Pakistan |
|
| OVERVIEW |
| |
| Background |
The separation in 1947 of British
India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West
and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved.
A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East
Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.
A dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response
to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own
tests in 1998. |
| Natural
resources |
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
|
| Land
use |
arable land: 27.81%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 71.4% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
150,694,740 (July 2003 est.) |
| Ethnic
groups |
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch,
Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and
their descendants) |
| Religions |
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian,
Hindu, and other 3% |
| Languages |
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi
variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko
2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani
elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other
8% |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.7%
male: 59.8%
female: 30.6% (2003 est.) |
| Capital |
Islamabad |
| Government
type |
federal republic |
| Independence |
14 August 1947 (from UK) |
| National
holiday |
Republic Day, 23 March (1956) |
|
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