Linked with Some of My Best Friends Are Pakistanis.
- To assist public officials and policy makers in the United States in understanding issues of vital interests related to Pakistan , with the aimof bringing about a positive change in policies and attitudes towards Pakistan.
- To participate in the US political process through an organized community effort.
- To promote and encourage business, trade and investment locally and internationally … (full text about).
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Pakistan: Country, southern Asia. Area: 307,374 sq mi (796,096 sq km). Population (2005 est.): 153,960,000. Capital: Islamabad.
The population is a complex mix of indigenous peoples who have been affected by successive waves of migrations of Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Pashtuns, Mughals, and Arabs. Languages: Urdu (official), Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi.
Religions: Islam (official; predominantly Sunni); also Christianity, Hinduism.
Currency: Pakistan rupee.
Pakistan may be divided into four regions: the northern mountains, the Balochistan Plateau, the Indus Plain, and the desert areas.
The Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan ranges form the great mountain areas of the northernmost part of the country; some of the highest peaks are K2 and Nanga Parbat. The country has a developing mixed economy based largely on agriculture, light industries, and services. Remittances from Pakistanis working abroad are a major source of foreign exchange. Pakistan is a military-backed constitutional regime with two legislative houses; its chief of state is the president, assisted by the prime minister. The area has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC.
From the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD, it was part of the Mauryan and Kushan kingdoms. The first Muslim conquests were in the 8th century AD. The British East India Co. subdued the reigning Mughal dynasty in 1757. During the period of British colonial rule, what is now (Muslim) Pakistan was part of (Hindu) India.
The new state of Pakistan came into existence in 1947 by act of the British Parliament.
The Kashmir region remained a disputed territory between Pakistan and India, with tensions resulting in military clashes and full-scale war in 1965. Civil war between East and West Pakistan in 1971 resulted in independence for Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) in 1972. Many Afghan refugees migrated to Pakistan during the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s and remained there during the Taliban and post-Taliban periods. Pakistan elected Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to head a modern Islamic state, in 1988. She and her party were ousted in 1990, but she returned to power in 1993 – 97. Conditions became volatile during that period. Border flare-ups with India continued, and Pakistan conducted tests of nuclear weapons. Political conditions worsened, and the army carried out a coup in 1999.
Land:
The country has a generally hot and dry climate, with desert conditions prevailing throughout much of the area. Along the
western border and in a section of the north are semiarid steppelands and deserts; a subtropical climate with marked
summer rainfall is found in a small section of the northeast along the Himalayan foothills; and a mountain climate that varies
with altitude is found in the north … (full long text).