Wikijunior:Asia/Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan, also known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Urdu: اِسلامی جمہوریہ پاكِستان), is a country in Southeast Asia. Pakistan is the 36th largest country in the world, covering approximately 307,374 square miles. Pakistan also hosts more than 243 million people!

Pakistan's current president is Asif Ali Zardari, the current prime minister is Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistan's capital is Islamabad. East Pakistan, which is now an independent country known as Bangladesh, achieved independence from Pakistan in 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War (March 1971 – December 16, 1971).

Formation

Pakistan separated from India and became an independent country on 14th August 1947. The main figure behind this move was a man named Mohammed Ali Jinnah (known as the "Father of Pakistan"). He was initially supportive of the Hindu-Muslim unity in India, but soon demanded a separate country for Muslims.

Where is Pakistan?

Pakistan lies along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman towards the south, bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west, Iran to the southwest and China towards the far northeast.

The Durand Line, which is 1,640 miles long, forms the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was established in an agreement with Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat and civil servant of British India, and Abdur Rahman Khan, the Afghan Amir (ruler), in 1893. The reason this agreement was made was because both nations wanted to improve trade and relationships with each other.

How many people live in Pakistan?

Over 243 million people live in Pakistan, and because of that, Pakistan is the 5th most populous place in the world! Pakistan has more males, making up 51.24% of the population, while women make up 48.50% of the population.

What are the most common languages in Pakistan?

Sample of writing of Urdu

The official languages of Pakistan are Urdu and English. There are a lot of regional languages that are spoken as well, such as Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi, Kashmiri, Brahui, Shina, Balti, Khowar, Dhatki, Marwari, Wakhi and Burushaski.

The script of Urdu is written right-to-left (like Arabic), but a person who speaks Hindi can easily converse with an Urdu-speaking person due to their similarities.

What is the most common religion in Pakistan?

Islam is the national state religion and about 98% of Pakistanis are Muslims. Islam has two major sects, Sunni and Shia. Shia Islam is practiced by 20% of the Muslims in Pakistan, while 70% of the remaining Muslim population are Sunnis. Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism are the other 3% percent. There are several mosques (a place of worship for Muslims) throughout Pakistan. Some famous mosques of Pakistan include the Faisal Mosque, which is located in Islamabad, and Masjid-e-Tooba in Karachi, Pakistan.

What sport is played in Pakistan?

Field hockey is the national sport of Pakistan; Pakistan's field hockey team won three gold medals during the 1960, 1968, and 1984 Olympic games. Pakistan also won the Hockey World Cup four times in 1971, 1978, 1982, and 1994.

Cricket is the most popular sport. Pakistan's cricket team won the World Cup in 1992. Under Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan, Pakistan defeated England by 22 runs in the final.

What are some important sights?

Kalash Valley is a historical site in the Chitral district of Pakistan, attracting many tourists due to its extensive history and majestic appearance. Kalash is a very old Greek civilization and the inhabitants of the valley were known as "the Kelash". The valley used to be the home to many ancient cultures. The inhabitants lived in small log villages, placed strategically along the hillsides for protection.
Shah Jahan Mosque is a mosque located in southern Pakistan. The mosque is known for its attractive architecture, which was designed by the Mughals. The mosque was built in 1647 AD by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The mosque was decorated with Turkish artwork and adorned with beautiful mosaic tiles and floorwork.
Mohenjodaro is the oldest civilization in the world. It was discovered in 1922 by R. D. Banerji. "Mohenjodaro" means "mound of the dead". Built-in 2600 BCE, Mohenjodaro attracts visitors due to its rich architecture and designs. The ruined civilization gives us a glimpse of the living standards of the people who used to live there. Unfortunately, a recent survey showed that Mohenjodaro will crumble in the next 20 years because of a lack of governmental care.
Lahore Fort, also known as Shahi Qila, is a fort located in northern Lahore. Lahore Fort is one of the most popular attractions, resembling the architecture of Agra Fort in India. Though the fort has gone through several renovations, the Mughals' influences are still apparent in its design. Lahore Fort contains a mosque, known as Moti Masjid.
The Shalimar Gardens (or Shalamar Gardens) is a beautiful garden located nearly 10 kilometers east of Lahore. Built in 1641 AD by Shah Jahan, the Shalimar Gardens were heavily used by the Mughals from the 16th century to the 19th century. In 1981, Shalimar Gardens was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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