Pakistan

• mostly hot, dry desert;
• temperate in northwest;
• arctic in north

• Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,610 km;
• Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 1,372 km;
• Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 1,086 km

note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Indian Ocean drainage:

Indus (1,081,718 sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:

Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)

noun:

Pakistani(s)

adjective:

Pakistani

total:

22.9 years (2024 est.)

male:

22.8 years

female:

23 years

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.87 male(s)/female

total population:

1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

51.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

56 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

46.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

70.3 years (2024 est.)

male:

68.2 years

female:

72.5 years

total:

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

20.2% (2020 est.)

male:

33% (2020 est.)

female:

7.3% (2020 est.)

women married by age 15:

3.6%

women married by age 18:

18.3%

men married by age 18:

4.7% (2018 est.)

• water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff;
• limited natural freshwater resources;
• most of the population does not have access to potable water;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• air pollution and noise pollution in urban areas

• mostly hot, dry desert;
• temperate in northwest;
• arctic in north

urban population:

38% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

severe localized food insecurity:

• due to population displacements, economic constraints, and high prices of the main food staple - according to the latest analysis, the number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity between April and October 2023 is estimated at 10.5 million people, due to the devastating flood impacts in 2022;
• price of wheat flour, the country’s main staple, were at elevated levels in most markets in January 2023, constraining access to a key staple food (2023)

particulate matter emissions:

50.13 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

201.15 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

142.12 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

30.76 million tons (2017 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

2,460,800 tons (2017 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

8% (2017 est.)

• Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,610 km;
• Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 1,372 km;
• Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 1,086 km

note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Indian Ocean drainage:

Indus (1,081,718 sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:

Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)

municipal:

9.65 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

1.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

172.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

conventional long form:

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

conventional short form:

Pakistan

local long form:

Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan

local short form:

Pakistan

former:

West Pakistan

etymology:

the word "pak" means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, while the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure"

name:

Islamabad

geographic coordinates:

33 41 N, 73 03 E

time difference:

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

derived from two words: Islam , an Urdu word referring to the religion of Islam, and -abad , a Persian suffix indicating an "inhabited place" or "city," to render the meaning "City of Islam"

• 4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**;
• Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh

• Pakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940);
• note - commemorates both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the All-India Muslim League during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

history:

several previous; latest endorsed 12 April 1973, passed 19 April 1973, entered into force 14 August 1973 (suspended and restored several times)

amendments:

• proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly;
• passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses;
• amended many times, last in 2018

citizenship by birth:

yes

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan

dual citizenship recognized:

yes, but limited to select countries

residency requirement for naturalization:

4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding application

• 18 years of age;
• universal;
• note - there are joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

chief of state:

President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 10 March 2024)

head of government:

Prime Minister Shahbaz SHARIF (since 3 March 2024)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

elections/appointments:

• president indirectly elected by the Electoral College consisting of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms);
• election last held on 9 March 2024 (next to be held in 2029)

election results:

• 2024: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president;
• National Assembly vote - Asif Ali ZARDARI (PPP) 411 votes, Mehmood Khan ACHAKZALI (PMAP) 181 votes;
• Shahbaz SHARIF elected prime minister;
• National Assembly vote - Shahbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 201, Omar AYUB (PTI) 92

;

• 2018: Arif ALVI elected president;
• Electoral College vote - Arif ALVI (PTI) 352, Fazl-ur-REHMAN (MMA) 184, Aitzaz AHSAN (PPP) 124;
• Imran KHAN elected prime minister;
• National Assembly vote - Imran KHAN (PTI) 176, Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 96

highest court(s):

Supreme Court of Pakistan (consists of the chief justice and 16 judges)

judge selection and term of office:

justices nominated by an 8-member parliamentary committee upon the recommendation of the Judicial Commission, a 9-member body of judges and other judicial professionals, and appointed by the president; justices can serve until age 65

subordinate courts:

• High Courts;
• Federal Shariat Court;
• provincial and district civil and criminal courts;
• specialized courts for issues, such as taxation, banking, and customs

• Awami National Party or ANP
• Awami Muslim League or AML
• Balochistan Awami Party or BAP
• Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A
• Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M
• Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA (alliance of several parties)
• Hazara Democratic Party or HDP
• Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party
• Jamaat-e-Islami or JI
• Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP
• Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl or JUI-F
• Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan or MWM
• Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA (alliance of several parties)
• Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P
• National Party or NP
• Pakistan Muslim League or PML-Z
• Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F
• Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N
• Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam or PML-Q
• Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP
• Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party or PRHP
• Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice)
• Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PKMAP
• Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP

chief of mission:

Ambassador Rizwan Saeed SHEIKH (since 18 September 2024)

chancery:

3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 243-6500

FAX:

[1] (202) 686-1534

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/

consulate(s) general:

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Donald BLOME (since 2 July 2022)

embassy:

Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad

mailing address:

8100 Islamabad Place, Washington, DC 20521-8100

telephone:

[92] 051-201-4000

FAX:

[92] 51-2338071

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://pk.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general:

Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar

• 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

name:

"Qaumi Tarana" (National Anthem)

lyrics/music:

Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA

note: adopted 1954; also known as "Pak sarzamin shad bad" (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)

total World Heritage Sites:

6 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro;
• Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi;
• Taxila;
• Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore;
• Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta;
• Rohtas Fort

• lower middle-income South Asian economy;
• extremely high debt;
• endemic corruption;
• major currency devaluation;
• major food insecurity and inflation;
• environmentally fragile agricultural sector;
• regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment

Fitch rating:

B- (2018)

Moody's rating:

B3 (2015)

Standard & Poors rating: B- (2019)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

agriculture:

23.4% (2023 est.)

industry:

20.8% (2023 est.)

services:

50.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

9.7% (2023 est.)

male:

9.3% (2023 est.)

female:

10.7% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

39.1% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

1.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

lowest 10%:

4.2% (2018 est.)

highest 10%:

25.5% (2018 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Number of operational nuclear reactors:

6 (2023)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors:

3.26GW (2023 est.)

Percent of total electricity production:

17.4% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down:

1 (2023)

production:

12.712 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption:

34.027 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports:

1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

21.944 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

3.064 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

total petroleum production:

101,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

473,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

540 million barrels (2021 est.)

production:

36.937 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

consumption:

46.448 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports:

10.851 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

592.219 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

general assessment:

• Pakistan’s telecom market transitioned from a regulated state-owned monopoly to a deregulated competitive structure in 2003, now aided by foreign investment;
• moderate growth over the last six years, supported by a young population and a rising use of mobile services;
• telecom infrastructure is improving, with investments in mobile-cellular networks, fixed-line subscriptions declining;
• system consists of microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks;
• 4G mobile services broadly available;
• 5G tests ongoing;
• data centers in major cities;
• mobile and broadband doing well and dominate over fixed-broadband sector;
• future growth (in market size as well as revenue) is likely to come from the wider availability of value-added services on top of the expansion of 4G LTE and (from 2023) 5G mobile networks;
• the Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to direct investment towards the development of mobile broadband (and, to a lesser extent, fiber-based networks) in under-served and even under served areas of the country, with multiple projects being approved to start in 2021 and 2022 (2021)

domestic:

• mobile-cellular subscribership has increased;
• more than 90% of Pakistanis live within areas that have cell phone coverage;
• fiber-optic networks are being constructed throughout the country to increase broadband access and broadband penetration in Pakistan is increasing--by the end of 2021, 50% of the population had access to broadband services;
• fixed-line teledensity is a little over 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 82 per 100 persons (2021)

international:

• country code - 92;
• landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, IMEWE, Orient Express, PEACE Cable, and TW1 submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia;
• 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 (2019)

• television is the most popular and dominant source of news in Pakistan with over 120 satellite tv stations licensed by the country’s electronic media regulatory body, PEMRA ,and 42 media companies/channels with landing rights permission;
• state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) is the largest television network in the country and serves over 85 percent of the population with the largest terrestrial infrastructure of the country;
• PTV consists of nine TV Channels and PTV networks give special coverage to Kashmir;
• Pakistanis have access to over 100 private cable and satellite channels;
• six channels are considered the leaders for news reporting and current affairs programing in the country;
• state-owned Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC or Radio Pakistan) has the largest radio audience in the country, particularly in the rural areas;
• Radio Pakistan’s AM/SW/FM stations cover 98 percent of the population and 80 percent of the total area in the country;
• all major newspapers have online editions and all major print publications operate websites;
• freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the country are fragile (2022)

number of registered air carriers:

5 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 52

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

6,880,637 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

217.53 million (2018) mt-km

total:

11,881 km (2021)

narrow gauge:

389 km (2021) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge:

11,492 km (2021) 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified)