note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army
Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Pervez
MUSHARRAF suspended Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional
title of Chief Executive; exercising the powers of the head of the
government, he appointed an eight-member National Security Council to
function as Pakistan's supreme governing body; President Mohammad
Rafiq TARAR remains the ceremonial chief of state
chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December
1997)
head of government: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 12
October 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief executive
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by
the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997 (next to be
held NA); note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF overthrew the government of
Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF in the military takeover of 12
October 1999; in May 2000, the Supreme Court validated the October
1999 coup and set a three-year limit in office for Chief Executive
MUSHARRAF
election results: Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of Parliament
and provincial vote - NA; results are for the last election for prime
minister prior to the military takeover of 12 October 1999 - Mohammad
Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote
- NA
Legislative branch: note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament
following the military takeover of 12 October 1999; bicameral
Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats;
members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year
terms; one-third of the members up for election every two years) and
the National Assembly (217 seats - 10 represent non-Muslims; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA);
National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA);
note - no timetable has yet been given for elections following the
military takeover
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J
2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 137,
PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1,
independents 21, minorities 10; note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dismissed
Parliament 15 October 1999
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by the
president; Federal Islamic (Shari'a) Court
Political parties and leaders:
note: Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament following the
military takeover of 12 October 1999, however, political parties have
been allowed to operate; Awami National Party or ANP ;
Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H ;
Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group or BNM/M [Sardar Akhtar
MENGAL]; Baluch National Party or BNP ; Jamhoori Watan
Party or JWP ; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH ;
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F; Jamiat
Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or JUP/NI ; Millat Part
; Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella
organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain
AHMED], Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S,
Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan or TJP , and Jamiat
Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction or JUP/NO; Mutahida Qaumi Movement,
Altaf faction or MQM/A ; National People's Party or NPP
; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP
; Pakhtun Quami Party or PKQP [Mohammed AFZAL
Khan]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT ; Pakistan Muslim
League, Functional Group or PML/F ; Pakistan Muslim
League, Junejo faction or PML/J ; Pakistan Muslim
League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N ; Pakistan
National Party or PNP ; Pakistan People's Party or PPP
; Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB
; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political pressure groups and leaders: military remains important
political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small
merchants also influential
International organization participation: AsDB, C (suspended), CCC,
CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maleeha LODHI
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 939-6200
FAX: (202) 387-0484
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William MILAM
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: (51) 826161 through 826179
FAX: (51) 276427
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description: 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
@Pakistan:Economy
Economy - overview: Pakistan is a poor, heavily populated country,
suffering from internal political disputes, lack of foreign
investment, and a costly confrontation with neighboring India.
Pakistan's economic outlook continues to be marred by its weak foreign
exchange position, notably its continued reliance on international
creditors for hard currency inflows. The MUSHARRAF government faces
$32 billion in external debt and has nearly completed rescheduling
with Paris Club members and other bilateral creditors. Foreign loans
and grants provide approximately 25% of government revenue, but debt
service obligations total nearly 50% of government expenditure. The
IMF has remained silent on future disbursements from its $1.56 billion
bailout package initiated in 1999, and other international financial
institutions are gauging the current administration's resolve to
implement necessary fiscal reforms. MUSHARRAF's ambitious economic
agenda includes measures to widen the tax net, privatize public sector
assets, and improve its balance of trade position. Pakistan has made
privatization a cornerstone of economic revival, but may have
difficulty attracting new investors until it receives positive
endorsement from the World Bank. The Bank has withheld its approval
pending resolution of the pricing dispute between the government and
independent power producers.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $282 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25.2%
industry: 26.6%
services: 48.2% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 34% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.7% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 38.6 million (1999)
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of
child labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services
39% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (FY98/99 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $10 billion
expenditures: $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99)
Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 59.262 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 63.05%
hydro: 36.31%
nuclear: 0.64%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 55.114 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits,
vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Exports: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: cotton, fabrics, and yarn, rice, other
agricultural products
Exports - partners: US 22%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 7%, Germany 7%, UAE 5%
(FY98/99)
Imports: $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery, petroleum, petroleum products,
chemicals, transportation equipment, edible oils, grains, pulses,
flour
Imports - partners: US 8%, Japan 8%, Malaysia 7%, Saudi Arabia 7%, UAE
7% (FY98/99)
Debt - external: $32 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $2 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 51.90 (December
1999), 44.550 (1998), 40.185 (1997), 35.266 (1996), 30.930 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Pakistan:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 2.861 million (March 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 158,000 (1998)
Telephone system: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
major businesses have established their own private systems; since
1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1
at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring
countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)
Radios: 13.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 22 (plus seven low-power repeaters)
(1997)
Televisions: 3.1 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 26 (1999)
@Pakistan:Transportation
Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 247,811 km
paved: 141,252 km (including 339 km of expressways)
unpaved: 106,559 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas
4,044 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 288,249 GRT/444,451 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 15, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (1999
est.)
Airports: 118 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1999 est.)
@Pakistan:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National
Guard
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 34,632,509 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 21,206,148 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,604,806 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.435 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.9% (FY99/00)
@Pakistan:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: status of Kashmir with India; water-sharing
problems with India over the Indus River (Wular Barrage)
Illicit drugs: producer of illicit opium and hashish for the
international drug trade (poppy cultivation in 1999 - 1,570 hectares,
a 48% drop from 1998 because of eradication and alternative
development); key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to
Western markets; narcotics still move from Afghanistan into
Balochistan Province
______________________________________________________________________
PALAU
@Palau:Introduction
Background: After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of
the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the
Caroline Islands opted for independent status in 1978 rather than join
the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with
the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered
into force the following year when the islands gained their
independence.
@Palau:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,
southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 458 sq km
land: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,519 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
extended fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island
of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine
products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of
solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral
dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou
(Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island
groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
@Palau:People
Population: 18,766 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 2,605; female 2,458)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,006; female 5,814)
65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 467) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.75% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 19.88 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.59 years
male: 65.47 years
female: 71.88 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups: Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian
admixtures
Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day
Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this
religion which is indigenous to Palau)
Languages: English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral
(Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are
official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
@Palau:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Data code: PS
Government type: constitutional government in free association with
the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October
1994
Capital: Koror
note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror
Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau,
Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island, Peleliu,
Sonsoral, Tobi
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Constitution: 1 January 1981
Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and
Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993)
and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by
popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November 1996
(next to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of vote
- Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote - Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK)
consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a
population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates
(16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 2000); House of Delegates - last held 11 November 1996 (next
to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Delegates - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp
BASILIUS]
International organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: (202) 452-6814
FAX: (202) 452-6281
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila);
Charge d'Affaires Allen E. NUGENT
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: 488-2920, 2990
FAX: 488-2911
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing
the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
@Palau:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence
agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the
work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The
population enjoys a per capita income of more than twice that of the
Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the tourist
sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in
the Pacific and the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $160 million (1997 est.)
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP - real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,800 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 7%
Budget:
revenues: $52.9 million
expenditures: $59.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls),
construction, garment making
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 85%
hydro: 15%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity - consumption: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet
potatoes
Exports: $14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports - commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra,
handicrafts
Exports - partners: US, Japan
Imports: $72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels
Imports - partners: US
Debt - external: about $100 million (1989)
Economic aid - recipient: $155.8 million (1995); note - the Compact of
Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN
trusteeship on 1 October 1994, will provide Palau with up to $700
million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military
facilities
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Palau:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1,500 (1988)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1988)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 12,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Palau:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km
Ports and harbors: Koror
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Palau:Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; under a
Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military
is granted access to the islands for 50 years
@Palau:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
PALMYRA ATOLL
@Palmyra Atoll:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of
the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 5 52 N, 162 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 11.9 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 14.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy
Terrain: very low
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 100%
other: 0%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation,
coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
@Palmyra Atoll:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)