(^76) About Pakistan (Please refer to your favourite travel guidebook or the internet for a
more in-depth overview)
Capital City
Islamabad officially became the capital of Pakistan on 14 August 1967, exactly 20years after the country’s independence. The capital of Pakistan is a planned city built
in the 1960s to replace Karachi as a capital.
Currency
The currency in Pakistan is the Pakistani rupee (Rs) and the code PKR. The Pakistani
rupee has been Pakistan's official currency since 1948.
Cash & ATMs – Pakistan is a cash economy, and it’s better to bring cash, especially in
the Northern Areas. Of course, you can find ATMs in all big cities, but not all will
accept foreign cards.
Language
It is said that over 300 dialects and languages are spoken in the country today, and
each is distinctly different. Some of the common languages are:
Urdu: Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and is written in Arabic script.
English: Official language
Punjabi: Mainly spoken in the province of Punjab
Sindhi: Mainly spoken in the province of Sind
Pashtu: Mainly spoken in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)
Balochi: Mainly spoken in the province of Baluchistan
Religion
Islam is the most popular religion in Pakistan, with Muslims 97% (Sunni 77%, Shia
20%). Christianity, Hinduism, and Parsis make up the rest.
Location and size
Situated in southern Asia, Pakistan has an area of 803,940 sq km, extending 1,875
km NE-SW from the Hindu Kush and the Himalaya ranges to the Arabian Sea and
1,006 km SE–NW.
The enclave of Junagadh claimed by Pakistan, and Jammu and Kashmir, divided
between Pakistan and India by the 1971 “line of control,” are not included in the area.
Pakistan is bordered on the NE by China, on the E by Jammu and Kashmir to theKarakoram Pass, on the E and SE by India, on the S by the Arabian Sea, on the SW
by Iran, and on the W and NW by Afghanistan. The total land boundary length is
6,774 km (4,209 mi).
Population
The current population of Pakistan is 230,000,000, and the population density of
Pakistan is 287 per Km2.
Wearing a Shalwar Kameez
The traditional Pakistani dress is called the shalwar kameez. It’s not compulsory, but
the locals will appreciate it if you wear it, especially in the Pashtun areas.
leana
(Leana)
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