Pakistan is a country in the Indian subcontinent. This country lies between the parallels 24 degrees North and 37 degrees North and between the meridian 61 degrees East and 75 degrees East. The total area of Pakistan is about 8 lakhs square kilometers.

Afghanistan lies to the north of Pakistan, India to the east, Iran and Afghanistan to the west and Arabian Sea to the South.

The Hindukush and Suleman ranges lie to the north-west and the Kirthar range to the South. The Baluchistan plateau lies to the west of the kirthar range. There are many Passes in the mountain ranges.The Khyber Pass in the Hindukush mountains and the Bolan pass in the Kirthar range are well known. In the northern Pakistan, the Potwar plateau lies to the south-east of the Hindukush mountain.

The climate of Pakistan is hot and dry. The climate in the high mountains ranges is cold in winter. The temperature in summer is 25 degrees C to 30 degrees C and in winter, the average temperature is 10 degrees C. In the northern mountainous tract, the temperature drops below freezing point during winter.

The southern part has a monsoon climate, but monsoon winds, blowing after June, are generally dry. The average annual rainfall of Pakistan is 50 cm. The average annual rainfall in northern Pakistan is about 75 to 90 cm whereas it is less than 10 cm in the south.

The hilly region in the north is moderately cold and receives moderate rainfall. Hence, there are coniferous forests in this region. Stunted thorny bushes grow in the south and in the west, as the rainfall is scanty. Date-palms are also found in some regions.

There are not many wild animals in Pakistan as the forests are few. Deer, bears, tigers and some of the wild animals to be found. The camel is the main animal in the desert. Asses, mules etc. are found in the dry, semi-arid region of the west.

Pakistan is also an agricultural country. The regions in the north and in the west are hilly and hence, less suitable for cultivation. But most of the agriculture is carried on in the fertile Indus basin. Agriculture in Pakistan is good and mainly dependant on irrigation.

Tarbela on the Indus river is the biggest dam in Pakistan. There are some other big dams, too, on the Indus. Production of food grains is plentiful in the Indus basin. Thanks to irrigation facilities!

There are coal, iron ore and gold mines in Baluchistan. Chromite,limestone, sulphur and gypsum are also found in Pakistan on a small scale. Low grade coal is found in Punjab and Baluchistan. It is used to generate thermal electricity. Mineral oil is produced in the Godak, Potwar and Meyal regions. There are oil wells to the north-west of Rawalpindi.Natural gas is found at Sui.

Pakistan has made progress in the generation of hydro-electricity and from that point of view, Tarbela is an important hydro-electric project. Thermal electricity is also produced at some power stations in Pakistan. There is a nuclear power plant near Karachi.

Most of the roads and railways in Pakistan are seen in the Indus valley. There are few roads in the hilly regions. The mule and the camel are used for transport in these regions. There are railway routes between Karachi which is a port in the south and Peshawar in the north. Another railway route goes to Rawalpindi from Multan. There is a railway from Sukkur to Quetta passing on further to Iran via Nok Kundi and another to India via Karachi and Hyderabad.

All the major cities in Pakistan are linked by air. Karachi has an international airport. Pakistan has a national and international telephone network as well as radio and television transmission stations.

Almost all international trade of Pakistan is handled through the Karachi port. Cotton yarn and cotton cloth, silk, carpets, rice, leather and sports goods are exported from Pakistan. Most of the exported goods go to the European countries, to Saudi Arabia and to the United States of America.

Pakistan imports petroleum and other minerals, vehicles, vegetable oils, chemicals and machinery. Most of these goods come from the United States and from the European countries. Petroleum is imported from Saudi Arabia and from Gulf countries.

The population of Pakistan is nearly eleven crores. The Punjab and Sind in the fertile Indus valley are thickly populated. On the other hand, Baluchistan and the hilly areas in the north are thinly populated.

Most of people in Pakistan belong to Islamic religion, though there are a few Hindus, Christians, Parsees and Buddhists. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. Besides there are regional languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushtu and Baluchi.

Most of the houses in Pakistan are built of bricks and clay with walled fencing. Though people in different regions have been wearing different types of clothes, the men and the women today tend to wear modern dresses.

The main occupation in Pakistan is agriculture, but some people are also engaged in other occupations, like rearing animals, fishing, lumbering and working in factories.