Pakistan - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Pakistan, it was the word "pak" means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, while the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure". The Government system in this country is the federal parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**; Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
National symbols
Five-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmine; national colors: green, white.
The flag
The National flag of Pakistan has 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.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Qaumi Tarana" (National Anthem) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA |
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note: adopted 1954; also known as "Pak sarzamin shad bad" (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)
More about the government of Pakistan
| Date of Independence | 14 August 1947 (from British India) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Pakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940); note - commemorates both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the All-India Muslim League during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
| Legal system | common law system with Islamic law influence |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest endorsed 12 April 1973, passed 19 April 1973, entered into force 14 August 1973 (suspended and restored several times) |
| Amendments | Proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses; amended many times, last in 2018 |
| 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 |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 10 March 2024) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Shahbaz SHARIF (since 3 March 2024) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister |
| Elections/appointments | president indirectly elected by the Electoral College consisting of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 9 March 2024 (next to be held in 2029) |
| Election results | 2024: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president; National Assembly vote - Asif Ali ZARDARI (PPP) 411 votes, Mehmood Khan ACHAKZALI (PMAP) -181 votes; Shahbaz SHARIF elected prime minister on 3 March 2024; National Assembly vote - Shahbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 201, Omar AYUB (PTI) 92 2018: Arif ALVI elected president; Electoral College vote - Arif ALVI (PTI) 352, Fazl-ur-REHMAN (MMA) 184, Aitzaz AHSAN (PPP) 124; Imran KHAN elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - Imran KHAN (PTI) 176, Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 96 |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of: Senate (96 seats current; members indirectly elected by the 4 provincial assemblies and the federal capital territory indirectly elected by the National Assembly using proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) National Assembly (336 seats; 266 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 70 members - 60 women and 10 non-Muslims - directly elected by proportional representation vote; all members serve 5-year terms) |
| Elections | Senate - last held on 2 and 9 April 2024 (next to be held in 2027) National Assembly - last held on 8 February 2024 (next to be held in 2029) |
| Election results | Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 79, women 17, percent of women 17.7% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML-N 75, PPP 54, MQM-P 17, JUI-F 4, Pakistan Muslim League 3, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party 2, BNP-A 2, BAP 1, PMAP 1, PML-Z 1, NP 1, independent (PTI-backed) 101, other 8, vacant 2 (excludes 60 seats reserved for women and 10 non-Muslims); composition - men 276, women 60, percent of women 17.9%; note - total Parliament percent of women 17.8%
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| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Pakistan (consists of the chief justice and 16 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Justices nominated by an 8-member parliamentary committee upon 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 |
| Subordinate courts | High Courts; Federal Shariat Court; provincial and district civil and criminal courts; specialized courts for issues, such as taxation, banking, and customs |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Rizwan Saeed SHEIKH (since 18 September 2024) |
| Chancery | 3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 243-6500 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 686-1534 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Donald BLOME (since 2 July 2022) |
| Embassy | Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad |
| Mailing address | 8100 Islamabad Place, Washington, DC 20521-8100 |
| Telephone | [92] 051-201-4000 |
| FAX | [92] 51-2338071 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://pk.usembassy.gov/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar |
| 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 |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Pakistan
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Pakistan
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