ABSTRACT
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in South Asia, borders the Arabian Sea and sits between India to the east, Iran and Afghanistan to the west, and China to the north. Besides being the 33rd largest country by area, Pakistan is also the world’s fifth most populous country, with nearly 238.2 million people. Noted for its diverse ancient cultures, Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world, with 96 percent of its people practicing Islam. Islamabad is the nation’s capital. The country is linguistically and ethnically diverse, with Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Saraikis, and Muhajirs as the major ethnic groups. Over 60 languages are spoken, but Urdu and English are the official languages. Natural resources include limestone, arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, coal, iron ore, copper, and salt.
