  |
|
|
|
Background |
As Europe's largest economy and
most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the
continent's economic, political, and defense
organizations. European power struggles immersed the
country in two devastating World Wars in the first half of
the 20th century and left the country occupied by the
victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the
Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two
German states were formed in 1949 the western Federal
Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German
Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded
itself in key Western economic and security organizations,
the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the communist
GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.
The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War
allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then Germany
has invested considerable funds to bring eastern
productivity and wages up to western standards. In January
2002, Germany and 11 other EU countries introduced a
common European currency, the Euro. |
The separation in 1947 of
British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two
sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never
satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these
countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and
becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over
the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian
nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests
in 1998. |
|
Location |
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the
North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of
Denmark
|
Southern Asia, bordering the
Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and
Afghanistan on the west and China in the north |
|
Geographic importance |
strategic location on North
European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea
|
Controls Khyber Pass and Bolan
Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian
Subcontinent.
|
|
Geographic coordinates |
51 00
N, 9 00 E
|
30 00
N, 70 00 E |
|
Map
references |
Europe
|
Asia |
|
Area |
total
357,021 sq km
water 7,798 sq km
land 349,223 sq km
|
total 803,940 sq km
water 25,220 sq km
land 778,720 sq km |
|
Land
boundaries |
total
3,621 km
border countries Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech
Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg
138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334
km
|
total
6,774 km
border countries Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India
2,912 km, Iran 909 km |
|
Coastline |
2,389
km
|
1,046
km |
|
Climate |
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and
summers; occasional warm foehn wind
|
mostly
hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
|
|
Terrain |
lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in
south
|
flat
Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in west
|
|
Elevation extremes |
lowest
point Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest point Zugspitze 2,963 m
|
lowest
point Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
|
|
Natural resources |
iron
ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper,
natural gas, salt, nickel, arable land
|
arable
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum,
poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
|
|
Land
use |
arable
land 33.88%
permanent crops 0.65%
other 65.47% (1998 est.)
|
arable
land 27.81%
permanent crops 0.79%
other 71.4% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land |
4,850
sq km (1998 est.)
|
18,000
sq km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards |
flooding
|
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in
north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains
(July and August)
|
|
Population
|
83,251,851 (July 2002 est.) |
147,663,429 (July 2002 est.) |
|
Age
structure |
0-14
years 15.4% (male 6,568,699; female 6,227,148)
15-64 years 67.6% (male 28,606,964; female 27,695,539)
65 years and over 17% (male 5,546,140; female 8,607,361)
(2002 est.)
|
0-14
years 39.9% (male 30,321,217; female 28,581,334)
15-64 years 56% (male 42,254,996; female 40,392,092)
65 years and over 4.1% (male 2,984,391; female 3,129,399)
(2002 est.) |
|
Population growth rate
|
0.26%
(2002 est.) |
2.06%
(2002 est.) |
|
Birth
rate |
8.99
births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
|
30.4
births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Death
rate |
10.36
deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
|
9.02
deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Sex
ratio |
at
birth 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.64 male(s)/female
total population 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
|
at
birth 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.95 male(s)/female
total population 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est. |
|
Infant
mortality rate |
4.65
deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
|
78.52
deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
|
Life
expectancy at birth |
total
population 77.78 years
female 81.09 years (2002 est.)
male 74.64 years
|
total
population 61.82 years
female 62.73 years (2002 est.)
male 60.96 years |
|
Total
fertility rate
|
1.39
children born/woman (2002 est.) |
4.25
children born/woman (2002 est.) |
|
Nationality |
noun
German(s)
adjective German
|
noun
Pakistani(s)
adjective Pakistani |
|
Ethnic
groups |
German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%,
other 6.1% (made up largely of Serbo-Croatian, Italian,
Russian, Greek, Polish, Spanish)
|
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan),
Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of
partition and their descendants) |
|
Religions |
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic
34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
|
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a
20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3% |
|
Languages |
German |
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki
(a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%,
Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and
lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government
ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
|
|
Literacy |
definition age 15 and over can read and write
total population 99% (1977 est.)
male NA%
female NA% |
definition age 15 and over can read and write
total population 42.7%
male 55.3%
female 29% (1998) |
|
Country name |
conventional long form Federal
Republic of Germany
conventional short form Germany
local short form Deutschland
former German Empire, German Republic, German Reich
local long form Bundesrepublik Deutschland |
conventional long form Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form Pakistan
former West Pakistan |
|
Government type |
Federal Republic
|
Federal Republic
|
|
Capital |
Berlin
|
Islamabad |
|
Administrative divisions |
16 states (Laender, singular -
Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg,
Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz,
Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein,
Thueringen |
4
provinces:Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and North West
Frontier Province (NWFP)
Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Islamabad Capital Territory
note the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed
Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the
Northern Areas |
|
Independence |
18 January 1871 (German Empire
unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK,
US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War
II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany)
proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and
French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East
Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former
USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany
took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally
relinquished rights 15 March 1991 |
14 August 1947 (from UK)
|
|
National holiday |
Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
|
Republic Day, 23 March (1940)
|
|
Constitution |
23 May 1949, known as Basic Law;
became constitution of the united German people 3 October
1990 |
10 April 1973, suspended 5 July
1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended
15 October 1999, restored with amendments 2003 |
|
Legal
system |
Civil law system with indigenous
concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the
Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction |
Based on English common law with
provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic
state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations |
|
Suffrage |
18 years of age; universal
|
18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch |
Chief of state President
Johannes RAU (since 1 July 1999)
elections president elected for a five-year term by a
Federal Convention including all members of the Federal
Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the
state parliaments; election last held 23 May 1999 (next to
be held 23 May 2004); chancellor elected by an absolute
majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term;
election last held 22 September 2002 (next to be held NA
September 2006)
head of government Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27
October 1998)
cabinet Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers)
appointed by the president on the recommendation of the
chancellor
election results Johannes RAU elected president; percent
of Federal Convention vote - 57.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER
elected chancellor; percent of Federal Assembly vote NA%
|
Head of Government
elected prime minister Mr SHAUKAT AZIZ (2004)
chief of state President PERVEZ MUSHARRAF
(since 20 June 2001) elections legislative election last
held 10 October 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prior to
the military takeover, Pakistan had an elected president
and prime minister; the president was elected by
Parliament for a five-year term; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or majority
coalition was usually elected prime minister by the
National Assembly |
|
Legislative branch |
Bicameral Parliament or
Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag
(603 seats; elected by popular vote under a system
combining direct and proportional representation; a party
must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates
to gain representation; members serve four-year terms) and
the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state
governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3
to 6 votes depending on population and are required to
vote as a block)
elections Federal Assembly - last held 22 September 2002
(next to be held NA September 2006); note - there are no
elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by
the composition of the state-level governments; the
composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change
any time one of the 16 states holds an election
election results Federal Assembly - percent of vote by
party - SPD 38.5%, CDU/CSU 38.5%, Greens 8.6%, FDP 7.4%,
PDS 4%; seats by party - SPD 251, CDU/CSU 248, Greens 55,
FDP 47, PDS 2; Federal Council - current composition - NA
|
Bicameral Parliament or
Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100 seats -
formerly 87; 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 (342 seats - formerly 217; 10 seats represent
minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
election results - National Assembly results are for the
10 October 2002 election - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PPP 71, PML/Q 69, MMA 53, PML/N 14, MQM
13, MP 12, PML/F 4, PML/J 2, PPP/SB 2, female elected
members 60, independents 21, minorities 10, others 11
elections Senate - last held 2003 (next to be held by
2009); National Assembly - last held 10 October 2002 (next
to be held by October 2007) |
|
Judicial branch |
Federal Constitutional Court or
Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by
the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat) |
Supreme Court (justices
appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a
Court |
|
Political parties and leaders |
Alliance '90/Greens [Angelika
BEER and Reinhard BUETIKOFER]; Christian Democratic Union
or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social Union or CSU
[Edmund STOIBER, chairman]; Free Democratic Party or FDP
[Guido WESTERWELLE, chairman]; the Greens [leader NA];
Party of Democratic Socialism or PDS [Gabriele ZIMMER];
Social Democratic Party or SPD [Gerhard SCHROEDER,
chairman] |
Awami National Party or ANP [Wali
KHAN]; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H
[Dr. HAYEE Baluch]; Baluch National Party or BNP [Sardar
Akhtar MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar Khan
BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur
REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or JUP/NI
[Abdul Sattar Khan NIAZI]; Millat Party or MP [Farooq
LEGHARI]; 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 [Sami ul-HAQ], Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan or TJP [Allama
Sajid NAQVI], and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction
or JUP/NO [Shah Ahmad NOORANI]; Mutahida Qaumi Movement,
Altaf faction or MQM [Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muttahida
Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [NA leader]; National
People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun
Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI];
Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed AFZAL Khan]; Pakistan
Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Democratic
Party or PDP [Nawabadzada KHAN]; Pakistan Muslim League,
Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim
League, Junejo faction or PML/J [Hamid Nasir CHATTHA];
Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz
SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League, Quaid-l-Azam faction or
PML/Q [Mian AZHAR]; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil
BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir BHUTTO];
Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva
BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]
note political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
|
|
Political pressure groups and leaders |
Employers' organizations;
expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups
|
Military remains most important
political force; ulema (clergy), landowners,
industrialists, and small merchants also influential
|
|
International organization participation |
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC,
NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU, WADB (nonregional),
WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC,
UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO |
|
Diplomatic representation
|
H.E. Dr. Christoph Brümmer
Ambassador of Germany
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Ramna 5, Diplomatic Enclave
Islamabad, Pakistan
Telephone: 00-92-51-227-9430-35
Fax: 00-92-51-227-9436
E-mail:
pregerem@isb.paknet.com.pk
URL:
www.german-embassy.org.pk
|
H.E. Mr. Asif Ezdi
Ambassador of Pakistan
Pakistan Embassy
Schaperstr 29, Wilmersdorf 10719
Berlin, Germany
Telephone: 00-49-30-219-68-061
Fax: 00-49-30-219-68-059 |
|
Mrs. Verena Gräfin von Roedern
Consul General of Germany
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
92-A/7, Block 5, Clifton
Karachi, Pakistan
Telephone: 00-92-21-587-3782-83
Fax: 00-92-21-587-4009
E-mail:
consgerm@cyber.net.pk |
Mr. Fawad Hasan Fawad
Commercial Counsellor
Consulate General of Pakistan
Darmstadler Landstrasse199
60598 Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: 00-49-69-697-697-11
Fax: 00-49-69-686-026-03
E-mail:
pakgermantrade@yahoo.com |
|
Flag
description |
Three equal horizontal bands of
black (top), red, and gold |
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 |
|
Economy - overview |
Germany's affluent and
technologically powerful economy turned in a relatively
weak performance throughout much of the 1990s. The
modernization and integration of the eastern German
economy continues to be a costly long-term problem, with
annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly
$70 billion. Germany's ageing population, combined with
high unemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a
level exceeding contributions from workers. Structural
rigidities in the labor market - including strict
regulations on laying off workers and the setting of wages
on a national basis - have made unemployment a chronic
problem. Business and income tax cuts introduced in 2001
did not spare Germany from the impact of the downturn in
international trade, and domestic demand faltered as
unemployment began to rise. Growth in 2002 again fell
short of 1%. Corporate restructuring and growing capital
markets are setting the foundations that could allow
Germany to meet the long-term challenges of European
economic integration and globalization, particularly if
labor market rigidities are addressed. In the short run,
however, the fall in government revenues and the rise in
expenditures has brought the deficit close to the EU's 3%
debt limit. |
Pakistan, an impoverished and
underdeveloped country, suffers from internal political
disputes, lack of foreign investment, and a costly
confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's economic
prospects, marred by poor human development indicators,
low levels of foreign investment, and reliance on
international creditors for hard currency inflows, were
nonetheless on an upswing through most of 2001. The
MUSHARRAF government made significant inroads in
macroeconomic reform - it completed an IMF short-term loan
program for the first time and improved its standing with
international creditors by increasing revenue collection
and restraining the fiscal deficit in the 2001/02 budget.
While Pakistan has capitalized on its international
standing after the 11 September terrorist attacks on the
US by garnering substantial assistance from abroad -
including $1.3 billion in IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility aid and $12.5 billion in Paris Club debt
rescheduling - long-term prospects remain uncertain. GDP
growth will continue to hinge on crop performance;
dependence on foreign oil leaves the import bill
vulnerable to fluctuating oil prices; and foreign and
domestic investors remain wary of committing to projects
in Pakistan. Pakistani trade levels - already in decline
due to the global economic downturn - worsened in the
aftermath of the September 11 attacks. |
|
GDP |
Purchasing power parity - $2.184
trillion |
Purchasing power parity - $299
billion |
|
GDP -
real growth rate |
0.4% (2002 est.)
|
3.3% (2001 est.)
|
|
GDP -
per capita |
Purchasing power parity -
$26,600 (2002 est.) |
Purchasing power parity - $2,100
(2001 est.) |
|
GDP -
composition by sector |
Agriculture 1%
Industry 31%
Services 68% (2002 est.) |
Agriculture 26%
Industry 24%
Services 50% (2001 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line |
NA%
|
35% (2001 est.)
|
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share |
Lowest 10% 4%
Highest 10% 25% (1997) |
Lowest 10% 4%
Highest 10% 28% (1997) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index |
30 (1994)
|
31 (1996-97 )
|
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices) |
1.3% (2002 est.)
|
4% (2001 est.)
|
|
Labor force
|
41.9 million |
40.4 million
|
|
Labor force - by
occupation |
Industry 33%, agriculture 3%,
services 64% (1999) |
Agriculture 44%, industry 17%,
services 39% (1999 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate
|
9.8% (2002 est.)
|
6.3% (2001 est.)
|
|
Budget |
Revenues $802 billion
expenditures $825 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001 est.) |
Revenues $8.9 billion
expenditures $11.6 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (FY00/01 est.) |
|
Industries
|
Among the world's largest and
most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel,
coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine
tools, electronics, food and beverages; shipbuilding;
textiles |
Textiles, food processing,
beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper
products, sea food |
|
Industrial production
growth rate |
-2.1% (2002 est.)
|
7% (2001 est.)
|
|
Electricity - production
|
537.33 billion kWh (2000)
|
62.687 billion kWh (2000)
|
|
Electricity - production
by source |
Fossil fuel 63%
Hydro 4%
other 3% (2000)
Nuclear 30% |
Fossil fuel 64%
Hydro 35%
other 0% (2000)
Nuclear 1% |
|
Electricity - consumption
|
501.72 billion kWh (2000)
|
58.299 billion kWh (2000)
|
|
Agriculture - products
|
Potatoes, Wheat, Barley, Sugar
beets, Fruit, Cabbages; Cattle, Pigs, Poultry
|
Cotton, Wheat, Rice, Sugarcane,
Fruits, Vegetables; Milk, Beef, Mutton, Eggs
|
|
Exports |
$608 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
|
$8.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
|
|
Exports - commodities
|
Machinery, Vehicles, Chemicals,
Metals and manufactures, Foodstuffs, Textiles
|
Textiles (garments, cotton
cloth, and yarn), Rice, other agricultural products
|
|
Exports - partners
|
France 11.1%, US 10.6%, UK 8.4%,
Netherlands 6.2%, Austria 5.1%; Belgium 4.9%, Spain 4.5%,
Switzerland 4.3% (2001) |
US 24.8%, UK 6.5%, UAE 6.2%,
Hong Kong 5.9%, Germany 5.6%, (2000) |
|
Imports |
$487.3 billion f.o.b. (2002
est.) |
$9.2 billion f.o.b. (2001)
|
|
Imports - commodities
|
Machinery, Vehicles, Chemicals,
Foodstuffs, Textiles, Metals |
Machinery, Petroleum, Petroleum
products, Chemicals, Transportation equipment, Edible
oils, Grains, Pulses, Flour |
|
Imports - partners
|
France 9.4%, Netherlands 8.4%,
US 8.3%, UK 6.9%, Italy 6.5%, Belgium 5.2%, Japan 4.1%,
Austria 3.8% (2001) |
Kuwait 11.7%, UAE 10.7%, Saudi
Arabia 11%, US 6%, Japan 5.6% (2000) |
|
Debt - external
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