Country Overview
Country Facts
Sourced from BBC Website
| Area: |
803,940 sq km (499,545 sq miles) |
| Capital City: |
Islamabad |
| Population: |
177 million |
| Population below poverty line: |
43 million |
| Literacy rate: |
Male: 63% / Female: 35.2% / Total: 49.9% |
| People: |
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8% |
| Official languages: |
English and Urdu |
| Languages spoken: |
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, Urdu, Balochi, English and many other local languages |
| Religions: |
Islam (97%), Hinduism, Christianity and others (3%) |
| Currency: |
Rupee |
| Major Political Parties: |
Pakistan People's Party (PPP); Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N); Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q); Awami National Party (ANP); Jamiat Ulema-i- Islami- Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F); Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) |
| Head of State: |
President Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister: |
Yousaf Raza Gilani |
| Foreign Minister: |
Hina Rabbani Khar |
| Membership of International Organisations: |
United Nations (UN); the Commonwealth; South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC); Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC); ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) |
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Economy |
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| Major Industries: |
Cotton yarn and thread, raw cotton, cotton fabrics, rice (EIU data) |
| Major Trading Partners: |
USA, Japan, Germany, UK, Italy |
| Major Foreign Investors: |
USA, UK, Switzerland, UAE and Norway |
| Exchange rate (on 30 January 2012): |
£1 = 143.88 PKR (Pakistan Rupee) US$1 = 90.95 |
| GDP (mp) (FY 2009-2010): |
Rs 6,018,865 million |
| GDP (mp) (FY 2009-2010): |
Rs 6,212,576 million |
| GDP Growth Rate (FY 2009-2010): |
4.1% |
| Inflation: |
12% |
Pakistan Energy Crisis
Pakistan's Projected Power Generation Deficit 2012 - 2020
Source: Private Power & Infrastructure Board, Government of Pakistan, 2008
- Critical power shortage worsening, with regular power cuts and blackouts in Karachi: population approximately 20 million
- Pakistan has a population of approximately 180m people, sixth largest in the world
- GDP growth has averaged 5.2% over the last 8 years
- Demand for electricity in Pakistan projected to outstrip supply for next 20 years
- Domestic coal to become increasingly important as an energy resource. In 2008/2009 coal accounted for less than 1% of Pakistan’s power sector which is expected to rise to 17% by 2025
- International coal price rising steadily
Political Support
 ► Government promoting the use of Domestic Coal from Thar as an alternative to oil and gas.
► Thar Coal Energy Board
► ‘Fast-track’ procedures for Thar Projects
► Federal and Provincial level ministers and secretaries
► ‘Special Economic Zone’ (i.e tax-breaks, tax holiday on corporate and royalty)
► Government of Sindh
► Coal and Energy Development Department
► Sindh Coal Authority
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