The Urdu alphabet consists of 37 basic letters. It is based on the Persian script, which itself is an extension of the Arabic script, with additional letters to represent sounds specific to Indo-Aryan languages.

Hindu leaders demanded that Hindi, written in the Devanagri script, should replace Urdu (written in the Persian script) as the official and national language, arguing that it was the indigenous language of the majority.

In 1832, the British East India Company replaced Persian with Urdu as the official language of the lower courts and administration in northern India, acknowledging Urdu's widespread use and popularity.

Urdu developed as a synthetic language, drawing its vocabulary and grammar from Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and the local Hindi (Khari Boli) dialects spoken around Delhi and the northern plains.

Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585. Akbar built this city to honor the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti, who had correctly predicted the birth of his son. The city is famous for its unique blend of Persian and Indian architectural styles.

The name 'Punjab' is derived from the Persian words 'Panj' (five) and 'Ab' (water), meaning 'Land of Five Rivers.' The five rivers are the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej, which irrigate the province's fertile plains.

Pakistan's location is highly strategic because it provides the shortest sea route to landlocked Central Asia, is close to the energy-rich Persian Gulf, and sits at the intersection of major regional powers.

The English East India Company, in alliance with the Persian forces of Shah Abbas, captured the strategic fortress of Ormuz from the Portuguese in 1622.

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a NASA mission that intentionally crashed a spacecraft into the asteroid moon Dimorphos in 2022 to see if its orbit could be changed.

*Noroz-nama* describes Persian festivals and cultural practices.