Pakistan

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Pakistan

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Islami Jamhuriyya e Pakistan/Islamic Republic of Pakistan Area 803,940 sq km/310,321 sq mi Capital Islamabad Language Urdu (official), English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Baluchi, other local dialects Religion Sunni Muslim 90%, Shiite Muslim 5%; also Hindu, Christian, Parsee, Buddhist Time difference GMT +5 Major holidays 23 March, 1 May, 1 July, 14 August, 6, 11 September, 9 November, 25, 31 December; variable: Eid-ul-Adha (3 days), Ashora (2 days), end of Ramadan (3 days), Prophet's Birthday, first day of Ramadan


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Karachi, Hyderabad, Multan, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Quetta Major ports Karachi, Port Qasim Physical features fertile Indus plain in east, Baluchistan plateau in west, mountains in north and northwest; the ‘five rivers’ (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej) feed the world's largest irrigation system; K2 mountain; Khyber Pass Airports five international airports and about 40 domestic airports; total passengers carried: 4.5 million (2003 est) Railways total length: 8,163 km/5,072 mi; total passenger journeys: 72.4 million (2003) Roads total road network: 254,410 km/158,083 mi, of which 60% paved (2003 est); passenger cars: 8.2 per 1,000 people (2002 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Pervez Musharraf from 2001 Head of government Shaukat Aziz from 2004 Political system military Political executive military Administrative divisions four provinces, the Federal Capital Territory, and the federally administered tribal areas Political parties Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA), conservative; Pakistan People's Party (PPP), moderate, Islamic, socialist; Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Islamic conservative (contains pro- and antigovernment factions); Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF), Islamic fundamentalist, right wing; Awami National Party (ANP), left wing; National Democratic Alliance (NDA) bloc, left of centre; Mohajir National Movement (MQM), Sind-based mohajir settlers (Muslims previously living in India); Movement for Justice, reformative, anticorruption Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Armed forces 619,000; plus paramilitary forces of 302,000 (2006 est) Conscription military service is voluntary Defence spend (% GDP) 3.3 (2005 est) Education spend (% GDP) 1.8 (2001 est) Health spend (% GDP) 0.7 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency Pakistan rupee GDP (US$) 110.7 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 8 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 107.3 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 2,350 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 7.9% (2006 est) Unemployment 6.6% (2005 est) Labour force 48% agriculture, 18 industry, 34% services (2001) Foreign debt (US$) 38.9 billion (2005 est) Major trading partners USA, Saudi Arabia, China, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Germany, UK, Kuwait Resources iron ore, natural gas, limestone, rock salt, gypsum, silica, coal, petroleum, graphite, copper, manganese, chromite Industries textiles (principally cotton), food processing, petroleum refining, leather production, soda ash, sulphuric acid, bicycles Exports garments and hosiery, cotton, fabrics, rice, food and live animals. Principal market: USA 24% (2005) Imports petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and related products, food and live animals. Principal source: Saudi Arabia 12.3% (2005) Arable land 24.4% (2006 est) Agricultural products cotton, rice, wheat, maize, sugar cane


POPULATION

Population 161,208,800 (2006 est) Population growth rate 2.1% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 201 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 35 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 38%, 15–59 56%, 60+ 6% (2005 est) Ethnic groups four principal, regionally based, antagonistic communities: Punjabis in the Punjab; Sindhis in Sind; Baluchis in Baluchistan; and the Pathans (Pushtans) in the Northwest Frontier Province Life expectancy 65 (men); 65 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 101 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 5 Literacy rate 53% (men); 29% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 6.6 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 0.7 (2003 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 0.1 (2005 est) AIDS deaths 3,000 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 95 (urban); 87 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 3.4 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 8.3 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 105 (2000 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 82 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 0.4 (2003 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 6.8 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

2500–1600 BC The area was the site of the Indus Valley civilization, a sophisticated, city-based ancient culture. 327 BC Invaded by Alexander the Great of Macedonia. 1st–2nd centuries North Pakistan was the heartland of the Kusana Empire, formed by invaders from Central Asia. 8th century First Muslim conquests, in Baluchistan and Sind, followed by increasing immigration by Muslims from the west, from the 10th century. 1206 Establishment of Delhi Sultanate, stretching from northwest Pakistan and across northern India. 16th century Sikh religion developed in Punjab. 16th–17th centuries Lahore served intermittently as a capital city for the Mogul Empire, which stretched across the northern half of the Indian subcontinent. 1843–49 Sind and Punjab annexed by British and incorporated within empire of ‘British India’. late 19th century Major canal irrigation projects in West Punjab and the northern Indus Valley drew in settlers from the east, as wheat and cotton production expanded. 1933 The name ‘Pakistan’ (Urdu for ‘Pure Nation’) invented by Choudhary Rahmat Ali, as Muslims within British India began to campaign for the establishment of an independent Muslim territory that would embrace the four provinces of Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab, and the Northwest Frontier. 1940 The All-India Muslim League (established in 1906), led by Karachi-born Muhammad Ali Jinnah, endorsed the concept of a separate nation for Muslims in the Lahore Resolution. 1947 Independence achieved from Britain, as a dominion within the Commonwealth. Pakistan, which included East Bengal, a Muslim-dominated province more than 1,600 km/1,000 mi from Punjab, was formed following the partition of British India. Large-scale and violent cross-border migrations of Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs followed, and a brief border war with India over disputed Kashmir. 1956 Proclaimed a republic. 1958 Military rule imposed by Gen Ayub Khan. 1965 Border war with India over disputed territory of Kashmir. 1969 Power transferred to Gen Yahya Khan following strikes and riots. 1970 General election produced clear majority in East Pakistan for pro-autonomy Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and in West Pakistan for Islamic socialist Pakistan People's Party (PPP), led by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. 1971 East Pakistan secured independence, as Bangladesh, following civil war in which it received decisive military support from India. Power transferred from military to populist Bhutto in Pakistan. 1977 Bhutto overthrown in military coup by Gen Zia ul-Haq following months of civil unrest; martial law imposed. 1979 Bhutto executed for alleged murder; tight political restrictions imposed by Zia regime. 1980 3 million refugees fled to Northwest Frontier Province and Baluchistan as result of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 1981 Broad-based Opposition Movement for Restoration of Democracy formed. Islamization process pushed forward by government. 1985 Martial law and ban on political parties lifted. 1986 Agitation for free elections launched by Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. 1988 Islamic legal code (Shari'a) introduced; Zia killed in military plane crash. Benazir Bhutto became prime minister after centrist PPP won general election. 1989 Tension with India increased by outbreaks of civil war in Kashmir. Pakistan rejoined Commonwealth; it had left in 1972. 1990 Bhutto dismissed as prime minister by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan on charges of incompetence and corruption. Conservative Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA), led by Nawaz Sharif, won general election and launched privatization and economic deregulation programme. 1993 Khan and Sharif resigned. Benazir Bhutto and PPP re-elected. Farooq Leghari (PPP) elected president. 1994 Regional sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims, centred in Karachi. 1996 Benazir Bhutto dismissed amid allegations of corruption. 1997 Right-of-centre Pakistan Muslim League won general election, returning Nawaz Sharif to power as prime minister. President Leghari resigned. 1998 Rafiq Tarar became president. Pakistan conducted first nuclear tests, provoking international condemnation and sanctions by USA. Benazir Bhutto and her husband charged with corruption. Federal rule imposed on Sindh as result of escalating violence. Economic bailout package of $5.5 billion agreed with IMF and World Bank. 1999 Benazir Bhutto and her husband found guilty of corruption, sentenced to five years in prison, and fined £5.3 million. India agreed to enter peace talks on Kashmir. Pakistan's army overthrew government after Sharif tried to sack Gen Pervez Musharraf from top military job. Musharraf, who appointed himself country's chief executive, declared state of emergency, and assumed all power; he maintained Tarar as president. 2000 Relations with India worsened as India accused Pakistan of involvement in hijacking of Indian airliner by Kashmiri militants. Pakistan denied any involvement. Sharif given two life sentences for hijacking and terrorism; also sentenced for corruption; later freed and fled to Saudi Arabia. Musharraf announced local elections, but decreed that anyone convicted of criminal offence or corruption disqualified from standing. 2001 Bank transactions came under Sharia (Islamic) law, forbidding charging of interest. 2002 President Musharraf claimed endorsement in referendum for extension of his presidency for further five years. Longstanding quarrel with India about disputed sovereignty over Kashmir erupted again, prompting international concern. 2003 Pakistan and Indian began first formal ceasefire in Kashmir in 20 years. President Musharraf narrowly survived second assassination attempt in less than two weeks as two car bombs explode near his motorcade at Rawalpindi. 2004 Leading nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan admitted to leaking nuclear secrets. Parliament approved new military-led National Security Council, institutionalizing role of armed forces in civilian matters. Pakistan readmitted to Commonwealth. Factional violence in Karachi and military offensives near Afghan border against suspected Al-Qaeda militants; at least 150 dead. Shaukat Aziz became prime minister. President Musharraf to stay as head of army, despite having previously promised to give up role. 2005 Facilities at country's largest natural gas field in Balochistan attacked by tribal militants; main plant closed down. For first time in 60 years, bus services operated between Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Pakistan tested its first nuclear-capable cruise missile. Powerful earthquake, with its epicentre in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, killed tens of thousands of people. 2006 Pakistan repeatedly shaken by violence; suspected suicide bomb attack and ensuing violence at Shia Muslim procession in northwest killed more than 30 people; suspected double suicide bombing at Sunni ceremony in Karachi killed at least 57 people. Security forces killed Nawab Akbar Bugti, top Balochistan tribal leader; violent protests followed. Antigovernment protests sparked again when raid on seminary (claimed by army to be militant training camp) in tribal area of Baujur, on Afghani border, killed up to 80 people. Pakistan announced successful test-firing of nuclear-capable short-range missile. 2007 Tension mounted between government and radical Red Mosque in Islamabad; security forces stormed complex following week-long siege. Bombings around country, including capital's Marriott Hotel and train travelling between New Delhi, India, and Lahore; over 100 killed. Agreement signed with India aimed at reducing risk of nuclear war. Wave of protests and strikes triggered by president's suspension of Chief Justice Iftakar Mohammed Chaudhry; later reinstated. Amid growing challenge to his rule, Musharraf extended media controls to Internet and mobile phones. First joint protests by supporters of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sarif held. Supreme Court ruled Sharif could return from exile, but he was sent back to exile within hours. Date set for presidential elections (6 October).


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