Background: The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.

Geographic coordinates: 30 00 N 70 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 803,940 km²
Land: 778,720 km²
Water: 25,220 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries
Total: 6,774 km
Border countries: (4) Afghanistan 2,430 km; , China 523 km; , India 2,912 km; , Iran 909 km

Coastline: 1046 km

Maritime claims
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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes 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

Land use
Arable land: 27%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 6%
Forests and woodland: 5%
Other: 61% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 171,100 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

Geography
Note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

Population: 144,616,639 (July 2001 est.)
Growth rate: 2.11% (2001 est.)
Below poverty line: 40% (2000 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Pakistani
Adjective: Pakistani

Ethnic groups: Punjabi Sindhi Pashtun (Pathan) Baloch Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)

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%

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 40.47% (male 30,131,400; female 28,391,891)
15-64 years: 55.42% (male 40,977,543; female 39,164,663)
65 years and over: 4.11% (male 2,918,872; female 3,032,270) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.11% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 31.21 births/1000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 9.26 deaths/1000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.84 migrant(s)/1000 population (2001 est.)

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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male/female
Total population: 1.05 male/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 80.5 deaths/1000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 61.45 years
Male: 60.61 years
Female: 62.32 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.41 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: 74,000 (1999 est.)
Deaths: 6,500 (1999 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 42.7%
Male: 55.3%
Female: 29% (1998)

Country name
Conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Conventional short form: Pakistan
Former: West Pakistan

Government type: federal republic

Capital: Islamabad

Administrative divisions
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: Republic Day 23 March (1956)

Constitution: 10 April 1973 suspended 5 July 1977 restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999

Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status 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
Note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF suspended Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the powers of the head of the government, he appointed an eight-member National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme governing body; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR remains the ceremonial chief of state; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for three years from the coup date
Chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December 1997)
Head of government: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 12 October 1999)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief executive
Elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held NA 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); note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF overthrew the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF in the military takeover of 12 October 1999; in May 2000, the Supreme Court validated the October 1999 coup and set a three-year limit in office for Chief Executive MUSHARRAF
Election results: Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of Parliament and provincial vote - NA%; results are for the last election for prime minister prior to the military takeover of 12 October 1999 - Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%

Legislative branch
Elections: Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA); National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA); note - no timetable has yet been given for elections following the military takeover
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; note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dismissed Parliament 15 October 1999

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court

International organization participation: AsDB C (suspended) 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 MONUC NAM OAS (observer) OIC OPCW PCA SAARC UN UNAMSIL UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNIKOM UNMIBH UNMIK UNMOP UNOMIG UNTAET UPU WCL WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Maleeha LODHI
In the us chancery: 2,315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 939-6,200
In the us fax: [1] (202) 387-0484
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador William B. MILAM
From the us embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62,200, APO AE 9,812-2,200
From the us telephone: [92] (51) 2,080-0000
From the us fax: [92] (51) 2,276,427
From the us consulates general: Karachi
From the us consulates: Lahore, 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 overview: Pakistan is a poor heavily populated country suffering from internal political disputes lack of foreign investment and a costly confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's economic outlook continues to be marred by its weak foreign exchange position which relies on international creditors for hard currency inflows. The MUSHARRAF government will face an estimated $21 billion in foreign debt coming due in 2000-03 despite having rescheduled nearly $2 billion in debt with Paris Club members. Foreign loans and grants provide approximately 25% of government revenue but debt service obligations total nearly 50% of government expenditure. Although Pakistan successfully negotiated a $600 million IMF Stand-By Arrangement future loan installments will be jeopardized if Pakistan misses critical IMF benchmarks on revenue collection and the fiscal deficit. MUSHARRAF has complied largely with IMF recommendations to raise petroleum prices widen the tax net privatize public sector assets and improve the balance of trade. However Pakistan's economic prospects remain uncertain; too little has changed despite the new administration's intentions. Foreign exchange reserves hover at roughly $1 billion GDP growth hinges on crop performance the import bill has been hammered by high oil prices and both foreign and domestic investors remain wary of committing to projects in Pakistan.

Real gdp growth rate: 4.8% (2000 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2000 (2000 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 25.4%
Industry: 24.9%
Services: 49.7% (1999 est.)

Agriculture products: cotton wheat rice sugarcane fruits vegetables; milk beef mutton eggs

Industries: textiles food processing beverages construction materials clothing paper products shrimp

Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1999 est.)

Labor force
Note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2000 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 44%
By occupation industry: 17%
By occupation services: 39% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6% (FY99/00 est.)

Population below poverty line: 40% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 4.1%
Highest 10: 27.7% (1996)

Budget
Revenues: $8.9 billion
Expenditures: $11.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.2% (2000 est.)

Exports: $8.6 billion (f.o.b. FY99/00)
Commodities: textiles (garments cotton cloth and yarn) rice other agricultural products
Partners: US 24% Hong Kong 7% UK 7% Germany 6% UAE 6% (FY99/00)

Imports: $9.6 billion (f.o.b. FY99/00)
Commodities: machinery petroleum petroleum products chemicals transportation equipment edible oils grains pulses flour
Partners: Saudi Arabia 8% UAE 8% US 6% Japan 6% Malaysia 4% (FY99/00)

Debt external: $38 billion (2000 est.)

Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 59.152 (January 2001) 52.814 (2000) 49.118 (1999) 44.943 (1998) 40.918 (1997) 35.909 (1996)

Electricity
Production: 62.078 billion kWh (1999)
Production by source fossil fuel: 63.38%
Production by source hydro: 36.51%
Production by source nuclear: 0.11%
Production by source other: 0% (1999)
Consumption: 57.732 billion kWh (1999)
Exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Imports: 0 kWh (1999)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 2.861 million (March 1999)
Mobile cellular: 158,000 (1998)

Telephone system
General assessment: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving; service is 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, significantly increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the majority of the rural population
Domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks
International: 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 (1999)

Internet
Country code: .pk
Service providers isps: 30 (2000)
Users: 1.2 million (2000)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $2.435 billion (FY99/00)
Percent of gdp: 3.9% (FY99/00)

Airports: 117 (2000 est.)
With paved runways total: 82
With paved runways over 3047 m: 12
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 21
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 32
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 14
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 35
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 17 (2000 est.)

Heliports: 8 (2000 est.)

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

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.) (2000)

Waterways: none

Merchant marine
Total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 240,605 GRT/367,040 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 13, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)

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