The Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into being as an independent state on 14 August, 1947. Located in South Asia, Pakistan shares an eastern border with India and a north-eastern border with China. Iran makes up the country's south-west border, and Afghanistan runs along its western and northern edge.
The Arabian Sea is Pakistan's southern boundary with 1,064 km of coastline. The country has total area of 803,940 sq km with a land area of 778,720 sq km and is nearly four times the size of United Kingdom. From Gwadar Bay in it's south-eastern corner, the country extends more than 1,800 km to the Khunjerab Pass on China's border. Pakistan comprises four provinces - Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier and Balochistan - and the Federally Administrated Tribal Area.
