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FACTS ABOUT PAKISTAN

 

 

 

Introducing Pakistan

Pakistan displays some of Asia’s most magnificent landscapes as it stretches from the Arabian Sea, its southern border, to some of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges in the north. Pakistan is also home to sites that date back to word’s earliest settlements rivaling those of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Location

Located in South Asia, Pakistan shares an eastern border with India and a north-eastern border with China. Iran makes up the country’s south-west border, and Afghanistan runes along its western and northern edge. The Arabian Sea is Pakistan’s southern boundary with 1,064 km of coastline.  

The country has a total area of 796,095 sq km and is nearly four times the size of the United Kingdom. From Gwadar Bay in it’s south-eastern corner, the country extends more than 1,800 km to the Khunjerab Pass on China’s border. 

• Basic Facts

• Land & People

• Glaciers

• Climate

• People & Population

Basic Facts

Official Name:                  Islamic Republic of Pakistan  

Father of the Nation:      Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948)

National Poet:                 Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938)

Head of the State:          General Pervez Musharraf, President

Head of Government:      Shaukat Aziz , Prime Minister Capital Islamabad Area

Total	796,095 Sq. km.
Punjab	205,344 Sq. km.
Sindh	140,914  Sq. km.
North West Frontier Province	74,521 Sq. km.
Balochistan	347,190 Sq. km.
Federally Administered Tribal Areas	27,220 Sq. km.
Islamabad (Capital)	906 Sq. km.

Population:                     153.96 million (E) Administrative Setup

Pakistan is divided into four provinces viz., North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. The tribal belt adjoining NWFP is managed by the Federal Government and is named FATA i.e., Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas have their own respective political and administrative machinery, yet certain of their subjects are taken care of by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas. Provinces of Pakistan are further divided into Divisions and Districts

	Divisions	Districts
NWFP	7	24
Punjab	8	34
Sindh	5	21
Balochistan	6	22

While FATA consist of 13 Areas/Agencies and Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas have 7 and 5 Districts respectively.

Religion: 95% Muslims, 5% others. Annual Per capita income US $736 GDP 8.4% Currency Pak. Rupee. Imports Industrial equipment, chemicals, vehicles, steel, iron ore,  petroleum, edible oil, pulses, tea. Exports Cotton, textile goods, rice, leather items  carpets, sports goods, handi-crafts, fish and fish prep. and fruit Languages Urdu (National)  and English (Official) Literacy rate 53% Government  Parliamentary form Parliament

Parliament consists of two Houses i.e., the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House).  

The Senate is a permanent legislative body and symbolises a process of continuity in the national affairs. It consists of 100 members. The four Provincial Assemblies, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Federal Capital form its electoral college. 

The National Assembly has a total membership of 342 elected through adult suffrage (272 general seats, 60 women seats and 10 non-Muslim seats).

Pakistan National Flag: Dark green with a white vertical bar, a white crescent and a five-pointed star in the middle. The Flag symbolizes Pakistan's profound commitment to Islam, the Islamic world and the rights of religious minorities. National Anthem Approved in August, 1954 

Verses Composed by: Abdul 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 are symbols of Islam 
2. The shield in the centre shows four major crops 
3. Wreath surrounding the shield represents cultural heritage and
4. Scroll contains Quaid's motto: Unity Faith, Discipline

Pakistan's Official Map Drawn by: Mian Mahmood Alam Suhrawardy (1920-1999)

National Flower:    Jasmine.

National Tree:       Deodar (Cedrus Deodara).

National Animal:    Markhor.

National Bird:        Chakor (Red-legged partridge)

Flora:                     Pine, Oak, Poplar, Deodar, Maple, Mulberry

Fauna:                  The Pheasant, Leopard, Deer, Ibex, Chinkara, Black buck, Neelgai, Markhor, Marco-Polo sheep, Green turtles, River & Sea fish, Crocodile, Waterfowls

Popular games:     Cricket, Hockey, Football, Squash.

Tourist's resorts:  Murree, Quetta, Hunza, Ziarat, Swat, Kaghan, Chitral and Gilgit

Archaeological sites:  Moenjo Daro, Harappa, Taxila, Kot Diji, Mehr Garh, Takht Bhai.

Major Cities:           Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot

Major Crops:          Cotton, Wheat, Rice and Sugarcane

Agricultural Growth Rate:  7.5% in 2004-05

Total cropped area:  22.94 million hectares

Industry:                 Textiles, Cement, Fertiliser, Steel, Sugar, Electric Goods, Shipbuilding

Energy:

Major sources	Electricity (Hydel, Thermal, Nuclear) Oil, Coal,  and Liquid Petroleum Gas
Power Generating Capacity	19,389 MW

Health:

Hospitals	916
Dispensaries	4,600
Basic Health Units (BHUs)	5,301
Maternity & Child Health Centres	906
Rural Health Centres (RHCs)	552
Tuberculosis (TB) Centres	289
Hospital Beds	99,908
Doctors (registered)	113,206
Dentists (registered)	6,127
Nurses (registered	48,446
Paramedics	23,559
Lady Health Workers	6,741

Education:

Primary Schools	155,000
Middle Schools	28,728
High Schools	16,100
Secondary Vocational Institutions	636
Arts & Science Colleges	1,066
Professional Colleges	382
Universities	51

Transport & Communication:

Seaports:

Communications:

Post Offices	12,170
Telephone connections	5,052,000
Public Call Offices	217,597
Telegraph offices	299
Internet Connections	2 million
Mobile Phones	10,542,641

Employment:

Total Labour force	46.84 million
Employed Labour Force	43.22 million
Agriculture Sector	18.60 million
Manufacturing & Mining sector	5.96 million
Construction	2.52 million
Trade	6.39 million
Transport	2.48 million
Others	6.98 million

Media:

Print Media (In accordance with Central Media List)
	Dailies	540
	Weeklies	444
	Fortnightlies	55
	Monthlies	268

 

News Agencies:
	Official	APP
	Private	PPI, NNI, On Line and Sana.

 

Banks:

Central Bank	State Bank of Pakistan
Nationalized Scheduled Banks	First Woman Bank Ltd.
	National Bank of Pakistan
Specialized Banks	Zari Taraqiati Bank (ZTBL)
	Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan
	Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank Ltd
Private Scheduled Banks	Askari Commercial Bank Limited
	Bank Al-Falah Limited
	Bolan Bank Limited
	Faysal Bank Limited
	Bank Al-Habib Limited
	Metropolitan Bank Limited
	KASB Commercial Bank Limited
	Prime Commercial Bank Limited
	PICIC Commercial Bank Limited
	Soneri Bank Limited
	Union Bank Limited
	Meezan Bank Limited
	Saudi-Pak Commercial Bank Limited
	Crescent Commercial Bank Limited
	Dawood Bank Limited
	NDLC-IFIC Bank Limited (NIB)
	Allied Bank of Pakistan Limited
	United Bank Limited
	Habib Bank Limited
	SME Banks
Foreign Banks	ABN Amro Bank N.V
	Albaraka Islamic Bank BSC (EC)
	American Expresss Bank Limited
	Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Limited
	Citibank N.A
	Deutsche Bank A.G.
	Habib Bank A.G. Zurich
	Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp Limited
	Oman International Bank S.O.A.G
	Rupali Bank Limited
	Standard Chartered Bank Limited
Development Financial Institutions	Pakistan Industrial Credit and Investment Corp. Limited
	Pak Kuwait Investment Company (Pvt) Limited
	Pak Libya Holding Company (Pvt) Limited
	Pak-Oman Investment Company (Pvt) Limited
	Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricutural Investment Company (Pvt) Limited
Investment Banks	Crescent Investment Bank Limited
	First International Investment Bank Limited
	Atlas Investment Bank Limited
	Security Investment Bank Limited
	Fidelity Investment Bank Limited
	Prudential Investment Bank Limited
	Islamic Investment Bank Limited
	Asset Investment Bank Limited
	Al-Towfeek Investment Bank Limited
	Jahangir Siddiqui Investment Bank Limited
	Franklin Investment Bank Limited
	Orix Investment Bank (Pak) Limited

Famous Mountain Peaks:

	Height	World Rating
K-2 (Chagori)	8616 m	2nd
Nanga Parbat	8125 m	8th
Gasherbrum-I	8068 m	11th
Broad Peak	8065 m	12th
Gasherbrum-II	8047 m	14th
Gasherbrum-III	7952 m	15th
Gasherbrum-IV	7925 m	16th
Disteghil Sar	7885 m	20th
Kunyang Kish	7852 m	22nd
Masherbrum (NE)	7821 m	24th
Rakaposhi	7788 m	27th
Batura I	7785 m	28th
Kanjut  Sar	7760 m	29th
Saltoro Kangri	7742 m	33rd
Trivor	7720 m	36th
Tirich Mir	7708 m	41st

Famous Mountain Passes:

Location	Province
The Khyber Pass	NWFP
The Kurram Pass	FATA
The Tochi Pass	FATA
The Gomal Pass	NWFP
The Bolan Pass	Balochistan
The Lowari Pass	Chitral (NWFP)
The Khunjrab Pass	Northern Areas

Rivers:

	Length
The Indus	2,896 km
Jhelum	825 km
Chenab	1,242 km
Ravi	901 km
Sutlej	1,551 km
Beas (tributary of Sutlej)	398 km

Famous Glaciers:

	Length
Siachin	75 km
Batura	55 km
Baltoro	65 km

Deserts:

Name	Location/Province
Thar	Sindh
Cholistan	Punjab
Thal	Punjab

Lakes:

Name	Location/Province
Manchar	Sindh
Keenjar	Sindh
Hanna	Balochistan
Saif-ul-Maluk	NWFP
Satpara	Northern Areas
Kachura	Northern Areas

Major Dams:

Name	Location/Province
Mangla Dam	Punjab
Tarbela Dam	NWFP
Warsak Dam	NWFP

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Land and People

Pakistan is a land of many splendours. The scenery changes northward from coastal beaches, lagoons and mangrove swamps in the south to sandy deserts, desolate plateaus, fertile plains, dissected upland in the middle and high mountains with beautiful valleys, snow-covered peaks and eternal glaciers in the north. 

The variety of landscape divides Pakistan into six major regions: 

The North High Mountainous Region, the Western Low Mountainous Region, the Balochistan Plateau, the Potohar Uplands, the Punjab and the Sindh Plains.

High Mountain Region: Stretching in the North, from east to west, are a series of high mountain ranges which separate Pakistan from China, Russia and Afghanistan. They include the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindukush. The Himalayas spread in the north-east and the Karakoram rises on the north-west of the Himalayas and extends eastward up to Gilgit. The Hindu Kush mountains lie to the north-west of the Karakoram, but extend eastward into Afghanistan. With the assemblage of 35 giant peaks over 24,000 ft. high (7,315m), the region is the climbers' paradise. Many summits are even higher than 26,000 ft.(7,925 m) and the highest K-2(Mt.Godwin Austin) is exceeded only by Mt.Everest. Inhospitable and technically more difficult to climb than even Everest, they have taken the biggest toll of human lives in the annals of mountaineering. 

The passes are rarely lower than the summit of Mt. Blanc and several are over 18,000 ft. (5,485 m). The Karakoram Highway, that passes through the mountains, is the highest trade route in the world. Besides, the region abounds in vast glaciers, large lakes and green valleys which have combined at places to produce holiday resorts such as Gilgit, Hunza and Yasin in the west and the valleys of Chitral, Dir, Kaghan and Swat drained by rivers Chitral, Pankkora, Kunhar and Swat respectively in the east. Dotted profusely with scenic spots having numerous streams and rivulets, thick forests of pine and junipers and a vast variety of fauna and flora, the Chitral, Kaghan and Swat valleys have particularly earned the reputation of being the most enchanting tourist resorts of Pakistan. 

South of the high mountains, the ranges lose their height gradually and settle down finally in the Margalla hills (2,000-3,000 ft.) in the vicinity of Islamabad, the Capital of Pakistan, and Swat and Chitral hills, north of river Kabul. Although the climate of the region is extremely diverse, according to aspect and elevation, yet as a whole it remains under the grip of severe cold from November to April. May, June and July are pleasant months. The southeren slopes receive heavy rainfall and consequently are covered with forest of deodar, pine, poplar and willow trees. The more northerly ranges and north-facing slopes receive practically no rains and are, therefore, without trees. 

There is a considerable trans-humane from the mountains to the plains in winter and from plains to the mountains in summer. The permanent settlers grow corn, maize, barely, wheat and rice on the terraced fields and also raise orchards of apples, apricots, peaches and grapes. Peaks and Glaciers Eric Shipton, a great mountainer who perished in Pakistan's Northern Areas, wrote in his account. To describe this region is to indulge in superlatives, for everywhere you look are the highest, the longest and the largest mountains, glaciers and rivers in the world.

Making some allowance for Shipton's tendency towards slight exaggeration, born out of awe and fascination, the fact remains that Pakistan boasts of the largest share of the highest mountain peaks in the world. Its own highest peak, the famed and dreaded K-2, is the second highest in the world, being just some `ropes' short of the Everest in Nepal. With due respect to the Everest, K-2 is regarded as far more firmidable to climb than its relatively facile superior. Three of the mightiest mountain systems- the Hindukush, the Karakorams and the Himalayas- adorn the forehead of Pakistan. The second highest peak of Himalayas, as also of Pakistan, is the Nanga Parbat which literally means the "Naked Mountain".

Pakistan has seven of the 16 tallest peaks in Asia. The statistics are simply baffling: 40 of the world's 50 highest mountains are in Pakistan; in Baltistan over 45 peaks touch or cross the 20,000 foot mark; in Gilgit within a radius of 65 miles, there are over two dizens peaks ranging in height between 18,000 to 26,000 feet. 

The awe-inspiring beauty provided inspiration to a Pakistani writer to observe lyrically, "in Pakistan's lofty mountain regions, reaching for the sky doesn't seem too ambitious". Pakistan's Eight Thousanders: There are a total of 14 main peaks soaring above 8000 metres in the world. Out of these, 8 are located in Nepal, 5 in Pakistan and 1 in China. It has become prestigious to make these peaks as targets by mountaineers every year. In fact, successful climb over these peaks is considered an enviable measure of their attainment. By far, the largest number of mountaineering expeditions visiting Pakistan has been coming from Japan. 

K-2 (8611m) It is the second highest mountain the world. It was first attempted by Martin Conway's expedition in 1902 which was composed of British, Austrian and Swiss climbers. Ashraf Aman was the first Pakistani climber to climb on top of K-2 with five other climbers of the Jap-Pak expedition in 1977, with Ichire Yoshizawa as its leader and Isao Shinkai as the technical leader. 

Nanga Parbat (8125m) It is also known as the killer mountain. It claimed the life of AF Mummery, leader of an expedition and two porters in 1895. Since then Nanga Parbat has cost scores of lives, though quite a few have successfully scaled it. Harmann Buhl was the first to set foot on this formidable peak in 1953. In spite of its bloody past record, Nanga Parbat is still the most sought after target. Its dangerous challenge seems to add spurs to the determination of climbers. 

Hidden Peak (8068m) This peak was first attempted in 1892 by Martin Conway's expedition who gave it this name because it was hidden by the neighbouring peaks of Baltoro glacier. The peak was first conquered in 1958 by an American expedition. Nick clinch was the leader. The climbing leaders Peter Schoening and Kanfuran were the two summiters. 

Broad Peak (8047m) This peak was also named by Martin Conway and was first attempted by a German expedition headed by Karl Herligk offer in 1954. The peak was climbed in 1957 when the entire team of four climbers with Marcus Schmuck scaled it. 

In the far-north of Pakistan are valleys which are closed within the silent, brooding forts of these mountains and are almsot as high as the mountains themselves. Here dwell, from times immemorial, various tribes differing in race and culture. If one tribe has Mongol features, its neighbour is obviously Aryan. Separated by insurmountable obstacles, these tribes very often live a totally land-locked existence blissfully unaware of the world beyond. But, a traveller is simply wonderstruck by one common element - Islam. 

Every-where you hear the familiar Assalam-o-Alaikum, the universal Muslim greeting and welcome. and no matter how small or poor the inhibtation, the same muezzin's call to prayer "Allah-u-Akbar rings in the thin mountain air, issuing from the minarets of mosques hidden in the inaccessible fold of these ranges pulsates an infinite variety of life; animals reptiles, birds, insects and plants. There is, of course, the yak which is an enormous but docile beast, at once the beast of burden and food. It is notable in the wildlife of these regions, but, its hunting is strictly restricted and in many areas totally forbidden by law.

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Glaciers

Pakistan has more glaciers than any other land outside the North and South Poles. Pakistan's glacial area covers some 13,680 sq.km which represents an average of 13 per cent of mountain regions of the upper Indus Basin. Pakistan's glaciers can rightly claim to possess the greatest mass and collection of glaciated space on the face of earth. In fact, in the lap of the Karakoram of Pakistan alone there are glaciers whose total length would add up to abvoe 6,160 sq. km. To put it more precisely, as high as 37 per cent of the Karakoram area is under its glaciers against Himalayas' 17 per cent and European Alps' 22 per cent. The Karakorams have one more claim to proclaim; its souther flank (east and west of the enormous Biafo glacier) has a concentration of glaciers which works out to 59 per cent of its area. 

There is a historical reason for the fact that we, and the world outside, are better acquainted with glaciers in the Nanga Parbat region. It is through this region, hazardous though it is, that man has trudged to and fro since the beginning of his civilized history of movement and migration. The Siachin glacier is 75 kms. The Hispar (53 kms) joins the Biafo at the Hispar La (5154.16 metres (16,910 ft) to form an ice corridor 116.87 kms (72 miles) long. The Batura, too is 58 kms in length. But, the most outstanding of these rivers of ice is the 62 kms Baltoro. This mighty glacier fed by some 30 tributaries constitues a surface of 1291.39 sq. kms. Western Low Mountains Region.

These western low mountains spread from the Swat and Chitral hills in a north-south direction (along which alexander the Great led his army in 327 B.C) and cover a large portion of the North-West Frontier Province. North of the river Kabul their altitude ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 ft. in Mohamand and Malakand hills. The aspect of these hills is exceedingly dreary and the eye is everywhere met by the dry rivers between long rows of rocky hills and crags, scantily covered with coarse grass, scrub wood and dwarf palm. South of the river Kabul spreads the Koh-e-Sofed Range with a general height of 10,000 ft. Its highest peak, Skaram, being 15,620 ft. South of Koh-e-Sofed are the Kohat and Waziristan hills (5,000 ft) which are traversed by the Kurram and Tochi rivers, and are bounded on south by Gomal River. 

The whole area is a tangle of arid hills composed of limestone and sandstone. South of the Gomal River, the Sulaiman Mountains run for a distance of about 483 kilomaters in a north-south direction, Takht-e-Sulaiman (11,295 ft.) being its highest peak. At the southern end lie the low Marri and Bugti hills. The area shows an extraordinary landscape of innumerable scarps, small plateaus and steep craggy out-crops with terraced slopes and patches of alluvial basins which afford little cultivation. 

Kirthar Range South of the Sulaiman Mountains is the Kirthar Range which forms a boundary between the Sindh plain and the Balochistan plateau. It consists of a series of ascending ridges running generally north to south with broad flat valleys in-between. The highgest peak named Kutte ji Kabar (dog's grace is 6,878 ft. above sea level. Bleak, rugged and barren as these hills are, they afford some pasturage for flocks of sheep and goats. The valleys are green with grass and admit cultivation up to a highest of 4,000 ft. Historical Passes The western mountains have a number of passes, which are of special geographical and historical interest. For centuries, they have been watching numerous kings, generals and preachers passing through them and the events that followed brought about momentous changes in the annals of mankind. 

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           Climate

Although the country is in the monsoon region, it is arid, except for the southern slopes of the Himalayas and the sub-Mountainous tract which have a rainfall from 76 to 127 cm. Balochistan is the driest part of the country with an average rainfall of 21 cm. On the southern ranges of the Himalayas, 127 cm. of precipitation takes place, while under the lee of these mountains (Gilgit and Baltistan) rainfall is hardly 16 cm. Rainfall also occurs from western cyclonic distrubances originating in the Mediterranean. 

It is appreciable in the western mountains and the immediate forelying area; hre the rainfall average ranges from 27 to 76 cm. The contribution of these western distrurbances to rainfall over the plains is about 4 cm. A large part of the precipitation in the northern mountain system is in the form of snow which feeds the rivers. The all-pervasive aridity over most of Pakistan, the predominant influence on the life and habitat of the people, coupled with the climatic rhythm, characteristic of a monsoon climate, are conducive to homogeneity of the land.

Seasons The four well-marked seasons in Pakistan are:-

(i) Cold season (December to March). 
(ii) Hot season (April to June). 
(iii) Monsoon season (July to September). 
(iv) Post-Monsoon season (October and November). 

The cold season sets in by the middle of December. This period is characterised by fine weather, bracing air-low humidity and large diurnal range of temperature. Winter distrubances in this season accordingly cause fairly widespread rain. Average mimimum and maximum temperatures are 4 oC and 18 oC, though on occasions the mercury falls well below freezing point. The winter sun is glorious. The hot season is usually dry. Relative humidity in May and June varies from 50 per cent in the morning to 25 per cent or less in the afternoon. The temperature soars to 40 oC and beyond. The highest recorded temperature at Jaccobabad in June is 53 oC. While the interior is blazing hot, the temperature along the sea coast ranges between 25 oC to 35 oC, but the humidity persists around 70 to 80 per cent.

The south-west monsoon reaches Pakistan towards the beginning of July and establishes itself by the middle of the month. The strength of the monsoon current increases form June to July; it then remains steady, and starts retreating towards the end of August, though occasionally, it continues to be active even in September when some of the highest floods of the Indus Basin have been recorded. From the middle of September to the middle of November is the transitory period which may be called the post-monsoon season. 

In October, the maximum temperature is of the order of 34 oC to 37 oC all over Pakistan, while the nights are fairly cool with the minimum temperature around 16 oC. In the month of November, both the maximum and the mimimum temperatures fall by about 6 oC and the weather becomes pleasant. October and November are by far the driest months all over the plains of Pakistan. 

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People & Population

The population of the country as on 1st January, 1994, is estimated at about 124.45 million with its male/female ratio of 52.50:47.50 per cent. The current growth rate of 3.0 per cent is the highest among nine most populous countries of the world. The population is expected to reach 150 million by the year 2000. Density per square kilometre is 156 persons. Literacy rate is estimated to be 36.8 per cent. Of the four provinces, with 25.8 per cent of land area of the country, Punjab has 56.5 per cent of the total population; Sindh, with 17.7 per cent of land area, has 22.6 per cent: NWFP, (including FATA) with 12.8 per cent of land area, has 15.7 per cent; Balochistan, with 43.6 per cent of land area, has 5.1 per cent. Thus, Punjab is the most densely (240 persons per sq km) populated province, follwed by Sindh and NWFP. Balochistan is the least populated province, with 19 persons per square kilomatre. The overall population density of the country is 156 persons per square kilometre as estimated in 1994. Sindh is the urbainised province with 43 per cent of the people living in urban areas including Karachi City. The urban population of Punjab is 28 per cent followed by NWFP, 21 per cent, and Balochistan 16 per cent. About 67 per cent of the total urban population of the country lives in 28 cities with population of 100,000 and above, while 57 per cent of the total urban population lives in 12 cities with population lives in 12 cities with population of 200,000 and above. Age Composition According to the Labour Force Survey, 1990-91, 46.93 of the population is under 15 years of age; 49.66 per cent is between the age groups of 15 and 64 years, while 3.41 per cent comprises persons 65 years old and above.

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