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Pakistan

Islamic Republic of Pakistan is situated in South Asia, bordering Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the northeast. It possesses 2nd largest Muslim population. Pakistan is a nuclear state and member of Organization of the Islamic Conference, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Developing 8 Countries and the Economic Cooperation Organization, United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, World Trade Organization, G33 developing countries, Group of 77 developing nations, major non-NATO ally of the United States. The Pakistani defense force is a volunteer force and it’s the 7th largest in the world.

HISTORY:- Indus Valley Civilization (2500 BCE - 1500 BCE) was flourished in present Pakistan at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. The Vedic civilization was introduced in the region after Indus valley civilization. The country was invaded and controlled by Harappan, Indo-Aryan, Persian, Grecian, Saka, Parthian, Kushan, Hephthalite, Afghan, Arab, Turkics, and Mughal. Islam was introduced in 711. In 1526, Mughals invaded the land. In 1857, British turned up to be the strongest colonial power in the region. In 1906, Mohammed Ali Jinnah (1876–1949) founded Muslim League as a result of the dissatisfaction on Hindu priority over economy and politics. Muslim League supported Britain in World War II, with the expectation that Britain would help in forming separate Muslim dominion. According to that, in august 1947, Jinnah became the governor-general. The partition of India-Pakistan had been marked by the greatest migration in history. The republic of Pakistan was declared in 1956 March 23. Maj. Gen. Iskander Mirza became the first President.

GEOGRAPHY:- Pakistan is situated at 30 00 N, 70 00 E, comprising 803,940 sq km, in which land is 78,720 sq km and water is 25,220 sq km. The coastline is 1,046 km long along with the Arabian Sea in the South. The lowest point of Pakistan is Indian Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is peak K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) (8,611m). Eastern region is flat Indus plain land. North and northeastern region is mountainous. In west lies Balochistan plateau. Eastern part is formed of Thar desert. The Tharparkar desert of Sindh is the only fecund desert in the world.

CLIMATE:-The climate of Pakistan is mostly hot, while Thar Desert is dry. Northwest region is temperate and north is arctic.

GOVERNMENT:-Pakistan is a federal republican country. The Independence day is celebrated on 14th August, 1947 from British India. The constitution was first adopted on 12th April, 1973. Three branches of the Government are:

1. Executive branch is formed of the President (chief of state), Prime minister (head of government) and cabinet.

2. Legislative branch is formed of the Bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora (100-seat Senate, 342-seat National Assembly).

3. Judicial branch is formed of the Supreme Court, regional high courts, and Federal Islamic Court.

Prominent political parties are Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan People's Party, Muttahid Majlis-e-Amal, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Suffrage is universal at and above 18. Seats are allotted for women and non-Muslims in the parliament.

President Pervez Musharraf

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Pakistan is divided into 4 provinces (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Northwest Frontier), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (formed of Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan), a capital territory (Islamabad), and Pakistan-governed Jammu and Kashmir region (Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas).

CULTURE:-Pakistani folk singer late Alam Lohar, Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan are renowned worldwide. The national sport is field hockey. Pakistan is the home of Urdu literature.

ECONOMY:- Pakistan is basically an underdeveloped country of Asia. Pakistani economy has been suffering for low foreign investments. The continuous disagreement with India over Jammu and Kashmir adds to the menace. World Bank has considered Pakistan a low-income country. Pakistan is considered among the ‘Next Eleven’ economies.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $384.9 billion; per capita $2,400.

Real growth rate: 7.8%.

Inflation: 9.2%.

Unemployment: 6.6% plus substantial underemployment.

Arable land: 25%.

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

Labor force: 46.84 million; agriculture 42%, industry 20%, services 38% (2004 est.).

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

Budget:

Revenues: $23.17 billion

Expenditures: $29.74 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 53.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone.

Exports: $14.85 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs.

Imports: $14.01 billion (f.o.b., 2004 est.): petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea.

Major trading partners: U.S., UAE, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Kuwait (2004).

Monetary unit: Pakistan rupee

LANGUAGE:- Urdu (8%) is the National official language while English is official. Other languages are: Punjabi (48%), Sindhi (12%), Siraiki (10%), Pashtu (8%), Balochi(3%), Hindko (2%), Brahui (1%), Burushaski and others (8%)

CITIES:- Islamabad is the capital city. Largest city is Karachi. Other large cities are Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Hyderabad.

POPULATION:- The population of Pakistan is 169,270,617 with the growth rate of 2.0%. Pakistan is the 6th most populous country in the world. About 52% of the adult population is illiterate.

Density per sq mi: 563

Literacy rate: 46% (2003 est.)

RACE:- Major ethnic groups are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pathan, Baloch, Saraiki, Hazara and Muhajir. Urdu-speaking immigrants from India are called Muhajir.

RELIGION:-

Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%)

Small minorities of Christians, Hindus, and others (3%)

HEALTH:- Pakistan is an impoverished country having high grade of risk in health section. The average life expectancy is 64 years.

Birth rate: 26.93 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 7.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:total: 66.95 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.13 years

Total fertility rate: 3.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,900 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 49

UNICEF:-The major issues in Pakistan are poverty, domestic violence, high rate of child mortality, malnutrition, education, child labour and sexual exploitation of children. It is estimated that one third of Pakistani women are literate. UNICEF enrolls over 400,000 children (mostly girls) in school and successfully shortens the cases of polio, and measles. UNICEF supports the rehabilitation of 400 water schemes for earthquake victims and consistently works for the betterment of water quality and sanitation.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 8,163 km (2002).

Highways: total: 254,410 km (1999).

Ports and harbors: Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim.

Airports: 124 (2002).

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