The Indus basin is one of the cradles of human civilization. The area around the shores of Pakistan's greatest river has been settled for more than 50,000 years. This is where one of the greatest city cultures of human history bloomed 5,000 years ago. At the beginning of the 20th century the towns of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were excavated, which were probably home to 30,000 to 40,000 people. Their hieroglyphics have still not been deciphered to this day.
Pakistan itself is a young nation, whose development is closely linked with Islam. From the 8th century onwards Islam spread throughout the region and had a growing effect on everyday life. The mosques erected between the 16th and 18th centuries are impressive testimony to Muslim culture.

Under British rule, Pakistan was part of the British Indian empire. In the 1930s the Muslim opposition movement began to seek an independent Islamic state. The withdrawal of the British colonial administration led in 1947 to the founding of Pakistan, which is regarded as the southern Asian Muslim homeland.

The successful development of the Pakistani nation has been beset with problems, not only internally. The difficult relationship with neighboring India has led to several wars. Pakistan and India are nuclear powers, so their conflict is of global significance. With the guardianship of the remains of one of the greatest early civilizations and the maintenance of its Islamic cultural tradition Pakistan has inherited some historic responsibilities, the peaceful execution of which is of great worth to the development of mankind.