Federation of Pakistan

Federation of Pakistan
Conventional long name	Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Common name	Pakistan
Capital	Islamabad
Largest city	Karachi
Official languages	Urdu, English
Religion	Islam
Ethnic groups	Punjabi, Pashtun, Sindhi, Baloch, Muhajir
Government type	Federal parliamentary republic
President	Arif Alvi
Prime minister	Shehbaz Sharif
Legislature	Parliament
Upper house	Senate
Lower house	National Assembly
Independence	14 August 1947
Area km2	881,913
Population estimate	240 million
Currency	Rupee

Contents

Federation of Pakistan is a South Asian federal republic established in 1947 on the territories of the British Raj that opted for a Muslim-majority successor state. It comprises diverse regions including the Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and territories such as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Pakistan's polity has been shaped by figures and institutions like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, the Constituent Assembly, successive military leaders such as Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, Pervez Musharraf, and civilian leaders including Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

History

The Federation's origin traces to the Partition and the Indian Independence Act 1947, when leaders such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Muslim League activists, and negotiators at the Mountbatten Plan defined boundaries later contested in the 1947–48 Kashmir War. Early constitutional developments involved the Objectives Resolution, the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, and debates culminating in the 1956 Constitution, which was abrogated during the 1958 coup led by Ayub Khan. Subsequent eras include the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and creation of Bangladesh after clashes involving Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the Pakistan Armed Forces. The 1973 Constitution reinstated civilian rule under Bhutto, later disrupted by Zia whose Islamization policies and the Soviet–Afghan War reshaped security dynamics. The 1990s saw repeated caretaker administrations, like those under Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, while the 1999 coup brought Pervez Musharraf to power; the 21st century has been marked by events such as the 2007 emergency, the 2008 general election, and the 2018 Pakistani general election.

The 1973 Constitution establishes institutions including the President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court, and Federal Shariat Court]. Constitutional amendments such as the Eighteenth Amendment, Seventeenth Amendment, and Twenty-first Amendment have altered federal-provincial relations, Constitutional Amendment procedures, and the role of the Council of Common Interests. The judicial review role of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the jurisdictional interplay with the Sindh High Court, Punjab High Court, Peshawar High Court, and Balochistan High Court have been central in disputes over Article 184 and Article 199 petitions. Rights frameworks reference instruments like the Objectives Resolution and decisions in landmark cases such as Zafar Ali Shah v. Pervez Musharraf and Sindh High Court Bar Association v. Federation of Pakistan.

The federal executive is led by the Prime Minister of Pakistan supported by the Cabinet and federal ministries including the Interior, Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Defence. The bicameral legislature comprises the Senate of Pakistan representing provinces and the National Assembly of Pakistan elected under systems including first-past-the-post and reserved seats for women and minorities. Federal institutions interact with entities such as the Election Commission of Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue, the State Bank of Pakistan, and regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Prominent political parties have included the PML-N, PPP, PTI, and MQM.

The federation consists of provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; plus federally administered areas including Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir. Subnational governance uses provincial assemblies such as the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, Sindh Provincial Assembly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, and Balochistan Assembly with chief executives like the Chief Minister of Punjab and Chief Minister of Sindh. Local governments include district councils, metropolitan corporations like the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, and development authorities such as the Lahore Development Authority and Gwadar Development Authority tied to projects like the CPEC and the Gwadar Port initiative.

Pakistan's fiscal landscape is shaped by institutions including the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue, and agreements in the NFC Award that distribute revenues among provinces. Major sectors involve entities like the Pakistan Stock Exchange, OGDCL, PIA, and conglomerates such as the HBL group and PPL. International financial relations include engagements with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the China Development Bank under programs and loans often tied to structural adjustments. Strategic projects and trade corridors involve China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, Port Qasim, and Karachi Port Trust, while crises have provoked measures such as austerity policies negotiated in memoranda with creditors and the State Bank's monetary policy.

Defence institutions include the Pakistan Armed Forces, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force alongside paramilitary formations like the Pakistan Rangers and Frontier Corps. Strategic assets have involved the Pakistan Ordnance Factories and the Khan Research Laboratories associated with the country's nuclear program integrated after the Chagai-I tests. Foreign policy has been framed by relations with neighbors and partners: India, Afghanistan, China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and multilateral engagement through the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Security challenges have included the Kashmir conflict, counterinsurgency in tribal areas during the post-2001 insurgency, and involvement in initiatives like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Population distribution features metropolitan centers Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Quetta with ethnolinguistic groups such as Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baloch, and Muhajirs. Cultural institutions include the Lahore Museum, Pakistan National Council of the Arts, and performing traditions like Qawwali associated with figures such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Literary heritage references poets and writers including Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Saadat Hasan Manto, and Bapsi Sidhwa. Sports culture centers on cricket with teams like the Pakistan national cricket team and venues such as the Gaddafi Stadium and National Stadium, Karachi. Educational and research institutions include University of the Punjab, Aga Khan University, Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, and technical establishments like the NUST.

Category:Countries in Asia