Pakistan

Country Overview

The large territory around Indus Valley including Pakistan, Bangladesh and India has seen the flourish of human civilization, more than 5.000 years ago. For centuries, it was under the British Empire dominion. When it became independent, after World War II ended, Pakistan and India started fighting each other because of religious differences.

During the last 60 years, Pakistan's development has been deeply influenced by the antagonism with India that also generated 3 military wars, the last in 1971. Nowadays, the tensions are still high and are constraining the civil, religious, democratic and economic development of Pakistan.

The permanent civil war in neighboring Afghanistan is also creating huge issues for Pakistan, with thousands of people arriving to escape war and poverty. Pakistan has been appointed as a non-permanent UN Security Council member for the period 2012-2013, as a sign of fundamental role the country plays in the Middle East peace process.

Pakistan is the world's 6th most populated country, with over 190 million people, more than half of which are living below the poverty level (UN Human Development in 2011 report).

The economy is still based on agricultural activities, while half of the country's exports come from the textile sector. Unemployment is particularly high, despite official data indicating it is only 6%.

The country is living with high economic and political instability, with the currency depreciating by over 40% in last 5 years and inflation above 13%. As a result, per capita income is one of the lowest worldwide, at only $2.800 in 2011, and is not growing.