9781422273814

P A K I S T A N

ASIAN COUNTRIES TODAY

ASIAN COUNTRIES TODAY

Afghanistan Asia: Facts & Figures Bangladesh India Pakistan

China Indonesia Japan Malaysia

Philippines Singapore South Korea Thailand Vietnam

P A K I S T A N

ASIAN COUNTRIES TODAY

JACQUELINE HAVELKA

MASON CREST

MIAMI

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First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4433-3 ISBN (series) 978-1-4222-4430-2 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222-7381-4

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Pakistan at a Glance .................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: Pakistan’s Geography & Landscape.........................11 Chapter 2: The Government & History of Pakistan................... 19 Chapter 3 : The Pakistani Economy............................................ 35 Chapter 4 : Citizens of Pakistan—People, Customs & Culture...47 Chapter 5: Famous Cities of Pakistan........................................ 65 Chapter 6: A Bright Future for Pakistan..................................... 75 Pakistani Food ........................................................................... 84 Festivals & Holidays .................................................................. 86 Series Glossary of Key Terms...................................................... 88 Chronology.................................................................................. 90 Further Reading & Internet Resources....................................... 91 Index............................................................................................ 92 Organizations to Contact............................................................ 95 Author’s Biography & Credits...................................................... 96

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P A K I S T A N

Pakistan

A T

India

A

G L A N C E

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The Geography of 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 Area: Approx. twice the size of California total: 307,373 sq. miles (796,095 sq. km) land: 297,636 sq. miles (770,875 sq. km) water: 9,737 sq. miles (25,220 sq. km) Borders: Afghanistan, China, India, Iran Climate: Mostly hot, dry desert, temperate in northwest, and arctic in north Terrain: Northern highlands, the Indus River plain in the center and east, and the Balochistan Plateau in the south and west Elevation Extremes: lowest Arabian Sea at exactly sea level point: highest K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) (28,251 feet) point: (8,611 m) above sea level Natural Hazards: Earthquake and flooding

Source: www.cia.gov 2017

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The green and white Pakistani flag was designed by Ameer- ud-din Khidwai. The green stands for the

F L A G O F P A K I S T A N

country’s Muslimmajority, with the white portions representing other religious minorities. The white crescent signifies progress, while the star denotes light and knowledge.

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The People of Pakistan Population: 207,862,518 Ethnic Groups: Punjabi, Pashtun (Pathan), Sindhi, Saraiki, Muhajirs, Balochi

Age Structure:

0–14 years: 30.76% (63,946,704) 15–24 years: 20.94% (43,522,585) 25–54 years: 38.04% (79,061,569) 55–64 years: 5.7% (11,851,286) 65 years and over: 4.56% (9, 480,374)

Population Growth Rate: 1.41% Death Rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 pop. Migration Rate:

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 pop.

Infant Mortality Rate:

50.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy at Birth:

total population: 68.4 years male: 66.4 years female: 70.5 years

Total Fertility Rate:

2.55 children born/woman

Religions:

Muslim, Christian, Hindu

Languages:

Urdu, English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Saraiki, Pashtu, Balochi, Hindko, Brahui, Burushaski

Literacy Rate: 57.9%

Source: www.cia.gov 2018

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The Indus river and valley in Karakoram.

biosphere reserve: legally protected area of land and its water ecosystem. Conservation efforts are made to try to minimize mankind’s impact on the reserve fauna: for the Roman goddess Fauna; a collective name for animals of a certain region or time flora: Latin for “flower”; the plants of a particular region or period markhor : a large goat species and the national animal of Pakistan

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C H A P T E R

PAKISTAN’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

1

Geography P akistan borders Afghanistan, China, India, and Iran, and as such, occupies a position of great military strategic importance. Iran is on the west and India is on the east, while China lies to the north and the Arabian Sea to the south. The country is about twice the size of California and has diverse terrain ranging from deserts near the Arabian Sea to arctic terrain in the northern mountainous region of K2, the second highest peak on Earth. Temperatures can range from well below zero (-17 degrees Celsius) at K2 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51 degrees Celsius) in the desert regions. Monsoon rains come in July and August and cause flash flooding in river areas. Climate The climate of Pakistan is a hot and dry desert environment throughout most of the country, with the exception of the high altitude arctic north made up of three mountain ranges: the Himalayas, Hindukush, and Karakoram. The highest point is the K2 Mt. Godwin-Austin summit at 28,251 feet (8,611 meters) above sea level.

PAKISTAN’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE 11

The Balochistan black bear is a subspecies of the Asian black bear. It is native to southern Pakistan.

Flora and Fauna Pakistan has a rich abundance of flora and fauna . The country abounds with birds and reptiles. Bird species like partridges, falcons, hawks, and golden eagles are found throughout the country, as are reptiles, like pythons and cobras. Over 6,000 plant species grow in Pakistan, mainly along the fertile Indus River Valley. Plants include wild versions of olive, cherry, almond, and fig trees, as well as pistachio trees and an abundance of spring-blooming flowering plants. Animals native to Pakistan include wild cats, leopards, wolves, hares, and porcupines. A type of goat known as a markhor is Pakistan’s national animal. Mountain Ranges Did you know that five of the fourteen highest mountain peaks in the world are in Pakistan? Most of them can be found in the Karakoram mountain range, which is part of the Himalayan range of peaks. Many of these mountaintops are over 22,000 feet (7,000 meters) tall, including K2, the highest peak, which is situated on the

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The Markhor

border of China. At over 28,000 feet (8,611 meters) tall, K2 is second only to Mount Everest. Many climbers have died trying to scale K2. People can only climb during the summer months, and one in four climbers dies trying to reach the top. Nanga Parbat, in the Gilgit Baltistan region, is called the “Killer Mountain” for the same reason. The Gasherbrum Peaks are located at the end of the Baltoro Glacier in the

A markhor is a large mammal in the goat family, native to Central Asia and the Karakoram and Himalaya mountains. Since 2015, the markhor has been on the near-threatened list for endangered species. It is also called the “screw horn goat.” There are five species in its scientific family, including the Chiltan markhor and a straight-horned

The markhor is also known as the screw horn goat. It is the national animal of Pakistan.

PAKISTAN’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE 13

Karakoram range. Masherbrum is also near the Baltoro Glacier and is known by climbers as the world’s hardest alpine climb due to its dangerous avalanches. The Himalayas are very important to Central and South Asian people. Locals call them the “Roof of the World.” The mountains in the north protect Pakistan and hold back the frigid Siberian winds. If those were let in, Pakistan would have a much colder climate. Most rivers in Pakistan originate in these mountains, providing much-needed water for the fertile basins at the mountain bases. Timber is harvested for construction. UNESCO Sites Pakistan is home to two United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) biosphere reserves designed as conservation zones

K2 and Broad Peak mountains behind the Baltoro Glacier viewed from the K2 base camp.

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