Simple facts, unknown to most. We bring them to you at this blog!

Monday 30 November 2009

Shandur Top


Did you know?

The oldest royal polo square is the 16th century Gilgit Polo Field, Pakistan, while the highest polo ground in the world, Shandur, located in district Chitral, Pakistan at 4,307 meters (14,000 ft)
Shandur Pass is the highest mountain pass at 3,800 meters from sea level between Chitral and Gilgit towns in Gilgit-Biltistan, Pakistan. Shandur Top situated beside Shandur Pass hold the Highest Polo Ground in the world at 4,307 meters from sea level with flat surface, gradual grade & a host of annual "Gilgit Polo Festival". The festival also includes Folk music, dancing and a camping village is set up.



Gilgit, Chitral and Skardu have always played the game of polo closest to its original form. Polo is an equestrian sport with its origin embedded in Central Asia dating back to 6th century BC. At first it was a training game for cavalry units for the King's Guards or other Elite troops. To the warlike tribesmen who played polo with as many as 100 players to a side, it was a miniature battle. It became a Persian national game in the 6th century AD. From Persia, the game spread to Arabia, then to Tibet, China and Japan. In China, in the year 910, death of a favourite relative in a game prompted Emperor Apaochi to order beheading of all players.


Sunday 29 November 2009

Reko Diq


Did you know?

Reko Diq is a giant copper and gold project place in Chaghi, Pakistan making it one of the largest copper & gold reserves in the world. The main license (EL5) is held jointly by the Government of Balochistan (25%), Antofagasta Minerals (37.5%) and Barrick Gold.

Reko Diq could be called Tangav Diq, or Gold Peak, because below the sands lie some 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold. The copper-gold deposits at Reko Diq are believed to be even bigger than those of Sarcheshmeh in Iran and Escondida in Chile which makes it the largest copper & gold reserve of the world.

Picture at bottom shows the rock extracted from Reko Diq mine clearly displays the existence of large amount of gold on it.

Thursday 26 November 2009

Sukkur Barrage

Did you know?

The Sukkur Barrage (formely Lloyd Barrage) at Indus River was built in 1923 (completed February 1932) to help alleviate famines caused by lack of rain.

5000 feet long barrage is made of yellow stone and steel enables water to flow through what was originally a 6166 mile long network of 7 canals, feeding the largest irrigation system in the world, with more than 5 million acres (20,000 km²) of irrigated land. Some of these canals are even larger than Suez Canal. The retaining wall has 66 spans, each 60 feet wide; each span has a gate which weighs 50 tons.

In November 2004, the government of Pakistan initiated a rehabilitation project to revitalize its water storage capacity and distribution efficiency. The project was completed in July 2005, (with less than the allocated amount of Rs. 887 million). Experts believe that the rehabilitation of the barrage has enhanced its efficiency for another 60 to 7 years.


Pakistan Aeronautical Complex


Did you know?

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra, in Punjab province of Pakistan is the 3rd largest assembly point for aircrafts related machinery. This facility mainly consists of 3 types of factories; is used to service, assemble and manufacture aircrafts for the military of Pakistan. Factories in PAC are listed as below.
  • F-6 Rebuild Factory
  • Mirage Rebuild Factory
  • Aircraft Manufacturing Factory
  • Kamra Radar & Avionics Factory

Aircraft Manufacturing Factory is currently producing the first time self-made multi role fighter plan JF-17 Thunder, with collaboration of China. First completely built in Pakistan JF-17 Thunder was handed over to PAF on 23th November 2009. From August 2009, PAC has also started manufacturing building first of its surveillance UAV with engineers collaboration of SELEX Galileo, Italy.

PAF Minhas situated inside the complex provides every facility to test the prototypes.