Pakistan

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

republicIndependence 14 August 1947 (from UK)

Pakistan as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 83 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

Area803,940 sq km

LocationSouthern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India and

Populationas each edition published it

131.54 million July 1995 est. · 114.65m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.28% 1995 est. · 2.87% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

57.86 years 1995 est. · 57.11 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.35 children per woman 1995 est. · 6.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

99.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 110 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,930 1994 est. · $410 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1994 est. · 6.4% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 803,940 sq km

arable land 23%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 6%forest and woodland 4%other 67% (1993)irrigated 170,000 sq km (1992)

Area

803,940sq km

land area: 778,720 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

Coastline

1,046km

contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

6,774km

total · Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

Location

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

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

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

Note

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

People

15 fields

Population

131,541,920

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.28% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

41.8Death

12.07Net migration

-16.93

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years57.86

57.18 · 58.56

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy35%

47% · 21%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force

36million

by occupation: agriculture 46%, mining and manufacturing 18%, services 17%, other 19%note: extensive export of labor

Age structure

0-14 years:: 44% (female 28,033,354; male 29,777,818)
15-64 years:: 52% (female 33,456,410; male 35,109,482)
65 years and over:: 4% (female 2,556,846; male 2,608,010) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

99.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

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%

Government

Republic; President Sardar Farooq LEGHARI; Prime Minister Benazir BHUTTO

23 fields

Legislature, 87 seatsone dot, one seat

PPP 22PML/N 17Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8ANP 6PML/J 5JWP 5MQM/A 5JUI/F 2PKMAP 2JI 2NPP 2BNM/H 1BNM/M 1JUP/NI 1JUP/NO 1JAH 1JUI/S 1PML/F 1PNP 1independents 2vacant 1

Names

conventional long form:: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form:: Pakistan
former:: West Pakistan

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

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;
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
cabinet:: Cabinet

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

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), Altaf HUSSAIN;
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain AHMED;
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: 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

AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 John C. MONJO
embassy:: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address:: P. O. Box 1048, PSC 1212, Box 2000, Unit 6220, Islamabad; APO AE 09812-2000
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

The Pakistani economy has made progress in several key areas | since Benazir BHUTTO became Prime Minister in October 1993.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,930

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 5.6% (FY93/94); accounts for 18% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

12%

(FY93/94)

Unemployment rate

10%

(FY90/91 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$10.5 billionExpenditures

$11.2 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY93/94)

Installed generating capacity, 10,800,000 kW(1994)

Electricity production

52.4 billionElectricity consumption per capita

389 (1993)

Overview

The Pakistani economy has made progress in several key areas since Benazir BHUTTO became Prime Minister in October 1993. She has been under pressure from international donors and the IMF - which gave Pakistan a $1.3 billion structural adjustment credit in February 1994 - to continue the economic reforms and austerity measures begun by her predecessor, caretaker Prime Minister Moeen QURESHI (July-October 1993). Foreign exchange reserves climbed to more than $3 billion in 1994, and the budget deficit was substantially reduced.

Real GDP growth was 4% in FY93/94, up from 2.3% in FY92/93. Foreign direct and portfolio investment also have increased. Privatization of large public sector utilities began in 1994 with the sale of 12% of the Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) and the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA);

the sale of state-owned banks and other large units are planned for 1995. Still, the government must cope with long-standing economic vulnerabilities - high levels of debt service and defense spending, a small tax base, a huge population, and dependence on cotton-based exports - which hamper its ability to create a stable economic environment.

In addition, Pakistan's infrastructure is inadequate and deteriorating, low levels of literacy constrain industrial growth, and increasing sectarian, ethnic, and tribal violence disrupt production.

National product

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

Exports

$6.7 billion (1993)

commodities:: cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets
partners:: US, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, UAE, France

Imports

$9.5 billion (1993)

commodities:: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals
partners:: Japan, US, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Korea

External debt

$24 billion (1993 est.)

Industries

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

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

recipient:: $2.5 billion (FY91/92);
$2.5 billion (FY92/93);
$2.5 billion (FY93/94);
no US commitments, includes bi- and multilateral aid

Currency

1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates

Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 30.860 (January 1995), 30.570 (1994), 28.107 (1993), 25.083 (1992), 23.801 (1991), 21.707 (1990)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 119 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

177,410Railroads

8,773

Highways: paved: 94,027 km · unpaved: 83,383 km (1991 est.) · Railroads: broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified; 1,037 double track) · narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge; 610 km less than 1.000-m gauge (1985)

Railroads

total:: 8,773 km
broad gauge:: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified; 1,037 double track)
narrow gauge:: 445 km 1.000-m gauge; 610 km less than 1.000-m gauge (1985)

Highways

total:: 177,410 km
paved:: 94,027 km
unpaved:: 83,383 km (1991 est.)

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

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

NA telephones;
about 7 telephones/1,000 persons;
the domestic telephone system is poor, adequate only for government and business use;
the system for international traffic is better

local:: NA
intercity:: microwave radio relay
international:: 3 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) earth stations; microwave radio relay