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WESTERN State and Mid-WESTERN STATE

There are numerous individual titles in Western and Mid-Western Nigeria, e.g. Oni, Alake, Olubadan, Ataoja and Olu. The title is normally prefixed to the name of a district, in which case the titles mentioned above become Oni of Ife, Alake of Abeokuta, Olubadan of Ibadan, Ataoja of Oshogbo and Olu of Warri. When not so prefixed, the word 'Oba' meaning 'Ruler' of a district may be used in place of the title, e.g. "Oba of Lagos' and 'Oba of Benin'. The titles may further be preceded by the personal names of the holders of the titles in the same manner as the names of monarchs of England and other European countries, e.g. His Highness Aderemi II, the Oni of Ife; His Highness Gbadebo II, the Alake of Abeokuta, or His Highness Akenzua II, the Oba of Benin. In recent times the words 'His Highness' are most often replaced in Western Nigeria by the Yoruba equivalent ‘Oba Alaiyeluwa'.

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NIGERIAN STATE ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger
Commander of the Order of the Niger

Officer of the Order of the Niger

Member of the Order of the Niger

Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic
Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic

Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic

Member of the Order of the Federal Republic

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PAKISTAN

HE Islamic Republic of Pakistan consists of two physically separate provinces, East and West, on opposite sides of the Indian sub-continent and more than 1,000 miles apart. West Pakistan comprises the former provinces of Sind, North West Frontier, Baluchistan and West Punjab, together with a number of former Princely States, amongst which were Bahawalpur, Khairpur and Kalat. East Pakistan, much smaller in area and much more densely populated than West Pakistan, comprises the former province of East Bengal together with the Sylhet District of Assam. The total area of Pakistan is 365,504 square miles. In West Pakistan the mountain ranges lie on a north-east south-west axis. In the extreme north-east are the Chitral mountains, part of the Hindu Kush range, in which is located Pakistan's highest mountain Tirich Mir (25,230 feet above sea level). The average height of the Chitral mountains and the Sulaiman range which adjoins, running to South Waziristan, is about 14,000 feet. From South Waziristan the Kirthar range runs south-west to the Mekran range (average height 6,000 feet).

The five main rivers of West Pakistan are the Indus, the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi and the Sutlej. It was from these five rivers (panjab) that the Punjab took its name. Most of the province of East Pakistan consists of an alluvial plain, forming part of the Gangetic delta. It is crossed by a network of navigable rivers, including the eastern arms of the Ganges, the Jamuna (or Bramaputra) and the Meghna, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.

West Pakistan has an arid and semi-arid climate with three distinct seasons. Winter lasts from November to February, summer from March to June and the monsoon period July to September. The climate is more extreme inland than on the coast. The inland plains are hot in summer and cool or cold in winter: in January and February the night temperature may drop to freezing point, while in the summer maximum temperatures range between 32°C (89-6°F) and 49°C (120°F). The annual rainfall varies in different regions from about 4 inches An outline of the history and constitutional development of the Indian sub-continent prior to August 1947 may be found in the Commonwealth Office Year Book, 1967.

to 40 inches, most of it falling in July, August and September. The southern areas are arid and depend on irrigation from rivers and canals. East Pakistan has a tropical monsoon climate, hot and extremely humid during the summer and mild and dry during the short winter. The rainfall is heavy, ranging from 50 inches to 135 inches in different districts, and the bulk of it falls during the monsoon season (from June to September). The mean temperature during the winter (November to February) is about 20°C (68°F) and during the hot season 30°C (86°F).

The total population, according to the 1961 census, was 93,690,530, of whom 42,850,295 lived in West Pakistan and 50,840,235 in East Pakistan. 1961 census figures for the principal towns were Rawalpindi 340,175, Karachi 1,912,598, Lahore 1,296,477, Dacca 556,712, Hyderabad 434,537, Lyallpur 425,248, Chittagong 364,205. The estimated present population of the country (1969) is 125 millions.

Until 1960 the capital of Pakistan was Karachi. It was then announced that Rawalpindi was to be the principal seat of the Central Government of Pakistan until a new capital had been built at Islamabad, a few miles north of Rawalpindi. This decision was reaffirmed in the 1962 Constitution which also declared that Dacca was to be the second capital and principal seat of the National Assembly. The President lives at Rawalpindi; all the main offices of the Central Government and most of the Diplomatic Corps are now in Islamabad. The Assembly used to meet alternately at Dacca and Rawalpindi. Islamabad has a population of 30,000 (1968), but Rawalpindi remains the interim capital.

The national languages of Pakistan are Bengali and Urdu, but the English language may be used for official and other purposes until arrangements for its replacement are made. The question of the replacement of the English language for official purposes is under consideration. Various regional languages are in use in West Pakistan, the main ones being Punjabi, Pushtu, Sindhi and Baluchi. Other languages, such as Gujarati, are also used by Pakistanis who used to live in India.

About 90 per cent of the population of Pakistan are Muslims. The majority of the remaining 10 per cent are Hindus, most of whom live in East Pakistan. There are smaller communities of Christians and Buddhists in both wings of the country.

National Day: Pakistan Day, 23rd March.

EDUCATION

Primary education (from 6–11) is free but not yet universal; 45 per cent of the children eligible were estimated to be at school in 1965. Enrolment in secondary schools is about 2 millions (1967). There are twelve universities with a 1964-5 enrolment of 18,937; three specialise in agriculture and two in engineering. But to this total should be added the 200,000 students in the degree-granting general arts and science colleges which are affiliated to universities and sometimes on the same campus. Literacy is estimated at 19 per cent of the whole population and 29 per cent of the male population.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Principal seaports, with tonnages for 1966/67 in millions, are Karachi 9.1; Chittagong 4.3; Chalna 2.1. The principal shipping line is the National Shipping Corporation.

The principal airports with runway lengths in feet are: Karachi (10,500); Lahore (6,330 and 5,040); Rawalpindi (7,200); Dacca (10,000); and Chittagong (6,000 and 5,550). The national airline is Pakistan International Airways, which provides all domestic services and operates a substantial network of international services.

There are about 25,000 miles of roads in Pakistan (22,058 in West Pakistan and 2,588 in East Pakistan). Out of this total about 12,100 miles are metalled (1968); 9,900 West Pakistan and 2,200 East Pakistan.

There are 7,046 miles of railway track in Pakistan: 5,333 in West Pakistan and 1,713 in East Pakistan. The main gauge is 5 ft. 6 in. but there are also about 300 miles of metre gauge (3 ft. 3 in.) and 200 miles of narrow gauge (2 ft. 6 in.). Radio Pakistan, under the control of the Central Government, provides the sole national broadcasting service. A television service was introduced in Lahore and Dacca in 1965, and in Rawalpindi and Karachi in 1967.

THE ECONOMY

The economy of Pakistan is regulated in accordance with a series of Five Year Plans, of which the third will terminate in June, 1970. A main objective of these Plans, the attainment of food grain self-sufficiency, has now been largely achieved through the use of improved strains of wheat and rice, increased fertiliser inputs and the extension of the irrigation system. Overall economic growth rates achieved in recent years are, at 1959/60 constant prices: 1965/66 4.6%, 1966/67 5.2%, 1967/68 7-4% and 1968/69 5.5% (estimated). The objectives of the Fourth Plan, now under active preparation, will be to continue economic growth with special emphasis on reducing the disparity between the East and West Wings, but also to achieve a better balance between economic and social objectives, notably by increasing educational facilities and a wider distribution of wealth and income.

Disbursements of aid to Pakistan in 1968/69 are estimated to be U.S. $560 million of which $490 million are provided by the World Bank-sponsored Pakistan Consortium, and $70 million from other sources. Pakistan's foreign trade in 1967/68 showed a deficit of visibles of Rs. 1,306 million, with imports totalling Rs. 4,654 million and exports Rs. 3,348 million. (Official exchange rate: Rs. 11.43=£1.) Main exports are raw jute, (Rs. 758-9 million), jute manufactures (Rs. 619.6 million), raw cotton (Rs. 441·7 million), cotton twist yarn and thread (Rs. 216.2 million) and cotton fabrics (Rs. 200.3 million). In 1967/68 the United Kingdom was Pakistan's principal trading partner, taking 12·7% of Pakistan's exports and supplying nearly 14% of her imports. The United States provided the second largest market for Pakistan's exports and supplied 31-4% of her imports. Japan was Pakistan's third largest market.

The Central Government Budget for 1968/69 provided for Revenue expenditure of Rs. 6,917-4 million and Development expenditure of Rs. 5,464-8 million. The total was the largest in the country's history and budgeted revenue surplus for the year, at Rs. 1,350-3 million, was greater than the entire revenue for 1954/55. The principal sources of Central Government Revenue from taxation are Customs 21%, Internal Excise 32.9% and Income and Corporation Taxes 12.7%The Development Budget is provided from foreign development credits (45%) and loans and grants from internal resources (55%). Principal items of expenditure from the Revenue Budget are Defence 56·2%, Civil Administration 12% and Grants to Provincial Governments 10.5% of total expenditure.

Particular attention has been paid to power and irrigation. In West Pakistan the coming into service of the hydro-electric installations at the Mangla Dam on the Jhelum River (one of the Indus Basin Works) and the completion of the thermal power stations at Lyallpur and Multan, will provide sufficient capacity into the early 1970s. Thereafter they will be supplemented by the Tarbela Dam on the Upper Indus, now under construction and due to be completed in 1975, and by the Canadian-financed nuclear power station at Karachi. In East Pakistan installed power generating capacity was over 300 megawatts in 1968, being provided by thermal power stations supplemented by gas turbine units. Many large projects are underway to provide flood protection, irrigation and drainage.

The high cumulative growth of G.N.P. is not reflected by a corresponding increase in per caput income because of the population increase, current estimate varying between 2·7% and 3·3% per annum. The Government is vigorously supporting a family planning programme.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FROM 1947

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 provided that the Government of India Act of 1935 should remain in force in the two new Dominions and empowered the Governor-General of each Dominion to modify the Act in accordance with its needs. Such modifications were made for Pakistan by the Pakistan (Provisional Constitution) Order of 1947, and the Government of India Act thus modified and as subsequently amended remained the Constitution of Pakistan until 23rd March 1956.

After partition, the Constituent Assembly, which was composed of those members of the pre-partition Constituent Assembly of India who had been elected from provinces which acceded to Pakistan, formed committees to submit recommendations on various aspects of the desired Constitution. Work was slow, partly because of the general difficulties which faced Pakistan after independence and partly because the Constituent Assembly had also to discharge legislative functions. In 1954 the Basic Principles Committee finally submitted a lengthy report setting out in great detail the main terms of the Constitution. The Government hoped that they would be able to introduce and pass the Bill giving effect to these proposals by the end of that year. In October 1954, however, it became clear that there was fundamental disagreement in the country and amongst politicians on many of the provisions of the proposed Constitution and the Governor-General issued a proclamation dissolving the Constituent Assembly on the grounds that it had lost the confidence of the people.

At the request of the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, Mr Mohammed Ali, formed a new administration under which indirect elections were held in June 1955 for a new Constituent Assembly. Seventy-two members were returned by the provincial legislatures of East Bengal, the Punjab, the North West Frontier Province and Sind, and from representative bodies in Baluchistan and Karachi; to these were later added eight members representing the States and the tribal areas. These elections were delayed by protracted litigation on the Governor-General's power to dissolve the former Constituent Assembly. The issue was finally settled in the Governor-General's favour by the Federal Court, and the new Constituent Assembly met in July 1955. It immediately became apparent that the Prime Minister could not command a majority in the new Assembly and a Cabinet reshuffle in August 1955 placed Chaudhri Mohamad Ali

at the head of a Coalition Government committed to introducing a Constitution as quickly as possible.

Certain preliminary measures were necessary before a Constitution could be introduced, chief among which was a Bill to amalgamate the provinces of West Pakistan into a single unit, both on grounds of administrative efficiency and in order to achieve strict parity with East Pakistan. The Establishment of West Pakistan Act (see page 332) came into force on 14th October 1955, and, after several drafts had been considered and after protracted and difficult discussion within the Coalition Party, the new Constitution was finally presented to the Constituent Assembly in January 1956. A lengthy debate, involving many late sittings and 'guillotine' threats from the Government, ensued and the Constitution finally received the Governor-General's assent on 2nd March 1956. On 23rd March 1956 the Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into being, the Governor-General was elected the first President by the Constituent Assembly and the Constituent Assembly became the National Assembly empowered to carry on until the first elections under the new Constitution. A summary of the provisions of the Constitution of 1956 can be found in pages 172 to 174 of The Commonwealth Relations Office List, 1958.

PROCLAMATION OF MARTIAL LAW

On 7th October 1958 Martial Law was proclaimed, the Constitution abrogated, the Central and Provincial Governments dismissed, the National Parliament and Provincial Assemblies dissolved, political parties abolished, and General Mohammad Ayub Khan, Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army, appointed Chief Martial Law Administrator with command of all the armed forces of Pakistan. On 27th October 1958 General Mohammad Ayub Khan assumed the Presidency.

BASIC DEMOCRACIES

The Basic Democracies Order, promulgated on 27th October 1959, together with the Municipal Administration Ordinance, promulgated on 11th April 1960, provided the legal basis for a new system of local self-government. The 'basic democracies' were the Union Councils in rural areas and the Union Committees and Town Committees in urban areas. These were the basic institutions of a system of Councils leading up to the higher-level administrative units at the Tehsil, Thana sub-division or Municipality, and above them at the District and Division.

By the Presidential (Election and Constitution) Order promulgated on 13th January 1960 it was provided that the 80,000 elected members of the basic democracies should declare by vote in a secret ballot whether or not they had confidence in President Mohammad Ayub Khan. The Order added that in the event of a majority favourable to the President he should be deemed thereby both to have been given authority to proceed with the making of a Constitution and also to have been elected President of Pakistan to hold office thenceforward and for the first term of office of the President under that Constitution.

The Presidential ballot was accordingly held on 14th February 1960 when over 95.6 per cent of the total number of votes cast were affirmative.

Field-Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan (as he had become on 27th October 1959) was therefore sworn in as the first elected President of Pakistan on 17th February 1960.

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