[Mehbooba Mufti SAYEED]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or
PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or
PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry
Shujaat HUSSAIN]; note - as of May 2004, the PML/Q changed its name
to PML and absorbed the PML/J, PML/Z, and NA; Pakistan National
Party or PNP [Hasil BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Aftab
Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians or
PPPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN];
Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Political pressure groups and leaders:
military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy),
landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential

International organization participation:
ARF, AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI,
UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jehangir KARAMAT
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
Boston (Honarary)
telephone: [1] (202) 243-3277
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s): Karachi, 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

Economy Pakistan

Economy - overview:
Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered
from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign
investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring
India. However, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered by
generous foreign