Pakistan’s Muslim Heritage

The arrival of the Muslims to the areas of modern-day Pakistan, along with subsequent Muslim dynasties, set the stage for the religious boundaries of South Asia that would lead to the development of the modern state of Pakistan as well as forming the foundation for Islamic rule which quickly spread across much of South Asia. Following the rule of various Islamic empires, the Mughals controlled the region from 1526 until 1739. The gradual decline of the Mughal Empire in the early 18th century enabled the Sikh Empire’s influence to control larger areas until Great Britain gained ascendancy over the Indian subcontinent. As the United Kingdom agreed upon partitioning of India in 1947, the modern state of Pakistan was established on 14 August 1947 on the basis of religion and created as a homeland for the Muslims of British India. Today Islam is the largest and the state religion of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan