History

Geography

As early as 1906, the Moslem spheres created the Moslem League. In 1930, the idea of an independent Moslem State was conceived by the poet sir Muhammad IQBAL. In the late thirties, Muhammad Ali JINNAH reorganized the Moslem League in a mass party. He is regarded as the father founder of Pakistan.
In 1946, the bloody clashes between Hindu and Moslem communities forced the viceroy Lord Mountbatten to accept the Indian Subcontinent partition. Independence was proclaimed on August 14, 1947. It was followed by  massive and deadly population transfers, 8 million Hindus and Sikhs were moved from Punjab to India and conversely 6 million Moslems took refuge in Pakistan.
"Jammu and Kashmir" the Hindu Maharajah decision, whose population was 85% Moslem to attach his area to India was disputed by Pakistan and the war broke out.
On January 1, 1949 the division of Cashmere between the two belligerents was made by UN on a precarious border called Cease-fire Line of Control.

Pakistan whose surface is one and a half that of France, extends from north in south on +1,800 Km. It can be presented in three large areas maps.
The septentrional part, is made up of Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindukush ranges which have four summits +8,000 m high and 82 others +7,000m high.
The south-western part is formed by the Balutchistan plateau which covers 44% of the territory. Its aridity less favourable to farming and breeding has made of it a passage and traffic area between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
The plains of Sind and Pendjab, Country to the Five Rivers, constitute the basin of Indus and its four affluents. 3,200 km long, Indus is the third longest  Asia river. It is, like the Nile, the Tiger and Euphrates at the origin of a great and brilliant civilization, Harappa.

The Monsoon, mausim in Arabic, from June to September is very light. Pakistan is a country with the dry climate characterized by very contrasted altitudes and temperatures.

The Pakistani landscape, like the geography, is very contrasted. Deep, green and cultivated valleys are in the mountainous area. The Balutchistan plateau is dry and arid. The alluvial Indus plain is the corn and rice loft of Pakistan.

Economic facts

Civilization facts

Pakistan's economy has endured two partitions, first from India then second from Bangladesh. Moreover wars have catastrophic economic results.

Agriculture provides the third of the gross national product. Productivity remains low due to archaic means of production. The country is self-sufficing in corn and rice.

The territory is not very rich in mines. Electric power is essentially of hydraulic and nuclear origin. There is also a little coal, oil and gas.

Industry contributes for the quarter of the gross national product. Progress is slow due to the lack of capital, technology and qualified manpower.

The trade balance shows strong deficit. Exports cover half of imports. The balance of payments is balanced by the international assistance.

The Pakistani currency is the rupee.

The official name is Islamic Republic of Pakistan whose capital is Islamabad, a city created in 1961 in the Himalayas piedmonts a few kilometres from Rawalpindi.
The population is approximately 150 million inhabitants. The official language of Pakistan is Urdu, cousin of Hindi. English is used by business and the administration.

Four ethnic groups form the population. Punjabis, 64%, speak Punjabi. Sindhis, 12%, speak Sindhi. Patchous speak Patchu, an Iranian language. Baloutches speak Baloch.

The gross national product is $282 billion the GNP is of $2.000 per capita.

Pakistan governed by military regime seeks to affirm its identity by developing the reference to Koran, the Charia is partially applied. The recent events do not support laicization.

The Pakistani are 97% Moslems and 3% others.

Pakistan attracts tourists either for treks in the Himalayas or for cultural activities by visiting the archaeological centres or the monuments. The North-West Frontier Province keeps apart from Islamic disturbances.

Information of the traveller

Sights

A six-month visa is necessary to enter Pakistan.

The vastness of the country, the diversity of the climates, the selected season are as many parameters to be taken to define  holiday conditions.

On the health plan it is recommended to consult specialized websites, in France the website of the Foreign Office. For trekkers in the Himalayas no particular precaution is advised.

The traveller's budget depends on his claims, Pakistan offers opportunities for small budgets.

Pakistan is also 4 provinces, speaking 5 vernacular languages and several local dialects.

Each area has its personality, and its centres of interests. Several journeys will be necessary to appreciate this cultural diversity.
The Karakorum Highway, KKH,  from Rawalpindi to Kasha is a colourful and exceptional landscape journey.

Sports activities are possible in all Pakistan areas, treks, swimming, skiing.

Three journeys were made from 1997 to 2001, three treks in the NWFP, North-West Frontier Province.