Capital City: Islamabad
Population: 196,174,380 (July 2014 est)
Currency: Pakistani rupees (PKR)
Land Area: 796,095 sq km. Controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
Dominant Religions: Muslim (official) 96.4% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.6% (2010 est)
Land Boundaries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Climate: Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain: Flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west
Visa: Nationals of Australia (not wanting to travel with a tour operator and group) need to apply in advance for a visa, which is usually issued for 30-90 days depending on nationality and where you apply. The High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi issues visas with varying degrees of difficulty, taking at least 1 day (and sometimes several) to process the application. Applications are only accepted in the mornings c. 09:00-11:00. Arrive early and expect the process to take a few hours and possibly a few return visits. Window 5 is for foreign tourist and business visas (under the big white sign)
Entry Point: Wagah (from Atari Amritsar, India)
Exit Point: Kuh-i-Taftan (to Meer Jawe, Iran)
Cuisine: