| PAKISTAN | | | | national language used at home, soap operas, etc. but |
| Population: 161.1 million (UN, 2005) | | | | other Pakistani languages and dialects are also in use |
| Capital: Islamabad | | | | such as Punjabi, Pashto, Burushaski, and so on. |
| Area: 796,095 sq km (307,374 sq miles), excluding | | | | ENGLISH, on the other is the other de facto state |
| Pakistani-held parts of Kashmir (83,716 sq km/32,323 | | | | language utilized in political, education, and business |
| sq miles) | | | | matters, and is also widely spoken in varying levels |
| Major languages: Urdu (official), Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, | | | | among the population, with the level of proficiency |
| Balochi and English | | | | superior among the elites who have had higher levels |
| Major religion: Islam | | | | of study. |
| Life expectancy: 63 years (men), 63 years (women) | | | | FOOD & ATTRACTION |
| (UN) | | | | In 2008, Pakistan telecom forced its customers down |
| Monetary unit: 1 Pakistani Rupee = 100 paisa | | | | a cul de sac by interrupting internet traffic as an |
| Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a nation greatly | | | | attempt to block YouTube within the country. This |
| concealed from the west with a forefront of religious | | | | leaked across the globe making YouTube inaccessible |
| extremism and violence, which are unfortunately not | | | | worldwide for 2 hours that day, thus showing that |
| unfounded. From massive Pakistani militant movements | | | | governments, in this case the Pakistani government, |
| to their connections in public university, travellers and | | | | who are wont to control internet traffic can do so with |
| locals believe it a great danger to be here. Pakistan | | | | ease. If anything, this says Pakistani is technologically |
| does not deny the horrific situations brought about by | | | | up-to-date like its western urbanized cities of Karachi |
| the conservativists like the Islam Jamiat Taliban, and | | | | and Lahore that would logically make foreigners feel at |
| this resistance by fascists has been made ubiquitous | | | | home, wholly contrastive to the imagery of rickshaw |
| with locals fearing for their seemingly insignificant lives. | | | | camels and people bouncing produce up on their |
| The short-lived and often transitory security and | | | | heads. Karachi, the 8th largest city in the world, is |
| peace which are raw and real, in no way hyped, it | | | | cosmopolitan with a beach! But Pakistan is more of |
| proves a mighty feat to crave to see the other side of | | | | the mountaineer crowd pleaser with its lure of the |
| the coin, an educated view of the rich cultural heritage | | | | Karakoram and the K2, as well as its almost unheard |
| and the entailing tourist attractions, architectural | | | | of scenic spectacle the Baltoro Glacier up north which |
| marvels, music and art. Pakistan is a country always in | | | | is one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. |
| the headlines, but so far from the truth. | | | | What are even more unheard of are the country's |
| However, Pakistan is progressing and evolving with | | | | clear lakes and resplendent beaches that are politically |
| time, and with a drag at that. As a country hampered | | | | veiled by tumultuous borders of Iran, India, and |
| by outdated traditions and poverty, it has become a | | | | Afghanistan. |
| place where art and cultures are flourishing with | | | | Since 2007, rhythmic failed endeavours at launching |
| particular focus to the media, all in this freshly achieved | | | | Pakistan's tourism industry have left people to question |
| MTV generation. Now, Pakistan is that country like it is | | | | if the new Pakistan everybody's talking about is worth |
| a country where young people dream to be big and | | | | seeing, being a tough neighbourhood that is. |
| cool. And it is this blooming trait that credits Pakistan as | | | | Nonetheless, the mythical snow leopards of the Hindu |
| an "up-and-coming" tourist destination. | | | | Kush are worth all the time in the world, just as much |
| GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE | | | | as Pakistani food which the greater number of us |
| Pakistan (30 00 N, 70 00 E) is a 796,095 km2 large | | | | know and love such as kebabs with flat bread or rice. |
| chunk of land in South Asia big enough to have 3 | | | | Meat is pretty standard and is a major ingredient in |
| different climates: desert in the east, temperate on the | | | | most dishes and served with starch-based staples |
| mountain ranges northwest, and arctic in the north. The | | | | such as rice, bread, or root crops like potatoes. |
| legendary Indus plain lies vastly in the east and the | | | | Vegetarian dishes such as dala are also tasty and |
| prestigious Karakoram Mountain range and the Kirthar | | | | healthy meal options. Pakistani desserts are as wild as |
| range lies up north and northwest. The real and sole | | | | intense as the religious upheavals, and the flavours are |
| crowd puller of Pakistan for the most part, the K2 or | | | | as bountiful as the natural resources. Cool ice cream |
| Mt. Godwin-Austen, is the land's highest point, second in | | | | to stand out against the heat is a favourite with |
| the world at an altitude of 8,611 metres above the sea | | | | plentiful flavours of pistachio, kulfi, with just as many |
| level, that is the Indian Ocean. In part due to this size | | | | ways to serve. Shirini or mithai are the generic names |
| and diverse land, the country relinquishes to 4 seasons, | | | | for most sweets in Pakistan that varies by region. |
| cool and dry winter from December to February, | | | | International fast-food chains are mushrooming all over |
| warm spring from March through May, warm and wet | | | | like McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut, KFC, Dominoes, |
| summer for the months of June to September, and | | | | and many other European chains. |
| slightly cooler autumn retreat of the monsoons from | | | | Pakistani cuisine varies upon region and your cook's |
| October through November. | | | | personal taste ranging from mild to spicy. It is alright |
| PEOPLE & CULTURE | | | | though to inform them of your particular preferences in |
| The Pakistani, as a result, benefit from ample | | | | terms of spice and heats, as long as you follow the |
| resources and arable land of 24.4%. An enormous | | | | courtesy of eating without cutlery, not eating too much |
| advantage to the 169,342,000 Pakistanis who require a | | | | all at once or finishing your plate squeaky clean, which |
| lot from the land and natural resources no doubt, being | | | | is the two cents especially if unaware of the |
| the sixth most heavily populated country ahead of | | | | heat-factor of the dish, or simply because these are |
| Russia. The Punjabis, the dominant ethnic group, are a | | | | rude behaviours all in all. A clean plate means you |
| small number far from constituting half the population | | | | want more, too much left means you didn't enjoy it, so |
| (44.68%), while Islam is the state religion with followers | | | | leave a little bit on the plate. As it is important to be |
| of as much as 96% of the population. The minuscule | | | | hydrated, tap water is unsafe for drinking. |
| remainder of Hindus and Christians are victims of | | | | Travel safe and enjoy. |
| religion-relate violence by militant Muslims. URDU is the | | | | |