Between Pakistan & Korea

Punjab’s new Model Bazaars Enable Locals

admin — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 20:56:12 +0000

For the first time in the history of the country, Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif has begun the project of setting up model bazaars around the country. The main purpose of these bazaars is to provide reasonably priced necessities like food and clothing to people who can’t afford those items in stores owned by big companies.

The big deal isn’t the bazaar itself; they have those everywhere. But this bazaar offers food and clothing in market stalls that will be clean and operated by locals selling their wares. It’s a way to keep local money local, and it’s been successfully started in a handful of cities so far.

By the People for the People

The plan is to have them all over the country so Pakistan’s citizens can help each other. The Chief Minister added that it will be the responsibility of managing committees made up of local people to decide reasonable rent and manage the bazaars, and no department of the government will have a role.

Amid a few stalls of big businesses the locals will sell clothing for children and adults, local produce and meats, and for the customer’s convenience separate stalls for men and women are designated. There will also be areas for children to play while their parents sit down and watch them having fun. He said it’ll be a pleasant atmosphere for shopping families.

At first they’ll only facilitate local sellers, but if locals don’t fill all the stalls and if enough applications are made, the managing committees will consider a draw for filling the stalls with outside (but small) sellers.

Places to visit in Pakistan

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:01:46 +0000

Image by allieatfood via Flickr

Pakistan has a lot of tourist attractions. There is a lot of diversity in Pakistan. Pakistan is diverse geographically too. If on one side you have mountains, on the other side you have the greens. There are dry regions and there are regions with abundant rainfall.

Pakistan is also a culturally diverse nation. The many tribes of Pakistan have their colorful ways of celebrating life. Their numerous festivals, and their lifestyle is unique.

Here are some places to visit in Pakistan.

Taxila

Taxila was part of India. When India was partitioned, it became a part of Pakistan. Taxila is situated in Rawalpindi District. It is an ancient city dating back to the Gandhara period. It was the seat of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Taxila is ranked as a World Heritage Site, and is also the top visited place in Pakistan. Taxila has a lot of ruins of buildings. Dotted with Buddhist stupas, it gives visitors a glimpse of the past.

The Kailash Valley

The Kailash Valley is a place inhabited by the Kailash tribe. The Kailash tribe are a nature worshiping people. Located in Chitral District, this place is lush green and mountainous. The Kailash have a unique culture. With modernity and urbanization cutting through, the culture and the people are becoming endangered. When you visit the place, you will be amazed at the unique culture of the Kailash people.

Lahore

Lahore is a city. But it is much more than a city. Lahore is a place of culture. Also being a commercial capital, Lahore has a strong influence of the Mughal regime. Plenty of historical sites are present here.

Learning About Foreign Cultures

admin — Sun, 22 May 2011 13:23:48 +0000

We spend so much time thinking about our own culture and what is going on around us in the United States, that sometimes we do not see beyond what is going on around us, and we do not look at what is happening in other countries and other countries. Learning about other cultures and other countries can be beneficial for us, as it is going to teach us about the entire world as a whole rather than forcing us to address only our own domestic issues.

Learning About Foreign Cultures

There are a myriad of ways that we can learn about other countries and other cultures around the world. Is there a specific country or culture that you are interested in learning about, or are you primarily interested in just soaking as much information and culture as you can from all over the world?

If there is a specific country or culture that you are interested in learning about, then you might consider looking up websites on the subject, buying books on the subject, or even arranging a trip there. Arranging a trip to a foreign country is an excellent way for you to immerse yourself in the culture of that country so that you can soak up everything the nation has to offer. Backpack through Europe, camp in Brazil or sightsee in Japan and you are going to be able to take in much more than if you were simply going to read about the culture. Still, everything you learn about the culture or country is going to help you gain great insight about a culture other than your own.

News – Informative Weapon

admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:18:16 +0000

News is very important for everyone to listen, that gives knowledge about many things around the country, international news, crimes in society, current affairs, politics, sports , weather reports, entertainment news, cultural news , events happening etc, there are so much to know about from the daily news.

Whether report is again very important to know may be not much important for the normal man working but it is very important for the farmers or agriculture department, because for them all their struggle and efforts they put is depend on the climate. So it is very good to know that news is highlighted the whether reports that help farms a lot to take the precautions and measures to protect their fields.

All over the world so many event are happening daily that we came to know through news. Events include the political events, international events, entertainment world events etc. International news is again a very informative to know exactly the various news relating to the world. You can ensure that the latest happenings around the world are sure to give you the best results in life. A person always needs to be informed about various happenings around the world. It can really help them in leaning new things and also understand various facts.

It is no wonder that almost 80% of the population watches daily news in order to stay in touch with the current affairs. It is quite common these days to see the news in detail on daily basis. It can really help you in making an informative person and no doubt the best weapon to fight ignorance. Don’t you think it is useful?

North East West South (NEWS)

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:18:13 +0000

Media is a kind of tool that clears the picture of every thing publicly. There are so many ways of media or many types where we can express. News is considered to be most powerful and stronger method that discloses many things like general news, current affairs, national news, international news, crime news, weather report, sports, entertainment etc.

There are so much happening all around to present or to know about, and all things we came to know through news, what is happening in country politics? International affairs, what is going on all the other part of the world, how climate changes all around? What is going on in sports? The most important which usually come to our knowledge on daily basis is increasing rate of crime all around.

Nowadays there are so much on crime, every where you will find crime, kidnap, murder, so many thief all around, chain snatching, rape, there are many more crimes which are happening all around, news is the way where we came to know about day to day crimes happening all around and that give a kind of indication to take precautions and raise voice against crime.
Today in almost all the cities, crime rate is increasing especially metropolitan cities. The cases of rapes , kidnapping, chain snatching , are becoming so common and their rate is increasing so high pace that now it become very difficult for government to control this crime , the only which is left is to protect our self and need to be more cautious and careful while carrying moving out or alone. The safety for a person is in his hands.

Bad Weather Disrupts Travel And Causes Billions Of Loss

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:18:11 +0000

Weather change is a common phenomenon across globe. But at recent times bad weather has caused disruption in air and land travel causing billions of loss to the companies. Some of the common weather changes disrupting air travel are fog, storm, heavy snowing and volcanic eruptions. It not only affects people who are in transit but also results in heavy loss to cargo transport companies. The worst affected products are the perishable goods. Usually companies are insured against such situations. However, frequent disruptions can still cause huge amount of losses.

It also causes a lot of chaos in the airport as hundreds of flights get cancelled and the airport is shut down due to bad weather. Handling such crisis is difficult but with such frequent disruptions ensuring proper management can help people in the airport. Providing basic amenities and most importantly medical help for passengers stranded in the airport is very crucial. Tourists who can afford to move to hotels do so but more often not many can afford to extent their holidays. This causes lot of confusion as they are forced to stay at the airport. Though weather forecasts help to some extent, in such situations it becomes difficult to predict.

A sudden weather change like volcanic eruption can last for weeks and disrupt air and land travel, and it is not safe to travel until the weather conditions improve. Land travel also gets affected due bad weather conditions such as to fog, floods, hurricanes and heavy snowing. When it comes to land travel, bad weather can cause damage to either the transport or the infrastructure. Loss of homes and personal belonging also puts a financial burden on individuals

Trade Events Boosts International Business And Economy

admin — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:18:08 +0000

Events or trade fairs are usually organized to promote product or encourage investment in that particular field. Events are becoming more and more popular especially as a means to reach international market. Tie-ups between countries in different sectors are usually accompanied by such events. Such events provide a platform to meet interested buyers or sellers or distributors. It also helps countries a chance to bring in foreign investment. It helps to widen the network other than domestic market. It brings the best from each country and helps companies to understand the market and their competitors. It also helps company to showcase their product at an international level.

Events arranged for products can be interesting as it would showcase the best of products across world. These products naturally have to have cutting edge technology, quality and competitive pricing to be showcased in the event. Though such way of advertising can cost a lot for the company, missing out on such events can diminish the company’s market share. Classic example can be automobile trade fairs where the best of the companies showcase their vehicles. New launches in such events will create much interest and boosts sales for the company.

It gives an opportunity to target a wide range of audience and a company cannot afford to miss such events. Food events are also in popular demand as companies are inventing new ingredients and products to cater to the needs of the masses. Pricing, taste, convenience and quality are some of the qualities which people look for in such food shows. Trade fairs or events also bring in investment worth in billions and boosts the economy of the country.

Tourism Destination Is Becoming Popular To Promote Tourism

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:18:06 +0000

We have all heard of tourism which is nothing but people traveling for a holiday or business. However, tourism destination is the key word today. Tourism destinations are usually places where people are largely depended on the revenue of tourists. Or we can say that a particular city is depended on tourism for their livelihood. So with an increase in tourists their income will also increase. However, the downside of such places is during off seasons there is nothing much happening in the place and people have to look out for other jobs.

Countries also promote certain cities as tourism destination to encourage more traffic into such cities. Off late travel bureaus also bring out interesting packages with different places at an affordable cost. Such packages promote tourism and enables people with middle income to travel to exotic destinations. This is also one way of promoting new destination and it offers tourists a wider range of choice. It helps people who want to take a holiday within their budget as not all people can afford a world tour. Countries also declare a particular year as tourism year and spend a lot on advertising to increase tourists.

During this time there are different shopping packages and other interesting combination of offers are made available to tourists. Discount coupons in malls or popular shops are thrown in the package to attract tourists. There are usually tie-ups with hotels and airlines in popular destinations to attract tourists who want to travel on low budgets. There are also easy to pay EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) schemes available with the use of credit cards which enable tourist to pay for their holidays easily. Such options allow tourist to go even on a world tour and pay for them at a later date. Family holidays become more interesting and enjoyable with these options.

Crime Rates Have Been Increasing As Economy Grows

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:18:04 +0000

Crime rates have been increasing over the years and there is not a single safe place in the world. If we analyze what is the reason for these crimes, one factor which stands out is greed. Some researchers debate that the crime rates are increasing due to partiality in the society and corruption. The fact which cannot be denied in many countries is that rich people are becoming richer and poor people are becoming poorer day by day. To top it all the recent economic meltdown has made matters worse with millions of people loosing their jobs.

Almost all types of crimes have been increasing but according to crime rate statistics the most common ones are as follows: burglary, rape, murder, vehicle theft, assault, drugs, smuggling, harassment at work and arson. But these statistics are usually taken from the crimes which are reported. These cannot be taken at face value as there are so many crimes which do not see the daylight. One such crime is domestic violence and abuse. Across world domestic violence and abuse go unreported in many cases. Though 24 hour free help lines are available not many people come forward to report the crime. In most countries it is a normal household occurrence and is not even considered as crime.

Another crime which is not reported is harassment in the work place. In some countries there are not well defined laws to protect employees against work place harassments. Or the system is so complicated that it would take years to get justice and the victim ends up spending all their money to bring out the truth. Corruption and muscle power has also made people from not reporting such crimes or witnessing for such crimes. Sound legal system and uprooting of corruption can result in justice for victims and bringing the crime rates down to the ground.

Emission Of Greenhouse Gases A Major Cause For Extreme Weather Changes

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:15:23 +0000

Weather changes are a common phenomenon across globe. However, across the world people are experiencing extreme weather changes mainly due to emission of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gas emission is inevitable due to increase in industrialization. Though emission of greenhouse gases had been there for decades, due to rapid industrial growth and other human activities, this has increased to a threatening level. All countries are experiencing extreme weather or climatic changes such as drought, severe storms, snow storms, floods, extreme heat or cold weather. This has sent alarm bells across all countries.

It’s impossible to fight these weather changes by a single country. It would take combine effort from across globe to commit to preserve natural resources and control greenhouse gas emissions. In the recent environmental summit many countries refused to sign binding agreement on greenhouse gas emission norms. However, across globe countries are trying their best to control these factors. Last year extreme weather changes have left people wondering about the impact of human activities on the nature. These weather changes have left millions of people homeless, caused damage to infrastructure and personal belongings and accounted for the death of millions of people. There is still a larger threat looming over, which is if the situation is not controlled can cause further damage.

Another threat is these weather or climatic changes has had adverse effect on human health. Such extreme hot or cold weather has caused too many health problems. The only way to control or resolve this problem is to make a combined effort to preserve the earth. There has been lot of awareness campaigns to reduce global warming and about ozone layer depletion. As common man can do a lot to prevent global warming, many environmental groups are creating awareness campaigns. Many multinational organizations have started with the go green concept to save the identity of green plants on our beloved earth.

The Weather Outside

admin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 11:15:20 +0000

After a hard day’s work in some tall building, sitting inside some cubicle cut off from the view outside, you wrap up for the day to head home. A thought that might cross your mind as you get up to take the elevator down, is perhaps – how is the weather outside? It would be terrible if you get caught in sudden rain without an umbrella, or get stranded due to snow.

On another day, you take that morning flight to attend some meeting in another city, and then have to rush back by the evening flight to complete some pending work in your office before heading for home. Just because you did not bother to catch up on the weather report, you had to face a hailstorm, and rain, and some cold and fever, and of course a severe headache. Had you known that roads would be closed due to snow, you may have traveled a day earlier to get to the meeting in time.

Weather information seems to have become critical to our functioning, since this has a bearing on all aspects of our fast-paced lives. It is now possible to keep a check on weather reports through our mobile phones, by installing some package that provides regular weather information. Companies that provide these services are expected to grow since these packages are bound to be used by ever increasing populations.

At the same time, dependence on weather reports is also expected to create other problems, since people might mechanically reach out for their mobile phones to see the weather report, even though they may probably be standing in the rain. So a bit of common sense never hurt anybody, and this knowledge must always be stored at the back of the mind, despite all the tools at hand. We must not lose the capability to feel the weather through our own system.

War Of Words

admin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:15:19 +0000

During ancient times, it was not possible to communicate anger to people who were beyond the range of hearing. It was necessary to physically travel to the person to vent out the anger. By the time the person got close enough to the other person, the anger might have evaporated and forgotten. Anger management was a lot easier during those times. The trick was probably to either swallow the anger, or let it pass, unless of course the person was within the range of hearing, in which case he gets the full blast of the anger as it was vented out.

Later, as the world developed, and people started using messengers to carry their missives to distant locations, it became easier for people to vent their anger through the missives, which could be carried by the messenger on horseback to the recipient in the distant land. Carrier pigeons were also used for the purpose by many innovative people. Venting out anger, the war of words, had become a lot easier through such methods. The situation has advanced a lot more today, with the development of technology. The war of words now happens through many different media that are widely used today.

It happened through newspapers and radio, and then through the telephones. Later television became a medium for the venting of anger. And now the internet has completely transformed the manner in which the war of words is handled. People extensively use all that the internet can provide in their war of words. Hence the venting of anger now happens through emails, through internet messengers, through blogs, though spam, through social networking sites, and so on. Even the mobile phone was not left unaffected, since these phones now carry the internet with them. Most people on this planet are now just a flip of a switch or a mouse click away from the either end of the war of words. It was never so easy before to vent out anger and get on with life. When the war is in words it is dangerous.

Events To Remember

admin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:15:17 +0000

From a certain perspective, our entire lives are a chain of events tied together by spaces of intervening and uneventful periods. Many events repeat each year, like birthdays and anniversaries. Some events occur once in a lifetime, like graduation. Many events, like weddings, occur for most people, while some events occur only for a very few, like a journey into space. People cherish their events, and look forward to each event with excitement. People who are busy resort to reminders for dates so that they do not miss any event. It is customary for most people now to mark personal events on a calendar which could be either printed or in digital form in their computers or mobile phones.

In addition to the events of our own selves and our family members, we also like to keep track of the events of our friends, colleagues, neighbors, employees, bosses, and so on. Many of us even keep track of the events, like birthdays, of our pets. Calendars are indeed one of the most commonly used items since they keep track of all these events together at one common place. Many events need advance preparations, with several elements involved for successful execution of the event.

For large events, these preparations become more intricate and complex in view of the number of elements and variables involved. Management of events has now become big business, with several event management companies doing brisk business. Event management is even taught as formal courses in several institutions grooming people for the hospitality sector. Event management companies are able to provide all the services starting from the concept to completion of the event. The charges for these services are often high. These companies are able to function profitably since people prefer to outsource the event management function to third parties, who will then take care of all the aspects for the event. It is a big convenience for people, since they can then stop worrying and be like guests at their own event. Definitely the events are to be remembered.

Crime Never Pays

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 11:16:07 +0000

All over the world, there has been an increase in prices of all goods and services which are used by large populations for survival. Even the prices of food have risen sharply at international levels. If we regularly keep track of the news, we often notice that there has been a corresponding increase in the cases of crime. This is particularly true in most of the under-developed and developing countries where the masses continue to struggle with issues of survival on a regular basis.

There are regular reports of all kinds of petty crimes including stealing, snatching, mugging, stabbing, looting, pick-pocketing, forgery, fraud, and so on. All newspapers scream news of crimes from their front pages. Television news adds more to sensationalize these crime stories. People are advised to be scared and not move around freely, and ‘look to left and then look to right’ before taking out their mobile phone from their pocket. Women are advised to stop wearing jewelry or keep it covered if they are moving around in public places, otherwise they can become victims of chain snatchers. People are regularly advised not to talk to strangers, otherwise they can be cheated and conned. All kinds of criminals seem to be on the loose, and when caught, some of these even turn out to belong to prosperous and respectable families.

The internet also seems to have become a hotspot for all kinds of cyber crimes. Emails seeking personal information seem to be doing the rounds by the billions each day. Imagine the plight of victims who lose all their life’s savings to internet crime. People are advised to be suspicious before clicking on any link, even if it is from a source they trust. Otherwise, they stand the risk of some spy ware getting installed on their computer, which can steal all their passwords. Viruses can also be downloaded which can completely destroy the computers, or make them work like slaves. However, in the end, all criminals get caught, and crime never pays. This is the ultimate end of criminals and crime.

News Channels And Portals Are In An Increase To Cater To The Demand Of The Masses

admin — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:15:12 +0000

News channels and portals are increasing as people want to stay connected with the happenings across the world. Regional language news channels are also in demand. News portals in different languages are also in demand. With mobiles equipped to telecast live news and mobiles internet, people can get the latest news on the move. There is a huge demand for quality news channels and portals. However, not all channels and portals have a success story.

Very few news channels and portals succeed as it understands the pulse of the audience and cater to their need. Others though invest huge amount and fail to understand the need for quality news and news readers, by providing anything and evrything on news. With so many news channels coming up there is a huge demand for talented journalists and news readers. There are lot of courses available now-a-days to take this as a professional career. However, lack of on the job training results in failures. News channels concentrating on increasing TRP’s (Television Rating Points) provide sensational news and try to bring in larger than life picture of things happening around the globe. Though this might increase the channel TRP in the long run the reliability and trust in the news channel is lost and thus ultimatly they loose their name and fame.

The best way to increase TRP is to provide accurate information and build the trust of the audience as a quality news channel. Training new employees and having experienced journalists and news readers helps the channel to boost their TRP. News channels should strive to provide true information and avoid misleading reports which can create confusion. In crisis situations people turn to media either to news channels or news portals and misleading or partial truth can result in disrupting the peace in the society. Strict laws can also help in regularizing the content and help maintain peace. Though there is freedom of speech, under fundamental lawa, as provided by the government, it should be used to promote good cause and in creating awareness rather than disrupting the normal life of people.

Visit Pakistan to Climb

admin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:11:11 +0000

Are you a serious climber? Do you plan on climbing the most challenging mountains in the world? For some people, climbing is a simple hobby. For others, it’s a mission in life. Climbing can be a fun, exciting and exhilarating adventure.

If you love a good challenging climb, then consider visiting Pakistan. Pakistan boasts several mountains that are over 7000 meters. These mountains attract international adventurers and mountaineers.

K2 is the most famous of these mountains. At 8,611 meters, K2 is known to be the second highest mountain on earth. Mount Everest comes it at first. It’s also the 22nd most prominent mountain in the world. It’s Pakistan’s high point. K2 is located in the Karakoram Range and is on the border between Pakistan and China. The mountain is also known as Savage Mountain. It’s a difficult ascent.

If you aren’t afraid to risk your life, know that K2 has the second in highest fatality amongst mountains that are 8000 meters high. Think about it this way: for every four who have reached the summit, one person has actually died trying. Annapurna has the highest fatality rate. However, understand that K2 has never been climbed during the harsh winter. Many people do believe that K2 is the most dangerous and difficult climb in the world. In July 2010, 302 people have finished the climb with at least 77 people who have died trying.

That still hasn’t stopped climbers from attempting in K2. Pakistan has a lot to offer to adventurers. There are also other regions to visit in Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, located in the north west of Pakistan is a hotspot for explorers. There are also Buddhist ruins at Shahbaz Garhi. Pakistan has so much to offer to the international adventurer. If you’re into exploration and have an adventure streak, then consider visiting Pakistan.

Travel to Pakistan

admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:10:03 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Pakistan has so much to offer. If you’re seeking the gateway to the Ancient World, then visit Pakistan. Pakistan was ranked in the top 25 percent of all tourist destinations just based on heritage sites, according to the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report. Pakistan has 5,000 year old city ruins to mangroves. The five top spots to visit include Lahore, Taxila, Karimabad, Lake Saiful Muluk and Taxilia. The country also has fairs, arts and craft shows, religious festivals, folk festivals, sporting events and various historical museums. Pakistan is a diverse country with a colorful history. It’s become a definite tourist hot spot for adventurers and foreign travelers alike.

The major attractions in Pakistan are ancient remnants of what once was. They are also categorized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Consider visiting the Indus Valley Civilization’s archeological ruins located in Moenjodaro. Head to the Buddhist ruins located at Takht-i-Bahi and other remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol. Check out Lahore’s Shalimar Gardens and Lahore Fort. Go to the historical monuments of the ancient city of Thatta. Head to Taxila’s ruins from the Gandhara Civilization.

Adventurers can challenge themselves at different spots, such as the Kunhar River, K2 or the mountain range surrounding around K2. Many mountaineers visit Pakistan to take a shot at climbing K2; however, the fatality rates are high. One out of four climbers dies when attempting the mountain.

Pakistan has so much to offer. From archeological ruins to adventures, there’s tons of places to go and explore. The tourism industry is the next best thing in Pakistan. With its diverse people, cultures and landscapes, Pakistan attracts curious travellers from around the world. When visiting Pakistan, make sure to seek out all of the country’s unique jewels and see things that you most likely can’t find anywhere else on the planet.

Visit South Korea

admin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:08:45 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

So, you’ve decided that you want to visit South Korea. When’s a good time to visit, you may wonder? It actually depends what you want to do in Korea. Let’s learn more about the four seasons and what Korea has to offer during these times.

Spring
A great time of year to be in Korea is during the Spring time. This is when temperatures are warm and not smoldering hot. Keep in mind that yellow dust from China blows over South Korea making it a difficult time to breathe.

Summer
Avoid South Korea during the Summer, except if you just plan on visiting the beaches. Summer is rain season that begins in June and turns into a virtual steam bath from July to August. South Koreans have to deal with extreme humidity. Temperature can raise as high as 35 degrees Celsius.

Fall
With fall beginning in September, it’s quite possibly the best time of the year to be in the country. The humidity and temperatures are tolerable. Nice days are common and beautiful fall scenery becomes the backdrop of your vacation.

Winter
If you love to go skiing or want to visit the hot springs, then consider visiting Korea at this time. KOrea invented ondol which is known as floor heating. This actually helps melt any frozen floors outdoors. Keep in mind that January to February can be freezing cold because of the Siberian winds that blow from up north.

So, consider visiting Korea during the Fall if you’re just looking for decent weather to do moderate activities. If you’re into winter sports, you may want to visit during the winter time, but be well equipped to deal with the bone biting weather. Spring is a wonderful time of year, but you may want to stay indoors when the yellow dust blos over. Just avoid the summer, if possible.

South Korean Nightlife

admin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:07:28 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Do you love going out at night? Then you may want to consider visiting South Korea, a country that has so much to offer, including a nice night life. You can find Western Bars in South Korea, but going to a Korean bar can be a unique experience. Visit a hof, or a typical beer place that serves beer, along with side dishes. The side dishes are customary. Many hofs now have high tech gadgets used for entertainment.

If you want to go to a night club, then visit a booking club. This is basically the Korean equivalent of a night club. The interesting custom at a booking club is the way to meet a new person is to be introduced by waiters. Booking clubs are known to be a little more expensive than hofs or normal bars, but can be a fun way of meeting new and exciting people. There is not only a cover charge, but also alcohol and side dishes that are expected to be ordered. Also, there’s other customary things that a booking club offers, such as creating a high status table by ordering expensive liquor and fruit plates. Items, like Scotch whisky, is marked up.

Locals go out to eat at Korean grillhouses throughout the city where mixing hard liquor and beer is encouraged. Bonding over food and liquor is a cultural norm in South Korea.

Karaoke is also very popular and available at places called noraebang. Larger spots also offer English, Japanese and Chinese songs.

When your in Korea, keep note of a few important etiquette points. You’re supposed to fill other people’s glasses and not your own. Keep your eye on other people’s glasses and fill them as soon as they become empty, rather than before they become empty. Also, use both hands when pouring drinks. Turn away from seniors when drinking as a sign of respect.

Things to Do in South Korea

admin — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 12:06:11 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Area you visiting South Korea for the first time? There are various sights that are popular to visit in South Korea. South Korea can be a beautiful and enchanting place that has so much to offer to travelers. From an exciting night life to natural parks, South Korea has various adventures for tourists to enjoy. There are numerous options on what you can do in South Korea.

Visit the beautiful Seoraksan National Park with its majestic mountain views located in Gangwon-do Inje-gun Buk-myeon. Consider Hallasan National Park at the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Jeju-si Haean-dong. There are numerous historical, natural and cultural spots located in seemingly every corner of Korea.

There are the UNESCO designated sights which are composed of cultural world heritage sites, natural world heritage sites, memory of the world register and intangible cultural heritage spots. There’s also numerous historical spots that include palaces, fortresses, gates, museums, monuments, demilitarized zones and hanoks or traditional houses. If you’re interested in seeing the culture of Korea, visit folk villages, temples, holy sites and cultural districts. South Korea also has 20 national parks and various cultural highlights that include mountains, forests, botanical gardens, waterfalls, valleys, rivers and lakes and observatories. There are numerous coastal highlights, such as beaches, islands, fishing villages, ports and harbors and light houses. Natural wonders exist, including rare animals and plants, ecological tourist sites and caves.

South Korea also has themed travel, including eco-tourism, cruise tours, transit tours, walking tours, city tours, Taekwondo, temple stays and traditional cultural activities. If you want to go for a spa vacation, there’s also spots you can go for solely for beauty.

South Korea can cater to anyone’s preferences. Their traveling and tourism is very accommodating. Consider visiting to South Korea, especially if you want a diverse vacation with numerous options.

Foreign Relations

admin — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:02:27 +0000

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

International affairs of any country can also be referred to as the foreign affairs of the government of that particular country with the governments of other nations. When we talk about Pakistan’s international affairs, it has mix of relations with different countries. Due to the issue of kashmere, Siachin Glacier, Water Sharing; Pakistan’s relations with India are looked upon with suspicion. In relation to Afghanistan, there arises a refugee issue. Apart from these issues it has also developed closed relationships with nations like United States of America. Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, etc.
Korea is in the same lines as Pakistan, sharing a mix of relationships with other nations. Both north and South Korea are members of the United Nations since 1991.South Korea is also a member of other international bodies like WTO, ASEAN, G-20 nations etc. One of its major achievements is that its foreign minister, Mr Ban Ki-moon is now the U.N. Secretary General. South Korea has been successful in developing good relations with nations like China, Magnolia, Russia, European Union, etc. On the other side its relations with other countries like Japan are worsening. These include conflicts over naming the Sea of Japan, ownership of rocks named Liancourt and some more related issues.
In case of North Korea’s foreign relations also, the atmosphere is stressed and volatile. In 1953, After the Korean War armistice North Korean government secluded itself and has become one the most authoritarian societies of today. Though it has been successful in maintaining its relations with Russia, Republic of China and many more nations, it has failed in developing the same with Unites States, Japan etc
It is very important for any nations to keep its foreign relationships strong and healthy as these are the most important deciding factor for any nation’s development.

Funny Pakistan News: Girl-Cramming in a Car!

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:03:58 +0000

There’s got to be some room (ha ha, ‘room’) for some oddball Guinness Book of World Records that would make you go, ‘why? huh? okay?’–not to mention put Pakistan on the map as far as some crazy stunts that can make you smile and laugh and think that people do have imaginations and bizarre ideas. What’s this all about? Simple. It’s called ‘girl-car-cramming’ (at least that’s what this article writer calls it). Explanation, please:

The art of ‘girl-car-cramming’ is essentially trying to fit as many people, in this particular case female students, into one car. Now you’re asking the question: “why would someone think of doing that??” What in Toyota’s name is the purpose for that? Just for fun, laughs, and a little world recognition.

Pakistan now holds the record for the most female students to fit in one little car as reported on December 15th of 2010. There are even photos to prove it. And brace yourself, the number will freak you out. We’re talking about a 4-door sedan, and if you’re a parent you’ll know and understand how difficult it is to cram your four kids into the back seat. So this adds a little more flavor to the fire of igniting a new world record. But, no, the new record is not four full-grown Karachi female students. No, no, no. And believe it or not, it’s not six either, which could break a few spines and rib cages. Nope, not even eight. And as crazy as it sounds, it’s not even ten!

No, now Pakistan holds the new world record for ‘girl-car-cramming’ at 19–that’s right, 19 females–crammed into one car. And trust that all those compartmentalized women with obviously fleshy rubber band parts are still alive. Amazing, Pakistan–you’ve uncovered a super power all mothers wished they have. The ability to carpool with the best of them! Of course, only one of the 19 should be the driver; that might be hard to do, though.

Bird Black Death in Korea: a Story of Tragedy

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:04:54 +0000

For poultry lovers, it is a dismal era reported this December 2010. Especially for those who specifically like Peking Roast Duck! It’s been confirmed that the first bird flu outbreak has hit the farms of Korea in the worst way and for the first time in two years, numbering up to 100,000 of our feathered friends essentially slaughtered to establish containment of the deadly virus. That’s a staggering number, and a lot of lost dinner plates at the restaurants, too.

At the heart of the story sits two poultry farms: one in central Cheonan and the other in southwest Iksan. Dismally, these two cities are suffering the H5N1 virus announcing that the Cheonan farm has lost 10,700 ducks and that the Iksan farm has lost around 17,000 breeding chickens. Quarantine was ordered for both farms to help further contain the virus; sad to say, the meat industry suffers tremendously because of the epidemic.

It hails the first time since April of 2008 that Korea has had to contain the avian flu virus with overwhelming losses.

The birds aren’t the only ones to bear the “black death” of the 21st century, though; back in 2003, four cases were reported among humans stating symptoms and diagnoses of the avian flu, and likely authorities in Korea are active and aggressive in not having a repeat of that. Sadly, the answer is, ‘sorry, ducks and chickens’. But that’s the cold truth about dealing with epidemics and outbreaks.

Since the initial onset of the ‘avian flu’ Korea has been hit by the virus three times total with this brand-new outbreak in 2010 right at the forefront. One can only hope that the third time’s a charm, and the virus will be contained even better–not to mention a decrease in meat product loss.

Who ever knew Influenza would be a new-age Black Death? First it was rats. Then it went to swine. And now to birds. Hopefully the age of disease will die out soon.

See the Seasons

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:01:09 +0000

Weather of any nation states its atmospheric condition. Such as dry, hot, windy cold, cloudy etc. It generally relates to the day to day temperatures of a state, or a city.
Korean weather is sub divided into 4 main types. It has continental type of climate in regards with temperature. The middle of the year in Korea experiences summer and monsoon characterised by hot and humid climatic conditions. Whereas the months from November to march experience cold season experiencing snow falls, chill, and snow games. An island named Jeju in south of the country is the wettest and warmest of all places in the country. The months of September to November are marked by autumn. It is also the best time to visit Korea because of the not so hot and not so cold weather. Spring comes in April till May is termed as the most beautiful of all other seasons for the reason that of its beautiful cherry blossoms.
Weather in Pakistan also, is characterised by great fluctuations because of its topography. This is one of the reasons that it plays a significant role in worldâ€™s weather analysis. The seasons in Pakistan are well dispersed. Starting from March, till April comes the spring season. From May to September, it has summer season. The months are dry, hot, and lazy. After these hot and dry months, autumn starts and continues till November, making the country more pleasant to survive in. The last season is the winter season marked by chilly air and fog. The temperature in the nation varies largely in these four seasons. Rains occur mainly in the months of July, August and September.
Due to the global warming, seasonal cycle all over the world has gone over a change and now they vary year to year and temperature to temperature.

Emblem – Representing the Country

admin — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 11:59:19 +0000

An Emblem generally represents a concept or a theory through various ways such as symbols, abstract or a pictorial figure or an image. An Emblem can represent anything such as a person, an organization, a nation or a king as well. Every Emblem is in one or the other way distinct from each other. It also describes a motto and presents a moral and ethical lesson.
The Emblem of Pakistan symbolizes its heritage, principles, foundation and its economy. Central government approved it in 1954. There are four elements in the Pakistani Emblem. It constitutes a star crest and crescent and is green in color which shows Islamic symbols. The quartered shield in the centre shows the main crops grown in Pakistan. There is a wreath with floral design surrounding the shield which signifies the cultural heritage of mughal’s and the country. Then at the bottom the shield is supported by a scroll which enclose national motto of Faith, Discipline and Unity in Urdu.

In 1948, Korea was divided into two regions; North Korea – Republic of Democratic people, and South Korea -Republic of Korea.

The South Korea adopted its emblem in 1963 and has Taijitu sign which is there on the national flag of the country encircled by five similar styled petals which are allied with the national flower of Korea. It also has a ribbon around it on which country’s official name – “The Republic of Korea” is imprinted. The Taijitu represents harmony and peace.
The emblem of North Korea has an in depth description on it. It has a picture of a hydroelectric power plant beneath Baekdu Mountain. It also has a red star that beams 5 lighted rays along with which a oval frame is formed with ears of rice. The emblem is attached with a red ribbon which has “The democratic people’s republic of Korea” encrypted on it.

An unexplored Area

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:57:48 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Pakistan is an unusual curiosity destination. The chief attractions being adventure, edifying plus archaeological tourism of Harrappa, Moenjodaro, Muslim as well as Mughal heritage. The creation of Karakoram Highway has given an opportunity to countryâ€™s international tourists to discover the untouched beauty of the nation.
Pakistan has beautiful glaciers and mountains. Valleys of Hunza, Gigot, and Skardu have snow dressed peaks. Travelers experience an memorable experience once they visit the country. The countryâ€™s major attraction is that from the 8000 peaks of the world, 14 lie in the region. These include peaks like K2, Broad Peak, Istoro Nal and many more. Not only peaks, Pakistan are also home to many glaciers like Siachen, Baltoro, Trich, etc.
It is a terrain of high exploration and scenery. Trekking, white river-rafting, jeep safaris, mountaineering, yak and camel safaris, wild boar hunting trout fishing, are some of the activities that attract tourists towards it. The country also has a rich flora with fauna. Worldâ€™s smallest mammal, the Mediterranean Pigmy shrew and the largest mammal, the blue whale, both are part of this rich flora and fauna.
Korea also offers a wide variety of rare plants and animals to the tourists. There are beaches, beautiful light houses, islands, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, lakes and observatories that offer a wide and unexplored experience to the people. There are around 20 national parks in the nation. Many holy sites, temples and districts are also there that represent the rich cultural heritage of the nation. Museums and palaces talk about the countryâ€™s rich past.
Among the national parks, two most famous parks are Hallasan National Park and Seoraksan National Park. Any countryâ€™s richness is depicted a lot by its heritage, people, traditions and culture. Both Pakistan and Korea excel in these regions in their own way and provide tourists a complete new experience.

Destination Pakistan and Korea

admin — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 11:56:55 +0000

Neighbouring countries of Pakistan can come by road to Pakistan. Indians can come by the bus service between India and Pakistan namely samjhota express, Iranis can travel by Ttaftan-Zahidan and even Chinese can travel to Pakistan by road. Pakistan and the respective nations run buses between them which run at predetermined time. Anyone interested has to purchase a ticket for the same to travel via them. Pakistan also offers air travel to its tourists. There are around 25 airlines that fly to Pakistan from various nations across the world. Most of these airlines fly to Lahore, but there are some airlines that land at Islamabad. Further a bus or a local train can be taken to reach the required destinations. Pakistan does not have any sea routes for its tourists therefore land and air are the only mediums via which tourists can enter Pakistan.
Except from some specified nations all tourists require a visa to enter the nation. The visa is given for 30 days at the entry points. These are free of cost and would be given only when the tourist is found to be genuine. This facility is not offered to some nationals like Indians, Sri-lankans, etc.
In Korea also, obtaining a visa is a must to enter the nation. Here the visa has to be obtained before the arrival to Korea, from the Korean embassy in the respected nations. This visa is not required to be applied for by 99 countries whose names are listed in the travel site of the country.
Korea offers a variety of modes of transportation to be travelled to the country. There are 7 international airports in South Korea. They offer various destination flights to other countries. Travelling by train between north and South Korea is not on the cards yet but to some places they offer good rail link. By car, boat and bus are the other modes of transportation to Korea.

Government Structure

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:55:48 +0000

Pakistani government follows a parliamentary structure of government. In such a structure the prime minister is the government head and controls all activities of the nation and the president is the head of the state. The Pakistani parliament has two houses wherein the upper house is called the senate and the lower house is referred to as the Pakistan National Assembly (PNA).
The Supreme Court is the main judiciary body of the government and each province has a high court in it. These high courts handle criminal and civil matters.
The government of South Korea is divided into three broad categories. The national level branches are executive and judicial branches. Some of the functions at local levels are also handled by the executive category. The third category, which is the judicial branch, operates at both local and at national levels. The structure of the South Korean government is formed under the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. This is a document that has been revised many times since its first broadcast in 1948. Although, it has reserved many broad attributes, South Korean government has always followed a presidential government system. The judges of the courts are jointly appointed by legislative and executive branches of the nation.
Unlike South Korea, North Korea is a self-reliant country. Its only president was Kim Il-sung. After his death in 1994, his son, Kim Jong-il did not take over his position. Instead, he was elected as the Eternal President of the country. He is also the chairman of the national defence commission of the country. The legislative structure of the nation is called the supreme people’s assembly. Its structure is defined in its constitution. It has a single party system wherein the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, is the main governing body of the nation.

History of Currency

admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:54:40 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

The currency of North Korea and South Korea is called as won. One won is further divided into 100 Jeon. Although Jeon is not used anymore, it appears in the foreign exchange rates. The present value of one South Korean won is equal to 0.114364 North Korean won.Earlier, 15 South Korean won equalled to one us dollar, but due to continuous devaluation the value has fallen.
The Korean banknotes in 2006 were being forged. This led the government to issue new banknotes with a complete new design. Firstly 5000 won notes were redesigned followed by 1000 and 10000 won notes. In order to maintain security, the new banknotes featured minimum 10 security features. There are 21 features in the 10000 won notes and 17 features in 5000 notes. The security features included were holograms, watermarks, security threads etc. bank of Korea is the institution of south Korea that as a right to mint coins and print banknotes.
North Koreaâ€™s currency is North Korean won. It is issued under the central bank of democratic peopleâ€™s republic of Korea. The North Korean won is divided into chon. Today one won stands at 0.7 us cent. Inflation has eroded the value of won further that both North Korean won and south Korean won have nearly the same value when compared to the us dollar.The north Korean won also went under redesigning and new notes were published in 2009.
The currency of Pakistan is the rupee issuance of which is controlled by the State Bank of Pakistan. The rupee is referred to as the “rupaya”,”rupees”, or “rupaye”. The Pakistan government also issued special banknotes for its pilgrims to Saudi Arabia whose issuance discontinued in 1978.These notes are called as â€™hajj notesâ€™. Pakistanâ€™s currency has improved in the 20th century inspite of its relations with other nations. Recently the value has improved due to injections from world bank, ADB, etc. currently, 85.84 Pakistani rupee equals one US Dollar.

ENRICHED CULTURE

admin — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:52:45 +0000

Culture has numerous meanings of itself. It has arrived from the Latin word cultura which means to cultivate. It generally comprises of ideational, intangible and symbolic characteristics of different human societies around the world. It also includes common human pattern of interactions and behavior, emotional understanding, experiences, and trust on each other that is built through a learning process of socialization. These kinds of patterns classify and distinguish one group or culture from the other one.
The culture of Pakistan has a very diverse and detailed culture. It has its influence from the cultures of its surrounding countries namely the cultures of Indians, Afghans, Persians, Turkish and also middle and central Asia. It has also been influenced from many different communities such as the Arabs, Greeks, Mongols, Aryans, Greeks and Eurasians.
It has the influence of culture way back from 2800 BC. It is an Islamic nation and more than 90% of the population living are Muslims. Their architecture and food are the highlights presenting the glimpse of their rich culture. One can easily notice the variety and differences in different ethnic groups in aspects like food, religion, dress and even the customs and practices.
Thus Pakistan’s culture is quite fascinating and gives a glance of its rich and diverse heritage and culture.
The culture of Korea is one of the oldest cultures and is 5000 years old. It has grown with various events and traditions that influenced the culture. Primitive tribes and Mongolians inhabited Korea first. Korean culture is represented through their music, dance, art, paintings and different crafts style. Their culture possesses numerous distinctive characteristics and has their own exclusive style. They deeply and emotionally feel about the nature and respect it thoroughly. Their always value their ancestors and their customs and culture. Korean culture has a great influence on their homes, cuisine, dresses and even the festivals as they have a distinctive style.

THE NATION TODAY

admin — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 11:51:35 +0000

During the British rule, in order to protect the position of Muslim minority, a separate state for Muslims in South Asia was demanded by Sir Muhammad Iqbal in the 1930. Afterward Mohammad Ali Jinnah also supported the decision to establish a separate state. Hence, Pakistan came to existence on 15 august 1947.
All scattered polities joined either India or Pakistan but, the prince of Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir, chose to join none of the country. Later, both Junagarh and Hyderabad joined any of the two states. The ruler of J&K was a Hindu and had around 85% Muslim population in his state. He resolute to join India. Pakistan did not accept the decision and a war broke out between Indian and Pakistan for possession of Kashmere region. This cold war still persists and has led to rivalry among the two nations.
Pakistan headed its first free government under Prime Ministership of Liaquat Ali Khan. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was chosen as the Governor-General. After the separation of Pakistan from India; it was difficult to establish itself as one strong nation. Today Pakistan stands as the second largest Muslim country in the world and heading towards growth.
Korea’s history is very old and vast. It is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Old Joseon kingdom was founded in 2333 BC, which stretched from peninsula to Manchuria. But, by the 1st Century BC, it disintegrated into numerous descendant states. The Three Kingdoms namely Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje conquered other states of Gojoseon and conquered the region. Later, the three kingdom period ended and Gorveo Dynasty started. This period was marked by introduction of civil service system and codification of laws. Buddhism also flourished during this period.
Later, Joseon Dynasty established. King Sejong promulgated hangul. He also implemented various social, civil and economic reforms. In 1897, Joseon was given the name of Korean Empire. Finally after Japan’s defeat, Korea was divided by 38th parallel into North Korea and South Korea.

War and Violence

admin — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:50:30 +0000

War is a happening of an organized aggressive clash and conflict which is marked by communal disruption and acute aggression. War generally involves two or more groups or countries having differences. These counties use violence and weapons it is a deliberate and intentional activity. It generally is a difference among groups or countries among major issues which result in conflicts and wars.
It results to destruction and loss of life and property, submission and assimilation of one group in an offensive war and in destructive war often the goal is repulsion and survival.
From the early age, man has been known for his brutality and wars showcase them in actual.
War is an occurrence which takes place just among political communities or states. Wars like the world war or other international war is generally referred as Classical war.
Pakistan and Korea comes under world’s two most seriously nuclearised and militarized nations. They are high threat zones as well. According to a report by an analyst at US intelligence, Pakistan has the world’s most terrorists in a square mile and it is also the fastest growing nuclear arsenal.
The situation of Pakistan and North Korea are quite similar with respect to the military activities and war. It is difficult for both of them to make a neither war nor peace, as Pakistan struggles with terrorist activities and its political and military differences, the same way North and South Korea have certain pressures, exhaustion and tension between them.
World has seen many wars between India and Pakistan, which are the war of 1947-48, the 1965 war, the 1970 war and the Kargil war. Similarly, the famous Korean War, which almost took 3 years, divided Korea into North and South Korea. Thus, Pakistan and Korea are travelling on the same patchy boat in which they have to be cautious.

Flag

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:48:37 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

A piece of a cloth of certain dimensions often attached to a mast is called a flag. it is the identification mark of a nation. The Flag of any nation should be duly respected and honored.

The Pakistani flag is a dark green colored cloth that has a white crescent in the middle and a five pointed star. The star and crescent symbolizes Muslim nations. In the flag, the green color represents the Muslim majority. The white color represents the minority. The crescent is the symbol of progress and the five pointed star is the symbol of knowledge and light. It was designed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. This flag was adopted in the year 1947, on 11th august.

The South Korean flag is developed from the taijitu and has three parts. It has a blue and red taegeuk in centre with a white background. Along with this, it has four trigrams one on each corner. The white color signifies purity and cleanliness of Koreans. Taegeuk is the symbol of evolution world. It holds two aspects namely yin and yang. Yin means negative aspects and yang means positive aspects. Ying Is in blue color and red is yang. Together, both the colors represent the continuity of life.The four trigrams represent the 5 basic elements namely, water, fire, earth ,metal and wood.
The North Korean flag has a red background on which there are blue horizontal stripse on top and at the bottom. Between these blue stripes are thin white stripes. These blue and white stripes represent sovereignty, friendship,peace and purity respectively. Towards the left of the flag, there is a white circle which has a red colored five pointed star in the middle. The red is the symbol of activist patriotism and socialism. Here also, the white symbolize yin and yang. This was also the common flag of both the parts of Korea when they stood as one nation.

Investment Opportunities

admin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:47:27 +0000

An investment policy can be defined as any regulation of the government or any law that invites or rejects and limits the foreign currency inflow and outflow in any nation.
Foreign investment is very important for any nation because the world has become a global market due to globalisation in the economy. Now the markets of the world are open to one another. This has even resulted in worldwide competition and growth of any nation. A country’s tax and tariff reforms are governed and greatly influenced by the investment opportunities that country is open to.
In case of Pakistan, the investment policy of Pakistan is very friendly and offers equitable opportunities to investors of all types, whether it is a national investor or international investor. The foreign investment is on re-patriable different sectors such as agriculture, social sectors, service and in manufacturing. In these sectors, foreign investors are approved to have 100% equity of these industrial projects and that to with no permission from the Government and even for setting up of any business and industry there are no government approvals and sanctions are required in provision of size and the location of the business.
Along with these there is provision of full and complete security offered to the national and international users. In the policy sector, high value, and export oriented sectors have attracted greater attention in the foreign investment. Along with these information technology industries, oil and gas units have also benefited from these. In the industrial projects, the investors share 100 percent participation without the intervention of government.
The priorities of the investment policies have been shifted to IT industries, oil and gas and export oriented high tech engineering sector.
In the year2009 -10, inflows in Foreign Direct Investment has almost reached $2.21 Billion.
Pakistan has recently got into Bilateral Agreements to protect and promote the investment with 46 countries.
Thus, Pakistan does offer excellent investment opportunities.

Pakistan on the News

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:45:56 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Flipping through the news channel we see some or the other news about Pakistan.
These days Pakistan remains in headlines either due to some good news or some terrible and shocking news. There has been a lot going on within Pakistan. A country that has a population of more than 180 million and is expected to grow to around 265 million in the next 20 years. The news relating to it shows a trend that as the population increases, Pakistan will reach higher in terms of news relating to the country.
There is ongoing trouble at the Pakistan Afghan border. Pakistan is not doing sufficient to protect and safeguard its boundaries.
In recent times, the country has been gripped by terror activities. Terror now surrounds the whole country and every now and then there is some terror activity recorded in the country. The sad part of all this is that Pakistan is the first nation that comes to anyone’s mind when there is a terror activity in any country across the world. Terrorism has taken the Pakistani economy aback and other sectors such as tourism industry are also suffering from it. Now there is a new threat of women suicide bombers been clouded over the country. Recently there was a blast in which 46 people died. There are many acquisitions that Pakistan is supporting various terrorists groups such as Al Qaeda and Taliban.
There is controversial news over cricket scam in the Pakistani team as well. The players of the team were recorded taking bribe for a match. This again has put a question on the pakistanâ€™s people.
Recently on 24th December, Pakistanâ€™s national assembly approved a new rule which will be helpful for the country. This rule includes the decision that the prime minister of the country will be a Muslim.

Investment Opportunities

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 12:41:54 +0000

Pakistan’s investment policy is business friendly and offers equal
investment opportunities for both domestic and foreign investors.

Foreign Investment on repatriable basis is allowed in manufacturing,
agriculture, service, infrastructure and social sectors.

Full legal protection is available to foreign and local investment
in Pakistan.

Full repatriation of capital, capital gains, profits, dividends is
allowed.

Foreign investors are allowed participation in industrial projects on
the basis of 100% foreign equity basis without any permission of the
government.

Foreign investors can come in service and agriculture projects on
joint ventures basis by associating minimum local equity of 40%. Amount
of foreign equity shall however be at least US $ 0.5 million.

In the investment policy priority has been shifted towards high
value added, export oriented high tech engineering, oil and gas
exploration and IT industries.

For further information please visit
www.pakboi.gov.pk

Emblem

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:07:57 +0000

The State Emblem of Pakistan, which was approved by the Central Government in 1954, symbolises Pakistan’s ideological foundation, its cultural heritage, the guiding principles and the basis of its economic strength.
The four ingredients of the Emblem are:

The crescent and star crest at the top is a traditional symbol of Islam

The shield in the centre, with four partitions, shows cotton, wheat, tea and jute. These are the main crops of Pakistan and signify the strong agriculture based economy

The wreath surrounding the shield is a reproduction of the floral designs used in traditional Mughal art. Its inclusion in the design reminds of the nation’s cultural heritage

The scroll supporting the shield carries the Urdu version of Quaid-e-Azam’s famous motto — “Faith”, “Unity”, Discipline. These three words articulate the guiding principles for the nation

Flag

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:05:42 +0000

Pakistan Flag – The Pakistan Flag was designed by
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

The National Flag of Pakistan is dark green in colour with a white
bar, a white crescent in the centre and a five-pointed star. The
significance of the colour and symbols used in the Pakistan Flag is as
follows:

The white and dark green field represents Minorities & Muslim
majority, respectively.

The crescent on the Flag represents progress.
The five-rayed star represents light and knowledge.

Country Profile

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:04:31 +0000

Pakistan’s Historical Background

HISTORY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Pakistan emerged on the world map on August 14,1947. It has its roots into the remote past. Its establishment was the culmination of the struggle by Muslims of the South-Asian subcontinent for a separate homeland of their own and its foundation was laid when Muhammad bin Qasim subdued Sindh in 711 A.D. as a reprisal against sea pirates that had taken refuge in Raja Dahir’s kingdom.

The advent of Islam further strengthened the historical individuality in the areas now constituting Pakistan and further beyond its boundaries. Stone Age Some of the earliest relics of Stone Age man in the subcontinent are found in the Soan Valley of the otohar region near Rawalpindi, with a probable antiquity of about 500,000 years. No human skeleton of such antiquity has yet been discovered in the area, but the crude stone implements recovered from the terraces of the Soan carry the saga of human toil and labor in this part of the world to the inter-glacial period. These Stone Age men fashioned their implements in a sufficiently homogenous way to justify their grouping in terms of a culture called the Soan Culture. About 3000 B.C, amidst the rugged wind-swept valleys and foothills of Balochistan, small village communities developed and began to take the first hesitant steps towards civilization. Here, one finds a more continuous story of human activity, though still in the Stone Age.

These pre-historic men established their settlements, both as herdsmen and as farmers, in the valleys or on the outskirts of the plains with their cattle and cultivated barley and other crops. Red and buffer Cultures Careful excavations of the pre-historic mounds in these areas and the classification of their contents, layer by layer, have grouped them into two main categories of Red Ware Culture and Buff Ware Culture. The former is popularly known as the Zhob Culture of North Balochistan, while the latter comprises the Quetta, Amri Nal and Kulli Cultures of Sindh and South Balochistan. Some Amri Nal villages or towns had stone walls and bastions for defence purposes and their houses had stone foundations. At Nal, an extensive cemetery of this culture consists of about 100 graves. An important feature of this composite culture is that at Amri and certain other sites, it has been found below the very distinctive Indus Valley Culture. On the other hand, the steatite seals of Nal and the copper implements and certain types of pot decoration suggest a partial overlap between the two. It probably represents one of the local societies which constituted the environment for the growth of the Indus Valley Civilization.

The pre-historic site of Kot Diji in the Sindh province has provided information of high significance for the reconstruction of a connected story which pushes back the origin of this civilization by 300 to 500 years, from about 2500 B.C.. to at least 2800 B.C. Evidence of a new cultural elements of pre-Harappan era has been traced here. Pre-Harappan Civilization When the primitive village communities in the Balochistan area were still struggling against a difficult highland environment, a highly cultured people were trying to assert themselves at Kot Diji, one of the most developed urban civilizations of the ancient world which flourished between the years 2500 and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley sites of Moenjodaro and Harappa. These Indus Valley people possessed a high standard of art and craftsmanship and a well developed system of quasi pictographic writing, which despite continuing efforts still remains undeciphered. The imposing ruins of the beautifully planned Moenjodaro and Harappa towns present clear evidence of the unity of a people having the same mode of life and using the same kind of tools. Indeed, the brick buildings of the common people, the public baths, the roads and covered drainage system suggest the picture of a happy and contented people. Aryan Civilization In or about 1500 B.C., the Aryans descended upon the Punjab and settled in the Sapta Sindhu, which signifies the Indus plain. They developed a pastoral society that grew into the Rigvedic Civilization. The Rigveda is replete with hymns of praise for this region, which they describe as “God fashioned”. It is also clear that so long as the Sapta Sindhu remained the core of the Aryan Civilization, it remained free from the caste system. The caste institution and the ritual of complex sacrifices took shape in the Gangetic Valley. There can be no doubt that the Indus Civilization contributed much to the development of the Aryan civilization. Gandhara Culture The discovery of the Gandhara grave culture in Dir and Swat will go a long way in throwing light on the period of Pakistan’s cultural history between the end of the Indus Culture in 1500 B.C. and the beginning of the historic period under the Achaemenians in the sixth century B.C. Hindu mythology and Sanskrit literary traditions seem to attribute the destruction of the Indus civilization to the Aryans, but what really happened, remains a mystery. The Gandhara grave culture has opened up two periods in the cultural heritage of Pakistan: one of the Bronze Age and the other of the Iron Age. It is so named because it presents a peculiar pattern of living in hilly zones of the Gandhara region as evidenced in the graves. This culture is different from the Indus Culture and has little relations with the village culture of Balochistan. Stratigraphy as well as the artifacts discovered from this area suggest that the Aryans moved into this part of the world between 1,500 and 600 B.C. In the sixth century B.C., Buddha began his teachings, which later on spread throughout the northern part of the South-Asian subcontinent. It was towards the end of this century, too, that Darius I of Iran organized Sindh and Punjab as the twentieth satrapy of his empire.

There are remarkable similarities between the organizations of that great empire and the Mauryan empire of the third century B.C., while Kautilya’s Arthshastra also shows a strong Persian influence, Alexander of Macedonia after defeating Darius III in 330 B.C. had also marched through the South-Asian subcontinent up to the river Beas, but Greek influence on the region appears to have been limited to contributing a little to the establishment of the Mauryan empire. The great empire that Asoka, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, built in the subcontinent included only that part of the Indus basin which is now known as the northern Punjab. The rest of the areas astride the Indus were not subjugated by him. These areas, which now form a substantial part of Pakistan, were virtually independent from the time of the Guptas in the fourth century A.D. until the rise of the Delhi Sultanate in the thirteenth century. Gandhara Art Gandhara Art, one of the most prized possessions of Pakistan, flourished for a period of 500 years (from the first to the fifth century A.D.) in the present valley of Peshawar and the adjacent hilly regions of Swat, Buner and Bajaur. This art represents a separate phase of the cultural renaissance of the region. It was the product of a blending of Indian, Buddhist and Greco-Roman sculpture. Gandhara Art in its early stages received the patronage of Kanishka, the great Kushan ruler, during whose reign the Silk Route ran through Peshawar and the Indus Valley, bringing great prosperity to the whole area. Advent of Islam The first followers of prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), to set foot on the soil of the South-Asian subcontinent, were traders from the coast land of Arabia and the Persian Gulf, soon after the dawn of Islam in the early seventh century A.D.

DAWN OF ISLAM

The first permanent Muslim foothold in the subcontinent was achieved with Muhammad bin Qasim’s conquest of Sindh in 711 A.D. An autonomous Muslim state linked with the Umayyed, and later, the Abbassid Caliphate was established with jurisdiction extending over southern and central parts of present Pakistan. Quite a few new cities were established and Arabic was introduced as the official language. At the time of Mahmud of Ghazna’s invasion, Muslim rule still existed, though in a weakened form, in Multan and some other regions. The Ghaznavids (976-1148) and their successors, the Ghaurids (1148-1206), were Central Asian by origin and they ruled their territories, which covered mostly the regions of present Pakistan, from capitals outside India. It was in the early thirteenth century that the foundations of the Muslim rule in India were laid with extended boundaries and Delhi as the capital. From 1206 to 1526 A.D., five different dynasties held sway. Then followed the period of Mughal ascendancy (1526-1707) and their rule continued, though nominally, till 1857. From the time of the Ghaznavids, Persian more or less replaced Arabic as the official language. The economic, political and religious institutions developed by the Muslims bore their unique impression. The law of the State was based on Shariah and in principle the rulers were bound to enforce it. Any long period of laxity was generally followed by reinforcement of these laws under public pressure. The impact of Islam on the South-Asian subcontinent was deep and far-reaching. Islam introduced not only a new religion, but a new civilization, a new way of life and new set of values. Islamic traditions of art and literature, of culture and refinement, of social and welfare institution, were established by Muslim rulers throughout the subcontinent. A new language, Urdu, derived mainly from Arabic and Persian vocabulary and adopting indigenous words and idioms, came to be spoken and written by the Muslims and it gained currency among the rest of the Indian population.

URDU IS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE OF PAKISTAN

Apart from religion, Urdu also enabled the Muslim community during the period of its ascendancy to preserve its separate identity in the subcontinent.

Muslim Identity — The question of Muslim identity, however assumed seriousness during the decline of Muslim power in South Asia. The first person to realize its acuteness was the scholar theologian, Shah Waliullah (1703-62). He laid the foundation of Islamic renaissance in the subcontinent and became a source of inspiration for almost all the subsequent social and religious reform movements of the nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. His immediate successors, inspired by his teachings, tried to establish a modest Islamic state in the north-west of India and they, under the leadership of Sayyed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi (1786-1831), persevered in this direction. British Expansionism and Muslim Resistance Meanwhile, starting with the East India Company, the British had emerged as the dominant force in South Asia. Their rise to power was gradual extending over a period of nearly one hundred years. They replaced the Shariah by what they termed as the Anglo-Muhammadan law whereas Urdu was replaced by English as the official language. These and other developments had great social, economic and political impact especially on the Muslims of South Asia. The uprising of 1857, termed as the Indian Mutiny by the British and the War of Independence by the Muslims, was a desperate attempt to reverse the adverse course of events. Religious Institutions The failure of the 1857 War of Independence had disastrous consequences for the Muslims as the British placed all the responsibility for this event on them. Determined to stop such a recurrence in future, the British followed deliberately a repressive policy against the Muslims. Properties and estates of those even remotely associated with the freedom fighters were confiscated and conscious efforts were made to close all avenues of honest living for them. The Muslim response to this situation also aggravated their plight. Their religious leaders, who had been quite active, withdrew from the mainstream of the community life and devoted themselves exclusively to imparting religious education. Although the religious academies especially those of Deoband, Farangi Mahal and Rai Bareilly, established by the Ulema, did help the Muslims to preserve their identity, the training provided in these institutions hardly equipped them for the new challenges. Educational Reform The Muslims kept themselves aloof from western education as well as government service. But, their compatriots, the Hindus, did not do so and accepted the new rulers without reservation. They acquired western education, imbibed the new culture and captured positions hitherto filled in by the Muslims. If this situation had prolonged, it would have done the Muslims an irreparable damage. The man to realise the impending peril was Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1889), a witness to the tragic events of 1857. He exerted his utmost to harmonize British Muslim relations. His assessment was that the Muslims’ safety lay in the acquisition of western education and knowledge. He took several positive steps to achieve this objective. He founded a college at Aligarh to impart education on western lines. Of equal importance was the Anglo-Muhammadan Educational Conference, which he sponsored in 1886, to provide an intellectual forum to the Muslims for the dissemination of views in support of western education and social reform. Similar were the objectives of the Muhammadan Literary Society, founded by Nawab Adbul Latif (1828-93), active in Bengal, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s efforts transformed into a movement, known as the Aligarh Movement, and it left its imprint on the Muslims of every part of the South-Asian subcontinent. Under its inspiration, societies were founded throughout the subcontinent which established educational institutions for imparting education to the Muslims.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was averse to the idea of participation by the Muslims in any organized political activity which, he feared, might revive British hostility towards them. He also disliked Hindu Muslim collaboration in any joint venture. His disillusionment in this regard stemmed basically from the Urdu Hindi controversy of the late 1860s when the Hindu enthusiasts vehemently championed the cause of Hindi to replace Urdu. He, therefore, opposed the Indian National Congress when it was founded in 1885 and advised the Muslims to abstain from its activities. His contemporary and a great scholar of Islam, Syed Ameer Ali (1849-1928), shared his views about the Congress, but, he was not opposed to Muslims organizing themselves politically. In fact, he organised the first significant political body of the Muslims, the Central National Muhammadan Association. Although, its membership was limited, it had more than 50 branches in different parts of the subcontinent and it accomplished some solid work for the educational and political advancement of the Muslims. But, its activities waned towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Muslim League At the dawn of the twentieth century, a number of factors convinced the Muslims of the need to have an effective political organization. Therefore, in October 1906, a deputation comprising 35 Muslim leaders met the Viceroy of the British at Simla and demanded separate electorates. Three months later, the All-India Muslim League was founded by Nawab Salimullah Khan at Dhaka, mainly with the objective of safeguarding the political rights and interests of the Muslims. The British conceded separate electorates in the Government of India Act of 1909 which confirmed the Muslim League’s position as an All-India party. Attempt for Hindu Muslim Unity The visible trend of the two major communities progressing in opposite directions caused deep concern to leaders of All-India stature. They struggled to bring the Congress and the Muslim League on one platform. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) was the leading figure among them. After the annulment of the partition of Bengal and the European Powers’ aggressive designs against the Ottoman Empire and North Africa, the Muslims were receptive to the idea of collaboration with the Hindus against the British rulers.

The Congress Muslim League rapprochement was achieved at the Lucknow sessions of the two parties in 1916 and a joint scheme of reforms was adopted. In the Lucknow Pact. as the scheme was commonly referred to, the Congress accepted the principle of separate electorates, and the Muslims, in return for `weightage’ to the Muslims of the Muslim minority provinces, agreed to surrender their thin majorities in the Punjab and Bengal. The post Lucknow Pact period witnessed Hindu Muslim amity and the two parties came to hold their annual sessions in the same city and passed resolutions of identical contents.

KHILAFAT MOVEMENT

The Hindu Muslim unity reached its climax during the Khilafat and the Non-cooperation Movements. The Muslims of soothsayer, under the leadership of the Ali Brothers, Maulana Muhammad Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali, launched the historic Khilafat Movement after the First World War to protect the Ottoman Empire from dismemberment. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) linked the issue of Swaraj (self-government) with the Khilafat issue to associate the Hindus with the Movement. the ensuing Movement was the first countrywide popular movement.

Although the Movement failed in its objectives, it had a far-reaching impact on the Muslims of South Asia. After a long time, they took united action on a purely Islamic issue which momentarily forged solidarity among them. It also produced a class of Muslim leaders experienced in organizing and mobilizing the public. This experience was of immense value to the Muslims later during the Pakistan Movement The collapse of the Khilafat Movement was followed by a period of bitter Hindu Muslim antagonism. The Hindus organized two highly anti Muslim movements, the Shudhi and the Sangathan. The former movement was designed to convert Muslims to Hinduism and the latter was meant to create solidarity among the Hindus in the event of communal conflict. In retaliation, the Muslims sponsored the Tabligh and Tanzim organizations to counter the impact of the Shudhi and the Sangathan. In the 1920s, the frequency of communal riots was unprecedented. Several Hindu-Muslim unity conferences were held to remove the causes of conflict, but, it seemed nothing could mitigate the intensity of communalism. Muslim Demand Safeguards In the light of this situation, the Muslims revised their constitutional demands. They now wanted preservation of their numerical majorities in the Punjab and Bengal, separation of Sindh from Bombay, constitution of Balochistan as a separate province and introduction of constitutional reforms in the North-West Frontier Province. It was partly to press these demands that one section of the All-India Muslim League cooperated with the Statutory commission sent by the British Government under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon in 1927.

SIMON COMMISSION

The other section of the League, which boycotted the Simon Commission for its all-White character, cooperated with the Nehru Committee, appointed by the All-Parties Conference, to draft a constitution for India. The Nehru Report had an extremely anti-Muslim bias and the Congress leadership’s refusal to amend it disillusioned even the moderate Muslims. Allama Muhammad Iqbal Several leaders and thinkers, having insight into the Hindu-Muslim question proposed separation of Muslim India. However, the most lucid exposition of the inner feeling of the Muslim community was given by Allama Muhammad Iqbal(1877-1938) in his Presidential Address at the All-India Muslim League Session at Allahabad in 1930. He suggested that for the healthy development of Islam in South-Asia, it was essential to have a separate Muslim state at least in the Muslim majority regions of the north-west. Later on, in his correspondence with Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he included the Muslim majority areas in the north-east also in his proposed Muslim state. Three years after his Allahabad Address, a group of Muslim students at Cambridge, headed by Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, issued a pamphlet, Now or Never, in which drawing letters from the names of the Muslim majority regions, they gave the nomenclature of “Pakistan” to the proposed State. Very few even among the Muslim welcomed the idea at the time. It was to take a decade for the Muslims to embrace the demand for a separate Muslim state. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Meanwhile, three Round Table Conferences were convened in London during 1930-32, to resolve the Indian constitutional problem. The Hindu and Muslim leaders, who were invited to these conferences, could not draw up an agreed formula and the British Government had to announce a `Communal Award’ which was incorporated in the Government of India Act of 1935. Before the elections under this Act, the All-India Muslim League, which had remained dormant for some time, was reorganized by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who had returned to India in 1934,after an absence of nearly five years in England. The Muslim League could not win a majority of Muslim seats since it had not yet been effectively reorganized. However, it had the satisfaction that the performance of the Indian National Congress in the Muslim constituencies was bad. After the elections, the attitude of the Congress leadership was arrogant and domineering. The classic example was its refusal to form a coalition government with the Muslim League in the United Provinces. Instead, it asked the League leaders to dissolve their parliamentary arty in the Provincial Assembly and join the Congress. Another important Congress move after the 1937 elections was its Muslim mass contact movement to persuade the Muslims to join the Congress and not the Muslim League. One of its leaders, Jawaharlal Nehru, even declared that there were only two forces in India, the British and the Congress. All this did not go unchallenged.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah countered that there was a third force in South-Asia constituting the Muslims. The All-India Muslim League, under his gifted leadership, gradually and skillfully started organising the Muslims on one platform. Towards a Separate Muslim Homeland The 1930s witnessed awareness among the Muslims of their separate identity and their anxiety to preserve it within separate territorial boundaries. An important element that brought this simmering Muslim nationalism in the open was the character of the Congress rule in the Muslim minority provinces during 1937-39.
The Congress policies in these provinces hurt Muslim susceptibilities.There were calculated aims to obliterate the Muslims as a separate cultural unit. The Muslims now stopped thinking in terms of seeking safeguards and began to consider seriously the demand for a separate Muslim state. During 1937-39, several Muslim leaders and thinkers, inspired by Allama Iqbal’s ideas, presented elaborate schemes for partitioning the subcontinent according to two-nation theory. Pakistan Resolution The All-India Muslim League soon took these schemes into consideration and finally, on March 23, 1940, the All-India Muslim League, in a resolution, at its historic Lahore Session, demanded a separate homeland for the Muslims in the Muslim majority regions of the subcontinent. The resolution was commonly referred to as the Pakistan Resolution. The Pakistan demand had a great appeal for the Muslims of every persuasion. It revived memories of their past greatness and promised future glory. They, therefore, responded to this demand immediately. Cripps Mission The British Government recognized the genuineness of the Pakistan demand indirectly in the proposals for the transfer of power after the Second World War which Sir Stafford Cripps brought to India in 1942. Both the Congress and the All-India Muslim
League rejected these proposals for different reasons. The principles of secession of Muslim India as a separate Dominion was however, conceded in these proposals. After this failure, a prominent Congress leader, C. Rajgopalacharia, suggested a formula for a separate Muslim state in the Working Committee of the Indian National Congress, which was rejected at the time, but later on, in 1944, formed the basis of the Jinnah-Gandhi talks. Demand for Pakistan

PAKISTAN MOVEMENT

The Pakistan demand became popular during the Second World War Every section of the Muslim community-men , women, students, Ulema and businessmen-were organized under the banner of the All-India Muslim League. Branches of the party were opened even in the remote corners of the subcontinent. Literature in the form of pamphlets, books, magazines and newspapers was produced to explain the Pakistan demand and distributed widely. The support
gained by the All-India Muslim League and its demand for Pakistan was tested after the failure of the Simla Conference, convened by the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, in 1945. Elections were called to determine the respective strength of the political parties. The All-India Muslim League election campaign was based on the Pakistan demand. The Muslim community responded to this call in an unprecedented way. Numerous Muslim parties were formed making united parliamentary board at the behest of the Congress to oppose the Muslim League. But the All-India Muslim League swept all the thirty seats in the Central Legislature and in the provincial elections also, its victory was outstanding. After the elections, on April 8-9,1946, the All-India Muslim League called a convention of the newly-elected League members in the Central and Provincial Legislatures at Delhi. This convention, which constituted virtually a representative assembly of the Muslims of South Asia, on a motion by the Chief Minister of Bengal, Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, reiterated the Pakistan demand in clearer terms. Cabinet Plan In early 1946, the British Government sent a Cabinet Mission to the subcontinent to resolve the constitutional deadlock. The Mission conducted negotiations with various political parties, but failed to evolve an agreed formula. Finally, the Cabinet Mission announced its own Plan, which among other provisions, envisaged three federal groupings, two of them comprising the Muslim majority provinces, linked at the Centre in a loose federation with three subjects. The Muslim League accepted the plan, as a strategic move, expecting to achieve its objective in not-too-distant a future. The All-India Congress also agreed to the Plan, but, soon realising its implications, the Congress leaders began to interpret it in a way not visualized by the authorise of the Plan. This provided the All-India Muslim League an excuse to withdraw its acceptance of the Plan and the party observed August 16, as a `Direct Action Day’ to show Muslim solidarity in support of the Pakistan demand. Partition Scheme In October 1946, an Interim Government was formed. The Muslim League sent its representative under the leadership of its General Secretary, Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, with the aim to fight for the party objective from within the Interim Government. After a short time, the situation inside the Interim Government and outside convinced the Congress leadership to accept Pakistan as the only solution of the communal problem. The British Government, after its last attempt to save the Cabinet Mission Plan in December 1946, also moved towards a scheme for the partition of India. The last British Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, came with a clear mandate to draft a plan for the transfer of power.

After holding talks with political leaders and parties, he prepared a Partition Plan for the transfer of power, which, after approval of the British Government, was announced on June 3,1947. Both the Congress and the Muslim League accepted the Plan. Two largest Muslim majority provinces, Bengal and Punjab, were partitioned. The Assemblies of West Punjab, East Bengal and Sindh and in Balochistan, the Quetta Municipality, and the Shahi Jirga voted for Pakistan. Referenda were held in the North-West Frontier Province and the District of Sylhet in Assam, which resulted in an overwhelming vote for Pakistan. As a result, on August 14,1947, the new state of Pakistan came into existence.

The Government

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:02:56 +0000

Pakistan Has a
parliamentary form of Government where the President is the Head of the State
and the Prime minister is the Head of the Government.

Parliament

There are two
houses of the parliament

1- Senate of
Pakistan (Upper House)

2- national
Assembly of Pakistan (Lower House)

Judiciary

There is
a Supreme Court of Pakistan and a High Court in each province, and other courts
exercising civil and Criminal jurisdiction

LAND AND PEOPLE

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:59:45 +0000

Pakistan is a land of many splendours. The scenery changes northward from coastal beaches, lagoons and mangrove swamps in the south to sandy deserts, desolate plateaus, fertile plains, dissected upland in the middle and high mountains with beautiful valleys, snow-covered peaks and eternal glaciers in the north.

The variety of landscape divides Pakistan into six major regions:

The North High Mountainous Region, the Western Low Mountainous Region, the Balochistan Plateau, the Potohar Uplands, the Punjab and the Sindh Plains.

High Mountain Region: Stretching in the North, from east to west, are a series of high mountain ranges which separate Pakistan from China, Russia and Afghanistan. They include the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindukush. The Himalayas spread in the north-east and the Karakoram rises on the north-west of the Himalayas and extends eastward up to Gilgit. The Hindu Kush mountains lie to the north-west of the Karakoram, but extend eastward into Afghanistan. With the assemblage of 35 giant peaks over 24,000 ft. high (7,315m), the region is the climbers’ paradise. Many summits are even higher than 26,000 ft.(7,925 m) and the highest K-2(Mt.Godwin Austin) is exceeded only by Mt.Everest. Inhospitable and technically more difficult to climb than even Everest, they have taken the biggest toll of human lives in the annals of mountaineering.

The passes are rarely lower than the summit of Mt. Blanc and several are over 18,000 ft. (5,485 m). The Karakoram Highway, that passes through the mountains, is the highest trade route in the world. Besides, the region abounds in vast glaciers, large lakes and green valleys which have combined at places to produce holiday resorts such as Gilgit, Hunza and Yasin in the west and the valleys of Chitral, Dir, Kaghan and Swat drained by rivers Chitral, Pankkora, Kunhar and Swat respectively in the east. Dotted profusely with scenic spots having numerous streams and rivulets, thick forests of pine and junipers and a vast variety of fauna and flora, the Chitral, Kaghan and Swat valleys have particularly earned the reputation of being the most enchanting tourist resorts of Pakistan.

South of the high mountains, the ranges lose their height gradually and settle down finally in the Margalla hills (2,000-3,000 ft.) in the vicinity of Islamabad, the Capital of Pakistan, and Swat and Chitral hills, north of river Kabul. Although the climate of the region is extremely diverse, according to htmlect and elevation, yet as a whole it remains under the grip of severe cold from November to April. May, June and July are pleasant months. The southeren slopes receive heavy rainfall and consequently are covered with forest of deodar, pine, poplar and willow trees. The more northerly ranges and north-facing slopes receive practically no rains and are, therefore, without trees.

There is a considerable trans-human migration from the mountains to the plains in winter and from plains to the mountains in summer. The permanent settlers grow corn, maize, barely, wheat and rice on the terraced fields and also raise orchards of apples, apricots, peaches and grapes. In “Peaks and Glaciers” Eric Shipton, a great mountainer who perished in Pakistan’s Northern Areas, wrote in his account. “To describe this region is to indulge in superlatives, for everywhere you look are the highest, the longest and the largest mountains, glaciers and rivers in the world”.

Making some allowance for Shipton’s tendency towards slight exaggeration, born out of awe and fascination, the fact remains that Pakistan boasts of the largest share of the highest mountain peaks in the world. Its own highest peak, the famed and dreaded K-2, is the second highest in the world, being just some `ropes’ short of the Everest in Nepal. With due respect to the Everest, K-2 is regarded as far more firmidable to climb than its relatively facile superior. Three of the mightiest mountain systems- the Hindukush, the Karakorams and the Himalayas- adorn the forehead of Pakistan. The second highest peak of Himalayas, as also of Pakistan, is the Nanga Parbat which literally means the “Naked Mountain”.

Pakistan has seven of the 16 tallest peaks in Asia. The statistics are simply baffling: 40 of the world’s 50 highest mountains are in Pakistan; in Baltistan over 45 peaks touch or cross the 20,000 foot mark; in Gilgit within a radius of 65 miles, there are over two dozen peaks ranging in height between 18,000 to 26,000 feet.

The awe-inspiring beauty provided inspiration to a Pakistani writer to observe lyrically, “in Pakistan’s lofty mountain regions, reaching for the sky doesn’t seem too ambitious”. Pakistan’s Eight Thousanders: There are a total of 14 main peaks soaring above 8000 metres in the world. Out of these, 8 are located in Nepal, 5 in Pakistan and 1 in China. It has become prestigious to make these peaks as targets by mountaineers every year. In fact, successful climb over these peaks is considered an enviable measure of their attainment. By far, the largest number of mountaineering expeditions visiting Pakistan has been coming from Japan.

K-2 (8611m) It is the second highest mountain the world. It was first attempted by Martin Conway’s expedition in 1902 which was composed of British, Austrian and Swiss climbers. Ashraf Aman was the first Pakistani climber to climb on top of K-2 with five other climbers of the Jap-Pak expedition in 1977, with Ichire Yoshizawa as its leader and Isao Shinkai as the technical leader.

Nanga Parbat (8125m) It is also known as the killer mountain. It claimed the life of AF Mummery, leader of an expedition and two porters in 1895. Since then Nanga Parbat has cost scores of lives, though quite a few have successfully scaled it. Harmann Buhl was the first to set foot on this formidable peak in 1953. In spite of its bloody past record, Nanga Parbat is still the most sought after target. Its dangerous challenge seems to add spurs to the determination of climbers.

Hidden Peak (8068m) This peak was first attempted in 1892 by Martin Conway’s expedition who gave it this name because it was hidden by the neighbouring peaks of Baltoro glacier. The peak was first conquered in 1958 by an American expedition. Nick clinch was the leader. The climbing leaders Peter Schoening and Kanfuran were the two summiteers.

Broad Peak (8047m) This peak was also named by Martin Conway and was first attempted by a German expedition headed by Karl Herligk offer in 1954. The peak was climbed in 1957 when the entire team of four climbers with Marcus Schmuck scaled it.

In the far-north of Pakistan are valleys which are closed within the silent, brooding forts of these mountains and are almost as high as the mountains themselves. Here dwell, from times immemorial, various tribes differing in race and culture. If one tribe has Mongol features, its neighbour is obviously Aryan. Separated by insurmountable obstacles, these tribes very often live a totally land-locked existence blissfully unaware of the world beyond. But, a traveller is simply wonderstruck by one common element – Islam.

Every-where you hear the familiar Assalam-o-Alaikum, the universal Muslim greeting and welcome. and no matter how small or poor the inhibtation, the same muezzin’s call to prayer “Allah-u-Akbar rings in the thin mountain air, issuing from the minarets of mosques hidden in the inaccessible fold of these ranges pulsates an infinite variety of life; animals reptiles, birds, insects and plants. There is, of course, the yak which is an enormous but docile beast, at once the beast of burden and food. It is notable in the wildlife of these regions, but, its hunting is strictly restricted and in many areas totally forbidden by law.

Glaciers:

Pakistan has more glaciers than any other land outside the North and South Poles. Pakistan’s glacial area covers some 13,680 sq.km which represents an average of 13 per cent of mountain regions of the upper Indus Basin. Pakistan’s glaciers can rightly claim to possess the greatest mass and collection of glaciated space on the face of earth. In fact, in the lap of the Karakoram of Pakistan alone there are glaciers whose total length would add up to above 6,160 sq. km. To put it more precisely, as high as 37 per cent of the Karakoram area is under its glaciers against Himalayas’ 17 per cent and European Alps’ 22 per cent. The Karakorams have one more claim to proclaim; its southern flank (east and west of the enormous Biafo glacier) has a concentration of glaciers which works out to 59 per cent of its area.

There is a historical reason for the fact that we, and the world outside, are better acquainted with glaciers in the Nanga Parbat region. It is through this region, hazardous though it is, that man has trudged to and fro since the beginning of his civilized history of movement and migration. The Siachin glacier is 75 kms. The Hispar (53 kms) joins the Biafo at the Hispar La (5154.16 metres (16,910 ft) to form an ice corridor 116.87 kms (72 miles) long. The Batura, too is 58 kms in length. But, the most outstanding of these rivers of ice is the 62 kms Baltoro. This mighty glacier fed by some 30 tributaries constitutes a surface of 1291.39 sq. kms. Western Low Mountains Region.

These western low mountains spread from the Swat and Chitral hills in a north-south direction (along which Alexander the Great led his army in 327 B.C) and cover a large portion of the North-West Frontier Province. North of the river Kabul their altitude ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 ft. in Mohamand and Malakand hills. The htmlect of these hills is exceedingly dreary and the eye is everywhere met by the dry rivers between long rows of rocky hills and crags, scantily covered with coarse grass, scrub wood and dwarf palm. South of the river Kabul spreads the Koh-e-Sofed Range with a general height of 10,000 ft. Its highest peak, Skaram, being 15,620 ft. South of Koh-e-Sofed are the Kohat and Waziristan hills (5,000 ft) which are traversed by the Kurram and Tochi rivers, and are bounded on south by Gomal River.

The whole area is a tangle of arid hills composed of limestone and sandstone. South of the Gomal River, the Sulaiman Mountains run for a distance of about 483 kilometers in a north-south direction, Takht-e-Sulaiman (11,295 ft.) being its highest peak. At the southern end lie the low Marri and Bugti hills. The area shows an extraordinary landscape of innumerable scarps, small plateaus and steep craggy out-crops with terraced slopes and patches of alluvial basins which afford little cultivation.

Kirthar Range South of the Sulaiman Mountains is the Kirthar Range which forms a boundary between the Sindh plain and the Balochistan plateau. It consists of a series of ascending ridges running generally north to south with broad flat valleys in-between. The highest peak named Kutte ji Kabar (dog’s grace is 6,878 ft. above sea level. Bleak, rugged and barren as these hills are, they afford some pasturage for flocks of sheep and goats. The valleys are green with grass and admit cultivation up to a highest of 4,000 ft. Historical Passes The western mountains have a number of passes, which are of special geographical and historical interest. For centuries, they have been watching numerous kings, generals and preachers passing through them and the events that followed brought about momentous changes in the annals of mankind.

Basic Facts

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:57:59 +0000

PAKISTAN FACT SHEET

Area:

796,096 square kilo meters

Population:

155.72 Million
(Federal Bureau of Statistics:December 2005)

Location:

South Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea,
between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China
in the north.

Land boundaries:

Total 7,266 km (Afghanistan 2,430 km,
China 580 km, India 2,240 km, Iran 909 km)

Coastline:

1,046 km

Climate:

Hot, dry desert,
temperate in north west, arctic in north

Terrain:

Flat Indus plain in east, mountains in
north and northwest, Balochistan plateau in west and desert in south.

Elevation extremes:

Lowest point: Arabia Sea 0 m

Highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin Austin –
8611 meters)

Independence:

14^th August 1947 (from Great
Britain)

National Day:

23^rd March

Government type:

Parliamentary

Capital:

Islamabad

Administrative divisions:

4 provinces (Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan)

-
Islamabad Capital
Territory (ICT)

-
Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA)

-
Disputed Jammu & Kahsmir
region, Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.

Religions:

Islam 97%, Christianity, Sikhism,
Hinduism, and others 3%.

Languages

National
language:

Urdu

Official
languages:

Urdu and English

Regional
Languages:

Sindhi, Pushto, Punjabi and Balochi.

Major handicrafts of Pakistan:

Copper and brass work, hand-woven cottons,
pottery, woodwork, leatherwork, mirror work, embroidery, marble work,
carpets.

Economy

Pakistan achieved a
phenomenal economic growth rate at 8.4% in 2004-05 with a record harvest of 14.6 million
bales of cotton and 21.1 million tons of wheat. Reserves touched an all
time high at $ 12.6 billion. Public debt burden continued to decline
sharply. Pakistan attracted $ 1.524 billion in FDI. Thus all leading
to a consistently growing economy.

Economic indicators

		Unit	1998-99	2004-05
Real Sector
Real GDP Growth		%	4.2	8.4
Agriculture		%	1.9	7.5
Large Scale Manufacturing		%	3.6	15.4
Investment		% of GDP	15.6	16.9
National Savings		% of GDP	11.7	15.7
Inflation		%	5.7	9.3
Fiscal Sector
Per Capita Income		US$	470	736
Revenue Collection		Billion Rs.	308.5	591.1
Fiscal Deficit		% of GDP	6.1	3.2
Total Public Debt		% of GDP	100.4	60.0
a. Foreign currency components		% of GDP	53.1	29.7
b. Rupee components		% of GDP	43.7	30.3
External Sector
Exports		Billion $	7.8	14.4
Imports		Billion $	9.4	20.6
Remittances		Billion $	1.0	4.2
Foreign Direct Investments		Million $	376.0	1524
Current Account Balance		% of GDP	- 4.1	- 1.6
External Debt & Forex Liabilities		Billion $	37.6	35.8
External Debt & Liabilities		% of Forex Earnings	335.4	145.9
Foreign Exchange Reserves		Billion $	1.73	12.6
Money and Capital Market
Credit to Private Sector		Billion Rs.	102.7	390.3
Stock Market -KSE Index -Market Capitalization -Market Capitalization Average lending Rate		100 Index Billion Rs Billion US$ %	1283 286.2 5.7 14.8	7450.1 2036.7 34.3 8.2
Information Technology
Internet Connectivity		Million No.	0.3	2.1
Bandwidth Cost		000$	60	2
Fiber Optic Connectivity		Cities	29	360
PTCL Fixed Network		Million Lines	3.89	5.2
Internet Bandwidth		Mbps	32	930
Universal Internet Access		No. of Cities	29	1900
Cellular Phone Customers		Million No.	0.32	12.8
Social Safety Nets
Zakat Distribution		Billion Rs.	2.2	1.6
PRSP Expenditure		Billion Rs.	114.0*	278.0
Revival of Sick Industrial Units
Sick Industrial Units		Number	800	600
Defence Budget Allocation (Billion Rs.)
Year	National Budget	Defence Budget	% Share	As % of GDP
1999-00	709.1	150.4	21.2	3.96
2000-01	717.9	131.2	18.3	3.15
2001-02	826.2	149.3	18.1	3.39
2002-03	898.2	159.7	17.8	3.31
2003-04	957.7	180.5	18.8	3.31
2004-05	1041	193.9	18.7`	3.20
2005-06	1098.5	223.5	20.3	3.00

*1999-2000

Mbps stands for Megabytes
per second

Between Pakistan & Korea

Punjab’s new Model Bazaars Enable Locals

Places to visit in Pakistan

Learning About Foreign Cultures

News – Informative Weapon

North East West South (NEWS)

Bad Weather Disrupts Travel And Causes Billions Of Loss

Trade Events Boosts International Business And Economy

Tourism Destination Is Becoming Popular To Promote Tourism

Crime Rates Have Been Increasing As Economy Grows

Emission Of Greenhouse Gases A Major Cause For Extreme Weather Changes

The Weather Outside

War Of Words

Events To Remember

Crime Never Pays

News Channels And Portals Are In An Increase To Cater To The Demand Of The Masses

Visit Pakistan to Climb

Travel to Pakistan

Visit South Korea

South Korean Nightlife

Things to Do in South Korea

Foreign Relations

Funny Pakistan News: Girl-Cramming in a Car!

Bird Black Death in Korea: a Story of Tragedy

See the Seasons

Emblem – Representing the Country

An unexplored Area

Destination Pakistan and Korea

Government Structure

History of Currency

ENRICHED CULTURE

THE NATION TODAY

War and Violence

Flag

Investment Opportunities

Pakistan on the News

Investment Opportunities

Emblem

Flag

Country Profile

The Government

LAND AND PEOPLE

Basic Facts

Languages

Economic indicators

Real Sector

Fiscal Sector

External Sector

Money and Capital Market

Information Technology

Social Safety Nets

Revival of Sick Industrial Units

Money and Capital
Market

Information
Technology

Revival of Sick
Industrial Units