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.:: About Pakistan
::.
The Islamic republic of
Pakistan emerged on the map of the world as an independent sovereign state
on 14th August 1947, as a result of the division of the former
British India. It lies between 23o-35o to 37o- 05o north latitude and
60o-50o to 77o- 50o east longitude. It touches the Hindukush mountains in
the north and extends from the Pamirs to the Arabian Sea. It is bounded by
Iran in the west, Afghanistan in the north-west, India in the east and south
east and Arabian Sea in the south. There is a common border with China
alongside Gilgit and Baltistan in the north.
The total area of the country is 796,095 sq.km with a population of 130.6
million according to population census 1988. It is divided into four
provinces viz. Sindh, Punjab, North West Frontier Province and Balochistan.
It consists of such physical regions as a) the western offshoots of
Himalayas which cover its northern and north western parts of which the
highest peak K-2 rises to 8611 meters above sea level; b) the Balochistan
plateau c) The Potohar Plateau and salt range and d) The Indus plain, the
most fertile and densely populated area of the country. It gets its
sustenance from the Indus river and its tributaries.
Climatically, Pakistan enjoys a considerable measure of variety. North and
north western high mountainous ranges are extremely cold in winter while the
summer months of April to September are very pleasant. The plains of the
Indus valley are extremely hot in summer with a cold and dry weather in
winter. The coastal strip in the South has a moderate climate. There is a
general deficiency of rainfall. In the plains annual average ranges from 16
centimeters in the northern parts of lower Indus plain to 120 centimeters in
the Himalayan region. Rains are monsoonic in origin and fall late in
summers. Due to the rainfall and high diurnal range of temperature, humidity
is comparatively low. Only the coastal strip has high humidity. The country
has an agricultural economy with a network of canals irrigating a major part
of its cultivated land. Wheat, cotton, rice, millet and sugar cane are the
major crops. Among fruits: mangos, oranges, bananas and apples are grown in
abundance in different parts of the country. The main natural resources are
natural gas, coal, salt and iron. The country has an expanding industry.
Cotton, Textiles, sugar, cement, and chemicals play an important role in its
economy. It is fed by vast hydroelectric power.
Urdu is the national language and is used as a medium of understanding
throughout the country. Pakistan is culturally divided into four bilingual
provinces. Punjabi is spoken in the Punjab, Sindhi in Sindh, Pashto in NWFP,
and Balochi in Balochistan. The country comprises of a vast area that was
the great center of ancient civilizations of the world. Its historical sites
beginning with stone-age to Twentieth Century A.D are a mirror of the life
of its people who are by nature simple, virile, hospitable and hard working.
Ancient sites excavated in Taxila, Harappa, and Moenjodaro speak volumes for
Pakistan?s rich cultural background dating back to 3,000 B.C.
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LOCATION: |
Southern
Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and
Afghanistan on the west and China in the north.
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AREA: |
796,095
Square Kilometers.
Punjab:
205,344
Sindh: 140,914
North West Frontier Province:
74,521
Balochistan: 347,190
Federally Administered Tribal
Areas: 27,220
Islamabad(Capital): 906
|
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AREA-COMPARATIVE: |
Slightly
less than twice the size of California. |
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CLIMATE: |
Mostly
hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north.
|
|
TERRIAN: |
Flat
Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan
plateau in west.
|
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NATURAL
RESOURCES: |
Land,
extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, iron ore, copper,
salt, limestone, marble, chromite and precious stones. |
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NATURAL
HAZARDS: |
Frequent
earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding
along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) |
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POPULATION: |
130,579,000
Male: 67,840,000 Female: 62,739,000 Urban: 42,458,000 Rural: 88,121,000 |
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POPULATION GROWTH: |
2.11%
(2001 est.)
|
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BIRTH
RATE: |
31.21
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
|
DEATH
RATE: |
9.26
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
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ETHNIC
GROUPS: |
Punjabi,
Sindhi, Pashtun, Baloch, Muhajir |
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OFFICIAL
RELIGION: |
Islam |
|
RELIGIONS: |
Muslim 97.96
(Sunni 77%, Shi?a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%. |
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LANGUAGES: |
Punjabi 48%,
Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official)
8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English, Burushaski, and other 8%. |
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LITERACY RATES: |
Both
Sexes: 45.0 % Male: 56.5 % Female: 32.6% |
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COUNTRY
NAME: |
Islamic
Republic of Pakistan |
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GOVERNMENT TYPE: |
Federal
Republic based on Parliamentary Democracy |
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CAPITAL: |
Islamabad |
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DATE OF
INDEPENDENCE: |
August
14, 1947 |
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SUFFRAGE: |
18 years of
age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats
for non-Muslims. |
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CHIEF
OF STATE: |
President
General Pervez Musharraf |
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FLAG
DESCRIPTION: |
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. |
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NATIONAL ANTHEM: |
Approved in June, 1954
Verses
Composed by: Abul Asar Hafeez Jullundhri
Tune Composed by: Ahmed
G. Chagla
Duration: 80 seconds
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GDP: |
3726(Billion
Rupees) Per capita 440 (US Dollars)
|
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EXPORTS: |
2000-2001
539070 (Million Rupees) Imports: 627000 (Million Rupees) |
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INSURANCE COMPANIES: |
55 |
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JOINT
STOCK COMPANIES: |
40901 |
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COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES: |
57935 |
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LABOR
FORCE: |
40
million |
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LABOR
FORCE BY OCCUPATION: |
agriculture
44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.) |
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INDUSTRIES: |
textiles,
food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper
products, shrimp |
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AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS: |
cotton,
wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables, milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Currency: Pakistani rupee |
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TOTAL CROPPED AREA: |
22.14 million hectares
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EXCHANGE RATES: |
Pakistani
rupees per US dollar - 59.152 (January 2001) |
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TOURIST
ARRIVALS: |
543.40
(In ?000?)
|
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TELEPHONES-MAIN LINES IN USE: |
2985.52 (In thousands) 1998-99
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TELEPHONES-MOBILE CELLULAR: |
158,000 (1998)
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POST
OFFICES: |
12,854 (1999-2000
|
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HOSPITALS: |
876
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DISPENSARIES: |
4635 |
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DOCTORS: |
91823 |
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DENTISTS: |
4175 |
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NURSES: |
37623 |
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TELEVISION BROADCAST STATIONS: |
22 (1997)
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INTERNET COUNTRY CODE: |
.pk
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CITIES/TOWNS CONNECTED WITH INTERNET: |
(i)
Punjab------ 613
(ii) Sindh---------138
(iii) NWFP---------240
(iv) Balochistan---91
Total-----------1082 |
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TIME
ZONE: |
5 hours
ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+5 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed |
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INTERNET USERS: |
1.2
millions
|
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RAILWAYS: |
Track Kilometer 11515.00 Route Kilometer: 7791.00
|
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HIGHWAYS: |
total: 247,811 km
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PORTS &
HARBORS: |
Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim Airports: 22
Domestic: 3 - Minora, Gwadar and Pasni
|
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EXPORTS: |
Cotton, textile
goods, rice, leather items carpets, sports goods, fruits,
handicrafts Sea Food (Fisheries)
|
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IMPORTS: |
Industrial equipment, Vehicles, Iron ore,
Petroleum, Edible
Oil
|
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NATIONAL FLOWER: |
Jasmine
|
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MAJOR CITIES: |
Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta,
Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot and
Faisalabad
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MAJOR ENERGY SOURCES: |
Oil, Coal,
Hydel,
Thermal, Nuclear and Liquid Petroleum Gas
WAPDA's total installed power generating capacity: 11,246
MW
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EDUCATION: |
Primary schools: 150,963
Middle
schools: 14,595
High schools: 9,808
Arts & science
colleges: 798
Professional colleges: 161
Universities: 35 (10
in Private sector)
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DIALING
INFORMATION: |
Inward:+92
Faisalabad: 411, Hyderabad: 221, Islamabad: 51,
Karachi: 21, Lahore: 42, Multan: 61, Rawalpindi: 51, Gilgit: 572, Skardu: 575,
Peshawar: 91, Gujrat: 433, Gujranwala: 431;
Outward via operator or from ISD Public Call
Offices (PCO). For internal calls, Card Phone booths are installed at all
airport lounges and main business centers in most cities and towns. Public
telephone, telex and fax facilities are available at the Customers Service
Centers (CSC) or at private general stores and shops, identified by a sign
displaying ‘PCO’ on green boards/lettering. Mobile phone can also be obtained
from private companies on rental basis for short periods. Radio paging service
is provided by DC Pager service at Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi and
Peshawar.
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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 and the Bank of Punjab
Specialized 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
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POPULAR
GAMES:
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Cricket, Hockey, Football
|
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FAMOUS
MOUNTAIN PEAKS:
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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)
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FAMOUS
MOUNTAIN PASSES:
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The
Khyber Pass
The Kurram Pass
The Tochi Pass
The Gomal
Pass
The Bolan Pass
The Lowari Pass
The Khunjrab
Pass
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MAJOR RIVERS: |
Ravi
901
km
Jhelum
825
km
Chenab
1242
km
The
Indus 2896
km
Sutlej
1551
km
Beas
(tributary of Sutlej) 398
km
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DESERTS: |
Thar: Sindh
Cholistan: Punjab
Thal:
Punjab
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MAJOR DAMS: |
Mangla
Dam
Punjab
Tarbela
Dam
North
West Frontier Province
Warsak
Dam North
West Frontier
Province
Keenjar
Sindh
Manchar
Sindh
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LAKES: |
Saif -ul -Muluk Lake
Kaghan
Lake Lulu Sar
Kaghan
Hanna Lake
Quetta
Nalter Lake
Gilgit
Rawal Lake
Rawalpindi
Kachura Lake
Skardu
Lake Sheosar
Skardu
Satpara Lake
Skardu
Simly Lake
Swat
Kallar Kahar Lake
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VALLEYS: |
Kaghan Valley
Naran Valley
Balakot Valley
Hunza valley
Chitral Valley
Gilgit Valley
Skardu
Khaplu
Bahrain Valley
Kalam Valley
Madyan Valley
Malam Jabba Valley
Marghazar Valley
Miandam Valley
Mingora Valley
Saidu Sharif Valley
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PLACES
TO VISIT: |
Pakistan
is a special interest destination. Its main attractions include adventure
tourism in the Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism as found at
Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harappa and Swat and early Muslim and Mughal heritage of
Multan, Lahore, Thatta and Peshawar. From the mighty Karakorams in the North to
the vast alluvial delta of the Indus river in the South, Pakistan remains a land
of high adventure and nature. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting,
wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep, Camel and Yak safaris, trout
fishing and bird watching, are a few activities which entice the adventure and
nature lovers to Pakistan.
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