NAME:
Conventional name, long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional name, short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan
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, and India and Pakistan have fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. Pakistan conducted its own nuclear tests in 1998. The population is a complex mix of indigenous peoples who have affected by successive waves of migration of the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Pahtuns, Mughals and Arabs.
LOCATION:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
CLIMATE:
Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
POPULATION:
159,196,336 (July 2004 est.)
LABOUR FORCE - BY OCCUPATION:
Agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.)
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE:
35% (2001 est.)
NATIONALITY:
Noun: Pakistani(s) adjective: Pakistani
LANGUAGES:
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%
LITERACY:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 45.7% male: 59.8% female: 30.6% (2003 est.)
GOVERNMENT TYPE:
Federal republic
CAPITAL:
Islamabad
CURRENCY:
Pakistani rupee (PKR)
INDEPENDENCE:
14 August 1947 (from UK)
EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
Chief of state: President General Parvez Musharraf (since 20 June 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Shaukat AZIZ (since 28 August 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister Musharraf's presidency was extended by five more years (next to be held NA 2007); the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (next to be held NA 2007)
FLAG DISCRIPTION:
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 colour green are traditional symbols of Islam
ECONOMY:
Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a costly. The government has made substantial inroads in macroeconomic reform since 2000, although progress on more politically sensitive reforms has slowed. Islamabad has continued to require waivers for energy sector reforms. While long-term prospects remain uncertain, given Pakistan's low level of development, medium-term prospects for job creation and poverty reduction are the best in nearly a decade. Islamabad has raised development spending from about 2% of GDP in the 1990s to 4% in 2003, a necessary step towards reversing the broad underdevelopment of its social sector. GDP growth is heavily dependent on rain-fed crops, and last year's end to a four-year drought should support moderate agricultural growth for the next few years. Foreign exchange reserves continued to reach new levels in 2003, supported by robust export growth and steady worker remittances.
INDUSTRIES:
Textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE:
7.7% plus substantial underemployment (2003 est.)
COMMUNICATION:
Telephone, Radio, Television, Internet
TRANSPORTATION:
Railways, Roadways, Airports, Waterways
·Farooque Ali
No comments:
Post a Comment