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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $9.6 billion expenditures: $13.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$33 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: $2.2 billion from all bilateral and multilateral sources (FY96/97)

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

Pakistan continues to suffer through a damaging foreign exchange crisis. The crisis stems from years of loose fiscal policies that exacerbated inflation and allowed the public debt, money supply, and current account deficit to explode. In April 1997, Prime Minister SHARIF introduced a stimulus package of tax cuts intended to boost failing industrial output and spur export growth. At that time, the IMF endorsed the program, paving the way for a $1.5 billion Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility. Although the economy showed signs of improvement following the measures, SHARIF has refused to implement the tough structural reforms necessary for sustained, longer-term growth. As a consequence, at yearend 1997, industrial production continued to flag, foreign exchange reserves continued to teeter around $1 billion-only four weeks of imports-and borrowing to support the budget deficit already exceeded the amount allocated for the entire fiscal year. At the same time, the government must cope with long-standing economic vulnerabilities-inadequate infrastructure, low levels of literacy, and increasing sectarian, ethnic, and tribal violence.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

13.169 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

436 kWh (1997)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

58.1 billion kWh (1997)

Exchange rates [time series]

Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1-44.050 (January 1998), 41.112 (1997), 36.079 (1996), 31.643 (1995), 30.567 (1994), 28.1 (1993); note-annual average of official rate; parallel market rate is higher

Exports [time series]

total value: $8.2 billion (FY96/97) commodities: cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets partners: EU, US, Hong Kong, Japan

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July-30 June Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$344 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 24.2% industry: 26.4% services: 49.4% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$2,600 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

3.1% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $11.4 billion (FY96/97) commodities: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals partners: EU, Japan, US, China

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.3% (FY96/97 est.)

Industries [time series]

textiles, food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

11.8% (FY96/97)

Labor force [time series]

total: 37.8 million (1998) 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

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 26, FM 8, shortwave 11

Radios [time series]

11.3 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

2.552 million (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

2.08 million (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 803,940 sq km land: 778,720 sq km water: 25,220 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of California

Climate [time series]

mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

Coastline [time series]

1,046 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

30 00 N, 70 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

Irrigated land [time series]

171,100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 6,774 km border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 27% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 5% other: 61% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Riaz KHOKAR chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6200

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 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; election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held no later than 1 January 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 February 2002) election results: Mohammad Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of Parliament and provincial vote-NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote-NA

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 387-0484 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[92] (51) 214222 consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore consulate(s): Peshawar

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

federal republic

Independence [time series]

14 August 1947 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

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) 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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Islamabad

National holiday [time series]

Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of the republic)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

government: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N), Nawaz SHARIF; Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL; Mutahida Qaumi 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 opposition: 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; Awami National Party (ANP), Wali KHAN frequently shifting: Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI); 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; subsequent to the election Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F) was disbanded

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims and tribal areas

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$3.3 billion (FY96/97)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

5.3% (FY96/97)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 32,450,056 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 19,888,353 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 1,472,272 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42% (male 29,083,284; female 27,425,172) 15-64 years: 54% (male 37,432,059; female 35,731,170) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,716,739; female 2,746,771) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

34.38 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.69 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendants)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

93.48 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

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%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 59.07 years male: 58.23 years female: 59.96 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.8% male: 50% female: 24.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Pakistani(s) adjective: Pakistani

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

135,135,195 (July 1998 est.) note: population figures based on 1981 national census results-1998 census results are pending

Population growth rate [time series]

2.2% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.99 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.91 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade (cultivation in 1997-4,100 hectares, a 21% increase over 1996; potential production-85 metric tons, a 13% increase over 1996); center for processing Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets PALAU

Transportation

Airports [time series]

115 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 80 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 35 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 18 (1997 est.)

Heliports [time series]

6 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 224,774 km paved: 128,121 km unpaved: 96,653 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 416,875 GRT/684,580 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 15, container 3, oil tanker 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Railways [time series]

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.)