Punjab is Pakistan's most populous province, with an estimated population of 110,012,442 as of 2017. Forming the bulk of the transnational Punjab region, it is bordered by the Pakistani provinces of Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the enclave of Islamabad, and Azad Kashmir. It also shares borders with the Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. The capital is Lahore, a cultural, historical, economic and cosmopolitan centre of Pakistan where the country's cinema industry, and much of its fashion industry, are based.
Mirpur, more commonly known as New Mirpur City, is the capital of Mirpur district and the largest city of the Pakistan-administered territory of Azad Kashmir. The city itself has gone through a process of modernization, but most of the surrounding area remains agricultural. Mirpur is known for its grand buildings and large bungalows, primarily funded through its expatriate community, which comes mainly from Europe, Hong Kong, the Middle East, and North America. The main crop cultivated during summer is millet and pulses. However, other crops such as wheat, maize and vegetables are also grown. The produce of quality rice from the paddy fields of Khari Sharif, between Upper Jhelum Canal and Jhelum river, is very famous and popular for its aroma and taste. The production of electricity from Mangla Dam provides the energy needs for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Punjab.
Kiamari Town or Kemari Town is the main coastal town of Karachi on Hawke's Bay, comprising the western parts of the city, including the Port of Karachi with an extensive coastline of sandy beaches, small islands and Mangrove forests. It does not include the southern Island of Manora which is under cantonment administration because of the naval base located there. The town forms a large triangle with highly defined boundaries: the RCD Highway and the Lyari River form the northeastern border, the Hub River to the northwestern border, and the Arabian Sea forms the southern border.
Bin Qasim Town is a town located in the southeastern part of Karachi along the Arabian Sea and the Indus River delta. The town and the adjacent Port Qasim are named after Muhammad bin Qasim, an Arab general who conquered large parts of Sindh in the eighth century CE. Bin Qasim is bordered by Gadap Town to the north, Thatta District and the Indus River to the east, the Arabian Sea to the south and the Malir River and the towns of Landhi, Malir, and Korangi Cantonment to the west. The town had a population of about 315,000 at the 1998 census, of which 97% are Muslim and include several ethnic groups – Sindhis form majority in the town. The other ethnic groups inhabiting include Balochs, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Brahuis, Muhajirs, Punjabis, Memons, Bohras and Ismailis.
Gulshan Town is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The town is bordered by Gadap Town to the north, the Faisal and Malir Cantonments to the east, Jamshed Town to the southwest, and Gulberg and Liaquatabad to the west. Gulshan town falls under the jurisdiction of District East Karachi.
Jamshed Town lies in the central part of Karachi, Pakistan. To the northwest is Liaquatabad Town across the Lyari River, while to the east is Gulshan Town and to the southeast is Korangi Town across the Malir River. Jamshed is bordered by Karachi Cantonment and Clifton Cantonment to the west. The population of Jamshed Town was estimated to be about 730,000 at the 1998 census, of which 99% are Muslim. Urdu speaking constitute an overwhelming majority of the population.
Landhi Town is a large industrial town in the eastern part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is bordered by the Faisal Cantonment and Shah Faisal Town to the north across the Malir River, Bin Qasim Town to the south and east, and Korangi Town to the west. The population of Landhi Town was estimated to be over 660,000 at the 1998 census, of which 99% are Muslim. Sindhis and Pashtuns constitute an overwhelming majority of the population, followed by Muhajirs and Baloch.
Malir Town is one of the 18 towns of Karachi City, located in the eastern part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Malir town is bordered by the Jinnah International Airport and the Malir Cantonment to the west and north, the Malir River and Shah Faisal Town to the south and Gadap Town to the east across the Thado Nallo stream. Malir has been regarded in history as the countryside of Karachi City due to its open atmosphere and lush green farms, but now these are no more. Before the independence of Pakistan, there were small villages of Sindhi and Kalmati Baloch in the Gadap Town and Malir Town of modern Karachi. Now both towns are developed as the suburbs of the city because of the urban sprawl.
New Karachi Town is a town in the northern part of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. New Karachi Town is located between the Lyari River, the Manghopir Hills and two major roads – Surjani Road to the north and Shahrah-e-Zahid Hussain to the south. To the north and west lies Gadap Town, and to the south lie the towns of Gulberg Town and North Nazimabad Town. The population of New Karachi Town was estimated to be more than 680,000 at the 1998 census. Muhajirs constitute an overwhelming majority of the population.
Shah Faisal Town is a small, densely populated town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is named after the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The town is bordered by Malir Town to the northeast, Bin Qasim Town to the east, Korangi Town and Landhi Town to the south, and Faisal Cantonment and Malir Cantonment to the west and northwest. The Malir River forms the southern boundary of the town and the Shahrah-e-Faisal highway forms much of the northern boundary with the Jinnah International Airport at the northern end of the town.
Tourism in Pakistan is a growing industry. In 2010, Lonely Planet termed Pakistan as being "...tourism's ‘next big thing’ for more years than we care to remember. [But] world media headlines [always] send things off the rails". The country is geographically and ethnically diverse, and has a number of historical and cultural heritage sites. The upsurge in tourism in the past few years has been aided by the Government of Pakistan's recent decision to end mandatory No Objection Certificates for foreign tourists seeking to visit certain parts of the country.
Pakistani architecture is intertwined with the architecture of the broader Indian subcontinent. With the beginning of the Indus civilization around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, for the first time in the area which encompasses today's Pakistan an advanced urban culture developed with large structural facilities, some of which survive to this day. This was followed by the Gandhara style of Buddhist architecture that borrowed elements from Ancient Greece. These remnants are visible in the Gandhara capital of Taxila.
The major ethnic groups of Pakistan include Jatts, Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Saraikis, Muhajirs, Baloch, Paharis,Hindkowans, Chitralis and other smaller groups. Smaller ethnic groups found throughout the nation include Kashmiris, Kalash, Siddi, Burusho, Wakhis, Khowar, Hazara, Shina, Kalyu and Baltis.