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Pakistan

 پاکستان کا جھنڈا

Last reviewed: 01 October 2009

Country information

PAKISTAN TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 803,940 sq km (499,545 sq miles)
Capital City: Islamabad
Population: 164 million
Population below poverty line: 36 million
Literacy rate: Male: 61.7% / Female: 35.2% / Total: 48.7%
People: Punjabi (66%), Sindhi (13%), Pashtun, (10.9%), Muhajir (7.6%), Balochi (2.5%)
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: Makhdoom shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi
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)

ECONOMY

Basic Economic Information:

GNP (FY 2008 - 2009): Rs.13,502 billion
GDP (FY 2008 - 2009): Rs.13,095 billion
GDP Growth Rate (FY 2008 - 2009) 2.0%
Inflation (July 2008 – June 2009) 15%
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 11 August 2009): £1 = 137.90 PKR (Pakistan Rupee) US$1 = 82.90

HISTORY

In 1947, on independence from Britain, the subcontinent was split into 2 successor states: the Dominion of India and that of Pakistan, both with the UK Monarch as Head of State and represented in each by a Governor General. East and West Pakistan was created from the frontier areas of British India, where the military had always been an integral part of local administration. Civilian institutions were correspondingly weak, provincial loyalties strong. Pakistan was created by the Muslim League to be a homeland for the Muslims of British India. However, Pakistan's new leaders found it hard to devise a constitutional structure that could unite the various provinces, and incorporate both the East and West portions of the country. Early state-building was further complicated by a war with India in 1947, and the early death of Pakistan's founding father M A Jinnah in 1948, and first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951.

It took almost 8 years to agree a final constitution. This established Pakistan as a republic within the Commonwealth in 1956. But the new parliamentary system was soon in difficulty: in 1958, General Ayub Khan launched Pakistan's first military coup. Martial law was declared, political parties abolished and a pattern of military control was established that has characterised almost half of Pakistan's existence since independence. In 1960 Khan became President. A new constitution, placing politics firmly under military guidance, was promulgated in 1962. But a failure to win a second war with India in 1965, mounting corruption and increasingly uncontainable Bengali frustrations in East Pakistan gradually undermined Khan's authority, finally forcing his resignation in 1969. The first election on a nationally democratic basis was conducted in 1970. The elections saw the East-Pakistan Awami League gaining an overall majority, which the West Pakistan administration refused to accept.

This set the stage for a new constitutional crisis that in turn led to civil war in March 1971 and, following Indian intervention, the emergence of East Pakistan as the independent state of Bangladesh. Since then civilian and military administrations have governed as follows:

  • 1973-77: President and then Prime Minister Z A Bhutto
  • 1977-88: President General Zia ul Haq
  • 1988-99: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (PPP) and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (PML) (alternating terms)
  • 1999-Oct 2002: General Pervez Musharraf
  • Nov 2002-Aug 2008: President Pervez Musharraf
  • Sep 2008-present: President Asif Ali Zardari
2007
  • 9 March: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry dismissed from the Supreme Court.
  • 10 Sept: Nawaz Sharif briefly returns to Pakistan but is expelled to Saudi Arabia
  • 14 Sept: Benazir Bhutto announces she will return to Pakistan
  • 20 Sept: Election Commission announce date of Presidential election for 6 October
  • 6 Oct: President Musharaf secures landslide re-election result
  • 18 Oct: Benazir Bhutto returns to Pakistan ending 7 years of self imposed exile
  • 3 Nov: President Musharraf declares a State of Emergency and suspends the constitution. 60 Judges dismissed from Supreme Court and High Court
  • 22 Nov: Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group suspends Pakistan from councils of the Commonwealth; sets out a number of pre-requisites for lifting suspension, including the restoration of democracy and the rule of law.
  • 25 Nov: Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan
  • 28 Nov: Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf resigns as Chief of Army Staff; hands over command to General Kayani.
  • 29 Nov: Musharraf sworn in as President for second term
  • 27 Dec: Benazir Bhutto assassinated in Rawalpindi
  • 30 Dec: Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son Bilawal chosen to take over as figurehead of Pakistan People's Party; her widower Asif Ali Zardari becomes Co-Chairman.
2008

  • 2 Jan: The Government of Pakistan announced the elections scheduled for 8 January would be delayed until 18 February on the advice of the Electoral Commission.
  • 18 Feb: Parliamentary and Provincial elections take place
  • 21 Feb: PPP and PML-N agree to form coalition government
  • 17 Mar: New National Assembly inaugurated
  • 19 Mar: Fehimida Mirza elected Speaker and Faisal Karim Kundi elected the Deputy Speaker.
  • 24 Mar: National Assembly vote in Yousaf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister.
  • 13 May: Nawaz Sharif withdrew his PML-N ministers from the Cabinet, leaving the PPP with a very narrow and unstable majority of four seats.
  • 13 May: Pakistan readmitted to Commonwealth.
  • 07 Aug: PPP and PML (N) announce they will prepare impeachment charges against General (retd) Musharraf.
  • 18 Aug: Musharraf defends record but announces resignation in national address on state television.
  • 25 Aug: Nawaz Sharif pulls his PML-N party out of the coalition government.
  • 06 Sept: Asif Ali Zardari elected President winning 68% of the votes
  • 25 Feb: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) declared leader of the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister of the Punjab, Shahbaz Aharif ineligible to contest national or provinicial elections, thereby removing Shanhbaz as Chief Minister and barring Nawaz from becoming President or Prime Minister.
  • 22 Mar: Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry reinstated as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

2009

  • 25 Feb  The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) declared leader of the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, and Chief Minister of the Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif ineligible to contest national or provincial elections, thereby removing Shahbaz as Chief Minster and barring Nawaz from becoming President or Prime Minister. President Zardari instigated Governor’s Rule in Punjab.
  • 12 Mar  The Long March began. Organised by the Lawyers Movement and supported by opposition political parties, this called for the reinstatement of the former Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and removal of the judges appointed by Musharraf under a constitutional order.
  • 22 Mar  Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry reinstated as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
  • 30 Mar  Governor’s Rule in Punjab lifted.
  • 14 Apr  President Zardari signed a peace agreement with leaders of Swat-based militants, providing for the imposition of sharia law in Malakand Division.
  • 6 May  Following further militant advances, Pakistani security forces launched a campaign to retake Buner and Swat.
  • 26 May  SCP overturned its previous judgement of 25 February, declaring the Sharif brothers eligible to stand for public office.
  • 26 May  SCP overturned its previous judgement of 25 February, declaring the Sharif brothers eligible to stand for public office.
  • 17 July Nawaz Sharif is acquitted of plane hijacking charges, enabling him to run for office.

A full chronology is available on the BBC News website.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India

The status of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and the history of events leading to its division, have long been contested, and have led to at least three wars between India and Pakistan. India claims that the former state was legally acceded to it in 1947. Pakistan claims that the Kashmiris were denied their choice of which state to join. Kashmir has been divided since 1948 by a cease-fire line, known since an inconclusive round of negotiations in 1972 as the Line of Control (LoC).


The Pakistani-administered portion is almost exclusively Muslim, divided between so-called Azad (Free) Kashmir and the more remote Northern Areas.


There has been continued violence in the Kashmir Valley since the insurgency began in 1988/9. Levels of violence have fallen in recent years, but remain high: from a total of around 4,500 deaths in 2001 (including over 1,000 civilians) to around 900 in 2006 (with less then 300 civilian deaths). Most of the groups are headquartered on Pakistani territory.


Since 2004, India and Pakistan have had several rounds of negotiations including a ‘composite dialogue’ aimed at settling all bilateral issues, including Kashmir. There has been a ceasefire at the Line of Control since November 2003. Both countries have agreed to confidence building measures (CBMs) including the introduction of bus services on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote routes to connect Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC. Five crossing points on the LoC were opened to enable movement of people. India has allowed separatist politicians to travel to Pakistan for the first time, and Pakistan has received elected politicians from Indian-administered Kashmir (which it previously refused to do). These CBMs have been a significant symbolic advances for both India and Pakistan’s relations and for the people of Kashmir.

UK Position on Kashmir

We continue to urge both countries to seek a lasting resolution to the issue of Kashmir, which takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. We have called for an end to all external support for violence in Kashmir, and an improvement in the human rights situation there.


We remain committed to our engagement in a very practical way through the UK Government’s Confliction Prevention Pool, which continues to fund a number of projects designed to assist those in India, Pakistan and on both sides of the Line of Control with their efforts to facilitate dialogue and address the causes and impact of conflict in the region.  For more information please see the ‘Funding Programmes’ pages of the website.
 

The Commonwealth

Pakistan was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth following the coup of October 1999 and reinstated in 2004. At the CHOGM meeting in Malta in November 2005, Heads of Government welcomed the progress made by Pakistan in restoring democracy and rebuilding democratic institutions as well as Pakistan's participation in the Commonwealth since its reinstatement by CMAG in May 2004.

They also 'noted that the holding by the same person of the offices of Head of State and Chief of Army staff is incompatible with the basic principles of democracy' and 'reiterated that until the two offices are separated, the process of democratisation in Pakistan will not be irreversible.' They 'urged Pakistan to resolve this issue as early as possible.'

Following the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of the constitution in Pakistan on 3 November 2007, CMAG met in London on 12 November in an extraordinary session to consider the situation. CMAG agreed that at its next meeting on 22 November, if there had not been sufficient progress in lifting the state of the emergency and restoring constitutional order, then Pakistan would be suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth. The suspension was duly confirmed on the eve of CHOGM in Kampala.

Following the ending of the state of Emergency, President Musharraf’s stepping down as Chief of Army Staff and the holding of provincial and parliamentary elections in February 2008, CMAG met to review Pakistan’s suspension on 12 May 2008 and agreed that the Government of Pakistan had taken positive steps to fulfil its obligations in accordance with Commonwealth fundamental values and principles. Pakistan was therefore restored to the Councils of the Commonwealth with immediate effect.

The Commonwealth website

EU

Having suspended relations with Pakistan following the 1999 coup, the EU restored full relations in 2001.

An EU-Pakistan Summit was held on 17 June 2009. The Summit established a long-term strategic partnership to deepen their relationship on specific areas, including trade, development, security, democracy, governance and promotion of human rights.

The EU is Pakistan's largest trading partner. In 2007, the EU exports to Pakistan stood at € 3.7 billion and EU imports from Pakistan at € 3.4 billion.

Full details, including the European Commission's Country Strategy Paper for Pakistan, are available on the Commission's website.

Relations with the UK

Relations between the UK and the people of Pakistan are warm and close, made even more so by the substantial number of Pakistani origin British citizens (some 1 million) who live in the UK. UK-Pakistan co-operation covers the following key issues: counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, migration, regional stability, development and strengthening democracy and respect for human rights.


The UK has committed £665 million to fight poverty in Pakistan from 2009-2013, over this period Pakistan will become one of the UK's largest aid recipients. Pakistan has been offered the UK’s full support in countering terrorism, including prevention of extremism through support for development and education; exchanges on forensic training, investigating the financing of terrorism and the sharing of crisis management expertise. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has visited Pakistan twice, and Foreign Secretary David Miliband has visited five times; this demonstrates the value we place on the UK’s friendship with Pakistan.

Outgoing high-level visits from the UK have included:

  • Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband - Jul 2009
  • Prime Minister Gordon Brown - Apr 2009
  • Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Gillian Merron, Feb 2009
  • Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband -Jan 2009
  • Prime Minister Gordon Brown - Dec 2008
  • Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband -Nov 2008
  • Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Peter Ricketts – Oct 2008
  • Leader of Conservative Party, David Cameron, and Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague – Sep 2008
  • Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw – Sep 2008
  • Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears – July 2008
  • Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander – July 2008
  • Secretary of State for Defence, Des Brown – May 2008
  • Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband -April 2008
  • Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith - Apr 2008
  • FCO Minister of State, Lord Malloch-Brown – Oct 2007
  • Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband - July 2007
  • HRH The Prince of Wales - Oct 2006

Ministerial visits from Pakistan have included:

  • President Asif Ali Zardari - August 2009
  • Interior Minister Rehman Malik - June 2009
  • President Asif Ali Zardari - May 2009
  • Foreign Minister Makhdoom shah Mehmood Qureshi - May 2009
  • Chief of Army Staff, General Kayani - March 2009
  • Federal Minister for Commerce, Makhdoom Amin Fahim - March 2009
  • Interior Adviser Rehman Malik - Jan 2009
  • Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms. Sherry Rehman – Nov 2008
  • President Asif Ali Zardari – September 2008
  • Foreign Minister Makhdoom shah Mehmood Qureshi – July 2008
  • Interior Adviser Rehman Malik- July 2008
  • President Pervez Musharraf -  Jan 2008

 

UK Development Assistance

The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain’s aid to poor countries. Their work is focused on achieving the Millennium Development Goals - the United Nations targets for fighting poverty that must be met by 2015. DFID work with charities, international organisations and the governments of poor countries to find lasting solutions to the global problem of poverty.

DFID: Working to reduce poverty in Pakistan


The UK / Pakistan Development Partnership Arrangement signed in 2006 is a ten-year joint vision of how we will work together. The agreement is based on a shared resolve to reduce poverty, address corruption, respect international human rights obligations and improve coordination between donors.

DfID is providing £665m of assistance to Pakistan from 2009 to 2013.  By 2011, it will be the UK's second largest development programme worldwide.

DFID Pakistan’s 5 year Country Plan 2008 – 2013 focuses on:

  • giving people access to better health and education;
  • making government more effective;
  • making growth work for everyone;
  • ensuring the international community works better together.

As well as providing support at the federal level, the programme helps three of Pakistan’s poorest provinces: North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab and Balochistan. 


For further information on our programmes and activities, please visit the DFID Pakistan website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Where-we-work/Asia-South/Pakistan/

UK Assistance for the South Asia Earthquake

An earthquake measuring 7.6 struck northern Pakistan on 8 October 2005. The tremors were felt as far away as India and Afghanistan. The earthquake affected 3.5 million people and cost the lives of over 75,000 people in the region. 3 million people have lost their homes. DFID worked with the Government of Pakistan and the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) to deliver much needed emergency assistance.

Pakistan and the international community have moved from emergency relief to long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected area. DFID has committed £70 million over the next 3 years to help re-build the lives of those in the earthquake area. The UK's total contribution of £128 million means we are the 4th largest donor country.

Defence cooperation

The Defence Cooperation Forum (DCF) provides a framework to discuss security in the region, military contacts, defence cooperation and equipment sales. The DCF meets annually.

GEOGRAPHY

Pakistan is about three-and-a-half times the size of the UK. It shares borders with 4 countries: India to the east, China to the north east, Iran to the south west and Afghanistan along the western and northern boundaries. Pakistan's coastline on the Arabian Sea is 1,064 km long. The climate can be roughly split into 3 seasons: cool (October through February), hot (March through June), and wet (July through September). There are, however, significant regional variations.

Pakistan is divided into 4 provinces: Balochistan, the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab and Sindh. In addition to the 4 provinces there are also the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA), and the Islamabad Capital Territory. Pakistan-administered Kashmir is known in Pakistan as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). 

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Commercial cooperation

Bilateral trade has grown steadily since 2000 and is now worth some £ 1013 million a year. The UK is the 4th largest trading partner among OECD countries- and the only one where the balance is in Pakistan's favour. The main sectors of opportunity for UK are specialised industrial machinery, power generation machinery, telecom & broadcasting equipment, chemicals, pharmaceutical and medical products and metalliferous ores and metal scrap. The UK is a key market for Pakistani exports, particularly textiles, rice, leather and leather products, carpets and fruit. The UK is the 2nd largest overseas investor in Pakistan with 16.7% market share (July 06-June 07).  The UK exported 9% more to Pakistan in 2008 (£464m) over 2007 (£426m) while Pakistan exported 16.8% more to UK in 2008 (£596m) over 2007 (£515m).

POLITICS

On 12 October 1999, General Pervez Musharraf launched a coup. The Army took control of all facets of government; the Senate, the Assemblies and the constitution were suspended. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was removed and General Musharraf declared himself Chief Executive. Retroactive legitimacy was given to the coup by Pakistan's Supreme Court on 12 May 2000. However, the Court ruled that elections should be held by 12 October 2002.

On 20 June 2001 General Musharraf declared himself President and Head of State, and dissolved the suspended assemblies. On 14 August 2001, Pakistan's Independence Day, President Musharraf announced his plans for the transition to democracy in Pakistan, with provincial and national elections to take place by October 2002 in accordance with the Supreme Court's deadline.

President Musharraf held a referendum on 30 April 2002. The question: 'Do you want to elect President General Pervez Musharraf as President of Pakistan for the next five years for: survival of local government system; restoration of democracy; continuity and stability of reforms; eradication of extremism and sectarianism and for the accomplishment of Quaid-i-Azam's concept'. Official figures reported a 71% turnout and a 98% 'yes' vote.

On 10 October 2002 national and provincial elections were held. No single party won an overall majority. The PML (Q) won the most seats (121), followed by the MMA (60) and the PPP (59). The total number of seats in the National Assembly is 342 (including 60 reserved seats for women and 10 for minorities).

At the provincial level, the elections resulted in the PML (Q) gaining a governing majority in Punjab, the MMA taking the majority in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the PML (Q) and MMA forming a government in Balochistan and the PPP gaining the majority in Sindh.

Shortly before the elections, on 21 August 2002, President Musharraf promulgated the Legal Framework Order (LFO), which introduced 35 amendments to the 1973 Constitution and gave him sweeping powers including the power to dissolve the National Assembly and to appoint Provincial Governors, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and single service chiefs. He declared that the amendments would not be subject to parliamentary approval, but that parliament could pass new amendments with a two-thirds majority. Under the LFO, all actions of the government between 12 October 1999 and 22 August 2002 would be validated upon reinstatement of the Constitution.

The LFO also created a National Security Council (NSC) as a consultative forum.

The LFO met with bitter resistance from the opposition, particularly the alliance of religious parties, the MMA (Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal), producing a constitutional impasse (ie Parliamentary gridlock) for over a year. Finally, in December 2003, the government came to an agreement with the MMA and obtained the two-thirds majority necessary for approval. President Musharraf agreed to seek a vote of confidence from the electoral college, to consult the prime minister on the appointment of armed forces chiefs, and to step down as Chief of Army Staff by December 2004. However, at Musharraf's instigation, parliament subsequently passed legislation allowing him to hold both offices until 2007.

In his bid for re-election as President, Musharraf reiterated his pledge that he would serve his next 5-year term as a civilian. He duly won the ballot in the electoral college on 6 October. However, the result could not be made official until the Supreme Court ruled on his eligibility. On 3 November Musharraf declared a state of emergency. He suspended Pakistan’s constitution and issued a Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).

The PCO suspended all fundamental freedoms (security of person, safeguards on arrest and detention, freedom of movement, assembly, association and speech, and equality of the citizen). It required all judges to take a new oath of office and provided immunity for the President, Prime Minister and persons acting under their authority. It also protected the PCO from judicial challenge. The situation remained mostly calm, though there were some clashes between the police and protesters in the cities of Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi. On 28 November he stepped down as Chief of Army Staff and on 29 November he was sworn-in as civilian president for a new 5-year term. On 16 December President Musharraf lifted the state of emergency in Pakistan.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, leader of the PPP, was killed on 27 December during an election rally in Rawalpindi. This provoked rioting and violent protests.

Parliamentary and provincial elections, originally scheduled for 8 January but postponed following the death of Benazir Bhutto, took place on 18 February 2008. In the Parliamentary elections the PPP won the most seats (87), followed by the PML-N (67), the PML-Q (41) and MQM (19). On 24 March, the National Assembly elected Yousaf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister.

On 12 May, Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N), announced that the Central Executive Committee of thePML-N had decided that its party members would resign on 13 May fromthe federal cabinet positions that they hold.

Asif Ali  Zardari was elected President of Pakistan on Saturday 6 September winning acomfortable 68% of the votes through the Electoral College formed fromthe Federal Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) and ProvincialAssemblies. He secured the votes of the Provincial Assemblies ofBaluchistan, North West Frontier (NWFP) and Sindh although he camesecond in Punjab to the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) candidateSaeeduzzaman Siddiqui. Zardari took his oath of office on Tuesday 9September. 

A political crisis was sparked by a 25 February Supreme Court ruling which stated that Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz were ineligible to contest elections and hold public office. This removed Shahbaz Sharif as Chief Minister of Punjab and maintained the bar on Nawaz Sharif taking a seat in Parliament. Immediately afterwards, President Zardari imposed Governor's rule in Punjab. The crisis reached its height during the Long March, which began on 12 March. This was a march on Islamabad from across Pakistan organised by the Lawyers Movement, who have been calling for the reinstatement of Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and removal of the judges appointed by Musharraf under a constitutional order for two years. Nawaz and other opposition parties strongly supported the cause The crisis ended on 16 March when Prime Minister Gilani announced that the Government would restore the former Chief Justiceand file for a review of the Supreme Court decision on the Sharifs.  Governor’s Rule was subsequently lifted in Punjab on 30 March.


Ministers 

A full list of Ministers is below:

Federal Ministers

PPP
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Prime Minister

Makhdoom Amin Fahim Federal Minister for Commerce

Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan Federal Minister for Communications

Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar Federal Minister for Defence

Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi Federal Minister for Defence Production

Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani Federal Minister for Education

Shaukat Tareen (Senator) Federal Minister for Finance

Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs

Nazar Muhammad Gondal Federal Minister for Food & Agriculture

Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani Federal Minister for Health

Syed Mumtaz Alam Gilani Federal Minister for Human Rights

Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo Federal Minister for Industries & Production

Qamar Zaman Kaira Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Northern Areas  & with responsibility for Information & Broadcasting

Rehman Malik (Senator) Federal Minister for Interior

Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination

Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah Federal Minister for Labour & Manpower

Federal Minister for Law & Justice

Shahbaz Bhatti Federal Minister for Minority Affairs

Humayun Aziz Kurd Federal Minister for Livestock & Dairy Development

Dr Zaheeruddin Babar Awan Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs

Makhdoom Shahabuddin Federal Minister for Planning & Development

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Federal Minister for Population Welfare

Syed Naveed Qamar Federal Minister for Petroleum with responsibility for privatisation

Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi Federal Minister for Religious Affairs

Samina Khalid Ghurki Federal Minister for Social Welfare & Special Education

Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Gillani Federal Minister for Sports

Najamuddin Khan Federal Minister for States & Frontier Regions

Lal Muhammad Khan Federal Minister for Special Initiatives

Rana Farooq Saeed Khan Federal Minister for Textile Industry

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Federal Minister for Water & Power

Shahid Hussain Bhutto Federal Minister for Youth Affairs

FATA
Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi Federal Minister for Environment

Noorul Haq Qadri Federal Minister for Zakat & Ushr

BNP
Mir Israrullah Zehri Federal Minister for Postal Services

IND
Waqar Ahmed Khan (Senator) Federal Minister for Investment

JUI-F
Rehmatullah Kakar Federal Minister for Housing & Works

Maulana Attaur Rehman Federal Minister for Tourism

Mohammad Azam Khan Swati Federal Minister for Science

PML-F
Justice (Ret) Abdul Raza Thahim Federal Minister for Local Government & Rural Development

ANP
Federal Minister for Narcotics Control

Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour Federal Minister for Railways

MQM
Dr Farooq Sattar Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis

Babar Ghauri Federal Minister for Ports & Shipping

There are also 18 Ministers of State, of whom 14 belong to the PPP, two to the ANP and one each to the PML-F and the FATA grouping.  Their portfolios are as follows:

PPP
Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Waraich State Minister for Communication

Sardar Salim Haider Khan State Minister for Defence Production

Ghulam Farid Kathia State Minister for Education

Hina Rabbani Khar State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs

Rafique Ahmed Jamali State Minister for Food and Agriculture

Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan State Minister for Foreign Affairs

Muhammad Afzal Sandhu State Minister for Health

Mohammad Tariq Anis State Minister for Housing and Works

Dr.Ayat Ullah Durrani State Minister for Industries and Production

Syed Sumsam Ali S. Bukhari State Minister for Information and Broadcasting

Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi State Minister for Interior

Ms Mehreen Anwar Raja State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs

Sardar Nabeel Ahmed Gabol State Minister for Ports and Shipping

Ms Shagufta Jumani State Minister for Religious Affairs

ANP
Arbab Muhammad Zahir State Minister for Defence

Masood Abbas State Minister for Local Government and Rural Development

PML-F
Muhammad Jadam Mangrio State Minister for Railways

FATA
Abdul Raziq State Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas

HUMAN RIGHTS

The British Government continues to be concerned about the human rights situation in Pakistan, particularly that of religious minorities. The cases of individuals facing the death penalty on blasphemy charges have attracted parliamentary and public interest in the UK. Other human rights issues of concern include discrimination against the Ahmadi community, forced marriages, honour killings, child and bonded labour and the treatment of women, particularly in rural communities. With our EU partners we will continue to urge the Pakistani authorities to redouble their efforts to bring the perpetrators of human rights violations and terrorists acts to justice. We continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to fully guarantee the fundamental rights of all Pakistani citizens, particularly the most vulnerable (women, minorities and children) as laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international human rights standards.

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Contacts

Pakistan

Address:

High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
35–36 Lowndes Square
London SW1X 9JN

Telephone:

(020) 7664 9227 and (020) 7664 9232 (High Commissioner's Office)
(020) 7664 9200 (Embassy)

Fax:

(020) 7664 9224

Office hours:

Mon–Fri: 0930–1730
Mon–Thur: 1000–1300; Fri: 1000-1230 (Consular)

Website: http://www.phclondon.org