romanised
Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics
Linguistics is the science, scientific study of language. It encompasses the analysis of every aspect of language, as well as the methods for studying and modeling them.
The traditional areas ...
as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region
Historical regions (or historical areas) are geographical
Geography (from Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece
Greece ( el, Ελλάδα, , ), officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country loca ...
in South Asia
South Asia is the southern region of Asia
Asia () is 's largest and most populous , located primarily in the and . It shares the continental of with the continent of and the continental landmass of with both Europe and . Asia cov ...
, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of eastern Pakistan
Pakistan, . Pronounced variably in English as , , , and . officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a popul ...
and northern India
North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India
India, officially the Republic of India (: ), is a country in . It is the by area, the country, and the most populous in the world. Bounded by the on ...
. The boundaries of the region are ill-defined and focus on historical accounts.
The geographical definition of the term "Punjab" has changed over time. In the 16th century Mughal Empire
The Mughal, Mogul, or Moghul Empire was an early modern
The early modern period of modern history
Human history, or world history, is the narrative of Human, humanity's past. It is understood through archaeology, anthropology, ge ...
it referred to a relatively smaller area between the Indus#REDIRECT Indus River
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The Punjab region of India and Pakistan has a historical and cultural link to Indo-Aryan peoples as well as partially to various indigenous communities. As a result of several invasions from 
In 326 BCE, 
In 1001, 
The 19th-century definition of the Punjab region focuses on the collapse of the Sikh Empire and the creation of the Punjab Province (British India), British Punjab province between 1846 and 1849. According to this definition, the Punjab region incorporates, in today's Pakistan, Azad Kashmir including Bhimber and Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, Mirpur and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (especially Peshawar, known in the Punjab region as Pishore). In India, the wider definition includes parts of 
The climate is a factor contributing to the economy of Punjab. It is not uniform over the whole region, with the sections adjacent to the Himalayas receiving heavier rainfall than those at a distance.
There are three main seasons and two transitional periods. During the hot season from mid-April to the end of June, the temperature may reach . The monsoon season, from July to September, is a period of heavy rainfall, providing water for crops in addition to the supply from canals and irrigation systems. The transitional period after the monsoon is cool and mild, leading to the winter season, when the temperature in January falls to at night and by day. During the transitional period from winter to the hot season, sudden hailstorms and heavy showers may occur, causing damage to crops.
The major language is Punjabi language, Punjabi, (Gurmukhi: ; Shahmukhi alphabet, Shahmukhi: ) written in India with the Gurmukhi script, and in Pakistan using the Shahmukhi script. The Punjabi language has official status and is widely used in education and administration in Indian Punjab, whereas in Pakistani Punjab these roles are instead communicated by the Urdu language. Other major languages and Punjabi dialects spoken in the Punjab region include Hindustani language, Hindustani, Mahasu Pahari, Kangri language, Kangri, Kullui, Kullvi, Sirmauri language, Sirmauri, Chambeali, Chambaeli, Mandeali, Dogri language, Dogri, Haryanvi language, Haryanvi, Saraiki language, Saraiki, Hindko, Pahari-Pothwari and Pashto.