Chapter 4, Land and Climate of Pakistan

Geographical tips about the Islamic Republic Of Pakistan:

Latitude: 23.35 to 37.05 North
Longitude: 60.50 to 77.50 East
Area: 796 096 sq.Km
Located in South Asia
Provinces→4
Capital Area →1
Provinces by Area (per sq.km)
1.​ Balochistan→340 197
2.​ Punjab →205 345
3.​ Sindh →140 914
4.​ KhyberPK →101 741
Federal Republic [Islamabad] →906 sq.km

Boundaries:
Iran →800 km South-West of PK Connected by; rail and road
India →1610 km East of PK Along Sindh and Punjab
China →585 km North of PK Connected through; KarakoramHighway
Tajikistan → Separated by an Afghan territory, Wakhan North of PK
Afghanistan →2252 km North-West of PK Boundary known as Durand Line
Arabian Sea →1050 km South of PK Three seaports build here are: Karachi
Port, Port Qasim, Gwadar Port

Importance and Benefits of Pakistan’s Location:

China’s Borders and Karakoram Range:

This highway, constructed through cutting the rocks of Karakoram, which is an
important trade route, helped establish friendly relations between China and Pakistan.

Transit route to Afghanistan:

Through land and sea.

Tongue of Wakhan:
Located in the West of China, part of Afghanistan, is a strip separating Pakistan’s
Northern border of Tajikistan.

India in East of Pakistan:

India is in the East of Pakistan, and on the East of India are some Muslim countries, like
Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei Darul Salam.

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 Iran on South-West:
Iran and Turkey along with Pakistan are the members of ECO-Economic Cooperation
Organization.

Location in the middle of the Muslim World:

Situated near oil producing Gulf countries, also for its centered location, it is spread
through Morocco in the West and Indonesia in the East. Oil produced by Gulf countries
is exported through the Arabian Sea, which has a border with Pakistan.

Location close to Gulf Countries:

Saudi Arabia and UAE are considered as second homes for Pakistanis.

International harbour and airport:

Karachi is the city serving for this purpose, connecting Europe with Asia.

Tourism Points:
Indus Valley and Gandhra, as ancient civilizations, and Kaghan and Swat in the northern
areas serve as the tourist points.

Gas supply through pipeline:

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan have signed a protocol on the supply of
gas through pipeline passing through Afghanistan to Pakistan.

Border Dispute:
Kashmir is the major dispute between Pakistan and India, if this dispute gets settled,
then both the nations can prosper well together (which -history witnessed- is a lie).

Prestige:
Pakistan is the 7th atomic power of the world, and is a center for foreign investments.

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Physical Features of Pakistan
1. Mountains:
Divided into: ​
Northern and North-Eastern​
Western and North-Western

Northern and North-Eastern:

Include: Himalayas and Karakoram
Himalayas:
-​ North Eastern part of Pakistan.
-​ Highest mountain range of the world.
-​ Along with parallel ranges, it stretches like an arch up to India for about 2430
kms.
-​ Four Important ranges enter through Kashmir.
Parallel Mountain Ranges Of Himalayas:
-​ Sub-Himalayas or the Siwalik Hills:​
Rise where the upper Indus plain ends. Spread in South of Himalayas, from
Sialkot to the Northern Part of Rawalpindi. Avg Height: 300-1000 ms
-​ Lesser Himalayas or Pir Panjal Mountain Range:​
Borders Karakoram and Siwalik. Start from North of Siwalik, and here the
Himalayas begin to rise to the height of 1800-4600 ms. Homes the most northern
hilly areas.​
Resorts; Murree, Ayubia, Nathia Galli, Abbottabad, Kaghan Valley.
-​ Great Himalayan:​
Biggest Himalayan range. Situated between Pir Panjal and Karakoram. Height of
range is 6500 ms. Highest peak, Nanga Parbat (8126 ms above sea-level). Kahmir’s
Valley lies here. Indus originated here.
-​ Interior Himalayas or Ladakh Range:​
Part where the great Himalayas climbs down.
Karakoram:
-​ Situated in the NW of Great Himalayas.
-​ Includes North Kashmir and Gilgit.
-​ Avg Height: 7000 ms
-​ Godwin Augstin, or K2 (8611 ms above sea level), highest of Pakistan and second
highest of the world is located here.
-​ Has a cover-up of glaciers, including Siachen glacier.
-​ REV: Pakistan’s Silk route [karakoram highway] passes through here.
Importance:
-​ Natural line of defense.
-​ Protect from freezing winds of North.
-​ Help in irrigation by causing rainfall during monsoon season in Punjab and
Northern areas of KPK.
-​ Snow, as it melts, in summer, helps in irrigation.

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 -​ Covers 80pc of 4.5pc of Pakistan’s forests.

Western and North-Western:

Also called the Western branches of Himalayas. Comparatively less in height.
Hindukush Range:
-​ Start from W of Pamir plateau located in W of Karakoram.
-​ A greater part of this range is in Afghanistan.
-​ Tirich Mir is the highest peak with height of 7690 ms.
-​ Act as a barrier from the rain bearing winds from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian
Sea, preventing rain in Pakistan and India.
-​ Acts as a barrier from severe cold winds from central Asia.
Koh-e-Safed Range:
-​ Located between Khyber pass and Kurram pass.
-​ Most is in Pakistan, but a little is in Afghanistan.
-​ Has an E-W trend and rises to an average height of 3600 ms.
-​ Kurram River flows through S of Koh-e Safed, also houses the Khyber Pass,
connecting Pakistan to Afghanistan.
-​ Highest point of range is Sikeram
Waziristan Hills:
-​ Area between Kurram Pass and Gomal Pass is known as Waziristan Hills.
-​ Have an average height of 1500-3000 ms.
-​ 3 rivers, Gomal, Kurran and Tochi flow through these passes.
-​ Tochi Pass leads to Ghazni (in AFG).
-​ Gomal Pass is mainly for trade between PAK and AFG.
-​ Cantonments for Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu are located here.
Sulaiman Range:
-​ Begin in the S of river Gomal.
-​ Highest peak: Takht-e-Sulaiman, 3487 ms above sea level.
-​ Most important river: Bolan River, flowing through Bolan Pass. [BP connects
Quetta with Sibi]
-​ A railway line passes through this area to Quetta and then goes to Zahedan (IRN).
Kirthar Range:
-​ Lies on S of Sulaiman Range and along W edge of Lower Indus Valley.
-​ Has low and dry mountains.
-​ On their S flows Hub and Lyari Rivers, ultimately falling in the Arabian Sea.
-​ Highest point: Gorakh.

2. Plateaus:
Divided into:

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 Potwar Plateau​
Balochistan Plateau

Potwar Plateau:
-​ Lies between river Indus and Jehlum.
-​ Starts from: S of river Jhelum near Tilla Jogian.
-​ Spreads to: Jhelum, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, and some part of Islamabad.
-​ Has an uneven surface and its height ranges from 300-600ms.
-​ Main rivers: Soan and Haro.
-​ Oil and some minerals are found in some parts of this area.
-​ Salt Range:​
- starts from Tilla Jogian in river Jhelum and​
- spreads to Mianwali, Banu and DIKhan.​
- Has ann average height of 700ms, but at Sakesar its height is almost 1500ms ​
- entire area is almost barren. ​
- Minerals found here are, gypsum, coal and salt.
Balochistan Plateau:
-​ Located in W of Kirthar and Sulaiman mountain ranges.
-​ Average height: 650ms.
-​ Separation from AFG: ranges of Toba Kakar and Chagai in N.
-​ Highest points: ranges of Ziarat and Muslim Bagh [approx. height: 2133 ms].
-​ On S of this plateau lie ranges of Makran, Central Brauhi ans North Makran Hills.
-​ Largest plateau of Pakistan [covers 40pc of area].
-​ High mountains located in NW.
-​ Most of it is dry and barren, due to scarcity of rainfall, but still rich in minreals.
-​ Main rivers: Zhob, flowing through Sulaiman mountains.
-​ Other rivers: Porali, Hingol, Dasht.

3. Plains:
Formed by alluvium bought by Indus riverand its tributaries.
Divided into:
Upper Indus Plain
Lower Indus Plain
Indus Delta

Uppper Indus Plain: Part of Indus Plain above Mithan Kot.

-​ Here, the water of the eastern tributaries of Indus [Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi] flow
into Indus near Mithankot.
-​ 200-300ms above the sea-level.
-​ Made of fertile soil bought by rivers.

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 -​ Has few low dry hills near Sarghoda, Chinot and Sangla.
-​ Has works greatest cannal system. [Cannal irrigated due to low rainfall].
-​ Produces: wheat, rice,sugarcane, cotton, corn, pulses, etc.
Lower Indus Plain: Part of Indus Plain on S of Mithan Kot.
-​ Mostly includes Sindh province.
-​ The river, here, flows gently slow in flat lands, depositing silt bought from the
hills.
-​ Cannal irrigated due to low rainfall. Produces several crops.
Indus Delta: Part where river travels towards Arabian Sea and forms distributaries.
-​ Becomes very slow and forms delta near thatta, where it forms distributaries.
-​ Sea tides made about 40kms of the coastal area, a marshy land.
-​ Coconut and Mangrooves found here.

4. Deserts including coastal areas:

An extensive area of Pakistan is covered with rolling land dunes, having no natural
vegetation. Some of the plain of Pakisan are also called deserts or semi-deserts, due to
their physical conditions. Most of them are in Sindh and Punjab.

Thal Desert:
-​ Located in Mianwali, Muzaffragarh and Dera Ghazi Khan dist.
-​ 3-fourth of its area is composed of huge sand dunes, though most of it is
irrigated by Indus Canal Water.
Cholistan Desert:
-​ Covers about 60pc of Bahalwalpur region and its SE area.
-​ Its main portion is located in India.
-​ Covered with huge sand dunes, clusters of thorny bushes, acacia, etc.
Thar and Nara Desert:
-​ Extension of Rajistan in India.
-​ Located in bordering areas of Khairpur, and SE parts of, districts, Tharparkar,
Umerkot, and, Sanghar.
-​ Has a dominant wind system in formation of topography, and is not drained by
any perennial system.
-​ Natural vegetations include thorny bushes.
-​ SW of Balauchistan is also a desert.
Chagai and Kharan Desert:
-​ NW districts of Chagai and Kharan.
-​ Extremely dry [avg rainfall < 25mm]
-​ Sparsely populated [density=4people per km]
Costal Area:
-​ 1050 km long.

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 -​ Has two parts:​
- Makran Coast: Between border of Iran and Hub river, with lenghth of 750 kms.​
- Sindh Coast: Between, Hub delta, Thatta and Badin, with length of 300 kms.

All the coastal area of Pakistan are located on the Arabian Sea and the most important
harbour of Pakistan is Karachi. Other ports are, Port Qasim, Sonmiani, Ormara, Pasni,
Gwadar, and Jewani.

Climate of Pakistan:
Climate: The long lasting conditions of weather in a particular area such as pressure,
temperature, humidity and rainfall are termed as climate of that area.
Tips about climate of Pakistan:
North Tropic of Cancer [sun-tropical country]
Avg January temperature of plains: [min] 4dc-24dc [max]
Avg June/July temperature of plains: [min] 30dc-48dc [max] In Sibi and Jacobabad, it
can reach up-to 50dc.
Although Pakistan is located in the monsoon zone of climate, being an extremely
western part, it does not quite possess the characteristics.
Has an arid, hot and continental type of climate.

Climate-based division of regions of Pakistan:

1.​ Sub-Tropical Continental Highland
2.​ Sub-Tropical Continental Plateau
3.​ Sub-Tropical Continental Lowland
4.​ Sub-Tropical Coastland

Sub-Tropical Continental Highland:

-​ Includes: Outer and central Himalayas[N mountain ranges], Waziristan, Zhob and
Loralai[NW mountain ranges], Quetta, Sarawan, central Makran and Jawalan
[ranges of Balochistan].
-​ Weather:​
- Winter: Extremely cold with snowfall. ​
- Summer: Quite cool. ​
- Spring: often has rainfall and fog.
Sub-Tropical Continental Plateau:
-​ Includes: Most parts of Balochistan. [Has Sibi and Jacobabad]
-​ May - Mid September: Dusty and hot winds.
-​ January - February: few mm of rain.
-​ Important Characteristics: Extremely hot, dry and dusty winds.
Sub-Tropical Continental Lowland:

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 -​ Includes: Punjab Province [Upper Indus Plain] and Sindh Province [Lower Indus
Plain].
-​ Has a very hot summer.
-​ Rainfall criteria [for throughout the year]:​
- N of Punjab receives late summer monsoon rain, the remaining gets low
rainfall.​
- Peshawar gets thunder and dust storms during winters.
-​ Thal, Kachhi, Sibi, and SE plains are dry, and a large area is desert.
Sub-Tropical Coastlands:
-​ Includes: S part of Pakistan [coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan].
-​ Temperature: Moderate, dT is less.
-​ Humidity: Inflow of sea breeze throughout summer, with high humidity.
-​ Annual Avg Temperature: 32dc.
-​ Rainfall: 180mm [Fact: plain of Lasbela receives rainfall both in summer and
winter seasons.
-​ Hottest Months: May and June.

Environmental Problems:
Environmental pollution is an environmental problem, which is divided into:​
Air Pollution (Atmospheric)
Water Pollution
Land Pollution

Air Pollution: FACTS MENTIONED ONLY

-​ Water vapour in the air: 4pc.
-​ Polluting gasses: CO2 ,C2O2.
-​ Adult person air intake: 15kg.
Water Pollution: FACTS MENTIONED ONLY
-​ Maintains 70pc of total weight of human body.
-​ Earth, 71pc water, 29pc land.
-​ Portable water of globe: 2.8pc.
-​ 0.65pc is in liquid, rest is in form of glaciers.
-​ Remaining 97.2 pc of the water is salty.
-​ Water pollution: when unclean bodies get mixed with water, they become dense
and lose their natural form, this state if called water pollution.
Land Pollution:
-​ Earth is pollutes, biologically, chemically and physiologically when a number of
things are inducted in the earth.
-​ Air and Water pollution are also sources of Land pollutions.
-​ Earth can be polluted through: volcanos, floods, earthquakes and fire.
-​ When human burry harmful material in the earth, they damage its composition.

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