About Pakistan
Introduction to Pakistan
About Pakistan
1.1 Natural Environment
1.1.1 Geographical location
Pakistan is located in the northwest of the South Asian subcontinent, bordering the Arabian Sea to the south, with a coastline of 840 kilometers and the Karakoram and the Himalayas Mountains in the north. It is bordered by India, China, Afghanistan and Iran on the east, north and west sides respectively. It covers the land area of 796,000 square kilometers (excluding 13,000 square kilometers of Pakistan-administered Kashmir). Three-fifths of the territory is mountainous and hilly terrain. The Indus River, which originates from Tibet in China, flows into Pakistan from the north and winds 2,300 kilometers to the south before flowing into the Arabian Sea.
Pakistan is located in the East 5 time zone, and the local time of the capital Islamabad is 3 hours later than Beijing time.
1.1.2 Climatic conditions
Most of Pakistan is in the subtropical region, the climate is generally hot and dry, and the precipitation is relatively rare, annual rainfall less than 250 mm accounts for more than three-quarters of the total area of the country. The hottest season in Pakistan is June and July, when the temperature in most areas exceeds 40℃ at noon, and parts of Sindh and Baluchistan area may reach 50℃ or above at noon. The coldest months are from December to February.
1.2 Population and administrative divisions
1.2.1 Population distribution
According to the final report of the Sixth National Census released by the National Statistics Bureau of Pakistan in May 2021, the total population of Pakistan has reached about 208 million, an increase of 57% over the fifth census in 1998, with an average annual population growth rate of 2.4%.
Punjab is the most populous province with a population of 110 million, about 53% of the country's total population. There are nearly 14,000 Chinese and overseas Chinese in Pakistan, mainly concentrated in the economically developed provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
1.2.2 Administrative divisions
Pakistan has four provinces and two districts, including Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan regions, and Free regions Jammu and Kashmir. In May 2018, the Pakistani President signed the constitutional amendment on the Federal Tribal Areas Reform, incorporating the Federal Tribal Areas into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad and Karachi is its largest city and commercial center. Other major economic centers include Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, etc.
1.3 Political Environment
1.3.1 Political system
【Politics】
Pakistan has a federal system in which the federal government is the highest executive organ. The Federal Cabinet is made up of the Prime Minister, Ministers and Ministers of State, and the daily work of each ministry is presided over by the permanent secretary. The provincial government is led by the federal government, but the constitution provides for provincial autonomy. The Constitution provides for a Council of Common Interests and a National Economic Council composed of central and provincial officials to coordinate federal-provincial and inter-provincial relations.
【The constitution】
Pakistan has enacted three constitutions since its founding in 1956, 1962 and 1973.
On April 19, 2010, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was signed into effect by President Zardari, transferring some presidential powers to the Prime Minister and parliament, and making adjustments on major sensitive issues involving the decentralization of central and local power.
On December 22, 2010, the Parliament of Pakistan unanimously passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gives the prime minister the power to appoint judges of the High Court and the Supreme Court, with the final approval of the president.
On February 20, 2012, the Parliament of Pakistan passed the 20th amendment to the Constitution, which removed the power of the president to appoint the caretaker prime minister and replaced it with a consultation between the prime minister and opposition leaders. The amendment also includes extending the term of office of the election committee.
【Parliament】
Parliament is the legislative body of Pakistan. After the promulgation of the Constitution in 1973, a bicameral system was introduced, consisting of a National Assembly (lower house) and a Senate (Upper house). The National Assembly is elected by universal suffrage, and the Senate is elected by the provincial Assembly and the National Assembly on the basis of equal representation for each province.
On July 25, 2018, Pakistan held the National Assembly elections, and the Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party won and became the largest party in the parliament. On 15 August, Asad Keyser was elected speaker of the National Assembly.
On March 12, 2021, Sanjirani, president of the Senate, was successfully re-elected.
【Head of State】
The President of Pakistan is the head of state. The current president is Arif Alvi (PTI, a member of the Pakistan ), who took office on 9 September 2018 for a five-year term.
【Head of Government】
The Prime Minister of Pakistan is the head of government of Pakistan. The prime minister is elected by the entire National Assembly and is responsible for appointing and forming the Cabinet. The current Prime Minister of Pakistan is Imran Khan (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), who took office on 18 August 2018 for a five-year term.
【The court】
The highest judicial organ in Pakistan is the Supreme Court, and each province and Islamabad have high courts, each composed of a Chief Justice and several judges.
【The army】
The Armed Forces of Pakistan is the seventh largest active duty armed force in the world, comprising three main branches: the Pakistan Army, the Pakistan Navy (including the Pakistan Marine Corps) and the Pakistan Air Force, as well as some paramilitary units. The army plays an extremely important role in the political life of Pakistan, especially when there is a political crisis, the army has become an important force to decide the fate and future of the country. The army also takes an active part in the formulation of major national policies during the rule of an elected government.
1.3.2 Major political parties
Pakistan has multiple political parties according to the election commission of Pakistan 182 political parties registered. Major Political Parties are in Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek - e - Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim league Nawaz (PMLN), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PMLQ), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) etc.
The PTI, Which won the 2018 election, was founded in 1996 Lahore by the current prime minister and former cricket star Imran Khan.
1.3.3 Government agencies
The current cabinet of Pakistan was sworn in on August 20, 2018. After several changes, it now comprises 28 federal ministers, three Ministers of State, four advisers to the Prime Minister and 16 special assistants to the Prime Minister. The main ministries of the federal government of Pakistan are: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Planning and Development, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Privatization, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Water Resources Management, Ministry of Industrial Production, Ministry of Information Technology and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Food Security and Research, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, etc.
1.4 Social Culture
1.4.1 Nationality
Pakistan is a multi-ethnic country with Punjabi (63%), Sindh (18%), Pashtun (11%) and Baloch (4%). According to the "Two Ethnic Theory" of Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, Pakistan has only one ethnic group, the Muslim ethnic group.
Non-muslims and other Pakistanis are called "minority sects".
1.4.2 language
Pakistan's constitution stipulates that Urdu is the national language and English is the official language.
1.4.3 Religion and customs
【Religion】
According to the constitution, the state religion of Pakistan is Islam, and Islam accounts for 95% of the total population of the country, among which 90% of the Muslim population is Sunni, in addition, there are Hinduism, Christianity, etc., but only 5% of the country’s population.
【Custom】
Pakistan is a conservative Islamic country. Muslims start conversation with the ‘’Asslam u Alikum wa rehmatullahi wa barakatuh’’ which means wish peace upon you with Mercy & Blessings. Normally people say “Aslam u alikum’’.
Alcohol is forbidden in Islam, and foreigners in Pakistan are not allowed to drink in public. Muslims do not eat pork, animal blood and dead animals. Many traditional foods are eaten with the hands, but only with the right hand.
【Taboo】
Islam pays special attention to the social intact of women and men. Women are not supposed to shake hands, hug or have any physical intact with men in public places. In fact doing so in public places is not only considered a sin but also an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment in Pakistani law.
In large, Pakistani Community does not like women wearing such dresses which may expose their body parts and same in restricted by local laws. Taking photos of women in Pakistan may also have worse consequences.
In Pakistan, certain colors may be extremely disliked by certain religious groups. In large, black and yellow colors are the most questionable colors in Pakistan. The people in Pakistan has religious affiliations with green, white, silver and gold colors and they are liked the most.
Pakistan is an Islamic country and it is strictly prohibited all kinds of alcohol, pork and pork products and eatables that are not allowed in Islamic teachings into Pakistan.
1.4.4 Science, Education and Medical care
【Science and education】
Pakistan implements free primary and secondary education, but the education is relatively backward, the number of schools is insufficient, and the penetration rate of education is low. According to incomplete statistics, there are 158,000 primary schools, 29,000 junior high schools, 16,000 senior high schools and 51 universities in Pakistan. Famous institutions of higher learning include Punjab University, Karachi University, Jinnah University Islamabad and Peshawar University.
【medical】
There are two types of hospitals in Pakistan: public and private. Public hospitals charge low fees and cater mainly to ordinary citizens. Private hospitals have better equipment and medical standards, but their costs are higher. Medical and health conditions in rural and remote mountainous areas are relatively poor. Pakistan is a high incidence area of hepatitis disease, in summer, if the diet is unclean, it is easy to cause gastrointestinal diseases, the main infectious diseases are cholera, dengue fever, malaria, polio, etc.
1.4.5 Trade unions and other non-governmental organizations
【The union】
There are many trade unions in Pakistan. The Industrial Relations Law 2002 clearly stipulates the establishment of trade unions and trade union activities, which only allows the establishment of trade unions in the industrial production sector, but not in the public service sectors such as banking, transportation, communication, postal service, education and medical service.
The Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) is the largest trade union organization in Pakistan, formed by the merger of All Pakistan Trade Union Confederation, All Pakistan Labour Federation and Pakistan National Trade Union Confederation in 2005, and is a member of the International Labour Organization and the International Free Labour Confederation. Currently, PWF has 8 offices throughout Pakistan, 419 member organizations and 880,000 members.
【Other NGOs】
The number of NGOs in Pakistan has grown rapidly in recent years. According to the Pakistan Charity Center, there are about 100,000 to 150,000 NGOs active in Pakistan, of which 144 are legally registered and posted on the website of the Ministry of Interior.
1.4.6 Holidays
【Holidays】
There are two kinds of holidays in Pakistan, one is religious festivals and the other is the national festivals stipulated by the government.
(1) Religious festivals (according to the date of the Islamic calendar) : New Year's Day of the Islamic calendar, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha.
(2) Public holidays (according to the date of Western calendar) : National Day (March 23), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (August 14), National Defense Day (September 6), Iqbal's birthday (November 9), National Father Jinnah's birthday (December 25).
