For many living in North America and the Western World, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to a country like Pakistan. Like many other Middle Eastern countries, news, media, and politics have over-saturated many minds with ideas of poverty, unpaved roads, political instability, and violence rooted in Islamic fundamentalism.

But as Australia is more than just kangaroos, and Canada is more than just igloos or snow - there is always more than meets the eye when it comes to a new destination. Allow me to introduce you to the real Pakistan: a passionate people with colourfully adorned marketplaces and cities, full and budding with life.

Pakistan's culture and peoples have dated back to 2500 to 1500 BCE with the Indus Valley Civilization, a civilization rivalling ancient Egypt. This civilization was followed by the Vedic Civilization for another thousand years. Thereafter, a succession of kingdoms, conquerors, and rulers gained territory there. These included: Persians, Alexander the Great, the Indo-Greek Demetrius Kingdom, and finally in 712 CE by Muhammad bin Qasim. It was at this point many consider Pakistan's foundations were laid. It was named Pakistan in 1934 but is officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Today, it is the sixth most populated country in the world and has the second largest population of the Muslim world with just under 160 million, while Indonesia holds over 207 million. Contrary to popular belief about Pakistan's climate, it actually has the combined geography and climate of France and the United Kingdom - with sandy beaches, swamps, to icy snow capped peaks and glaciers, and sand dunes in the Thar Desert. As a country with a strong and steady growing market and economy, Pakistan is becoming an important country in the world's economy.

When visiting Pakistan, there are countless monuments, shrines, sites, foods, and cultural practices that remain intact. Attractions include the 5 thousand year old ancient civilization of Mohenjo-daro. You can visit the ruins of its perfectly laid out city for 35,000 residents. There are also the Himalayan hill stations for winter sports, and mountains peaks that reach over 7 thousand metres that are perfect for adventurers and climbers daring to make the journey.

From ancient civilizations, thousands of years of tradition and culture, and diverse land and peoples, Pakistan is most definitely a place unlike any other in the world.

In January 2008, warnings were issued to non-essential travelers planning to travel in some areas of Pakistan due to restlessness in various cities due to the assassination of former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. These areas include Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Please be careful if you intend to travel throughout Pakistan in the next few weeks!

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