'Flora of Pakistan' by S.I.Ali reports that there are around 5,700 species of vascular plants and these include both indigenous and alien species. According to The Nature Of Pakistan 6000 species have been identified. About 400 (7.8%) of these are endemic to Pakistan (R.Rafiq) representing 149 genera and 41 families. According to Ali and Qaiser (1986), the number of species per genus is much lower than the global average, showing a high diversity at the generic level.

Most endemic species are Irano-Turanian and Sino-Japanese and almost 90% of the endemic plants are concentrated in the northern and western mountains (The Nature of Pakistan). Of particular importance are the Kashmir Himalayas as a global centre of plant diversity and endemism. The largest genus in the country is Astragalus with about 134 species (31 endemics).

2000 medicinal plant species are estimated to be existing in Pakistan, however very few of them are exploited and 90% of the country's medicinal herb requirement is imported (Sadeque 1986). This is mainly due to the knowledge on medicinal herbs being confined to the tribal areas. Some fear that soon this traditional knowledge will be lost. Even so, medicinal plants are important local cures for over 50% of the population and these are made into herbal - medicines by around 40,000 traditional herbal practitioners. Among these one of the most important ones is Ephedra procera , a source of ephedrine used in allopathic medicine to treat bronchial asthma, hay fever and as a heart stimulant. A large part of the world's supply of ephedrine originated from Balochistan till the 1940s and it still commands a growing demand worldwide. However, a severe problem exists in the plant management in Pakistan. Some species are over-exploited while others are under-exploited. In addition there is minimal investment in research for potential uses of new species. Apart from the Ephedra, 4000 tonnes of oil from juniper berries could be harvested (there are 0.3 million acres of Juniper forests in Balochistan). (Nature of Pakistan)

The flora includes elements of the following regions in order of importance:

Phytogeographic Regions

Ali and Qaiser (1986)