| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | PKISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | PAKISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | IslamabadGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | AsiaGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | PakistanCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | Islamic Republic of PakistanCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | PakistanCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | the name is said to have been proposed in the early 1930s by Muslim students at Cambridge University, created from the initials of Punjab, Afghanistan, and Kashmir; the word pak also means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, and the Persian suffix -stan means "place of" or "country," so Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure"CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | Federal parliamentary republicCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 14 August 1947 (from British India)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | Pakistan Day, 23 March, also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day (1940) or Republic Day (1956); note: commemorates the adoption of the Lahore Resolution on 23 March 1940, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and also the adoption of Pakistan's first constitution on 23 March 1956, during the transition to the Islamic Republic of PakistanCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | Asif Ali ZARDARI (Pres.)CIA World Leaders [2025] |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | PKRISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | Pakistan RupeeISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 7ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names | Azad Jammu and Kashmir / Balochistan / Gilgit-Baltistan / Islamabad / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Punjab / SindhISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Historical overview | "Research completed April 1994." Supercedes the 1984 ed. of Pakistan : a country study, edited by Richard F. Nyrop. Includes bibliographical references (p. 333-361) and index. Also available in digital form.LoC FRD Country Studies [2026] |
| National symbols | five-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmineCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "Qaumi Tarana" (National Anthem); lyrics/music: Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA; history: adopted 1954; also known as "Pak sarzamin shad bad" (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | green, whiteCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | citizenship by birth: yes; citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan; dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries; residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding applicationCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
the name is said to have been proposed in the early 1930s by Muslim students at Cambridge University, created from the initials of Punjab, Afghanistan, and Kashmir; the word pak also means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, and the Persian suffix - stan means "place of" or "country," so Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure"
description: green with a vertical white band on the left side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are all traditional Islamic symbols; the white band symbolizes the role of religious minorities
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
