Regions
Provinces and territories of Pakistan
Pakistan is made up of four provinces, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, together with Islamabad Capital Territory and the administrative territories of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The country covers about 881,913 square kilometres and had a population of roughly 241 million at the 2023 census.
Quick facts
- Area
- About 881,913 sq km
- Population
- About 241 million, 2023 census
- Provinces
- 4
- Largest province by area
- Balochistan, about 44 per cent
Background
Punjab holds more than half the national population; Balochistan covers about 44 per cent of the land area with the smallest population. Each province has its own assembly and chief minister, while Islamabad Capital Territory is administered federally. Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have their own assemblies under separate arrangements.
Key entries
- Punjab
Capital Lahore; the most populous province.
- Sindh
Capital Karachi; the lower Indus and the delta.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Capital Peshawar; Swat, Chitral and the Hindu Kush.
- Balochistan
Capital Quetta; the largest province by area.
- Gilgit-Baltistan
The Karakoram north, administered as a territory.
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Capital Muzaffarabad; the Neelum and Jhelum valleys.
Frequently asked questions
- How many provinces does Pakistan have?
- Four: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, plus federal and administrative territories.
- Which province is largest?
- Balochistan by area, covering roughly 44 per cent of the country; Punjab is largest by population.