FROM early childhood, we are taught in school that Pakistan’s area is 796,096 square kilometres. This was true before the integration of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

After Fata’s merger in Pakistan, the country’s area stands at 822,409 square kilometres. The area of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are still not included in this figure.

If the areas of these regions are added, then Pakistan’s actual size is 908,677 square kilometres.

One hopes someone responsible in official quarters will clear the anomaly.

Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan

Gujrat district

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2019