Pakistan’s population is expected to grow from an estimated 168 million (as of 2008) to 292 million people by 2050 — making it the world’s fifth-most-populous nation.

(U.N. Population Division)

In a 2006 poll, 87% of Pakistanis said they considered themselves Muslim first — and a citizen of Pakistan second. (Pew Global Attitudes Project)

Why are worries mounting about the state of Pakistan’s economy?

Inflation in Pakistan is about 30% a year — and the stock market in Karachi lost 35% of its value between April and August 2008.

(The Economist)

Why do rising global food prices pose a particular threat?

Pakistani households spend 42% of their consumption expenditures on food (as of 2005) — compared to 27% in Indonesia, 16% in Malaysia and just 9% in the United Kingdom.

(U.S. Department of Agriculture)

What else threatens to damper economic progress in Pakistan?

In Pakistan, the average boy receives five years of education, while girls receive half that. In addition, one-third of Pakistani children never attend school at all.

(Wall Street Journal)

What is one result?

Pakistan's literacy rate is only 54% — with female literacy less than 30%.

(New York Times Book Review)

Are there other signs that Pakistan’s women are being left behind?

Only 30-40% of working-age women (aged 15-64) in Pakistan are in the labor force. In contrast, women's labor-force participation rates are nearly 80% in China and Vietnam and 65% in Russia.

(Goldman Sachs)

Pakistan's healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP is the lowest of any large country, at 2.4%. The lowest anywhere is Equatorial Guinea's 1.5%. (Progressive Policy Institute)

What does Pakistan stand to gain by narrowing the gender gap?

Over the next decade, narrowing the gap in female-male workforce participation in Pakistan would allow the labor force to grow by an incremental annual average of around 2%. Faster labor-force growth also translates into higher GDP growth.

(Goldman Sachs)

Why is economic growth so pivotal?

In Pakistan, fewer factory jobs for rural poor, due to an economic slowdown, could work in favor of extremists.

(Wall Street Journal)

What are Pakistan’s origins as a nation?

Pakistan was created out of British India — which was itself previously comprised of more than 500 princely states — in the summer of 1947.

(The New Yorker)

But has the country ever really been united?

Due to multiple wars with India, military strongmen leaders and infighting among ethnic groups, Pakistan's nearly 170 million people have never fully united as one nation — despite being 97% Muslim.

(National Geographic)

What kind of political turmoil has Pakistan suffered?

Since gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan has had 28 years of civilian government, but over three decades of military rule — from 1958-69, 1977-88 and 1999-2008.

(British Foreign Office)

What are the major ethnic fault lines?

The major ethnic groups in Pakistan are the Punjabi — accounting for 44% of the population — the Pashtun (15%), the Sindhi (14%) and the Baluchi (4%).

(Washington Post)

In Pakistan, fewer factory jobs for rural poor due to an economic slowdown could work in favor of extremists. (Wall Street Journal)

Does one group dominate?

In Pakistan, Punjabis dominate the economy and the army. Outside Punjab province, military rule — which Pakistanis have known for over half their history — is considered Punjabi rule.

(The Economist)

What is the situation in rural Pakistan?

In rural Pakistan, 5% of the population controls 66% of the land — one of the most lopsided ownership rates in South Asia.

(International Herald Tribune)

What is ironic about Pakistan’s widespread poverty?

Pakistan ranks only 130th in the Human Development Index — while it has the seventh-largest army in the world and is the eighth nuclear power.

(British Foreign Office)

How much does the Pakistani government spend on development?

In Pakistan, the military accounts for a quarter of the national budget, while less than 3% is spent on education, health and public welfare.

(National Geographic)

What about foreign aid?

Since 2002, the United States has sent roughly $10 billion in aid to Pakistan, including $5.64 billion in reimbursements for helping the coalition forces patrol the border with Afghanistan. However, only $900 million was spent on health, education and food aid.

(Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments)

In Pakistan, the average boy receives five years of education, while girls receive half that. In addition, one-third of Pakistani children never attend school at all. (Wall Street Journal)

What is the state of health care in Pakistan?

Pakistan's healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP is the lowest of any large country, at 2.4%. The lowest anywhere is Equatorial Guinea's 1.5%.

(Progressive Policy Institute)

And what is the outlook for the country’s workforce?

By 2015, Pakistan’s workforce is expected to grow by 30%. In comparison, China's workforce is expected to grow by 7% and Indonesia's by 14%.

(Asian Development Bank)

What is remarkable about Pakistanis’ identity?

In a 2006 poll, 87% of Pakistanis said they considered themselves Muslim first and a citizen of Pakistan second.

(Pew Global Attitudes Project)

How many Muslims live in Pakistan?

With nearly 162 million Muslims, Pakistan has the world’s second-largest Islamic population, after Indonesia (204 million) — but ahead of India (154 million) and Bangladesh (127 million).

(CIA World Factbook)

Where is extremist activity concentrated?

Nearly a dozen Islamic rebel groups have been fighting in the Kashmir region spanning the border between India and Pakistan — and more than 66,000 people have been killed since the armed uprising began in 1989.

(Financial Times)

Pakistan’s population is expected to grow from an estimated 168 million (as of 2008) to 292 million people by 2050 — making it the world’s fifth-most- populous nation. (U.N. Population Division)

Where else?

Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan are made up of four provinces — and make up 2% of the total population of Pakistan, with only 2.7% living in established towns. In this region, the literacy rate is 17%.

(United Press International)

Why have militants found a safe haven in the region?

Since the collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, several thousand Al Qaeda jihadis have settled along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Many have married local women or have been adopted by tribal villagers.

(United Press International)

How is Pakistan contributing to international peacekeeping missions?

Pakistan supplies 10,616 personnel to UN peacekeeping operations, accounting for 13% of all UN peacekeepers (as of August 2007). It was followed by Bangladesh's 9,717 peacekeepers (12% of the total) and India's 9,345 personnel (11%).

(United Nations)

And finally, what does Pakistan mean?

Pakistan means "Land of the Pure."

(Wall Street Journal)