List of Pakistani universities

Aga Khan University.

Resource Development Department, Stadium Road, P.O.Box 3500,Karachi-74800 PakistanPhone #: (92-21) 493 0051 Ext: 2910/2911Fax: (92-21) 493 4294 E-mail: resource.development@aku.edu or sports.centre@aku.eduURL: http://www.aku.edu or http://www.amaan.com/univ/aku.htm

Allama Iqbal Open University.

Block # 3, Sector II-8, IslamabadPhone #: (92-51) 435-748, 435-762, 435-749, 435-750Fax #: (92-51) 435-766Email: mscs@aiou.edu.pk

Balochistan University of Engineering & Technology

University Campus, Khuzdar, PakistanPhone #: (92-87) 412-752, 412-524

Baqai Medical University.

51, Deh tor, Gadap Road, Superhighway Karachi-74600, PakistanPhone #: (92-21) 635-0434, 635-0433, 635-1011Fax 3: (92-21) 661-7968

Hamdard University .

Madina Al-Hikmat, Mohammad Bin Qasim Avenue,Deh Bund Murad Khan, Karachi-74700, PakistanPhone #: (92-21) 699-6002, 699-6001Fax #: (92-21) 699-6002Email: registrar@hamdard.edu

International Islamic University.

52-West Waheed Plaza, Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad, PakistanPhone #: (92-51) 823-080Fax #: (92-51) 826-727Email: dballu@paknet1.ptc.pk

Mehran University of Engineering & Technology.

Jamshoro, Hyderabad, PakistanPhone #: 992-221) 771-214, 771-704, 771-226Fax #: (92-221) 771-382Email: reg@muet.its.super.net.pk

NED University of Engineering & Technology.

University Raod, Karachi-75270, PakistanPhone #: (92-21) 9243261-8Fax #: (92-21) 496-1934

National University of Engineering & Technology.

Tamizuddin Road, Lalkurti, Rawalpindi, PakistanPhone #: (92-51) 927-1580, 927-1596Fax #: (92-51) 927-1577Email: nust@paknet2.net.pk

NWFP Agricultural University.

602, Kashif Center, Shahra-e-Faisal, Peshawar, PakistanPhone #: (92-91) 40239, 40230

Nicon Center of Computer Sciences.

19/M, Mohammad Hanif Kayani Road,Model Town Extension, Lahore.Tel: 042-5167980 Fax: 5168990modeltown@niconpak.comhttp://www.niconpak.com

Nicon Center of Computer Sciences.

13P, F7 Markaz, Jinnah Super,IslamabadTel: 051- 274840 Fax: 051-276811islamabad@niconpak.com

Nicon Center of Computer Sciences.

14 A, Murree Road, Adjacent KFC,RawalpindiTel: 051-273838 Fax: 051-278933rawalpindi@niconpak.com

Nicon Center of Computer Sciences.

P.O. Box: 20373,501, Aldurrah Building, AjmanUAETel: 06-7471855 Fax: 06-7472038niconuae@emirates.net.ae

Quaid-e-Azam University of Engineering & Technology.

University Road, Karachi-75300, PakistanTelephone:4988000-2, 4980072, 4980059, 474583UAN 111-994-994Fax: (92-21) 4982393Email: webmaster@ssuet.edu.pk

Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology.

Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, PakistanPhone #: (92-42) 586-4185, 586-4534Fax #: (92-42) 586-4534

Shah Abdul Latif University.

81, 2nd Floor, Motandas Building, M.A. Jinnah Road, Khairpur, PakistanPhone #: (92-792) 4492, 4491

Sindh Agricultural University.

Sindh Secretariat, 4-B, Block 93-94, Court Road, Tando Jam, PakistanPhone #: (92-2233) 5869Fax #: (92-2233) 5300

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology.

90, Clifton, Karachi 75530, PakistanPhone: (92-21) 583-0447 & 48, (92-21) 583-8034 & 35Fax: (92-21) 583-0446E-mail: info@szabist.edu.pkWeb Site: http://www.szabist.edu.pk

The Punjab University.

Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, PakistanPhone #: (92-42) 586-4185, 586-4534Fax #: (92-42) 586-4534

University of Karachi.

University Road, P.O. Box: 8403, Karachi-75250, PakistanPhone #: (92-21) 496-8530, 496-5787Fax #: (92-21) 496-9729

University of Sindh.

Allama I.I. Kazi Campus, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, PakistanPhone #: (92-221) 771-188, 771-249, 771-690, 771-681

Ziauddin Medical University.

4/B, Block-6, Clifton, Karachi-75600, PakistanPhone #: (92-21) 586-2939, 586-2937, 583-3673Fax #: (92-21) 586-2940Email: zmu@khi.comrol.com

EDUCATION

Education in Pakistan is divided into five levels: primary (grades one through five); middle (grades six through eight); high (grades nine and ten, leading to the Secondary School Certificate); intermediate (grades eleven and twelve, leading to a Higher Secondary School Certificate); and university programmes leading to graduate and advanced degrees.[69]

Pakistan also has a parallel secondary school education system in private schools, which is based upon the curriculum set by the University of Cambridge. Some students choose to take the O level and A level exams, which are administered by the British Council,[70] in place of government exams.

There are currently 730 technical & vocational institutions in Pakistan.[71] The minimum qualifications to enter male vocational institutions, is the completion of grade 8. The programmes are generally two to three years in length. The minimum qualifications to enter female vocational institutions, is the completion of grade 5.[72]

All academic education institutions are the responsibility of the provincial governments. The federal government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation and some financing of research.

English medium education is to be extended, on a phased basis, to all schools across the country.[73] Through various educational reforms, by the year 2015, the ministry of education expects to attain 100% enrolment levels amongst primary school aged children, and a literacy rate of 86% amongst people aged over 10.[74]

Pakistan also has madrassahs that provide free education and also offer free boarding and lodging to students who come mainly from the poorer strata of society and not necessarily. [75] After recent criticism, efforts have been made to regulate them by including modern disciplines such as English, science, mathematics, economics, and computer science. [76]

LANGUAGE

English is the official language of Pakistan and used in official business, government, and legal contacts. The constitution of Pakistan is written in English. Urdu is the national language, usually spoken to communicate with different ethnic groups. Punjabi is the most commonly spoken ethnic language.. Other major languages spoken in Pakistan include (in order of number of speakers): Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki and Balochi; English is mostly spoken by educated people.

Following are the major languages spoken in Pakistan. The percentage of Pakistanis who are native speakers of that language is also given.
Punjabi 44.68%
Pashto 15.42%
Sindhi 14.1%
Seraiki 8.38%
Urdu 7.57%
Balochi 3.57%
Others 6.08%

Other languages include Brahui, Potwari, Kashmiri, Persian, Dari, Hindko, Gujrati, Memoni, Makrani, Marwari, Bengali, Gojri, and Dogri.

Government of Pakistan and Politics of Pakistan

Government of Pakistan and Politics of Pakistan

Parliament house in Islamabad

The government of Pakistan was based on the Government of India Act (1935) for the first nine years after independence. The first Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956, but was suspended in 1958 by General Ayub Khan. The Constitution of 1973—suspended in 1977, by Zia-ul-Haq, but re-instated in 1991—is the country's most important document, laying the foundations of government. Pakistan is a semi-presidential federal democratic republic with Islam as the state religion. The bicameral legislature comprises a 100-member Senate and a 342-member National Assembly. The President is the Head of State and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and is elected by an electoral college. The prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly. Each province has a similar system of government with a directly elected Provincial Assembly in which the leader of the largest party or alliance becomes Chief Minister. Provincial Governors are appointed by the President.

The Pakistani military has played an influential role in mainstream politics throughout Pakistan's history, with military presidents ruling from 1958–71, 1977–88 and from 1999–2008. The leftist Pakistan Peoples Party, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, emerged as a major political player during the 1970s. Under the military rule of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan began a marked shift from the British-era secular politics and policies, to the adoption of Shariat and other laws based on Islam. During the 1980s, the anti-feudal, pro-Muhajir Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was started by unorthodox and educated urban dwellers of Sindh and particularly Karachi. The 1990s were characterized by coalition politics dominated by the Pakistan Peoples Party and a rejuvenated Muslim League.

In the October 2002 general elections, the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) won a plurality of National Assembly seats with the second-largest group being the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), a sub-party of the PPP. Zafarullah Khan Jamali of PML-Q emerged as Prime Minister but resigned on 26 June 2004 and was replaced by PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as interim Prime Minister. On 28 August 2004 the National Assembly voted 191 to 151 to elect the Finance Minister and former Citibank Vice President Shaukat Aziz as Prime Minister. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of Islamic religious parties, won elections in North-West Frontier Province, and increased their representation in the National Assembly - until their defeat in the 2008 elections.

Prime Minister's Secretariat, Islamabad

Pakistan is an active member of the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the latter of which Pakistan has used as a forum for Enlightened Moderation, a plan to promote a renaissance and enlightenment in the Muslim world. Pakistan is also a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). In the past, Pakistan has had mixed relations with the United States; in the early 1950s, Pakistan was the United States' "most allied ally in Asia"[26] and a member of both the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). During the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s Pakistan was a major U.S. ally. But relations soured in the 1990s, when sanctions were applied by the U.S. over suspicions of Pakistan's nuclear activities. However, the 11 September 2001 attacks and the subsequent War on Terrorism led to an improvement in U.S.–Pakistan ties, especially after Pakistan ended its support of the Taliban regime in Kabul. This was evidenced by a major increase in American military aid, providing Pakistan $4 billion more in three years after the 9/11 attacks than before.[27]

On 18 February 2008, Pakistan held its general elections after Benazir Bhutto's assassination postponed the original date of 8 January 2008.[28] The Pakistan Peoples Party won the majority of the votes and formed an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League (N). They nominated and elected Yousaf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister of Pakistan.[29] On 18 August 2008, Pervez Musharraf resigned as President of Pakistan amidst increasing calls for his impeachment.[30] In the presidential election that followed, Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan People's Party won by a landslide majority and became President of Pakistan.

POLTICAL PARTIES OF PAKISTAN

Political parties have existed in Pakistan during all of its turbulent political history but have been regulated by legislation to ensure that they support the concept of Pakistan—a vestige of an early effort to repress the activities of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), which had opposed Partition in 1947. Parties have been frequently banned or restricted by the government, beginning with the 1952 ban on—and suppression of—the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP). In most instances, banning of political activity has simply limited overt, outdoor rallies and demonstrations, while banning of parties has left the parties essentially intact, merely forcing them underground, as in the most recent ban in 1979.

In February 1981, leaders of nine political parties opposing the martial law regime, and led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), formed the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) and by declaration called for an immediate end to martial law and restoration of the parliamentary system of 1973. Following the end of martial law in 1985, political parties were legalized, although regulated by the Political Parties Act that required all parties to register to be eligible for election. The elections that followed President Zia's sacking of Prime Minister Junejo in 1986, coupled with national elections called after Zia's subsequent death in an airplane crash in 1988, have resulted in a rebirth of full and open political activity.

The populist Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Benazir Bhutto, daughter of the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Bhutto, won a plurality in the National Assembly and formed a government with the support of appointed members and independents. The opposition coalesced around other parties, especially the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), as well as disaffected PPP members who had been displaced when Benazir Bhutto claimed the party leadership on her return from exile overseas in 1986. One of these, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, joined with Nawaz Sharif, the PML chief minister of Punjab, to become leader of the opposition in the Assembly. In 1990, Jatoi became interim prime minister when Benazir Bhutto was dismissed by the president.

In the elections of fall 1990, Nawaz Sharif emerged as prime minister and leader of the Islamic Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), a multi-party coalition based on Sharif's PML and the JI. But in elections in the fall of 1993, following the resignations of both the president and the prime minister, Bhutto's PPP, the lead party in the PDA, commanded a thin majority in the National Assembly, guaranteeing her return to power. The IJI came in a close second even though the Islamic parties suffered severe reverses nationally.

In the 1990s, party politics in Pakistan became increasingly regional, and party lines relatively porous, with much shifting of supporters into and out of the PPP and the PML. Each of these parties drew nearly 40% of the popular vote, and emerged as the only parties with national scope; both improved their positions in provincial assemblies.

In 1994, the PPP government depended on the support of former PML members and nonelected assembly members, plus leaders like Jatoi, a charter PPP member who had been in and out of the party in recent years. Similarly, during its period in power from 1990 to 1993, the PML formed a government only with the support of other parties, most of which have strength only in regional terms, mainly the JI, the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP), and the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-Islam (JUI). And both the PPP and the PML have competed successfully in forming governments in provincial assemblies only when they have recruited (or neutralized) strong regional parties, like the Awami National Party (ANP) in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Muhajir Quami Movement (MQM) in Sindh.

The two main political parties up until the elections of October 2002 were Sharif's Muslim League and Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, with the Muslim League winning a resounding victory in the national elections held in February 1997. In 1996, noted Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan founded the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or "Movement for Justice," a new political party dedicated to creating an "egalitarian, modern Islamic state" in Pakistan.

Unlike in the past, political parties were not banned under General Musharraf's military government, but they were sidelined from the political process until the 10 October 2002 parliamentary and provincial elections. In the general election, Quaid-e-Azam, a political faction of the PML supportive of Musharraf, came in first place. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party came in third, and Sharif's PML-Nawaz was a distant fourth (both Bhutto and Sharif were barred from running). A 6-party hard-line Islamic coalition, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (United Action Front or MMA), came in third in the polls. The MMA is dominated by Jamaat-i-Islami, and it campaigned on an anti-American platform, voicing support for the Taliban in Afghanistan. It secured voters from the middle class and in urban areas in addition to rural ones.