Rooted in religion and based on a division of labor, the caste system, among other things, dictates the type of occupations a person can pursue and the social interactions that she may have. Castes are an aspect of Hindu religion. Other religions in India do not follow this system.
-istan is a suffix in the Persian language (Farsi), denoting a place. Thus, Pakistan means place of the pure (pak=pure). It does not just refer to geographical areas, as in bimarestan=place of the sick=hospital. The suffix is widespread in Eurasia because of Persian influence (the Mughals of India for example used Farsi).
Pakistan is dropping English as its official language and switching to Urdu, a popular language in the Indian subcontinent. The country's 1973 constitution mandated the change, but it was never made. Pakistan is dropping English as its official language and switching to Urdu, a popular language in the Indian subcontinent. The long-rumored change was confirmed by Pakistani Minister of Planning, National Reforms, and Development Ahsan Iqbal in an exclusive interview with TIME. Iqbal said the change was being made because of a court directive.