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.

Total: 6,774 km.
Border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km.
Coastline: 1,046 km.

Contiguous zone: 24 nm.
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin.
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm.
Territorial sea: 12 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.

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.

Arable land: 27%.
Permanent crops: 1%.
Permanent pastures: 6%.
Forests and woodland: 5%.
Other: 61% (1993 est.).
Irrigated land: 171,100 sq km (1993 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.

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
Geography - note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.

Father of the Nation: Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Quaid-e-Azam).
Creation of Pakistan: The idea of partitioning British India into separate Hindu and Muslim areas originated in the 1930s and became the goal of the MUSLIM LEAGUE under the leadership of Muhammad Ali JINNAH in the 1940s.  Independence was achieved on Aug. 14, 1947, and Pakistan assumed sovereignty over two separate regions--East Bengal (later East Pakistan) and West Pakistan--located on either side of the South Asian subcontinent.  The separation from Hindu-dominated areas granted to India was accompanied by widespread Hindu-Muslim rioting;  the transfer of about 8,000,000 Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan (especially from the Punjab) to India;  and the forced relocation of about 6,000,000 Muslims from India to Pakistan.  War erupted with India over control of Muslim-dominated Jammu and Kashmir  ended in 1949 with a cease-fire line recognizing Pakistan control of about 40% of the disputed state.
Meaning of Pakistan:
Pak means "pure" in Urdu and stan means "land".
The name "Pakistan" for a Muslim division of British India was put forward 1930 by Choudhary Rahmat Ali (1897-1951) from names of the Muslim parts of the subcontinent: Punjab, the Afghan NW Frontier, Kashmir, Sind, and Baluchistan.

 Urdu: This language is the pakistan's national language, And this is all of the world on third(3rd) number language.

Population: 132,185,299 (July 1997 est.).
Note: National census has been conducted in March-Apil 1998 but official result not yet announced.
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 28,702,496; female 27,048,787).
15-64 years: 54% (male 36,387,329; female 34,708,803).
65 years and over: 4% (male 2,667,936; female 2,669,948) (July 1997 est.).
Population growth rate: 2.22% (1997 est.).
Birth rate: 35.26 births/1,000 population (1997 est.).
Death rate: 10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.).
Net migration rate: -2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.).

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: 1 male(s)/female.
Total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1997 est.).
Infant mortality rate: 95.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.).

Total population: 58.77 years.
Male: 57.97 years.
Female: 59.61 years (1997 est.).
Total fertility rate: 5.08 children born/woman (1997 est.).

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%.

Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write.
Total population: 37.8%.
Male: 50%.
Female: 24.4% (1995 est.).

Data code: PK.
Government type: Federal republic , Democracy.

National 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) i.e 13th Ramzan, 1367 Hijri (Islamic Calander).
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 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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.

Chief of state: President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar since (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;  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 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; has advisory powers only) 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:
                                        Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N), Nawaz SHARIF; Awami National Party (ANP), Ajmal Khan KHATTAK; Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL; Muttahida Quami 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.
                                        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, Tehreek-e-Insaf (TEI) IMRAN KHAN.
Frequently shifting: Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana Sami-ul-HAQ, the MDM includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI) and Sepah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP); Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-Islamic Democratic Front) includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F); 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
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, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.

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.

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.

Economy - overview: Pakistan is a poor, highly populated Third World country struggling to make the difficult transition to the modern world of high technology and international markets.
Major Stock Exchange: Karachi Stock Exchange.

GDP: Purchasing power parity - $296.5 billion (1996 est.).
GDP- real growth rate: 5.5% (1996 est.).
GDP- per capita: Purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1996 est.).

Agriculture: 24.8%.
Industry: 26.5%.
Services: 48.7% (1996).
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 10.8% (FY95/96).

Total: 36.7 million (1997).
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.
Unemployment rate: NA%.

Revenues: $12.5 billion.
Expenditures: $14 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.8 billion (FY95/96 est.).
Industries: Textiles, food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp.
Industrial production growth rate: 6.1% (FY95/96 est.).
Electricity - capacity: 13.17 million kW (1994).
Electricity - production: 46.1 billion kWh (FY95/96).
Electricity - consumption per capita: 403 kWh (1995 est.).
Agriculture - products: Cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs
PAK TRADE.
Exports:
Total value: $8.3 billion (FY95/96).
Commodities: Cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets.
Partners: US, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, UAE, France.
Imports:
Total value: $12 billion (FY95/96).
Commodities: Petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals.
Partners: Japan, US, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Korea.
Debt - external: $28.6 billion (1996 est.).

Recipient: $2.6 billion from all bilateral and multilateral sources (FY95/96).
Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa.
Pakistani Rupee Exchange Rate.
Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 57.120 (October 1997), 36.078 (1996), 31.643 (1995), 30.567 (1994), 28.1 (1993), 25.1 (1992); note - annual average of official rate; parallel market rate is higher.
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June.

Telephones: 1.572 million (1993 est.).
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.)
Television broadcast stations: 29
Major and State owned Television Company PTV, PTV World &  Shalimar Television Network
Pakistan Television Corporation.
Televisions: 2.08 million (1993 est.)
Internet Service Provider: Cyber.net, CompuNet, PieNet, AsiaOnline, PakNet, SuperNet , Digicom, Cyber Access, Brainnet, Fascom & IBM.

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: 216,564 km
Paved: 116,945 km
Unpaved: 99,619 km (1995 est.).
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: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 425,140 GRT/699,040 DWT
Ships by type: Bulk 5, cargo 17, container 3, oil tanker 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 102 (1996 est.)
International Airpots: Karachi Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Lohore Internationa Airport, Islamabad International Airport.
PIA: Pakistan International Airline.

Total: 86
Over 3,047 m : 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 11
Under 914 m: 18 (1996 est.)

Total: 16
Over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 6 (1996 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age.

Males age 15-49: 31,456,430 (1997 est.)

Males: 19,288,081 (1997 est.)

Males: 1,431,074 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.3 billion (FY96/97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.3% (FY96/97)

Disputes - international: Status of Kashmir with India; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Indus (Wular Barrage).
Illicit drugs: Illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade (produced 75 metric tons in 1996, down from 155 metric tons in 1995); major center for processing Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets.
 
 

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