Pakistan's Profile

Offcial Name Islamic Republic of Pakistan Capital Islamabad Provinces Sindh, Punjab, Balouchistan and NWFP Currency Pakistani Rupee Time Zone GMT plus 5 hours National Language Urdu Official Language English National Sports Hockey National Flower Jasmine Area Covered 796,096 sq. km Population 140 Million

Pakistan emerged on the world map on 14th August 1947, but its history spans many millennia. Pakistan is known here to one of the ancient civilization of the East. The indus valley civilization traces of which are found in the ruins of Muen-jo-Daro, Amri, Kot Diji and Harappha. The famed Gandhara civilization in the lush green valley of Peshawar and Enchanting Swat.
Pakistan is located between "24 N and 37 N" Latitude and between 61 E and Longitude. It is surrounded by China in the North, Afghanistan and Iran in the West and India in the East. Arabian Sea lies to its South with 800 kms long coastline. Pakistan is linked with China through land along the great Silk Route while it is linked with India by air and rail links. Recently a bus service has been started between the two countries. Afghanistan and Iran are also linked with Pakistan by air and road.
The Northern Areas of Pakistan is situated in the confluence of world three mighty mountain ranges the Karakoram, the Himaliya and the Hindu Kush. There are fourteen (14) Peaks over 8000 meters in the world. Pakistan has honour to capture five (5) peaks over 8000 meters out of 14 peaks. The worlds 2nd highest peak is K-2 (8611 meters), Gasherbrum-1 (8068 meters), Broad peak (8047 meters), Gasherbrum-II (8034 meters)(all in Karakoram range) and Nanga Parbat (8125 meters) (himaliya range). Beside these peaks, there are many other peaks, such as Masherbrum, Distaghilsar, Haramosh, Raka Poshi, Trivor, Chogolisa and many others.
There are 101 peaks above 7000 meters in Pakistan. There are more than 120 Peaks over 6000 meters and most of them are untouched, unclimbed and unnamed with an average height of 6550 meters. There are count less peaks from 3000 to 6000 meters which unnamed and unclimbed.
In between these Peaks, there are heavenly vallies, largest Glaciers, the Baltoro, and the other Glaciers of the Karakoram are the largest and the longest in the world out side the polar region from its spectacular, birth place in Concodia, at the base of Mount K-2 and Gasherbrum ranges, the Baltoro Glacier flows for more than 59 Kms while the Batura Glacier to the North, hanging over the Karakoram Highway, streams down from Ramparts of the Hindu Kush, flowing for almost 65 Kms.
Since time immemorial people have been passing through, meeting and mixing through these mountain passes.One finds unlimited vestiges of those people of the by gone days. The rock carvings, castles, shrines and places of worships all are witnesses to the builder’s genius. In a small area there are dozen languages with their varying dialects, making it a haven for the philologists.
Therefore, tourism is not new to the people of these areas. Travelers as great as Marco Polo, Hun Tsang and Fa Heian have trekked through these great mountains. But in recent years tourism has picked up and trekking and mountaineering has become the most stable segment of the tourism trade. The number of mountaineering and trekkers is on the increase with the passing of each day