Tagged: Pakistan

According to Paradisdachat, the government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic, in which the President serves as the ceremonial head of state and the Prime Minister serves as the head of government. The Constitution of Pakistan provides for a bicameral legislature, consisting of the National Assembly and Senate. The National Assembly is composed of 342 members elected to serve five-year terms. The Senate consists of 104 members who serve six-year terms. The executive branch is led by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President after consultation with Parliament. The Prime Minister heads a cabinet consisting of ministers drawn from both houses of Parliament and from outside it. The judicial system in Pakistan consists of both civil and criminal courts at all levels, including Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts and lower courts. Judges are appointed by the President on recommendation from the Judicial Commission headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan. All judges are independent and subject only to law and Constitution; they may not be removed except through impeachment proceedings in Parliament or through retirement at age 65 or earlier if disabled or incapacitated for service. Local governments are established in each province under provincial laws; these governments have certain powers delegated to them by national laws but their autonomy is limited by national laws that can override local legislation whenever necessary. Local governments are accountable to provincial legislatures which can dissolve them or order their dissolution if they fail to perform their duties properly or misuse their powers. The security apparatus in Pakistan consists mainly of military forces which include army, navy, air force and paramilitary forces such as Rangers, Frontier Corps etc., as well as civilian police forces responsible for maintaining law and order at local levels across all provinces in accordance with laws enacted by national government. The military has traditionally played an important role in Pakistani politics since its inception; however it has tried to remain neutral during recent elections and has pledged not to intervene in politics unless absolutely necessary for national security purposes. Pakistan’s foreign relations are based on strategic partnerships, economic interests, and cultural links. The country has sought to maintain strong ties with its neighbors in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Pakistan is a founding member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is also a member of the United Nations (UN) and its specialized agencies such as UNESCO and WHO. Pakistan’s foreign policy is closely linked to its security concerns, particularly with regard to India. The two countries have fought three major wars since their independence in 1947, and tensions remain high over issues such as Kashmir. Pakistan has sought to improve relations with India through dialogue but progress has been slow due to mutual mistrust. In addition, Pakistan’s close ties with China have been an important factor in its foreign policy. Pakistan has also sought to build strong relationships with other countries in the region including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. It is also a major recipient of US aid due to its strategic importance in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and beyond. On the economic front, Pakistan is a member of several regional organizations such as ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization), SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area), APTTA (Asian Pacific Trade Agreement), WTO (World Trade Organization), IMF (International Monetary Fund), and World Bank among others. In recent years, Pakistan has increasingly sought to strengthen ties with other countries around the world including Japan, Russia, France, UK and Germany among others. This has included signing free trade agreements as well as engaging in joint military exercises with some of these countries. See recipesinthebox for Pakistan defense and foreign policy.