Official Name: Known officially as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, or commonly as Pakistan.
Capital city: Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the 10th largest city in the country. Islamabad is located in the Pothohar Plateau in the north of Pakistan, within the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Location: Pakistan lies in Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the East and Iran and Afghanistan on the West and China in the North.
Size: The total land area of Pakistan is 796,095 square kilometers and this ranks 43rd globally. The area is slightly less than twice the size of California.
Climate: The climate in Pakistan is mostly dry and hot near the coast. There is a wide variation between extremes temperature at different locations in the country, it gets coolers toward the northern uplands.
Population: Pakistan has an estimated population of 176 million people and ranks 7th globally. The country has a population growth rate of 1.947%.
Life expectancy at birth: The average life expectancy at birth for citizens of Pakistan is 64.49 years, ranking at 167th globally. Females have a longer average life span at 65.64 years, while Males average at 63.4 years from birth.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan is about 0.1%, placing 128th globally. This means that around 96,000 people are living with the disease in the country.
Major Illnesses: The risk of major infectious disease in Pakistan is high. Food or waterborne diseases such as bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E and typhoid fever have been reported. Other major diseases also include Vectorborne diseases such as dengue fever and malaria, and animal contact disease such as rabies.
Ethnic Groups: Pakistan is mainly comprised of Punjabi ethnics at 44.68% of the population. Other ethnic groups include Pashtun (Pathan) at 15.42%, Sindhi at 14.1%, Sariaki at 8.38%, Muhagirs at 7.57%, Balochi at 3.57%, and others at 6.28%.
Languages: Pakistan is a multilingual country with more than sixty languages being spoken. English is the official language of Pakistan and is used in official business, Government and legal contracts. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan, which is spoken by 8% of the population. Other languages include Punjabi at 48%, Sindhi at 12%, Siraiki at 10%, Pashtu at 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, Burushaski and other at 8%.
Religion: The major religion in Pakistan is Islam accounting for 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%) of the population, and other religions (mostly Christian and Hindu) account for the remaining 5%.
Government: Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system with a bicameral parliament consisting of a Senate and National Assembly. This structure is supported with four provincial assemblies and a system of district Government. The President is the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Prime Minister is the Head of Government.
Head of State: The Head of State in Pakistan is the President Asif Ali Zardari who is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a five-year term. The electoral college comprises of the Senate, National Assembly and the provincial assemblies. The president serves a 5-year term and may be re-elected but not serve for more than two consecutive terms. The position of president in Pakistan has traditionally been one of a figurehead, with actual powers lying with the Prime Minister.
Head of Government: The Head of Government in Pakistan is the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who is elected by the National Assembly, members of which are elected by popular vote. The term length of the Prime Minister is until the expiry of the National Assembly, maximum of five years. The Prime Minister is responsible for appointing a cabinet.
Military: The Federal Armed Forces of Pakistan consists of three branches namely the Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines and Maritime Security Agency) and Pakistan Air Force. The suitable age for male or female voluntary military service is 17-23 years of age. Soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until the age of 18.
Economy: The economy of Pakistan is mainly driven by agriculture, which employs more than 40% of the population. Cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables, and tobacco are the primary crops while cattle, sheep and poultry are also raised. The country is self-sufficient in food, as vast irrigation schemes have extended farming into dry areas, while fertilizers and new varieties of crops have increased yields.
The major industry in Pakistan is textile manufacturing, which is the biggest earner of foreign exchange in the country. Other industries include processed foods, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products and fertilizer production. Many Pakistans work abroad and remittances from them constitute the second largest source of foreign exchange. The annual cost of Pakistan’s imports usually exceeds its earnings from exports. The chief imports are petroleum, machinery, plastics, transportation equipment, edible oils, paper, iron and steel, and tea. Exports include textiles and clothing, rice, leather and sporting goods, chemicals, and carpets. The chief trading partners are the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and China.
GDP: Pakistan has a purchasing power parity of US$ 427.3 billion, ranking at 28th in the world. The country has a growth rate of about 2.7%, which ranks 140th globally.
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