Pakistan, Travellers information
Region / Country specific information - Pakistan
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
| Pakistan | Introduction | Top of Page |
| 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. |
| Pakistan | Geography | Top of Page |
| 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 |
| Map references: | Asia |
| 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 |
| Coastline: | 1,046 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 |
| Pakistan | People | Top of Page |
| 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) |
| Pakistan | Government | Top of Page |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan |
| Government type: | federal republic |
| Capital: | Islamabad |
| 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 |
| Pakistan | Economy | Top of Page |
| 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) |
| Currency code: | 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 |
| Pakistan | Communications | Top of Page |
| 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) |
| Pakistan | Transportation | Top of Page |
| 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) |
| Waterways: | none |
| 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.) |
| Heliports: | 8 (2000 est.) |
| Pakistan | Military | Top of Page |
| 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) |
| Pakistan | Transnational Issues | Top of Page |
| 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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