COUNTRY PROFILE: PAKISTAN

February 2005

COUNTRY

Formal Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Short Form: Pakistan.

Term for Citizen(s): Pakistani(s).

Capital: Islamabad (Islamabad Capital Territory).

Major Cities: Pakistan has seven cities with a population

of 1 million or more: Karachi (9,339,023), Lahore (5,143,495),

Faisalabad (2,008,861), Rawalpindi (1,409,768), Multan

(1,197,384), Hyderabad (1,166,894), and Gujranwala (1,132,509).

Independence: Proclaimed August 14, 1947, from Britain.

Public Holidays: Eid-ul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice of Abraham, movable date); Muharram (Islamic New Year, movable date); Kashmir Day (February 5); Ashura (movable date); Pakistan Day (signing of first constitution and proclamation of the republic, March 23); Labour Day (May 1); Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, movable date); Independence Day (August 14); Ramadan commencement (movable date); Iqbal Day (Birthday of Muhammad Iqbal, November 9); Eid-ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan, movable date); Birthday of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Christmas (December 25). Muslim holidays are observed nationally, and Christian holidays are elective for Christians only.

Flag:

Pakistan’s flag is green with a narrow vertical white band on its left side.

A white crescent and star are in the center of the green band. Green

signifies the Muslim majority, white denotes minorities, the crescent

represents progress, and the star symbolizes light and knowledge.