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Location and Geography:
 Pakistan is situated between latitude 24 and 37 degrees North
and longitude 62 and 75 degrees East. The country borders Iran
on the west, India in the east, Afghanistan in the north-west,
China in the north and the Arabian Sea on the south. The great
mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakorams and the
Hindukush form Pakistan痴 northern highlands of North West
Frontier Province and the Northern Area. Punjab province is a
flat, alluvial plain with five major rivers dominating the upper
region eventually joining the Indus River flowing south to the
Arabian Sea. Sindh is bounded on the east by the Thar Desert and
the Rann of Kutch and on the west by the Kirthar range and the
Balochistan Plateau is an arid tableland, encircled by dry
mountains.
Population (1998 Census):
Population in general:
Total Population:130.58 million.
Growth Rate: 2.61% per year
Density: 164 persons/Sq.km.
Sex Ratio: 108 males to 100 females
Population of Provinces & Regions
Population of Major Cities:
Islamabad: 799,000
Lahore: 5,129,214
Faisalabad: 2,280,360
Karachi: 9,269,265
Rawalpindi: 1,406,214
Hyderabad: 1,447,957
Area: 8,03,950 Sq. km. (including FATA and FANA).
Languages:
National Language: Urdu
Official Language: English
Main Regional Languages: Sindhi,
Balochi, Punjabi, Pashto.
Time:
Pakistan Standard Time is GMT plus 5 hours. It gets dark at
about 5 p.m. in winter and at 7.30 p.m. in summer.
Exchange Rate:
Pakistan observes floating exchange rate system.
US$ 1 = Rs. 52.40 (January 1999)
Credit Cards:
American Express is the most widely accepted card. MasterCard
and Visa are also good. Dinners Club and other cards have more
limited use.
Travellers Cheques:
Generally accepted at most banks, 4 and 5-star hotels and major
shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are
advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds
Sterling.
Basic unit of currency is Rupee which divides into 100 Paisa.
Currency notes of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2, and 1 rupees are
in use. Coins of 25, 50 paisa, 01 & 02 Rupees are in
circulation.
Business Hours:
Banks:
Monday to Thursday and Saturday: 09:00 - 13:30 Friday: 09:00 -
12:30
Government Offices:
Monday to Thursday and Saturday: 08:00 - 15:00 Friday: 08:00 -
12:00
Private Businesses:
Monday to Thursday and Saturday: 09:00 - 17:00 Friday: 09:00 -
12:00
Sunday is weekly holiday. Shorter hours during Ramadan (fasting
month) are observed throughout Pakistan
Telephone info:
Inward: +92,
Outward via operator or from ISD Public Call Offices (PCO.) For
internal calls, Card Phone booths are installed at all airport
lounges and main business centres in most cities and towns.
Public telephone, telex and fax facilities are available at the
Customers Service Centres (CSC) or at private general stores and
shops, identified by a sign displaying 善CO・on green
boards/lettering. Mobile phone can also be obtained from private
companies on rental basis for short periods. Radio paging
service is provided by DC Pager service at Lahore, Rawalpindi,
Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar.
Emergency Phone Numbers:
(for all major cities) Police Emergency:.................. 15
Telephone Inquiry:................. 17
Fire Brigade:...................... 16
Telephone Complaints:.............. 18
Ambulance:......................... 115
Flight Equiry:..................... 114
Railway Enquiry:................... 117
Electricity Complaints:............ 118
Natural Gas Complaints:............ 119
Postal Services:
Postcards: Approx. US$ 0.37
Airmail letters: from US$0.41, depending on weight.
Mail boxes are yellow.
Airmail Express Urgent Mail Service Local Express Delivery
Service International Speed Post Fax Mail International Fax Mail
Fax Money Order Service Urgent Money Order Service, Postal Draft
Service and Saving Bank Mobile Account, are being offered by
Pakistan Post Office.
Economy:
GDP: US$ 59.531 billion Growth Rate: 6.1 percent GNP: US$ 60
billion Per Capita Income: US$ 457
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