Pakistan. Economic and geographical position

Pakistan(Urdu پاکِستان - "land of the pure", English Pakistan [ˈpækɪsˌtæn]), the full name is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Urdu اسلامی جمہوریہ پاکِستان Islami Jumhuriye Pakistan, English Islamic Republic of Pakistan) is a state in South Asia. Pakistan came into existence in 1947 as a result of the division of British India.

It is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea in the south, borders on Iran in the southwest, Afghanistan in the northwest and north, China in the northeast and India in the east. Land borders: India - 2912 km, Afghanistan - 2430 km, Iran - 909 km, China - 523 km.

Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world and has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia. Pakistan is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, World trade organization, observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, member developing countries G33, Group of 77 developing countries.

History

ancient period

In the III-II millennium BC. e. on the territory of Pakistan was the center of one of the oldest civilizations in the history of mankind - the Harappan. In I millennium BC. e. Aryans settled in Pakistan. After the campaigns of Alexander the Great, the spirit of Hellenism penetrates into Western Indian cities (such as Taxila). A powerful Kushan kingdom is formed - the first center of the spread of Buddhism.

From the 8th century A.D. e. Islam began to spread throughout the country. In the Middle Ages, large Muslim states were formed, headed by the Ghaznavids and the Ghurids. After the collapse of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century, there was an upsurge of Sikh nationalism in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab.

colonial period

In the XIX century, the territory of Pakistan was captured by British troops and included in British India.

One of the spiritual founders of the state was the poet Iqbal, head of the Muslim League, an organization of leaders of separatist tendencies. It was Iqbal who proposed in 1930 to create an independent Muslim state, which would include Punjab, Sindh, the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan. The name for the state was proposed back in 1933 by a Muslim student Chaudhury Rahmat Ali, who studied at Cambridge. Pakistan literally means "country of the pure", it is an acronym: "P" is from Punjab, "A" is from Afghans from the border (i.e. NWFP Pashtuns), "K" is from Kashmir, "S" is from Sindh, and "tan - from Balochistan. On March 23, 1940, the historic Pakistani Resolution was adopted in Lahore, which proclaimed the principles for the existence of a Muslim community in an independent state.

Modern period

In 1947, during the division of British India, thanks to the efforts of the Muslim League, the state of Pakistan was formed, which included the northeastern and northwestern regions of Hindustan, predominantly with a Muslim population. The first governor-general of Pakistan as an independent administrative unit was Jinnah, the first prime minister of the country was Liaquat Ali Khan. In 1971, East Pakistan becomes the independent state of Bangladesh.

In 1965 and 1971, Pakistan waged wars with India. In 1977 there was a military coup. During this period, Pakistan was on the side of the United States and supported the Mujahideen, who waged an anti-government war in neighboring Afghanistan. Mujahideen training camps were located in Pakistan. After the death of President Zia-ul-Haq in a plane crash on August 17, 1988, power passed to a civilian government.

Acting President Ghulam Ishaq Khan called new parliamentary elections, in which the Pakistan People's Party won a relative majority. Benazir Bhutto became the country's prime minister. The new government returned democratic rights and freedoms and lifted the state of emergency. Nevertheless, the situation in the country continued to deteriorate, and armed clashes broke out in Sindh. In August, the Bhutto government was dismissed.

After the elections, Nawaz Sharif became the new prime minister.

In the 1990s, Pakistan's nuclear program developed under the leadership of Abdul Qadeer Khan, which caused the US to impose sanctions against Pakistan. In 1999, a military coup took place, General Pervez Musharraf came to power.

Since the early 2000s, Pakistan's northwestern region of Waziristan has been a stronghold of the Taliban. In 2004, the Taliban seized de facto power in the region.

After September 11, 2001, Pakistan officially ended its support for the Taliban regime and supported the US intervention against the Taliban.

On February 18, 2008, general elections were held in Pakistan, which were postponed from January 8, 2008 due to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. In the elections, the Pakistan People's Party won the majority of the vote and formed an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League. On August 18, 2008, Pervez Musharraf resigned as President of Pakistan under threat of impeachment. In the presidential elections that followed, Pakistan People's Party candidate Asif Ali Zardari won and became President of Pakistan.

As of June 2009, the territories of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan are almost not controlled by the authorities of this state. On May 7, 2009, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani announced that he had ordered the army to eliminate the terrorists. Fights began with the use of aircraft, tanks and artillery in order to capture the administrative center of the Swat district - the city of Mingora.

Political structure

Pakistan is a federal republic consisting of 4 provinces (Punjab, Sindh, North-West Frontier and Balochistan). In addition to the provinces, Pakistan also includes the Northern Territories and Free Kashmir (recognized by Pakistan as an independent state, but actually a part of it), disputed by India.

Constitution

The first constitution of Pakistan was adopted on March 23, 1956. The constitution stipulated that the President of the country must be a Muslim. This article was also preserved in the constitution of 1962, which was in force under Ayub Khan.

In 1972, a new constitution was adopted, which was in effect until 1977, when a military coup led by General Zia-ul-Haq was carried out, after which its operation was suspended until 1985.

According to the Constitution, Pakistan is a mixed federal democratic republic. Islam is the state religion of the country.

executive power

The head of state is the president, elected by the federal parliament (upper house (Senate) and lower house (National Assembly) for a term of 5 years.

The President of Pakistan is and has the following powers:

• is the head of the executive branch, part of the legislative branch;
• is the supreme commander armed forces country
• has the right to pardon, annul and commute the sentence of any court
• makes appointments:
  prime minister government members
  provincial governors
  members of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Supreme Courts of the provinces
  Chairman of the Civil Service Commission
  Chief Commissioner for Elections and Members of the Electoral Commission
  top military leaders.

The government, approved by the president, is formed and led by the prime minister, who usually represents the majority party or coalition in the National Assembly. The Prime Minister must be a Muslim and is appointed by the President from among the members of the National Assembly. The prime minister must enjoy the confidence of the majority of his deputies. On his advice, the president appoints ministers. The government develops bills and submits them to parliament for discussion.

After parliamentary elections in 2008, Yusuf Reza Gilani was approved as the new prime minister on March 24.

Legislature

The Senate consists of 100 members elected by the deputies of the lower house of the federal parliament and the provincial legislatures under the majoritarian scheme. The term of office of the Senate is 6 years. One third of the Senate is renewed every 2 years. The National Assembly consists of 342 deputies, 272 of whom are elected by the population by direct secret ballot under the proportional representation system for a term of 5 years. 60 seats are given to women, 10 seats are reserved for representatives of religious minorities.

Judicial branch

Legal branch state power represented by the Supreme Court (whose members are appointed by the president) and the federal Islamic Sharia Court.

The President and members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President. The Supreme Court hears disputes between central and provincial governments, as well as between provinces. The Pakistan Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in cases involving questions of law related to the interpretation of the constitution when we are talking on capital punishment, etc., gives opinions on issues of law submitted for consideration by the president, exercises control over the observance of the fundamental rights of citizens, decides on the constitutionality of certain actions government agencies and about their legitimacy.

The provinces have their own High Courts, and their presidents and members are appointed by the president. The lower courts (from local to district) are divided into criminal and civil and are appointed by the provincial governors.

During the reign of Zia-ul-Haq, the Federal Sharia Court was also created, which decided whether the laws corresponded to the canons of Islamic law.

Geographical position

Pakistan is located in the northwest of South Asia, stretching from the southwest to the northeast for 1500 km. Within Pakistan, three orographic regions can be distinguished - the flat east, the mid-mountain west and the high-mountain north. In the south, the territory of Pakistan is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea, which forms low, slightly indented coasts.

Relief

The alluvial lowland of the Indus Valley is the western part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, located on the outskirts of the Hindustan platform. It lies almost entirely below 200 m and is distinguished by a uniform, monotonous relief with small slopes. Most of the lowland along the left bank of the Indus is occupied by the Thar Desert. The western and northwestern parts of Pakistan are occupied by the outlying ridges of the Iranian Highlands - Makran, Kirthar, Chagai, Tobakakar, Suleiman Mountains, which are almost parallel chains of mountains up to 3452 m high. The slopes of the ridges facing the Arabian Sea and the Indo-Gangetic Plain are steep ; the opposite ones, descending to the plateaus of Balochistan, are gentle. Within Balochistan, high (up to 3000 m), relatively leveled areas alternate with intermountain basins, dissected by numerous dry riverbeds. The most powerful mountain ranges with deeply dissected river valleys and covered with large glaciers are located in the extreme north of Pakistan and belong to the mountain systems of the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas and the Karakorum. The latter is located in the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir. The highest points of the country are the city of Tirichmir (7690 m) in the Hindu Kush and the city of Chogori (8611 m) in the Karakoram. On the territory of Pakistan there are about 40 peaks exceeding 7000 meters. All mountainous regions of Pakistan belong to the young Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt. The most important minerals are oil, gas, and coal, confined to the sedimentary complexes on the outskirts of the Hindustan platform, and ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores in folded areas.

Climate

The climate in Pakistan is dry continental tropical, in the northwest - subtropical, in the mountains in the north of the country - more humid with a pronounced altitudinal zonality. Winter on the plain is warm (12-16 °C, on the coast up to 20 °C), in the highlands it is severe (up to −20 °C). Summer is hot (35°C in the deserts, 29°C on the coast, 20-25°C in the mountains and plateaus of the Iranian Highlands), frosty in the highlands (below 0°C at altitudes from 5000 m). Precipitation per year varies from 50 mm in the Thar Desert to 100-200 mm in Sindh, 250-400 mm in the valleys and on the plateaus of the Iranian Highlands, 350-500 mm in the foothills and 1000-1500 mm in the mountains in the north of the country. Most of the precipitation falls during the southwestern monsoon (in July - September), within the Iranian Highlands - in the winter-spring period.

Hydrology

The largest river in Pakistan is the Indus, whose basin covers most of the country. The rivers in the west are either endorheic or have a local discharge into the Arabian Sea. The main tributary of the Indus is the Sutlej, which collects water from the main rivers of the Punjab (Chinab, Ravi, Jelam, Bias) and gives water to large irrigation canals (Dipalpur, Pakpattan, Panjnad). On large rivers, there is a summer flood due to monsoon rains and melting of glaciers in the mountains.

Vegetation

The vegetation of Pakistan is predominantly semi-desert and desert, the most sparse is in the Thar Desert, where sandy ridges predominate, semi-fixed by xerophytic shrubs (acacia, calligonum ...) and hard grasses. On the Indus Plain, natural vegetation is semi-deserts and deserted savannas (chiy, wormwood, capers, astragalus ...), along the Indus and other rivers - strips of tugai, in the Indus Delta and along the coast of the Arabian Sea - in some places mangroves. Semi-desert formations of thorny cushion-like shrubs are widespread in the Iranian Highlands, and rare thickets of pistachio and juniper are found in the mountains of Balochistan. In the mountains in the north of the country at an altitude of 1500-3000 m there are separate areas of deciduous (oak, chestnut) and coniferous (spruce, fir, pine, Himalayan cedar) forests. In the valleys near the villages there are plantations of date palms, citrus fruits, olives, orchards. Mulberry plantations are frequent along irrigation canals.

Animal world

The fauna of Pakistan is represented by Indo-African, Central Asian and Mediterranean species. Of the large mammals in the mountains, there are leopard, snow leopard, brown and white-breasted bear, fox, wild goats and rams, Persian gazelle; on the plains there are hyenas, jackals, wild boars, antelopes, gazelles, kulans, wild donkeys, numerous rodents. The world of birds is diverse (eagles, vultures, peacocks, parrots). Many snakes, including poisonous ones, crocodiles are found in the Indus. Of the invertebrates, scorpions, ticks, and malarial mosquitoes are common. The Arabian Sea is rich in fish (tuna, herring, sea bass, Indian salmon), crustaceans (shrimp) and sea turtles.

Economy

Pakistan is an industrial-agrarian country with a diversified economy. Agriculture continues to play a large role in the country's economy and occupies 20.8% of the total GNP, although industry is actively developing and already accounts for 24.3% of the GNP (in 2009). At the same time, 43% of workers are employed in agriculture, and 20% in industry. The unemployment rate is 15.2% (in 2009).

It is characterized by a high dependence on weather conditions, on which industries such as agriculture, the textile industry, hydropower, and water transport directly depend.

In Pakistan, spatial differences in the economy are pronounced, due to the combined action of various factors. There are 4 historical-geographical regions, in territorial terms closely coinciding with the administrative provinces - Punjab, Sind, Balochistan and the North-Western Frontier Province, including the latter tribal areas. The Punjab stands out most for its agricultural production; up to 2/3 of wheat, cotton and sugar cane are produced here.

In the 2000s, Pakistan's economy showed a steady the economic growth approximately 7% per year.

GDP growth of Pakistan in 2005 fiscal year(ended June 30, 2005) was 8.4%. Two-thirds of Pakistani exports are made up of textile and clothing products. The main agricultural crops are cotton and wheat.

The government of Pervez Musharraf pursued a relatively liberal economic policy, behind last years several large banks, the largest telecommunications company and a number of others were privatized.

International trade

Exports ($21.1 billion in 2008) - textiles, rice, leather goods, carpets.

The main buyers are the USA 16.1%, the UAE 11.7%, Afghanistan 8.6%, the UK 4.5%, China 4.2%.

Imports ($38.2 billion in 2008) - oil, oil products, machinery, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel, tea.

The main suppliers are China 14.3%, Saudi Arabia 12.2%, UAE 11.3%, Kuwait 5.5%, USA 4.8%.

Currency

The Pakistani Rupee (PRe, PRs) is subdivided into 100 Paise. Banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 rupee, as well as coins in denominations of 2 and 1 rupee, 50, 25 and 10 paise are in circulation.

Population

Pakistan is one of the most populous countries in the world (174.6 million people, 6th in the world - July 2009 estimate). According to some forecasts, with current trends, by 2020 the population of Pakistan could reach more than 200 million people.

The bulk of the population lives in the Indus Valley. The largest cities of Pakistan are located in the eastern part of the country (Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, etc.). Urban population countries - 36% (in 2008).

Ethnic composition: Punjabis 44.7%, Pashtuns 15.4%, Sindhis 14.1%, Saryaks 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Baluchis 3.6%, etc. (6.3%).

The majority of believers - 95% - are Muslims: (Sunnis 75%, Shiites 20%), 5% are Christians and Hindus.

Nearly 50% of the population is literate (63% of men and 36% of women, 2005 est.).

Languages

The official languages ​​are Urdu and English; approximately 38% of the population speaks Punjabi, 16% Pashto, 12% Sindhi, and 7% Urdu.

Religion

Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in the world and the second largest Shia Muslim. 96% of the population is Muslim, of which 75% are Sunnis and 20% are Shiites.

The confessional composition of the population:
Muslims - 173,000,000 (96%).
Hindus - 3,200,000 (1.85%)
Christians - 2,800,000 (1.6%)
Sikhs - 20,000 (0.001%)
as well as Parsis, Ahmadiyya, Buddhists, Jews, Baha'is and Animists

Armed forces

The armed forces of Pakistan are the sixth largest in the world. This includes the ground forces, navy, air force and semi-army formations involved in the settlement of local conflicts.

The army in Pakistan has always had great influence in the country. Generals often moved to high positions in the civil administration, actively participated in political events countries, declared a state of emergency and established control over the government. The latest example of this kind is the 1999 military coup led by Pervez Musharraf.

The Pakistan Army took part in three major conflicts with India (1947, 1965 and 1971), in the Kargil War. During the Afghan war of 1979-1989, Pakistan supported the Taliban, who were waging an anti-government war in Afghanistan, and their training camps were located here.

culture

The culture of Pakistan is based on the Muslim heritage, but also includes the pre-Islamic traditions of the peoples of the Indian subcontinent. A hundred years of British domination also had a serious impact on it. In recent decades, especially among young people, the influence of American culture has also been noticeable: Hollywood films, American video games, cartoons, comics, books, as well as fashion (wearing jeans and baseball caps), fast food, drinks, etc. are popular.

Music

In music and dance, local trends observed in Punjab, North West Frontier Province, Sindh and Balochistan differ sharply from those characteristic of the Urdu-speaking Pakistani community. In the first case, there is an emphasis on folk songs and dances, while in Urdu culture this motif receded into the background. The reason lies mainly in the fact that most of the country's speakers of this language belong to the Muhajirs, who have lost their root ties with their native places in India. The Arts Council of Pakistan aims to maintain the sustainability of regional styles in dance, music, sculpture and painting.

Holidays

Pakistan Day (March 23) - on this day in 1940 the Lahore Resolution was adopted
Iqbal Day (April 21) is the birthday of the national poet Muhammad Iqbal
End day of Ramadan
Eid-i Milad (May 25) - Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed
Eid ul-Azha (March 23-24) - a holiday on the occasion of the pilgrimage to Mecca
Independence Day (August 14)
Birthday of Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan (December 25)
New Year

Sport

The most common sports in Pakistan are football, field hockey, tennis, table tennis, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, golf, polo, swimming, squash, baseball and cricket.

Cricket

The most popular sport in the country is cricket. The national cricket team of Pakistan is one of the strongest in the world and is fighting for leadership in international competitions with rivals from the UK, Australia, and India. In 1992, Pakistan managed to win the Cricket World Cup. A special national committee has been set up to guide and oversee the development of cricket.

Field hockey

Of the Olympic sports, field hockey is by far the most successful in Pakistan. Of their 10 Olympic medals in history, Pakistanis won 8 in men's field hockey, including all gold and silver. Three times (1960, 1968 and 1984) Pakistanis became Olympic champions, won silver three times (1956, 1964, 1972) and twice bronze (1976 and 1992). Thus, from 1956 to 1984, Pakistan won awards at all 7 Olympics in which it took part (Pakistan boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow). It was Pakistan in 1960 in Rome that managed to break India's winning streak, which won gold at 6 Olympics in a row (in the final, Pakistan beat India 1-0). Bronze hockey players at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona remains on this moment the last Olympic award for the Pakistanis. Freestyle wrestler Mohammad Bashir (bronze in 1960) and boxer Syed Hussain Shah (bronze in 1988) brought Pakistan two more Olympic awards.

Interesting Facts

Economic- geographical position Pakistan

The official name of the state - the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is located in South Asia within the Hindustan peninsula.

Land borders of the country pass with India, Afghanistan, Iran, China.

Among these countries, China and India are fairly developed Asian states, with the exception of developing Iran and undeveloped and poor Afghanistan.

In the south, the country is washed by the Arabian Sea.

Land routes passing through this Islamic republic connect it with European and Asian countries, and the world's largest cargo flows from the Persian Gulf countries go through the Arabian Sea.

In economic and geographical terms, this is an important geopolitical advantage of the country, because it is the transit of energy resources through its territory.

From a geographical point of view, the position of Pakistan, located near the energy resources of the Persian Gulf, makes this position extremely significant for the PRC with its rapidly developing economy.

For Pakistan, the most important economic factor. The country receives the machinery and equipment necessary for modernization from China, sending in turn raw materials and agricultural products.

Remark 1

If we consider Pakistan in terms of economic structure and income level, then it will be much closer to the countries of East and Southeast Asia than to other countries of Hindustan.

The US military presence is increasing in the region, with military bases deployed in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

A rapidly developing India claims dominance in South Asia and is gradually moving closer to the United States. These circumstances near the Chinese borders cause him concern, therefore, in order to contain India, China is relying on Pakistan.

The main export commodities for the country are cotton fabrics, knitwear, bed linen, rice, towels, cement, jewelry.

There are great potential opportunities to increase the export of cotton, milk, wheat, rice, and meat.

Pakistan's main partners are the United States and the countries of the European Union.

As a result of the granting of independence to British India in 1947, it was divided into two states according to the religious communal principle - India and Pakistan. The side was not satisfied with such a division, because the industrially backward regions were transferred to Pakistan.

Pakistan until 1971 consisted of two completely separate parts - West Pakistan and East Pakistan.

The war that arose between the countries led to the separation of East Pakistan, in the place of which the independent state of Bangladesh was formed.

For more than 50 years, the conflict between India and Pakistan over the issue of Kashmir has been going on, and in 1947-1948. countries were on the brink of war.

Remark 2

With the mediation of the UN in 1972, a demarcation line was drawn. The southeastern regions of Kashmir remained under Indian administration, while the rest of the territory is under the control of Pakistan.

At a low level economic development Pakistan occupies a favorable geographical position, being at the crossroads of transport routes between west and east.

The close location of the country to the resources of the Persian Gulf and access to the Arabian Sea allow developing economic ties not only with the countries of this region, but also with African and European states.

Natural conditions of Pakistan

The relief of Pakistan is represented by large orographic areas - the Indus Plain, as well as mountains and uplands of the Iranian Highlands, the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas.

At the site of the Indus Plain, there was once a foredeep, and today large stocks hydrocarbons. The plain stretches from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea for 1200 km.

This alluvial plain of the tropical belt with a uniform flat relief is located below 200 m. Three parts are distinguished in it:

1. Punjdab in the north, formed by the five tributaries of the Indus;
2. Sind - the second part in the middle and lower reaches of the Indus;
3. Thar is a desert to the east of Sind with dunes, dunes, sandy ridges.

The Hindu Kush ranges with the peak of Tirichmir (7690 m) enter Pakistan in the north, and the western spurs of the Himalayas enter from the northeast side.

In the west of the country there are plateaus and mountains of Balochistan, which are part of the Iranian highlands, with altitudes of 2000-2500 m. Frequent natural disasters are associated with the mountains - avalanches, mudflows, rockfalls, glacial surges. There are seismically dangerous areas.

Monsoons have a strong influence on the country's climate. Most of the territory is located in the tropical climate zone, the north-west of the country lies in the dry subtropical zone, and only in the mountains does it become more humid.

The average January temperature on the plains is +12.5…+17.5 degrees, and in July +30…+35 degrees.

Frosts occur in the mountains even in the summer months. Precipitation falls unevenly - less than 200 mm in Balochistan and the Indus Valley, less than 100 mm in the Thar Desert, in the north-west of the country their amount increases to 1000 mm, and in Sindh no more than 125 mm.

During the summer monsoon period, the maximum amount of precipitation occurs. Droughts are typical for flat territories, because 15-20 times more moisture evaporates than falls.

Natural Resources of Pakistan

In the depths of Pakistan lie minerals of sedimentary origin - hydrocarbons, rock salt, coal.

Gas reserves were explored back in 1952 in Balochistan, and then in Punjab and Sindh.

Oil fields were discovered before the First World War, and today there are 7 fields in operation.

Coal deposits in terms of reserves are small, but numerous - deposits of the Salt Range, Balochistan. The salt ridge owes its name to the rich reserves of rock salt. The area of ​​salt-bearing layers is 1500 sq. km.

Of the ore minerals, chromites are known, the deposits of which are located in the basin of the Zhob and Loralan rivers. There are ores of manganese, copper and lead, arsenic, magnesite, uranium ore.

Gypsum, limestone, phosphorites, fluorite, sulfur, precious and semi-precious stones are mined.

The soils of Pakistan are diverse - fertile alluvial soils were formed in the river valleys on the Indus Plain, in the interfluves - semi-desert gray soils. In the mountains, soils change with height - chestnut soils are replaced by brown forest, subalpine and alpine mountain meadow and meadow-steppe soils.

In Balochistan, sandy desert soils and salt marshes, salt marshes formed in the south of Sindh, and barren sands in the Thar Desert.

Of the major rivers, the Indus can be called, most of the country's rivers are its tributaries. In the western part of Pakistan, the rivers either drain into the Arabian Sea or are endorheic.

Summer floods are usually characteristic of large rivers, caused by monsoon rains and melting glaciers in the mountains.

The vegetation cover is mostly desert and semi-desert, with mangroves appearing in the Indus Delta and along the coast of the Arabian Sea. Rare thickets of pistachio and juniper appear in the mountains of Balochistan. The national symbol of Pakistan is the goat.

Pakistan is a state in South Asia. It borders Afghanistan in the north and northeast, India in the northeast, east and southeast, Iran in the west, and the Arabian Sea in the south. Disputes with India the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is divided between the two states.

In Urdu, "pak" means "clean" and "stan" means "country".

Capital

Islamabad.

Area

Population

144716 thousand people

Administrative division

A federal republic consisting of 4 provinces, a federal capital district, and a federally administered tribal area.

Form of government

Islamic republic.

head of state

President elected for a term of 5 years.

supreme legislative body

Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly, elected for 5 years, and the Senate, whose term of office is 6 years).

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Rawal Pindi, Multan, Hyderabad.

Official language. Urdu.

Religion

97% - Muslims, 3% - Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists.

Ethnic composition

66% are Punjabis, 13% are Sindhis, as well as Pashtuns, Balochs, Brahuis, etc.

Currency

Pakistani rupee = 100 paisam.

Climate

Monsoonal, tropical in most of the country, subtropical in the northwest. Average temperatures in January on the plain are from + 12 °С to + 16 ° С (frosts can be up to - 20 ° С in the highlands), in July - from + 30 ° С to + 35 ° С. Precipitation on the plains falls 100-400 mm per year, in th pax - up to 1000 mm per year. The year in Pakistan is divided into three seasons: cool (October to March), hot (March to June) and rainy (July to September). With the onset of the hot season in the south, it becomes hot and humid, in the northern regions at this time the weather is quite pleasant. In mountainous areas, the weather directly depends on the height above sea level and can vary greatly during the day.

Flora

The vegetation is predominantly steppe and semi-desert, in the mountains there are forest areas (spruce, evergreen oak, cedar).

Fauna

The animal world is represented by a bear, a deer, a wild boar, a crocodile. In rivers and coastal waters a large number of types of fish.

Rivers and lakes

The main river is the Indus with a tributary of the Panjnad.

Attractions

In Karachi - the Mausoleum of Khaid-i-Aza-ma - a monument to the founder of Pakistan Ali Jinn, the white marble mosque of the National Defense Society (its only dome is believed to be the largest in the world), the Honeymoon House, in which the Aga Khan was born, the Cathedral of St. Trinity, the Church of St. Andrew, the city zoo. In Lahore, the Mall is of interest - a place of classic English parks and buildings in the colonial British style, the largest and best Lahore Museum in the country, the famous Kim cannon - a weapon immortalized in Kipling's work "Kim".

Useful information for tourists

Pakistan is a country of the most majestic landscapes in Asia, numerous cultural traditions and extremely hospitable people. It is one of the earliest human settlements, the cradle of the most ancient civilization, challenging the leadership of Egypt and Mesopotamia, a place where Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism meet. Of particular importance are the archaeological sites of the Harappan civilization (III-II millennium BC), Persia and other ancient states.

Islamic Republic of Pakistan, state in South. Asia. The State of Pakistan was formed in 1947, but its name was proposed as early as 1931. According to the author's intention, it has a double meaning. When spelling: P Punjab, A Afghanistan (North Western ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Pakistan- Support for terrorism has been carried out by Pakistan on a large scale since the late 1970s. Pakistan supports terrorists operating in Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Philippines, USA, Israel and… … Terrorism and terrorists. Historical guide

Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Jamhuriyat Islami Pakistan), a state in the South. Asia. 796 thousand km². population 130 million (1993). The main peoples: Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns, Balochi. Urban population 32% (1993). The official language is Urdu. ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

PAKISTAN- PAKISTAN, Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Jamhuri yat Islami Pakistan), state in South. Asia. Pl. 803.9 tons km2. US. 89 730 t. h. (1983). Capital Islamabad (c. 300 vol., 1981). Before independence was declared in 1947, the colony of Great Britain as part of ... Demographic Encyclopedic Dictionary

Pakistan- Punjab, Afghanistan, Kashmir + Istan according to another version Punjab, Afghanistan (North-West Frontier Province), Kashmir, Sindh, Balochistan since 1933 the names of the provinces that were part of the state of Afghanistan, Pakistan decoding is considered ... ... Dictionary of abbreviations and abbreviations

Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a state in South Asia. Eneolithic remains found in Pakistan rural settlements 4 3rd millennium BC e. (Amri, Rana Ghundai, etc.), a regularly planned urban settlement of the 3rd … Art Encyclopedia

PAKISTAN- Territory 796 thousand square kilometers, population 105 million people (1990). Pakistan is an agricultural country. About 3/5 of the population is employed in agriculture. share Agriculture in the national income is 2/5. They cultivate wheat, rice, cotton, sugar… World sheep breeding

Exist., Number of synonyms: 1 country (281) ASIS Synonym Dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

Pakistan- (Pakistan), state in South. Asia. After the withdrawal of Great Britain from the Indian subcontinent in 1947, a department was created. state in P., including sowing. app. and sowing east terr. Hindustan with predominance. Muslim population. The division of the subcontinent into two state wa ... ... The World History

Islamic Republic of Pakistan. one. General information P. state in South Asia, in the northwest of the South Asian subcontinent. It borders Iran in the southwest, Afghanistan in the west and northwest, China in the northeast, India in the east, and India in the south. Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Books

• Pakistan. Reference map , . Reference map of Pakistan. Scale 1:2,500,000. In addition to the main (physical) map, it includes economic maps (scale 1:6,000,000) and a map of peoples (scale 1:14,000,000). Overall size…
• Pakistan. Handbook, eds. Yu.V. Gankovsky, S.F. Levin, V.N. Moskalenko, F.A. Trinich. The directory provides information about natural conditions, population, languages, religions, history, economy, culture, state system, political parties, armed forces, foreign policy ...

1) General information about the country

Islamabad Faisal Mosque

Currency - 100 rupees

2) Political and economic-geographical position of the country

Administrative division

3) Natural resource conditions

4) General characteristics of the population

Population of Pakistan

Gender composition of the population

Rural Pakistani

5) Branches of international specialization of the economy

Minare

Lahore Museum

Badshani Mosque

On the street of Islamabad

RUINS OF A BUDDHIST TEMPLE at Taxila, near Islamabad

Conclusion about the development of the country