Pakistan's Major Ports

The Arabian sea is in the south of pakistan and is the northern part of indian Ocean. The Arabian sea has been a lifeline of international trade since the middle ages.
 

The Karachi Ports:

Karachi Port is the oldest in pakistan. It is one of the important ports in the region, catering to the needs of international trade between the country and the rest of the world. It has also great potential to be used by Afghanistan and the central Asian republics as their gateway to the world, using pakistan as a transit for their international trade.
                                                        

  
Bin Qasim Port:
in view of pakistan steel mill and the country's growing international trade a new port, the Bin Qasim Port, was built some 35 kilometers west of karachi.
                                                     

Gawadar Port: 

Gawadar port in Baluchistan was built with Chinese cooperation. With the passage of time this port is anticipated to assume an ever-greater role in the country's international trade and development.

A part from these three major seaports, there are small ones at Omara, Pasni, and Jeevani. These ports are basically large fish markets.

                                                                               

Pakistan's Major Crops

wheat:
wheat is the country's most important crop. It is the staple food of the people of pakistan. No other crop is grown as extensively in pakistan as wheat. It is grown throughout the country, mostly in irrigated plain areas and on a small scale in the barani areas. Potohar is also a wheat growing area.

Rice:
Rice is one of pakistan's main food crops. The country is not only self-sufficient in its rice production but also an important exporter of high quality rice in the world. Much of the rice produced in the country is grown in the humid plains of Punjab and Sindh. It is also grown in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Northern Areas.           

Cotton:
Cotton is an important crop and a huge source of the country's foreign exchange. Cotton is mostly grown in the southern plains of the Punjab and in Sindh.             

Sugarcane:
Sugarcane is grown in warmer climates with enough irrigation water. It is grown widely in the Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.                   

Maize:
Maize is an important crop of the country used as staple food source in many rural areas. Parts of the maize crop which are not edible for humans are fed to livestock. Maize, or corn, is also used in the manufacture of edible oil. It is grown in the most of the regions in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.             

Tobacco:
Tobacco is one of pakistan's most important cash crop. Around 75% of the tobacco crop is produced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and about 25% in the Punjab.                   

Pulses:
Various kinds of pulses such as Chane, Massoor, Mong and Mash etc. Are grown in the barani areas of Punjab, Sindh and southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

 

The Common Features of Pakistani Culture

Different regions and nationalities have different customs and traditions. That explains the presance of so many cultures throughout the world. But there are also many commonalities among various cultures. Pakistan is a muslim country and islam is the dominant feature of pakistani culture. Islam is against the divisions of people and societies on ethnic, linguistic, or traditional grounds and provides a common framework for uniting its followers in a single nationhood beyond provincial frontiers besides religion the constitution of pakistan, also provides freedom and benefits to every one. Following are the main characteristics of pakistani culture.

Mixed culture:
pakistani culture is a mixed culture. This region has been a melting pot of different cultural traditions since human prehistory. The earliest settlers of the region were part displaced, part mingled with the Aryan invandes. Later on various people of iranian, Afghan, Greek, Arab, Mongolian and turkic origin settled and mingled with local populations. Thus, in spite of the many apparent differences in the customs and traditions of various regions in the country, they also exhibit deep, underlying similarities, known as pakistani culture.

Social life:
In pakistan social life is basically simple and modest. Customs and traditions are also simple. A majority of the population lives in combined family system. Respect for the elders is common among all regional and local traditions.
 

A vast majority of the national population lives in villages, with farming and livestock management being the primary sources of earning their livelihood.
 

Commerce, industrial works, and the service sector are the major employment sources of the people in urban areas.
 

Marriage ceremonies are still held in traditional manner. Religious festivals are generally celebrated with passion and devotion throughout the country.

Dress:
pakistan's national dress is simple but graceful. Men wear shalwar and qamees or kurta. The use of traditional caps and pagries as headwear among men is common. Women generally wear shalwar and qamees for clothes and chader (shawl) for headwear.
 

Besides, every region has its own style of dress. Embroidered dress is popular with women. But its cutting, colour and design are different. Hence, every dress follows the principle of modesty and parda.

                                                  

Food: 

Food of pakistani people is quite simple. Bread made from wheat taken with vegetables, various kinds of pulses, is common. Rice with meat is another favorite dish. Milk, lassi, tea, green tea and simple water are the major drinks. However, during marriage ceremonies and other feasts, the provision of more expenslve and richer foods and drinks is arranged. Some foods are more popular than others in certain areas due to regional and climatic variations. In khyber pakhtunkhwa, for example, because of the cold weather meat and green tea are consumed in larger quantities. In Sindh and Punjab, vegetables, milk and dairy products like yogurt and butter, are consumed avidly. In Baluchistan, lambs, meat, beaf and dry fruits are the fovourite food.

                                                   

Handicraft: 

The skill of handicraft is inherited to pakistan people from ancient times. Modern pakistan's craftmen are capable and have a great aesthetic sence. Craftsmanship is generally a family business. Certain crafts are jointly undertaken by men and women.

The city of Gujarat is famous for the craft of paintings on earthenware. The craftsmen of peshawar city retain the same mastery of the art of engraving on bronze, copper and tin implements as their ancestors. The goldsmiths of Peshawar, Multan, Bahawalpur and Haiderabad are renowned for their work in both gold and silver. Baluchistan and Punjab are renowned for the craft of weaving hand-woven carpet. Pakistanis are also heir to a rich tradition in the handcrafts of embroidery and the decoration of fabrics.

                                                

Sports and Fares:

Sporting events and fairs are important aspects of pakistani culture. In various regions of the country fairs are held with the changing of seasons and on eve of crops cutting or on occasions of important events in the lives of sufi saints. People from all walks of life come to participate in these fares. Some of these events are quite colorful.

Some of the famous fares held in the country include the horse and cattle show in Lahore, the annual cattle-fare held at Sibbi in Baluchistan, and the Shandur Polo Festival at chitral in khyber pakhtunkhwa.

                                                                                  

Pakistani society and culture

Those characteristics of a society which are related to culture includes all learning, belief, art, morality, and law. Culture is a societal heritage through which a community's collective experience are transmitted from one generation to the next. It is the communal human behavior and the daily life of a people. Culture is foundational to human society and its evulotion. Pakistani society is relatively simple and traditionalist. The family structure is generally extended. Marriage ceremonies are traditional. The provinces have their own cultural traditions.

Punjab culture:

Punjab - the land of five river - is among the most fertile regions in the indo-pak subcontinent. Punjabi is most widely spoken language in the province, followed by seraki. Luddi dance, horse riding, passion for food, devotion to sufi saint, love for folk literature, and storytelling are all features of the culture of punjab. The beautiful folktoles of heer ranjha, sohni mahiwaal, and mirza saheban are very famous which reflects panjabi culture and social life.
                                                   

                                                                             

Pashtun culture:

Pashtun culture is prevalent in khyber pakhtunkhwa, the federally administered tribal areas, part of baluchistan and parts of punjab like mianwali.
hard work, hospitality, horse-racing, love for freedom and honor, and respect of the elders characterize pashtun culture. Folksongs play an important role in pashtun society. Folk tales of love and valor, like adam khan durkhane, yousaf khan sherbano, momin khan sheriney are still alive in pashtun culture.

                                                    

Sindhi culture:

Sindh is among the oldest inhabited regions of pakistan. Sindh is the native and the most widely spoken language of the province. Agriculture and fishing are the two most important traditional professions of the people of sindh. The impact of sindh's ancient past are still visible and reflected in sindhi culture. Malakrha, bull-racing the patterns of embroidery on women's garments, the kalah and lungi of the men, the custom of keeping long moustache by the men, the famous sindhi topi (cap), ajrak, the unusual popularity of bangles among the womenfolk, hospitality and the jirga system, are the main features of sindhi culture.

                                

Baluchi culture:

Baluch culture is largely nomadic, with livestock playing an important role in its economic life. Tribal system continue to play a major role baluch society. Marraige and other ceremonies in society, embroidery on dress and typical food are some basic features of baluch culture.