Sami Shah is an award-winning comedian and best-selling author, and one of Pakistan's most successful comedians. Yes, Pakistan has comedians. In A Beginner's Guide To Pakistan he has traveled to Birmingham - or, to give it its full name, the Islamic Republic of Birmingham - to give Radio 4 a quick guide to the country who have directly and/or indirectly provided the UK with 1.8% of its population: Pakistan.

In this first episode he looks at the country's political history, from its foundations in British-ruled India right up to the present day. It's a litany of coups and assassinations, in the middle of which Sami was grew up, moved away and came home - to a very different Pakistan from the one he left. Which isn't to say that there weren't more coups and/or assassinations.

Written and performed by ... Sami Shah

The Voice of the Guide ... Anita Anand

Producer ... Ed Morrish

A Beginner's Guide To Pakistan is a BBC Radio Comedy production.