Pakistan

C

Religion

Islam is the faith of about 97 per cent of the people. Some 77 per cent of Muslims are Sunni; 20 per cent are Shiite. Hinduism and Christianity form the leading minority religions; other religious groups include Sikhs, Parsees, and a small number of Buddhists. The constitution defines Pakistan as an Islamic nation and, as amended in 1986 and 1991, makes Islamic Shari’ah law the supreme law of Pakistan. Freedom of religion is guaranteed, however, by the constitution.

D

Language

The official language is Urdu, an Indo-Iranian language, but comparatively few people use it as their mother tongue (less than 8 per cent of the population). Despite the government having language policies in place with the aim of implementing Urdu as a national language, it is a second or third language for many. Urdu is written using an Arabic script with some additional letters added. English is used in official domains such as business and government and is a co-official language, as is Sindhi (another language of Indo-Iranian origin), the official regional language in Sindh province. Of the 69 languages spoken in Pakistan (most of which are Indo-Iranian), Punjabi is the most widely spoken language, with at least 30 million mother-tongue speakers, followed by Sindhi, Saraiki, Pashto, and Baluchi.

E

Education

About 47 per cent of adult Pakistanis are literate. The constitution prescribes free and compulsory primary education, and 68 per cent of eligible children are enrolled in school. Five years has been established as the period of primary school attendance. Adult literacy programmes play an important role in boosting literacy levels. In 2000–2001 Pakistan spent an estimated 1.8 per cent of its gross national product (GNP) on education.

In 1993 about 18.2 million pupils were enrolled in primary schools, and about 5.7 million students attended the various forms of secondary school including vocational schools. In addition, about 794,000 students attended institutions of higher education. Pakistan has 31 universities, a number of them established in the late 19th century. Among the leading institutions are the University of Karachi (founded 1951), the University of the Punjab (1882), in Lahore; the University of Peshawar (1950); the University of Sindh (1947), in Jam Shoro; and the University of Agriculture (1909), in Faisalabad.

F

Culture

As a Muslim nation, Pakistan is strongly influenced by the culture and traditions of Islam. Hindu and British influences, however, are widespread in the country.

Karachi is the seat of some of the most important libraries in Pakistan; these include the Liaquat Memorial Library, the Central Secretariat Library, and the University of Karachi library. Also of note are the National Archives of Pakistan, in Islamabad, and the Punjab Public Library, in Lahore. The National Museum of Pakistan, in Karachi, contains important materials from the Indus Valley civilizations, as well as Buddhist and Islamic artefacts. Cultural materials are also displayed in the Lahore Museum and in the Peshawar Museum. There is an Industrial and Commercial Museum in Lahore.

IV

Economy

The economy of Pakistan grew by an average 5.1 per cent annually during the period from 1965 to 1980, despite setbacks in the early 1970s caused by the secession of East Pakistan in 1971. During the 1980s and early 1990s, following the introduction of economic liberalization policies, the rate increased, but since then, it has declined, unable to maintain its earlier pace and experiencing a reduction in investment by the West following the end of the Cold War. Pakistan’s economy continues to be marred by heavy foreign debt. The gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is currently running at roughly 2 per cent per annum. The budget deficit was reduced to just under 6 per cent of GDP at the end of 1998-1999, having been 8 per cent in the early 1990s. A pause in loan instalments in 1999 from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was providing US$1.56 billion as a lifeline for the economy, did not help promote confidence among potential foreign investors. Pakistan rescheduled debts with Paris Club members at the end of the decade. The economy remains vulnerable to crisis and the majority of the nation’s citizens remain poor and heavily dependent on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods. This is largely a result of the country’s high rate of population increase, but political factors, in particular heavy military spending (running at some 5 per cent of GDP) and continuing sectarian and political violence, have also slowed economic growth and modernization.

In 2004 Pakistan’s GNP was about US$90,663 million, giving an average per capita income of US$800. The trade deficit rose to US$22,200 million in 1995, over three times that of 1994. But despite a number of stabilization reforms, which included a 7 per cent devaluation of the Pakistani rupee in 1995, the deficit rose much higher by the end of the decade, reaching US$1.7 billion by 1998-1999.

The government of Pakistan has been deeply involved in directing the country’s economy; most major industries were nationalized during the 1970s, but since the 1980s, as part of efforts to increase growth and employment, private companies have been allowed into previously state-controlled sectors, such as banking, water, and other utilities. Many people go abroad to work. The 1988-1993 seventh five-year plan allowed private investors to set up businesses without having to seek government permission—as previously—in all economic sectors except arms and alcohol production. Pakistan receives considerable economic assistance from foreign countries and from international organizations. The government has been under pressure from the IMF and other donors to continue economic reforms and austerity measures. The present military regime under General Pervez Musharraf has declared its intention to widen the tax net and improve the trade deficit, stimulating growth through privatization as part of its economic policy.

Public-debt servicing accounts for 9 per cent of exported goods and services. The annual budget in 2006 included an estimated US$16,947 million in revenue and US$19,285 million in expenditure.