World Factbook
Pakistan
Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: green with a vertical white band on the left side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are all traditional Islamic symbols; the white band symbolizes the role of religious minorities
Capital
name
Islamabad
etymology
the name means "city of Islam" and derives from the Arabic islam , referring to the Islamic faith, and the Persian suffix -abad , meaning "inhabited place" or "city"
time difference
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
33 41 N, 73 03 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
note: women and non-Muslims have joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan
dual citizenship recognized
yes, but limited to select countries
residency requirement for naturalization
4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding application
Constitution
history
several previous; latest endorsed 12 April 1973, passed 19 April 1973, entered into force 14 August 1973 (suspended and restored several times)
amendment process
proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses
Country name
former
West Pakistan
etymology
the name is said to have been proposed in the early 1930s by Muslim students at Cambridge University, created from the initials of Punjab, Afghanistan, and Kashmir; the word pak also means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, and the Persian suffix - stan means "place of" or "country," so Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure"
local long form
Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
local short form
Pakistan
conventional long form
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form
Pakistan
Independence
14 August 1947 (from British India)
Legal system
common law system with Islamic law influence
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Pakistan (consists of the chief justice and 16 judges)
subordinate courts
High Courts; Federal Shariat Court; provincial and district civil and criminal courts; specialized courts for issues, such as taxation, banking, and customs
judge selection and term of office
justices nominated by an 8-member parliamentary committee on the recommendation of the Judicial Commission, a 9-member body of judges and other judicial professionals, and appointed by the president; justices can serve until age 65
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
chief of state
President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 10 March 2024)
election results
2024: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president; National Assembly vote - Asif Ali ZARDARI (PPP) 411 votes, Mehmood Khan ACHAKZALI (PMAP) 181 votes; Shehbaz SHARIF elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 201, Omar AYUB (PTI) 92
head of government
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz SHARIF (since 3 March 2024)
most recent election date
9 March 2024
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms) by the Electoral College, which consists of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies; prime minister elected for a 5-year term by the National Assembly
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Pakistan Day, 23 March, also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day (1940) or Republic Day (1956)
note: commemorates the adoption of the Lahore Resolution on 23 March 1940, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and also the adoption of Pakistan's first constitution on 23 March 1956, during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
National color(s)
green, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
6 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro; Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi; Taxila; Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore; Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta; Rohtas Fort
Political parties
Awami National Party or ANP Awami Muslim League or AML Balochistan Awami Party or BAP Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA (alliance of several parties) Hazara Democratic Party or HDP Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party Jamaat-e-Islami or JI Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl or JUI-F Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan or MWM Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA (alliance of several parties) Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P National Party or NP Pakistan Muslim League or PML-Z Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam or PML-Q Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party or PRHP Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice) Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PKMAP Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP
Legislative branch
note
legislature name
Parliament (Majlis-E-Shoora)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Qaumi Tarana" (National Anthem)
history
adopted 1954; also known as "Pak sarzamin shad bad" (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)
lyrics/music
Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA
National symbol(s)
five-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmine
Administrative divisions
4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**; Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly
term in office
5 years
number of seats
336 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/8/2024
expected date of next election
February 2029
percentage of women in chamber
17%
parties elected and seats per party
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) (75); Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) (54); Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQMP) (17); Independents (101); Other (16)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
6 years
number of seats
96 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
4/2/2024
expected date of next election
March 2027
percentage of women in chamber
18.8%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 686-1534
chancery
3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 243-6500
chief of mission
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed SHEIKH (since 18 September 2024)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[92] 51-2338071
embassy
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
telephone
[92] 051-201-4000
mailing address
8100 Islamabad Place, Washington, DC 20521-8100
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. BAKER (since January 2025)
consulate(s) general
Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar
email address and website
ACSIslamabad@state.gov https://pk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, AIIB, ARF, ASEAN (sectoral dialogue partner), C, CERN (associate member), CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt