Pakistan is officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, bordered on the north and north-west by Afghanistan, on the east by India, on the south by the Arabian Sea, and on the west by Iran.
Pakistan became an independent state in 1947. Until December 1971 it included the province of East Pakistan (previously East Bengal), which, after its secession from Pakistan, assumed the name Bangladesh.
The area of Pakistan is 796,095 sq km (307,293 sq mi), excluding the section of Jammu and Kashmir under its control. The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad; Karachi is the largest city.
Pakistan comprises distinct regions.
- The northern highlands - the Hindu Kush - are rugged and mountainous
- Indus Valley is a flat, alluvial plain with five major rivers dominating the upper region, eventually joining the Indus River flowing south to the Makran coast
- Sindh is bounded east by the Thar Desert and the Rann of Kutch, and on the west by the Kirthar Range
- Baluchistan Plateau is an arid tableland encircled by mountains.
Climate:
Pakistan has three seasons: winter (November-March) is warm and cooled by sea breezes on the coast, summer (April-July) has extreme temperatures, the monsoon season (July-September) has the highest rainfall on the hills.
Karachi has little rain. The best time to visit the south is between November and March, when the days are cool and clear.
The best time to visit northern Pakistan is from April to October.
The climate of Pakistan varies widely with topography, but is generally continental in type. In the mountain regions of the north and west, temperatures fall below freezing during the winter.
In the Indus Plain area, temperatures range between about 32C and 49C in summer; the winter average is about 13C. Most of Pakistan rainfall is scarce.
Islamabad
Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan since 1963, and Rawalpindi, are both located on the Pothowar Plain. The decision to build a new capital city in this area transformed the sleepy town of Rawalpindi into an important twin to Islamabad. Now Rawalpindi houses many of the civil servants working in the government district. The old part of the town boasts fine examples of local architecture and bazaars crammed into the narrow streets with craftsmen still using the traditional methods. Click here to continue
Karachi
The largest city in Pakistan, formerly the capital, is situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea near the mouth of the Indus. The capital of Sindh Province, it is now a modern industrial city and Pakistan's major port. Though not strictly a tourist centre there are a number of attractions, such as the fish wharf where brightly-coloured boats bring in seafood, one of the country's major foreign exchange earners. Click here to continue
Lahore
Lahore is a historic, bustling city with buildings of pink and white marble. There is plenty to see: bazaars, the Badshahi Mosque - one of the largest mosques in the whole world and an example of Moghul architecture rivalled only by the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, the beautiful Shalimar Gardens, the National Museum of Archaeology and the Gate of Chauburji. Click here to continue
Peshawar
Peshawar is the area of the Pashtuns or Pathans as they have come to be known in more recent times. Peshawar City is surrounded by high walls with 20 gates leading into it. Many of the tribesmen carry firearms, the normal adornment for a Pathan warrior. In the land of the Afridis is the Khyber Pass, a 1200m-high (3960ft) sheer rock wall separating Pakistan and Afghanistan. North of Peshawar in the Hindu Kush Mountains is the wild and beautiful area of Chitral, famous for the Kalash people, last of the pagan tribes of Kafiristan. This valley is noted for its hot springs and trout-filled rivers. Click here to continue
