Pakistan traces its history back to at least 2,500 years before Christ, when a highly developed civilization flourished in the Indus Valley area. Excavations at Harappa, Moenjodaro and Kot Diji have brought to light evidence of an advanced civilization existing even in most ancient times.

Around 1,500 B.C. the Aryans overwhelmed this region, by and by, influenced the Hindu civilization, whose centre moved to the Ganges valley, further east. Later, the Persians occupied the northern regions in the 5th century B.C. up to the 2nd century A.D. The Greeks came in 327 B.C., under Alexander of Macedonia, and passed away like a meteor. In 712 A.D. the Arabs, led by Mohammad Bin Qasim, landed somewhere near modern Karachi, and ruled the lower half of Pakistan for two hundred years. During this time Islam took roots in the soil and influenced the life, culture and traditions of the people.

In the 10th century A.D., began the systematic conquest of Indo-Pakistan by the Muslims from Central Asia who ruled almost the whole sub-continent up to the 18th century A.D., when the British became masters of the land and ruled for nearly 200 years - for only 100 years over what is Pakistan now. The Muslim revival began towards the end of the last century when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a renowned Muslim leader and educationist, launched a movement for intellectual renaissance of the Indian Muslims. In 1930, the well-known poet-philosopher, Dr. Mohammad Iqbal conceived the idea of a separate state for the Muslims of the sub-continent. In 1940, a resolution was adopted by the All-India Muslim League demanding a separate independent homeland for the Muslims of India.

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