateau lies to the west, and the Thar Desert and an expanse of alluvial plains, the Punjab and Sind, lie to the east. The 1,000-mile-long (1,609 km) Indus River and its tributaries flow through the country from the Kashmir region to the Arabian Sea.

History

Pakistan was one of the two original successor states to British India, which was partitioned along religious lines in 1947. For almost 25 years following independence, it consisted of two separate regions, East and West Pakistan, but now it is made up only of the western sector. Both India and Pakistan have laid claim to the Kashmir region; this territorial dispute led to war in 1949, 1965, 1971, 1999, and remains unresolved today.

What is now Pakistan was in prehistoric times the Indus Valley civilization (c. 2500–1700 BC ). A series of invaders—Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, and others—controlled the region for the next several thousand years. Islam, the principal religion, was introduced in 711. In 1526, the land became part of the Mogul Empire, which ruled most of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the mid-18th century. By 1857, the British became the dominant power in the region. With Hindus holding most of the economic, social, and political advantages, the Muslim minority's dissatisfaction grew, leading to the formation of the nationalist Muslim League in 1906 by Mohammed Ali Jinnah (1876–1949). The league supported Britain in the Second World War while the Hindu nationalist leaders, Nehru and Gandhi, refused. In return for the league's support of Britain, Jinnah expected British backing for Muslim autonomy. Britain agreed to the formation of Pakistan as a separate dominion within the Commonwealth in Aug. 1947, a bitter disappointment to India's dream of a unified subcontinent. Jinnah became governor-general. The partition of Pakistan and India along religious lines resulted in the largest migration in human history, with 17 million people fleeing across the borders in both directions to escape the accompanying sectarian violence.

Independence Day in Pakistan

Pakistan’s Independence Day, which is annually held on August 14, celebrates the country’s independence from the British rule on that date in 1947. This day is an occasion to promote patriotism and national unity.

What Do People Do on Independence Day?

People all over Pakistan celebrate Independence Day with patriotic zest. Many people who attend the Independence Day parades dress up in green and white, which are the Pakistani flag’s colors. People visit national monuments and places of national significance to celebrate Independence Day. This is also a time to meet relatives, exchange gifts and visit recreational spots.

Pakistan’s national flag is hoisted on public, private buildings, residences and monuments at dawn. Official buildings, including Parliament House, are decorated and colorfully lit. The prime minister and president address and congratulate the nation and talk about the day’s significance. Streets and houses are decorated with candles, oil lamps and pennants. Firework shows are put together on the eve of Independence Day.

Symbols of Flag

Green and white are Pakistan’s official colors. White represents peace while green symbolizes prosperity and good fortune.

During a public holiday, government offices and most businesses are closed so people have a day off work.

National Symbols of Pakistan

Each country of the world adopts some signs or emblems, which they regard as the representative of their country straits. Pakistan has several official national symbols including a historic document, a flag, an emblem, an anthem, a memorial tower as well as several national heroes. Every country has its own national symbols, national heroes and some other things known as national identity. Here is a list of national symbols and national things of Pakistan.

National Anthem

Capital: Islamabad

Provinces:

Pakistan has four provinces, and these are:

Punjab
Sindh
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Balochistan

Punjab:

Punjab is the biggest province of the Pakistan with the largest population, and it has a system of five rivers so that’s why we call this Punjab. Actually a single Punjab word that has couple of words like “Punj” means five and “ab” means water. The capital of the Punjab is Lahore and it has a diversified climate with some regional areas being too cold, such as Murree, while some areas are hot but not too hot.

Sindh:

Sindh is the industrial province of the Pakistan and various kinds of industries are located in Karachi, so this city is also the capital of Sindh. At the time of independence Karachi was the capital of the Pakistan but it was changed to Islamabad. Secondly, Karachi is the biggest city of Pakistan with population numbering millions. The climate of Sindh is too hot in all places.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is another province of the Pakistan and in this province most of population are from the “Pathan” family, which is why the government has changed its name from N.W.F.P to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Peshawar is the capital of this province, and the climate of this area is too cold, while also hot in some locations.Peshawar is also known as city of flower and Peshawari people are very famous in their hospitality.

Balochistan:

Balochistan is the biggest province of the Pakistan, and this is the biggest province by area, but its population is smaller than all other provinces. The capital of Balochistan is Quetta which is a beautiful place for tourist. And the climate of Balochistan is mixed, with some areas being cold while others are hot.

FESTIVALS IN PAKISTAN

Religious Festivals:

Eid-ul-Fitr: Eid-ul-Fitr is a religious festival celebrated at the end of fasting month, Ramadan on 1st of Shawwal. It is a three day celebration during which time family and friends gather together for long meals, the sharing of gifts, and religious devotion.

Eid-ul-Azha: Eid-ul-Azha is a three day celebration when Muslims from all over the world offer a sacrifice by slaughtering a sheep, cow, or goat following the traditional Islamic customs. It is also called the Festival of Sacrifice. The meat from the sacrifice is shared by friends, neighbors, relatives, and also distributed to the poor and needy.

National Festivals:

Pakistan Day: (23 March)

Pakistan Day is a momentous milestone in the history of Pakistan movement. This event is held to mark the anniversary of Pakistan Resolution passed by the Muslims of South Asia on March 23, 1940 at Minto Park (now Iqbal Park), Lahore. The resolution was presented by A. K. Fazlul Huq. The nation commemorates this day with great zeal and enthusiasm, to honor the most outstanding achievement of the Muslims of South Asia who passed the historic Pakistan Resolution resulting in the creation of Pakistan under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah; a homeland where they could live in peace, harmony and in accordance with the tenets of Islam.

Independence Day : (14 August)

This glorious day is a land mark in our history to commemorate the independence of Pakistan. Independence Day is celebrated with zeal and fervor in all parts of the country on August 14 with special programs arranged in all towns, big and small, as well as rural areas. On this day, meetings, processions and rallies are held all over the country and the whole country is decorated on this day. People from various walks of life decorate their houses with national flags and the buildings, city shopping centres, bazaars and all the main roads are also being adorned with flags and fancy lights.

Defense of Pakistan Day: (06 September)
The 6th of September is a golden chapter in the history of Pakistan, when Pakistan, its military and people stood united in 1965 in defense of Pakistan and resolve to halt and beat back Indian multi-dimensional attacks against Pakistan. This historic day is commemorated through parades and exhibitions of military equipment at Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi.

Air force Day: (07 September)

Air Force day is celebrated on 7th of September marking the official beginning of the Indo-Pak war of 1965. That day Air shows and other programs mark the PAF's role in defending the nation. This day is celebrated by display of latest aircrafts of Pakistan Airforce and air shows at Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

Birthday of Allama Muhammad Iqbal: (09 November)

9th November is celebrated as the birthday of the National Poet of Pakistan, Allama Iqbal. The event is celebrated with a lot of debating and poetry contests held at different institutes all over Pakistan.

Birth Anniversaryof Quaid-e-Azam *: (25 December)

This is celebrated on 25th December as the birthday of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam.

FOOD AND MEALS

1. A simple biryani

Biryani can be made with either chicken or lamb and is traditionally served with a special yoghurt called raita.

2. Creamy moong daal
If you’re new to Pakistani cooking, daal is a good place to start. Moong daal, which is made with lentils, can be served with rice or naan and can be made either thick or soupy.

3. A warming bowl of nihari
Although it’s traditionally made with lamb, nihari can also be made with chicken or a meat substitute. It’s typically served with naan bread and sprinkled with coriander, cut chillis, onions, ginger pieces, and lemon juice.

4. Delicious keema
This is basically minced meat with loads of spices and usually served with naan rooti(bread).

5. A healthy bown of haleem
It may look like brown soup but haleem is actually a mixture of meat and lentils typically topped with lemon, friend onions, chillis, coriander, and ginger pieces.

6. A sweet gajar ki halwa
Another classic wedding dessert, gajar ka halwa is made from carrots but is actually sweet. Carrot in urdu called gajar and halwa usually use for dessert.

7. A traditional chicken karahi
Chicken karahi is a classic curry with its own set of spices.

8. Sweet gulab jamun
A traditional piece of gulab jamun contains 250 calories, so try not to overload. But that may be hard because they taste so good.

9. Tandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken is usually cooked in a mud oven where it put on a light fire and there it roosted. It is very tasty and usually served with naan rooti.

Best Natural Places to Visit in Pakistan

Natural beauty is unmatched. Pakistan has the world's most beautiful places to visit, and is especially at its best in the northern areas of the Pakistan and Kashmir region. This part of the country is famous all around the world because of sky high mountains, lush green valleys, mighty rivers, beautiful lakes, and amazing wildlife. The Pradise on Earth ‘Neelum Valley’ Mini Switzerland ‘Swat Valley’ and Mountain Kingdom ‘Hunza valley’ are the major tourist attractions in Pakistan. All these places are real natural beauty of the world. Here, below is a list of top 10 Best Natural Places to Visit in Pakistan. The naturally beautiful places of Pakistan, you will not found these beautiful places all over the world.
1. Neelum Valley

Neelam Valley is a 144 km long bow-shaped valley in Azad Kashmir Region. The Valley is situated at the North & North-East of Muzaffarabad (The Capital of Azad Kashmir). Running through the Lesser Himalaya, the Neelam River valley has excellent scenic beauty, panoramic views, towering hills on both sides of the noisy Neelum river, lush green forests, enchanting streams and attractive surroundings make the valley a dream come true.

Neelum valley is one of most attractive place for tourists due to its famous lush greenery, springs, streams,lakes and hilly and sloppy mountains. Some of its famous places like Athmuqam, Kutton Jagran, Karen, Neelum, Ratti Galli, Baboon, Noori top, Sharda, Sharda Fort, Sharda University (The Oldest University of Sub-Continent) Kel, Surgon, Halmet, Taobut and many more.
2. Hunza Valley

The Hunza Valley is a mountainous valley in the Gilgit–Baltistan region , It was formerly a princely state. The Hunza valley is situated north/west of the Hunza River, at an elevation of around 2,500 metres. The Valley has three Regions – Upper Hunza (Gojal); Center Hunza and Lower Hunza.

Hunza valley is the most beautiful place to visit and has many places to see. Some of these beautiful places are. Rakaposhi Base Camp; Diran Base Camp; Hoper Glacier; Passue and Gulmit; Khunjrab Pass; Atta Abad lake and Nagar valley.
3. Swat Valley

Swat is a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is the upper valley of the Swat River, which rises in the Hindu Kush range.
Swat Valley, Mini Switzerland of Pakistan has many attractions to visit such as Mahodand Valley & Lake, Natural Ushu Valley & Ushu Forest, Malam Jabba (Famous ski resort in Swat Valley), Madyan, Swat & Kalam Vallies, Bonir, Der and many other naturaly beautiful sites.
4. Kalash Valley

Kalash Valley is one of the major tourist attractions in Pakistan. This is situated in the Chitral district of Pakistan. This valley has a historic background but its history has controversies. Kelash is actually a very old Greek civilization. The people belonging to this civilization are called ‘The Kelash’. It has a history of being to ancient tribes which have their own religion and culture. This valley has a unique and amazing culture. The People here live in small villages which they built on the hill sides. These villages are at the banks of the streams and rivers. People construct their homes with rough shaped logs. People of Kalash are cheerful, they celebrates many festivals like Uchal Festival, Phoo Festival and Chomos Festival. There are many attractive sites for visiting.
5. Kaghan Valley

The Kaghan Valley is a beautiful valley in the north-east of Mansehra District . It attracts many tourists from not only Pakistan but also from the whole world. Laying in lower Himalayan mountains range, the Kaghan valley, famous for its bewitching splendor and natural beauty, is one of the most charming tourist resorts in scenic Hazara division. There are many beautiful and attractive spots like Shogran, Jared, Naran,Lake Saiful Muluk, Lake Dudipat Sar, Lake Lulu Sar, Babusar Pass and much more to do.
6. Rawalakot

Rawalakot is a town in Azad Kashmir, and is the district headquarter of Poonch Division. It is in a beautiful valley surrounded by hills, which is located 80 km away from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Rawalakot is a summer visiting point The winters in Rawalakot are cold and chilly. There are many attraction for visitors like Banjosa; Toli Pir; Poonch River; Tatta Pani; Banjosoa Lake; Sudhngalli and many more.
7. Ziarat

Ziarat is the capital of Ziarat District, Balochistan, Pakistan. Ziarat is a famous holiday resort of Balochistan and nearly every trip from Karachi to Quetta stops at Ziarat. Ziarat was the summer residence of the chief commissioner of Baluchistan, and sanatorium for the European troops at Quetta. There is a good water supply, and the hills around are well-wooded and picturesque. A visit to Quetta is incomplete without a trip to Ziarat. Ziarat is a hill station in the Sibi district of the province of Baluchistan. It remains quite cool during summer and receives enough snowfall during the winter.
8. Jehlum Valley

This is an ideal valley of Azad Kshmir region for both the domestic and international tourists. The curling river Jhelum passes through from East to West between the high green mountains of this valley. This valley has a most beautiful valley “Leepa Valley” . This is the most fascinating & loveliest valley in Azad Kashmir. Its lush green rice fields in summer and typical wooden Kashmiri houses present a wonderful view to the people visiting the area. Walnut, Apple, Cherry and honey of Leepa are very popular and in great demand. There are many visiting sites like Peerchanasi, Chikar, Chinary, Leepa, Chakothi, Ghari Dopatta, Chokothi Cham-fall and Zilzaal Lake.