Pakistan

Pakistan 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India and Iran

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 6,774 km, Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

Coastline

1,046 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

Status of Kashmir with India; border question with Afghanistan (Durand Line); water-sharing problems (Wular Barrage) over the Indus 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 Use

Irrigated Land

170,000 sq km (1992)

Environment

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.)
131,541,920 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

42% (male 28,286,823; female 26,640,019) (July 1996 est.)
44% (male 29,777,818; female 28,033,354) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

53% (male 35,396,281; female 33,733,798) (July 1996 est.)
52% (male 35,109,482; female 33,456,410) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

5% (male 2,621,721; female 2,597,018) (July 1996 est.)
4% (male 2,608,010; female 2,556,846) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.24% (1996 est.)
1.28% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

36.16 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
41.8 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

11.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
12.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-16.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 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.)
99.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

5.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
6.35 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

Urdu (official), English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Punjabi 64%, Sindhi 12%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu 7%, Balochi and other 9%

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

Labor Force

36 million

By occupation:

Note: Extensive export of labor

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

PK

Type

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 U.K.)

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

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, Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court

Political Parties and Leaders

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

Member of

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

National Anthem

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

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.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $274.2 billion (1995 est.), $248.5 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

4.7% (1995 est.)
4% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$2,100 (1995 est.)
$1,930 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

13% (1995 est.)
12% (FY93/94)

Unemployment Rate

10% (FY90/91 est.)

Budget

Exports

$8.7 billion (1995 est.)
$6.7 billion (1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$10.7 billion (1995 est.)
$9.5 billion (1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$26 billion (1995 est.)
$24 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 5% (1995 est.), 5.6% (FY93/94); accounts for 27% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

24% of GDP; world's largest contiguous irrigation system; major crops - cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; livestock products - milk, beef, mutton, eggs

Illicit Drugs

Major illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade; remains world's third largest opium producer (160 metric tons in 1994); major center for processing Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western market

Economic Aid

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), 21.707 (1990)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Pipelines

Crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas 4,044 km (1987)

Ports

Gwadar, Karachi, Ormaro (under construction), Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant Marine

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

1.572 million telephones (1993 est.);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

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

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); $3.2 billion, 5.6% of GDP (FY94/95)

History
World Atlas