from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pakistan \Pakistan\ prop. n.
A country in South Asia formerly part of British India.
Syn: West Pakistan.
[WordNet 1.5]
Note: Data on Pakistan from the CIA WOrld Factbook, 1996
Geography: Location: Southern Asia, bordering the
Arabian Sea, between India and Iran Geographic
coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E Map references: Asia
Area: total area: 803,940 sq km land area: 778,720 sq
km comparative area: 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
International disputes: status of Kashmir with India;
border dispute with Afghanistan (Durand Line);
water-sharing problems over the Indus (Wular Barrage)
with upstream riparian India 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 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: 23% permanent crops: 0% meadows and
pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 4% other: 67% (1993)
Irrigated land: 170,000 sq km (1992) 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 natural
hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe
especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus
after heavy rains (July and August) international
agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation Geographic note: controls Khyber Pass and
Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central
Asia and the Indian Subcontinent People: Population:
129,275,660 (July 1996 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years:
42% (male 28,286,823; female 26,640,019) 15-64 years:
53% (male 35,396,281; female 33,733,798) 65 years and
over: 5% (male 2,621,721; female 2,597,018) (July 1996
est.) Population growth rate: 2.24% (1996 est.) Birth
rate: 36.16 births/1,000 population (1996 est.) Death
rate: 11.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.) Net
migration rate: -2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996
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: 1.01 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant
mortality rate: 96.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996
est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.46
years male: 57.7 years female: 59.25 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.25 children born/woman (1996
est.) Nationality: noun: Pakistani(s) adjective:
Pakistani Ethnic divisions: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun
(Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India 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: age 15 and over can
read and write (1995 est.) total population: 37.8%
male: 50% female: 24.4% Government: Name of country:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan
Data code: PK Type of government: republic Capital:
Islamabad Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1
territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan,
Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital
Territory**, North-West Frontier, 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: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956)
(proclamation of the republic) Constitution: 10 April
1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments
30 December 1985 Legal system: based on English common
law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's stature
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:
chief of state: President Sardar Farooq LEGHARI (since
13 November 1993) was elected for a five-year term by
Parliament; election last held 13 November 1993 (next
to be held no later than 14 October 1998); results -
LEGHARI was elected by Parliament and the four
provincial assemblies head of government: Prime
Minister Benazir BHUTTO (since 19 October 1993) was
elected by the National Assembly cabinet: Cabinet was
elected by the National Assembly Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) Senate:
elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA
March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (87 total) PPP 22, PML/N 17; Tribal Area
Representatives (nonparty) 8, ANP 6, PML/J 5, JWP 5,
MQM/A 5, JUI/F 2, PKMAP 2, JI 2, NPP 2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M
1, JUP/NI 1, JUP/NO 1, JAH 1, JUI/S 1, PML/F 1, PNP 1,
independents 2, vacant 1 National Assembly: elections
last held 6 October 1993 (next to be held by October
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(217 total) PPP 92, PML/N 75, PML/J 6, IJM-Islamic
Democratic Front 4, ANP 3, PKMAP 4, PIF 3, JWP 2, MDM
2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M 1, NDA 1, NPP 1, PKQP 1, religious
minorities 10 reserved seats, independents 9, results
pending 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial
chiefs are appointed by the president; Federal Islamic
(Shari'at) Court Political parties and leaders:
government: Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir
BHUTTO; Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J),
Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; National People's Party (NPP),
Ghulam Mustapha JATOI; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party
(PKMAP), Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI; Balochistan National
Movement, Hayee Group (BNM/H), Dr. HAYEE Baluch;
National Democratic Alliance (NDA); Pakhtun Quami Party
(PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khan opposition: Pakistan Muslim
League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N), Nawaz SHARIF;
Awami National Party (ANP), Ajmal Khan KHATTAK;
Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF); Balochistan National
Movement, Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL;
Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A), Altaf
HUSSAIN; Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH); Jamhoori Watan Party
(JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI frequently shifting: Mutaheda
Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana Sami-ul-HAQ, the MDM
includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction
(JUP/NI) and Anjuman Sepah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (ASSP);
Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-Islamic Democratic Front)
includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group
(JUI/F); Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group
(PML/F), Pir PAGARO; Pakistan National Party (PNP);
Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC) is an umbrella
organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi
Hussain AHMED, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq
faction (JUI/S), Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan (TJP), Allama
Sajid NAQVI, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani
faction (JUP/NO) note: political alliances in Pakistan
can shift frequently Other political or pressure
groups: military remains important political force;
ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small
merchants also influential International organization
participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM,
OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM
III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic
representation in 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 US diplomatic representation: chief of
mission: Ambassador Thomas SIMONS, Jr. embassy:
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address:
P. O. Box 1048, Unit 6220, APO AE 09812-2200 telephone:
[92] (51) 826161 through 826179 FAX: [92] (51) 214222
consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore consulate(s):
Peshawar Flag: 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
Economic overview: Pakistan is a poor, highly populated
Third World country struggling to make the difficult
transition to the modern world of high technology and
internationalized markets. Prime Minister Benazir
BHUTTO has been under pressure from the IMF and other
donors to continue the economic reforms and austerity
measures begun by her predecessor, caretaker Prime
Minister Moeen QURESHI (July-October 1993). The IMF
suspended a $1.5 billion Enhanced Structural Adjustment
Facility (ESAF) in mid-1995 because Pakistan slowed the
pace of economic reform. Islamabad's most recent budget
-- announced in June 1995 -- reversed some reforms
agreed to by the IMF earlier that year, including a
slowing of tariff reform. In mid-December 1995,
however, the IMF approved a $600 million standby
arrangement and urged Pakistan to move forward with
economic liberalization. Islamabad has agreed to new
economic targets with the IMF, which could lay the
basis for a return to an ESAF in 1996. Little progress
was made in the privatization of large state-owned
units in 1995. The sale of the power plant Kot Addu -
scheduled for April 1995 - was stalled by opposition
from labor unions. The sale of a 26% share of United
Bank Limited and the Pakistan Telecommunications
Corporation to strategic investors was due to take
place in 1995 but has been pushed back to 1996. On the
plus side real GDP grew 4.7% in 1995, up from 3.9% in
1994: GDP should grow even faster in 1996 as a result
of an above average cotton crop. Secondly, Islamabad
reduced the budget deficit to 5.6% of GDP at the end of
FY94/95, down from 8% two years earlier. Thirdly,
Pakistan attracted $1.6 billion in foreign direct and
portfolio investment in FY94/95, more than double
inflows of $650 million in the previous fiscal year;
financial agreements were reached on five power
projects in 1995, including the 1,300-MW $1.8 billion
Hab River project. Despite these improvements, the
economy remains vulnerable to crisis. Foreign exchange
reserves fell dramatically in 1995, reaching a low of
about $1 billion in early December 1995 -- only five
weeks of import cover -- before rising to $1.5 billion
by yearend. The trade deficit rose to $2 billion for
the first six months of FY94/95, triple the deficit of
$600 million during the same period in FY93/94. The
government responded to this situation with a package
of stabilization reforms on 28 October 1995 which
included a 7% devaluation of the rupee, supplementary
duties of 10% on many imports, and higher petroleum
prices. Islamabad hopes these moves will help make its
exports more competitive. For the long run, Pakistan
must deal with serious problems of deteriorating
infrastructure, low literacy levels, and persistent law
and order problems in Karachi. GDP: purchasing power
parity - $274.2 billion (1995 est.) GDP real growth
rate: 4.7% (1995 est.) GDP per capita: $2,100 (1995
est.) GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24%
industry: 27% services: 49% (1995 est.) Inflation rate
(consumer prices): 13% (1995 est.) Labor force: 36
million by occupation: agriculture 46%, mining and
manufacturing 18%, services 17%, other 19% note:
extensive export of labor Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $11.9 billion expenditures: $12.4
billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95) Industries: textiles, food processing,
beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper
products, shrimp Industrial production growth rate: 5%
(1995 est.) Electricity: capacity: 12,530,000 kW (1995)
production: 43.3 billion kWh (1995) consumption per
capita: 389 kWh (1993) Agriculture: cotton, wheat,
rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef,
mutton, eggs Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of
opium and hashish for the international drug trade;
remains world's fourth largest opium producer (155
metric tons in 1995); major center for processing
Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian
heroin moving to Western market Exports: $8.7 billion
(1995 est.) commodities: cotton, textiles, clothing,
rice, leather, carpets partners: US, Japan, Hong Kong,
Germany, UK, UAE, France Imports: $10.7 billion (1995
est.) commodities: petroleum, petroleum products,
machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils,
animal fats, chemicals partners: Japan, US, Germany,
UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Korea External debt:
$26 billion (1995 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA,
$697 million (1993) note: $2.5 billion (includes
bilateral and multilateral aid but no US commitments)
(FY93/94); $3 billion (includes bilateral and
multilateral aid but no US commitments) (FY94/95)
Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa Exchange
rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 34.339
(January 1996), 31.643 (1995), 30.567 (1994), 28.107
(1993), 25.083 (1992), 23.801 (1991) Fiscal year: 1
July - 30 June Transportation: 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; 661 km less than 1.000-m gauge (1995
est.) Highways: total: 205,304 km paved: 104,735 km
unpaved: 100,569 km (1995 est.) Pipelines: crude oil
250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas 4,044 km
(1987) Ports: Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim Merchant
marine: total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
345,606 GRT/560,641 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo
19, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 100 with paved runways over 3,047 m:
12 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 with paved
runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 with paved runways 914 to
1,523 m: 11 with paved runways under 914 m: 18 with
unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 with unpaved
runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8 (1995 est.) Heliports: 6
(1995 est.) Communications: Telephones: 1.572 million
(1993 est.) Telephone system: the domestic system is
mediocre, but 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; despite major improvements
in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services
are still not readily available to the major portion of
the population domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); microwave radio
relay to neighboring countries Radio broadcast
stations: AM 26, FM 8, shortwave 11 Radios: 11.3
million (1992 est.) Television broadcast stations: 29
Televisions: 2.08 million (1993 est.) Defense:
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces,
National Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49:
30,519,339 males fit for military service: 18,720,175
males reach military age (17) annually: 1,437,208 (1996
est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion -
$3.1 billion, 5.3% of GDP (FY95/96)
from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Pakistan
Introduction
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,
and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and
1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war
between these countries in 1971 - in which India
capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis
in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan
becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response
to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted
its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of
Kashmir is ongoing, but discussions and
confidence-building measures have led to decreased
tensions since 2002.
Geography
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 30 00 N, 70 00 E
coordinates:
Map Asia
references:
Area: total: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Area - slightly less than twice the size of California
comparative:
Land total: 6,774 km
boundaries: border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km,
India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km
Coastline: 1,046 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the
continental margin
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 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
resources: petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt,
limestone
Land use: arable land: 24.44%
permanent crops: 0.84%
other: 74.72% (2005)
Irrigated 182,300 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in
hazards: north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy
rains (July and August)
Environment - water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and
current agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water
issues: resources; a majority of the population does not have
access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional
note: invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian
Subcontinent
People
Population: 165,803,560 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 33,293,428/female 31,434,314)
15-64 years: 56.9% (male 48,214,298/female 46,062,933)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,256,065/female
3,542,522) (2006 est.)
Median age: total: 19.8 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.09% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 29.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 70.45 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 70.84 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 70.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 63.39 years
expectancy at male: 62.4 years
birth: female: 64.44 years (2006 est.)
Total 4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 74,000 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 4,900 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
diseases: hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and
cutaneous leishmaniasis are high risks depending on
location
animal contact disease: rabies (2005)
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: 48.7%
male: 61.7%
female: 35.2% (2004 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
local short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
Government federal republic
type:
Capital: name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**;
divisions: 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 consists of two
administrative entities: Azad Kashmir and Northern
Areas
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
holiday:
Constitution: 12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999,
restored in stages in 2002; amended 31 December 2003
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: 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and
reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Executive note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999,
branch: Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff Committee, General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended
Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional
title of Chief Executive; 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; on 20
June 2001, MUSHARRAF named himself as president and was
sworn in, replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a
referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's
presidency was extended by five more years; on 1
January 2004, MUSHARRAF won a vote of confidence in the
Senate, National Assembly, and four provincial
assemblies
chief of state: President General Pervez MUSHARRAF
(since 20 June 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Shaukat AZIZ (since
28 August 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the president is elected by Parliament for a
five-year term; note - in a referendum held on 30 April
2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more
years (next to be held in 2007); the prime minister is
selected by the National Assembly (next to be held in
2007)
election results: AZIZ elected by the National Assembly
on 27 August 2004 with 191 of the votes
Legislative bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the
branch: Senate (100 seats - formerly 87; members indirectly
elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year
terms and the National Assembly (342 seats - formerly
217; 60 seats represent women; 10 seats represent
minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in March 2006 (next to be
held in March 2009); National Assembly - last held 10
October 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - PML 47, PPPP 9, MMA 20,
MQM/A 6, PML/N 4, PML/F 1, PkMAP 3, ANP 2, PPP 3, JWP
1, BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1, BNP/H 1, independents 1;
National Assembly results - percent of votes by party -
NA; seats by party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63, PML/N
19, MQM/A 17, NA 16, PML/F 5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1,
JWP 1, PAT 1, PML/Z 1, PTI 1, MQM/H 1, PkMAP 1,
independents 3
Judicial Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president);
branch: Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court
Political Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN];
parties and Balochistan National Party/Hayee Group or BNP/H [Dr.
leaders: Hayee BALUCH]; Baluch National Party/Awami or BNP/Awami
[Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Baluch National Party-Mengal or
BNP/M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or
JWP; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR];
Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur
REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami ul-HAQ faction or
JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan or JUP
[Shah Faridul HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or
MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement,
Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muttahida Quami
Movement, Haqiqi faction or MQM/H [Afaq AHMAD];
National Alliance or NA [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, Nawaz Sharif faction
or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League or PML
[Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; note - as of May 2004, the
PML/Q changed its name to PML and absorbed the PML/J,
PML/Z, and NA; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil
BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Aftab Ahmed
Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians
or PPPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or
PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift
frequently
Political military remains most important political force; ulema
pressure (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small
groups and merchants also influential
leaders:
International ARF, AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24,
organization G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
participation: IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC,
SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmud Ali DURRANI
representation chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1544
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, New York, Sunnyvale (California)
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER
representation embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
from the US: mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE
09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 208-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role
description: 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
Economy - Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country,
overview: has suffered from decades of internal political
disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a
costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India.
However, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered by
generous foreign assistance and renewed access to
global markets since 2001, have generated solid
macroeconomic recovery the last four years. The
government has made substantial macroeconomic reforms
since 2000, although progress on more politically
sensitive reforms has slowed. For example, in the
budget for fiscal year 2006, Islamabad did not impose
taxes on the agriculture or real estate sectors,
despite Pakistan's chronically low tax-to-GDP ratio.
While long-term prospects remain uncertain, given
Pakistan's low level of development, medium-term
prospects for job creation and poverty reduction are
the best in more than a decade. Islamabad has raised
development spending from about 2% of GDP in the 1990s
to 4% in 2003, a necessary step towards reversing the
broad underdevelopment of its social sector. GDP
growth, spurred by double-digit gains in industrial
production over the past year, has become less
dependent on agriculture, and remained above 7% in 2004
and 2005. Inflation remains the biggest threat to the
economy, jumping to more than 9% in 2005. The World
Bank and Asian Development Bank announced that they
would provide US $1 billion each in aid to help
Pakistan rebuild areas hit by the October 2005
earthquake in Kashmir. Foreign exchange reserves
continued to reach new levels in 2005, supported by
steady worker remittances. In the near term, growth
probably cannot be sustained at the 7% level; however,
massive international aid, increased government
spending, lower taxes, and pay increases for government
workers will help Pakistan maintain strong GDP growth
over the longer term.
GDP $395.2 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $89.55 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 6.6% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $2,400 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 21.6%
composition by industry: 25.1%
sector: services: 53.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 46.84 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle
East, and use of child labor (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 42%
by occupation: industry: 20%
services: 38% (2004 est.)
Unemployment 6.6% plus substantial underemployment (2005 est.)
rate:
Population 32% (FY00/01 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 4.1%
income or highest 10%: 27.6% (FY96/97)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 41 (FY98/99)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 9.1% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 15.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $15.45 billion
expenditures: $20.07 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 53.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
products: milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Industries: textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals,
construction materials, paper products, fertilizer,
shrimp
Industrial 10.7% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 76.92 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 68.8%
production by hydro: 28.2%
source: nuclear: 3%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 71.54 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 63,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 365,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 341.8 million bbl (2005 est.)
reserves:
Natural gas - 23.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 23.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 759.7 billion cu m (2005)
proved
reserves:
Current $-1.109 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $14.85 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn),
commodities: rice, leather goods, sports goods, chemicals,
manufactures, carpets and rugs
Exports - US 22.5%, UAE 8.9%, UK 5.8%, China 5.4%, Germany 4.6%
partners: (2005)
Imports: $21.26 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics,
commodities: transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and
paperboard, iron and steel, tea
Imports - China 13.8%, Saudi Arabia 10.3%, UAE 8.8%, Japan 6.1%,
partners: US 5%, Kuwait 5%, Germany 4.8% (2005)
Reserves of $10.95 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $38.8 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $2.4 billion (FY01/02)
recipient:
Currency Pakistani rupee (PKR)
(code):
Currency code: PKR
Exchange Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 59.515 (2005), 58.258
rates: (2004), 57.752 (2003), 59.724 (2002), 61.927 (2001)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications
Telephones - 5,277,500 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 12.771 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: the domestic system is mediocre,
system: 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: country code - 92; 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 AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 13.5 million (1997)
Television 22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 3.1 million (1997)
Internet .pk
country code:
Internet 72,765 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 30 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 10.5 million (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 139 (2006)
Airports - total: 91
with paved over 3,047 m: 14
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Airports - total: 48
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 23 (2006)
Heliports: 18 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 10,257 km; oil 2,001 km (2006)
Railways: total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Roadways: total: 255,856 km
paved: 157,975 km (including 367 km of expressways)
unpaved: 97,881 km (2004)
Merchant total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 397,740 GRT/657,656
marine: DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, container 1,
petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 11 (Comoros 2, North
Korea 3, Malta 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 3, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 1) (2006)
Ports and Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim
terminals:
Military
Military Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes
branches: Marines), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya) (2006)
Military 16 years of age for voluntary military service;
service age soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18;
and the Pakistani Air Force has inducted its first female
obligation: combat pilot (2006)
Manpower males age 16-49: 39,028,014
available for females age 16-49: 36,779,584 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 16-49: 29,428,747
for military females age 16-49: 28,391,887 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 1,969,055
reaching females age 16-49: 1,849,254 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $4.26 billion (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 3.9% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - various talks and confidence-building measures
international: cautiously have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir,
particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the
region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the
world's largest and most militarized territorial
dispute with portions under the de facto administration
of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and
Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military
Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has
maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949;
India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic
Kashmir lands to China in 1964; in 2004, India and
Pakistan instituted a cease-fire in the Kashmir, and in
2005 restored bus service across the highly militarized
Line of Control; Pakistan has taken its dispute on the
impact of India's building the Baglihar Dam on the
Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir to the World Bank for
arbitration and in general the two states still dispute
Indus River water sharing; to defuse tensions and
prepare discussions on a maritime boundary, in 2004,
India and Pakistan resurveyed a portion of the disputed
the Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of
Kutch; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh
claim in India's Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan, with
UN assistance, had repatriated 2.3 million Afghan
refugees and had undertaken a census to count the
remaining million or more, many of whom remain at their
own choosing; Pakistan has sent troops into remote
tribal areas to control the border with Afghanistan and
stem organized terrorist or other illegal cross-border
activities; regular meetings with Afghan and Coalition
allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary
encroachments
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 960,041 (Afghanistan)
internally IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic
displaced militants in South Waziristan); 3 million (October 2005
persons: earthquake) (2005)
Illicit drugs: opium poppy cultivation declined 58% to 3,147 hectares
in 2005; federal and provincial authorities continue to
conduct anti-poppy campaigns that force eradication -
fines and arrests will take place if the ban on poppy
cultivation is not observed; key transit point for
Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and
hashish, bound for Western markets, the Gulf States,
and Africa; financial crimes related to drug
trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling
remain problems