Pakistan (
i/ˈpækᵻstæn/ or i/pɑːkᵻˈstɑːn/), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the sixth-most populous country with a population exceeding 201 million people.[13] It is the 36th largest country in the world in terms of area with an area covering 881,913 km2 (340,509 sq mi). Pakistan has a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west, Iran to the southwest and China in the far northeast respectively. It is separated from Tajikistan by Afghanistan's narrow Wakhan Corridor in the north, and also shares amaritime border with Oman.
i/ˈpækᵻstæn/ or i/pɑːkᵻˈstɑːn/), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the sixth-most populous country with a population exceeding 201 million people.[13] It is the 36th largest country in the world in terms of area with an area covering 881,913 km2 (340,509 sq mi). Pakistan has a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west, Iran to the southwest and China in the far northeast respectively. It is separated from Tajikistan by Afghanistan's narrow Wakhan Corridor in the north, and also shares amaritime border with Oman.
The territory that now constitutes Pakistan is considered a cradle of civilization[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] which was previously home to several ancient cultures, including the Mehrgarh of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation, and was later home to kingdoms ruled by people of different faiths and cultures, including Hindus, Indo-Greeks, Muslims, Turco-Mongols, Afghans andSikhs. The area has been ruled by numerous empires and dynasties, including the Indian Mauryan Empire, the Persian Achaemenid Empire, Alexander of Macedonia, the Arab Umayyad Caliphate, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mongol Empire, the Mughal Empire, theDurrani Empire, the Sikh Empire and the British Empire.
Pakistan is unique among Muslim countries as it is the only country to have been created in the name of Islam.[25] As a result of thePakistan Movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the subcontinent's struggle for independence, Pakistan was created in 1947 as an independent nation for Muslims from the regions in the east and west of the Subcontinent where there was a Muslim majority. Initially a dominion, Pakistan adopted a new constitution in 1956, becoming an Islamic republic. A civil war in 1971 resulted in the secession of East Pakistan as the new country of Bangladesh.
Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of four provinces and four federal territories. It is an ethnically and linguisticallydiverse country, with a similar variation in its geography and wildlife. A regional and middle power,[26][27] Pakistan has the seventh largest standing armed forces in the world and is also a nuclear power as well as a declared nuclear-weapons state, being the only nation in the Muslim world, and the second in South Asia, to have that status. It has a semi-industrialised economy with a well-integrated agriculture sector, its economy is the 26th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power and 45th largest in terms of nominal GDP and is also characterized among the emerging and growth-leading economies of the world.[28][29]
The post-independence history of Pakistan has been characterised by periods of military rule, political instability and conflicts with neighbouring India. The country continues to face challenging problems, including overpopulation, terrorism, poverty, illiteracy, andcorruption. Despite these factors it maintains strategic endowments and development potential while it has made substantial progress in reducing poverty giving it the second lowest headcount poverty rate in South Asia.[30] The nation has recently witnessed a rapid expansion of its prosperous middle class, the 18th largest worldwide.[31] Pakistan's stock exchange is Asia's highest performing stock market and, as of 2016, is part of the MSCI's emerging markets index.[32][33] It is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Next Eleven Economies, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ECO, UfC, D8, Cairns Group,Kyoto Protocol, ICCPR, RCD, UNCHR, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Group of Eleven, CPFTA, Group of 24, the G20 developing nations, ECOSOC, founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, SAARC and CERN.[34]
The Muslim League slowly rose to mass popularity in the 1930s amid fears of under-representation and neglect of Muslims in politics. In his presidential address of 29 December 1930, Allama Iqbal called for "the amalgamation of North-West Muslim-majority Indian states" consisting of Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan.[83] Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, greatly espoused the two-nation theory and led the Muslim League to adopt the Lahore Resolution of 1940, popularly known as the Pakistan Resolution.[70] In World War II, Jinnah and British educated founding fathers in the Muslim League supported the United Kingdom's war efforts, countering opposition against it whilst working towards Sir Syed's vision.[84]
As the cabinet mission failed in India, the Great Britain announced the intentions to end its raj in India in 1946–47.[85] Nationalists in British India – including Jawaharlal Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad of Congress, Jinnah of Muslim League, and Master Tara Singhrepresenting the Sikhs—agreed to the proposed terms of transfer of power and independence in June 1947.[86] As the United Kingdom agreed upon partitioning of India in 1947, the modern state of Pakistan was established on 14 August 1947 (27th of Ramadanin 1366 of the Islamic Calendar) in amalgamating the Muslim-majority eastern and northwestern regions of British India.[81] It comprised the provinces of Balochistan, East Bengal, the North-West Frontier Province, West Punjab and Sindh; thus forming Pakistan.[70][86]The partitioning of Punjab and Bengal led to the series of violent communal riots across India and Pakistan; millions of Muslims moved to Pakistan and millions of Hindus and Sikhs moved to India.[87] Dispute over Jammu and Kashmir led to the First Kashmir War in 1948.
Foreign relations of Pakistan
Main article: Foreign relations of Pakistan
As the Muslim world's second most populous nation-state (after Indonesia) and its only nuclear power state, Pakistan has an important role in the international community.[130][131] With a semi-agricultural and semi-industrialized economy, its foreign policy determines its standard of interactions for its organizations, corporations and individual citizens.[132][133] Its geostrategic intentions were explained by Jinnah in a broadcast message in 1947, which is featured in a prominent quotation on the homepage of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: "The foundation of our foreign policy is friendship with all nations across the globe."[134]
Since then, Pakistan has attempted to balance its relations with foreign nations.[135][136][137] A non-signatory party of the Treaty on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Pakistan is an influential member of the IAEA.[138] In recent events, Pakistan has blocked an international treaty to limit fissile material, arguing that the "treaty would target Pakistan specifically."[139] In the 20th century, Pakistan's nuclear deterrence program focused on countering India's nuclear ambitions in the region, and nuclear tests by India eventually led Pakistan to reciprocate the event to maintain geopolitical balance as becoming a nuclear power.[140] Currently, Pakistan maintains a policy of credible minimum deterrence, calling its program vital nuclear deterrence against foreign aggression.[141][142]
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Located in strategic and geopolitical corridor of the world's major maritime oil supply lines, communication fiber optics, Pakistan has proximity to the natural resources of Central Asiancountries.[143] Pakistan is an influential and founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) and is a major non-NATO ally of the United States in the war against terrorism— a status achieved in 2004.[144] Pakistan's foreign policy and geostrategy mainly focus on economy and security against threats to its national identity and territorial integrity, and on the cultivation of close relations with other Muslim countries.[145] Briefing on country's foreign policy in 2004, the Pakistani senator reportedly explains: "Pakistan highlights sovereign equality of states, bilateralism, mutuality of interests, and non-interference in each other's domestic affairs as the cardinal features of its foreign policy."[146] Pakistan is an active member of the United Nations and has a Permanent Representative to represent Pakistan's policy in international politics.[147] Pakistan has lobbied for the concept of "Enlightened Moderation" in the Muslim world.[148][149] Pakistan is also a member of Commonwealth of Nations,[150] the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC), the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO)[151][152] and the G20 developing nations.[153] Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel;[154] nonetheless some Israeli citizens have visited the country on a tourist visas.[155] Based on mutual cooperation, the security exchange have taken place between two countries using Turkey as a communication conduit.[156] Despite Pakistan being the only country in the world that has not established a diplomatic relations with Armenia, the Armenian community still resides in Pakistan.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the third largest sector of the economy, accounting for 18.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 13 percent of total employment. Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM), at 12.2 percent of GDP, dominates the overall sector, accounting for 66% of the sectoral share, followed by Small Scale Manufacturing, which accounts for 4.9 percent of total GDP. Pakistan's cement industry is also fast growing mainly because of demand from Afghanistan and from the domestic real estate sector. In 2013 Pakistan exported 7,708,557 metric tons of cement.[300] Pakistan has an installed capacity of 44,768,250 metric tons of cement and 42,636,428 metric tons of clinker. In 2012 and 2013, the cement industry in Pakistan became the most profitable sector of the economy.[301]
The textile industry enjoys a pivotal position in the manufacturing sector of Pakistan. Pakistan is the 8th largest exporter of textile products in Asia. This sector contributes 9.5% to the GDP and provides employment to about 15 million people or roughly 30% of the 49 million workforce of the country. Pakistan is the 4th largest producer of cotton with the third largest spinning capacity in Asia after China and India, and contributes 5% to the global spinning capacity. China is the second largest buyer of Pakistani textiles, importing US$1.527 billion of textiles last fiscal. Unlike U.S. where mostly value added textiles are imported, China buys only cotton yarn and cotton fabric from Pakistan. In 2012, Pakistani textile products accounted for 3.3% or US$1.07bn of total United Kingdom's textile imports, 12.4% or US$4.61bn of total Chinese textile imports, 2.98% or $2.98b of total United States' textile imports, 1.6% or US$0.88bn of total German textile imports and 0.7% or US$0.888bn of total Indian textile imports.[302]
Services
Services Sector has 57.7 percent share in GDP and has emerged as the main driver of economic growth.[304] Pakistani society like other developing countries is a consumption oriented society, having a high marginal propensity to consume. The growth rate of services sector is higher than the growth rate of agriculture and industrial sector. Services sector accounts for 54 percent of GDP in 2014 and little over one-third of total employment. Services sector has strong linkages with other sectors of economy; it provides essential inputs to agriculture sector and manufacturing sector.[305] Pakistan's I.T sector is regarded as among the fastest growing sector's in Pakistan. The World Economic Forum, assessing the development of Information and Communication Technology in the country ranked Pakistan 111th among 144 countries in the Global Information Technology report of 2014.[306] As of 2011, Pakistan has over 20 million internet users and is ranked as one of the top countries that have registered a high growth rate in internet penetration.[307] Overall, it has the 27th largest population of internet users in the world. In the fiscal year 2012–2013. The current growth rate and employment trend indicate that Pakistan's Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry will exceed the $10-billion mark by 2020.[308] The sector employees 12,000 and count's among top 5 freelancing nations.[309][310] The country has also improved its export performance in telecom, computer and information services, as the share of their exports surged from 8.2pc in 2005–06 to 12.6pc in 2012–13. This growth is much better than that of China, whose share in services exports was 3pc and 7.7pc for the same period respectively.[311]
| Pakistan key economic statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan GDP composition by sector | [312] | |
| Agriculture | 25.3% | |
| Industry | 21.6% | |
| Services | 53.1% | |
| Employment | [313] | |
| Labour force | 59.7 million | |
| People employed | 56.0 million | |
| Natural Resources | [314][315] | |
| Copper | 12.3 million tonnes | |
| Gold | 20.9 million ounces | |
| Coal | 175 billion tonnes | |
| Shale Gas | 105 trillion cubic feet | |
| Shale Oil | 9 billion barrels | |
| Gas production | 4.2 billion cubic feet/day | |
| Oil production | 70,000 barrels/day | |
| Iron ore | 500 million[316] | |
| Corporations | Headquarters | 2012 revenue (Mil. $)[317] | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan State Oil | Karachi | 11,570 | Petroleum and Gas |
| Pak-Arab Refinery | Qasba Gujrat | 3,000 | Oil and refineries |
| Sui Northern Gas Pipelines | Lahore | 2,520 | Natural gas |
| Shell Pakistan | Karachi | 2,380 | Petroleum |
| Oil and Gas Development Co. | Islamabad | 2,230 | Petroleum and Gas |
| National Refinery | Karachi | 1,970 | Oil refinery |
| Hub Power Co. | Hub, Balochistan | 1,970 | Energy |
| K-Electric | Karachi | 1,840 | Energy |
| Attock Refinery | Rawalpindi | 1,740 | Oil refinery |
| Attock Petroleum | Rawalpindi | 1,740 | Petroleum |
| Lahore Electric Supply Co. | Lahore | 1,490 | Energy |
| Pakistan Refinery | Karachi | 1,440 | Petroleum and Gas |
| Sui Southern Gas Pipelines | Karachi | 1,380 | Natural gas |
| Pakistan International Airlines | Karachi | 1,360 | Aviation |
| Engro Corporation | Karachi | 1,290 | Food and Wholesale |
Health
Expenditure spend on healthcare was ~2.8% of GDP in 2013. Life expectancy at birth was 67 years for females and 65 years for males in 2013.[408] The private sector accounts for about 80% of outpatient visits. Approximately 19% of the population and 30% of children under five are malnourished.[267] Mortality of the under-fives was 86 per 1,000 live births in 2012.[408]
Languages
More than sixty languages are spoken in Pakistan, including a number of provincial languages. Urdu— the lingua franca, a symbol ofMuslim identity, and national unity— is the national language which is understood by over 75% of Pakistanis and the main source ofnationwide communication but is only the primary language of 8% of Pakistan's population.[237][411][412] Urdu and English are theofficial languages of Pakistan, however English is primarily used in official business, government, and legal contracts;[128] the local dialect is known as Pakistani English. The Punjabi language is the most common in Pakistan and is mother-tongue of 66% of Pakistan's population mostly of people in Punjab.[413] This includes 48% of Standard Punjabi speakers[412] as well as regional Punjabi dialects such as Saraiki and Hindko. Saraiki dialect is mainly spoken in South Punjab and counts up to 10% of Pakistan's population, while the Hindko dialect is spoken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Pashto language is the provincial language and is well understood in Sindh and Balochistan.[10] The Sindhi language is the common language spoken in Sindh while the Balochilanguage is dominant in Balochistan.[10][70][414]
Immigration
The Pakistan Census excludes the immigrants such as the 1.7 million registered Afghans from Afghanistan, who are found mainly in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and tribal belt with small numbers residing in Karachi and Quetta.[415][416] As of 1995, there were more than 1.6 million Bengalis, 650,000 Afghans, 200,000 Burmese, 2,320 Iranians, and Filipinos, and hundreds of Nepalese, Sri Lankans, and Indians living in Karachi.[417][418] Pakistan hosts more refugees than any other country in the world.[419]
Social groups
The population is dominated by four main ethnic groups: Punjabis, Pashtuns (Pathans), Sindhis, and Balochs.[420] Rough accounts from 2009 indicate that the Punjabis dominate with 78.7 million (~45%) while the Pashtuns are the second dominating group with ~29.3 million (15.42%).[420] The Sindhis are estimated at 24.8 million (14.1%) with Seraikis a sub-group of Punjabis is approximated at 14.8 million (8.4%).[420] The Urdu-speaking Muhajirs (the Indian emigrants) stands at ~13.3 million (7.57%) while Balochs are accounted at 6.3 million (3.57%)– the smallest group in population terms.[420][421] The remaining 11.1 million (4.66%) belong to various ethnic minorities such as Hazaras and Kalashs.[420]There is also a large Pakistani diaspora, numbering over seven million residing worldwide.[421]
| Rank | Name | Province | Pop. | Rank | Name | Province | Pop. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Karachi  Lahore | 1 | Karachi | Sindh | 24,300,625 | 11 | Sargodha | Punjab | 1,477,555 |  Faisalabad  Hyderabad |
| 2 | Lahore | Punjab | 11,218,745 | 12 | Bahawalpur | Punjab | 1,023,252 | ||
| 3 | Faisalabad | Punjab | 4,447,446 | 13 | Sialkot | Punjab | 928,678 | ||
| 4 | Hyderabad | Sindh | 3,437,798 | 14 | Sukkur | Sindh | 900,148 | ||
| 5 | Peshawar | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 3,233,252 | 15 | Jhang | Punjab | 679,770 | ||
| 6 | Rawalpindi | Punjab | 3,129,471 | 16 | Sheikhupura | Punjab | 662,808 | ||
| 7 | Multan | Punjab | 3,117,550 | 17 | Abbottabad | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 605,999 | ||
| 8 | Gujranwala | Punjab | 2,799,766 | 18 | Gujrat | Punjab | 525,952 | ||
| 9 | Islamabad | Capital Territory | 2,082,262 | 19 | Larkana | Sindh | 522,315 | ||
| 10 | Quetta | Balochistan | 1,642,410 | 20 | Kasur | Punjab | 517,575 | ||
Religion
Main article: Religion in Pakistan
See also: Religion in South Asia
Pakistan is the second most populous Muslim-majority country[427] and has the third largest Shia population in the world after Iranand India with a Shia population of about 42.5 million.[428][429][430][431] About 97.0% of Pakistanis are Muslims. The majority areSunni, with an estimated 10–25% Shia.[432][70][430][433] The Ahmadis, are another minority sect in Pakistan, albeit in much smaller numbers and are officially considered non-Muslims by virtue of the constitutional amendment.[434] There are also severalQuraniyoon communities.[435][436] After the 9/11 attacks in the United States, the sectarian violence among Muslim denominations has increased with systematic targeted killings of both sects, Sunnis and Shias.[437][438] In 2013, there were country-wide protests by both Shias and Sunnis calling an end to sectarian violence in the country, toughen up the law and order, and urging for Shia-Sunni unity in the country.[439] The Ahmadis are particularly persecuted, especially since 1974 when they were banned from calling themselves Muslims. In 1984, Ahmadiyya places of worship were banned from being called "mosques".[440] As of 2012, 12% of Pakistani Muslims self-identify as non-denominational Muslims.[441]
Islam to some extent syncretized with pre-Islamic influences, resulting in a religion with some traditions distinct from those of the Arab world.[442]Two Sufis whose shrines receive much national attention are Ali Hajweri in Lahore (c. 12th century)[443] and Shahbaz Qalander in Sehwan, Sindh(c. 12th century).[444] Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, has a long history and a large popular following in Pakistan. Popular Sufi culture is centered on Thursday night gatherings at shrines and annual festivals which feature Sufi music and dance. Contemporary Islamic fundamentalists criticize its popular character, which in their view, does not accurately reflect the teachings and practice of the Prophet and his companions.[445][446]
After Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are the largest religions in Pakistan, with 2,800,000 (1.6%) adherents each in 2005.[70] In 1998 following a census, they were followed by the Bahá'í Faith, which had a following of 30,000, then Sikhism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism, each back then claiming 20,000 adherents,[447] and a very small community of Jains. There is a Roman Catholic community in Karachi which was established byGoan and Tamil migrants when Karachi's infrastructure was being developed by the British during colonial administration between World War Iand World War II. Influence of atheism is very little with 1.0% of the population aligned as atheist in 2005.[448] However, the figure rose to 2.0% in 2012 according to Gallup.[448]
Culture and society
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Civil society in Pakistan is largely hierarchical, emphasising local cultural etiquettes and traditional Islamic values that govern personal and political life. The basic family unit is the extended family,[449] although there has been a growing trend towards nuclear families for socio-economic reasons.[450] The traditional dress for both men and women is the Shalwar Kameez; trousers, Jeans, and shirts are also popular among men.[49] The middle class has increased to around 35 million and the upper and upper-middle classes to around 17 million in recent decades, and power is shifting from rural landowners to the urbanised elites.[451] Pakistani festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha,Ramazan, Christmas, Easter, Holi, and Diwali are mostly religious in origin.[449] Increasing globalisation has resulted in Pakistan ranking 56th on the A.T. Kearney/FP Globalization Index.[452]
Clothing, arts, and fashion
The Shalwar Kameez is the national dress of Pakistan and is worn by both men and women in all four provinces: Punjab, Sindh,Balochistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well as in FATA and Azad Kashmir. Each province has its own style of wearing the Shalwar Kameez. Pakistanis wear clothes range from exquisite colors and designs to the type of fabric (silk, chiffon, cotton, etc).[453] Besides the national dress, the domestically tailored suits and neckties are often and usually worn by men in the country, and it is customary in offices, schools, and other necessary places and popular gatherings.[453]
The fashion industry has flourished well in the changing environment of the fashion world. Since Pakistan came into being, its fashion has historically evolved from different phases and made its unique identity apart from Indian fashion and culture. At this time, Pakistani fashion is a combination of traditional and modern dresses and it has become the cultural identification of Pakistan. Despite all modern trends, the regional and traditional dresses have developed their own significance as a symbol of native tradition. This regional fashion is not static but evolving into more modern and pure forms. The Pakistan Fashion Design Council based in Lahore organizes Fashion Week and Fashion Pakistan based in Karachi organizes fashion shows in that city. Pakistan's first fashion week was held in November 2009.[454]
Role of women in Pakistani society
Main articles: Women in Pakistan, Role of women in Pakistani media, Women in the Pakistan Armed Forces, and Protection of Women Against Violence Bill 2015
The social status of women in Pakistan varies and considerably depends on the social class, upbringings, and regional divide due to unevensocioeconomic development and the impact of social formations on women's lives in the country.[455] Pakistan has had a long history of feminist activism since its birth.[455] Since 1947, the APWA and Aurat Foundation– the influential feminist organizations— have played strong roles in inculcating awareness about women's rights in the country.[455] Personalities such as Begum Rana'a, Benazir Bhutto, Malala Yousafzai and Kalsoom Nawaz have been influential in Pakistan's feminist culture.[455] The status of women, overall, has improved due to enhanced religious and educational knowledge. However, with regard to the global average, the situation is quite alarming. In 2014, theWorld Economic Forum ranked Pakistan as the second worst country in the world in gender equality.[456]
The relationship of women with the opposite gender is culturally that of gender subordination. There are certain assumed and assigned roles of women that are related to domestic chores compared with men who are the breadwinners and professionals of the family. Contrastingly, in urban areas of the country, more and more women are assuming professional roles and are contributing to family economics but the ratio of these women compared with those in traditional roles is way less. Most favoured occupations for females accepted by society are that of Teaching and Tutoring.[455][457] Due to heightened awareness among people, educational opportunities for Pakistani women have increased over the years.[458] On 24 February 2016, the elected assembly of Pakistan's Punjab province passed a new law called "Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Bill 2015 " which provides women with protection against a multitude of crimes including: cyber crime, domestic violence, emotional, economic and psychological abuse.[459]
Media and entertainment
Main articles: Cinema of Pakistan, Media of Pakistan, Music of Pakistan, History of Pakistani pop music, Theatre of Pakistan, and Pakistani dramas
The private print media, state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) for radio were the dominant media outlets until the 21st century. Pakistan now has a large network of domestic private 24-hour news media and television channels.[460] According to a 2016 report by the Reporters Without Borders ranked Pakistan in 147th on the Press Freedom Index, while terming the Pakistani media "among the freest in Asia when it comes to covering the squabbling among politicians."[461] BBC term's Pakistani media as "among the most outspoken in South Asia."[462]
The Lollywood, an Urdu, Punjabi and Pashto film industry is based in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. While Bollywood films were banned from public cinemas from 1965 until 2008, they have remained important in popular culture.[463][464] Contrary to the ailing film industry, the Urdutelevised dramas and theatrical performances are popular, as many entertainment media air the series regularly.[465] Urdu dramas dominate theTV entertainment industry, and have debuted critically acclaimed miniseries, and have featured popular actors and actresses since the 1990s.[466] In the 1960s–1970s, pop music and disco (1970s) dominated the country's music industry. In the 1980s–1990s, British influencedrock music appeared and jolted the country's entertainment industry.[467] In the 2000s, heavy metal music gained popular and critical acclaim.[468]
Pakistani music ranges from diverse provincial folk music and traditional styles such as Qawwali and Ghazal Gayaki to modern forms fusing traditional and western music.[469][470] Pakistan has many famous folk singers. The arrival of Afghan refugees in the western provinces has stimulated interest in Pashto music, although there has been intolerance of it in some places.[471] Pakistan has some of the world's modern vibrant and open media.[472] Pakistani media has also played a vital role in exposing corruption.[473]
Urbanisation
Main article: Urbanisation in Pakistan
Since achieving independence as a result of the partition of India, the urbanization has exponentially increased and has several different causes for it.[407] Majority of southern side population resides along the Indus River, with Karachi being its most populous commercial city.[407] On the east,west, and northern skirts, the most of the population lives in an arc formed by the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad,Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sheikhupura, Nowshera, Mardan and Peshawar. During 1990–2008, the city dwellers made up 36.0% of Pakistan's population, making it the most urbanised nation in South Asia. Furthermore, more than 50% of Pakistanis live in towns of 5,000 people or more.[409] Immigration, both from within and outside the country, is regarded as one of the main factors that has contributed to urbanisation in Pakistan. One analysis of the national census held in 1998 highlighted the significance of the Partition of India in the 1940s in the context of understanding urban change in Pakistan.[474]
During the independence period, Muslim Muhajirs from India migrated in large numbers and shifted their domicile to Pakistan, especially to the port city of Karachi, which is today the largest metropolis in Pakistan.[474] Migration from other countries, mainly those in the neighbourhood, has further catalysed the process of urbanisation in Pakistani cities. Of particular interest is migration that occurred in the aftermath of the independence of Bangladesh in 1971,[474] in the form of stranded Biharis who were relocated to Pakistan. Smaller numbers of Bengalis and Burmese immigrants followed suit much later. The conflict in Afghanistan also forced millions of Afghan refugees into Pakistan, particularly in the northwestern regions. Inevitably, the rapid urbanisation caused by these large population movements has also brought new political and socio-economic complexities.[474] In addition to immigration, economic events such as the green revolution and political developments, among a host of other factors, are also important causes of urbanisation.[474]
Diaspora
Main articles: Cinema of Pakistan and Overseas Pakistani
According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Pakistan has the sixth largest diaspora in the world.[475] Statisticsapproximated by the Pakistan government, there are around 7 million Pakistanis residing abroad with vast majority living in the Middle East,Europe and North America.[476] Pakistan ranks 10th in the world for remittances sent home in 2012 at $13 billion.[477][478]
The term Overseas Pakistani is officially recognized by the Government of Pakistan; the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis was established in 2008 to exclusively deal with all the matters and affairs of the overseas Pakistanis such as attending to their needs and problems, intending schemes and projects for their welfare and working for resolution of their problems and issues. Overseas Pakistani workers are the second largest source of Foreign Exchange Remittances to Pakistan after exports and over the last several years, the foreign exchange remittances have maintained a steady rising trend, with a recorded increase of 150% from US$6 billion in 2009 to estimated US$15 billion during 2015.[290]
In 2009–10, Pakistanis sent home US$9.4 billion, the eleventh-largest total remittance in the world.[478] By 2012, Pakistan increased its ranking to tenth in the world for remittances with a total sum of US$13 billion.[477][478] The Overseas Pakistani Division (OPD) was created in September 2004 within the Ministry of Labour (MoL), and has since recognized the importance of overseas Pakistanis and their contribution to the nation's economy. Together with Community Welfare Attaches (CWAs) and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), the OPD is improving the welfare of Pakistanis who reside abroad. The division aims to provide better services through improved facilities at airports, and suitable schemes for housing, education and health care—its largest effort is the facilitation of the rehabilitation of returning overseas Pakistanis.
Literature and philosophy
Pakistan has literature in Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto, Baluchi, Persian, English and many other languages.[479] The Pakistan Academy of Letters is a large literary community that promotes literature and poetry in Pakistan and abroad.[480] The National Library publishes and promotes literature in the country. Before the 19th century, literature consisted mainly of lyric and religious poetry, mystical and folkloric works. During the colonial age, the native literary figures were influenced by western literary realism and took up increasingly varied topics and narrative forms. Prose fiction is now very popular.[481][482]
The national poet of Pakistan, Muhammad Iqbal, wrote poetry in Urdu and Persian. He was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation and encouraged Muslims binding all over the world to bring about successful revolution.[483][484][485] Well-known representatives of contemporary Pakistani Urdu literature include Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Sadequain is known for his calligraphy and paintings.[482] Sufi poets Shah Abdul Latif, Bulleh Shah, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh and Khawaja Farid are very popular in Pakistan.[486] Mirza Kalich Beg has been termed the father of modern Sindhi prose.[487]
Historically, philosophical development in the country was dominated by Muhammad Iqbal, Sir Syed, Muhammad Asad,Maududi, and Ali Johar.[488] Ideas from British and American philosophy greatly shaped philosophical development in Pakistan. Analysts such asM.M. Sharif and Zafar Hassan established the first major Pakistani philosophical movement in 1947.[489] After the 1971 war, philosophers such asJalaludin Abdur Rahim, Gianchandani, and Malik Khalid incorporated Marxism into Pakistan's philosophical development.[490] Influential work byManzoor Ahmad, Jon Elia, Hasan Askari Rizvi, and Abdul Khaliq brought mainstream social, political, and analytical philosophy to the fore of Pakistani philosophical academia.[490] Global works by Noam Chomsky have influenced philosophical ideas in various fields of social and political philosophy.[491][492]
Architecture
Main articles: Pakistani architecture and Hindu and Buddhist architectural heritage of Pakistan
Pakistani architecture has four recognised periods: pre-Islamic, Islamic, colonial, and post-colonial. With the beginning of the Indus civilisation around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC,[493] an advanced urban culture developed for the first time in the region, with large buildings, some of which survive to this day.[494] Mohenjo Daro, Harappa and Kot Diji are among the pre-Islamic settlements that are now tourist attractions.[241] The rise of Buddhism and the Greekinfluence led to the development of the Greco-Buddhist style,[495] starting from the 1st century AD. The high point of this era was reached at the peak of the Gandhara style. An example of Buddhist architecture is the ruins of the Buddhist monastery Takht-i-Bahi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[496]
The arrival of Islam in today's Pakistan meant a sudden end of Buddhist architecture in the area and a smooth transition to the predominantly pictureless Islamic architecture. The most importantIndo-Islamic-style building still standing is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam in Multan. During the Mughal era, design elements of Persian-Islamic architecture were fused with and often produced playful forms of Hindustani art. Lahore, occasional residence of Mughal rulers, exhibits many important buildings from the empire. Most prominent among them are the Badshahi mosque, the fortress of Lahore with the famous Alamgiri Gate, the colourful, the Mughal-style Wazir Khan Mosque,[497] the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore and the Shahjahan Mosque in Thatta. In the British colonial period, predominantly functional buildings of the Indo-European representative style developed from a mixture of European and Indian-Islamic components. Post-colonial national identity is expressed in modern structures like the Faisal Mosque, the Minar-e-Pakistan and the Mazar-e-Quaid.[498] Several of the architectural infrastructure has been influenced from the British design, and such architectural designs can be found in Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi.[498]
Food and drink
Main article: Pakistani cuisine
Pakistani cuisine is similar to cuisine from other regions of South Asia, since much of it originated from the royal kitchens of sixteenth-century Mughal emperors. Pakistan has a greater variety of meat dishes compared to the rest of the sub-continent. Most of those dishes have their roots in British,Central Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Pakistani cooking uses large quantities of spices, herbs and seasoning. Garlic, ginger, turmeric, red chilliand garam masala are used in most dishes, and home cooking regularly includes curry. Chapati, a thin flat bread made from wheat, is a staple food, served with curry, meat, vegetables and lentils. Rice is also common; it is served plain, fried with spices, and in sweet dishes.[237][499][500]
Lassi is a traditional drink in the Punjab region. Black tea with milk and sugar is popular throughout Pakistan and is taken daily by most of the population.[49][501] Sohan Halwa is a popular sweet dish from the southern region of Punjab province and is enjoyed all over Pakistan.[502]
Sports
Main article: Sports in Pakistan
The majority of the sports played in Pakistan are originated and were substantially developed from the United Kingdom who introduced in the British India. Field Hockey is thenational sport of Pakistan; it has won three Gold medallions in the Olympic Games held in 1960, 1968, and 1984.[503] Pakistan has also won the Hockey World Cup a record four times held in 1971, 1978, 1982, and in 1994.[504]
Cricket, however, is the most popular game across the country.[505] The cricket team (popular as Shaheen) has won the Cricket World Cup held in 1992; it had been runners-up once, in 1999, and co-hosted the tournament in 1987 and 1996. Pakistan were runners-up in the inaugural World Twenty20 (2007) in South Africa and won the World Twenty20in England in 2009. In March 2009, militants attacked the touring Sri Lanka's cricket team,[506] after which no international cricket was played in Pakistan until May 2015, when the Zimbabwean team agreed to a tour.
In athletics, Abdul Khaliq participated in 1954 Asian Games and the 1958 Asian Games. He won 34 international gold, 15 international silver and 12 bronze medals for Pakistan.[507]
In squash, world-class players such as Jahangir Khan[508] and Jansher Khan won the World Open Squash Championship several times during their careers.[509] Jahangir Khan also won the British Open a record ten times.[508]
Pakistan has competed many times at the Olympics in field hockey, boxing, athletics, swimming, and shooting.[510] Pakistan's Olympic medal tally stands at 10 of which 8 were earned in hockey.[511] The Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medal tallies stand at 65 and 160 respectively.[512][513]
At national level, polo is popular, with regular national events in different parts of the country. Boxing, billiards, snooker, rowing, kayaking, caving, tennis, contract bridge, golf and volleyball are also actively pursued, and Pakistan has produced regional and international champions in these sports.[47][509][510] Basketball enjoys regional popularity especially in Lahore and Karach
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