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Compare Pakistan (2001) - Lesotho (2001)

Compare Pakistan (2001) z Lesotho (2001)

 Pakistan (2001)Lesotho (2001)
 PakistanLesotho
Administrative divisions 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh

note:
the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years:
40.47% (male 30,131,400; female 28,391,891)

15-64 years:
55.42% (male 40,977,543; female 39,164,663)

65 years and over:
4.11% (male 2,918,872; female 3,032,270) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
39.28% (male 430,147; female 424,994)

15-64 years:
56.03% (male 588,440; female 631,404)

65 years and over:
4.69% (male 43,033; female 59,044) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 117 (2000 est.) 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
82

over 3,047 m:
12

2,438 to 3,047 m:
21

1,524 to 2,437 m:
32

914 to 1,523 m:
14

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
35

1,524 to 2,437 m:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
11

under 914 m:
17 (2000 est.)
total:
25

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
Area total:
803,940 sq km

land:
778,720 sq km

water:
25,220 sq km
total:
30,355 sq km

land:
30,355 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of California slightly smaller than Maryland
Background The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule.
Birth rate 31.21 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 31.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$8.9 billion

expenditures:
$11.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
revenues:
$76 million

expenditures:
$80 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Islamabad Maseru
Climate mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 1,046 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

conventional short form:
Pakistan

former:
West Pakistan
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho

conventional short form:
Lesotho

former:
Basutoland
Currency Pakistani rupee (PKR) loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $38 billion (2000 est.) $720 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador William B. MILAM

embassy:
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad

mailing address:
P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200

telephone:
[92] (51) 2080-0000

FAX:
[92] (51) 2276427

consulate(s) general:
Karachi

consulate(s):
Lahore, Peshawar
chief of mission:
Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON

embassy:
254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)

mailing address:
P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho

telephone:
[266] 312666

FAX:
[266] 310116
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Maleeha LODHI

chancery:
2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 939-6200

FAX:
[1] (202) 387-0484

consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles and New York
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lebohang Kenneth MOLEKO

chancery:
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536

FAX:
[1] (202) 234-6815
Disputes - international status of Kashmir with India; water-sharing problems with India over the Indus River (Wular Barrage) none
Economic aid - recipient $2 billion (FY99/00) $123.7 million (1995)
Economy - overview Pakistan is a poor, heavily populated country, suffering from internal political disputes, lack of foreign investment, and a costly confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's economic outlook continues to be marred by its weak foreign exchange position, which relies on international creditors for hard currency inflows. The MUSHARRAF government will face an estimated $21 billion in foreign debt coming due in 2000-03, despite having rescheduled nearly $2 billion in debt with Paris Club members. Foreign loans and grants provide approximately 25% of government revenue, but debt service obligations total nearly 50% of government expenditure. Although Pakistan successfully negotiated a $600 million IMF Stand-By Arrangement, future loan installments will be jeopardized if Pakistan misses critical IMF benchmarks on revenue collection and the fiscal deficit. MUSHARRAF has complied largely with IMF recommendations to raise petroleum prices, widen the tax net, privatize public sector assets, and improve the balance of trade. However, Pakistan's economic prospects remain uncertain; too little has changed despite the new administration's intentions. Foreign exchange reserves hover at roughly $1 billion, GDP growth hinges on crop performance, the import bill has been hammered by high oil prices, and both foreign and domestic investors remain wary of committing to projects in Pakistan. Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's primary natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years. A small manufacturing base depends largely on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties for Lesotho. The pace of substantial privatization has increased in recent years. In December 1999, the government embarked on a nine-month IMF staff-monitored program aimed at structural adjustment and stabilization of macroeconomic fundamentals. The government is in the process of applying for a three-year successor program with the IMF under its Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility.
Electricity - consumption 57.732 billion kWh (1999) 55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 55 million kWh

note:
electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production 62.078 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
63.38%

hydro:
36.51%

nuclear:
0.11%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
0%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m

highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Ethnic groups Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants) Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 59.152 (January 2001), 52.814 (2000), 49.118 (1999), 44.943 (1998), 40.918 (1997), 35.909 (1996) maloti per US dollar - 7.78307 (January 2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996); note - the Lesotho loti is at par with the South African rand which is also legal tender; maloti is the plural form of loti
Executive branch note:
following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF suspended Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the powers of the head of the government, he appointed an eight-member National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme governing body; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR remains the ceremonial chief of state; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for three years from the coup date

chief of state:
President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December 1997)

head of government:
Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 12 October 1999)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the chief executive

elections:
president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA); note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF overthrew the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF in the military takeover of 12 October 1999; in May 2000, the Supreme Court validated the October 1999 coup and set a three-year limit in office for Chief Executive MUSHARRAF

election results:
Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of Parliament and provincial vote - NA%; results are for the last election for prime minister prior to the military takeover of 12 October 1999 - Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%
chief of state:
King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995, while his father was in exile

head of government:
Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May 1998)

cabinet:
Cabinet

elections:
none; according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch
Exports $8.6 billion (f.o.b., FY99/00) $175 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities textiles (garments, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice, other agricultural products manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (1998)
Exports - partners US 24%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 7%, Germany 6%, UAE 6% (FY99/00) South African Customs Union 65%, North America 34% (1998)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 April - 31 March
Flag description green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
GDP purchasing power parity - $282 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
25.4%

industry:
24.9%

services:
49.7% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
18%

industry:
38%

services:
44% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.8% (2000 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 30 00 N, 70 00 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Geography - note controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
Heliports 8 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
247,811 km

paved:
141,252 km (including 339 km of expressways)

unpaved:
106,559 km (1998)
total:
4,955 km

paved:
887 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
4.1%

highest 10%:
27.7% (1996)
lowest 10%:
0.9%

highest 10%:
43.4% (1986-87)
Illicit drugs key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets; narcotics still move from Afghanistan into Balochistan Province -
Imports $9.6 billion (f.o.b., FY99/00) $700 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery, petroleum, petroleum products, chemicals, transportation equipment, edible oils, grains, pulses, flour food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)
Imports - partners Saudi Arabia 8%, UAE 8%, US 6%, Japan 6%, Malaysia 4% (FY99/00) South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 7% (1998)
Independence 14 August 1947 (from UK) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 3.8% (1999 est.) 15.5% (1999 est.)
Industries textiles, food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate 80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 82.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.2% (2000 est.) 6% (2000 est.)
International organization participation AsDB, C (suspended), CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 30 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 171,100 sq km (1993 est.) 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 40 million

note:
extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2000 est.)
700,000 economically active
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.) 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Land boundaries total:
6,774 km

border countries:
Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km
total:
909 km

border countries:
South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land:
27%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
6%

forests and woodland:
5%

other:
61% (1993 est.)
arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
66%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
23% (1993 est.)
Languages Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8% Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999; bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the members up for election every two years) and the National Assembly (217 seats - 10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA); National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA); note - no timetable has yet been given for elections following the military takeover

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/N 137, PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents 21, minorities 10; note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dismissed Parliament 15 October 1999
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election; on 28 February 2001, the Senate approved expansion of the Assembly by a further 50 seats in the next election, which may be held as early as January 2002

elections:
last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held NA March 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - LCD 60.7%, BNP 24.5%, other 14.8%; seats by party - LCD 79, BNP 1

note:
results contested; opposition parties claimed the election was fraudulent and staged a coup; Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces intervened in September 1998 and restored order; the Interim Political Authority (IPA) was set up in December 1998 to create a new electoral system and conduct new elections.
Life expectancy at birth total population:
61.45 years

male:
60.61 years

female:
62.32 years (2001 est.)
total population:
48.84 years

male:
47.97 years

female:
49.74 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
42.7%

male:
55.3%

female:
29% (1998)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
83%

male:
72%

female:
93% (1999 est.)
Location Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Asia Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 240,605 GRT/367,040 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 13, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)
-
Military - note - The Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs.
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $2.435 billion (FY99/00) $34 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.9% (FY99/00) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
35,770,928 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
515,464 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
21,897,366 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
277,369 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 17 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
1,657,723 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Republic Day, 23 March (1956) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun:
Pakistani(s)

adjective:
Pakistani
noun:
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)

adjective:
Basotho
Natural hazards frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) periodic droughts
Natural resources land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas 4,044 km (1987) -
Political parties and leaders note:
Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999, however, political parties have been allowed to operate; Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. HAYEE Baluch]; Baluch National Party or BNP [Sardar Akhtar MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or JUP/NI [Abdul Sattar Khan NIAZI]; Millat Party [Farooq LEGHARI]; Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED], Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ], Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan or TJP [Allama Sajid NAQVI], and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction or JUP/NO [Shah Ahmad NOORANI]; Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed AFZAL Khan]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction or PML/J [Hamid Nasir CHATTHA]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]

note:
political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Tseliso MAKHAKHE]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Phebe MOTEBANO, chairwoman; Dr. Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP and Setlamo Alliance [Vincent MALEBO]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential NA
Population 144,616,639 (July 2001 est.) 2,177,062

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2000 est.) 49.2% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 2.11% (2001 est.) 1.49% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim none
Radio broadcast stations AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 13.5 million (1997) 104,000 (1997)
Railways total:
8,163 km

broad gauge:
7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km double track)

narrow gauge:
445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.) (2000)
total:
2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa

narrow gauge:
2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Religions Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3% Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.96 male(s)/female

total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.73 male(s)/female

total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
the domestic system is mediocre, but improving; service is adequate for government and business use, in part because major businesses have established their own private systems; since 1988, the government has promoted investment in the national telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the majority of the rural population

domestic:
microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks

international:
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (1999)
general assessment:
rudimentary system

domestic:
consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 2.861 million (March 1999) 20,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 158,000 (1998) 1,262 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997) 1 (2000)
Terrain flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 4.41 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 6% (FY99/00 est.) 45% (2000 est.)
Waterways none none
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