Brief of Cholistan

The Cholistan Desert also locally known as Rohi, sprawls thirty kilometers from Bahawalpur city

of Punjab and covers an area of 26,300 square kilometers (10,399 sq mi). It adjoins the

Thar Desert, extending over to Sindh and into India.

The word Cholistan is derived from the Turkic word chol, meaning desert. The people of

Cholistan lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from one place to another in search of water and

fodder for their animals. The dry bed of the Hakra River runs through the area, along which

many settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found.

Total Area 6655360 acres (10399 Sq. Miles)

Arid Land 26,300 square km

Temperature 60C to 500C

Rainfall 128-175 mm
Average Annual Rainfall 12 cm

Ground Water Mostly brackish, 25-90 meter

Sweet Water Zones Hakra bed, canal seepage zones

The Evapo-Transpiration Rate 300 centimeters a year

Average Number of Cattle per Family 5-10

Human Population 0.2 Million

Livestock Census 1334037

No. of Tobas 1100

No. of Khu/Well 96

No. of Chakooks 512

No. of UCs 7
 Detail of Union Councils in Cholistan

Sr. # Name of UC Tehsil District

1 Channan Pir Yazman Bahawalpur

2 75/DB Yazman Bahawalpur
3 Derawer Yazman Bahawalpur
4 Meerana Yazman Bahawalpur
5 Mir Garh Fortabbas Bahawalnagar

6 178/7R Liaqat Pur Rahim Yar Khan

7 Islam Garh Khan Pur Rahim Yar Khan

Farmer 14287

Buff 14016

Cow 441710

Sheep 562838

Goat+ 236428

Camel 28594

Donkey 6927

Poultry 53132