Pakistan

1. Pakistan 2x the size of California Mostly Muslim – 97% World’s 2nd largest peak in the world, K2, is in the Karakoram Mountain Range in Pakistan Kashmir: territory between Pakistan & India and claimed by both countries, mostly due to its vast water resources. It has sparked 3 wars. Both nations have nuclear weapons.

2. Pakistan’s Government • parliamentary democracy • The constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 provides for a parliamentary system with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. Current Prime Minister: SyedYousufRazaGilani Current President: AsifAli Zardari

3. Pakistan’s Major Languages: • Urdu – Official language • Punjabi • Sindi • English ہیلوis “hello” In Urdu

4. The People • 70% live in rural villages • Follow traditional customs • Live in small houses of clay or sundried mud • Some large cities such as the seaport: Karachi on the Arabian Sea and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

5. Bangladesh About the size of the US state of Iowa and surrounded by India. 2 major rivers flow through the country: Ganges & Bramaputra Rivers. After the monsoons, cyclones (intense storms with heavy rain and high winds) often hit this nation. Deadly tidal waves often come from the Bay of Bengal

6. Government in Bangladesh • Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy. The head of the government is Prime Minister and the head of the state is President. • ZillurRahman, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

7. Economy in Bangladesh • If rains come too late in the year, crops die and people starve. Sometimes floods destroy crops too • Most people are farmers. • Rice is the most important crop – harvested 3 times a year. • Other crops are tea, sugarcane, jute, and wheat • They cannot grow enough food for their people due to using few modern tools and outdated farming methods.

8. People of Bangladesh • 133.5 million people live here • One of the most densely populated countries in the world • One of the poorest countries in the world • 80% of it’s people live in rural areas • Because of floods, people have to build their houses on platforms • Many live in crowded cities such as Dhaka (nation’s capital) and work in factories. • Muslim is the primary religion. • Bengali is the language mostly spoken.

9. Nepal • About the size of the US state Arkansas • 80% of the land is the Himalayan Mountains • Home to 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world, including the highest – Mt. Everest • Large tourist industry due to climbers and hikers

10. Government • Parliamentary democracy President (head of state) Prime Minister(head of government) is Ram BaranYadav. isJhalanathKhana

11. Nepal’s Economy • Large tourist industry due to climbers and hikers • Most of the economy relies on farming rice, sugarcane, wheat, corn, potatoes – these feed the families of Nepal • Most farmers have crops growing on mountain slopes • Lots of flooding due to no erosion from no trees on the slopes anymore

12. Nepal’s People • 23.5 million • Sherpa people are known for skill in guiding mountain climbers • 85% of people live in rural villages • Largest city: Kathmandu (and nation’s capital) • Religions: Both Hindu and Buddhism • Buddha was born in Nepal with the name Siddartha Gautama

13. Bhutan • About ½ the size of the US state of Indiana • Large part of land is the Himalayan Mountains • Bhutan means “land of the thunder dragon” and Is called that due to the violent Mountain storms • Mild climate in foothills • Lots of thick forests in the north • Plains & river valleys in the south

14. Bhutan’s Government Constitutional Monarchy This country has a new democratic system, which comprises an upper and lower house of elected officials being led by their new king. About the King: After completing his higher secondary studies from Yangchenphu Higher secondary school, Bhutan, he studied abroad at Phillips Academy, Cushing Acadmy and Wheaton CollegeMassachusetts, United States. before graduating from Oxford University in the United Kingdom. King JigmeKhesarNamgyelWangchuck

15. Bhutan’s Economy • 90% of the people are subsistence farmers • Live in mountain valleys and grow oranges rice, corn, potatoes, and the spice cardamom • Herd cattle and yaks • Road building is difficult with the mountains • There are no railroads • Hydroelectric plants create electricity from rushing mountain waters • Exports electricity to Inida • Tourism is increasing but is limited by the government to protect cultural traditions

16. Bhutan’s People • 900,000 people • Speak the Dzonkha dialect • Live in rural villages • Thimphu is the capital • Buddhist nation – once called “Hidden Holy Land” as it is an isolated area • Many dzongs – Buddhist prayer centers exist

17. Sri Lanka • Island 20 miles off the southern coast of India • A little larger than US West Virginia • There are white beaches, thick forests, & abundant wildlife. • Monsoon winds and heavy rains make it good farmland • Farmers grow rice in the lowlands and in higher elevations, they grow tea, rubber, and coconuts They are also famous for sapphires, rubies and other precious gemstones.

18. IncumbentMahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lanka’s Government • democratic, socialist republic and a unitary state • The government is a mixture of the presidential system and the parliamentary system. • Current President: MahindaRajapaksa

19. The People of Sri Lanka • 2 major ethnic groups: Sinhalese & Tamils • Sinhalese: 74% of population, live in the south and western parts of the island, speak Sinhalese and are mostly Buddhist • Tamils: 18% of the population, live in the north and eastern parts of the island, speak Tamil, and are mostly Hindu. • Civil Wars have broken out between these 2 groups