Pakistan encapsulates such variety that it is regretful that it is not top of every traveller’s must-see list. Pakistan is enriched by friendly people and magnificent landscapes. Opportunity for adventure is as high as its mighty mountain ranges, with watersports, mountaineering and trekking all popular and rewarding activities. Coupled with this is a profound sense of cultural concoction, Pakistan once being home to several ancient civilisations, and witness to the rise and fall of dynasties.

In ancient times, the area that now comprises Pakistan marked the farthest reaches of the conquests of Alexander the Great. It was also the home of Buddhist Ghandaran culture. It was the independence of India in 1947 that catalysed Pakistan’s nationhood. Under pressure from Indian Muslims, the British created a separate Muslim state. Originally, it consisted of two parts, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now a single unitary state).

Democracy failed to take root and Pakistan suffered military rule and civil war, eventually securing an independent Bangladesh and truncating Pakistan.

At the heart of the long-running Indo-Pakistan conflict is the status of Kashmir which, although it has a majority Muslim population, became part of India in 1947. The two sides have nearly come to war on several occasions. However, in early 2004, a ’road map’ was agreed and tentative commitment to peace established.

Pakistan’s topography is therefore as fractured and unsettled as its history.

796,095 sq km (307,374 sq miles) excluding data for the disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir.

161.1 million (UN estimate 2005).

202.4 per sq km.

Islamabad. Population: 800,000 (2005).

Federal Islamic Republic since 1973. Gained independence from the UK in 1947.

Urdu is the national language. English is widely spoken. Regional languages include Punjabi, which is spoken by 48 per cent of the population (1981), Pushto, Sindhi, Saraiki, and Baluchi. There are numerous local dialects.

97% Muslim, the remainder are Hindu or Christian.

GMT + 5.

The right hand is used both for shaking hands (the usual form of greeting) and for passing or receiving things. Mutual hospitality and courtesy are of great importance at all levels, whatever the social standing of the host. Visitors must remember that most Pakistanis are Muslim and should respect their customs and beliefs.

Smoking is prohibited in some public places and it is polite to ask permission before lighting a cigarette. It is common for visiting businesspeople to be entertained in hotels and restaurants. If invited to a private home, a gift or national souvenir is welcome. Informal dress is acceptable for most occasions. Women should avoid wearing tight clothing and both men and women should ensure that their arms and legs are covered. Pakistani society is divided into classes and within each group there is a subtle social grading. The Koran is the law for Muslims and it influences every aspect of daily life; see the World of Islam appendix for more information.

Photography: Do not take photographs at military establishments, airports or of any infrastructure, including dams and bridges or from aircraft. The penalties can be severe.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two- or three-pin plugs are in use.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz since 2004.

President Pervez Musharraf since 2001.