Country Pakistan

Pakistan is a state located in South Asia. Despite the fact that this area began to settle more in 3-2 millennium BC, the country itself emerged not a long time ago as a result of loss of the British Empire in the colonies section within the newly formed states. And before the Christian era there was one of the oldest nations on earth – the kingdom of Harappan, Indo-Aryan peoples lived here. Later the territory of Pakistan was involve in Muslim states, and here was actively disseminated Islam. In the XIX century, Pakistan became part of British India.

In 1947, Pakistan received independence from India (in the new states entered the territory where most Muslims live). At present, Pakistan is considered a country hostile to the development of mass tourism. The struggle for power leads to all sorts of armed clashes and terrorist attacks, as a consequence within the country safe for foreign travelers. At the same time, Pakistan – a country the indigenous culture, stunning scenery and very interesting history.

Area
The area is 803 940 square kilometers.

Population
According to 2008 the country had 159 652 399 people.

Language
Official languages are Urdu and English.

STATE ORDER
System of government – presidential republic. Parliament elects the President for a term of 5 years.

Climate
In most parts of the country’s tropical climate. In the north-west of the country’s subtropical climate. The highest temperature of +40-45 degrees.

Attractions
One of the most interesting tourist regions of the country is the province of Sindh (south of the country, in the lower reaches of the Indus River). In these parts just formed one of the oldest cultures on earth, which contests the title of the most ancient state of Egypt is Indus culture. In this province was the old capital of the country – the city of Karachi. The city was built in the XVIII century, therefore, interesting historical monuments is not here. However preserved picturesque promenade and the Old Town, where narrow streets are woven into the labyrinth. In the mosques in the city is the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Church of St. Andrew. Not far from the city on the beach in September and October, giant green turtles lay their eggs. Hyderabad is one of the oldest cities in the region. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but it existed even before Islam came here. There remained a large number of archeological sites, near the city is Lake Manchar, where winter thousands of migratory birds. Mohendzhodaro is a city that was once the center of Hinduism.

Currently there are carried out archaeological excavations. Its flowering took place in the II millennium BC. According to legend, he destroyed the Aryan tribes. Today you can see the ruins of the palace, the citadel, the remnants of the gallery. Not far from the excavation site is a museum Mozendzhodaro. Lahore – the capital of Punjab province. Lahore – one of the most interesting from a tourist point of view of cities. He was for many centuries was the capital of Pyatirechya, according to legend, he founded the sons of Rama. In the XVI century it was considered a cultural center of the Mughal Empire, which in turn gave the city of magnificent palaces and gardens. Also of interest for tourists are the cities of Peshawar and Islamabad.

Pakistan proposed to India a “road map”

Islamabad said that they proposed Delhi the plan to resolve the Indo-Pakistani conflict.

The proposal was made at the meeting in New York between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and India in the UN General Assembly.

Peace talks between the two countries began in 2004, but have been frozen for about a year ago, after New Delhi blamed Pakistani militants from the group Lashkar-e-Toiba “in the bombing in Mumbai in November last year.

Pakistani authorities then acknowledged that the action in Mumbai was planned in part on Pakistani territory.

India also claimed that in preparing the attack, attended by representatives of state structures in Pakist

Hotel Holiday Inn Lahore – Holiday Inn

Category:
Holiday Inn Lahore 4 * – Holiday Inn 4 *
Services: 120 rooms
Amenities:
Bathroom, mini-bar, bed, desk, room. TV with music channel, telephone, safe
Entertainment:
Business Center, bar, banquet hall, casino, outdoor swimming pool, swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, room service, concierge, elevator, safe deposit box, mail, laundry, hairdresser, medical service, travel agency, shops, currency exchange, luggage room, parking, Parking
Address:
25/26 Egerton Road

Hotel Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore – Pearl Continental

Category: Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore 5 *
Location:
7 km. From the international airport in Lahore, 6 km from the railway station, 1,5 km from downtown.
Service:
500 rooms, including 28 business suites, 24 suites and 2 presidential suites
Amenities:
Bathroom, mini-bar, bed, desk, room. TV with music channel, telephone, safe
Entertainment:
Restaurant, bar, banquet room, jacuzzi, outdoor swimming pool, sauna, business center, parking, parking, post office, heated pool, hairdresser, medical service, babysitting, travel agency, shops, currency exchange, luggage storage, safe deposit box, room service, elevator
Address:
Shahrah’-e’-Quaid’-e’-Azam PO Box # 983

Hotel Avari Hotel Lahore – Avari in Lahore

Category Avari Hotel Lahore 5 * – Avari 5 *

Service 95 rooms, including suites and 5 restaurants
Amenities:
Bathroom, mini-bar, bed, desk, TV with music channel, telephone, safe
Entertainment:
Restaurant, bar, banquet room, jacuzzi, outdoor swimming pool, sauna, business center, parking, parking, post office, swimming pool, beauty salon, medical service, Travel desk, babysitting, shops, currency exchange, luggage storage, safe deposit box, room service, elevator

Address 87, Shahrah’-e’-Quaid’-e’-Azam, (The Mall)

Hotels in Pakistan

(price per room with breakfast daily, in USD):

Karachi                                          Single Room          Double Room
Embassy 3 *                                140                             145
Faran 2-3 *                                 125                             130
Mehran 3 *                                 140                             148
Days Inn, 4 *                              225                             275
Beach Luxury 4 *                     240                            290
Carlton 4 *                                  275                             364
Avari 4 *                                     297                             388
Pearl Continental 5 *             320                             438
Marriott 5 *                               330                             420
Sheraton 5 *                              340                             456

Islamabad                                                 Single Room            Double Room
Jawa International starless               50                                60
Regency 3 *                                              100                             130
Enjoy Continental 3 *                           120                             134
Shalimar 4 *                                             170                             240
Holiday Inn 4 *                                       275                             330
Crown Plaza 5 *                                      325                              380
Serena 5 *                                                 390                             460
Pearl Continental 5 *                           320                             438
Marriott 5 *                                             320                             420

Lahore                                                       Single Room             Double Room
Park way without stars                       50                                 60
Leaders hotel 4 *                                  260                               280
Pearl Continental 5 *                          370                              410

Transfers airport-hotel (one way): 80 USD per car.

PAKISTAN – GENERAL INFO

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Area: 803.9 km2.
Population: 137 million (1997)
Official language: Urdu
Capital: Islamabad (201 thousand inhabitants, 1997)
National holiday: Independence Day (August 14, 1947)
Currency: Pakistani rupee
Member of the UN since 1948, the OIC and others

Pakistan ( «Country of clean people») appeared on the world map in 1947 – after the separation of colonial India. Pakistan  locates in South Asia. Borders on the west with Iran, on the north-west with Afghanistan, in the north with China, in the east and north-east with India. On the south Pakistan is washed by the Arabian Sea.

The nations of Pakistan are Punjabis, Sindhis, Pashtuns and Baluchis, as well as refugees from India, called in IRP as muhadzhi-rami. Each of these national communities, in turn, is divided into smaller national communities. Much of the propertied elite major nationalities actually formed a single Pakistani elite.

No matter how great the power of the Muslims over the local population, mainly Hindus, but their numbers have always remained an overwhelming Hindu majority. When the British ruled India, the Hindus and Muslims were on the same footing as the subjects of the British Crown. However, when the British left India, the problem of compatibility between two religious communities become so acute.

Jinnah, who led a party of Muslims – Muslim League, has developed a so-called «theory of two nations», according to which Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations with different cultures, traditions and worldview. At the session of the Muslim League in Lahore in 1940 was accepted a resolution demanding the northern part of British India – two independent Muslim states: one – in the north-west (it had to enter the border of Punjab, Sindh, North-West Frontier Province, Baluchistan and Kashmir), another – on the north-east (of Bengal and Assam). In 1946 a conference of Muslim members of parliament adopted a resolution to establish a single independent state of Muslims of South Asia – Pakistan. In 1947, in place of British India, there were two Dominion – Indian Union and Pakistan. Until 1971, Pakistan consisted of East Bengal, however, after the Indo-Pakistan war in the place of its eastern provinces formed an independent state of Bangladesh.

Islamabad is Pakistani capital, where the public and government institutions is the parliament, presidential palace, the government’s Secretariat, ministries and departments, diplomatic missions. A major center of science and education: here are focused universities, institutes of nuclear science and technology, economic development, strategic research, etc. The city was built in 1960 – 1970 near the city of Rawalpindi. Next to the international airport.

Karachi (the capital of Pakistan in 1947 – 1959.) – The largest city in the country, the main trade and economic and financial center, Sea Gate, the provincial capital of Sindh. Appeared in the beginning of XVIII century on-site fishing village. Located in the delta of the Indus River on the coast of the Arabian Sea. In Karachi, there are major commercial banks, central offices and branches of insurance companies, stock and cotton exchanges. International Airport serves the largest airlines in the world. Here are a naval base, one of the major universities, colleges and research institutions. In the suburbs of Karachi accounts for about 40% of total industrial production in Pakistan. Construct a nuclear power plant.

Quetta is the provincial capital of Baluchistan, commercial and transportation hub near the border with Iran and Afghanistan. Development of the textile and food industries. Here are a military college for senior officers, military schools, as well as the University Geological Survey of Pakistan, Institute of Geodesy. Located in a seismic zone. An earthquake in 1935 claimed the lives of 20 thousand people.

Lahore is the administrative center of the province of Punjab, the second most important economic center of the country. Are concentrated in textile mills, machine-building industry for the production of electrical equipment and electrical goods, furniture and leather factories, small industry and applied art crafts. Lahore – the most important cultural and scientific center, known for its Punjab University, Engineering University, colleges, national museum, cultural center. The town was founded at the beginning of a new era. Lahore’s heyday came in the Mughal era. At the end of XVI – early XVII century. Lahore was the capital of the empire.

Multan is homonymous area in the province of Punjab. An important economic center of a vast area covering the south and south-west Panjab, north of Sindh, Baluchistan and the part of the North-West Frontier Province.

Peshawar is the administrative center of the North-West Frontier Province, one of the oldest cities in Pakistan, a shopping center on the way to Afghanistan, a major destination of road and rail lines connecting Karachi to the north, an important religious center.

Rawalpindi is commercial, industrial, political and cultural center. It forms a single agglomeration with Islamabad. There are a large base and headquarters of the Army.

Faisalabad is homonymous area in Punjab province, the center of the textile industry and agricultural science.

Hyderabad is located in Sindh, in southeastern Pakistan. In the suburb Dzhamshoro is the famous University of Sindh.

The territory of Pakistan has a rich history. At the beginning of III millennium BC. e. in the Indus valley arose the first public education relating to one of the oldest civilizations in the world – Harappan. Centers of this civilization were Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Changhe-Daro. Its decline coincided with the emergence of the tribe of Aryans who came from the north-west. Contact Aryans with the local population led to the emergence of Indo-Aryan tribes and nationalities. The first Indo-Aryan states have emerged in the VII – VI century. BC. e. Among them was the state of Gandhara, which is in the middle of I in. BC. e. become part of Power Shakov. Islam is here brought Muslim conquerors. The first of them appeared in Sindh in 711g. Muhammad bin Qasim. From that time began the forcible imposition of a new religion in North India. After a series of conquests in northern India was ruled by Muslim feudal lords. At the beginning of the XIII century. arose Delhi Sultanate, and in the beginning of XVI century. here adopted the Mughal empire. In the XVII century. territory of India began to «master» the British. Pakistan from XIX century. part of the colony «British India».

The key role played in the creation of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876 – 1948). He laid the foundations of public policy. In Pakistan it is called «Quaid-e-Azam» ( «the great leader», «Father of the nation»). Ayub Khan (1907 – 1974), Pakistani politician, who ruled the country first as head of the military regime, and then as president. He has the initiative to normalize relations with the USSR in the 60-ies. XX century. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1928 – 1979) – President and then Prime Minister of Pakistan, the founder of the Pakistan People’s Party. Bhutto sought to promote the democratization of public life and conduct of foreign policy realism. He was arrested after the military coup in 1977 and soon sentenced to death on charges of involvement in a political assassination. He was executed in 1979.

The rich history of Pakistan, left on its territory a lot of attractions. These include the Lahore fort with its world famous gardens of Shalimar in Lahore, mosques and mausoleums of saints throughout the country, historical sites associated with the emergence and collapse of empires. Karachi is the Mausoleum of Jinnah – the founder of Pakistan. In Lahore Fort (XVI cent.) Preserved palace of Jahangir (1617) and the Moti Masjid (1645). Excavations of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa have been targets of tourists. Pakistan – parliamentary, federal republic. Head of state – the president. Executive power is vested in the Prime Minister. Legislature – a bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly and Senate.

Under the constitution, Islam – the state religion of Pakistan. About 80% of Pakistani Muslims – Sunnis, ie, along with the Koran and the Sunnah, they recognize – the Muslim Holy Tradition of the activities and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad; less than 20% – the Shiites. Although Islam and the monotheistic religion, but among Muslims, there are more than 70 different sects, have their own views on certain aspects of doctrine. Almost all of them are in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, an explosion in hotel killed 11 people

According to AFP data, at least 11 people were killed and 46 injured on Tuesday, June 9, after explosion in Hotel Pearl Continental in Peshawar in northwest Pakistan. According to Navid Malik, chief of police of North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, the death toll will unfortunately increase. According to preliminary data, among the dead and injured are foreigners.

As it was reported earlier that the attack may have committed a suicide bomber parked car packed with explosives at the five-star hotel. Peshawar is the capital of North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. In this province in recent clashes between government troops and the Taliban militia. No one has claimed the responsibility for the blast so far .

Tourism in Pakistan

Have many Russians been to Lahore or Rawalpindi palaces? Not a lot. We are going to Pakistan as tourists very seldom. Even our “shuttle traders” visit the wholesale markets of Karachi much less than the markets of China and India. Meanwhile, in Pakistan there are a lot of interesting things. And the trips over there are cheap. Since the country is not spoiled by tourists.

To fix the situation, the Department of Tourism and Culture of Pakistan made great efforts. Prevents not very stable political situation. But still, according to tourist department, the image of Pakistan as a country is unsuitable for tourism. For this year 1998 was declared the “Year of enchanting Antiquities of Pakistan”, and 2007 – the Year of Tourism”. Moreover, for the development of tourism, Pakistan has everything you need: natural beauty, museums, temples, roads and hotels. And the roads are quite decent, the hotel are quite comfortable. No wonder the twenty best hotels in South Asia include hotel Avari Renaissance Towers in Karachi and the Shalimar Hotel are in Rawalpindi.

Tourist who love an active rest can go on holiday in the valleys near Lahore, hiking glaciers and gorges to the north. On the hills near the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges can travel quite unprepared tourists. Here alpine meadows with thick grass, mountain streams, fresh air, beautiful views.

For the trained climbers on the north of the country laid dozen routes with varying degrees of complexity. Climbers, accompanied by experienced guides can claim Gondoro La or Nang Parbat peaks, which grow on the slopes of unusual cedar and pine forests. Climbers and tourists can find anywhere the services of camping, porters and yaks.

Ethnographic tourism in Pakistan saturation impressions are not inferior to sports. Travelers can walk the famous “silk route”, walking the ancient famous caravan route. A particularly interesting section of the journey on the Silk Road, which leads from the town of Chitral in the town of Karimabad. The road is among the hills and mountains, winds along the valleys, and each new valley is preparing surprise to traveler: after all live in the valleys of the various tribes with their own languages and culture. They recognize the supreme authority of the central government, but form a kind of autonomous feudal principalities in which medieval ways of life. Tourists tribes are untouched, but the authorities just in case turgruppam provide armed guards. The influence of civilization on the local people affected only in that they are madly in love with a truly British game – polo.

To see polo game, tourists arriving to the town of Karimabad. This city – the former capital of the ancient states of northern Pakistan – Huntsy kingdom. Especially temples of Lahore or famous bazaar of Peshawar. The latter found the largest market in South Asia. Video technology do not selling here. Instead, the dealers put on the sale of products of national crafts: vases, caparison, blades, saddles and much more. More Lahore is famous for the fact that a long time was the residence of the Great Mogul venerated subjects as living gods. ” Here Mogul and crowned.

Finally, there are an adventurous tourism in Pakistan as nowhere else. However tourism department does not offer this. And, in general, it is understandable why. It is an excursion to the former mujahideen camps on the border with Afghanistan. However, the lack of advertising is not an obstacle. Having paid $ 400-500 (no policy), you can take a two-week training course “Young mujahideen fighters.” Pakistani and American instructors will teach how to get under barbed wire, throwing knives, grenades to hide from the gap, to sleep under the mountain air, without tents and sleeping bags.  Entertainment, as they say, for fans.