|
|
|
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 have 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 recent discussions and
confidence-building measures may be a start toward
lessened tensions. |
|
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:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
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 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: 27.87%
permanent crops: 0.87%
other: 71.26% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
180,000
sq km (1998 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, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 |
|
Geography - note:
|
controls
Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes
between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent |
|
Population:
|
162,419,946 (July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 39.6% (male 33,104,311/female 31,244,297)
15-64 years: 56.3% (male 46,759,333/female
44,685,828)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,189,122/female
3,437,055) (2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
19.58 years
male: 19.44 years
female: 19.74 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
2.03%
(2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
30.42
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
8.45
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-1.67
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
72.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 72.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 63 years
male: 62.04 years
female: 64.01 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
4.14
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1%
(2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
74,000
(2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
4,900
(2003 est.) |
|
Major infectious diseases:
|
degree
of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
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 (2004) |
|
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.) |
|
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:
|
12 April
1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30
December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored 31
December 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 branch:
|
note:
following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, 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 NA 2007); the prime minister
is selected by the National Assembly for a five-year
term (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: AZIZ elected by the National
Assembly on 27 August 2004 with 191 of the votes |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral
Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate
(100 seats - formerly 87; members indirectly elected by
provincial assemblies to serve four-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 four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 24 and 27 February
2003 (next to be held by February 2007); National
Assembly - last held 10 October 2002 (next to be held by
October 2006)
election results: Senate results - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/Q 40, PPPP 11,
MMA 21, MQM/A 6, PML/N 4, NA 3, PML/F 1, PkMAP 2, ANP 2,
PPP/S 2, JWP 1, BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1, BNM/H 1,
independents 4; 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 branch:
|
Supreme
Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal
Islamic or Shari'a Court |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Awami
National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National
Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. 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 [Akbar Khan BUGTI];
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];
Millat Party or MP [Farooq LEGHARI]; 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 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 Democratic Party or PDP [Mehbooba
Mufti SAYEED]; 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 pressure groups and leaders:
|
military
remains most important political force; ulema (clergy),
landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also
influential |
|
International organization participation:
|
ARF,
AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB,
OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI,
UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
|
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Jehangir KARAMAT
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-3277
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York,
Sunnyvale (California)
consulate(s): Chicago, Houston |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER
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): Karachi, 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,
an impoverished and underdeveloped country, 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 three years. The government has made
substantial macroeconomic reforms since 2000, although
progress on more politically sensitive reforms has
slowed. For example, in the third and final year of its
$1.3 billion IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility,
Islamabad has continued to require waivers for energy
sector reforms. 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 nearly 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. Foreign exchange reserves continued to
reach new levels in 2004, supported by robust export
growth and steady worker remittances. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$347.3
billion (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
6.1%
(2004 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 22.6%
industry: 24.1%
services: 53.3% (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
45.43
million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the
Middle East, and use of child labor (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 42%, industry 20%, services 38% (2004 est.)
|
|
Unemployment rate:
|
8.3% plus
substantial underemployment (2004 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
32%
(FY00/01 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.6% (FY96/97) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
41
(FY98/99) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
4.8%
(FY03/04 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
16.4% of
GDP (FY03/04 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $13.45 billion
expenditures: $16.51 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
|
Public debt:
|
71.4% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
cotton,
wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef,
mutton, eggs |
|
Industries:
|
textiles
and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals,
construction materials, paper products, fertilizer,
shrimp |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
13.1%
(2004 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
75.27
billion kWh (2003) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 68.8%
hydro: 28.2%
nuclear: 3%
other: 0% (2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
52.66
billion kWh (2003) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
0 kWh
(2003) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
0 kWh
(2003) |
|
Oil - production:
|
61,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
365,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
NA |
|
Oil - imports:
|
NA |
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
325.5
million bbl (2004 est.) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
23.4
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
23.4
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
695.6
billion cu m (2004) |
|
Current account balance:
|
$1.4
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Exports:
|
$15.07
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
textiles
(garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice,
leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures,
carpets and rugs |
|
Exports - partners:
|
US 23.5%,
UAE 7.4%, UK 7.3%, Germany 5%, Hong Kong 4.4% (2004)
|
|
Imports:
|
$14.01
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics,
transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and
paperboard, iron and steel, tea |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Saudi
Arabia 11.6%, UAE 10%, US 9.7%, China 8.4%, Japan 6.5%,
Kuwait 5.6% (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$12.58
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$33.97
billion (2004 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$2.4
billion (FY01/02) |
|
Currency (code):
|
Pakistani
rupee (PKR) |
|
Currency code:
|
PKR |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Pakistani
rupees per US dollar - 58.258 (2004), 57.752 (2003),
59.724 (2002), 61.927 (2001), 53.648 (2000) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
1 July -
30 June |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
3,982,800
(2003) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
2,624,800
(2003) |
|
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: 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 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 hosts:
|
15,124
(2003) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
30 (2000)
|
|
Internet users:
|
1.5
million (2002) |
|
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) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
257,683 km
paved: 152,033 km (including 339 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 105,650 km (2001) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 9,945
km; oil 1,821 km (2004) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Karachi,
Port Muhammad bin Qasim |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 329,486 GRT/512,506 DWT
by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 3
registered in other countries: 14 (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
131 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
92
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
39
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.) |
|
Heliports:
|
15 (2004
est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Army,
Navy, Air Force |
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
16 years
of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot
be deployed for combat until age of 18 (2001) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males
age 16-49: 39,028,014 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males
age 16-49: 29,428,747 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
males:
1,969,055 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$3.848
billion (2004) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
4.9%
(2004) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
recent
talks and confidence-building measures have begun to
defuse tensions over Kashmir, 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 and
benefits 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 for discussions on a maritime boundary, India
and Pakistan resurveyed a portion of the disputed Sir
Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in 2004;
Pakistani maps continue to show Junagadh in India's
Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan with UN assistance had
repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees and has
undertaken a census to count the remaining million or
more, many of whom remain at their own choosing;
Pakistan maintains troops in remote tribal areas to
control the border with Afghanistan and root out
organized terrorist and other illegal cross-border
activities; regular meetings with Afghan and Coalition
allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary
encroachments |
|
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|
refugees (country of origin): 1,064,230
(Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic
militants in South Waziristan) (2004) |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
opium
poppy in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, North-West
Frontier Province, and Balochistan Province has
rebounded since it was nearly eliminated in 2001; 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 |
|
This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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