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Pakistan

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Capital
Islamabad
Official name
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Official language
Urdu
Largest cities
(1998 census): Karachi (9,339,023); Lahore(5,143,495); Faisalabad (2,008,861); Rawalpindi (1,409,768); Multan (1,197,384); Hyderabad (1,166,894).
Land
Pakistan lies in southern Asia, north of the Arabian Sea. It borders Iran, Afghanistan, China, and India. Mountains cover most of northern and western Pakistan. The Thar Desert covers much of southeastern Pakistan, and most of southwestern Pakistan is an arid plateau. A major river system waters the fertile plains of central Pakistan.
Area
307,374 mi2 (796,095 km2). Greatest distances—north-south, 934 mi (1,505 km); east-west, 800 mi (1,287 km). Coastline—506 mi (814 km).
Elevation
Highest—K2 (in Kashmir), 28,250 ft (8,611 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level.
Climate
Most of Pakistan has a dry climate, with hot summers and cool winters. Pakistan averages only about 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain a year. Long dry spells may be broken by severe rainstorms that cause rivers to overflow and flood the countryside.
Form of government
Federal republic
Head of state
President
Head of government
Prime minister
Legislature
Parliament of two houses—the National Assembly and the Senate.
Flag and coat of arms
Pakistan's flag has a star and crescent, the traditional symbols of Islam, on a green background. Green stands for the nation's Muslim majority. A vertical white stripe is on the left of the flag. A wreath of narcissus, the national flower, encircles a shield on the Pakistani coat of arms.
Executive
Prime minister and president each have some executive powers.
Judiciary
Highest court is the Supreme Court.
Political subdivisions
Four provinces and the Capital Territory of Islamabad.
Population
Estimated 2006 population—165,035,000; 1998 census—130,579,571.
Population density
537 per mi2 (207 km2).
Distribution
66 percent rural, 34 percent urban.
Major ethnic groups
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (or Pakhtun), Baluchi, and Muhajir.
Major religions
77 percent Sunni Muslim, 20 percent Shite Muslim, 3 percent other, including Christian and Hindu.
Chief products
Agriculture—wheat, cotton, rice, sugar cane, milk, chickpeas. Manufacturing—cotton textiles and clothing, food products, fertilizer, steel, cement. Mining—natural gas, petroleum.
Money
Basic unit—Pakistani rupee. One hundred paise equal one rupee.
Foreign trade
Major exports—textiles, including garments, cotton cloth, and yarn; agricultural products; leather goods; and carpets. Major imports—petroleum goods, machinery, transportation equipment, and chemicals. Major trading partners—United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.
© 2006 World Book, Inc. All rights reserved. WORLD BOOK and the
GLOBE DEVICE are registered trademarks or trademarks of World Book, Inc.
© 2006 World Book, Inc. All rights reserved. WORLD BOOK and the
GLOBE DEVICE are registered trademarks or trademarks of World Book, Inc.

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