PAKISTAN AT A GLANCE

Zurich, March 2020 Compiled by:

Swiss Embassy in Islamabad, March 2020

General Information: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html, Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) 2018-19 Capital: Islamabad Government Type: Official Language: (CIA) Land Area: 796,096 km2 Islamic, Federal Republic Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) Population 2019 (PES): 212.8 million President: 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca Population Growth 2019 (PES): 2.4% Dr. of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Illiteracy 2018 (PES): 37.7% Prime Minister: Burushaski, and other 8% Population density 2019 (PES): 267 habitants / km ² Ethnic Groups: (CIA) Fertility rate 2019 (CIA): 3.6 births per woman Minister of Industries & Punjabi (44.68%); Pashtun (15.42%); Birthrate 2019 (CIA): 27.4 births/1000 residents Production: Sindhi (14.10%); Saraiki (8.38%) ; Abdul Razak Dawood Muhajir (7.57%); Baloch (3.57%); Others (6.28%) Main Religions: (CIA) Muslim 96.4% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), small Christian and Hindu minorities 3.6% Economic Indicators* : (www.imf.org, www.sbp.org.pk) Nominal GDP 2019: USD 284.2 Billion Total Exports (Goods & Services) 2019: USD 29.5 Billion Nominal GDP Capita 2019: USD 1,388.2 Total Imports (Goods & Services) 2019: USD 62.3 Billion Real GDP Growth 2019: 3.3% Total Investment (% of Nominal GDP) 2019: 15.5 Unemployment 2019: 6.1% Gross national savings (% of Nominal GDP) 2019: 10.8 Inflation 2019: 7.3% Current account balance (% of Nominal GDP) 2019: -4.6 Net debt % Nominal GDP 2019: 72.5% Bilateral Trade and Investment: (http://www.seco.admin.ch, www.eda.admin.ch, www.cia.gov ) Swiss trade of goods with Pakistan (Source: Swiss Federal Customs Administration) Existing Bilateral Economic agreements (EDA) Exports 2019 CHF 373.65 mio. • 1966 signing of technical cooperation agreement Imports 2019 CHF 168.91 mio. • 1975 signing of a supplemented agreement on disaster relief Major Exports 2019 1. Pharmaceuticals 45.6% • 06.05.1966 signing of an Agreement for Promotion and (% of total exports 2. Machinery 21.1% Reciprocal Protection of Investments from CH to Pakistan) 3. Dyeing Extracts and Colours 8.5% • 21.03.2017 signing of a revised Convention for the Source: SECO 4. Watches 5.7% avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on

income Major Imports 2019 1. Textiles 74.3% Anniversaries (% of total Imports 2. Agro Products 5.5% • None from Pakistan to CH) Official Representations of Switzerland & SBH address in Source: SECO Pakistan: • Embassy of Switzerland Street 6, Diplomatic Enclave, G-5/4, Islamabad 44000 , Pakistan Swiss Foreign Direct Investment in Pakistan (2019): Official Representations of Pakistan in Switzerland USD 21.2 million (Board of Investment of Pakistan) • Embassy of Pakistan Bernstrasse 47, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland

Notable Swiss Firms Investing in Pakistan

• Nestlé Notable Pakistani Firms Investing in Switzerland • Habib Metropolitan Bank • Syngenta • Archroma N/A • Novartis

Switzerland and Pakistan in International Switzerland Pakistan Market Potential for Swiss Exporters 2019 Rankings

WEF 5 110 Electricity Generation (Global Competitiveness Index 2019-20)

Ease of Doing Business, 2020 36 108 Chemicals (World Bank Report 2020)

The Global Innovation Index 2019 1 105 Pharmaceuticals www.globalinnovationindex.org

Corruption Perceptions Index 2019 4 120 Textile Industry (Transparency Int. 2019 www.transparency.org) Index of Economic Freedom 2020 5 135 (The Heritage Foundation. www.heritage.org) Food & Beverages

Country Ranking (Quality of Life) 2 - Mercer 2019- www.imercer.com (Zurich) Engineering Products

Construction

Finance & Insurance

Other Service Activities

Source: Pakistan Economic Survey 2018-19: On the basis of performance of Large Scale Manufacturing in Pakistan The Global Competitiveness Report 2019–2020: Rank 110 GDP by Sector 2019 (% of Total)

Agriculture 18.5% Industry Services 20.3% 61.2%

Source : Pakistan Economic Survey 2018.19

Economic Trends & Outlook Economy GDP The current government is focusing on the rehabilitation of the economy. However, it is facing extreme difficulties in collecting taxes, therefore, it is cutting its development expenditure resulting into slowing the growth of the economy. Economic challenges due to coronavirus will also have adverse effects on the GDP growth. Investments Due to positive measures taken by the government, foreign investment had started showing the increasing trend before the coronavirus outbreak. Private Consumption Rising inflation in the country due to devaluation of rupee and increasing prices of energy combined with coronavirus will have a negative impact on private consumption. Foreign Trade (External Trade)

Due to coronavirus, government will divert its foreign exchange resources towards importing food and medical supplies. Textiles, being the major exports of the country, will also face the hit resulting into further imbalance of foreign trade.

SWOT: Year Analysis 2019/20

Strengths Weaknesses

• Potential large market • Low per capita income • Low labour cost • Semi-skilled workforce • Relatively deregulated market • Developing infrastructure • Export oriented textile market • Prevalent security situation • Potential in energy and tourism resources • Expensive Energy

Opportunities Threats

• Expansion of power generation (also renewable • Changing political scenario energy) • Natural calamities (floods, earthquakes etc.) • Expansion of manufacturing and tourism industry • Inconsistent bilateral relations with India and • Numerous infrastructure projects - China Pakistan Afghanistan Economic Corridor • Slow working pace of bureaucracy • Special economic zones planned • Debts & Trade Deficit • Promotion of existing talent • Economic challenges due to coronavirus

*Provisional Figures