Islamic Republic
Map of Pakistan by FreeVectorMaps.com
Land of the Pure
The name Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure" in Urdu and
Persian. It comes from the word pāk meaning pure in Persian and
Pashto while the word istān is a Persian word meaning place of.
MM
It was first used in 1933 as Pakstan by Choudhry Rahmat Ali, a
Pakistan Movement activist, who published it in his pamphlet Now
or Never, using it as an acronym ("thirty million Muslim brethren
who live in PAKSTAN") referring to the names of the five northern
regions of the British Raj: Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh, and Baluchistan". The letter i was incorporated to ease pronunciation
and form the linguistically correct and meaningful name.
Islamabad
Prior to independence in 1947, the territory of modern Pakistan was a part of the British Indian Empire. Before to that it was ruled in different periods by local kings and numerous imperial powers. The ancient history of the region comprising present day Pakistan also includes some of the oldest of the names of empires of South Asia and some of its major civilizations.
MM
In the 19th century, the land was incorporated into British India. Pakistan's political history began with the birth of the All India Muslim League in 1906 to protect "Muslim interests, amid neglect and under-representation" and to oppose Congress; in return the British Raj would decide to grant local self rule. On 29 December 1930, philosopher Sir Muhammad Iqbal called for an autonomous new state in "Northwestern India for Indian Muslims". The League rose to popularity in the late 1930s. Muhammad Ali Jinnah supported the Two Nation Theory and led the League to adopt the Lahore Resolution of 1940, demanding the formation of independent states in the East and the West of British India. Eventually, a successful movement led by Jinnah resulted in the partition of India and independence from Britain, in 1947.
MM
War with India in 1965, economic grievances and political disenfranchisement in East Pakistan led to violent political tensions and armed repression. Pakistan's defeatled to the secession of East Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh.
Language
Pakistan's national language is Urdu. English and Urdu are the official languages. In 2015, the government announced its plans to make Urdu as the sole official language and abolish English. The country is also home to several regional languages, including Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi, Kashmiri, Hindko Brahui, Shina, Balti, Khowar, Dhatki, Marwari, Wakhi and Burushaski. From among these, four (Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, and Balochi) are provincial languages.
MM
Religion
The state religion in Pakistan is Islam, which is practiced by up to 98% of the people in the nation. The remaining practice Christianity, Hinduism and other religions. Muslims are divided into the following sects: the majority of them practice Sunni Islam, while 10 to 20% are Shias and 2% are Ahmadi Muslims, although the last are not permitted to call themselves Muslim. Nearly all Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi Fiqh Islamic law school. The majority of Pakistani Shia Muslims belong to the Ithnā‘Ashariyyah Islamic law school, with significant minority groups who practice Ismailism, which is composed of Nizari (Aga Khanis), Mustaali, Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaymani, and others.
Source: Wikipedia
Images: Believed to be in the Public Domain or used with permission
Main
Menu
