Background: The Indus Valley civilization one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C. remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians Greeks Scythians Arabs (who brought Islam) Afghans and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing but discussions and confidence-building measures have led to decreased tensions since 2002. Mounting public dissatisfaction with President MUSHARRAF coupled with the assassination of the prominent and popular political leader Benazir BHUTTO in late 2007 and MUSHARRAF?s resignation in August 2008 led to the September presidential election of Asif ZARDARI BHUTTO?s widower. Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control Islamist militants many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. The Pakistani government is also faced with a deteriorating economy as foreign exchange reserves decline the currency depreciates and the current account deficit widens.

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

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: 24.44%
Permanent crops: 0.84%
Other: 74.72% (2005)

Irrigated land: 182,300 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 233.8 km³ (2003)

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: 172,800,048 (July 2008 est.)
Growth rate: 1.999% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Pakistani
Adjective: Pakistani

Ethnic groups: Punjabi 44.68% Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42% Sindhi 14.1% Sariaki 8.38% Muhagirs 7.57% Balochi 3.57% other 6.28%

Languages: Punjabi 48% Sindhi 12% Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10% Pashtu 8% Urdu (official) 8% Balochi 3% Hindko 2% Brahui 1% English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries) Burushaski and other 8%

Religions: Muslim 95% (Sunni 75% Shia 20%) other (includes Christian and Hindu) 5%

Age structure
0-14 years: 37.8% (male 33,617,953/female 31,741,258)
15-64 years: 58% (male 51,292,535/female 48,921,023)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,408,749/female 3,818,533) (2008 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.5 years
Male: 20.3 years
Female: 20.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.999% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 28.35 births/1000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 7.85 deaths/1000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.51 migrant(s)/1000 population (2008 est.)

Environment
Current issues: water pollution from raw sewage industrial wastes and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

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: 0.89 male/female
Total population: 1.04 male/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 66.94 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 67.04 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 66.84 deaths/1000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64.13 years
Male: 63.07 years
Female: 65.25 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 74,000 (2001 est.)
Deaths: 4,900 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Animal contact disease: rabies
Note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2006)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 49.9%
Male: 63%
Female: 36% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 7 years
Male: 7 years
Female: 6 years (2006)

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

Government type: federal republic

Capital
Name: Islamabad
Geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E
Time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions
Note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas

Independence: 14 August 1947 (from British India)

National holiday: Republic Day 23 March (1956)

Constitution: 12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977 restored 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999 restored in stages in 2002; amended 31 December 2003; suspended 3 November 2007; restored on 15 December 2007

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: 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 6 September 2008)
Head of government: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI (since 25 March 2008)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister
Elections: the president is elected by secret ballot through an Electoral College comprising the members of the Senate, National Assembly, and the provincial assemblies for a five-year term; election last held on 6 September 2008 (next to be held not later than 2013); note - any person who is a Muslim and not less than 45 years of age and is qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly can contest the presidential election; the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly; election last held on 24 March 2008
Election results: ZARDARI elected; ZARDARI 481 votes, SIDDIQUI 153 votes, HUSSAIN 44 votes; GILANI elected prime minister; GILANI 264 votes, Pervaiz ELAHI 42 votes; several abstentions

Legislative branch
Elections: Senate - last held in March 2006 (next to be held in March 2009); National Assembly - last held 18 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML 38, MMA 18, PPPP 10, MQM 6, PML-N 4, PKMAP 3, ANP 2, PPP-S 2, BNP-A 1, BNP-M 1, JWP 1, NA 1, PML-F 1, independents 12; National Assembly - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by party - PPPP 121, PML-N 91, PML 54, MQM 25, ANP 13, MMA 6, PML-F 5, BNP-A 1, NPP 1, PPP-S 1, independents 18; note - as a result of the 27 June 2008 by-election, PML-N gained 3 seats and PPPP gained 2 seats)

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

Political parties and leaders
Note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

International organization participation: ADB ARF C (reinstated 2004) CP ECO FAO G-24 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA MINURCAT MINURSO MONUC NAM OAS (observer) OIC OPCW PCA SAARC SACEP SCO (observer) UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIL UNMIS UNMIT UNOCI UNOMIG UNWTO UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Husain HAQQANI
In the us chancery: 3,517 International Court, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 243-6,500
In the us fax: [1] (202) 686-1544
In the us consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sunnyvale (California)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
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) 208-0000
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 an impoverished and underdeveloped country has suffered from decades of internal political disputes low levels of foreign investment and a costly ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. However since 2001 IMF-approved reforms - most notably privatization of the banking sector - bolstered by generous foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets have generated macroeconomic recovery. Pakistan has experienced GDP growth in the 6-8% range in 2004-07 spurred by gains in the industrial and service sectors. Poverty levels have decreased by 10% since 2001 and Islamabad has steadily raised development spending in recent years including a 52% real increase in the budget allocation for development in FY07. In 2007 the fiscal deficit - a result of chronically low tax collection and increased spending - exceeded Islamabad's target of 4% of GDP. Inflation remains the top concern among the public jumping from 7.7% in 2007 to more than 11% during the first few months of 2008 primarily because of rising world commodity prices. The Pakistani rupee has depreciated since the proclamation of emergency rule in November 2007.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $411.9 billion (2007 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 5.3% (2007 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $2,400 (2007 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 20.6%
Industry: 26.6%
Services: 52.8% (2007 est.)

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

Industries: textiles and apparel food processing pharmaceuticals construction materials paper products fertilizer shrimp

Industrial production growth rate: 8% (2007 est.)

Labor force
Note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2007 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 42%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 38% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.6% plus substantial underemployment (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 4%
Highest 10: 26.3% (2002)

Distribution of family income gini index: 30.6 (2002)

Budget
Revenues: $18.25 billion
Expenditures: $24.69 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 50.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.6% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate: 10% (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit: $65.05 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares: $45.52 billion (2006)

Current account balance: -$8.255 billion (2007 est.)

Exports: $18.12 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: textiles (garments bed linen cotton cloth yarn) rice leather goods sports goods chemicals manufactures carpets and rugs
Partners: US 18% UAE 10.4% Afghanistan 8.4% China 5.2% UK 4.7% (2007)

Imports: $28.76 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: petroleum petroleum products machinery plastics transportation equipment edible oils paper and paperboard iron and steel tea
Partners: China 16.2% Saudi Arabia 10.9% UAE 10.1% US 5.7% Kuwait 4.9% Japan 4.4% (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $15.69 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt external: $38.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $20.01 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $982 million (2007 est.)

Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar - 60.6295 (2007) 60.35 (2006) 59.515 (2005) 58.258 (2004) 57.752 (2003)

Electricity
Production: 93.26 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption: 68.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 30.8 billion m³ (2007 est.)
Consumption: 30.8 billion m³ (2007 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Proven reserves: 792.8 billion m³ (1 January 2008 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 4.546 million (2008)
Mobile cellular: 88.02 million (2008)

Telephone system
General assessment: the telecommunications infrastructure is improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments into fixed-line and mobile networks; mobile-cellular subscribership has skyrocketed, reaching some 88 million in 2008, up from only about 300,000 in 2000; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the country to aid in network growth; main line availability has risen only marginally over the same period and there are still difficulties getting main line service to rural areas
Domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks
International: country code - 92; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; 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 (2008)

Internet
Country code: .pk
Hosts: 197,264 (2008)
Users: 17.5 million (2007)

Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors (2006)

Airports: 146 (2007)
With paved runways total: 92
With paved runways over 3047 m: 16
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 19
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 29
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 18
With paved runways under 914 m: 10 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 54
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 16
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 13
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 24 (2007)

Heliports: 18 (2007)

Pipelines: gas 10,398 km; oil 2,076 km (2007)

Railways
Total: 8,163 km
Broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways
Total: 259,758 km
Paved: 162,879 km (includes 711 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 96,879 km (2005)

Merchant marine
Total: 15
By type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4
Registered in other countries: 19 (Comoros 4, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Karachi Port Muhammad Bin Qasim

Disputes international: various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin) India (Jammu and Kashmir) and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have maintained their 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; by 2005 Pakistan with UN assistance repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees leaving slightly more than a million many of whom remain at their own choosing; Pakistan has proposed and Afghanistan protests construction of a fence and laying of mines along portions of their porous border; Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal areas to monitor and control the border with Afghanistan and to stem terrorist or other illegal activities

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 1,043,984 (Afghanistan)
Idps: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South Waziristan); 34,000 (October 2005 earthquake; most of those displaced returned to their home villages in the spring of 2006) (2007)

Illicit drugs: significant transit area for Afghan drugs including heroin opium morphine and hashish bound for Iran Western markets the Gulf States Africa and Asia; financial crimes related to drug trafficking terrorism corruption and smuggling remain problems; opium poppy cultivation estimated to be 2,300 hectares in 2007 with 600 of those hectares eradicated; federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that utilizes forced eradication fines and arrests