On this page:

• Summary
• A short history
• People and society
• Customs and traditions
• Media and Internet

Pakistan, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is located in South Asia and is the fifth most populous country in the world, as well as the second-largest Muslim-majority country, with a population of 251.7 million as of 2024. Islamabad in the north is the nation's capital, while Karachi in the south is by far the largest city and is the financial and industrial centre, with over 20 million people.

Pakistan is bordered by India to the east, China to the northeast, Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the northwest. The nation has some of the most hostile regional boundaries in the world which has resulted in numerous military disputes. The total land area is 882,363 km², roughly half the size of Queensland.

Pakistan is geographically diverse with five distinct regions. These include the Thar Desert and Indus Valley, the Balochistan Plateau, the southern Indus Basin, the Northwest Frontier Mountains, and the Northern Highlands. There are four administrative provinces, one federal territory, and two autonomous territories. The four provinces are Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan. The federal territory is the Islamabad Capital Territory. The autonomous territories are Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit–Baltistan. Each region has its own capital city and is ethnically and linguistically distinct from the others.

A short history

Some of the earliest human civilisations in South Asia, dating back to 7500 BCE, originated in Pakistan. The Indus Valley civilisations (3000 BCE to 1300 BC) covered most the country, spreading over 1,500 kilometres. This made it larger than other ancient civilisations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China. In 1500-500 BCE Indo-Aryan tribes moved into the Punjab province from Central Asia bringing with them their own religious traditions and practices which fused with local cultures. It was during this period that the oldest scriptures of Hinduism were composed.

In 326 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the region by defeating various local rulers, most notably, King Porus, at Jhelum. In 711 CE, Muhammad ibn Qasim, an Arab general from the Umayyad Caliphate, took over the Sindh and Punjab province, killing the last Hindu king. His conquest laid the foundations of modern Pakistan by introducing Islam as the dominant religion. Before this time, the region was home to a diverse plethora of faiths including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. From 1100 CE onwards, several successive Muslim empires ruled over the people with the most influential being the Mughal Empire. The relative peace maintained by the Mughal Empire during much of the 17th century was a factor in the region’s economic expansion which lasted until the mid-19^th century.

In 1839, the British East India Company took control of Karachi and used the port as a military base to fight the first Afghanistan War. By 1843 the remainder of the southern region was acquired by the British Crown through a series of wars and treaties. 50 years later all modern Pakistan and India had been incorporated as part of the British Indian Empire. It remained under colonial rule until 1947 when Britain partitioned the territory into two independent dominions based on Muslim and Hindu majorities.

As many as 15 million refugees moved across the new national borders drawn up by British barrister Sir Cyril Radcliffe (who had famously never travelled further east than Paris before being tasked with drawing up the lines of partition). Unlike earlier migrations, which occurred over centuries, these chaotic population transfers transpired within months, leaving up to three million dead and up to 500,000 homeless. The country’s borders did not follow logical geographic boundaries, nor did it fully consider ethnicity and tribal affiliations, particularly between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan has never recognised the border and India and Pakistan have fought three wars over disputed territories in Jammu and Kashmir (1947, 1965, and 1999). A region which, while relatively small, is now the most militarised in the world.

People and society

Since gaining independence, Pakistan has struggled to define itself. Established as a parliamentary democracy that espoused secular ideas, the country has experienced repeated military coups and religious fundamentalism. In various parts of the country, instances of ethnic, religious, and social conflict have flared up on a regular basis, often rendering those areas virtually ungovernable by the central authorities.

Modern Pakistan’s population can be divided broadly into five major and several minor ethnic groups. The Punjabis constitute roughly half of the population and are the single largest group. The Pashtuns (Pathans) account for about one-eighth of people, and the Sindhis form a somewhat smaller group. Of the remaining population, the muhajirs –Muslims who fled to Pakistan after the partition in 1947 – and Balochs form the largest minorities.

Language

Pakistan is a multilingual country with over 70 languages spoken. Each province has its own principal language, although some administrative boundaries cut across linguistic regions. Urdu and Punjabi are the most prevalent while Sindhi, Pashto, Siraiki, Balochi, and Brahui are also claimed as primary languages.

Urdu is the youngest of the country’s languages and is not indigenous to Pakistan. It is similar to Hindi with an emphasis on Persian and Arabic words. Urdu is the dominant language of only a small portion of the population (Approximately 9%); however, it is the country’s official language and is taught in schools along with regional languages. English was named co-official language and is widely used in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches as well as, to some extent, in the officer ranks of Pakistan's armed forces. It is not widely spoken amongst the general population.

Religion

Most Pakistanis belong to the Sunni sect of Islam while a minority are Shi’ah. The role of religion in Pakistani society varies. Some Islamic schools are quite moderate while others have a more conservative doctrine, particularly in rural areas. Clashes between the different ideologies have led to violence, mainly in the tribal regions. Some conservative groups have strongly advocated refashioning Pakistan as a chaste Islamic or theocratic state. After Hindus, Christians are the second-largest minority group, representing about 1.6% of the population. While Muslims and Christians mostly co-exist amiably, accusations of blasphemy have on occasion led to mob violence against Christians.

In traditional parts of Pakistan, social organisation revolves around kinship, unlike the caste system that is used in India. Endogamy (marriages within a social or ethnic group) is widely practiced with lineage being very important to one’s social status. Most families are strongly patriarchal. They live together with large extended families, often in the same house or family compound. The eldest male is usually the family leader and is responsible for making all significant decisions related to the family.

Traditionally, the woman’s place in society has been secondary to that of men. There is a general expectation that women will stay home and perform domestic duties, although some cities are much more progressive. In many urban areas and villages, the practice of keeping women in seclusion (purdah) is common and honour killings are still practiced and accepted by local councils despite being illegal nationally. In 2022 there were 520 reported honour killings, which included 197 men. The actual number is likely to be much higher as many incidents go unreported.

The strengthening of women’s rights has occurred rapidly amongst the urban middle-class, inspired by increasing access to the West as well as the entry of women into the workforce and in government roles. Some of Pakistan’s leading politicians, journalists, and teachers have been women, including a prime minister and speaker of parliament.

Customs and Traditions

Pakistani clothing styles are similar in many ways to those found in India. Men wear a knee-length coat known as a sherwani and women frequently wear a light shawl called a dupatta. Among conservative Muslim communities, women sometimes wear the burqa. Western clothes are popular among urban youth, and combinations of Western and Pakistani styles can be seen in the cities. Pakistani food is closer to India than to the Middle East. Curry dishes are common, as are a variety of vegetables, including potatoes, eggplant, and okra.

Pakistanis celebrate the two major Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr (which marks the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (which marks the end of the hajj). Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s birthday (December 25) is a celebrated holiday as well as Pakistan’s Independence Day on the 14^th of August.

Literature, notably poetry, is the richest of all Pakistani art forms. Music and modern dance are also important, with unique modern adaptation of traditional dances. These include the bhangra (an explosive dance developed in Punjab), khatak, kikli, and luddi. The luddi is a Punjabi dance usually performed by males, typically to celebrate a victory – formerly victory in a military conflict but now in a sports contest.

Ancient relics from multiple civilisations throughout Pakistan’s history show a unique and diverse culture that has evolved over time. The country boasts impressive architecture and a wide range of visual arts, handcrafts, and textiles that are influenced by both Hindu and Islamic heritage.

Sport

Cricket is a national favourite, and the country has produced some of the world’s best players, including Asif Iqbal and Imran Khan. The Pakistani national team won the World Cup in 1992 and has secured many victories in one-day international competitions. Squash and field hockey are also popular.

Media and Internet

Pakistan fares poorly for press freedom, ranking 152 out of 180 countries in the 2024 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. This constitutes a large decline since 2018. While Pakistan has a vibrant press with dozens of outlets, any serious criticism of the government or military is seen as a red line.

State intimidation tactics, including online harassment, threats of violence, and financial penalties, have driven many journalists and their employers to self-censorship. The situation is grimmer for female journalists in a media landscape that is predominantly male. Most female journalists are typically confined to major cities and limited to covering themes such as culture, health, and sports.

Pakistan’s political polarisation exacerbates the fraught media environment. Liberals and opposition figures lionize anti-establishment journalists; however, they are often targeted by government supporters. Successive Pakistani governments have argued against the low ranking while at the same time, have introduced laws to further restrict freedom under the guise of national security and the protection of Islam. The Digital Rights Protection Agency (DRPA) under the PECA Act of 2024 enables the government to monitor social media and impose punishments for blasphemy, indecency, and posting false information, without clarifying what exactly that means.

There were 111.0 million internet users in Pakistan at the start of 2024, with internet penetration at 45.7%. Of those users, 76% live in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A total of 188.9 million cellular mobile connections were active in Pakistan in early 2024, with this figure equivalent to 77.8% of the total population.

For more general information on Pakistan, see resources below:

Videos

• Pakistan History in 5 Minutes – Animated History
• Cultural Diversity in Pakistan

Articles

• Pakistan – The World Factbook (cia.gov)
• Pakistan | History, Population, Religion, & Prime Minister | Britannica
• Pakistani Culture, Customs, and Traditions – WorldAtlas
• Culture of Pakistan – history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family (everyculture.com)
• Months after attacks, Pakistan’s Christians still feel unsafe (bbc.com)
• Press Freedom Day: Why are journalists fleeing Pakistan? – DW – 05/03/2024
• Pakistan: Activists and journalists targeted, increased controls on online expression and crackdown on protests – Civicus Monitor
• Digital 2024: Pakistan – DataReportal – Global Digital Insights