Great Pakistan

Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan Former Name: West Pakistan Government type: Democratic Republic Capital: Islamabad Head of State: President Pervaiz Musharaf (Chief of Army Staff) Head of Govt: Elected Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz (ML.Q group) Chairman Senate: Mian Mohammmad Somoro Federal Legislature: Parliament / Majlis-e-Shoora (National Assembly + Senate) Speaker National Assembly: Chaudhary Amir Hussain Speaker Provincial Assemblies: Chaudhary Afzal Sahi(Punjab), Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999 Area: 796,095 Sq. km. Punjab: 205,344 Sindh: 140,914 North West Frontier Province: 74,521 Balochistan: 347,190 Federally Administered Tribal Areas: 27,220 Islamabad (Capital): 906 Population: 135.28 million Ethnic composition: 95% Muslims, 5% others Currency: Pak Rupee(Rs) Per capita income: 27140 Rs (US$460) 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) English (Official) Literacy rate: 38.9% Government: Parliamentary form Parliament: It consists of two Houses i.e., 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 its electoral college. The National Assembly has a total membership of 217 elected through adult suffrage (Muslim 207 and Minorities 10). Pakistan National Flag: Dark green with a white vertical bar, a white crescent and a five-pointed star in the middle. The Flag symbolises Pakistan's profound commitment to Islam and Islamic world. National Anthem: Approved in June, 1954 | Verses Composed by: Abul Asar Hafeez Jullundhri | Tune Composed by: Ahmed G. Chagla | Duration: 80 seconds State Emblem: The State Emblem consists of: 1. The crescent and star which is symbol of Islam 2. The shield in the centre shows four major crops 3. Wreath surrounding the shield represents cultural heritage 4. Scroll contains 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 & Sea fish, Crocodile, Water Fowls Popular games: Cricket, Hockey, Football Tourist's resorts: Murree, Quetta, Hunza, Ziarat, Swat, Kaghan, Chitral and Gilgit Archaeological sites: Moenjo Daro, Harappa, Taxila, Kot Diji, Mehr Garh Major Cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot, Gujrat and Faisalabad Agriculture: Major crops are cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane Total cropped area: 22.14 million hectares Industry: Textiles, cement, fertiliser, steel, sugar, electric 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: 30450 | Beds: 186,921 | Doctors(registered): 108862 | Dentists(registered): 5,530 | Nurses(registered: 46,331 | Education: Primary schools: 150,963 | Middle schools: 14,595 | High schools: 9,808 | Arts & science colleges: 798 | Professional colleges: 161 | Universities: 35 (15 in Private sector) Transport & Communication: Total length of roads: 228,206 km | Pakistan Railway network: 8,775 km | Railway stations: 781 | Pakistan International Airlines: Covers 55 international and 38 domestic stations | Major Airports: 6 - Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gwadar Seaports: International : 2 - Karachi and Bin Qasim | Domestic: 3 - Minora, Gwadar and Pasni Communications: Post Offices: 13,419 | Telephone connections: 2.50 million | Public Call Offices: 10,000 | Telegraph offices: 427 Employment: Total Labour force: 37.15 million | Agriculture sector: 47% | Manufacturing & Mining sector: 10.50% | Others: 42.50% Media: a. Print Media: | Dailies: 424 | Weeklies: 718 | Fortnightlies: 107 | Monthlies: 553 b. News Agencies: APP (official) | PPI & NNI (Pvt) c. Electronic Media: Pakistan Television: Five TV centres at Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi covering 90% population | Registered TV sets: 2,823,800 | Viewership: 115 million Radio stations: Total 23, Home services in 20 languages. External services cover 70 countries in 15 languages Private TV/Radio: Radio stations 3, TV transmitter channels 2, Private News Agencies 2 Banks: Central Bank: State Bank of Pakistan Other Banks: National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Ltd., Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd., Allied Bank of Pakistan Ltd., First Woman Bank, Mehran Bank., The Bank of Punjab.,Saudia Pak Bank.,Al-Falah Bank., Specialised Banks: Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan, Federal Bank for Co-operatives, Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan, The Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank, Banker's Equity and National Development Finance Corporation Famous Mountain Peaks: K-2 (Mt. Godwin Austin): 28,250 ft./8611 m (2nd in World) | Nanga Parbat : 26,660 ft./8126 m (8th in World) | Gasherbrum-I: 26,470 ft./8068 m (11th in World) Famous Mountain Passes: The Khyber Pass | The Kurram Pass | The Tochi Pass | The Gomal Pass | The Bolan Pass | The Lowari Pass | The Khunjrab Pass Rivers: The Indus 2896 km | Jhelum 825 km | Chenab 1242 km | Ravi 901 km | Sutlej 1551 km | Beas (tributary of Sutlej) 398 km Famous Glaciers: Siachin 75 km | Batura 55 km | Baltoro 62 km Deserts: Thar: Sindh | Cholistan: Punjab | Thal: Punjab Lakes: Manchar Sindh | Keenjar Sindh | Hanna Balochistan | Saif-ul-Maluk NWFP | Satpara Northern Areas | Kachura Northern Areas Major Dams: Mangla Dam Punjab | Tarbela Dam North West Frontier Province | Warsak Dam North West Frontier Province

Divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory, 1 capital territory, 1 disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims

Country name: Pakistan
Conventional long form: Islamic Democratic Pakistan
Data code: PK
Government type: Federal republic
Capital: Islamabad
Background: The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.

Administrative divisions: 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
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of the republic)
Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999
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: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
Executive branch:
note: Following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF suspended Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the powers of the head of the government, he appointed an eight-member National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme governing body; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR remained the ceremonial chief of state.
In 2001, General Pervaiz Musharraf took over the charge from Rafiq Tarar and became the President of Pakistan
Chief of state: President General Pervaiz Musharraf (since June December 2001)
Head of government: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali (since December 2002)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister
Elections: According to the 1973 constitution of Pakistan election are hold throughout the country right after the term of 5 years. As General Pervaiz Mushhraf dissolved all assemblies and senate after Military Take over on 12th of October 1999, he promised to hold the general election with in 3 years. So according to that on 10th October 2002, General Elections hold in the country in which PML (Q), MMA alliance of 6 religious parties, PPPP, MQM , PML(N) ,National Alliance. Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali nominated candidate of PML(Q) and allied parties became the Prime Minister after getting the 173 votes from National Assembly.
Election results: Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali became the Prime Minsiter of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. And after resolving the LFO issue between government and MMA, President General Pervaiz Musharraf soon will get the Vote of Confidence from National Assembly, All provincial Assemblies and Senate and become the President for next 5 years.

Political parties and leaders:
note: Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999, however, political parties have been allowed to operate; Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. HAYEE Baluch]; Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group or BNM/M [Sardar Akhtar MENGAL]; Baluch National Party or BNP [leader NA]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [leader NA]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or JUP/NI [leader NA]; Millat Part [Farooq LEGHARI]; Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED], Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction or JUP/NO; Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN], MMA Mutahida Majlisay Amal ,Alliance of 6 religious parties [President Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani],National Alliance [President Ghulma Mustafa gataoi] ,National People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PKQP [Mohammed AFZAL Khan]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-I-Azam Group [ President Chaudary Shujaat Hussain] ,Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction or PML/J [Hamid Nasir CHATTHA]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan National Party or PNP [leader NA]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political pressure groups and leaders: military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential
International organization participation: AsDB, C (suspended), 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, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Chief of mission: Ambassador Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi
2315 Massachusetts Avenue,N.W.Washington,D.C.20008,U.S.A.
Telephone: [1] 202-939-6200
FAX: [1] 202-387-0484
Telex: 440058 PRP UR UI
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Pakistan Military 2003
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 34,632,509 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 21,206,148 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,604,806 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.435 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.9% (FY99/00)

Pakistan Economy 2000
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reviewed the progress of Pakistan's economy during the 2003-04. The Pakistan economic update released by the ADB Islamabad office last week makes an interesting reading. By any standard it is an objective assessment of the situation describing Pakistan economy in 2003-2004 as a mixed bag of success and failures.
One of the prominent feature of the ADB report is that, unlike the documents and statements emanating from government quarters which highlights only the positive achievement. This report also records and bring to the public notice the negative aspects and areas of failures in various sectors. The report also reveals some of the deficiencies in the policies as well as in its implementation.
The economy's overall growth performance, according to the ADB, showed a sharp improvement in 2003-04 with the GDP growth rate increasing to 5.1 per cent from 3.5 per cent in the previous year. The improvement with broad-based, with agriculture, manufacturing and services, all recording higher growth and the trend is likely to be consolidated in 2003-04. The fiscal deficit and inflation declined and the current account surplus and foreign exchange reserves rose to all-time high levels.
Another significant development was the sharp fall in average lending rate from 13.1 per cent to 7.6 per cent per annum. As a result of this unprecedented decline in interest rates and upsurge in economic activity, borrowings by the private sector, including export finance, shot up from Rs.37.7 billion to Rs.153.6 billion. There was also a boom in the stock market and market capitalization almost doubled during 2002-03.
However, while the economic fundamentals looked promising, there was no dent in poverty or any acceleration in investment. According to the ADB, the poverty level deteriorated from 30.6 per cent in 1998-99 to 32.1 per cent in 2001-02 despite a revision of poverty definition to get the desired numbers. The government reduced the standard per capita Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) from 2550 to 2350, it still yielded a poverty estimate for below the international estimates. Although official unemployment rate was only 7.82 per cent, hundreds and thousands of people were being added to the ranks of unemployed every year due to the population growth rate of 2.1 per cent. Gross fixed investment remained stagnant at 13.1 per cent while gross national savings increased from 17.0 per cent to 19.2 per cent due entirely to higher workers remittances from abroad. Domestic savings, on the other hand declined from 16.1 per cent to 14.7 per cent. An important observation in this context was that most of the investment was not meant for new enterprises and private sector credit off-take went mostly for working capital requirements. New money flows were largely going to the stocks and real estate resulting in sky-high prices of these assets and this may be a matter of serious concern in year's time. There were also some signs of slackening of fiscal adjustment effort due mainly to a 15 per cent hike in public sector salaries and the continuing losses in public sector enterprises (PSEs), particularly in the power sector.
The ADB also revealed some of the deficiencies in development spending and its effectiveness. Spending under public sector development programme and poverty reduction strategy were very low during the first three quarters, but large scale releases in the fourth quarters to show higher utilization compromised the quality of delivery and resulted in leakage. Giving an example of the poor quality of spending and its outcome, the ADB country representative, Marshuk Ali Shah said that only 30 middle schools were operational out of 300 schools funded by his organization during the last three years. Another 6000 facilities funded by the ADB were also not working and similar was the fate of assistance from other donors.
Most of the observations of the update are based on a proper assessment of the prevailing situation and need to be carefully analyzed by the policy makers in order to rectify the faults in various areas of economic management. It is good to see that economists in the ADB have not been unduly influenced by the government's publicity of "all is well and take-off stage" but have applied themselves to determining the emerging weaknesses that retard of reverse the process made on various fronts so far. Some of the facts highlighted by the ADB need urgent attention. For instance, it has been made abundantly clear that it is not just the lack of resources that hit the economy but their poor management and frequent shortfalls in the utilization of available funds in the public sector that further aggravate the vulnerabilities of the economy.
For instance Pakistan could utilize only one per cent of the loan advanced by the ADB for flood protection projects since 1997. The loan sanctioned of an amount of $100 million and the projects identified were badly needed. Director of the Asian Development Bank, Marshuk Ali Shah, in a meeting with Minister for Water and power, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, here asked for expeditious loan utilization to obtain results in prescribed time. ADB is providing $100 million interest-free loan with only one per cent service charges for Floods Protection Projects approved on November 13, 1997. It was required under the conditions of the loan that it should be utilized by 2005, but after a lapse of 74 per cent time only about one per cent or $1.244 million, has been utilized so far.
According to another report, Pakistan has dropped 13 World Bank projects worth $2.3408 billion, including bank's contribution of $1.0317 billion during 1997-2001.
The reasons of dropping the projects were inter government disharmony and delay in implementation of agreed reforms. A few of these projects are again under consideration of the government and the bank might include these in the coming assistance.
However, the bank has shown reluctance to work with the government departments which are very slow in implementation. Bank officials are of the view that sometimes the response from a government office comes after two months, which should come in a week.