Pakistan's history dates back to about 4,000BC and the civilisations of the Indus valley. The British ruled most of the territory from the mid-eighteenth century until independence was gained in 1947. At the same time Pakistan separated from India to create a state for the Muslim minority who had lived in India. This newly formed state comprised of two regions , some 1,000 miles apart and separated by territories in northern India; they were called East and West Pakistan. Friction between East and West culminated in civil war in 1971. In 1972 East Pakistan won its battle for independence and it was renamed Bangladesh. In 1977 the military, under the command of General Zia ul-Haq, seized power; Zia proclaimed himself President. Elections followed in 1988 following Zia's death in a plane crash. Benazir Bhutto, daughter of the former Prime Minister whom Zia had executed, won power. After losing power in 1990, Bhutto was again elected Prime Minister in 1993. The economy is very much dependent on agriculture; the chief crops are sugar cane, cotton, rice and tobacco. Exports include chemicals, fertilisers, oil products, natural gas and cement. Almost the entire population is Muslim; Urdu and English are the official languages although Punjabi and other local languages are also spoken.
