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Pakistan (Urdu: پاکستان Pākistān), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia[5][6] and is at a pivotal location[7][8][9][10] at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia.[11][12][13][14] It has a 1,046 kilometre (650 mile) coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, and is bordered byAfghanistan and Iran in the west, the Republic of India in the east and the People's Republic of China in the far northeast.[15] Tajikistan also lies very close to Pakistan but is separated by the narrow Wakhan Corridor. In recent times, Pakistan has been called part of the Greater Middle East.[16]
The region forming modern Pakistan was home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and then, successively, recipient of ancient Vedic, Persian, Turco-Mongol, Indo-Greek and Islamiccultures. The area has witnessed invasions and/or settlement by the Aryans, Persians,Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Afghans, Mongols, Sikhs and the British.[17] In addition to the Indian independence movement (led by Mahatma Gandhi of the Indian National Congress) which demanded an independent India, the Pakistan Movement (led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah of theMuslim League) sought an independent state for the majority Muslim populations of the eastern and western regions of British India. In compulsion the British granted independence and also the creation of the Muslim majority state of Pakistan that comprised the provinces ofSindh, North-West Frontier Province, West Punjab, Balochistan and East Bengal. With the adoption of its constitution in 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic republic. In 1971, a civil warin East Pakistan resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. Pakistan's history has been characterized by periods of military rule and political instability.
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world and has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia.[18][19][20] It also has the second largest Shia Muslimpopulation in the world.[20] The country is listed among the Next Eleven economies, is a founding member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, G20 developing nations, Asia Cooperation Dialogue and the Economic Cooperation Organisation. It is also a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, World Trade Organisation, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, G33 developing countries, Group of 77 developing nations, major non-NATO ally of the United States and is anuclear state.
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Etymology
The name Pakistan (Urdu pronunciation: [paːkɪsˈtaːn] (
listen)) means Land of (the) Pure inUrdu and Persian (Farsi). It was coined in 1934 as Pakstan by Choudhary Rahmat Ali, who published it in his pamphlet Now or Never.[21] The name represented the "thirty million Muslims of PAKISTAN, who live in the five Northern Units of British Raj — Punjab, Afghania(also known as North-West Frontier Province), Kashmir, Sindh, and Balochistan."[22]
History
The Indus region, which covers a considerable amount of Pakistan, was the site of several ancient cultures including the Neolithic era Mehrgarh and the Bronze era Indus Valley Civilisation (2500 BCE – 1500 BCE) at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.[23]
Waves of conquerors and migrants from the west—including Harappan, Indo-Aryan, Persian, Greek, Saka,Parthian, Kushan, Hephthalite, Afghan, Arab, Turkics and Mughal—settled in the region through out the centuries, influencing the locals and being absorbed among them.[24] Ancient empires of the east—such as the Nandas, Mauryas, Sungas, and the Palas—ruled these territories at different times from Patliputra.
However, in the medieval period, while the eastern provinces of Punjab and Sindh grew aligned with Indo-Islamic civilisation, the western areas became culturally allied with the Iranian civilisation of Afghanistan andIran.[25] The region served as crossroads of historic trade routes, including the Silk Road, and as a maritime entreport for the coastal trade between Mesopotamia and beyond up to Rome in the west and Malabar and beyond up to China in the east.
The Indus Valley Civilisation collapsed in the middle of the second millennium BCE and was followed by the Vedic Civilisation, which also extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Successive ancient empires and kingdoms ruled the region: theAchaemenid Persian empire[26] around 543 BCE, Greek empire founded by Alexander the Great[27] in 326 BCE and the Mauryan empire there after. The Indo-Greek Kingdomfounded by Demetrius of Bactria included Gandhara and Punjab from 184 BCE, and reached its greatest extent under Menander, establishing the Greco-Buddhist period with advances in trade and culture. The city of Taxila (Takshashila) became a major centre of learning in ancient times—the remains of the city, located to the west of Islamabad, are one of the country's major archaeological sites. The Rai Dynasty (c.489–632) of Sindh, at its zenith, ruled this region and the surrounding territories. In 712 CE, the Arab generalMuhammad bin Qasim[28] conquered Sindh and Multan in southern Punjab. The Pakistan government's official chronology states that "its foundation was laid" as a result of this conquest.[29] This Arab and Islamic victory would set the stage for several successive Muslim empires in South Asia, including the Ghaznavid Empire, the Ghorid Kingdom, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. During this period, Sufi missionaries played a pivotal role in converting a majority of the regional Buddhist and Hindu population to Islam.
The gradual decline of the Mughal Empire in the early eighteenth century provided opportunities for theAfghans, Balochis and Sikhs to exercise control over large areas until the British East India Company[30]gained ascendancy over South Asia. The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny, was the region's last major armed struggle against the British Raj, and it laid the foundations for the generally unarmed freedom struggle led by the Indian National Congress in the twentieth century. In the 1920s and 1930, a movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, and displaying commitment to ahimsa, or non-violence, millions of protesters engaged in mass campaigns of civil disobedience.[31] In early 1947, Britain announced the end of its rule in India. The All India Muslim League rose to popularity in the late 1930s amid fears of under-representation and neglect of Muslims in politics. On 29 December 1930, Allama Iqbal's presidential address called for an autonomous "state in northwestern India for Indian Muslims, within the body politic of India."[32] Muhammad Ali Jinnah espoused the Two Nation Theory and led the Muslim League to adopt theLahore Resolution of 1940, popularly known as the Pakistan Resolution. In June 1947, the nationalist leaders of British India—including Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad on behalf of the Congress, Jinnah representing the Muslim League and Master Tara Singh representing the Sikhs—agreed to the proposed terms of transfer of power and independence. The modern state of Pakistan was established on 14 August 1947 (27 Ramadan 1366 in theIslamic Calendar), carved out of the two Muslim-majority wings in the eastern and northwestern regions of British India and comprising the provinces of Balochistan, East Bengal, the North-West Frontier Province, West Punjab and Sindh. The controversial division of the provinces of Punjab and Bengal caused communal riots across India and Pakistan—millions of Muslims moved to Pakistan and millions of Hindus andSikhs moved to India. Disputes arose over several princely states including Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir, whose Hindu ruler had acceded to India following an invasion by Pashtun tribal militias, leading to the First Kashmir War in 1948.
From 1947 to 1956, Pakistan was a Dominion in the Commonwealth of Nations. It became a Republic in 1956, but the civilian rule was stalled by acoup d’état by General Ayub Khan, who was president during 1958–69, a period of internal instability and a second war with India in 1965. His successor, Yahya Khan (1969–71) had to deal with a devastating cyclone—which caused 500,000 deaths in East Pakistan—and also face a civil war in 1971. Economic grievances and political dissent in East Pakistan led to violent political tension and military repression that escalated into a civil war.[33] After nine months of guerrilla warfare between Pakistan Army and the Bengali Mukti Bahini militia backed by India, later Indian intervention escalated into the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and ultimately to the secession of East Pakistan as the independent state of Bangladesh.[34]
Civilian rule resumed in Pakistan from 1972 to 1977 under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, until he was deposed and later sentenced to death in 1979 by General Zia-ul-Haq, who became the country's third military president. Zia introduced the Islamic Sharia legal code, which increased religious influences on the civil service and the military. With the death of President Zia in a plane crash in 1988, Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was elected as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan. Over the next decade, she fought for power withNawaz Sharif as the country's political and economic situation worsened. Pakistan got involved in the 1991 Gulf War and sent 5,000 troops as part of a U.S.-led coalition, specifically for the defence of Saudi Arabia.[35] Military tensions in the Kargil conflict[36] with India were followed by aPakistani military coup d'état in 1999[37] in which General Pervez Musharraf assumed vast executive powers. In 2001, Musharraf becamePresident after the controversial resignation of Rafiq Tarar. After the 2002 parliamentary elections, Musharraf transferred executive powers to newly-elected Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who was succeeded in the 2004 prime-ministerial election by Shaukat Aziz. On 15 November 2007 the National Assembly completed its tenure and new elections were called. The exiled political leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were permitted to return to Pakistan. However, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto during the election campaign in December led to postponement of elections and nationwide riots. Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won the most number of seats in the elections held in February 2008 and its member Yousaf Raza Gillani was sworn in as Prime Minister.[38] On 18 August 2008, Pervez Musharaff resigned from the presidency when faced with impeachment.[39] More than 3 million Pakistani civilians have been displaced by the conflict in North-West Pakistan between the government and Taliban militants.[40]
Government and politics
 National Symbols of Pakistan[41] | |
|---|---|
| Flag | Flag of Pakistan |
| Emblem | Faith, Unity, Discipline |
| Anthem | Qaumi Tarana |
| Animal | Markhor |
| Bird | Chukar |
| Flower | Jasmine |
| Tree | Cedrus deodara |
| Juice | Sugarcane juice |
| Sport | Field hockey |
| Dress | Shalwar Kameez |
The first Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956, but was suspended in 1958 by General Ayub Khan. The Constitution of 1973—suspended in 1977, by Zia-ul-Haq, but re-instated in 1985—is the country's most important document, laying the foundations of the current government.[24] Pakistan is a semi-presidential federal democratic republic with Islam as the state religion.[42] The bicamerallegislature comprises a 100-member Senate and a 342-member National Assembly. The President is the Head of State and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and is elected by an electoral college. The prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly. Each province has a similar system of government with a directly elected Provincial Assembly in which the leader of the largest party or alliance becomes Chief Minister. Provincial Governors are appointed by the President.[42]
The Pakistani military has played an influential role in mainstream politics throughout Pakistan's history, with military presidents ruling from 1958–71, 1977–88 and from 1999–2008.[43] The leftistPakistan Peoples Party, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, won support after the loss of East Pakistan but was overthrown amidst riots in 1977.[44] Under the military rule of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, during the 1980s, the anti-feudal, pro-MuhajirMuttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was started by unorthodox and educated urban dwellers of Sindh and particularly Karachi. The 1990s were characterized by coalition politics dominated by the Pakistan Peoples Party and a rejuvenated Muslim League.[42]
Pakistan is an active member of the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the latter of which Pakistan has used as a forum for Enlightened Moderation, a plan to promote arenaissance and enlightenment in the Muslim world.[42] Pakistan is also a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO).[42] In the past, Pakistan has had mixed relations with the United States; in the early 1950s, Pakistan was the United States' "most allied ally in Asia"[45] and a member of both the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s Pakistan was a major U.S. ally. But relations soured in the 1990s, when sanctions were imposed by the U.S. over Pakistan's refusal to abandon its nuclear activities.[46] However, the 11 September 2001 attacks and the subsequent War on Terrorism led to an improvement in U.S.–Pakistan ties, especially after Pakistan ended its support of the Taliban regime in Kabul. This was evidenced by a major increase in American military aid, providing Pakistan $4 billion more in three years after the 9/11 attacks than before.[47]
On 18 February 2008, Pakistan held its general elections after Benazir Bhutto's assassination postponed the original date of 8 January 2008.[48] The Pakistan Peoples Party won the majority of the votes and formed an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League (N). They nominated and elected Yousaf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister of Pakistan.[49] On 18 August 2008, Pervez Musharraf resigned as President of Pakistan amidst increasing calls for his impeachment.[50] In the presidential election that followed, Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan People's Party won by a landslide majority and became President of Pakistan.[51]
Subdivisions
Pakistan is a federation of four provinces, a capital territory and federally administered tribal areas. The government of Pakistan exercises de facto jurisdiction over the western parts of the disputed Kashmir region,[15] organized as two separate political entities (Azad Kashmir andNorthern Areas)
| Provinces: | Territories:
|
- Balochistan and NWFP also have Provincially Administered Tribal Areas.[52](PATA)
The third tier of government was composed of 26 divisions with two further tiers (districts and tehsils) administered directly from the provincial level. The divisions were abolished in 2001[53] and a new three-tiered system of local government came into effect comprising districts, tehsils and union councils with an elected body at each tier. There are currently 107 districts in Pakistan proper, each with several tehsils and union councils. The tribal areas comprise seven tribal agencies and six small frontier regions detached from neighbouring districts whilst Azad Kashmir comprises seven districts and Northern Areas comprises six districts.[54]
Demographics
The estimated population of Pakistan in 2009 was over 180,800,000[1] [55] making it the world's sixth most-populous country, behind Brazil and ahead of Russia. By the year 2020, the country's population is expected to reach 208 million, owing to a relatively high growth rate.[56] About 20 % of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.[57] Population projections for Pakistan are relatively difficult because of the differences in the accuracy of each census and the inconsistencies between various surveys related to the fertility rate, but it is likely that the rate of growth peaked in the 1980s and has since declined significantly.[58] Pakistan also has a high infant mortality rate of 70 per thousand births.[59]
The majority of southern Pakistan's population lives along the Indus River. By population size, Karachi is the biggest city of Pakistan. In the northern half, most of the population lives about an arc formed by the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sargodha andSheikhupura. In the past, the country's population had a relatively high growth rate that has, however, been moderated by declining fertility and birth rates. Dramatic social changes have led to rapid urbanization and the emergence of megacities. During 1990-2003, Pakistan sustained its historical lead as the most urbanized nation in South Asia, with city dwellers making up 34% of its population.[60] Pakistan has a multicultural and multi-ethnic society and hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world as well as a young population. Approximately 1.7 million Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan.[61] Nearly half of this population actually was born and grew up in Pakistan during the last 30 years, so they have never seen Afghanistan.[62][63] They are not counted in the national census, even the ones born in Pakistan, because they are still considered citizens of Afghanistan. About 8 millionMuhajirs—then roughly one-fourth of the country’s population—arrived from India after the independence in 1947.[64]
| Rank | City | Province | Population | Rank | City | Province | Population |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karachi | Sindh | 12,827,927 | 11 | Sargodha | Punjab | 586,922 | |
| 2 | Lahore | Punjab | 6,936,563 | 12 | Bahawalpur | Punjab | 530,438 | |
| 3 | Faisalabad | Punjab | 2,793,721 | 13 | Sialkot | Punjab | 502,721 | |
| 4 | Rawalpindi | Punjab | 1,933,933 | 14 | Sukkur | Sindh | 476,776 | |
| 5 | Multan | Punjab | 1,566,932 | 15 | Larkana | Sindh | 435,817 | |
| 6 | Hyderabad | Sindh | 1 536 398 | 16 | Shekhupura | Punjab | 411,834 | |
| 7 | Gujranwala | Punjab | 1,526,168 | 17 | Jhang | Punjab | 365,198 | |
| 8 | Peshawar | NWFP | 1,390,874 | 18 | Mardan | NWFP | 340,898 | |
| 9 | Quetta | Balochistan | 859,973 | 19 | Rahim Yar Khan | Punjab | 340,810 | |
| 10 | Islamabad | Capital Territory | 673,766 | 20 | Gujrat | Punjab | 328,512 |
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