BRIEF HISTORY OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan traces its history back to 2500 years BC, when a highly developed civilization flourished in the Indus Valley. Excavations at Harappa, Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and Mehrgarh have brought to light, the evidence of an advanced civilization existing even in more ancient times. Around 1500 BC, the Aryans overwhelmed this region and influenced the earlier civilization, whose centre moved to the Ganges valley, further east. Later, the Persians occupied the northern region between 5th century BC and 2nd century AD. The Greeks came in 327 BC, under Alexander of Macedonia, and passed through like a meteor. In 711 AD, the Arabs, led by Muhammad Bin Qasim, landed at Debal near modern Banbhore and ruled the lower half of Pakistan for 200 years. During this time, Islam took roots in the soil and influenced the life, culture and traditions of the people.

In the 10th century AD, began the systematic conquest of South Asia by the Muslims rom Central Asia, who ruled here upto the 18th century. Then the British came and ruled for nearly a century over what is now Pakistan. The Muslim revival began towards the end of the 19th century when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a renowned Muslim leader and educationist, launched a movement for intellectual renaissance of the Muslims of South Asia. In 1930, well known poet-philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, conceived the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia. In 1940, a resolution was passed by the All India Muslim League, demanding a separate independent homeland for the Muslims. After seven years of untiring struggle under the brilliant leadership of Quaid-e-Azam (the Great Leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan emerged on the world map as a sovereign state, on 14th August 1947.