The world’s sixth-most populous country, Pakistan was created as a Muslim nation in 1947, carved out from Hindu-majority India, following the subcontinent’s independence from the British Empire. With a turbulent political and military history, Pakistan continues its journey to stability in the midst of conflict and turmoil at home and with its neighbors.
Geologically prone to violent earthquakes, Pakistan’s geography also contains some of the world’s highest peaks, including K2 (8,611 meters) and Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters). The climate is varied and ranges from tropical to arid, with a significant monsoon season causing major flooding.
Pakistan’s economy, while having transitioned from primarily agricultural to more of a focus on the service sector, is still heavily dependent on farming and a majority of the workforce is employed in agriculture, either directly or indirectly. With 207 million people, Pakistanis are primarily Muslim by faith with Urdu being the lingua franca for everyday life. However, for most people, their primary languages are Punjabi or Sindhi.