Pakistan

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

federal republicIndependence 14 August 1947 (from UK)

Pakistan as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 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
Position30 00 N, 70 00 E
Area803,940 sq km
LocationSouthern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on
1998

Every edition of Pakistan

Populationas each edition published it
135.14 million July 1998 est. · 114.65m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.2% 1998 est. · 2.87% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 19.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
59.07 years 1998 est. · 57.11 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.91 children per woman 1998 est. · 6.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
93.48 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 110 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,600 1997 est. · $410 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.1% 1997 est. · 6.4% in 1993

Geography

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on | the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

18 fields

Land useshare of 803,940 sq km

arable land 27%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 6%forests and woodland 5%other 61% (1993 est.)irrigated 171,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
803,940sq km
land: 778,720 sq kmwater: 25,220 sq kmslightly 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
Highest point
2
K · (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 mlowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
6,774km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

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

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

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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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

People

15 fields
Population
135,135,195
(July 1998 est.)note: population figures based on 1981 national census results-1998 census results are pendinggrowth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth
34.38Death
10.69Net migration
-1.71

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)59.07
58.23 · 59.96
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)37.8%
50% · 24.4%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:
42% (male 29,083,284; female 27,425,172)
15-64 years:
54% (male 37,432,059; female 35,731,170)
65 years and over:
4% (male 2,716,739; female 2,746,771) (July 1998 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:
0.99 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

93.48 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.91 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Pakistani(s)
adjective:
Pakistani

Ethnic groups

Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India 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%

Government

Federal republic; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December 1997); Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17 February 1997)

21 fields

Legislature, 217 seatsone dot, one seat

PML/N 137PPP 18MQM/A 12ANP 10BNP 3JWP 2JUI/F 2PPP/SB 1NPP 1independents 21minorities 10

Country name

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

Government type

federal republic

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 and tribal areas

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December 1997)
head of government:
Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17 February 1997)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections:
  • president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
  • election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held no later than 1 January 2002);
  • following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the National Assembly;
  • election last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results:
  • Mohammad Rafiq TARAR elected president;
  • percent of Parliament and provincial vote-NA;
  • Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister;
  • percent of National Assembly vote-NA

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats; 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 (217 seats; 207 represent Muslims and 10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
Senate-last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999); National Assembly-last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results:
  • Senate-percent of vote by party-NA;
  • seats by party-PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5;
  • National Assembly-percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party-PML/N 137, PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents 21, minorities 10

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court

Political parties and leaders

government:
  • Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N), Nawaz SHARIF;
  • Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL;
  • Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A), Altaf HUSSAIN;
  • Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH);
  • Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI;
  • Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto (PPP/SB), Ghinva BHUTTO;
  • Baluch National Party (BNP), leader NA
opposition:
  • 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;
  • Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khan;
  • Awami National Party (ANP), Wali KHAN
frequently shifting:
  • Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI);
  • Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F), Pir PAGARO;
  • Pakistan National Party (PNP);
  • Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC) is an umbrella organization which includes
    • Jamaat-i-Islami (JI),
    • Qazi Hussain AHMED,
    • Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam,
    • Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S),
    • Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan (TJP),
    • Allama Sajid NAQVI,
    • and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan,
    • Noorani faction (JUP/NO)

note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently; subsequent to the election Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F) was disbanded

Political pressure groups and leaders

military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential

International organization participation

AsDB, C, 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, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Riaz KHOKAR
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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas W. SIMONS, Jr.
embassy:
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone:
[92] (51) 826161 through 826179

FAX

[92] (51) 214222

consulate(s) general:
Karachi, Lahore
consulate(s):
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

Pakistan continues to suffer through a damaging | foreign exchange crisis.

28 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
-$344billion
purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
-$2,600
purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)
Real growth rate
3.1%
(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 3.3% (FY96/97 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1997)

agriculture 24.2%industry 26.4%services 49.4% (1997)

Budget

Revenues
$9.6 billionExpenditures
$13.6 billion
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)
Fixed lines
2.552 million
(1997)

Economy-overview

Pakistan continues to suffer through a damaging foreign exchange crisis. The crisis stems from years of loose fiscal policies that exacerbated inflation and allowed the public debt, money supply, and current account deficit to explode. In April 1997, Prime Minister SHARIF introduced a stimulus package of tax cuts intended to boost failing industrial output and spur export growth.

At that time, the IMF endorsed the program, paving the way for a $1.5 billion Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility. Although the economy showed signs of improvement following the measures, SHARIF has refused to implement the tough structural reforms necessary for sustained, longer-term growth.

As a consequence, at yearend 1997, industrial production continued to flag, foreign exchange reserves continued to teeter around $1 billion-only four weeks of imports-and borrowing to support the budget deficit already exceeded the amount allocated for the entire fiscal year. At the same time, the government must cope with long-standing economic vulnerabilities-inadequate infrastructure, low levels of literacy, and increasing sectarian, ethnic, and tribal violence.

Labor force

total:
37.8 million (1998)
by occupation:
agriculture 47%, mining and manufacturing 17%, services 17%, other 19%

note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

13.169 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

58.1 billion kWh (1997)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:
$8.2 billion (FY96/97)
commodities:
cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets
partners:
EU, US, Hong Kong, Japan

Imports

total value:
$11.4 billion (FY96/97)
commodities:
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals
partners:
EU, Japan, US, China

Debt-external

$33 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: $2.2 billion from all bilateral and multilateral sources (FY96/97)

Currency

1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates

  • Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1-44.050 (January 1998), 41.112 (1997), 36.079 (1996), 31.643 (1995), 30.567 (1994), 28.1 (1993);
  • note-annual average of official rate;
  • parallel market rate is higher

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June Communications

Telephone system

  • 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
domestic:
microwave radio relay
international:
satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries

Radio broadcast stations

AM 26, FM 8, shortwave 11

Radios

11.3 million (1992 est.)

Televisions

2.08 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 24 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1997 est.)

bulk 5cargo 15container 3oil tanker 1

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
3
over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 15

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
18
over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8

Networkskm

Highways
224,774Railways
8,163
Highways: paved: 128,121 km · unpaved: 96,653 km (1996 est.) · Railways: broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km double track) · narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)

Railways

total:
8,163 km
broad gauge:
7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km double track)
narrow gauge:
445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)

Highways

total:
224,774 km
paved:
128,121 km
unpaved:
96,653 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Airports

115 (1997 est.)

Heliports

6 (1997 est.)

Military

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

7 fields

Military branches

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

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 32,450,056 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service

males: 19,888,353 (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes-international

status of Kashmir with India; water-sharing problems with India over the Indus River (Wular Barrage)

Illicit drugs

  • illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade (cultivation in 1997-4,100 hectares, a 21% increase over 1996; potential production-85 metric tons, a 13% increase over 1996);
  • center for processing Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets PALAU

Central Intelligence Agency. “Pakistan.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/pakistan/1998.

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