 Location
South Asia.
Time
GMT + 5.
Area
796,095 sq km
(307,374 sq miles)
excluding data for
the disputed
territories of Jammu
and Kashmir.
Population
161.1 million (UN,
2005).
Population
Density
202.36 per sq km.
Capital
Islamabad.
Population: 800,000
(2005).
Geography
Pakistan has borders
to the north with
Afghanistan, to the
east with India and
to the west with
Iran; the Arabian
Sea lies to the
south. In the
northeast is the
disputed territory
of Jammu and
Kashmir, bounded by
Afghanistan, China
and India. Pakistan
comprises distinct
regions. The
northern highlands –
the Hindu Kush – are
rugged and
mountainous; the
Indus Valley is a
flat, alluvial plain
with five major
rivers dominating
the upper region,
eventually joining
the Indus River and
flowing south to the
Makran coast; Sindh
is bounded on the
east by the Thar
Desert and the Rann
of Kutch, and on the
west by the Kirthar
Range; the
Baluchistan Plateau
is an arid tableland
encircled by
mountains.
Government
Executive power is
in the hands of
President Pervez
Musharraf who took
power in a military
coup October 1999.
His Presidency was
endorsed by national
referendum in 2002.
The legislature is
the bicameral
Majlis-I-Shura,
comprising the
National Assembly
and the Senate. The
National Assembly
has 342 members
elected for a
five-year term: 272
members are elected
in single-seat
constituencies; the
remaining 70 are
reserved for women
and national
minorities and are
chosen by the
political parties in
proportion to their
share of the
directly elected
seats. The Senate
has 100 members
selected by each of
the four provincial
parliaments, the
Federally
Administered Tribal
Areas and the
federal capital.
Federal Islamic
Republic since 1973.
Gained independence
from the UK in 1947.
Head of State:
President Pervez
Musharraf since
2001. Head of
Government: Prime
Minister Shaukat
Aziz since 2004.
 Recent history: At
home, the Musharraf
Government sought to
establish its
popular legitimacy
by holding elections
for the National
Assembly, as well as
a referendum on his
Presidency, in
October 2002. These
returned General
Musharraf – now
partially reinvented
as a civilian
President – while
his supporters took
control of the
national assembly.
However, his
pro-American stance
has made him
extremely unpopular
among parts of
Pakistani society.
In the last two
years he has been
the target of at
least a dozen
assassination
attempts. Otherwise,
his position appears
reasonably secure
for the time being.
Until the emergence
of a plausible
untainted civilian
political leader,
Musharraf is
probably the best
that Pakistan can
expect.
The legislature
is the bicameral
Majlis-I-Shura,
comprising the
National Assembly
and the Senate. The
National Assembly
has 342 members
elected for a
five-year term: 272
members are elected
in single-seat
constituencies; the
remaining 70 are
reserved for women
and national
minorities and are
chosen by the
political parties in
proportion to their
share of the
directly elected
seats. The Senate
has 100 members
selected by each of
the four provincial
Parliaments, the
Federally
Administered Tribal
Areas and the
federal capital.
Language
Urdu is the national
language. English is
widely spoken.
Regional languages
include Punjabi,
which is spoken by
48 per cent of the
population (1981),
Pushto, Sindhi,
Saraiki, and Baluchi.
There are numerous
local dialects.
Religion
97 per cent Muslim,
the remainder are
Hindu or Christian.
Social
Conventions
The right hand is
used both for
shaking hands (the
usual form of
greeting) and for
passing or receiving
things. Mutual
hospitality and
courtesy are of
great importance at
all levels, whatever
the social standing
of the host.
Visitors must
remember that most
Pakistanis are
Muslim and should
respect their
customs and beliefs.
Smoking is
prohibited in some
public places and it
is polite to ask
permission before
lighting a
cigarette. It is
common for visiting
businesspeople to be
entertained in
hotels and
restaurants. If
invited to a private
home, a gift or
national souvenir is
welcome. Informal
dress is acceptable
for most occasions.
Women should avoid
wearing tight
clothing and both
men and women should
ensure that their
arms and legs are
covered. Pakistani
society is divided
into classes and
within each group
there is a subtle
social grading. The
Koran is the law for
Muslims and it
influences every
aspect of daily
life; see the World
of Islam appendix
for more
information.
Photography:
Do not take
photographs at
military
establishments,
airports or of any
infrastructure,
including dams and
bridges or from
aircraft. The
penalties can be
severe.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Round two- or
three-pin plugs are
in use. |
