The smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan, with an area of about 75 000 km2, and the third most populous, having a population of 17.6 million (1998 census). The capital is Peshawar; and the provincial assembly has 80 seats.
It lies along the border with Afghanistan. Beyond it, right up against the border, are six tribal areas not part of the province, but governed by a federal administrator and having local autonomy: Khyber, Kurram, Malakand, Mohmand, and the delightfully named North Waziristan and South Waziristan.