Pakistan The full official name of Pakistan is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which means "Land of the Pure". More than 95% of the population practices Islam, making it a multi‑ethnic Islamic country. Its national language is Urdu. Pakistan lies in the northwest of the South Asian Subcontinent. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the south, India to the east, the People’s Republic of China to the northeast, Afghanistan to the northwest, and Iran to the west. The country has a coastline of 980 kilometers. The southern part has a tropical climate, while the rest features a subtropical climate. The capital is Islamabad, and the former capital Karachi is the country’s largest city. About three‑fifths of Pakistan’s territory is covered by mountains and hills. The southern coastal area is dominated by desert, while extending northward are continuous plateau pastures and fertile farmland. Pakistan’s highest peak is K2, with an altitude of 8,611 meters. Three world‑renowned mountain ranges — the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush — converge in northwestern Pakistan, forming a unique natural landscape. The Indus River, originating in China, flows 2,300 kilometers southward through Pakistan and finally empties into the Arabian Sea. Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan. Pakistan is a developing country and a member of the World Trade Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Group of 77, the Non‑Aligned Movement, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Nations.