Introduction

Overview of Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a 15th-ranked Middle Power Nation, and It has the world’s ninth-largest armed forces and a declared nuclear weapon state, with six nuclear tests conducted in 1998. Its conventional name is Pakistan; the former is West Pakistan; the federal capital is Islamabad; and Lahore is the cultural capital. Sindh, Punjab, North West Frontier Province, and Balochistan are the four provinces. It has more than 70 languages spoken as first languages; the linguistic varieties of Pakistan are complex. Urdu (the national language) and English (official), but Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Baluchi, and Seraiki are considered the main languages. Muslims in Pakistan are culturally homogeneous. The nation that first separated from British India and then East Pakistan (Bangladesh) is currently an independent Federal Republic, referred to as a constitutional government in which the powers of the Central Government are limited by law. In Pakistan, the military’s iron grip defines the landscape of power, and democracy battles to breathe under the weight of authority. Pakistan emerged as an independent nation on the map in August 1947, a sovereign state that had broken away from the British Indian Empire, and has become the fifth most populous country in the world, with a population of 252.4 million.                                                                  

This marks a significant growth over the past few years, reflecting a consistent increase in population. It has a notably young population; 40.3% come under 15 years old, 56.0% are between 15 and 64, and 3.7% are 65 years and over. This shows that much of the population is still in the growth and development stage, posing opportunities and challenges for the country’s education and healthcare systems. To some degree, it is a male-predominant country with 103.6 males for every 100 females, 95% Muslims, and 5% others, and has the second-largest Muslim population. Predictions indicate that the population is said to be growing. The population may reach over 300 million and potentially peak at around 404.68 million by 2092. Currently, the growth rate is about 2%, but it is anticipated to decline to less than 1% by mid-century gradually. A series of economic crises, a strategically exposed northwest boundary, and full-scale wars with India have plagued Pakistan.  

Historical foundation

In the late 19th century, Hindus and Muslims in India were living in harmony, but during British colonial rule, the socio-political landscape in India started to change for the worse. Under British rule, irreconcilable differences emerged between Hindus and Muslims as a result of the British “Divide and Rule” policy. The main focus was to keep Indians divided by separating Hindus and Muslims, they not only sparked communal tensions but authorized the political organization for Muslims to highlight distinction in communities as the All-India Muslim League came into existence in 1906, to advocate for the welfare of Indian Muslims, but the League was converted into a hub of political actions and demanded a different independent nation consisting of Muslim majority provinces in the northwest and eastward of India. The Pakistan Movement, which is also known as Tehrik-e-Pakistan, was a political move aimed at the creation of a new nation-state named Pakistan and the Lahore resolution of 1940 became a critical turning point, with major figures like Mohammad Ali Jinha, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Liaqat Ali Khan, Shabbir Ahmad Usmai, and Aga Khan III. Sheila Pant led Pakistani women and encouraged their participation in national politics. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 divided British India into two independent nations, India and Pakistan, with the Radcliffe Commission determining boundaries based on religious differences, this led to the bloodiest migration of around 15 million Muslims and Hindus, resulting in an estimated death toll ranging from 200,000 to 2 million.

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