This article is about the rail company in Pakistan. For technical details and operations see: Transport in Pakistan.

Pakistan Railways Network

Pakistan Railways (reporting mark PR) is a national state-owned rail transport service of Pakistan, head-quartered in Lahore. It is administered by the federal government under the Ministry of Railways. PR provides an important mode of transportation throughout Pakistan. It is commonly referred to as the "life line of the country", by aiding in large-scale movement of people and freight throughout Pakistan.

Current State[link]

Pakistan, despite its moderate size, has a largely dysfunctional railway system. As of mid 2011, it was decided to stop all goods train haulage due to severe shortage of locomotives and fuel. The financially bankrupt organization, despite bailouts, has not been able to emerge out of its troubles leading to cancellation of as many as 115 railway services. The decision has left ordinary Pakistanis at the mercy of bus operators for long distance travel. As of 2011, the PR network cancelled many trains and AC services in many trains were stopped. On 29 December 2011, PR restored freight train service from Karachi to upcountry.^{[2] [3] [4]}

History[link]

Extent of the Railway network in 1909

Khyber Steam Train Safari

The idea of a rail network was first thought of in 1847, with the possibility of Karachi becoming a major seaport. Sir Henry Edward Frere, who was appointed as the Commissioner of Sindh, sought permission from Lord Dalhousie to begin a survey for a Karachi Seaport and a survey for a railway line in 1858. The proposed railway line would be laid from Karachi (city) to Kotri. A steamboat service on the Indus and Chenab rivers would connect Kotri to Multan and from there another railway line would be laid to Lahore and beyond.

On May 13, 1861, the first railway line was opened to the public, between Karachi (city) and Kotri, with a total distance of 105 miles (169 km).

By 1886, there were four railway companies operating in what would become Pakistan. The Scinde (Sindh) Railways, Indian Flotilla Company, Punjab Railway and Delhi Railways. These were amalgamated into the Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railways Company and purchased by the Secretary of State for India in 1885, and in January 1886 formed the North Western State Railways, which was later on renamed as North Western Railway (NWR). This would eventually become Pakistan Railways in 1947.

Another railway line between Karachi and Keamari was opened on June 16, 1889. In 1897, the line from Keamari to Kotri was doubled.

It was the year 1857 when the idea was suggested by William Andrew (Chairman of Scinde, Punjab and Delhi Railway) that the railways to the Bolan Pass would have strategic role in responding to any threat by Russia. During the second Afghan War (1878–80) between Britain and Afghanistan, a new urgency was needed to construct a Railway line up to Quetta in order to get easier access to the frontier. On 18 September 1879, under the orders of Viceroy council, work begun on laying the railway tracks and after four months the first 215 km of line from Ruk to Sibi was completed and become operational in January 1880. Beyond Sibi the terrain was very difficult. After immense difficulties and harsh weather conditions, it was March 1887 when the railway line of over 320 km long finally reached Quetta.^[5]

By 1898, as the network began to grow, another proposed railway line was in the works from Peshawar to Karachi. It closely followed the route taken by Alexander The Great and his army while marching through the Hindu Kush to the Arabian Sea. During the early 20th century, railway lines were also laid down between Peshawar and Rawalpindi and Rawalpindi to Lahore. Different sections on the existing main line from Peshawar and branch lines were constructed in the last quarter of 19th century and early 20th century.

In 1947, At the time of independence, 1,947 route miles (3,133 km) of North Western Railways were transferred to India, leaving 5,048 route miles (8,122 km) to Pakistan.

In 1954, the railway line was extended to Mardan and Charsada, and in 1956 the Jacobabad-Kashmore 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge line was converted into broad gauge. In 1961, the Pakistani portion of North Western Railways was renamed Pakistan Railways. The Kot Adu-Kashmore line was constructed between 1969 and 1973 providing an alternative route from Karachi to northern Pakistan.

Controversies[link]

Pakistan Railways has been the subject of a number of investigations by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s elite anti-corruption agency, after concerns were raised about contracts relating to the repair, upgrade and purchase of locomotives; unauthorised payments of over Rs220 million from its Accountants Department; the disposal of scrap; and the theft of consignments from cargo trains. In 2012 it was reported that these cases were referred to the NAB for investigation by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.^[6]

In March 2012, Pakistan Railways’ General Manager, Saeed Akhtar, was arrested by the NAB on charges of misuse of authority and alleged involvement in the misappropriation of Rs600 million, relating to the sale of scrap at a below market value rate.^[7]

Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour is also involved in corruption and he has been named in a multi-billion scrap scandal, currently being investigated by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).^[8] He also allotted railway Dining cars to their Friends & Party Workers without tender. ^[9] He has strong allegations from peoples that he is destroying railways to support Transport Mafia.^[10]

Gauge[link]

Pakistan Railways had a mixture of gauges, Broad gauge (1,676 mm or 5 ft 6 in), Metre gauge (1,000 mm or 3 ft 3 3/8 in) and Narrow gauge (762 mm or 2 ft 6 in). Few Metre gauge & Narrow gauge railway lines have been converted in to Broad gauge and remaining have been abandoned or dismantled. Now only Broad gauge railway lines are operational in Pakistan Railways network.

Axle load limit[link]

Pakistan Railways broad gauge railway track Axle load limit is 22.86 tonnes except Rohri-Quetta & Quetta-Chaman railway lines which Axle load limit is 17.78 tonnes and Spezand-Zahedan railway line which Axle load limit is 17.27 tonnes.

Speed[link]

The maximum Speed of Pakistan Railways is 120 km/h. Some sections of Karachi-Lahore main railway line allow 120 km/h speed. Work is in progress to improve railway track on Karachi-Khanpur section to increase speed to 140 km/h.

Important Railway Lines[link]

• Karachi-Peshawar Main Line via Rohri, Khanewal, Lahore & Rawalpindi
• Rohri-Quetta
• Khanewal-Faisalabad
• Lahore-Faisalabad
• Lahore-Sialkot via Narowal

Routes[link]

Karakoram Express departing to Lahore from Karachi Cantt. Station

Train platform at Rohri Junction

Train platform at Sahiwal Junction

A platform at Lahore Railway Station

Important Domestic Routes[link]

• Karachi-Lahore
• Karachi-Faisalabad
• Karachi-Rawalpindi
• Karachi-Peshawar
• Rawalpindi-Quetta
• Lahore-Quetta
• Lahore-Rawalpindi
• Karachi-Quetta
• Lahore-Faisalabad
• Lahore-Sialkot

Important Railway Stations[link]

Karachi-Peshawar main line:

Rohri-Quetta line:

Others lines:

Proposed Lines[link]

• Quetta-Gwadar
• Zhob-Darya Khan, Dera Ismail Khan
• Havelian-Khunjerab, Pakistan-China Border
• Chaman-Kandahar, Afghanistan
• Torkham-Jalalabad, Afghanistan

International Routes[link]

Iran - A broad gauge railway line runs from Zahedan to Quetta, and a standard gauge line is finished from Zahedan to Kerman in central Iran, linking with the rest of the Iranian rail network. On May 18, 2007, a MOU for rail cooperation was signed by Pakistan and Iran under which the line will be completed by December 2008. Now that the rail systems are linked up at Zahedan, there is a break-of-gauge between the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways standard gauge tracks and Pakistan Railways broad gauge.^[11]

India - Thar Express to Karachi and the more famous Samjhauta Express international train from Lahore, Pakistan to Amritsar (Attari) and Delhi, India.

Afghanistan - Currently there is no rail link to Afghanistan since no railway network is present in that country, however Pakistan Rail has proposed to help build an Afghan Rail Network in three phases. The first phase will stretch from the Chaman to Spin Boldak in Afghanistan. The second phase will extend line to Kandahar and the third phase will eventually connect to Herat. From there, the line will be extended to Khushka, Turkmenistan. The final phase would link 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge with Central Asian 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ⁵⁄₆ in) gauge. It is not clear where the break-of-gauge station will be.^[12] The proposed line will also be connected the port town of Gwadar via Dalbadin and Taftan, thus connecting the port town to Central Asia.

China - There is no link with China however, on February 28, 2007 contracts were awarded for feasibility studies on a proposed line from Havelian via the Khunjerab Pass at 4730 m above sea level, to the Chinese railhead at Kashgar, a distance of about 750 km.^[13]

Turkey - An Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad passenger rail service was proposed recently.^[14] Meanwhile a container train service was launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani between Islamabad and Istanbul on 14 August 2009. The first train carried 20 containers with a capacity of around 750 t (738 long tons; 827 short tons) ^[15] and will travel 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from Islamabad, through Tehran, Iran and on to Istanbul in two weeks' time.^[16] According to the Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, after the trial of the container train service, a passenger train will be launched.^[17] There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to Europe and Central Asia, and carry passengers.^[18]

Turkmenistan - via Afghanistan (proposed)^[11]

Traffic[link]

Passenger[link]

Passenger traffic comprises 50% of the total revenue annually. During 1999-2000, this amounted to Rs. 4.8 billion. Pakistan Railways carries 65 million passengers annually and daily operates 228 mail, express and passenger trains. Daily, PR carries an average of 178,000 people. Pakistan Railways also operates special trains during occasions such as Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Azha, Independence Day and Raiwind Ijtema.

Freight[link]

The Freight Business Unit, with 12,000 personnel, operates over 200 freight stations on the railway network. The Unit serves the Ports of Karachi and Bin Qasim as well as all four provinces of the country and generates revenue from the movement of agricultural, industrial and imported products such as petroleum oil & lubricants (POL), wheat, coal, fertilizer, rock phosphate, cement and sugar. About 39% of the revenue is generated from the transportation of POL products, 19% from imported wheat, fertilizer and rock phosphate. The remaining 42% is earned from domestic traffic.^{[citation needed]}

The Freight Business Unit offers services to meet customer requirements and reduce costs through efficiency, innovation and modernization. All possible efforts are made to increase revenues and pass on the benefits to customers. The Freight Business Unit is headed by an additional General Manager.^{[citation needed]}

The Freight Rates structure is based on market trends, particularly of road transport, which is the Railways' main competitor. The freight rates are no longer rigid but flexible, depending on the lead, peak-off peak season, and quantum offered.^{[citation needed]}

Wikinews has related news: Pakistan to Turkey container train service launched

As on August 14, 2009 by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani between Islamabad and Istanbul via Tehran. The first train carried 20 containers with a capacity of around 750 t (738 long tons; 827 short tons) ^[15] and will travel 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from Islamabad, through Tehran, Iran and on to Istanbul in two weeks' time.^[16] According to the Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, after the trial of the container train service, a passenger train will be launched.^[17] There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to Europe and Central Asia, and carry passengers.^[18][19]

Pakistan Locomotive Factory, Risalpur[link]

The Pakistan Locomotive Factory at Risalpur, a public spread on an area of 251 acres (102 ha), was put into service in 1993 with the collaboration of Government of Japan at a total cost of Rs.2284.00 million, including a foreign exchange component of Rs.1496.00 million. The factory can produce two diesel-electric locomotives per month on single-shift basis, but this can be doubled by introducing a second working shift. The factory is equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment which can be employed in the building of diesel-electric locomotives of suitable horsepower, as well as electric locomotives with minor adjustments.^[20]

Since 1993, twenty three PHA-20 type 2,000 hp (1,491 kW) diesel-electric locomotives have rolled out of the factory.^[20] The ongoing project of 3,000 hp (2,237 kW) AGE-30 diesel-electric locomotives is at the verge of its completion, which is a milestone in the history of the factory.^[20] Apart from manufacturing new locomotives, the Pakistan Locomotive Factory has also successfully rehabilitated five diesel-electric locomotives of GRU-20 Type and manufactured other various spares/components for railway maintenance divisions and rehabilitation projects.

Accidents[link]

• Sukkur rail disaster
  • The Sukkur rail disaster occurred on January 4, 1990 in the village of Sangi near Sukkur in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. 307 people were killed making it Pakistan's worst rail disaster.^[21] The train (Bahaudddin Zakaria Express) concerned was on a 500-mile (800 km) overnight run from Multan to Karachi and was carrying many more passengers in its 16 carriages than its 1408 seat capacity. It was supposed to pass straight through the village of Sangi but incorrectly set points sent it into a siding where it collided with an empty 67-car freight train at a speed of at least 35 mph.

• Ghotki train crash
  • In its worst accident in recent years, three passenger trains collided on 13 July 2005, derailing 13 carriages and leaving at least 120 dead. The Karachi Express ran into the back of the Quetta Express while it was stopped at a station near Ghotki, and the Tezgam Express travelling in the opposite direction hit several of the derailed carriages. According to officials, the conductor of the Karachi Express misread a signal.^[22]

Wikinews has related news: Train crash in southern Pakistan kills more than a hundred

• Super Parcel Express
  • On 21 August 2005, the upcountry Super Parcels Express derailed while crossing the Malir Bridge near Landhi in the Karachi Division. Eight bogies were substantially damaged when an axle broke due to over loading. The rail traffic was suspended for 24 hours. All down trains were terminated at Landhi and the rakes and the locos made the turn around from Landhi.

• Mehrabpur train derailment
  • On 19 December 2007, the train, Karachi Express, an express service from Karachi to Lahore, derailed near the town of Mehrabpur in the Sindh province of Pakistan. At around 2:25 a.m. local time, fourteen of the train's sixteen carriages left the tracks, some being mangled by the crash, others simply sliding down an embankment into the water. Sabotage and terrorism were ruled out as the reason for the crash, with officials believing a faulty track was the cause of the derailment.^[23]

Future developments[link]

Restructuring[link]

In March 2010, the Pakistani government announced plans to split Pakistan Railways into four privatised businesses; focussed on passenger operations, freight, infrastructure, and manufacturing.^[24] In February 2010, "unbundling" was proposed, with various activities being outsourced, privatised, or operated separately. However, complete privatisation has been ruled out.^[25]

New lines[link]

In 2006 it was announced that a railway line between Gwadar and Quetta will be built and the Bostan-Zhob narrow-gauge railway line will be converted into broad gauge in 2007 at a cost of US$1.25 billion. Plans to increase train speeds, install more lengths of double track and to convert the country's railways to standard gauge are also currently under way.

Track doubling[link]

The Lodhran - Multan - Khanewal line (121 km) was dual-tracked; work began in 2003 and completed on 16-03-2007.

The Khanewal - Raiwind line (246 km) is currently being doubled, at a cost of Rs.8.326 billion. The project commenced in July 2005. The section from Khanewal to Sahiwal (119 km) has been opened as Double line section on 17-04-2010. The work of dualization of railway track from Sahiwal to Okara has completed and Okara to Raiwind Section is in progress and is expected to be completed by June 2012.

The following lines are planned to be doubled:

• Shahdara Bagh - Lalamusa
  • Total Length 126 km
  • Total Cost Rs.14136 million
  • Completion Period 03 years from the date of commencement
• Shahdara Bagh - Faisalabad
  • Total Length 135 km
  • Total Cost Rs.10486 million
  • Completion Period 03 years from the date of commencement
• Lalamusa - Chaklala
  • Total Length 152 km
  • Total Cost Rs.23770 million
  • Completion Period 04 years from the date of commencement
• Golra Sharif - Peshawar Cantt
  • Total Length 160 km
  • Total Cost Rs.19560 million
  • Completion Period 04 years from the date of commencement

Public-Private Partnership[link]

Pakistan Railways has faced severe financial and Management Crisis under the minister ship of Mr. Bilor. In those circumstances the Department has shake hand with Private Operators. In this pursuit Pakistan Railway has started several trains on Public-Private Partnership. Pakistan Business Express Train commenced its maiden Journey on February 3. 2012 and Shalimar Express resumed its operation on February 25, 2012.^[26]

High-speed rail[link]

In 2008, Pakistan Railways announced a plan of the construction of a $1 billion high-speed railway line between Punjab and Sindh.^[27]

International lines[link]

Direct rail connections with China were proposed by Pervez Musharraf in 2006.^[28]

A container train service from Pakistan to Turkey has been launched on 14th August 2009.^[29]

Wikinews has related news: Pakistan to Turkey container train service launched

In spring 2009, a rail link between Quetta and Zahedan (in Iran) was constructed, allowing Pakistan Railways direct access to Europe and the Middle East. A gauge changing station was constructed to the standard gauge at Zahedan and the Turkish Lake Van train ferry and the Marmaray Tunnel under the Bosphorus. It is planned to run container trains and through passenger trains. Pakistan plans to convert the Quetta-Zahedan line to standard gauge eventually.^{[citation needed]}

China-Pakistan links[link]

Karakoram railway[link]

Pakistan awarded a Rs72 million (US$1.2 million) contract to an international consortium to carry out a feasibility study for establishing a rail link with China to boost trade relations between the two countries.

The study will cover a 750-kilometre section between Havellian and the 4,730-metre-high Khunjerab Pass over Mansehra district and the Karakoram Highway. Havellian is already linked with the rest of the rail network in Pakistan; the Chinese will lay some 350 km of track within their own territory from Kashgar terminus up to the Khunjerab Pass, linking Pakistan with China's rail network, largely following the route of the Karakoram Highway.

By expanding its stake in Pakistan's rail sector, China is poised to exploit the country's advantageous geographical position - strategically located at the confluence of South, Central and West Asia.

Peking's involvement in several rail projects in Pakistan is motivated primarily by commercial considerations, but it also sees distinct advantages for its improved transportation and access to Central Asia and the Persian Gulf states. A reliable network of road and rail links can only ensure China's access to energy-rich central Asia, serving it both commercially and strategically.

In the first week of February 2007, Pakistan Railways and China's Dong Fang Electric Supply Corp signed an agreement for establishing a rail link between Havellian and Khunjerab. Ingenieurgemeinschaft Lasser-Feizlmayr (ILF), a consortium of consultant engineers from Austria, Germany and Pakistan, is to submit its report to the Ministry of Railways in nine months. It is most likely that the distance between Havellian and Khunjerab will involve the construction of tunnels. The ILF services encompass both the construction of new high-speed railway lines and the modernisation of existing lines for standard-gauge and narrow-gauge railways in addition to tunnels.^[30] The pre-feasibility study was completed in July 2011.^[31]

General cooperation[link]

China is actively involved in the development of Pakistan Railways and for the past five years it has been increasing its stake in the country's communication sector. Pakistan Railways is a state-owned company that provides an important mode of transportation in the furthest corners of the country. It has been a great integrating force and forms the lifeline of the country by catering to its needs for large-scale movement of people. The freight-passenger earnings comprise 50% of the railway's total revenue. Pakistan Railways carries 65 million passengers annually and operates 228 mail, express and passenger trains daily. It introduced new mail and express trains between major terminals from 2003 to 2005.

Pakistan Railways has recently entered several agreements with Chinese railway companies for its development. In 2001, Pakistan Railways signed a $91.89 million contract with China National Machinery Import and Export Corp for the manufacture of 175 new high-speed passenger coaches. The project was funded by Exim Bank China on a supplier credit basis. Forty completely built passenger coaches have been received and 105 will be assembled in Pakistan Railways' carriage factory by next December.

These coaches are being used on Pakistan Railways' mail and express trains from Rawalpindi-Lahore-Karachi, Lahore-Faisalabad and Rawalpindi-Quetta. The manufacturing kits for the remaining 30 coaches have also been received and manufacturing is in progress. With 12 already assembled, the project is scheduled to be completed by next month. The passenger coaches are of the latest design and are equipped with disc brakes. The technology transfer for these coaches has been obtained from China's Chang Chun Car Co.

Under an agreement signed with China in 2003, Pakistan Railways purchased 69 locomotives, of which 15 were delivered as completely built units and are in use by Pakistan Railways. The remaining 54 are to be built at Pakistan Railways' locomotive factory. The Chinese locomotives are 37% cheaper than the European locomotives.

Some in Pakistan have been criticizing the faulty locomotives purchased by Pakistan Railways from Dong Fang Electric Corp of China. It is surprising that last year, Pakistan Railways decided to purchase 45 more 2,000-3,000-horsepower locomotives from the same company. The company is willing to redesign the already-delivered 30 locomotives of the original order, such that the underframe is strengthened and the weight reduced to less than 140 tons. Last year, as a result of an open bidding, a Chinese company, Beijing Research and Design Institute, is committed to providing 300 rail cars to Pakistan Railways.

Under another agreement signed in 2004 with China National Machinery and Equipment Group, the Chinese company is to undertake the construction of Corridor 1 of a light-rail mass-transit system for Karachi that is intended to serve 4 million commuters. The project will cost about $568 million and take four and a half years to complete. The contract has been awarded on a build-operate-transfer basis and comprises five corridors.

Pakistan signed a series of agreements with China during the past three years to enhance the capability of its railway system. Under an agreement signed between Pakistan and China Railway, a Chinese company will provide 1,300 freight cars to Pakistan Railways, of which 420 will be manufactured in China and the remaining 880 will be produced at the Moghalpura railway workshops in Lahore.

Under another project, 450 passenger coaches will be rehabilitated at an estimated cost of Rs2.14 billion. The project also includes the conversion of 40 coaches into air-conditioned cars and the conversion of 10 power vans. Furthermore, there is a provision of 100 new high-speed bogies, 30 of which will be imported from China, while 70 will be manufactured locally on a transfer-of-technology basis. Under a separate agreement, 175 new passenger coaches are being purchased from China.

As part of a $100 million agreement signed between Pakistan and China in November 2001, China is to export 69 modern locomotive engines to Pakistan to modernize Pakistan's railway fleet. The first eight engines have been completed and are ready for shipment to Karachi. The new engines consume less fuel than older models and are cheaper to maintain. The main feature of this deal is that the first 15 engines will be manufactured in China and the remainder will be assembled in Pakistan, with spare parts and technology provided by China. Similarly, for a Rs7.2 billion railway project in Sindh province involving laying 78,000 tons of rails, China delivered 64,000 tons to Pakistan Railways.

Gwadar link[link]

As a part of its development plan for its transport and communications network, Pakistan Railways has completed a feasibility study of the Chaman-Kandahar section for laying railway tracks between Pakistan and Turkmenistan through Afghanistan. The feasibility study for cost, engineering and design for the construction of a rail link from Gwadar to the existing rail network in Mastung district in Balochistan has also been finalised. The new link to Gwadar port will open up underdeveloped areas of Balochistan for development. The main aim of the venture is to connect the Central Asian republics with Pakistan Railways' network through Afghanistan.

China is going to be the beneficiary of Gwadar's most accessible international trade routes to the Central Asian republics and Eastern Turkestan. By extending its East-West Railway from the Chinese border city of Kashi to Peshawar in Pakistan's northwest, Peking can receive cargo to and from Gwadar along the shortest route, from Karachi to Peshawar. The rail network could also be used to supply oil from the Persian Gulf to Eastern Turkestan. Pakistan's internal rail network can also provide China with rail access to Persia.

See also[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website of Pakistan Railways
• Pakistan Ministry of Railways
• Pakistan Railways Heritage Society (PRHS)
• Pakistani Train Spotters
• Images of Pakistan Trains
• Pakistan Railways on Google Maps: Current and planned tracks and major stations

v t e Railway stations in Pakistan Railway stations by Province Punjab Lahore Railway Station Rawalpindi railway station Faisalabad Railway Station Sialkot Junction Jhang Railway Station Chiniot Railway Station Gujar Khan Railway Station Sindh Karachi Circular Railway Karachi City Station Karachi Cantt. Station Larkana railway station Mirpur Khas Railway Station Zero Point Railway Station Balochistan Quetta Railway Station Sibi Railway Station Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar Railway Station Official Website of Pakistan Railway

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Islamic Republic of Pakistan اسلامی جمہوریۂ پاکستان Islāmī Jumhūrī-ye Pākistān
Flag State Emblem
Motto: Faith, Unity, Discipline[1] Urdu: ایمان ، اتحاد ، تنظیم Iman, Ittehad, Tanzeem
Anthem: Qaumī Tarāna
Area constituting Pakistan in dark green; claimed but uncontrolled territory in light green
Capital		Islamabad 33°40′N 73°10′E / 33.667°N 73.167°E / 33.667; 73.167
Largest city		Karachi
Official language(s)		Urdu English (Pakistani)
Regional languages		Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Saraiki, Hindko, Brahui[2][3]
Demonym		Pakistani
Government		Federal Parliamentary republic
-	President	Asif Ali Zardari (PPP)
-	Prime Minister	Yousaf Raza Gillani (PPP)
-	Chief Justice	Iftikhar Chaudhry
-	Chair of Senate	Nayyar Hussain Bukhari (PPP)
-	House Speaker	Fahmida Mirza (PPP)
Legislature		Majlis-e-Shoora
-	Upper house	Senate
-	Lower house	National Assembly
Formation
-	Conception of Pakistan	29 December 1930
-	Pakistan Declaration	28 January 1933
-	Pakistan Resolution	23 March 1940
-	Independence	from the United Kingdom
-	Declared	14 August 1947
-	Islamic Republic	23 March 1956
Area
-	Total	796,095 km2 [a](36th) 307,374 sq mi
-	Water (%)	3.1
Population
-	2011 estimate	177,100,000[5] (6th)
-	1998 census	132,352,279[6]
-	Density	214.3/km2 (55th) 555/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$488.580 billion[7]
-	Per capita	$2,787[7]
GDP (nominal)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$210.566 billion[7]
-	Per capita	$1,201[7]
Gini (2005)		31.2 (medium)
HDI (2011)		0.504[8] (low) (145th)
Currency		Pakistani Rupee (Rs.) (PKR)
Time zone		PST (UTC+5)
-	Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC+6)
Drives on the		left[9]
ISO 3166 code		PK
Internet TLD		.pk
Calling code		92

Pakistan (ⁱ/ˈpækɨstæn/ or ⁱ/pɑːkiˈstɑːn/; Urdu: پاکستان) (Urdu pronunciation: [paːkɪˈst̪aːn] ( listen)), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Urdu: اسلامی جمہوریۂ پاکستان), is a sovereign country in South Asia. It sits at the crossroads of the strategically important regions of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. It has a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west and north, Iran to the southwest and China in the far northeast. It is separated from Tajikistan by Afghanistan's narrow Wakhan Corridor in the north, and it shares a marine border with Oman.

The territory of modern Pakistan was the site of several ancient cultures, including the Neolithic Mehrgarh and the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation, and has undergone invasions or settlements by Hindu, Persian, Indo-Greek, Islamic, Turco-Mongol, Afghan and Sikh cultures. Thus the area has been ruled by numerous empires and dynasties, including the Indian Mauryan Empire, the Persian Achaemenid Empire, the Arab Umayyad Caliphate, the Mongol Empire, the Mughal Empire, the Durrani Empire, the Sikh Empire and the British Empire. As a result of the Pakistan Movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and India's struggle for independence, Pakistan was created in 1947 as an independent nation for Muslims from the regions in the east and west of India where there was a Muslim majority. Initially a dominion, Pakistan adopted a new constitution in 1956, becoming an Islamic republic. A civil war in 1971 resulted in the secession of East Pakistan as the new country of Bangladesh.

Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of four provinces and four federal territories. With a population exceeding 170 million people, it is the sixth most populous country in the world and has the largest Muslim population after Indonesia. It is an ethnically and linguistically diverse country, with a similar variation in its geography and wildlife. It has a semi-industrialised economy which is the 27th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power and 47th largest in terms of nominal GDP. Pakistan's post-independence history has been characterised by periods of military rule, political instability and conflicts with neighbouring India. The country continues to face challenging problems, including terrorism, poverty, illiteracy and corruption.

A regional and middle power,^[10][11] Pakistan has the seventh largest standing armed forces in the world and is a declared nuclear weapons state, being the first and only nation in the Muslim world, and the second in South Asia, to have that status. It is designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States and a strategic ally of China. Pakistan is a founding member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (now the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) and is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations and the G20 developing nations.