Pakistan Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Asia.

Area
796,095 sq km (307,374 sq miles) excluding data for the disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir.

Population
161.1 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
202.36 per sq km.

Capital
Islamabad.
Population: 800,000 (2005).

Government
Federal Islamic Republic since 1973. Gained independence from the UK in 1947.   Recent history: At home, the Musharraf Government sought to establish its popular legitimacy by holding elections for the National Assembly, as well as a referendum on his Presidency, in October 2002. These returned General Musharraf – now partially reinvented as a civilian President – while his supporters took control of the national assembly. However, his pro-American stance has made him extremely unpopular among parts of Pakistani society. In the last two years he has been the target of at least a dozen assassination attempts. Otherwise, his position appears reasonably secure for the time being. Until the emergence of a plausible untainted civilian political leader, Musharraf is probably the best that Pakistan can expect.
The legislature is the bicameral Majlis-I-Shura, comprising the National Assembly and the Senate. The National Assembly has 342 members elected for a five-year term: 272 members are elected in single-seat constituencies; the remaining 70 are reserved for women and national minorities and are chosen by the political parties in proportion to their share of the directly elected seats. The Senate has 100 members selected by each of the four provincial Parliaments, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the federal capital.

Language
Urdu is the national language. English is widely spoken. Regional languages include Punjabi, which is spoken by 48 per cent of the population (1981), Pushto, Sindhi, Saraiki, and Baluchi. There are numerous local dialects.

Religion
97 per cent Muslim, the remainder are Hindu or Christian.

Time
GMT + 5.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two- or three-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz since 2004.

Head of State
President Pervez Musharraf since 2001.

Telephone
Country code: 92.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is largely limited to main cities.

Internet
Internet is available in urban areas where Internet cafes can be found.

Media
President Pervez Musharraf’s rule has been marked by increased freedom for the print media and liberalization of broadcasting policies; the state’s monopoly has been diminished by the expansion of private radio and TV stations. In 2005, issued licenses for private FM radio stations totalled around 100, but private stations are not allowed to broadcast news. Pakistani censorship, however, remains far more rigorous than in India. The Pakistani Government uses a range of legal and constitutional powers to curb press freedom. The country’s law on blasphemy has been used against journalists. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s print media are among the most outspoken in South Asia.

Post
Airmail takes four to five days to reach Western Europe.

Post office hours: General post offices in major cities offer 24-hour services.

Press
• The English-language press enjoys a great deal of influence in business circles.
• Dailies include Business Recorder, Dawn (website: www.dawn.com), Financial Post, Frontier Post (website: http://frontierpost.com.pk), Leader, Pakistan Observer, Pakistan Times, Star, The Nation (website: www.nation.com.pk) and The News (website: www.jang.com.pk).

Radio
• Radio Pakistan is state run and operates more than 20 stations nationwide, an external service and the FM 101 network, aimed at younger listeners.
• Azad Kashmir Radio is also state run.
• FM 100 is a commercial, music-based FM network.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
29 Jan Ashoura.
23 Mar Pakistan Day. 
31 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
14 Aug Independence Day.
13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
9 Nov Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day.
20 Dec Eid ul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice). 
25 Dec Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday. 

2008
19 Jan Ashoura.
20 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
23 Mar Pakistan Day. 
14 Aug Independence Day.
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
9 Nov Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day.
9 Dec Eid ul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday.

Note
(a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Most restaurants are closed during the day and there is a restriction on smoking and drinking in public places. Eid al-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha may last from two to four days, depending on the region. (b) Christian holidays are observed by the Christian community only.

Contact Information:

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC)
22 A, Saeed Plaza, Blue Area, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Tel: (51) 920 3772.
Website: www.tourism.gov.pk


High Commission for Pakistan in the UK
34-36 Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9JN, UK
Tel: (020) 7664 9200 or 9204.
Website: www.pakmission-uk.gov.pk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700; Mon-Thurs 1000-1230, Fri 1000-1200 (visa submission); 1500-1700 (visa collection).

Consulate General of Pakistan in the UK
Pakistan House, 137 Dickenson Road, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5JB, UK
Tel: (0161) 225 2005.

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the USA
3517 International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 243 6500.
Website: www.pakistan-embassy.org

Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the USA
12 East, 65th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA
Tel: (212) 879 5800 or 517 7541.
Website: www.pakistanconsulateny.org



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