Pakistan emerged on the map of the world as an independent sovereign state in August 1947, as a result of the division of the British Empire. Pakistan traces its history back to at least 2,500 years before Christ, when a highly developed civilization flourished in the Indus Valley area.

Around about 1,500 B.C. the Aryans overwhelmed this region, and by and by, influenced the Hindu civilization, whose center moved to the Ganges valley, further east. Later, the Persians occupied the northern regions in the 5th century B.C. and again and again up to the 2nd century A.D. The Greeks came in 327 B.C., under Alexander of Macedon, and passed away like a meteor. In 712 A.D. the Arabs, led by Mohammed bin Qasim landed somewhere near modern Karachi, and ruled the lower half of Pakistan for two hundred years. During this time Islam took roots in the soil and influenced the life, culture and traditions of the people.

In the 10th century A.D., began the systematic conquest of Indo-Pakistan by the Muslims from Central Asia who ruled almost the whole sub-continent up to 18th century A.D. when the British became masters of the land and ruled for nearly 200 years-for over 100 years over what is Pakistan now.

The Muslim revival began towards the end of the last century when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a renowned Muslim leader and educationist, launched a movement for intellectual renaissance of the Indian Muslims. In 1930, the well known poet-philosopher, Dr. Mohammed Iqbal conceived the idea of a separate state for Muslims of the sub-continent. In 1940, a resolution was adopted by the All-India Muslim League demanding a separate independent homeland for the Muslims of India.

After seven years of untiring struggle under the brilliant leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Pakistan emerged on the map of the world when British Indian Empire was partitioned into two independent states- India and Pakistan.