Three seasons: winter (November-March) is warm and cooled by sea breezes on the coast, summer (April-July) has extreme temperatures, the monsoon season (July-September) has the highest rainfall on the hills. Karachi has little rain. The best time to visit the south is between November and March, when the days are cool and clear. The best time to visit northern Pakistan is from April to October. . The climate of Pakistan varies widely with topography, but is generally continental in type. In the mountain regions of the north and west, temperatures fall below freezing during the winter. In the Indus Plain area, temperatures range between about 32° and 49° C in summer; the winter average is about 13° C Throughout most of Pakistan rainfall is scarce.
Pakistan’s resources are primarily agricultural. Mineral resources include salt, chromite, coal, gypsum, limestone, iron ore, sulphur, clay, graphite, manganese, copper, oil, and natural gas, but many known mineral deposits, particularly iron ore and coal, are low grade. Oil was first discovered in small quantities in 1915; intensive exploration during the 1980s revealed several new fields, notably in Sindh Province. Large natural gas fields were discovered in the 1950s on the border between Baluchistan and Punjab provinces.
The vegetation of Pakistan varies according to elevation and rainfall. In much of the country the natural vegetation is limited to drought-resistant grasses and stunted trees. Alpine flora grows on the higher mountain slopes. The wetter slopes are wooded; species include spruce, evergreen oak, chir or cheer pine, and a cedar known as the deodar.
Pakistan has a varied animal life. Species include deer, boar, bear, crocodile, and waterfowl. In the freshwater and salt-water areas, fish of many varieties are found. Marine species include herring, mackerel and sharks, as well as shellfish.
The national language of Pakistan is Urdu, but comparatively few people use it as their mother tongue. Punjabi is probably the most widely spoken language, followed by Sindhi, Pashto, Saraiki, and Baloch respectively. English is extensively used by educated people and is the official language of Pakistan.
Islam is the faith of about 97 per cent of the people. Some 77 per cent of Muslims are Sunni; 20 per cent are Shiite. Hinduism and Christianity form the leading minority religions; other religious groups include Sikhs, Parsees, and a small number of Buddhists. The constitution defines Pakistan as an Islamic nation and, as amended in 1986 and 1991, makes Islamic Shari’ah law the supreme law of Pakistan. Freedom of religion is guaranteed, however, by the constitution.