Fact file

Official name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Father of the Nation: Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Head of Government: Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister.

Capital: Islamabad. Area: 796,095 square kilometres. (Punjab: 205,344; Sindh: 140,914; North-West Frontier Province: 74,521; Balochistan: 347,190; Federally Administered Tribal Areas: 27,220).

Population: 135.28 million. Ethnic composition: 95 per cent Muslims. Per capita income: US$460. Currency: Pak rupee.

Major exports: Cotton, textile goods, rice, leather items, carpets, sports goods, fruits, handicrafts and seafood.

Major imports: Industrial equipment, vehicles, iron ore, petroleum and edible oil.

Languages: Urdu (national language), English (official). Literacy rate: 38.9 per cent.

Government: Parliamentary, two Houses - the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House).

National flag: Dark green with a white vertical bar, a white crescent and a five-pointed star in the middle, symbolising Pakistan's commitment to Islam.

Tourist resorts: Murree, Quetta, Hunza, Ziarat, Swat, Kaghan, Chitral and Gilgit.

Major cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad.

Agriculture: Major crops are cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane.

Industry: Textiles, cement, fertiliser, steel, sugar, electric goods and shipbuilding.

Energy sources: Oil, coal, hydel, thermal, nuclear and liquid petroleum gas. Total power generating capacity: 11,246 MW.

Health: Hospitals (830), beds (86,921), doctors (74,229), dentists (2,938), registered nurses (22,810).

Education: Primary schools (150,963), middle schools (14,595), high schools (9,808), arts and science colleges (798), professional colleges (161), universities (35).

Transport: Roads, 228,206 kms; railways, 8,775 kms.

Major airports: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gwadar (Pakistan International Airlines serves 55 international and 38 domestic destinations).

Seaports: Karachi and Bin Qasim (international); Minora, Gwadar and Pasni (domestic).

Communications: Post offices (13,419), telephone connections (2.47 million), public call offices (10,000), telegraph offices (427).

Employment: Total labour force, 37.15 million (47 per cent in agriculture sector, 10.50 in manufacturing and mining).

Media: Daily newspapers (424), weeklies (718), bi-monthlies (107), monthlies (553) plus news agencies APP (official) and PPI & NNI (Pvt). Electronic media: Pakistan Television (viewership: 115 million) and 23 radio stations.

Major banks: State Bank of Pakistan (Central Bank), National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank, Muslim Commercial Bank, Allied Bank of Pakistan, First Women Bank, Mehran Bank and the Bank of Punjab.

Famous mountain peaks: K-2 (8,611 metres, second highest in world), Nanga Parbat (8,126 metres), Gasherbrum-I (8,068 metres). Main river: The Indus (2,896 kms).