Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign country in South Asia. Bounded
by a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south, it
is bordered by India in the east, Afghanistan in the west and north, Iran in the southwest and China
in the far northeast, while Tajikistan is separated by the narrow Wakhan Corridor in the north.
In addition, Oman shares a marine border with Pakistan. Strategically, Pakistan is situated at the
crossroads of the important regions of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Pakistan is a rapidly developing country. Pakistan has been listed among Next Eleven, the eleven
countries that along with the BRICS have a high potential of becoming the world's largest economies
in the 21st century. The economy is semi-industrialized, with the growth poles situated along the
Indus River. Diversified economies of Karachi and Punjab's urban centers coexist with lesser
developed areas in other parts of the country. Pakistan's estimated gross domestic product (
nominal) as of 2011 is US$ 202 billion. The estimated nominal per capita GDP is US$ 1,197,
per capita GDP PPP US$ 2,851 (international dollars) and debt-to-GDP ratio is 55.5%. Pakistan is
the 27th largest in the world in terms of PPP and the 45th largest in nominal terms. The economy of
Pakistan is South Asia's second largest economy; representing about 15 percent of regional GDP.
