Pakistan

republicIndependence 14 August 1947 (from UK)

Pakistan as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 130 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalIslamabad
LocationSouthern Asia, along the Arabian Sea, between India and Afghanistan
1994

Every edition of Pakistan

Populationas each edition published it
128.86 million July 1994 est. · 114.65m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.86% 1994 est. · 2.87% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 19.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 57.11 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.43 children per woman 1994 est. · 6.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
101.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 110 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,900 1993 est. · $410 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3% 6.4% in 1993

Geography

Southern Asia, along the Arabian Sea, between India and Afghanistan

25 fields
Coastline
1,046km
Land boundaries
6,774km
total · Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km
Irrigated land
162,200sq km
(1989)

Location

Southern Asia, along the Arabian Sea, between India and Afghanistan

Map references

Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

803,940 sq km

land area

778,720 sq km

comparative area

slightly less than twice the size of California

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or the edge of continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

Natural resources

land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

arable land

26%

permanent crops

0%

meadows and pastures

6%

forest and woodland

4%

other

64%

current issues

  • water pollution from untreated sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff;
  • water scarcity;
  • a majority of the population does not have access to safe drinking 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 - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Note

controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

People

21 fields
Population
128,855,965
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 2.86% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
42.22Death
12.38Net migration
-1.21
Labor force
28.9million
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

101.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

57.41 years

male

56.79 years

female

58.06 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.43 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Pakistani(s)

adjective

Pakistani

Ethnic divisions

Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendents)

Religions

Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

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%

total population

35%

male

47%

female

21%

by occupation

agriculture 54%, mining and manufacturing 13%, services 33%, extensive export of labor (1987 est.)

Government

Republic

39 fields

conventional long form

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

conventional short form

Pakistan

former

West Pakistan

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 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

Suffrage

  • 21 years of age;
  • universal;
  • separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims

chief of state

  • President Sardar Farooq LEGHARI election last held on 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

cabinet

Cabinet

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora)

Senate

  • elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1997);
  • results - seats (87 total) Pakistan People's Party (PPP) 22, Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N) 17;
  • Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8, Awami National Party (ANP) 6, Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J) 5, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) 5, Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A) 5, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F) 2, Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) 2, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) 2, National People's Party (NPP) 2, Balochistan National Movement, Hayee Group (BNM/H) 1, Balochistan National Movement, Mengal Group (BNM/M) 1, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI) 1, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction (JUP/NO) 1, Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH) 1, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S) 1, Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F) 1, Pakistan National Party (PNP) 1, independents 2, vacant 1

National Assembly

  • elections last held 6 October 1993 (next to be held by October 1998);
  • results - seats (217 total);
  • Pakistan People's Party (PPP) 92;
  • Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N) 75;
  • Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J) 6;
  • Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-Islamic Democratic Front) 4;
  • Awami National Party (ANP) 3;
  • Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) 4;
  • Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF) 3;
  • Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) 2;
  • Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM) 2;
  • Balochistan National Movement, Hayee Group (BNM/H) 1;
  • Balochistan National Movement, Mengal Group (BNM/M) 1;
  • National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 1;
  • National People's Party (NPP) 1;
  • Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP) 1;
  • Religious minorities 10 reserved seats;
  • independents, 9;
  • results pending, 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court

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), Maulana Kausar NIAZI;
  • Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khan;
  • Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI

opposition

  • Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N), Nawaz SHARIF;
  • Awami National Party (ANP), Khan Abdul WALI KHAN;
  • Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF), Qazi Hussain AHMED;
  • Balochistan National Movement, Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL;
  • Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A);
  • Jamaat-i-Islami (JI);
  • Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH)

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 Party), the IJM includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F);
  • Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction (JUP/NO);
  • Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S);
  • Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F);
  • Pakistan National Party (PNP)

note

most Pakistani political groups are motivated primarily by opportunism and political alliances 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, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission

Ambassador Maleeha LODHI

chancery

2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 939-6205

FAX

(202) 387-0484

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles and New York

chief of mission

Ambassador John MONJO

embassy

Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad

mailing address

P. O. Box 1048, PSC 1212, Box 2000, Unit 6220,Islamabad or APO AE 09812-2000

telephone

[92] (51) 826161 through 79

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

Pakistan is a poor Third World country faced with the usual problems | of rapidly increasing population, sizable government deficits, and | heavy dependence on foreign aid.

27 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,900
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
3%
(FY93 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 7.3% (FY92); accounts for 23% of GDP
Unemployment rate
10%
(FY91 est.)

Overview

Pakistan is a poor Third World country faced with the usual problems of rapidly increasing population, sizable government deficits, and heavy dependence on foreign aid. In addition, the economy must support a large military establishment. Rapid economic growth, averaging 5%-6% over the past decade has helped Pakistan cope with these problems.

However, growth slumped to 3% in FY93 because of severe flooding, which damaged the key export crop, cotton. Almost all agriculture and small-scale industry is in private hands. In 1990, Pakistan embarked on a sweeping economic liberalization program to boost foreign and domestic private investment and lower foreign aid dependence.

The SHARIF government denationalized several state-owned firms and attracted some foreign investment. Pakistan likely will have difficulty raising living standards because of its rapidly expanding population. At the current rate of growth, population would double in 25 years.

National product

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $239 billion (1993 est.)

revenues

$9.4 billion

expenditures

$10.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (1993 est.)

Exports

$6.8 billion (f.o.b., FY92)

commodities

cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets

partners

US, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, UK

Imports

$9.1 billion (f.o.b., FY92)

commodities

petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals

partners

Japan, US, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia

External debt

$24 billion (1993 est.)

capacity

10,000,000 kW

production

43 billion kWh

consumption per capita

350 kWh (1992)

Industries

textiles, food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp

Agriculture

  • 22% of GDP, over 50% of labor force;
  • world's largest contiguous irrigation system;
  • major crops - cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
  • livestock products - milk, beef, mutton, eggs;
  • self-sufficient in food grain

Illicit drugs

  • major illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade;
  • despite some success in reducing cultivation, remains world's fourth largest opium producer (140 metric tons in 1993)

recipient

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.5 billion;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $91 billion;
  • OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.3 billion;
  • Communist countries (1970-89), $3.2 billion

note

including Bangladesh prior to 1972

Currency

1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates

Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 30.214 (January 1994), 28.107 (1993), 25.083 (1992), 23.801 (1991), 21.707 (1990), 20.541 (1989)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

14 fields

Railroads

  • 8,773 km total;
  • 7,718 km broad gauge, 445 km 1-meter gauge, and 610 km less than 1-meter gauge;
  • 1,037 km broad-gauge double track;
  • 286 km electrified;
  • all government owned (1985)

total

110,677 km

paved

58,677 km

unpaved

gravel 23,000 km; improved earth 29,000 km (1988)

Pipelines

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

Ports

Gwadar, Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant marine

30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 352,189 GRT/532,782 DWT, bulk 1, cargo 25, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 3

total

110

usable

104

with permanent-surface runways

75

with runways over 3,659 m

1

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

30

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

43

Telecommunications

  • the domestic telephone system is poor, adequate only for government and business use;
  • about 7 telephones per 1,000 persons;
  • the system for international traffic is better and employs both microwave radio relay and satellites;
  • satellite ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT;
  • broadcast stations - 19 AM, 8 FM, 29 TV

Defense Forces

Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard, | paramilitary/security forces

4 fields

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard, paramilitary/security forces

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 29,548,746;
  • fit for military service 18,134,013;
  • reach military age (17) annually 1,391,258 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $3.0 billion, 5.7% of GNP (FY93/94)

Affiliation

(territory of the US)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Pakistan.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/pakistan/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →