Country Name: Pakistan (Islamic Republic of Pakistan)

Capital: Islamabad

Government Type: federal parliamentary republic

Background: The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The partition in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India created lasting tension between the two countries, with India and Pakistan fighting two wars and a limited conflict - in 1947-48, 1965, and 1999 respectively - over the disputed Kashmir territory, a dispute that continues to cause tensions between both countries to this day. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India assisted an indigenous movement reacting to the marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.

In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in mid-1998.

Continent: Middle East

Population: 247,653,551 (2023 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Baloch 3.6%, other 6.3%

Languages: Punjabi 38.8%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 18.2%, Sindhi 14.6%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 12.2%, Urdu 7.1%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2.4%, Brahui 1.2%, other 2.4%

Religions: Muslim (official) 96.5% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.5% (2020 est.)

Economic Overview: lower middle-income South Asian economy; extremely high debt; endemic corruption; major currency devaluation; major food insecurity and inflation; environmentally fragile agricultural sector; regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment

Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $9.927 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $1.268 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 4.71% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $5,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $38.968 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 74

Export Commodities: textiles, clothing and apparel, rice, leather goods, surgical instruments (2019) 

Export Partners: United States 14%, China 8%, Germany 7%, United Kingdom 6% (2019)

Imports: 

• $76.426 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 54

Import Commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil, scrap iron (2019)

Import Partners: China 28%, United Arab Emirates 11%, United States 5% (2019)

Natural Resources: arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Agricultural Products: sugar cane, buffalo milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, fruit, mangoes/guavas

Industries: textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 6.83% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 42

Labor Force: 78.863 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 5.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

Geography:

• Total: 796,095 sq km

• Land: 770,875 sq km

• Water: 25,220 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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