Region / Country specific information - Pakistan
| Background: |
The separation in 1947 of British
India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and
East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third
war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding
and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state
of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing,
Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. |
| Location: |
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian
Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west
and China in the north |
| Geographic coordinates: |
30 00 N, 70 00 E |
| Area: |
total: 803,940 sq
km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly less than twice the size
of California |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India
2,912 km, Iran 909 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate
in northwest; arctic in north |
| Terrain: |
flat Indus plain in east; mountains
in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Indian
Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m |
| Natural
resources: |
land, extensive natural gas reserves,
limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
|
| Land
use: |
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 61% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated land: |
171,100 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
frequent earthquakes, occasionally
severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after
heavy rains (July and August) |
| Environment - current issues: |
water pollution from raw sewage,
industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water
resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable
water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification |
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban |
| Geography - note: |
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan
Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian
Subcontinent |
| Population: |
144,616,639 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 40.47%
(male 30,131,400; female 28,391,891)
15-64 years: 55.42% (male 40,977,543; female 39,164,663)
65 years and over: 4.11% (male 2,918,872; female 3,032,270)
(2001 est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
2.11% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
31.21 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2001
est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
80.5 deaths/1,000 live births
(2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
61.45 years
male: 60.61 years
female: 62.32 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
4.41 children born/woman (2001
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.1% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
74,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
6,500 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan),
Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and
their descendants) |
| Religions: |
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%),
Christian, Hindu, and other 3% |
| Languages: |
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki
(a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%,
Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani
elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8% |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15
and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 55.3%
female: 29% (1998) |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan |
| Government type: |
federal republic |
| Administrative divisions: |
4 provinces, 1 territory*, and
1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*,
Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab,
Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed
Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
|
| Independence: |
14 August 1947 (from UK) |
| National
holiday: |
Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
|
| Constitution: |
10 April 1973, suspended 5 July
1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October
1999 |
| Legal
system: |
based on English common law with
provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
| Suffrage: |
21 years of age; universal; separate
electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims |
| Executive branch: |
note: following a
military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF suspended
Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive;
exercising the powers of the head of the government, he appointed an
eight-member National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme
governing body; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR remains the ceremonial
chief of state; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously
validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and
legislative authority for three years from the coup date
chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31
December 1997)
head of government: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF
(since 12 October 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief executive
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year
term; election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by
the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997 (next to be
held NA); note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF overthrew the government of Prime
Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF in the military takeover of 12 October
1999; in May 2000, the Supreme Court validated the October 1999 coup
and set a three-year limit in office for Chief Executive MUSHARRAF
election results: Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent
of Parliament and provincial vote - NA%; results are for the last election
for prime minister prior to the military takeover of 12 October 1999
- Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National
Assembly vote - NA% |
| Legislative branch: |
note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved
Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999; bicameral
Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats; members
indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms;
one-third of the members up for election every two years) and the National
Assembly (217 seats - 10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be
held NA); National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be
held NA); note - no timetable has yet been given for elections following
the military takeover
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F
2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/N 137,
PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents
21, minorities 10; note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dismissed Parliament
15 October 1999 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court (justices appointed
by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court |
| Political parties and leaders: |
note: Gen. Pervez
MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament following the military takeover of 12
October 1999, however, political parties have been allowed to operate;
Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee
Group or BNM/H [Dr. HAYEE Baluch]; Baluch National Party or BNP [Sardar
Akhtar MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith
or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F
[Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or JUP/NI [Abdul
Sattar Khan NIAZI]; Millat Party [Farooq LEGHARI]; Milli Yakjheti Council
or MYC is an umbrella organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami or
JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED], Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or
JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ], Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan or TJP [Allama Sajid NAQVI],
and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction or JUP/NO [Shah Ahmad NOORANI];
Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National
People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami
Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed
AFZAL Khan]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan
Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim
League, Junejo faction or PML/J [Hamid Nasir CHATTHA]; Pakistan Muslim
League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan National
Party or PNP [Hasil BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir
BHUTTO]; Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva BHUTTO];
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
military remains important political
force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants
also influential |
| International organization participation: |
AsDB, C (suspended), CCC, CP,
ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Maleeha LODHI
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6200
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador William B. MILAM
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar |
| Flag
description: |
green with a vertical white band
(symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a
large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam |
| Economy
- overview: |
Pakistan is a poor, heavily populated
country, suffering from internal political disputes, lack of foreign
investment, and a costly confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's
economic outlook continues to be marred by its weak foreign exchange
position, which relies on international creditors for hard currency
inflows. The MUSHARRAF government will face an estimated $21 billion
in foreign debt coming due in 2000-03, despite having rescheduled nearly
$2 billion in debt with Paris Club members. Foreign loans and grants
provide approximately 25% of government revenue, but debt service obligations
total nearly 50% of government expenditure. Although Pakistan successfully
negotiated a $600 million IMF Stand-By Arrangement, future loan installments
will be jeopardized if Pakistan misses critical IMF benchmarks on revenue
collection and the fiscal deficit. MUSHARRAF has complied largely with
IMF recommendations to raise petroleum prices, widen the tax net, privatize
public sector assets, and improve the balance of trade. However, Pakistan's
economic prospects remain uncertain; too little has changed despite
the new administration's intentions. Foreign exchange reserves hover
at roughly $1 billion, GDP growth hinges on crop performance, the import
bill has been hammered by high oil prices, and both foreign and domestic
investors remain wary of committing to projects in Pakistan. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $282
billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
4.8% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $2,000
(2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 24.9%
services: 49.7% (1999 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: |
40% (2000 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.7% (1996) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
5.2% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
40 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East,
and use of child labor (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 44%, industry 17%,
services 39% (1999 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: |
6% (FY99/00 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $8.9 billion
expenditures: $11.6 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (FY00/01 est.) |
| Industries: |
textiles, food processing, beverages,
construction materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp |
| Industrial production growth rate: |
3.8% (1999 est.) |
| Electricity - production: |
62.078 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 63.38%
hydro: 36.51%
nuclear: 0.11%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity - consumption: |
57.732 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture - products: |
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane,
fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs |
| Exports: |
$8.6 billion (f.o.b., FY99/00)
|
| Exports
- commodities: |
textiles (garments, cotton cloth,
and yarn), rice, other agricultural products |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 24%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 7%, Germany
6%, UAE 6% (FY99/00) |
| Imports: |
$9.6 billion (f.o.b., FY99/00)
|
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery, petroleum, petroleum
products, chemicals, transportation equipment, edible oils, grains,
pulses, flour |
| Imports
- partners: |
Saudi Arabia 8%, UAE 8%, US 6%,
Japan 6%, Malaysia 4% (FY99/00) |
| Debt
- external: |
$38 billion (2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$2 billion (FY99/00) |
| Currency: |
Pakistani rupee (PKR) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Pakistani rupees per US dollar
- 59.152 (January 2001), 52.814 (2000), 49.118 (1999), 44.943 (1998),
40.918 (1997), 35.909 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones - main lines in use: |
2.861 million (March 1999) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: |
158,000 (1998) |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment:
the domestic system is mediocre, but improving; service is adequate
for government and business use, in part because major businesses have
established their own private systems; since 1988, the government has
promoted investment in the national telecommunications system on a priority
basis, significantly increasing network capacity; despite major improvements
in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not
readily available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic
cable, cellular, and satellite networks
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway
exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to
neighboring countries (1999) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)
|
| Radios: |
13.5 million (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: |
22 (plus seven low-power repeaters)
(1997) |
| Televisions: |
3.1 million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.pk |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
30 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
1.2 million (2000) |
| Railways: |
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified;
1,037 km double track)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.) (2000) |
| Highways: |
total: 247,811 km
paved: 141,252 km (including 339 km of expressways)
unpaved: 106,559 km (1998) |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 250 km; petroleum products
885 km; natural gas 4,044 km (1987) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim
|
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 17 ships (1,000
GRT or over) totaling 240,605 GRT/367,040 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, container 3, petroleum tanker
1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
117 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed
Forces, National Guard |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
17 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
35,770,928 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
21,897,366 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 1,657,723
(2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$2.435 billion (FY99/00) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
3.9% (FY99/00) |
| Disputes
- international: |
status of Kashmir with India;
water-sharing problems with India over the Indus River (Wular Barrage)
|
| Illicit
drugs: |
key transit area for Southwest
Asian heroin moving to Western markets; narcotics still move from Afghanistan
into Balochistan Province |
|
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