About Pakistan

Pakistan displays some of Asia’s most magnificent landscapes as it stretches from the Arabian Sea, its southern border, to some of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges in the north. Pakistan is also home to sites that date back to the world’s earliest settlements rivaling those of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Located in South Asia, Pakistan shares an eastern border with India and a north-eastern border with China. Iran makes up the country's south-west border, and Afghanistan runs along its western and northern edge. The Arabian Sea is Pakistan’s southern boundary with 1,064 km of coastline.

Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Pakistan Facts and Figures

Official Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Father/Founder of the Nation: Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Head of State: President Pervez Musharraf

Prime Minister: Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali

Federal Capital: Islamabad

Area: 796,095 sq. Km.
- Punjab: 205,344
- Sindh: 140,914
- North West Fronter Province: 74,521
- Balochistan: 347,190
- Federally Administered Tribal Areas: 27,220
- Islamabad: 906

Population: 135.28 million

Ethnic Composition: 95% Muslims, 5% Christian, Hindu and other ethnic and religious minorities

Per Capita Income: US $460

Currency: Pak Rupee

Exports: Cotton, textile goods, rice, leather items, carpets, sports goods, fruits, handicrafts, sea food (fisheries)

Imports: Industrial equipment, vehicles, iron ore, petroleum, edible oil

Languages: Urdu (National Language)
- 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)

Literacy Rate: 42.7%

Government: Federal Republic. Parliamentary form of government.

Parliament: The parliament consists of two houses; the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House)

The Senate is a permanent legislative body and symbolizes a process of continuity in the national affairs. It consists of 87 members. The four provincial assemblies, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and Federal Capital, form it electoral college.

The National Assembly has a total membership of 342 elected through adult suffrage.

State Emblem: The state emblem consists of:
1. The crescent and the star which symbolizes Islam
2. A shield in the center showing the four major agricultural crops of Pakistan
3. A wreath surrounding the shield, representing cultural heritage
4. A scroll containing Quaid's Motto: Unity, Faith, Discipline

National Flower: Jasmine

Flora: Pine, Oak, Poplar, Deodar, Maple, Mulberry

Fauna: The Pheasant, Leopard, Deer, Ibex, Chinkara, Black Buk, Neelgai, Markhor, Marcopolo, Sheep, Green Turtles, River and Sea Fish, Crocodiles, Water Fowl.

Popular Sports: Cricket, Hockey, Football (Soccer)

Tourist Resorts: Murree, Quetta, Hunza, Ziarat, Swat, Kaghan, Chitral, and Gilgit

Archeological Sites: Moenjo Daro, Harappa, Taxila, Kot Diji, Mehr Garh, Takht Bahi

Major Cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Faisalabad

Agriculture: Major crops are Wheat, Cotton, Rice and Sugarcane

Total Cropped Area: 22.14 million hectares

Industry: Textiles, cement, fertilizer, steel, sugar, electronic goods, shipbuilding

Energy: Major sources: Oil, coal, hydel, thermal, nuclear, and liquid petroleum gas
Wapda's total installed power generating capacity: 11,246 MW

Health:
- Hospitals: 830
- Beds: 86,921
- Doctors (registered): 74,229
- Dentists (registered): 2,938
- Nurses (registered): 22,810

Education:
- Primary Schools: 150,963
- Middle Schools: 14,595
- High Schools: 9,808
- Arts and Science Colleges: 798
- Professional Colleges: 161
- Universities: 35 (10 in the private sector)

Transport and Communications:
- Total Length of Roads: 228,206 Km
- Pakistan Railways Network: 8,775 Km
- Railway Stations: 781
- Pakistan International Airlines: Covers 55 international and 38 domestic stations
- Total number of airports: 120
- Major airports: 6 - Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Gwadar
- Major ports: 2 - Karachi and Bin Qassim

Media:
- Print Media
Dailies: 424
Weeklies: 718
Fortnightlies: 107
Monthlies: 553

- News Agencies:
APP (Official)
PPI and NNI (Pvt)

- Electronic media:
Pakistan Television: Five TV Centers at Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karach, covering 87% population

- Radio Stations:
Total: 23
Home Services: in 20 languages
External Services: cover 70 countries in 15 languages

Banks:
- Central Bank: State Bank of Pakistan
- Other Banks: National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank, Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd., Allied Bank of Pakistan Ltd., First Women's Bank Ltd., Mehran Bank, and the Bank of Punjab.
- Specialized Banks: Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan, Federal Bank for Cooperatives, Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan, The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank, Banker's Equity, and National Development Finance Corporation

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2003 PakSA. Virginia Tech