Pakistan

Pakistan, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia. It is the world’s fifth-most populous nation, with a population of over 240 million people as of 2023. Bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan and Iran to the west, China to the north, and the Arabian Sea to the south, its capital is Islamabad, while Karachi is its largest city and economic hub.

Pakistan was established as an independent state in 1947 following the partition of British India, becoming a separate homeland for Muslims under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The country operates as a federal parliamentary republic, with a political landscape shaped by a mix of democratic governments and military rule over its history. It comprises four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, along with federal territories.

Economically, Pakistan has a mixed economy, driven by agriculture, industry, and services. It is a significant producer of textiles, rice, sugarcane, and wheat, and has growing sectors in IT, telecommunications, and finance. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has also emerged as a key infrastructure development program in the country.

Pakistan’s foreign relations, particularly with India, have been marked by longstanding disputes, including the conflict over Kashmir, border skirmishes, and occasional diplomatic tensions. Despite these challenges, Pakistan has been an active member of international organizations like the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Pakistan faces significant internal challenges, such as political instability, terrorism, sectarian violence, economic disparities, and natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. It has also been a focal point in global discussions about counter-terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and regional stability.

In August 2024, BOOM fact-checked a viral post attributed to Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which included remarks about Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra.

BOOM found out that the post originated from an impersonating account, not Nadeem's official handle, debunking the misleading claim.