The Context: A Brief Overview of Pakistan

Pakistan at a glance
Government Type: Parliamentary democracy
Languages: Urdu (national and official), English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushtu, Baloch, Hindko, Brahui, Saraiki (Punjabi variant).
Ethnic Groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushtun, Baloch, Muhajir (i.e., Urdu-speaking immigrants from India and their descendants), Saraiki, and Hazara.
Religious beliefs: Muslim 97%, small minorities of Christians, Hindus, and others.
Labor Force: Agriculture 42%, Services 38%, Industry 20%.

Total population: 165.8 million
Percent of the population under the age of 15: 41%
Urban population: 34%
Life expectancy: 62 years

Focus on reproductive health
Total fertility rate (average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime): 4.6
Contraceptive use (among married women aged 15-49): 20% (modern methods); 28% (all methods)
Maternal mortality rate (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births): 500
In Pakistan abortion is legal to save the life of the woman and to protect her physical or mental health.

Focus on young women
Percentage of females aged 15-19 who have ever been married: 21%
Percentage of females who have given birth by age 18: n/a

Focus on HIV/AIDS
*Percentage of adult population (15-49) living with HIV/AIDS: 0.1%
*Percentage of adult population living with HIV/AIDS who are women: 22%
*Number of HIV-positive adults (aged 15+): 84,000
*Number of HIV-positive women (aged 15+): 14,000

Focus on gender
Literacy rate for women (ages 15-24): 42%
Literacy rate for men (ages 15-24): 66%
Women as a percent of parliament: 22%
From 1995-2002, 16% of females ages 15+ were economically active compared to 83% of males ages 15+


Source: Population Reference Bureau, www.prb.org

*Source: UNAIDS, www.unaids.org