Introduction!
Background: Pakistan is the land of the Indus River, which flows through the country for 25, 00 kilometers (1,600 miles) from Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges to the Arabian Sea. It is a land of snow-covered peaks and burning deserts, of fertile mountain valleys and irrigated plains. Created in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent , it is inhabited by some 128 million people (1995) belonging to many ethnic groups speaking over 20 different languages and wearing distinctive costumes , but all united by the Islamic faith.
The land of the Pure' (as the Urdu name Pakistan translates into English) is strategically placed at the crossroads of Asia, where the road from China to the Mediterranean meets the route from India to Central Asia. From thousands of years, this junction has been a melting pot diverse culture, attracting trades and adventurers, pilgrims and holy men.
Cut off by political events and ignored until recently by most tourists, Pakistan is once again on the main trade route and tourist path to China and Central Asia. The old silk routes have reopened. The spectacular Karakoram Highway threads its way through the Himalaya, Karakoram and Pamir mountains, and enters China over the 4,733-meter (15,528-foot) Khunjerab Pass, one of the highest metalled border crossings in the world. Pakistan is also a gateway to the new republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhatan and Tajikistan.
For any visitor, Pakistan has a wealth of attraction: its 4,000-year history is richly illustrated by archaeological sites and imposing monuments scattered the length and breath of the country .Brick cities from the Indus Civilization, which flourished around 2000 B.C. , stand beside Buddhist ruins contemporaneous with the birth of Christianity . Magnificent Muslim tombs from the 12th century vie with the palaces, mosques and forts of the Mughal emperors of the 16th and 17th centuries.
The country' s main cities reflect the many influences, both historical and modern, that have made Pakistan what it is today .Lahore, close to the Indian border, is the cultural centre of the country with and elegant core of Mughal architecture embellished by the flowery exuberance of the British Raj. Pashwar, on the North-West Frontier with Afghanistan, is a city straight out of the Arabian Nights, with tribesmen in turbans nonchalantly carrying rifles through the colorful bazaars. Islamabad, the federal capital, is a modern garden city planned by Greek architects. Finally, bustling Karachi, with its population of 11 million, is a huge international port, industrial and financial center.
Best of all are Pakistan's mountains, rivers, deserts and national parks… playgrounds for the adventurous and those interested in the great outdoors. In the north of the country, four great mountain ranges meet, offering some of the most challenging and scenic mountaineering, trekking and jeep safaris in the world. Five huge rivers flow south to the sea, forming the flight-paths for migrating birds and providing exciting white-water rafting and boating. The camel, ship of the desert, is the best means of transport for remote safaris and nature watching far from modern civilization in the unchanging desert.
What is more, Pakistan is unspoilt. Tourism is in its infancy, yet the four principal cities offer first class hotels, with simpler but adequate accommodation available elsewhere.
To the spirit hungry for exploration and adventure, Pakistan beckons.
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Geography!
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California
Climate: Pakistan offers great variety in its climate, from cool mountain pastures beside the glaciers, through windy plateaux, to warm river valleys and burning deserts. Arriving at Karachi, Islamabad or Lahore the first impression is of tree-line streets and well-watered gardens. But only the central strip of Pakistan, from Lahore to the mountain slopes north of Islamabad, is favored with refreshing natural rain and moderate temperatures; most of Pakistan's agricultural land is the result of extensive irrigation.
Central Pakistan is blessed by the annual monsoon which blows in across the northern Punjab from India, causing sudden summer downpours from July to September, and dropping 500 millimeters (19.5 inches) of rain a year. The monsoon usually reaches Islamabad about a week after arriving in Delhi. Occasionally, rain comes to this area from the west in winter.
The rest of the country, the north, west and south, are deserts dependent on irrigation from the five great rivers, the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab ,Ravi and Sutlej. Over three-quarters of Pakistan receives less than 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) of rain annually and a quarter of that area less than 120 millimeters (4.7 inches) a year. June and July are the hottest months, with midday temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (over100 degrees Fahrenheit) in most places. In upper Sindh and neighboring Balochistan , the temperature occasionally goes into the 50s Celsius(over 122 Fahrenheit).
Naturally, it is cooler at higher altitude, especially in the mountain valleys of Swat and Kaghan, and around Murree where there is rain, but it can get very hot in summer along the dry northern valleys of the Indus and Gilgit revers, where the heat radiates off the bare mountains. Above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), temperatures are usually pleasant during the day and cool at night.
December, January and February are the coldest months. At this time, Sindh, southern Punjab and the lower area of Balochistan are cool, with daytime temperatures of 10-25 degree Celsius (50-77 degrees Fahrenheit). Islamabad in winter is crisp during the day and cold at night. Above, 1500 meters (5,000 feet), days are cold and nights are very cold.
Tourism!
Tourism: PAKISTAN is an unspoilt tourist destination with a variety of contrast geographical features from the warm beaches of Arabian Sea to the snow covered lofty mountains in the north. The cultures equally vary along with its landscape. People, living in the deserts, fertile plains and at the foot of mighty mountains, present a colourful variety of languages, cultures and ancient civilizations. Therefore, it is quite impossible to avoid the flavour and fragrance of its deep past. This country traces its history back from about 10,000 years ago. Along the banks of Indus and its tributaries, grew civilization after civilization. In seventh millennium BC Mehergarh was a sizable village that by 6000 BC grew into a town of 3000 people living in red mud brick houses. Indus Valley Civilization (3500 BC), Gandhara Civilization (500 BC) and the civilization of Mughul era are the most famous heritages of the land, now called Pakistan. British entered in the Sub Continent for trade in 1600 AD and by 1857 AD, gradually colonized the whole region. In 1947, South Asia got freedom in the form of two domains; Pakistan and India.
People belong to various ethnic and linguistic groups presenting a colorful blend of different cultures. Urdu is the lingua franca but English is also widely spoken by literate urban strata. Pakistan (140 million populations) is a federation of four provinces viz., Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and North West Frontier Province. Islamabad, the newly built city, is the capital but Karachi situated at the shores of Arabian Sea, is the largest city and main centre of commerce and industry.
How To Reach : Pakistan is accessible both by air and land. Many airlines operate flights from the international airports of Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore to the various major cities of the world daily. Rail and road transport operate between Lahore (Pakistan) and Delhi (India). Iran is also connected by rail and road. Road transport runs to Afghanistan via historic Khyber Pass. Khunjerab Pass (4730 meters) is the highest road of the world that connects Pakistan and China via Karakorum Highway (the ancient Silk Route).
Best Season :
Northern Areas can be best visited in summer (May to October) but for treks on high altitude and crossing passes mid June to mid August. Late March and April is the best time to enjoy blossom and October & November to watch the colorful autumn in the picturesque valleys. January is the best month for limited hunting of the rear specie of ibex in accordance with wild life conservation rules.
Although the country is in the monsoon region, it is arid, except for the southern slopes of the Himalayas and the sub-Mountainous tract which have a rainfall from 76 to 127 cm.
Balochistan is the driest part of the country with an average rainfall of 21 cm. On the southern ranges of the Himalayas, 127 cm. of precipitation takes place, while under the lee of these mountains (Gilgit and Baltistan) rainfall is hardly 16 cm. Rainfall also occurs from western cyclonic distrubances originating in the Mediterranean.
It is appreciable in the western mountains and the immediate forelying area; here the rainfall average ranges from 27 to 76 cm. The contribution of these western disturbances to rainfall over the plains is about 4 cm. A large part of the precipitation in the northern mountain system is in the form of snow which feeds the rivers. The all-pervasive aridity over most of Pakistan, the predominant influence on the life and habitat of the people, coupled with the climatic rhythm, characteristic of a monsoon climate, are conducive to homogeneity of the land.
Seasons
The four well-marked seasons in Pakistan are:-
(i) Cold season (December to March).
(ii) Hot season (April to June).
(iii) Monsoon season (July to September).
(iv) Post-Monsoon season (October and November).
The cold season sets in by the middle of December. This period is characterised by fine weather, bracing air-low humidity and large diurnal range of temperature. Winter distrubances in this season accordingly cause fairly widespread rain. Average mimimum and maximum temperatures are 4 oC and 18 oC, though on occasions the mercury falls well below freezing point.
The winter sun is glorious. The hot season is usually dry. Relative humidity in May and June varies from 50 per cent in the morning to 25 per cent or less in the afternoon. The temperature soars to 40 oC and beyond. The highest recorded temperature at Jaccobabad in June is 53 oC. While the interior is blazing hot, the temperature along the sea coast ranges between 25 oC to 35 oC, but the humidity persists around 70 to 80 per cent.
The south-west monsoon reaches Pakistan towards the beginning of July and establishes itself by the middle of the month. The strength of the monsoon current increases form June to July; it then remains steady, and starts retreating towards the end of August, though occasionally, it continues to be active even in September when some of the highest floods of the Indus Basin have been recorded. From the middle of September to the middle of November is the transitory period which may be called the post-monsoon season.
In October, the maximum temperature is of the order of 34 oC to 37 oC all over Pakistan, while the nights are fairly cool with the minimum temperature around 16 oC. In the month of November, both the maximum and the mimimum temperatures fall by about 6 oC and the weather becomes pleasant. October and November are by far the driest months all over the plains of Pakistan.
Mountain Flights :
There are daily flight from Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu. They are known for their breathtaking mountain scenery and are the most spectacular mountain flights in the world but subject to weather. We keep our vehicles standby at the airport for land transfer via Karakorum Highway, yet another thrilling experience.
Personal Baggage :
Mindful of extreme changes in weather in the mountains, your baggage should consist of reasonable quantity of clothing and other items of personal use. Baggage can be advised to those not experienced in Himalayan trekking. While preparing, please remember that excess baggage is always a burden. Our porters carry your duffel bags/rucksacks upto 12.5 Kgs. You are expected to carry your daypack only.
Trek Grades :
Trekking is only for those who enjoy walking and camping and for whom a bit of discomfort is rewarded by the splendour of nature in high mountains. Based on averages, we have graded different treks according to the level of difficulty. However no two persons are the same and it is for this reason that average walking hours may also vary from person to person.
Easy : Maximum 5-6 hours daily walk on established trails with no extreme change in elevation.
Moderate : 6-7 hours walk with gradual altitude gains. Maximum altitude 4000 meters.
Strenuous : Hard walking of 7-8 hours and sharp altitudes. Maximum altitude about 5000 meters. May involve fording streams and side trips or high passes as high as 5500 meter. May require rope and ice-axe. Mountaineering knowledge recommended.
Population:
The population of the country as on 1st January, 1994, is estimated at about 124.45 million with its male/female ratio of 52.50:47.50 per cent. The current growth rate of 3.0 per cent is the highest among nine most populous countries of the world.
The population is expected to reach 150 million by the year 2000. Density per square kilometre is 156 persons. Literacy rate is estimated to be 36.8 per cent. Of the four provinces, with 25.8 per cent of land area of the country, Punjab has 56.5 per cent of the total population; Sindh, with 17.7 per cent of land area, has 22.6 per cent: NWFP, (including FATA) with 12.8 per cent of land area, has 15.7 per cent; Balochistan, with 43.6 per cent of land area, has 5.1 per cent.
Thus, Punjab is the most densely (240 persons per sq km) populated province, followed by Sindh and NWFP. Balochistan is the least populated province, with 19 persons per square kilomatre. The overall population density of the country is 156 persons per square kilometre as estimated in 1994. Sindh is the urbainised province with 43 per cent of the people living in urban areas including Karachi City. The urban population of Punjab is 28 per cent followed by NWFP, 21 per cent, and Balochistan 16 per cent.
About 67 per cent of the total urban population of the country lives in 28 cities with population of 100,000 and above, while 57 per cent of the total urban population lives in 12 cities with population lives in 12 cities with population of 200,000 and above.
Age Composition According to the Labour Force Survey, 1990-91, 46.93 of the population is under 15 years of age; 49.66 per cent is between the age groups of 15 and 64 years, while 3.41 per cent comprises persons 65 years old and above.
Population
Pakistan's population was estimated at 128 million in January 1995, the ninth largest in the world and increasing by 3.1 percent a year- one of the highest birth rates in Asia. In 1901 there were only 16.6 million people in what is now Pakistan.
A third of Pakistan's population live in the big cities, the biggest being Karachi (11 million), Lahore (8 million),Faisalabad and Rawalpindi-Islamabad(3 million each), Hyderabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Peshawar (two million each),and Sialkot ,Sargodha and Quetta (one million each).
About three-quarters of all Pakistanis live in the Indus Valley, leaving the desert areas virtually uninhabited.
Fertile Punjab is by far the most populous province with 72 million inhabitants, followed by Sindh with over 31 million, NWFP claims over 16 million ,Balochistan 7 million and over a million live in the Northern Areas.
Though uniteed by Islam there are many ethnic groups speaking over 20 languages, the major ones being Punjabi in Punjab; Sindhi an dSeraiki in Sindh; Balochi, Pushtu and Brahui in Balochistan; Pustu , Hindko, Kashmiri, Khowar,Kohistani, Gujar and Kalashi in the North- West Frontier Province, and Balti,Shina, Burushaski and Wakhi in the Northern Areas.
The linguistic picture is further complicated by the multiplicity of tribal dialects that have evolved in isolated valleys.
Of the above, Burushaski belongs to no known language family, and Brahui is an ancient Dravidian tongue, now mainly restricted to South India. Balochi belongs to the Iraninan sub-family of Indo-European languages and Balti is ancient Tibetan. Kashmiri, Khowar, Kohistani, Kalashi and Shina are all Indo-European Dardic languages, while Sindhi and Seriki, Punjabi and Urdu show a much simpler patern of Indo-Aryan languages.
The lingua franca of Pakistan is Urdu, which means "army" or "camp" , reflecting that the language was formed from mixture of Hindi , Local languages, and the Persian , Arabic and Turkish spoken by invaders from the North. Though Urdu is the mother- tongue of only a fraction of the population, it is the medium of education in schools and the majority understands at least a few words. English is also taught in some schools and the more educated people are reasonably fluent-there is no difficulty in making yourself understood in the larger towns.
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