Geography (1)

Land & the People of Pakistan

• Map of Pakistan• What is geography?• What are Important Geographical Features?• Importance of Pakistan’s Location• Location of Pakistan• Pakistan: The Natural Topography• Administrative Division of Pakistan

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Map of India before the Partition of 1947

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Boundaries of Pakistan

• In the extreme north-East, Common border with China.• In the west , a long border known as “ Durand Line”

with Afghanistan.• To the North-west “Wakhan” is a narrow strip of Afghan

territory that separates Pakistan from Tajikistan.• To the South-West Pakistan has a common border with

Iran.• Arabian Sea as Southern Border.• In the East, a long border with India.

Pakistan can be divided into seven major landforms:-

1. The Northern Mountains2. The Western Mountains3. The Baluchistan Plateau4. Potohar Plateau and Salt range5. The upper Indus Plain6. The lower Indus Plain7. Desert areas

The Northern Mountains

• To the North and North-West of Pakistan, three ranges of Mountains:-

1. The Himalayasa. The Outer Himalayasb. The Lesser Himalayasc. The Great Himalayasd. The Inner Himalayas

2. The Karakoram Range3. The Hindu Kush

The Himalayas• Runs from East to West.• Total length 2430KM• Average Height 4000 meters.

1. Outer Himalayas Siwaliks• Low altitude (300 -1000 m)• Located near Attock

2. Lesser or Lower Himalayas• North of outer Himalayas• Medium altitude 5000m• Represented by Pir Panjal ranges.• Hill stations like Murree ,Nathia Gali are located here.

Great Himalayas• the height increases towards North• North of Pir Panjal Ranges• Average height is 6500m• Between Pir Panjal Range and Great Himalayas

Kashmir is located.• Highest Peak is Nanga Parbat(8126m)

Inner Himalayas Ladhakh Range Part of Indian occupied Kashmir

The Karakoram range

• North of Himalayas• Range runs from East to west • Includes north Kashmir and Gilgit• Average height 7000 meters.• Important peak is K-2(8611m)• Precipitation in the form of Snow due to High

altitude,• Upper regions are normally Glaciers (Batora,

Siachen, 78 km)

Hindu Kush

• North west of Karakoram near Pakistan and Afghanistan border.

• Chitral and Dir situated in this range• Important peak is Tirch Mir(7690m)• Shandur Pass connects Gilgat and Chitral

Western Mountains

• Comprise of Following ranges:-1. Swat and chitral HillsLocated south of hindukushRivers swat, chitral punjchoraAverage height 3000-5000mLawari and shundur passes

2.White Mountains • Located to South of Kabul river.• East-West direction average height 3600m• Peaks are often covered with Snow, so called

“Koh-i-Safaid”.• Kohat valley , Peshawar valley• Khyber and Kurram Passes provide route to

Afghanistan

3.Waziristan Hills– Located between Kurram and Gomal rivers.– Highly mineralized zone.– Bannu valley in the east of these hills.– Kurram dam is main source of irrigation.– Tochi and Gomal Passes

4.Suleman Range– Located towards the south of Gomal river– Takht-e-Suleman(3374m)is the highest peak.– River Bolan and Bolan Pass5.Kirther Range– Located in south of Suleman range– Important rivers Hub and liari

The Baluchistan Plateau

• Located in the west of Suleman mountain and Kirther range.

• Average altitude of 600 to 900 m.• Toba Kaaker and Chaghi hills in north• Barren mountainous area but highly

mineralized(Gold,Copper,Sulphur etc.) specially Chaghi Hills.

• Central Brahvi range,Central Makran range lies at centre

• Makran Coastal area in south• important rivers Pural,Hungol , Dusht and zob• North West area is sandy• Hamun Mashkhel

Salt Range and Potohar Plateau

Salt Range• Begin from Tilla Jogian and Bakrala hills near

Jehlem river.• Comprised of Jhelum , Chakwal , Kalabagh and

Mianwali District.• Height between 700 m.• Sakesar is the highest place 1500m• Rich in Minerals (rock Salt, Gypsum, Limestone

etc)

POTWAR PLATEAU

• In North of Salt range, South of Islamabad between Jehlum and Indus Rivers.

• Height between 300 to 600 m.• Rich in minerals(Rock Salt,Gypsum,Lime

Stone,Coal,Oil etc)• Arid Agriculture (Not rich in Agriculture)• Rough landscaped• Important Rivers Soan and Haru

The Indus Plain

• Located South of Salt Range• High Density of Population• Divided into two Parts

– Upper Indus Plain• Starts from Salt range and ends • near Mithon Kot• Irrigated Indus and Its Four Tributaries.• Highly developed Canal irrigation • System.• Agriculturally very rich area.

2. Lower Indus Plain• Below Mithon Kot up to Arabian Sea is Lower Indus Plain• Irrigated by Indus River.• Agriculturally very rich area.• Flood Plains• Barrages Ghulam Muhammad, Guddu and Sakkhar

The Desert Areas

• Lack of Water• Bare Vegetation• May have rich mineral deposits ( Oil & Gas)• Located at 3 Places

1. Sind Sagar Doab or Thal Desert– Between Indus and Jhelum

1. Thar– Located towards South East of Pakistan– Irrigated by Sakkar Canal– Can be divided into three parts

1. Cholistan

2. Nara

3. Thar Parkar

2. Kharan– Located in Baluchistan

Most Urbanized Areas

• Islamabad• Sindh• Punjab• Baluchistan• KPK• Lahore and Karachi are the thickly populated areas of

Pakistan

Climate and Weather of Pakistan • Punjab and Sindh are very hot in summer and winters are pleasant.• Climate divisions of Pakistan are:1. Highland: Northern areas (cold winters, mild summers and rainfall

in all seasons)2. Lowland: Punjab (cool winters, hot summers, monsoon rainfall)

Languages

Multilingual country

English is the official language

Urdu is the national language

Punjabi is the most commonly spoken language of Pakistan. (About 61 million people)

Religion

• Majority of the Pakistanis are Muslim

• Almost 85% of Pakistani Muslims are Sunni Muslims and 15% are Shi'a Muslims

• 2nd largest religion is Hinduism• 3rd largest is Christianity

Politics

• In the current semi-presidential system, the President of Pakistan is the head of state.

• The Prime Minister is the head of government.

• There is a multi-party system.