Punjab, Pakistan and National Liberation Party (Costa Rica): Difference between pages

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The '''National Liberation Party''' (Spanish: '''''Partido Liberación Nacional''';'' commonly abbreviated as '''PLN''') is a [[political party]] in [[Costa Rica]].
{{otheruses4|the Pakistani province|other uses|Punjab}}
{{Pakistan infobox
|region = Punjab
|flag = 100px-Pk-punj.PNG
|map = PakistanPunjab.png
|capital = [[Lahore]]
|latd = 31.33
|longd = 74.21
|pop_year = 2008
|population = 81,845,433 (Estimate) <ref>[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&geo=437641435&srt=pnan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&geo=-2943 Punjab - World Gazetteer]</ref>
|density_km2 = 386.8
|area_km2 = 205344
|languages = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (official)<br/>[[English language|English]]<br/>[[Urdu language|Urdu]] (national)<br/>[[Saraiki language|Saraiki]]<br/>[[Hindko]]<br/>[[Pashto language|Pashto]]<br/>[[Balochi language|Balochi]]
|status = Province
|districts = 35
|towns =
|unions =
|established = [[1 July]] [[1970]]
|governor = [[Salmaan Taseer]]
|minister = [[Mian]] [[Shahbaz Sharif]]
|legislature = Provincial Assembly
|seats = 371
|website = http://www.punjab.gov.pk
|website_title = Government of Punjab
|footnotes =
}}


The PLN was founded by [[José Figueres Ferrer|José Figueres]] in 1951, following the end of the [[Costa Rican Civil War]]. It soon became one of the most important in the country. In 2002, for the first time in history, it lost its second consecutive election. The party won only 27.1 % of the popular vote and 17 out of 57 seats. At the presidential elections of the same date, its candidate, [[Rolando Araya Monge]] won 31.0 % (the worst showing ever for the party) of the vote and was defeated in the run off election by [[Abel Pacheco]].
The '''Punjab''' ([[Urdu]]<!---kindly refrain from titling this as "Urdu/Punjabi", as the audio pronunciation available at the moment is Urdu-accented--->: {{audio|Punjab.ogg|{{nastaliq|پنجاب}}}}) province of [[Pakistan]] is by far the country's most populous and prosperous region and is home to the [[Punjabi people|Punjabis]] and various other groups. Neighbouring areas are [[Sindh]] to the south, [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] and the [[North West Frontier Province]] to the west, Pakistani-administered [[Azad Kashmir]], Indian-administered [[Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Islamabad]] to the north, and [[India]]n [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] and [[Rajasthan]] to the east. The main languages are the [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Urdu]] and [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]]. The provincial capital is [[Lahore]]. The name Punjab literally translates from the [[Persian language|Persian]] words ''Pañj'' ({{nastaliq|پنج}}) , meaning ''Five'', and ''Āb'' ({{nastaliq|آب}}) meaning ''Water''. Thus ''Punjab'' can be translated as ''(the) Five Waters'' - and hence the ''Land of the Five Rivers'', referring to the [[Jhelum River|Jhelum]], [[Chenab River|Chenab]], [[Ravi River|Ravi]], [[Beas River| Beas]] and [[Sutlej]] these five rivers are all the tributaries of the [[Indus River]]. The province was founded in its current form in May 1972.


Some of the most dynamic and popular leaders that have presided over the country have come from the PLN. Among them are National Civil War Hero José Figueres and [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner [[Óscar Arias]].
==Geography==
[[Image:Punjabadmin.jpg|thumb|200px|Administrative Divisions of Punjab]]
Punjab is Pakistan's second largest province at [[1 E11 m²|205,344]] [[square kilometre|km²]] (79,284 square miles) and is located at the northwestern edge of the geologic [[Indian plate]] in [[South Asia]]. The provincial level-capital and main city of the Punjab is Lahore which has been the historical capital of the region. Other important cities include [[Multan]], [[Faisalabad]], [[Sialkot]], [[Gujrat]] and [[Rawalpindi]]. The province along is home to five rivers: the [[Indus River|Indus]], [[Beas River|Beas]], [[Sutlej]], [[Chenab]], [[Jhelum River|Jhelum]], [[Ravi River|Ravi]]. Nearly 60% of Pakistan's population lives in the Punjab. It is the nation's only province that touches [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]], [[North-West Frontier Province]], [[Sindh]] and [[Azad Kashmir]], and contains the [[Islamabad Capital Territory|federal enclave]] of the [[national capital]] city at [[Islamabad]]. This geographical position and a large [[multi-ethnic]] population strongly influence Punjab's outlook on [[Government of Pakistan|National affairs]] and induces in Punjab a keen awareness of the problems of the [[Pakistan]]'s other important [[provinces]] and [[Territory (country subdivision)|territories]]. In the [[acronym]] ''[[Punjab region|P]]-[[Afghania|A]]-[[Kashmir region|K]]-[[Indus|I]]-[[Sindh|S]]-[[Turkestan|T]]-[[Balochistan (Pakistan)|A-N]]'', the [[Pakistan|P]] is for ''[[Punjab region|PUNJAB]]''.


The party is a member of the [[Socialist International]]. {{Fact|date=September 2008}}
The province is a mainly a fertile region along the [[river valleys]], while sparse [[deserts]] can be found near the border with India and [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]]. The region contains the [[Thar Desert|Thar]] and [[Cholistan Desert|Cholistan]] deserts. The [[Indus River]] and its many tributaries traverse the Punjab from north to south.
The landscape is amongst the most heavily irrigated on earth and [[canals]] can be found throughout the province. Weather extremes are notable from the hot and barren south to the cool hills of the north. The foothills of the [[Himalayas]] are found in the extreme north as well.


In the February 5, 2006 [[Costa Rican parliamentary election, 2006|parliamentary election]], the party won 25 out of 57 seats. Its candidate at the [[Costa Rican presidential election, 2006|presidential election]] of the same day, [[Óscar Arias]] won 40.92% and was elected.
==Climate==
Most areas in Punjab experience fairly cool winters, often accompanied by rain. By mid-February the temperature begins to rise; [[springtime]] weather continues until mid-April, when the summer heat sets in.


==External links==
The onset of the southwest [[monsoon]] is anticipated to reach Punjab by May, but since the early 1970s the weather pattern has been irregular. The spring monsoon has either skipped over the area or has caused it to rain so hard that floods have resulted. June and July are oppressively hot. Although official estimates rarely place the temperature above 46°C, newspaper sources claim that it reaches 51°C and regularly carry reports about people who have succumbed to the heat. Heat records were broken in [[Multan]] in June 1993, when the [[Temperature measurement|mercury]] was reported to have risen to 54°C. In August the oppressive heat is punctuated by the [[wet season|rainy season]], referred to as ''barsat'', which brings relief in its wake. The hardest part of the summer is then over, but cooler weather does not come until late October.
*[http://www.pln.or.cr/ Official web site]


{{Costa Rican political parties}}
Recently the province experienced one of the coldest winters in the last 70 years. Experts are suggesting that this is due to global climate change.<ref> [http://www.dawn.com/2007/01/06/nat47.htm Mercury drops to freezing point - Dawn Pakistan]</ref>

==Demographics and society==
[[Image:Horse&CattleShow.jpeg|thumb|200px|left|Punjabis in Horse and Cattle Show]]
The population of the province is estimated to be 86,084,000 in 2005 and is home to over half the population of [[Pakistan]]. The major language spoken in the Punjab is [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (which is written in a [[Perso-Arabic script]] in Pakistan) and [[Punjabi people|Punjabis]] comprise the largest ethnic group (and overlap into neighbouring India). The language is not given any official recognition in the [[Constitution of Pakistan]], (however, it is recognized in the [[Indian Constitution]]). Punjabis themselves are a [[heterogeneous]] group comprising different [[tribe]]s and [[communities]], although the different [[caste]]s in Pakistani Punjab has more to do with [[traditional]] occupations such as [[blacksmith]]s or [[artisan]]s as opposed to rigid [[social stratification]]s.

The most important tribes within Punjab include the [[Muslim Rajputs]], the [[Gakhars]], the [[Gujjars]], the [[Jats]], the [[Arain]], the [[Punjabi Shaikh]]s and the [[Syed]]s. Other smaller tribes are the [[Awan Pakistan|Awan]]s, [[Rawn]]s and the [[Malik]]s. In addition, there is a significant shift towards the usage of [[Urdu]] by the educated classes of the province as the Punjabis are the most ardent supporters of the [[nation-state]] of Pakistan and all of its national institutions{{Fact|date=December 2007}}. Other smaller ethnic groups in the province include the [[Siraiki]], [[Hindko]], [[Pakhtuns]], the [[Baloch]], [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]]s, [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]]s, and [[Muhajir Urdu|Muhajir]]s. Three decades of bloodshed in neighbouring [[Afghanistan]] have brought a large number of [[Afghan]] refugees to the province.

The population of Punjab (Pakistan) is over 99% [[Muslim]] with a [[Sunni]] majority and [[Shia]] minority. There are small non-Muslims groups of [[Zorastrians]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'ís]], [[Christians]], [[Sikhs]] and [[Hindus]]. The [[Ismaili]] and [[Ahmediya]] communities are considered non-Muslim by some.

The [[dialect]]s spoken in different regions of the land have a common [[vocabulary]] and a shared [[Cultural heritage|heritage]]. The shared heritage also extends to a common [[faith]], [[Islam]]. The people of Punjab have also a shared [[Supernatural|spiritual]] experience, which has been disseminated by ''Tassawwaf'' and can be witnessed on the occasion of the remembrance-fairs held on the [[Urs]] of [[Sufi]] [[Saints]].

==History ==
{{main|History of Punjab}}

===Ancient history and the Hindu Period===
It was formerly thought that the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley area were the present populations of South India who were displaced by Aryans invaders from the North West, however, recently the Aryan invasion theory has been largely discarded by most scholars. It is now generally accepted that the area of the Indus Valley Civilization has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years by the same general population stock as is presently found in the area of Punjab. The main site of the [[Indus Valley Civilization]] in Punjab was the city of [[Harrapa]]. The [[Indus Valley Civilization]] spanned much of what is today Pakistan and eventually evolved into [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] civilization. The arrival of the Indo-Aryans led to the flourishing of the [[Vedic Civilization]] that extended from the ancient [[Sarasvati River]] to the [[Ganges]] river to the entire Indian Subcontinent around [[1500 BCE]]. This civilization shaped subsequent cultures in [[South Asia]]. Punjab was part of the great ancient empires including the [[Gandhara]] [[Mahajanapadas]], [[Mauryas]], [[Kushans]], [[Gupta Empire]], and [[Hindu Shahi]]. Agriculture flourished and trading cities (such as Multan and Lahore) grew in wealth.

Due to its location, the Punjab region came under constant attack and influence from the west. Invaded by the [[Persians]], [[Greeks]], [[Kushans]], [[Scythians]], [[Turkic peoples|Turks]], and [[Demographics of Afghanistan|Afghans]], Punjab witnessed centuries of bitter bloodshed. Its legacy is a unique culture that combines [[Hindu]], [[Buddhist]], [[Iran|Persian]], [[Central Asian]], [[Islamic]], [[Sikh]], and [[Great Britain|British]] elements.

The city of [[Taxila]], reputed to house the oldest university in the world, [[Takshashila University]], was established by the great Vedic thinker and politician [[Chanakya]]. Taxila was a great center of learning and intellectual discussion during the Hindu [[Maurya Empire]]. It is a UN [[World Heritage site]], and revered for its archaeological and religious history.

===Arrival of Islam===
[[Image:Badshahi Mosque July 1 2005 pic32 by Ali Imran (1).jpg|thumb|200px|Badshahi Masjid - The largest mosque of the Mughal Empire built by emperor [[Aurangzeb]].]]

The Punjabis were predominantly [[Hindus]] with large minorities of [[Buddhists]] and [[Zoroastrians]], when the [[Umayyad]] [[Muslim]] [[Arab]] army led by [[Muhammad bin Qasim]] conquered the Punjab and Sindh in 711. Bin Qasim recorded he so was overwhelmed by the gold in the Aditya Temple in the thriving trading city of Multan (known as ''Mulasthana'' then), that he recovered the expenses for his entire invasion.

During the reign of [[Mahmud of Ghazni]], non-Muslims were forced to pay the [[jaziya]] tax or to convert to Islam. The province became an important centre and Lahore was made into a second capital of the [[Ghaznavid Empire]].

===Greeks, Central Asians, and Persians ===
Unique to Pakistani Punjab was that this area was briefly conquered into various central Asian, Greek and Persian empires: after the bloody victories of [[Alexander the Great]], Mahmud of Ghazni and [[Tamerlane]]. These were periods of contact between this region of Pakistan and the [[Persian Empire]] and all the way to Greece. In later centuries, when Persian was the language of the Mughal government, Persian architecture, poetry, art and music was an integral part of the region's culture. The official language of Punjab remained [[Persian language|Persian]] until the arrival of the British in the mid 19th century, where it was finally abolished and the administrative language was changed over to English. The Punjabi language gained prominence during Ranjit Singh's rule in between but was written in the Sikh Gurumukhi script. After 1947, Urdu, which has Persian and Sanskrit roots, became Islamic Pakistan's national language.

===Mughals===
The [[Mughals]] controlled the region from 1524 until 1739 and would also lavish the province with building projects such as the [[Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)|Shalimar Gardens]] and the [[Badshahi Mosque]], both situated in Lahore. Muslim soldiers, traders, architects, theologians and Sufis flocked from the rest of the Muslim world to the Islamic [[Sultanate]] in [[South Asia]] and some may have settled in the Punjab. Following the decline of the Mughals, the [[Shah of Iran]] and founder of the [[Afsharid dynasty]] in [[Persia]], [[Nader Shah]] crossed the [[Indus]] and sacked the province in 1739. Following this terrible visitation, the [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] conqueror [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] annexed the Punjab into his [[Durrani Empire]] from 1747 until 1762.

===Afghans===
The founder of Afghanistan, [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], an ethnic [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] (''Afghan''), is believed to be born in the city of [[Multan]]. After cementing his authority over various Afghan tribes, he went about to establish the first united Afghan Kingdom (''[[Durrani Empire|Greater Afghanistan]]'') that during its greatest extent included modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, northeastern Iran and western India. The Punjab was a cultural reservoir for the Afghans, and many where attracted to its lush fertile lands. It has been said that with the loss of the breadbasket regions of the Punjab and Sindh, Afghanistan has never been able to achieve a stable state ever since. Many ethnic Afghan or Pashtun tribes continue to live in Pakistan's Punjab province such as the [[Gardezi]]s, [[Niazi]]s, [[Lodhi]]s, the [[Kakazai]], and the [[Barakzai]] to name a few.

===Sikhs===
[[Image:July 9 2005 - The Lahore Fort-Pavillion adjacent to the Shish Mahal.jpg|200px|thumb|A section of the Lahore Fort built by the Sikh ruler, Ranjit Singh.]]

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the religion of [[Sikhism]] was born, and during the Mughal period gradually emerged as a formidable military force until subjugated and assimilated by the later expanding British Empire. After fighting [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], the Sikhs wrested control of the Punjab from his descendants and ruled in a [[Sikh Confederacy|confederacy]], which later became the [[Sikh Kingdom]] of the Punjab under [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]. A denizen of the city of [[Gujranwala]], the capital of Ranjit Singh's kingdom was Lahore.<ref>[http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/sikh.htm Sikh Period - Government of Pakistan]</ref> The Sikhs made architectural contributions to the city and the [[Lahore Fort]].

===British===
The Maharaja's death in the summer of 1839 brought political chaos and the subsequent battles of succession and the bloody infighting between the factions at court weakened the state. Relationships with neighbouring British territories then broke down, starting the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]]; this led to a British official being resident in Lahore and the annexation of territory south of the Satluj to [[British India]].

Some parts of Pakistani [[Punjab]] also served as the centre of resistance in the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. Sikhs were the first people of the Punjab to rule their own land since Prithviraj Chauhan's defeat. Sikhs were the first people of the Indian subcontinent to stop the invasions coming in from the Khyber pass and taking the battle across the pass.

===Partition and its aftermath===
[[Image:July 9 2005 - Minar-e-Pakistan panoramic.jpg|thumb|200px|Minar-e-Pakistan]]

In 1947 the Punjab province of [[British Raj|British India]] was divided along religious lines into [[West Punjab]] and [[East Punjab]]. The western Punjabis voted to join the new country of [[Pakistan]] while the easterners joined India. This led to massive rioting as both sides committed atrocities against fleeing refugees.

The undivided Punjab, of which Punjab (Pakistan) forms a major region today, was home to a large minority population of Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus unto 1947 apart from the Muslim majority.<ref>The Punjab in 1920s – A Case study of Muslims, Zarina Salamat, Royal Book Company, [[Karachi]], 1997. table 45, pp. 136. ISBN 9694072301</ref>

At the time of Partition in 1947 and due to the ensuing horrendous exchange of populations, the Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus migrated to [[India]].<ref>[http://www.sasnet.lu.se/panelabstracts/33.html Panel 33] ''European Association for South Asian Studies''</ref> Punjabi Muslims were uprooted similarly from their homes in East Punjab which now forms part of India.<ref>Pakistan: a modern history, Ian Talbot, St. Martin's Press, 1999. ISBN 0312216068</ref>

The West Punjabi Sikh and Hindu refugees who moved to [[India]] leaving their ancient home lands in Punjab (Pakistan) belonged to various sub groups, clans, tribes, castes and linguistic groups. This includes [[Khatris]], [[Arora]]s, [[Rajputs]], [[Jats]], [[Gujjar]]s, [[Kamboj]]s, [[Mohyal]]s, [[Mazhabi]]s, as well as others such as the linguistically distinct Multanis. A unique feature among [[Punjabis]] of different faiths Sikh, Muslim and Hindu hailing from the area which now forms the Punjab (Pakistan) is the enduring affinities to sub grouping and clans cutting across religious lines. Consequently these Punjabis of [[Pakistan]], despite having left the country, continue to share common surnames and tribal affiliations with their parent tribes and lands left behind. This includes surnames such as [[Sahgal]], [[Sial]], [[Bhatti]], [[Ghumman]], [[Sandhu]], [[Tiwana]],Tatla and [[Cheema]]. In recent years, many of these refugees have been able to visit their ancestral homelands.

===Recent history===
Since the 1950s, Punjab industrialized rapidly. New factories came up in [[Lahore]], [[Multan]], [[Sialkot]]. In the 1960s the new city of [[Islamabad]] was built near [[Rawalpindi]].

[[Agriculture]] continues to be the largest sector of Punjab's economy. The province is the breadbasket of the country as well as home to the largest ethnic group in Pakistan, the [[Punjabis]]. Unlike neighbouring India, there was no large-scale redistribution of agricultural land. As a result most rural areas are dominated by a small set of land-owning families. This small ruling class also allegedly dominates powerful positions in the army and civil bureaucracy. This results in some resentment from residents of other provinces as well as by the working people of Punjab.

In the 1950s there was tension between the eastern and western halves of Pakistan. In order to address the situation, a new formula resulted in the abolition of the province status for Punjab in 1955. It was merged into a single province [[West Pakistan]]. In 1972, after [[East Pakistan]] seceded and became [[Bangladesh]], Punjab again became a province.

Punjab witnessed major battles between the armies of [[Indian Army| India]] and [[Pakistan Army| Pakistan]] in the wars of [[1965 War|1965]] and [[1971 War|1971]]. Since the 1990s Punjab hosted several key sites of Pakistan's nuclear program such as [[Kahuta]]. It also hosts major military bases such as at [[Sargodha]] and [[Rawalpindi]]. The peace process between India and Pakistan, which began in earnest in 2004, has helped pacify the situation. Trade and people-to-people contacts through the [[Wagah]] border are now starting to become common. Indian Sikh pilgrims visit holy sites such as [[Nankana Sahib]].

Starting in the 1980s large numbers of Punjabis migrated to the [[Middle East]], [[United Kingdom|Britain]], [[Spain]], [[Canada]] and the [[United States]] for economic opportunties. Business and cultural ties between the [[US]] and Punjab are growing.

The rise of radical Islamic [[jihad]] in Punjab gained international attention. The bloody legacy of partition violence resulted in an anti-minority sentiment since its formation. In the 1980s society got even more polarized with funding by certain Middle Eastern countries of radical madrassas, both [[Sunni]] and [[Shia]]. Throughout the 1990s there were a series of gun battles between Shia and Sunni groups which claimed many lives. There were also attacks on [[Christian]], [[Ahmadiya]], and [[Hindu]] minorities. The presence of armed militant groups and their propaganda are often felt in some areas. Some Punjabis joined or assisted jihadi campaigns in [[Afghanistan]], [[Kashmir]], and in Britain. In the 2000s, in the [[Musharraf]] era, the [[Sufi]] heritage of Punjab slowly started staging a comeback. In addition non-religious holidays such as [[Basant]] and [[New Year's Eve]] are again celebrated openly. Some Middle Eastern countries started to provide development assistance not driven by fundamentalist compulsions, such as by the [[UAE]] in [[Rahim Yar Khan]].

However the spread of radicalism has not stopped and incidents of terrorism continue sporadically. Radical groups sympathetic to [[Taliban]] and [[Al Qaeda]] are believed to have carried out bombings in [[Lahore]], [[Sargodha]] and the [[Assassination of Benazir Bhutto|assassination]] of [[Benazir Bhutto]] in [[Rawalpindi]] in [[2007]].

==Districts==
[[Image:PunjabAssemblyBuilding.jpg|200px|thumb|Punjab Assembly Building]]
There are 35 [[Districts of Pakistan|districts]] in Punjab, Pakistan.
<table><tr><td valign=top>
* [[Attock District|Attock]]
* [[Bahawalnagar District|Bahawalnagar]]
* [[Bahawalpur District|Bahawalpur]]
* [[Bhakkar District|Bhakkar]]
* [[Chakwal District|Chakwal]]
* [[Dera Ghazi Khan District|Dera Ghazi Khan]]
* [[Faisalabad District|Faisalabad]]
* [[Gujranwala District|Gujranwala]]
* [[Gujrat District|Gujrat]]
* [[Hafizabad District|Hafizabad]]
* [[Jhang]]
* [[Jhelum District|Jhelum]]
</td><td valign=top>
* [[Kasur District|Kasur]]
* [[Khanewal District|Khanewal]]
* [[Khushab District|Khushab]]
* [[Lahore District|Lahore]]
* [[Layyah District|Layyah]]
* [[Lodhran District|Lodhran]]
* [[Mandi Bahauddin District|Mandi Bahauddin]]
* [[Mianwali District|Mianwali]]
* [[Multan District|Multan]]
* [[Muzaffargarh District|Muzaffargarh]]
* [[Narowal District|Narowal]]
* [[Nankana Sahib District|Nankana Sahib]]
</td><td valign=top>
* [[Okara District|Okara]]
* [[Pakpattan District|Pakpattan]]
* [[Rahim Yar Khan District|Rahim Yar Khan]]
* [[Rajanpur District|Rajanpur]]
* [[Rawalpindi District|Rawalpindi]]
* [[Sahiwal District|Sahiwal]]
* [[Sargodha District|Sargodha]]
* [[Sheikhupura District|Sheikhupura]]
* [[Sialkot District|Sialkot]]
* [[Toba Tek Singh District|Toba Tek Singh]]
* [[Vehari District|Vehari]]
</td></tr></table>

==Economy==
[[Image:Plain of punjab.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Irrigated land of Punjab]]
Despite lack of a coastline, Punjab is the most industrialized province of Pakistan; its manufacturing industries produce textiles, sports goods, machinery, electrical appliances, surgical instruments, metals, bicycles and rickshaws, floor coverings, and processed foods. In 2003, the province manufactured 90% of the paper and paper boards, 71% of the fertilizers, 65% of the sugar and 40% of the cement of Pakistan.<ref>[http://203.215.180.58/portal/docimages/9327manufacturing.pdf Punjab Gateway]</ref>

Despite its dry [[climate]], extensive irrigation makes it a rich agricultural region. Its canal-irrigation system established by the British is the largest in the world. [[Wheat]] and [[cotton]] are the largest crops. Other crops include [[rice]], [[sugarcane]], [[millet]], [[maize|corn]], [[oilseeds]], [[pulses]], [[fruits]], and [[vegetables]]. [[Livestock]] and [[poultry]] production are also important. Despite past animosities, the rural masses in Punjab's farms continue to use the Hindu calendar for planting and harvesting.

Punjab contributes about 68% to annual food grain production in the country. 51 million acres (210,000 km²) is cultivated and another 9.05 million acres (36,600 km²) are lying as cultivable waste in different parts of the province.

Cotton and rice are important crops. They are the [[cash crops]] that contribute substantially to the national exchequer. Attaining self-sufficiency in agriculture has shifted the focus of the strategies towards small and medium farming, stress on barani areas, farms-to-market roads, electrification for tube-wells and control of water logging and salinity.
Punjab has also more than 48 thousand industrial units. The small and cottage industries are in abundance. There are 39,033 small and cottage industrial units. The number of textile units is 11,820. The ginning industries are 6,778. There are 6,355 units for processing of agricultural raw materials including food and feed industries.
Lahore and Gujranwala Divisions have the largest concentration of small light engineering units. The district of Sialkot excels in sports goods, surgical instruments and cutlery goods.
Punjab is also a mineral rich province with extensive mineral deposits of [[coal]], [[rock salt]], [[dolomite]], [[gypsum]], and silica-sand. The Punjab Mineral Development Corporation is running over a dozen economically viable projects.

==Education==
The literacy rate has increased greatly since independence. In 2003, over 53% of the population of the province was estimated to be literate by the Labour Force Survey. [http://203.215.180.58/portal/docimages/9323education.pdf] This is a chart of the education market of Punjab [http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/pop_education/pop_education_rural_urban.html estimated] by the government in 1998. Also see [http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/pop_by_province/pop_by_province.html]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Qualification || Urban || Rural || Total || Enrolment Ratio(%)
|-
| — || '''23,019,025''' || '''50,602,265''' || '''73,621,290''' || —
|-
| Below Primary || 3,356,173 || 11,598,039 || 14,954,212 || 100.00
|-
| Primary || 6,205,929 || 18,039,707 || 24,245,636 || 79.68
|-
| Middle || 5,140,148 || 10,818,764 || 15,958,912 || 46.75
|-
| Matriculation || 4,624,522 || 7,119,738 || 11,744,260 || 25.07
|-
| Intermediate || 1,862,239 || 1,821,681 || 3,683,920 || 9.12
|-
| BA, BSc... degrees || 110,491 || 96,144 || 206,635 || 4.12
|-
| MA, MSc... degrees || 1,226,914 || 764,094 || 1,991,008 || 3.84
|-
| Diploma, Certificate... || 418,946 || 222,649 || 641,595 || 1.13
|-
| Other qualifications || 73,663 || 121,449 || 195,112 || 0.26
|}

===Major universities and colleges===
{{main|List of universities in Pakistan#Punjab}}
* [[King Edwards Medical University]],[[Lahore]]
* [[Forman Christian College]], [[Lahore]]
* [[The University of Punjab]], [[Lahore]]
* [[COMSATS Institute of Information Technology]] (campuses at [[Lahore]], [[Islamabad]], [[Wah Cantt]], [[Abbotabad]]
* [[Aitchison College]], [[Lahore]]
* [[University of Central Punjab]], [[Lahore]]
* [[University of Agriculture, Faisalabad]], [[Faisalabad]]
* [[National Textile University]], Faisalabad
* [[Bahauddin Zakariya University]], [[Multan]]
* [[Islamia University]], [[Bahawalpur]]
* [[University of Punjab]], [[Lahore]]
* [[Kinnaird College|Kinnaird College for Women]], Lahore
* [[University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore]]
* [[University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences]], Lahore
* [[National College of Arts]], Lahore
* [[Lahore College for Women University]], Lahore
* [[Government College University]], Lahore
* [[University of Education]], Lahore
* [[Virtual University]], Lahore
* [[University Of Management & Technology]], [[Lahore]]
* [[University of Health Sciences]], Lahore
* Institute of South Asia, Lahore
* [[University of Sargodha]], [[Sargodha]]
* [[University of Gujrat]], [[Gujrat]]
* [[University of Engineering Science and Technology Sialkot]]
* [[University of Engineering and Technology]], [[Taxila]]
* [[University of Arid Agriculture]], [[Rawalpindi]]
* university of veterinary and animal scicences Lahore,
Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi
* [[National University of Science and Technology]], Rawalpindi
* Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore
* [[National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences]], Lahore
* [[Cadet College Hasan Abdal]], Attock, Punjab
* Government Degree College Burewala, [[Burewala]]
* Government College Sahiwal, [[Sahiwal]]
* [[Murray College]], [[Sialkot]]
* Pakistan Institute of Computer Sciences, Gujar Khan, [[Rawalpindi]]
* nishtar medical college,multan,Pakistan
* Institute of chartered accountants of Pakistan
* Zamindar College Gujrat In this College Science degree classes were there before Independence

==Cultural heritage==
[[Image:Shahrukne Alam.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Mausoleum of Sheikh Rukh-e-Alam (1320 AD)]]

Punjab has been the cradle of civilization since times immemorial. The ruins of [[Harappa]] show an advanced urban culture that flourished over 5000 years ago. [[Taxila]], another historic landmark also stands out as a proof of the achievements of the area in learning, arts and crafts in bygone ages. In the more moderate era post-9/11, the ancient Hindu [[Katasraj temple]] and the [[Salt Range temples]] are regaining attention and much-needed repair.

The structure of a mosque is simple and it expresses openness. Calligraphic inscriptions from the Holy Qur’an decorate mosques and mausoleums in Punjab. The inscriptions on bricks and tiles of the mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam (1320 AD) at [[Multan]] are outstanding specimens of architectural calligraphy. The earliest existing building in South Asia with enamelled tile-work is the tomb of Shah Yusuf Gardezi (1150 AD) at Multan. A specimen of the sixteenth century tile-work at Lahore is the tomb of Sheikh Musa Ahangar, with its brilliant blue dome. The tile-work of Emperor [[Shah Jahan]] is of a richer and more elaborate nature. The pictured wall of Lahore Fort is the last line in the tile-work in the entire world.

==Fairs and festivals==
The culture of Punjab derives its basis from the institution of [[Sufism|Sufi saints]]. The Sufi saints spread Islam and preached and lived the Muslim way of life. People have festivities to commemorate these traditions. The fairs and festivals of Punjab reflect the entire gamut of its folk life and cultural traditions. These mainly fall in following categories:

===Religious and seasonal fairs/festivals===
Religious fairs are held on special days of Islamic significance like Muharram, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Eid-ul-Fithr, Eid-ul-Azha and Shab-e-Brat. The main activities on these special occasions are confined to congregational prayers and rituals. Melas are also held to mark these occasions.

===Devotional fairs or Urs===
The fairs held at the shrines of Sufi saints are called Urs. They generally mark the death anniversary of the saint. On these occasions devotees assemble in large numbers and pay homage to the memory of the saint. Soul inspiring music is played and devotees dance in ecstasy. The music on these occasions is essentially folk and appealing. It forms a part of the folk music through mystic messages. The most important Urs are: Urs of Data Ganj Bukhsh at Lahore, Urs of Hazrat Mian Mir at Lahore, Urs of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar at Pakpattan, Urs of Hazrat Bahaudin Zakria at Multan, Urs of Sakhi Sarwar Sultan at Dera Ghazi Khan, Urs of Shah Hussain at Lahore, Urs of Hazrat Bullehe Shah at Kasur and Urs of Hazrat Imam Bari (Bari Shah Latif) at Rawalpindi-Islamabad.

A big fair is organized at Jandiala Sher Khan in district Sheikhupura on the Mausoleum of Syed Waris Shah who is the most loved Sufi poet of Punjab due to his work known as Heer Ranjha.

===Industrial and commercial fairs===
Exhibitions and Annual Horse Shows in all Districts and National Horse and Cattle Show at Lahore are held with the official patronage. National Horse and Cattle Show at Lahore is the biggest festival where sports, exhibitions, and livestock competitions are held. It not only encourages and patronizes agricultural products and livestock through the exhibitions of agricultural products and cattle but is also a colourful documentary on the rich cultural heritage of the Province with its strong rural roots.

==Arts and crafts==
The crafts in the Punjab are of two types: the crafts produced in the rural areas and the royal crafts that flourished in the urban centres particularly in Lahore. The former include cotton textiles, basketry, embroidery etc. while the latter are tile and woodwork skills, ivory, silver and gold work, naqqashi and architectural crafts.
Hand knotted [[carpets]] of fine quality are made in Punjab since the Mughal period. [[Akbar|Emperor Akbar]] in the 15th century established the first factory in Lahore. While carpets were made for the wealthy, rough rugs (known as namdas) were made by the common people for their own use. Lahore is the centre of hand-made carpets.
Since ancient times the weavers of the region have produced colourful fabrics of silk and cotton. The hand-woven cotton cloth like khaddar of Kamalia, are popular. The cloth woven on handlooms is either block printed or beautifully embroidered. Multan is famous for beautiful hand-woven bed covers.

==Major attractions==
[[Image:Lahore fort 1.JPG|200px|thumb|right|The [[Lahore Fort]] is also a [[World Heritage Site]].]]
The province is home to many well known historical sites including the [[Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)|Shalimar Gardens]], [[Lahore Fort]], the [[Badshahi Mosque]], and the ruins of the ancient city of [[Harrapa]]. The [[Anarkali|Anarkali Market]] and [[Jahangir]]'s Tomb are prominent in the city of [[Lahore]] as is the [[Lahore Museum]], while the ancient city of [[Taxila]] in the northwest was once a major centre of [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], and of [[Hellenic]] influence. Many important Sikh shrines are in the Pakistani portion of Punjab, including the birthplace of the first Guru: Guru Nanak (born at Nankana Sahib). There is also the largest salt mine in Asia situated the [[Khewra Salt Mines]].

==Punjabi music==
Classical music forms are an important part of the cultural wealth of the Punjab. The Muslim musicians have contributed a large number of ragas to the repository of classical music.
Among the Punjabi poets, the names of [[Sultan Bahu]], [[Bulleh Shah]], [[Mian Muhammad Baksh]], and [[Waris Shah]] and folk singers like [[Inayat Hussain Bhatti]] and Tufail Niazi, Alam Lohar, Sain Marna, Mansoor Malangi, [[Allah Ditta Lunewala]], Talib Hussain Dard, Attaullah Khan Esakhlvi, Gamoo Tahliwala, Mamzoo Gha-lla, Akbar Jat, Arif Lohar, Ahmad Nawaz Cheena and Hamid Ali Bela are well-known. In the composition of classical ragas, there are such masters as ''Malika-i-Mauseequi'' (Queen of Music) Roshan Ara Begum, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Salamat Ali Khan and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan. Alam Lohar has made significant contributions to folklore and Punjabi literature, by being a very influential Punjabi folk singer from 1930 until 1979.
For the popular taste however, light music, particularly Ghazals and folk songs, which have an appeal of their own, the names of [[Mehdi Hasan]], [[Ghulam Ali]], [[Nur Jehan]], [[Malika Pukhraj]], [[Farida Khanum]], Roshen Ara Begum, and [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]] are well-known. Folk songs and dances of the Punjab reflect a wide range of moods: the rains, sowing and harvesting seasons. Luddi, Bhangra and Sammi depict the joy of living. Love legends of Heer Ranjha, Mirza Sahiban, Sohni Mahenwal and Saiful Mulk are sung in different styles.

For the most popular music from the region, [[bhangra]], the names of [[Abrar-Ul-Haq]], [[Arif Lohar]], Legacy, and [[Malkoo]] are renown.

==Folklore==
{{main|Punjabi folklore}}
The folk heritage of the Punjab is the traditional urge of thousands of years of its history. While Urdu is the official language of the province, there are a number of local dialects through which the people communicate. These include [[Majhi]], [[Jhangochi]] or [[Jangli]], [[Pothohari]], [[Saraiki]], [[Jatki]], [[Hindko]], [[Chhachhi]], [[Doabi]], and [[Derewali]]. The songs, ballads, epics and romances are generally written and sung in these dialects.
There are a number of folk tales that are popular in different parts of the Punjab. These are the folk tales of [[Mirza Sahiban]], [[Sayful Muluk]], [[Yusuf Zulekha]], [[Heer Ranjha]], [[Sohni Mahiwal]], [[Dulla Bhatti]], and [[Sassi Punnun]].
The mystic folk songs include the ''Kafees'' of Khwaja Farid in Saraiki, Punjabi and the ''Shalooks'' by [[Baba Farid]]. They also include ''Baits'', ''Dohas'', ''Lohris'', ''Sehra'', and ''[[Jugni]]''.[http://www.punjabilok.com/pakistan/pak_punjab.htm]

The most famous of the romantic love songs are ''Mayhiah'', ''Dhola'' and ''Boliyan''. Punjabi romantic dances include [[Dharees]], [[Dhamaal]], [[Bhangra]], [[Giddha]], [[Dhola]], and [[Sammi]].

==Social issues==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=March 2008}}

The Punjab is relatively the most stable province of Pakistan as Punjabis comprise the largest ethnic group in the country and thus dominate much of the nation by sheer numbers. Starting in 2007, terrorism and rising fundamentalism has become an issue.

One social/educational issue is the status of Punjabi language. According to Dr. Manzur Ejaz, "In Central Punjab, Punjabi is neither an official language of the province nor it is used as medium of education at any level. There are only two daily newspaper published in Punjabi in Central Punjab. Only a few monthly literary magazines constitute Punjabi press in Pakistan".

Punjabis are prominent in business, agriculture, industry, government, and the military to the point that there is resentment from other ethnic groups. The Punjabi middle classes tend to ally themselves with [[Urdu]] speaking [[Muhajir Urdu|Muhajir]]s and show respect towards [[Sindhi people|Sindhis]], [[Kashmiri]]s, [[Pakhtuns]], and [[Balochis]]. The smaller provinces often voice concern at Punjabi domination of key institutions such as the Army{{Fact|date=March 2008}}. A newer generation of upper class Panjabis is re-affirming their maternal language and have begun requesting the government for official patronage not just of their language (Panjabi) but that of other major ethnic groups in Pakistan such as the [[Pashtuns]], [[Balochi]] and [[Saraiki]]{{Fact|date=February 2008}}. Punjabis form the 40 to 45% of population of Pakistan.

Punjabi women enjoy comparable rights to females in [[Karachi]] and [[Islamabad]] in Lahore and other cities, but conservative and more traditional ways of life are present and dominate the countryside.

==Famous people of Punjab==
<!--organised by alphabetical order of surnames-->
{{main|List of Punjabis}}
* [[Muhammad Saleem]], served in the [[British India Army]].(1942-1947).
* [[Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal]]
* [[Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry]], late President of Pakistan.
* [[Shah Hussein]]
* [[Shoaib Akhtar]], cricketer.
* [[Wasim Akram]], cricketer and sports presenter.
* [[Waris Shah]]
* [[Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi]], politician and industrialist.
* [[Faiz Ahmed Faiz]]
* [[Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain]], politician and industrialist.
* [[Sir Muhammad Iqbal]]
* [[Noor Jehan]], singer.
* [[Alam Lohar]], folk singer.
* [[Arif Lohar]], folk singer.
* [[Abdul Hafeez Kardar]]
* [[Dr Abdus Salam|Dr Abdul Salam]], physicist and Nobel Prize winner.
* [[Inzamam-ul-Haq]], cricketer.
* [[Imran Khan]], cricketer, politician and philanthropist.
* [[Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan]]
* [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], musician.
* [[Mian Mir]], saint revered by Sikhs and Muslims.
* [[Sultan Rahi]], actor.
* [[Saeed Khan Rangeela|Rangeela]]
* [[Nawaz Sharif]], politician and industrialist.
* [[Shahbaz Sharif]], politician and industrialist.
* [[Waqar Younis]], cricketer and sports presenter.
* [[Shah Mehmood Qureshi]], politician
* [[Salman Butt]], cricketer
* [[Shoaib Malik]], cricketer
* [[Ahsan Iqbal]], politician
* [[Atif Aslam]], politician

==Gallery==
<gallery>

Image:Faisalabad ClockTower.jpg|Faisalabad Clock Tower, built during the British Raj
Image:Clk Towe Slk.jpg|Sialkot Clock Tower, more than a century old historical landmark
Image:Shalamar Garden July 14 2005-Sideview of marble enclosure on the second level.jpg|[[Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)|The Shalimar Gardens]] in Lahore
Image:Shalamar Garden July 14 2005-First pavilion on first level.jpg|[[Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)|The Shalimar Gardens]]
Image:Taxila Pakistan juillet 2004.JPG|Taxila is a [[World Heritage Site]]
Image:GCU Tower P1140896.jpg|Clock Tower at Govt College University, Lahore
Image:Murray College Sialkot.jpg|Murray College Sialkot, established in 1889
Image:SarsonFarm.jpg|Sarson Fields
Image:WheatFields.jpg|Wheat Fields
Image:Noor palace bwp.jpg|Noor Mahal, Bahawalpur
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portalpar|Pakistan}}
*[[Anjuman Muzareen Punjab]]
*[[Hindu and Buddhist heritage of Pakistan]]
*[[History of the Punjab]]
*[[Punjab region]]
*[[Punjab (India)|Punjab, India]]
*[[Punjabi people]]
*[[Punjabi culture]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
*[http://www.punjab.gov.pk Government of the Punjab, Pakistan]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w8CDGj3560 Video about Punjab and Punjabi music] from the Horniman Museum
*[http://www.punjabpolice.gov.pk Punjab Police, Pakistan]
*[http://tdcp.punjab.gov.pk Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab, Pakistan]
*[http://www.punjabilok.com/pakistan/pak_punjab.htm Punjabi Culture Site (Pakistan)]
*{{dmoz|Regional/Asia/Pakistan/Provinces/Punjab}}
*{{wikitravel|Punjab (Pakistan)}}


[[Category:National liberation movements]]
{{Template group
[[Category:Political parties in Costa Rica]]
|list =
[[Category:Socialist International]]
{{Five rivers of the Punjab}}
{{Administrative divisions of Pakistan}}
{{Districts of Punjab (Pakistan)}}
{{Pakistan topics}}
}}


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[[Category:Punjab (Pakistan)| ]]


[[es:Partido Liberación Nacional]]
[[als:Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[fr:Parti Libération nationale (Costa Rica)]]
[[ca:Panjab (Pakistan)]]
[[it:Partido Liberación Nacional]]
[[cs:Paňdžáb (pákistánská provincie)]]
[[lt:Kosta Rikos nacionalinio išvadavimo partija]]
[[cy:Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[no:Partido Liberación Nacional]]
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[[dv:ޕަންޖާބު (ޕާކިސްތާން)]]
[[et:Pandžab (Pakistan)]]
[[es:Panyab (Pakistán)]]
[[eo:Panĝabo (Pakistano)]]
[[eu:Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[fa:پنجاب (پاکستان)]]
[[fr:Penjab (Pakistan)]]
[[ko:펀자브 주 (파키스탄)]]
[[hi:पंजाब (पाकिस्तान)]]
[[id:Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[it:Punjab (Pakistan)]]
[[ja:パンジャーブ州 (パキスタン)]]
[[ka:პენჯაბი (პაკისტანი)]]
[[mr:पंजाब, पाकिस्तान]]
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[[nn:Panjab i Pakistan]]
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[[ru:Пенджаб (Пакистан)]]
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[[tr:Pencap]]
[[ur:پنجاب (پاکستان)]]
[[zh:旁遮普省]]

Revision as of 02:46, 13 October 2008

The National Liberation Party (Spanish: Partido Liberación Nacional; commonly abbreviated as PLN) is a political party in Costa Rica.

The PLN was founded by José Figueres in 1951, following the end of the Costa Rican Civil War. It soon became one of the most important in the country. In 2002, for the first time in history, it lost its second consecutive election. The party won only 27.1 % of the popular vote and 17 out of 57 seats. At the presidential elections of the same date, its candidate, Rolando Araya Monge won 31.0 % (the worst showing ever for the party) of the vote and was defeated in the run off election by Abel Pacheco.

Some of the most dynamic and popular leaders that have presided over the country have come from the PLN. Among them are National Civil War Hero José Figueres and Nobel Peace Prize winner Óscar Arias.

The party is a member of the Socialist International. [citation needed]

In the February 5, 2006 parliamentary election, the party won 25 out of 57 seats. Its candidate at the presidential election of the same day, Óscar Arias won 40.92% and was elected.

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