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Pakistan (Urdu: پاکستان listen ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in the Greater Middle East and South Asia. It is located in the region where South Asia converges with Central Asia and the Middle East.Encarta Encyclopedia - Pakistan Middle East Institute: Pakistan It has a 1,046 kilometre (650 mile) coastline along the Arabian Sea in the south, and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast.The Kashmir region is claimed by India and Pakistan. Both countries and China separately administer parts of the region with the Indian and Pakistani-held areas defined by the Line of Control. The Pakistani-Chinese border is not recognized by India. India refers to Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world and has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. It was part of British India prior to partition in 1947 and has a long history of settlement and civilisation including the Indus Valley Civilization. The region has been invaded by the Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Afghans, Turks, and Mongols. The territory was incorporated into British India in the nineteenth century. Since its independence, the country has been characterized by periods of military and economic growth interspersed with political instability.
The nation was founded officially as the Dominion of Pakistan in 1947, under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League, and was renamed the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956. Pakistan was a founding member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Developing 8 Countries (D8) and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). It is also a member of the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), G33 developing countries, Group of 77 developing nations (G77) and is a nuclear power.
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The name Pakistan (IPA: [paːkɪst̪aːn]) means Land of (the) Pure in Urdu and Persian. It was coined in 1934 as Pakstan by Choudhary Rahmat Ali, who published it in his pamphlet Now or Never.Choudhary Rahmat Ali (January 28, 1933). Now or never: Are we to live or perish for ever?. Columbia University. Retrieved on 2007-12-04. The name represented the "thirty million Muslims of PAKSTAN, who live in the five Northern Units of (British) India — Punjab, Afghania (also known as North-West Frontier Province), Kashmir, Sindh, and Baluchistan."Wolpert, Stanley A. (1984). Jinnah of Pakistan. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195034120.
"The Priest King" Wearing Sindhi Ajruk, ca. 2500 BC. National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan
The Indus region which covers much of Pakistan, was the site of several ancient cultures including the Neolithic era Mehrgarh, and the Bronze era Indus Valley Civilization (2500 BCE - 1500 BCE) at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.Minnesota State University page on Mohenjo-Daro
Waves of conquerors and migrants including Harappan, Indo-Aryan, Persian, Grecian, Saka, Parthian, Kushan, White Hun, Afghan, Arab, Turkics, and Mughal settled in the region throughout the centuries, influencing the locals and being absorbed among them. However, while the eastern provinces of Punjab and Sindh became aligned with Indo-Islamic civilisation, the western areas became culturally allied with the Iranic civilisation of Afghanistan and Iran[citation needed]. The region is a crossroads of historic trade routes, including the Silk Road. The Indus Valley Civilization collapsed in the middle of the second millennium BCE and was followed by the Vedic Civilization, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Successive empires and kingdoms ruled the region from the Achaemenid Persian empireLivius.org on the extent of the Achaemenid Empire around 543 BCE, to Alexander the GreatPlutarch\'s Life of Alexander in 326 BCE and the Mauryan empire. The Indo-Greek Kingdom founded by Demetrius of Bactria included Gandhara and Punjab from 184 BCE, and reached its greatest extent under Menander, establishing the Greco-Buddhist period with advances in trade and culture. The city of Taxila (Takshashila) became a major centre of learning in ancient times - the remains of the city, located to the west of Islamabad, are one of the country\'s major archaeological sites.
In 712 CE, the Arab general Muhammad bin QasimInfinity Foundation\'s translation of the Chach-Nama conquered Sindh and Multan in southern Punjab. The Pakistan government\'s official chronology states that "its foundation was laid" as a result of this invasion. History in Chronological Order. Government of Pakistan. This would set the stage for several successive Muslim empires in the Indian subcontinent, including the Ghaznavid Empire, the Ghorid Kingdom, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. During this period, Sufi missionaries played a pivotal role in converting a majority of the regional Buddhist and Hindu population to Islam. The gradual decline of the Mughal Empire in the early eighteenth century provided opportunities for the Afghans, Balochis and Sikhs to exercise control over large areas until the British East India CompanyLibrary of Congress study of Pakistan gained ascendancy over South Asia.
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny, in 1857 was the region\'s last major armed struggle against the British Raj, and it laid the foundations for the generally unarmed freedom struggle led by the Indian National Congress in the twentieth century. The All India Muslim League rose to popularity in the late 1930s amid fears of under-representation and neglect of Muslims in politics. On 29 December 1930, Allama Iqbal\'s presidential address called for an autonomous "state in northwestern India for Indian Muslims, within the body politic of India."Sir Muhammad Iqbal\'s 1930 Presidential Address. Speeches, Writings, and Statements of Iqbal. Retrieved on 2006-12-19. Muhammad Ali Jinnah espoused the Two Nation Theory and led the Muslim League to adopt the Lahore ResolutionJang.com page on the Lahore Resolution of 1940 (popularly known as the Pakistan Resolution), which ultimately led to the formation of an independent Pakistan. In early 1947, Britain announced the end of its rule in India.
The modern state of Pakistan was established on 14 August 1947 with two Muslim-majority wings in the eastern and northwestern regions of the British Indian Empire, separated from the rest of the country with a Hindu majority, and comprising the provinces of Balochistan, East Bengal, the North-West Frontier Province, West Punjab and Sindh. The partition of the British Indian Empire resulted in communal riotsEstimates for the 1947 death toll across India and Pakistan—millions of Muslims moved to Pakistan and millions of Hindus and Sikhs moved to India. Disputes arose over several princely states including Jammu and Kashmir whose ruler had acceded to India following an invasion by Pashtun warriors, leading to the First Kashmir War (1948) ending with India occupying roughly two-third of the state. From 1947 to 1956, Pakistan was a Dominion in the Commonwealth of Nations. The republic declared in 1956 was stalled by a coup d\'etat by Ayub Khan (1958–69), who was president during a period of internal instability and a second war with India in 1965. His successor, Yahya Khan (1969–71) had to deal with the cyclone which caused 500,000 deaths"Community participation in disaster management can reduce the losses" in East Pakistan.
Economic and political dissent in East Pakistan led to violent political repression and tensions escalating into civil war1971 war summary by BBC website (Bangladesh Liberation War) (see also Causes of Separation of East Pakistan) and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and ultimately the secession of East Pakistan as the independent state of Bangladesh.http://countrystudies.us/bangladesh/17.htm US Country Studies article on the Bangladesh War] Estimates of the number of people killed during this episode vary greatly, from ~30,000 to over 2 million depending on the source.
The two wings of Pakistan in 1970; East Pakistan separated from the West wing in 1971 as an independent Bangladesh.
Civilian rule resumed from 1972 to 1977 under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, until he was deposed and later sentenced to death in what amounted to a judicial murder in 1979 by General Zia-ul-Haq, who became the country\'s third military president. Pakistan\'s secular policies were replaced by Zia\'s introduction of the Islamic Shariah legal code, which increased religious influences on the civil service and the military. With the death of General Zia in a plane crash in 1988, Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was elected as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan. Over the next decade, she alternated power with Nawaz Sharif, as the country\'s political and economic situation worsened. Pakistan sent 5,000 troops to the 1991 Gulf War as part of a US led coalition and specifically for the defence of Saudi Arabia.The 1991 Gulf war Military tensions in the Kargil conflictKargil conflict timeline on the BBC website with India were followed by a Pakistani military coup d\'état in 1999Daily Telegraph (UK) article on the 1999 coup in which General Pervez Musharraf assumed executive powers. In 2001, Musharraf named himself President after the forced resignation of Rafiq Tarar. After the 2002 parliamentary elections, Musharraf transferred executive powers to newly elected Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who was succeeded in the 2004 Prime-Ministerial election by Shaukat Aziz, followed by a temporary period in office by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. On 15th November, 2007 the National Assembly completed its tenure and so a caretaker government was appointed with the former Chairman of the Senate, Muhammad Mian Soomro as caretaker Prime Minister. However, the December 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto underscores the instability of Pakistan\'s political system.
The government of Pakistan was based on the Government of India Act (1935) for the first nine years after independence. The first Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956, but was suspended in 1958 by General Ayub Khan. The Constitution of 1973, was suspended in 1977 by Zia-ul-Haq, re-instated in 1991 and is the country\'s most important document, laying the foundations of government. Pakistan is a semi-presidential federal democratic republic with Islam as the state religion. The bicameral legislature comprises a 100-member Senate and a 342-member National Assembly. The President is the Head of State and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and is elected by an electoral college. The prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly. Each province has a similar system of government with a directly elected Provincial Assembly in which the leader of the largest party or alliance becomes Chief Minister. Provincial Governors are appointed by the President.
US President George W. Bush and President Musharraf in late 2006
The Pakistani military has played an influential role in mainstream politics throughout Pakistan\'s history, with military presidents ruling from 1958–71, 1977–88 and from 1999 onwards. The leftist PPP, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, emerged as a major political player during the 1970s. Under the military rule of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan began a marked shift from the British-era secular politics and policies, to the adoption of Shariat and other laws based on Islam. During the 1980s, the anti-feudal, pro-Muhajir Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was started by unorthodox and educated urban dwellers of Sindh and particularly Karachi. The 1990s were characterized by coalition politics dominated by the PPP and a rejuvenated Muslim League.
In the October 2002 general elections, the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) won a plurality of National Assembly seats with the second-largest group being the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), a sub-party of the PPP. Zafarullah Khan Jamali of PML-Q emerged as Prime Minister but resigned on 26 June 2004 and was replaced by PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as interim Prime Minister. On 28 August, 2004 the National Assembly voted 191 to 151 to elect the Finance Minister and former Citibank Vice President Shaukat Aziz as Prime Minister. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of Islamic religious parties, won elections in North-West Frontier Province, and increased their representation in the National Assembly - until their defeat in the 2008 elections.
Prime Minister\'s Secretariat, Islamabad
Pakistan is an active member of the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the latter of which Pakistan has used as a forum for Enlightened Moderation,President Musharraf on Enlightened Moderation a plan to promote a renaissance and enlightenment in the Muslim world. Pakistan is also a member of the major regional organisations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). In the past, Pakistan has had mixed relations with the United States especially in the early 1950s when Pakistan was the United States\' "most allied ally in Asia"Pakistan: The Most Allied Ally in Asia and a member of both the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s Pakistan was a crucial US ally, but relations soured in the 1990s, when sanctions were applied by the US over suspicions of Pakistan\'s nuclear activities. The September 11, 2001 attacks and the subsequent War on Terrorism have seen an improvement in US–Pakistan ties, especially after Pakistan ended its support of the Taliban regime in Kabul. This was evidenced by a drastic increase in American military aid, which saw Pakistan take in $4 billion more in three years after the 9/11 attacks than in the three years before."Pakistan\'s $4.2 Billion \'Blank Check\' for U.S. Military Aid, After 9/11, funding to country soars with little oversight", Center for Public Integrity, 2007-03-27.
On November 3 2007 President Musharraf declared an emergency rule across Pakistan and purported to suspend the Constitution, imposing martial law. In Islamabad, troops apparently entered the Supreme Court and were surrounding the judges\' homes and opposition leaders like Benazir Bhutto, Imran Khan were put on house arrest. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has been appointed as the new chief justice of Pakistan, due to the refusal of the Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to endorse the emergency order, declaring it unconstitutional, though he himself took oath under PCO in 1999.Musharraf imposes emergency rule. BBC News (November 3 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-03. In response, Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth of Nations on 22 November 2007."Pakistan barred from Commonwealth", BBC News, 22 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-23.
Provinces and territories of Pakistan
Pakistan is a federationThe Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Part I. National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-14. of four provinces, a capital territory and federally administered tribal areas. The government of Pakistan exercises de facto jurisdiction over the western parts of the disputed Kashmir region, organised as two separate political entities (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas). Pakistan also claims the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The third tier of government was composed of 26 divisions with two further tiers (districts and tehsils) administered directly from the provincial level. The divisions were abolished in 2001What is Decentralization Support Program. Decentralization Support Program, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-08. and a new three-tiered system of local government came into effect comprising districts, tehsils and union councils with an elected body at each tier. There are currently 107 districts in Pakistan proper, each with several tehsils and union councils. The tribal areas comprise seven tribal agencies and six small frontier regions detached from neighbouring districts whilst Azad Kashmir comprises seven districts and Northern Areas comprises six districts.
Provinces:
Territories:
Pakistani-administered portions of Kashmir:
 Shahjahan & Tippi Sultan.jpeg/58px-Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Shahjahan & Tippi Sultan.jpeg)
Pakistan Navy ships taking part in Operation Inspired Siren
The armed forces of Pakistan are a completely volunteer force and are the seventh largest in the world. The three main components are the Army, Navy and Air Force, supported by a number of paramilitary forces which carry out internal security roles and border patrols. The National Command Authority is responsible for exercise employment and development control of all strategic nuclear forces and organizations.
The Pakistan military first saw combat in the First Kashmir War, which led to the capture of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas. In 1961, the army repelled a major Afghan incursion on Pakistans western border. In 1965, Pakistan fought the Second Kashmir War with India, and in 1971 the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 broke out. In 1973, the military quelled a Baloch nationalist uprising. During the Soviet-Afghan war, Pakistan shot down several intruding aircraft, as well as provided covert support to the mujahideen through the Inter-Services Intelligence agency. In 1999, Pakistan was involved in the Kargil conflict with India. Currently, the military is engaged in an armed conflict with Islamic militants in the north-east of the country.
The Pakistani armed forces are the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping efforts, with more than 10,000 personnel deployed in 2007.Monthly Summary of Contributors to UN Peacekeeping Operations (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved on 2007-04-20. Pakistan provided a military contingent to the Coalition during the first Gulf War and in the past Pakistani personnel volunteered to serve in the armed forces of Arab countries involved in conflicts with Israel.
K2, at 8,611 metres (28,251 ft), is the second highest peak in the world.
Pakistan covers 340,403 square miles (881,640 km²), The area of Pakistan proper excludes the regions administered in Kashmir URL accessed on November 03, 2006 approximately the combined land areas of France and the United Kingdom, with its eastern regions located on the Indian tectonic plate and the western and northern regions on the Iranian plateau and Eurasian landplate. Apart from the 1,046 kilometre (650 mi) Arabian Sea coastline, Pakistan\'s land borders total 6,774 kilometres—2,430 kilometres (1,509 mi) with Afghanistan to the northwest, 523 kilometres (325 mi) with China to the northeast, 2,912 kilometres (1,809 mi) with India to the east and 909 kilometres (565 mi) with Iran to the southwest.Pakistan. World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
The different types of natural features range from the sandy beaches, lagoons, and mangrove swamps of the southern coast to preserved beautiful moist temperate forests and the icy peaks of the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains in the north. There are an estimated 108 peaks above 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) high that are covered in snow and glaciers. Five of the mountains in Pakistan (including Nanga Parbat) are over 8,000 metres (26,000 ft). Indian-controlled Kashmir to the Northern Areas of Pakistan and running the length of the country is the Indus River with its many tributaries. The northern parts of Pakistan attract a large number of foreign tourists. To the west of the Indus are the dry, hilly deserts of Balochistan; to the east are the rolling sand dunes of the Thar Desert. The Tharparkar desert in the southern province of Sindh, is the only fertile desert in the world. Most areas of Punjab and parts of Sindh are fertile plains where agriculture is of great importance.
The climate varies as much as the scenery, with cold winters and hot summers in the north and a mild climate in the south, moderated by the influence of the ocean. The central parts have extremely hot summers with temperatures rising to 45 °C (113 °F), followed by very cold winters, often falling below freezing. Officially the highest temperature recorded in Pakistan is 50.55 °C (122.99 °F) at Pad Idan.Goddard Space Flight Center (2002-05-24). Science Question of the Week. NASA]]. Retrieved on 2007-12-31. There is very little rainfall ranging from less than 250 millimetres to more than 1,250 millimetres (9.8–49.2 in), mostly brought by the unreliable south-westerly monsoon winds during the late summer. The construction of dams on the rivers and the drilling of water wells in many drier areas have temporarily eased water shortages at the expense of downgradient populations.
The Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan
The wide variety of landscapes and climates in Pakistan allows for a wide variety of wild animals and birds. The forests range from coniferous alpine and subalpine trees such as spruce, pine, and deodar cedar in the northern mountains to deciduous trees such as the mulberry-type Shisham in the Sulaiman range in the south. The western hills have juniper and tamarisk as well as coarse grasses and scrub plants. Along the coast are mangrove forests which form much of the coastal wetlands.
In the south, there are crocodiles in the murky waters at the mouth of the Indus River whilst on the banks of the river, there are boars, deer, porcupines, and small rodents. In the sandy scrublands of central Pakistan are found jackals, hyenas, wild cats, panthers, and leopards while the clear blue skies abound with hawks, falcons, and eagles. In the southwestern deserts are rare Asiatic cheetahs. In the northern mountains are a variety of endangered animals including Marco Polo sheep, Urial sheep, Markhor and Ibex goats, black and brown Himalayan bears, and the rare Snow Leopard. During August 2006, Pakistan donated an orphaned snow leopard cub called Leo to USA.Leo the snow leopard is US-bound Another rare species is the blind Indus River Dolphin of which there are believed to be about 1,000 remaining, protected in two major sanctuaries. In recent years the number of wild animals being killed for fur and leather trading led to a new law banning the hunting of wild animals and birds and the establishment of several wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves.Wildlife Sanctuaries of Pakistan
Pakistan is a rapidly developing countryGCC investments in Pakistan and future trends. Gulf Research Center (2007-01-3). Retrieved on 2008-02-12.Quid Pro Quo 45 – Tales of Success (PDF). Muslim Commercial Bank of Pakistan (2007-09-19). Retrieved on 2008-02-12.Pakistan steels itself for sell-offs. BBC News (2006-06-01). Retrieved on 2008-02-12. and a major emerging market,MSCI Regional Equity Indices. MSCI Barra. Retrieved on 2008-02-12. with an economic growth rate of 7 percent per annum for four consecutive years up to 2007.7% growth achieved in FY 05–06. Daily Times of Pakistan (2006-12-01). Retrieved on 2008-02-12.Pakistan Economy Registers 7% Growth Rate for 4th Consecutive Year. Pakistan Times (2007-06-02). Retrieved on 2008-02-12. Despite being a very poor country in 1947, Pakistan\'s economic growth rate was better than the global average during the subsequent four decades, but imprudent policies led to a slowdown in the late 1990s.Pakistan Studies; Economy. American Institute of Pakistan Studies. Retrieved on 2006-11-20. Recently, wide-ranging economic reforms have resulted in a stronger economic outlook and accelerated growth especially in the manufacturing and financial services sectors. There has been great improvement in the foreign exchange position and rapid growth in hard currency reserves in recent years. The 2005 estimate of foreign debt was close to US$40 billion. However, this has decreased in recent years with assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and significant debt-relief from the United States. Pakistan\'s gross domestic product, as measured by purchasing power parity (PPP), is estimated to be US$475.4 billionReport for Selected Countries and Subjects (PPP). International Monetary Fund (October 2007). while its per capita income (PCI) stands at $2,942. The poverty rate in Pakistan is estimated to be between 23%WB, UNDP question poverty estimates. Dawn Group of Newspapers (2006-06-20). Retrieved on 2008-02-12. and 28%.Pakistan: People. The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved on 2008-02-12. Pakistan\'s GDP growth rates have seen a steady increase over the last 5 years. However, inflationary pressures and a low savings rate, among other economic factors, could make it difficult to sustain a high growth rate.John Wall. Concluding Remarks at the Pakistan Development Forum 2006. World Bank. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.Country-by-Country Growth and Forecasts. Asian Development Bank. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.VIEW: Is GDP growth sustainable?. Daily Times Newspaper (2006-05-01). Retrieved on 2006-02-12.
The structure of the Pakistani economy has changed from a mainly agricultural base to a strong service base. Agriculture now only accounts for roughly 20% of the GDP, while the service sector accounts for 53% of the GDP with wholesale and retail trade forming 30% of this sector. In the past few years, the Karachi Stock Exchange has increased in value along with most of the world\'s emerging markets. Significant foreign investments have been made in several areas including telecommunications, real estate and energy.FDI to touch $7 billion by year-end: SBP governor. Daily Times of Pakistan (2007-04-01). Retrieved on 2008-02-12..Foreign investment to reach $7 billion during current fiscal: Governor SBP. Pak Tribune (2007-04-01). Retrieved on 2008-02-12. Other major industries include software, automotives, textiles, cement, fertilizer, steel, ship building, aerospace and arms manufacturing.
Pakistan has the world\'s largest earth filled dam Tarbela, the world\'s twelfth largest dam Mangla, and half a dozen additional dams planned.Technical Arguments for KBD-2 (PDF). The President of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-12. Pakistan and China jointly built the world\'s highest international road: the Karakoram Highway.
In November of 2006 China and Pakistan signed a Free Trade Agreement hoping to triple bilateral trade from $4.2 billion (USD) to $15 billion (USD) within the next five years.Experts: Enhance economic links. People\'s Daily Online (2006-11-27). Retrieved on 2008-02-12. Pakistan\'s exports in 2007 amounted to $20.58 billion (USD).Pakistan: Economy. The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
Major Ethnic Groups in Pakistan
Pakistan has an estimated population of 162,508,000 as of February 2008, Pakistan has the world\'s sixth largest population, placing it higher than Russia, and lower than Brazil. Pakistan is expected to surpass Brazil in population by the year 2020 because of the high growth rate[citation needed]. Population projections for Pakistan are relatively difficult because of the apparent differences in the accuracy of each census and the inconsistencies between various surveys related to the fertility rate, but it is likely that the rate of growth peaked in the 1980s and has since declined significantly.Feeney and Alam, 2003 The population was estimated at 162,400,000Population Reference Bureau\'s 2005 World Data Sheet on July 1, 2005, with a fertility rate of 34 per thousand, a death rate of 10 per thousand, and the rate of natural increase at 2.4%. Pakistan also has a high infant mortality rate of 70 per thousand births.International Data Base U.S. Census Bureau. URL accessed on 17 October 2006.
The major ethnic groups are - Punjabis (44.68% of the population), Pashtuns (15.42%), Sindhis (14.1%), Seraikis (10.53%), Muhajirs (7.57%), Balochis (3.57%) and others (4.66%). As of November 2007, about 2 million registered Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan as a result of the ongoing war and instability in Afghanistan.Pajhwok Afghan News, UNHCR hails Pakistan as an important partner (Nov. 3, 2007)
Primary mother tongue language usage largely corresponds to ethnic groups. Despite being a native language of a relatively small minority, Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan, while English is the official language, used in the Constitution and widely used by corporate businesses, the educated urban elite, and most universities. Punjabi is spoken by over 60 million people, but has no official recognition in the country. Ethnologue Western Punjabi
The demographics of religion in Pakistan were significantly influenced in 1947 by the movement of Muslims to Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs to India. Census data indicates that 96% of the population are Muslims,Population by religion. Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-13. (nearly 77% are Sunni Muslims and 20% are Shi\'a Muslims). Minority religions include Hinduism (1.85%), Christianity (1.6%), as well as much smaller numbers of Sikhs (Around 0.04%), Parsis, Ahmadis, Buddhists, Jews, Bahá\'ís, and Animists (mainly the Kalasha of Chitral). Pakistan is the second most populous Muslim-majority countryRobert Ayres, Turning Point: The End of the Growth Paradigm, James & James/Earthscan, 1998, pp. 63. ISBN 1853834394 and also has the second largest Shi\'a population in the world[citation needed].
Education in Pakistan is divided into five levels: primary (grades one through five); middle (grades six through eight); high (grades nine and ten, leading to the Secondary School Certificate); intermediate (grades eleven and twelve, leading to a Higher Secondary School Certificate); and university programs leading to graduate and advanced degrees.Diagnostic Report (PDF). Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
Pakistan also has a parallel secondary school education system in private schools, which is based upon the curriculum set by the University of Cambridge. Some students choose to take the O level and A level exams, which are administered by the British Council,GCE O and A level exams in Pakistan. The British Council. Retrieved on 2008-02-13. in place of government exams.
There are currently 730 technical & vocational institutions in Pakistan.Medium Term Development framework 2005-10. Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-13. The minimum qualifications to enter male vocational institutions, is the completion of grade 8. The programmes are generally two to three years in length. The minimum qualifications to enter female vocational institutions, is the completion of grade 5. Structure of Pakistani Education. World Education Services. Retrieved on February 10, 2008
All academic education institutions are the responsibility of the provincial governments. The federal government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation and some financing of research.
English medium education is to be introduced on a phased basis to all schools across the country.Ministry of Education. Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-13. Through various educational reforms, by the year 2015, the ministry of education expects to attain 100% enrolment levels amongst primary school aged children, and a literacy rate of 86% amongst people aged over 10.National Plan of Action. Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
Pakistan has a ric
