Pakistan - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Pakistan, it was 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". 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.
The flag
The National flag of Pakistan has green with a vertical white band on the hoist side, symbolizing the role of religious minorities; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field, all of which are traditional Islamic symbols.
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The National Anthem
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More about the government of Pakistan
| Date of Independence | 14 August 1947 (from British India) |
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| National holiday | Pakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940, 1956) |
| 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) |
| Amendment process | Proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses |
| 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 on the advice of the prime minister |
| 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 |
| Most recent election date | 9 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; Shahbaz SHARIF elected prime minister; 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 |
| Expected date of next election | 2029 |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Parliament (Majlis-E-Shoora) |
| Legislative structure | Bicameral |
| 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 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 |
| 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 | consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. BAKER (since January 2025) |
| 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 | ACSIslamabad@state.gov 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
Want to know more about Pakistan? Check all different factbooks for Pakistan below.
