Geography

• Area: ~796,095 km² (36th largest country)
• 4 provinces + AJK, GB, ICT; borders India, Afghanistan, Iran, China
• 3 main regions: Northern mountains (Karakoram, Himalaya, Hindu Kush — meet at Gilgit), Indus Plain, Balochistan Plateau
• K2 (8,611m) — 2nd highest peak in world, in Karakoram
• Indus River system: Indus + 5 rivers of Punjab (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, Beas) — lifeline of agriculture
• Coastline: ~1,046 km along Arabian Sea (Sindh + Balochistan) — Gwadar strategic port

Society & Demography

• Population ~240 million (2023 census) — 5th most populous country
• Urbanization rising fast (~37%) — Karachi, Lahore among largest cities
• Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Pashtun, Sindhi, Saraiki, Muhajir, Baloch, Hazara, Kashmiri
• Youth bulge: ~64% population under 30 — demographic dividend or pressure depending on policy
• Urdu = national language; English = official; provinces have own regional languages (constitutionally protected)

Natural Resources

• Coal: Thar coalfield (Sindh) — one of world's largest lignite reserves
• Natural gas: Sui (Balochistan), Mari (Sindh)
• Minerals: Reko Diq (copper-gold, Balochistan), Saindak project
• Water: heavily dependent on Indus Basin — glacier-fed, vulnerable to climate change

Agriculture

• ~19% of GDP, employs ~37% of labour force