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Even
before the Iranian revolution and the Afghan and Iran-Iraq
wars throttled Asian overland travel, Pakistan tended to be
seen as simply the last hurdle before reaching India. Few
Westerners know much about Pakistan beyond media impressions
of guns and drugs, communal violence and martial law, but
it contains some of Asia's most mind-blowing landscapes, extraordinary
trekking, a multitude of cultures and a long tradition of
hospitality. It's the site of some of the earliest human settlements,
home to an ancient civilisation rivalling those of Egypt and
Mesopotamia, and the crucible of two of the world's major
religions, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Full
country name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Area: 803,940 sq km (310,300 sq mi)
Population: 144.6 million
Capital city: Islamabad (pop. approx. 350,000)
People: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baloch, Muhajir
Language: Urdu (official), Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, English
Religion: 97% Muslim, 3% Christian and Hindu
Government: Federal Republic
President & Chief Executive: Gen. Pervez Musharraf
GDP:
US$282 billion
GDP per head: US$2000
Annual growth: 5%
Inflation: 5.2%
Major industries: Textiles, sugar, vegetable oils, agricultural
products, cement, fertilisers, steel, chemicals, sporting
goods, carpets
Major trading partners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia,
UAE
Pakistan
Flight from UK
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