Guide to Pakistan

Pakistan, the "Land of the Spiritually Clean and Pure," owes its name to Chaudhry Rahmat Ali, a student at Cambridge University. The country's earliest civilizations, dating back to the 2500-1500 BC, built impressive cities and counted with a sophisticated system of government. The Aryans, Mauryas and others soon arrived to spread religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, which mixed with the Greek culture brought by Alexander the Great. In 711, Arab general Mohammed bin Qasim and his cavalrymen brought the religion of Islam, which would lead to the establishment of an Islamic government and a Muslim ruling class.

The Mughal emperors' power, would be tested by the arrival of the British in the 17th century, initially to conduct business through the British East India Company and gradually installing imperial rule. As demands for self-government increased in the 20th century, this rule began to wane. Two Pakistanis, Allama Mohammed Iqbal and Mohammed Ali Jinnah, are credited with strengthening the movement towards Pakistan's independence after they proposed the creation of a separate Muslim state in the eastern and northwestern regions of British India, where a majority of the population was Muslim. This plan fueled tensions between Pakistanis and Indians, yet was implemented when the British agreed to the creation of two independent states out of the dissolution of a single empire. As a result, the number of Hindus that moved from modern-day Pakistan to India, added to the number of Muslims who moved to their new homeland, created the largest mass migration in recent times.

Such monumental events so relatively recently have shaped the Pakistan of today. Even more so than in most other countries, Pakistan's history is still seen in every aspect of life.

Capital City: The northern city of Islamabad was built in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the country's capital. Home to the Faisal Mosque, the largest mosque in South Asia and the sixth largest in the world, this suburban city of broad avenues and grassy areas boasts a rich cultural heritage. The importance of academic institutions in the city is exemplified by the presence of prestigious universities, the recent expansion in information and communications technology, and high literacy rates. The city also serves as a base to most state-owned and international companies. This socioeconomic pedigree, combined with excellent transportation links, has drawn migrants both from Pakistan and abroad to settle in Islamabad.

Government: The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a parliamentary federal republic with President Asif Ali Zardari acting as chief of state and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as head of government since 2008. A bicameral parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) consists of the Senate and the National Assembly. Only Muslims less than 45 years of age are qualified to contest the presidential election.

Culture: Pakistani culture is dominated by a strong sense of nationalism as well as traditional Islamic values. However, the arrival of Afghan refugees as well as India's proximity have brought international influences, which partly explains Bollywood's popularity in the country. American, European and Asian television channels and films are also available. Given the variety of languages and subcultures spread throughout the country, a rich and diverse literary tradition has been established, with short stories and poetry gaining special recognition. From the British, moreover, Pakistan has inherited the love for field hockey and cricket.

Pakistani Media

Daily Jang: Largest daily newspaper, Urdu-language Dawn: largest-circulation English-language daily paper Pakistan Television Corporation Ltd: state television network                               Radio Pakistan: public national radio network

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