From Wikitravel

This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit the Pakistan article.

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.

[edit] 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 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
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 27.81%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 71.4% (1998 est.)

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, 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

[edit] People

Population 

147,663,429 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 39.9% (male 30,321,217; female 28,581,334)
15-64 years: 56% (male 42,254,996; female 40,392,092)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 2,984,391; female 3,129,399) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

2.06% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

30.4 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

9.02 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

-0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

78.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 61.82 years
female: 62.73 years (2002 est.)
male: 60.96 years

Total fertility rate 

4.25 children born/woman (2002 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)

[edit] Government

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, General 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; 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
chief of state: President Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June 2001) note - MUSHARRAF is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: Chief Executive Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 12 May 2000) note - MUSHARRAF is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief executive
election results: results are for the 10 October 2002 election for prime minister - Mir Zafarullah Khan JAMALI elected prime minister (not a position of real power)
elections: legislative election last held 10 October 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prior to the military takeover, Pakistan had an elected president and prime minister; the president was elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 31 December 1997; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition was usually elected prime minister by the National Assembly

Legislative branch 

bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100 seats - formerly 87; 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 (342 seats - formerly 217; 10 seats represent minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: Senate results are for the last election prior to the military takeover; - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/H 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National Assembly results are for the 10 October 2002 election - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPP 71, PML/Q 69, MMA 53, PML/N 14, MQM 13, MP 12, PML/F 4, PML/J 2, PPP/SB 2, female elected members 60, independents 21, minorities 10, others 11
note: Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dismissed Parliament 15 October 1999
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held by October 2002); National Assembly - last held 10 October 2002 (next to be held by October 2007)

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 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 or MP [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 [Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [NA leader]; 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 [Nawabadzada KHAN]; 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 Muslim League, Quaid-l-Azam faction or PML/Q [Mian AZHAR]; 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 most important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential

International organization participation 

AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), 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, 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 Ashraf Jehangir QAZI
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, and Sunnyvale (California)
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6205
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
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

[edit] Economy

Economy - overview 

Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, suffers from internal political disputes, lack of foreign investment, and a costly confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's economic prospects, marred by poor human development indicators, low levels of foreign investment, and reliance on international creditors for hard currency inflows, were nonetheless on an upswing through most of 2001. The MUSHARRAF government made significant inroads in macroeconomic reform - it completed an IMF short-term loan program for the first time and improved its standing with international creditors by increasing revenue collection and restraining the fiscal deficit in the 2001/02 budget. While Pakistan has capitalized on its international standing after the 11 September terrorist attacks on the US by garnering substantial assistance from abroad - including $1.3 billion in IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility aid and $12.5 billion in Paris Club debt rescheduling - long-term prospects remain uncertain. GDP growth will continue to hinge on crop performance; dependence on foreign oil leaves the import bill vulnerable to fluctuating oil prices; and foreign and domestic investors remain wary of committing to projects in Pakistan. Pakistani trade levels - already in decline due to the global economic downturn - worsened in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $299 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

3.3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 26%
industry: 24%
services: 50% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line 

35% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 28% (1997) (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index 

31 (1996-97 )

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

4% (2001 est.)

Labor force 

40.4 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2000)

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate 

6.3% (2001 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 

7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production 

62.687 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 64%
hydro: 35%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 1%

Electricity - consumption 

58.299 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs

Exports 

$8.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities 

textiles (garments, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice, other agricultural products

Exports - partners 

US 24.8%, UK 6.5%, UAE 6.2%, Hong Kong 5.9%, Germany 5.6%, (2000)

Imports 

$9.2 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities 

machinery, petroleum, petroleum products, chemicals, transportation equipment, edible oils, grains, pulses, flour

Imports - partners 

Kuwait 11.7%, UAE 10.7%, Saudi Arabia 10.5%, US 6%, Japan 5.6% (2000)

Debt - external 

$31.5 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

$2 billion (FY99/00)

Currency 

Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Currency code 

PKR

Exchange rates 

Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 60.719 (January 2002), 61.927 (2001), 53.648 (2000), 49.118 (1999), 44.943 (1998), 40.918 (1997)

Fiscal year 

1 July - 30 June

[edit] Communications

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)

[edit] Transportation

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 (2001)

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 241,832 GRT/367,093 DWT
ships by type: cargo 13, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Airports 

120 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 87
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 19 (2002)

Heliports 

13 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard

Military manpower - military age 

17 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 36,941,592 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 22,606,576 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually 

males: 1,657,724 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$2,545.5 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

4.6% (FY01)

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

armed stand-off with India over the status and sovereignty of Kashmir continues; dispute with India over the terminus of Rann of Kutch prevents extension of a maritime boundary; water-sharing problems with India persist over the Indus River (Wular Barrage); close ties with Pashtuns in Afghanistan make long border difficult to control

Illicit drugs 

opium poppy cultivation practically eliminated; key transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western markets; Afghan narcotics continue to transit Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Balochistan Province, and Karachi; financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems