Formal name:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Short name:
Pakistan

Term of Citizens:
Pakistani

Capital:
Islamabad

Date of independence:
August 14, 1947

Area:
796,100 square kilometers

Time:
GMT+5

Topography:
Apart from the irrigated plains of Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan is largely barren mountains and arid plateaus. The three of the world's greatest mountain ranges, the Hindukush, the Himalayas and the Karakorams dominate in the North. The longest river is Indus (2,896 Kms), which enters into Pakistan through Ladakh and Kashmir.

Climate:
Continental characterized by extreme variations of temperature.

Population:
135.28 million in 1998, the ninth largest in the world and rising at 2.7% a year. The rural population is about 80% whereas rest of 20% is urban.

Per capita income:
US$ 460.00

Language:
Urdu is National language whereas all the provinces have their regional languages as well. English is used extensively in official and commercial circles, Courts of Law and is the medium of instruction for higher education.

Religion:
Muslims are about 95% (80% Sunni & 20% Shia), Christians are 02% of the total population whereas rest of the 03% covers Hindus, Sikhs, Parsees, Bahas, Buddhists and tiny group of Kalash living in Chitral Valley.

Education:
Compulsory up to 05 years, however, there are about 25 Government Universities for higher education in various modern disciplines besides 10 others being run by the private sector. Literacy rate is 38.9%.

Agriculture (Major Crops):
Wheat, Cotton, Rice, Millet, Maize, Barley, Pulses, Sugar Cane, Oil seeds, Tobacco

Industry (Major Industries):
Cotton Yarn, Textile Manufacture, Light Engineering, Food processing, Cement, Pharmaceuticals, Leather and Rubber.

Energy:
Hydro-electric generation, Natural gas and oil

Remittances (Money sent from Abroad):
The 1.5 million Pakistanis working abroad send home about US$ 1,500 million dollars annually.

Currencty:
Pak. Rupee (PKR)

Ecology:
Drinking Water & Pollution are the hot issues.

Health:
Basic health facilities are free of charge in Government's hospitals. Modern hospitals are also available in almost all the major towns.

Culture:
Land of ancient and rich culture with lots of historical monuments, traditional handicrafts and enormous variety of foods. People are culturally homogenous

Major cities:
Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Quetta & Rawalpindi.