Premier Wen Jiabao starts a three-day official visit to Pakistan on Tuesday.

Following are basic facts about Pakistan:

Located in South Asia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is surrounded by India, Afghanistan, Iran and China. Its capital is Islamabad.

The climate is dry and generally hot, with an average annual temperature of 27ºC.

It has an area of about 796,095 square km, excluding the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. The population reached 149 million in 2004.

The principal languages are Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi and Saraiki. Urdu is the national language, and English is extensively used.

The state religion is Islam, embracing about over 95 percent of the population, the remainder being mainly Hindus or Christians.

The president is the head of state. The Federal Legislature consists of a lower house and an upper house.

Pakistan comprises four provinces, the federal capital of Islamabad and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The country's gross domestic product was US$95 billion in the 2003/2004 fiscal year. 

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2005)