Pakistan

At a Glance

Pakistan is a country of extraordinary geographic variety, from the world's highest mountain concentration in the Karakoram north, where K2 rises above glacier valleys, to the ancient Indus Valley civilisation sites, the Mughal architecture of Lahore, and the warm coastal culture of Karachi. The hospitality toward guests is legendary, and the food is among the most flavourful in South Asia. Those who research carefully and approach with openness will find it one of the most rewarding and genuinely surprising journeys in Asia.

• Fifth most populous country on earth.
• K2, the world's second-highest and hardest mountain to climb, is here.
• Exports more IT services per capita than India, almost entirely unnoticed abroad.