Reflections...Volume 19 No 19 May 2002 .....Miscellaneous.......Pakistan Profile 2001.......Dr. Syed Manzoor Alam

Volume 19 No 19 May 2002

Issues and Views

Open Forum

Pakistan Profile 2001
Dr. Syed Manzoor Alam

Pakistan lies just north of the Tropic of Cancer, bordering (clockwise from west) Iran, Afghanistan,
China and India. The Arabian Sea lies to the south. The total geographical area of Pakistan
is: 796,095 sq. km. (307,374 sq. miles) including Punjab (205,344 sq. km); Sindh (140,914 sq. km); NWFP (74,521 sq. km); Balochistan (347,190 sq. km); FATA (27,220 sq. km); Islamabad Federal Area (906 sq. km). Pakistan has great topographical variety. The high mountain region of the north includes part of the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindukush. There are 35 peaks over 7,320m (24,000ft) high, including K-2 (Godwin Austin), the world’s second-highest mountain (8610 m).

Islamic Republic of Pakistan lies between 23o and 37o north latitude and 61o and 76o east longitude. This region abounds in glaciers, lakes and green valleys. Southwards, the ranges gradually lose height. The western low mountain region covers much of the North-West Frontier province, with mountains cut by valleys and passes, including the Khyber Pass, 56 km long, connecting Kabul in Afghanistan with Peshawar. The third region is the Balochistan plateau to the west. West of the Balochistan plateau is an area of desert with dry lakes, one 87 km/54 miles long. The Potohar upland lies between the Indus and Jhelum rivers in the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area. This is an arid region, with cultivation along the valleys. The fifth region is the Punjab plain watered by the river Indus and its eastern tributaries (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi,Sutlej and Beas) and additionally irrigated by canals.

The Sindh plain stretches between the Punjab plain and the Arabian Sea on both sides of the Indus river. The plain comprises a vast fertile tract with many lakes, and a desert spreading eastward into India.
There is extreme variations in temperature of Pakistan. The northern mountains are cold, with long and severe winters. Temperatures on the Balochistan plateau are high. Along the coastal strip, the climate is modified by sea breezes. In the rest of the country, the temperature rises steeply in summer. Seasons are: cold season (December to March), hot season (April to June), monsoon season (July to September) and post-monsoon season (October and November). Rainfall varies from 760-1,270 mm in the Himalayan foothills to 210 mm in Balochistan.
Agriculturally, Pakistan is very sound and has the capability to export rice and cotton, in addition wheat, sugarcane, maize, vegetable crops, fruits are grown abundantly in all parts of the country. Wheat has 8137 x 103 ha. with production of over 20 million tons, rice with area of 2377 x 103 ha. with production of 4803 x 103 tons, sugarcane with area of 961 x 103 ha. with production of 43,608 x 103 tons, cotton (Bales) with area of 2927 x 103 ha. with production of 10,732 x 103 tons, maize with area of 969 x 103 ha. with production of 173 x 103 tons, tobacco with area of 54 x 103 ha. with production of 102.7 x 103 tons, gram 963 x 103 ha. with production of 493 x 103 tons, oil seed with production of 567.6 x 103 tons. Similarly, the yield per hectare of major agricultural crops are (kg/ha): wheat (2278), rice (2021), sugarcane (45378), maize (15112), gram (612) and cotton (624).
In Pakistan, well-watered mountain slopes support forests of deodar, pine, poplar, shisham, willow and other species. Towering grasses and expanses of floating lotus flourish in the lake area of the Sindh plain. There are mangrove swamps to the south. Wildlife in the northern mountains of Pakistan includes brown bears, black Himalayan bears, musk deer, ibex, leopard and the rare snow-leopard. Chinkara gazelle have a wider distribution, while barking deer live closer to urban centres. In the delta, there are crocodiles, pythons and wild boar. Green turtles, an endangered species, regularly visit the Karachi coast during the egg-laying season. Manchar lake in Sindh is rich in water-birds. The main towns of Pakistan are: Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Islamabad, etc.

The population of Pakistan is about: 140.9 m (1999). Male: female ratio 52.5:47.5; overall density 161 people per sq km, varying from 230 people per sq. km. in Punjab to 12 in Balochistan. Birth rate 39 per 1,000 (1996). Life expectancy has been rising steadily to 63 years, for both men and women (2000). The average rate of population growth was 3 per annuum, during the period 1985-95, one of the world’s highest. There are about 98 % Muslims in Pakistan. The rest of the population are Hindus, Christians, while and some Parsis (Zoroastrians). Urdu is the national language and English is official language. Regional languages are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto, Brohi, Balochi, Seraiki. There are numerous local dialects. Universal free primary education is a constitutional right, but is not compulsory. Primary education begins at five. There are approximately 165,700 primary schools, middle schools; 18,800, high schools-12,800 (2000). In 1994/5, 71% of children of primary age were enrolled at primary school; 30% of older children at secondary school, arts and science colleges (853), professional colleges (308), universities (26), there are also many private universities.

There is 38% adult literacy (1995), 48.9% among males, 23.5% among females. 2,097 literacy centres, some for women, have been established. They have an enrolment of over 35,000 and the government aims to double the literacy rate to 70% by the year 2003. Total outlay on education in 1995/6 was PRs54,100m, 2.5% of GNP. There are 24 universities with 220,000 students (1995/6), seven in the private sector.
In health sector, there are hospitals (876), dispensaries (4635), health centres (5171), maternity homes (856), TB centres (274), beds (93,907), doctors (Registered)-91,823, dentists (Registered)-4175, lady health visitors (5619), nurses (Registered)-37,623, population per hospital bed (1495), doctors (1529), dentist (33,629), nurse (3732), nurse per hospital (2.8), average per capita per annuum national expediture on health Rs. 173, daily per capita food calories per day (2715), protein per day per capita (71 gram). The infant mortality 90 per 1,000 live births (1995). In 1995, there were 1,939 inhabitants per doctor. Government expenditure on health was 0.81% of GNP (1992/3). The main teaching hospitals are in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta. The network of medical services includes hospitals, dispensaries, rural health centres and basic health units. Family planning services are given at 1,290 family welfare centres. By 1992/3 an estimated 85% of the urban population and 50% of the rural population had access to safe water. Some tropical diseases still occur, but malaria has been reduced to one case per 1,000 population (1993). Leprosy has been successfully controlled. Immunisation against paralytic poliomyelitis has been expanded. A national programme of goitre control is being implemented in mountainous areas where iodine deficiency disorders are endemic. Drug abuse has increased, with an est. 3m addicts, 51% of them users of heroin.
Manufacturing of cotton products are cotton yarn (1289 x 103 tons), cotton cloth (360.4 million sq. m), vegetable ghee and cooking oil (622.6 x 103 tons), cigarettes (41.1 Bls Nos.), cement (7167 x 103 tons), sugar (2567 x 103), toilete sops (45.3 x 103), refrigerator (176.8 x 103 Nos), air conditioners (5.2 x 103 Nos.). In employment sector, total labour force estimated are: 36.7m (1995/6). Around 28% of the population are employed, with women making up 9.15% (up from 2.9% in 1981). Agriculture accounts for about half of the employed labour force (1995/6), manufacturing and mining 10%, construction 6%, trade 13%, transport 5%. Many Pakistanis work abroad, some 3.5m in the Middle East alone. Official unemployment is 4.8%, but a sizeable proportion of the labour force are underemployed. Wage earners make up only around 25% of the employed labour force, since family labour is common in the rural areas and casual and self-employed labour in the urban areas. In 1993, there were 7,098 registered trade unions.
Similarly, annual production / assembly of motor vehicles are trucks (686 Nos.), Buses (1058 Nos.), L.C. Vs (5075 Nos.), 4 x 4 vehicles (242 Nos.), tractors (21518 Nos.), motorcycle/cycle (20,320 Nos.), cars and jeeps (27919 Nos.), bicycles (426 x 103 Nos.). Cotton mills in the country are: 444 Nos., Spindles (8570 x 103 Nos.), looms (10 x 103 Nos.), rotors (147 x 103 Nos.), power looms (225253 Nos.). The total power installed capacity from all the three sources (hydal, thermal and nuclear is: 17,651 M.W). Hydel (4963 MW). Thermal (4921 MW), Private IPP (5417 MW), K.E.S.C. (1756 MW), KANUPP (137 MW), Tapal and Gul Ahmed (263 MW). Production of coal is: 2151 x 103 tons, crude oil 57,064 US Barrel per day 15,630 million US Barrel), Natural Gas production, 650,726 million cubic feet.
In media section, the first Urdu journal appeared in 1836. In 1991, there were 2,204 newspapers and journals, including 271 dailies and 508 weeklies. The main newspapers in Urdu are Jang, Nawa-i-Waqt and Mashriq. Leading English language papers are Dawn, The Pakistan Times, The Muslim, The News, The Nation and The Frontier Post. Radio and television are state-owned and run by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). Number of TV Sets (3610 x 103), telephone (3934 x 103). Radio Pakistan has 27 stations, broadcasts in 20 languages and dialects and reaches to 95 % of the population. Nearly half the broadcasting time is devoted to information and education. PTV offers two television channels. A private channel from Shalimar Television Network (STN) operates from 22 cities. There are 10m radios and 2.6m television sets.In communication sector, telephone IDD (code 92) is available for worldwide linkage. The government aims to increase the number of telephones from two to ten per 100 people. Fax, telex and telegram services are available. There were 16 main telephone lines per 1,000 people in 1995. The transport of Pakistan is about: 205,304 km of roads in mid-1995, 51% asphalted. Among current road projects are the National Highway N-5 (Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar), carrying 56% of the country’s traffic, which is being rehabilitated and made into a dual-carriageway; and a six-lane highway between Lahore and Islamabad.
There are 8,775 km of track, with 841 stations and 54 halts in Pakistan. The main railway network runs north-south, linking (via several routes) Karachi, the main port and industrial centre, with Islamabad, 1,600km to the north. Major lines run to Chaman on the Afghan border, and across the border to Zahidan in Iran. Rail links to India are restricted. There is some private sector participation in railway operations (e.g. some ticket sales) and major rehabilitation schemes are to use private funding.
In Pakistan, there are four seaports: Karachi port handles about 98 % of foreign trade. It is being modernized at a cost of Rs. 5 bn. Port Qasim, south-east of Karachi, is also being upgraded. Around 30 m tons of cargo are handled annually in Pakistan’s ports. A fish harbour/mini port at Keti Bunder in Sindh is planned. A new deep-sea port is also planned at Gwadar, on the coast of Balochistan. In Pakistan, there are also some dry ports: i) Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot. The government has allocated US$100m for the acquisition of eight modern ships and $32m for an oil tanker, to upgrade and modernise the national fleet. It has invited applications from the private sector to set up a private shipping company.
Pakistan has 9 international and 35 domestic airports. Major international airports are at Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. A programme to upgrade terminals is in progress. Internally, a fleet of Boeing, Airbus and Fokker aircraft serve the major towns and is particularly important to the northern regions, where mountain roads are hazardous. The national carrier is Pakistan International Airways (PIA).
With per capita GNP at US$460 in 1995 (total GNP $59,991m), Pakistan falls into the higher ranks of low-income countries. Its rate of real per capita GNP growth over the 1985-95 period was 1.2% p.a. GDP was PRs1,865bn in 1995-6, with growth of 5.2%. Pakistan has a predominantly agricultural economy, with agriculture (notably cotton), fisheries and forestry contributing a quarter of GDP. At independence manufacturing took off rapidly, growing at an annual 9% up to the mid-1960s. The economy has been developed through a series of five-year plans.
In Pakistan, the seven major exports – raw cotton, rice, cotton cloth, cotton yarn, garments, leather and carpets – represent 60% or more of total exports. Exports of manufactures have grown strongly. Main imports are machinery, chemicals and oil. The US, Hong Kong, Britain, Japan and Germany are the main trading partners for exports; Japan, the US, Malaysia, Germany and Saudi Arabia for imports. Total exports were worth US$8,707m in 1995/6; imports were worth US$11,805m.
Pakistan has regional affiliations with some countries: South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC); Convention of Islamic Countries; Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) (with Iran, Turkey and several newly independent Central Asian states); D8 a new group linking Islamic developing countries.
There are many important crops in Pakistan, i.e. wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton (Bales), maize, tobacco, gram and oil seed. Pakistan is largely self-sufficient in food. Production has increased as a result of investment in irrigation facilities and the wider use of fertilizers. 21.4m ha of land was under cultivation in 1993/4. Many of the holdings are small, 27% less than 1ha. The government supports the price of major crops. Total cropped area of Pakistan is 22.80 mha. Wheat is the staple, grown on 37% of the cropped area. Planting area and wheat yield have both risen since the 1970s; output in 1994/5 was 17m tons. Rice, the second staple crop, is grown for domestic consumption and export. 10% of cultivated land is used for growing rice.

The government is encouraging the production of high-quality basmati rice for the Middle East export market. Production in 1994/5 was 3.45m tons.
Cotton is the major cash crop and largest agricultural export. It is grown mainly in Punjab and to a lesser extent in Sindh. It is vulnerable to bad weather and crop diseases which make production uneven (8.7m bales in 1994/5, an estimated 10.6m in 1995/6), but yields have increased over the past two decades. Since 1988, the export of cotton and rice has been open to the private sector; they accounted for over 30% of exports in 1994/5. Sugar, grown from cane, is the second major cash crop. Output was 47 m tons in 1994/5. Other crops include millet, sorghum, maize, barley, gram, chickpeas and other pulses, onions, potatoes and chillies. Meat and dairy products, leather and draught animals contributed 8% of GDP in 1994/5. The sector has grown by an average 6% over the past decade. There are plans to make poultry a major export.
Trees felling or cutting have reduced forest cover to 4.3m ha (just under 5% of total land area). It contributed an estimated 1 % of GDP in 1994/5. The government has launched each year a tree planting programme.