​Islamic Republic of

Region: Southern Asia Population: 196,174,380 Time Zone: UTC+5 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Current Events Current leader: President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Mohammad Government type: federal republic

Pakistan’s democracy is currently weak due tovery polarized political parties, the influence of Islam in government, and ongoing harsh military involvement. 2013 was the first year in which an elected government leader peacefully resigned power to another leader following elections. A huge problem for Pakistan is the approximately 3 million refugees and 1.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) (displaced by counter-insurgency operations and/or monsoon flooding) as of 2015.

Status of Women Maternal mortality rate: 170 deaths/100,000 live births ​ Mean age at first birth: 23.4 History/Overview ​ Sex ratio: 1.06 male/female Pakistan shares borders with , Iran, ​ Fertility rate: 2.86 children born/woman ​ Afghanistan, and China, and lies on the Arabian % Women in parliament: 20.7% ​ Sea. The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad. Other parliament stats for comparison: USA 19%, Germany ​ ​ During the second millennium B.C., migrating 36%, China 23%, South Africa 41%, India 12% Indo-Aryan peoples populated the Indus Valley region. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th Pakistan transitioned into a democracy eight years ​ century until the British dominated the region in ago yet violence against women remains a huge the 18th century. In 1947, the British separated the issue in the country due to lack of state action. ​ region into Pakistan (largely Muslim) and India Legislation is largely discriminatory against (largely Hindu), causing a dispute over the women with few security measures to protect Kashmir territory, which the two countries them against gender-based violence, especially in progressed to fight two wars over. Currently, the conflict zones. There has been some progressive Pakistani government and military are working to legislation passed, mainly through women’s rights control national insurgents located near the activists and other women’s organizations. border shared with Afghanistan. However, social attitudes towards women are still very biased and inhibit women from gender equality. Much of the violence committed against women is fueled by religion, providing another aspect of both legal and social barriers to women’s empowerment in Pakistan.

​Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Educational System Technological Context School life expectancy (primary to tertiary): 7 years ​ ​ Telecommunications in Pakistan have improved Literacy: Male: 69.5% Female: 45.8% ​ ​ dramatically in recent years with the help of both foreign and domestic investments. Current Quality of education, regarding both teachers and telecommunications infrastructure consists of curriculum, is a dire concern in Pakistan as very microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic limited resources have been allocated to cable, cellular, and satellite networks. There are education. 40,000 out of the 163,000 primary approximately 125 million mobile telephones in schools in Pakistan cater to girls. According to use in Pakistan and over 20 million internet users. UNICEF, 17.6 percent of Pakistani children are The media is government regulated although working and supporting their families, making private TV broadcasters are permitted. poverty a serious hurdle in girls’ education. Research conducted by the Ministry for Women's Economic State Development and a number of international donor Despite Pakistan’s strong private sector, the agencies in the 1980s revealed that danger to a economy is fragile due to internal political woman's honor was parents' most crucial concern disputes, lack of security, and limited support about allowing their daughters to attend school. from foreign investment. Pakistan has

experienced slow growth and underdevelopment Culture largely because it has not diversified its exports. Religion: Muslim (official) 96.4% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia ​ ​ 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.6% Textiles account for most of Pakistan’s export Language: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki, 10%, Pashto earnings. Agriculture accounts for more than ​ ​ 8%, (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, one-fourth of output and two-fifths of English (official) 1%, Burushaski 1%, and other 8% employment in the country. According to CIA Ethnic Groups: Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, ​ ​ research, Pakistan remains stuck in a low-income, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki 8.38%, Muhajirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, low-growth trap, with growth averaging about other 6.28% 3.5% per year from 2008 to 2014. Issues The primary religion, Islam, governs the personal, inhibiting economic growth include a rapidly political, economic, and legal lives of a majority of urbanizing population, need for education and people in Pakistan. Extended families are the basis healthcare expansion, and longstanding of Pakistani social structure and heavily influence governmental issues with the electricity and individual identity. This can include immediate natural gas sectors. family members, distant relatives, tribe members, friends, and neighbors. Loyalty to this particular Wedu’s Involvement network is highly valued and seen as the most Wedu has a small but growing number of Rising important social relationship. Typical families Stars in Pakistan. have up to six children. Regarding communication styles, Pakistanis Read More: typically spend a lot of time getting to know new CIA World Factbook people. They value loyalty and community. BBC News FactMonster Kwintessential UNESCO Education Monitoring International Crisis Group