Country name
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

Data code PK

Government type federal republic

National capital Islamabad

Administrative divisions 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, FederallyAdministered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier,Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmirregion includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Independence 14 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of the republic)

Constitution 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December1985

Legal system based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan'sstature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentaryseats for non-Muslims

Executive branch
chief of state: President Sardar Farooq LEGHARI (since 13 November 1993)
head of government : Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17 February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election lastheld 13 November 1993 (next to be held no later than 14 October 1998); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually elected prime minister by the National Assembly; electionlast held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Sardar Farooq LEGHARI elected president; percent of Parliament vote- NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assemblyvote - NA

Legislative branch bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats;members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms;one-third of the members up for election every two years; has advisory powersonly) and the National Assembly (217 seats; 207 represent Muslims and 10 representnon-Muslims; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999); NationalAssembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP1, independents 6, vacant 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party- NA; seats by party - PML/N 137, PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2,JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents 21, minorities 10

Judicial branch Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by the president; FederalIslamic (Shari'at) Court

Political parties and leaders
government: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N), Nawaz SHARIF;Awami National Party (ANP), Ajmal Khan KHATTAK; Balochistan National Movement/MengalGroup (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL; Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf faction(MQM/A), Altaf HUSSAIN; Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH); Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP),Akbar Khan BUGTI; Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto (PPP/SB), GhinvaBHUTTO; Baluch National Party (BNP), leader NA
opposition: Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; Pakistan Muslim League,Junejo faction (PML/J), Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; National People's Party (NPP),Ghulam Mustapha JATOI; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Mahmood KhanACHAKZAI; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group (BNM/H), Dr. HAYEE Baluch;Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khan
frequently shifting: Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana Sami-ul-HAQ, the MDM includes JamiatUlema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI) and Sepah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP);Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-Islamic Democratic Front) includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami,Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F); Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F),Pir PAGARO; Pakistan National Party (PNP); Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC) isan umbrella organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi HussainAHMED, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S), Tehrik-I-JafriaPakistan (TJP), Allama Sajid NAQVI, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction(JUP/NO)
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Political pressure groups and leaders military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners,industrialists, and small merchants also influential

International organization participation AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Riaz KHOKAR
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6200
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas W. SIMONS, Jr.
embassy : Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 826161 through 826179
FAX: [92] (51) 214222
consulate(s) general : Karachi, Lahore
consulate(s): Peshawar

Flag description green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religiousminorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbolsof Islam

NOTE: The information regarding Pakistan on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Pakistan Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Pakistan Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.