Geography

Pakistan Table of Contents

Located in the northwestern part of the

South Asian subcontinent, Pakistan
became a state as a result of the partition
of British India on August 14, 1947.
Pakistan annexed Azad (Free) Kashmir
after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48.
Initially, Pakistan also included the
northeastern sector of the subcontinent,
where Muslims are also in the majority.
The East Wing and West Wing of
Pakistan were, however, separated by
1,600 kilometers of hostile Indian
territory. The country's East Wing, or
East Pakistan, became the independent
state of Bangladesh in December 1971.

Pakistan occupies a position of great

geostrategic importance, bordered by
Iran on the west, Afghanistan on the northwest, China on the northeast, India on the east,
and the Arabian Sea on the south. The total land area is estimated at 803,940 square
kilometers.

The boundary with Iran, some 800 kilometers in length, was first delimited by a British
commission in 1893, separating Iran from what was then British Indian Balochistan. In
1957 Pakistan signed a frontier agreement with Iran, and since then the border between the
two countries has not been a subject of serious dispute.

Pakistan's boundary with Afghanistan is about 2,250 kilometers long. In the north, it runs
along the ridges of the Hindu Kush (meaning Hindu Killer) mountains and the Pamirs,
where a narrow strip of Afghan territory called the Wakhan Corridor extends between
Pakistan and Tajikistan. The Hindu Kush was traditionally regarded as the last
northwestern outpost where Hindus could venture in safety. The boundary line with
Afghanistan was drawn in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand, then foreign secretary in British
India, and was acceded to by the amir of Afghanistan that same year.
 This boundary, called the Durand Line, was not in doubt when Pakistan became
independent in 1947, although its legitimacy was in later years disputed periodically by the
Afghan government as well as by Pakhtun tribes straddling the Pakistan-Afghanistan
border. On the one hand, Afghanistan claimed that the Durand Line had been imposed by a
stronger power upon a weaker one, and it favored the establishment of still another state to
be called Pashtunistan or Pakhtunistan. On the other hand, Pakistan, as the legatee of the
British in the region, insisted on the legality and permanence of the boundary. The Durand
Line remained in effect in 1994.

In the northeastern tip of the country, Pakistan controls about 84,159 square kilometers of
the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. This area, consisting of Azad Kashmir
(11,639 square kilometers) and most of the Northern Areas (72,520 square kilometers),
which includes Gilgit and Baltistan, is the most visually stunning of Pakistan. The
Northern Areas has five of the world's seventeen highest mountains. It also has such
extensive glaciers that it has sometimes been called the "third pole." The boundary line has
been a matter of pivotal dispute between Pakistan and India since 1947, and the Siachen
Glacier in northern Kashmir has been an important arena for fighting between the two
sides since 1984, although far more soldiers have died of exposure to the cold than from
any skirmishes in the conflict.

From the eastern end of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a boundary of about 520
kilometers runs generally southeast between China and Pakistan, ending near the
Karakoram Pass. This line was determined from 1961 to 1965 in a series of agreements
between China and Pakistan. By mutual agreement, a new boundary treaty is to be
negotiated between China and Pakistan when the dispute over Kashmir is finally resolved
between India and Pakistan.

The Pakistan-India cease-fire line runs from the Karakoram Pass west-southwest to a
point about 130 kilometers northeast of Lahore. This line, about 770 kilometers long, was
arranged with United Nations (UN) assistance at the end of the Indo-Pakistani War of
1947-48. The cease-fire line came into effect on January 1, 1949, after eighteen months of
fighting and was last adjusted and agreed upon by the two countries in the Simla
Agreement of July 1972. Since then, it has been generally known as the Line of Control.

The Pakistan-India boundary continues irregularly southward for about 1,280

kilometers, following the line of the 1947 Radcliffe Award, named for Sir Cyril Radcliffe,
the head of the British boundary commission on the partition of Punjab and Bengal in
1947.
 Although this boundary with India is not formally disputed, passions still run high on both
sides of the border. Many Indians had expected the original boundary line to run farther to
the west, thereby ceding Lahore to India; Pakistanis had expected the line to run much
farther east, possibly granting them control of Delhi, the imperial capital of the Mughal
Empire.

The southern borders are far less contentious than those in the north. The Thar Desert in
the province of Sindh is separated in the south from the salt flats of the Rann of Kutch by a
boundary that was first delineated in 1923-24. After partition, Pakistan contested the
southern boundary of Sindh, and a succession of border incidents resulted. They were less
dangerous and less widespread, however, than the conflict that erupted in Kashmir in the
Indo-Pakistani War of August 1965. These southern hostilities were ended by British
mediation, and both sides accepted the award of the Indo-Pakistan Western Boundary Case
Tribunal designated by the UN secretary general. The tribunal made its award on February
19, 1968, delimiting a line of 403 kilometers that was later demarcated by joint survey
teams. Of its original claim of some 9,100 square kilometers, Pakistan was awarded only
about 780 square kilometers. Beyond the western terminus of the tribunal's award, the final
stretch of Pakistan's border with India is about 80 kilometers long, running west and
southwest to an inlet of the Arabian Sea.

Phisical Features of Pakistan

The study of physical map of Pakistan shows that Pakistan has a number of peculiar
features. The major part of our country consists of fertile alluvial plain that is drained by the
river Indus and its tributaries; it has lofty mountains on the north and west and a few deserts
areas also, thus Pakistan can be divided into the following regions:

1 eastern North mountains

2 North western mountains
3 Indus plain
4 Plateaus 5 Deserts
 EAST NORTHERN MOUNTAINS

The highest mountains of the world known as “The Himalayas” Comprising of a series of ranges is
situated in the north east of our country. The Himalayas stretches like a bow in the north of Indo-Pak
Sub-continent having a length of about 1500 miles. The part of this mountain which came into our
share , consists of four parallel ranges. Between these ranges lies some beautiful valleys. The slope of
these goes decreasing from the north to south. Thus according to their altitudes, these ranges can be
sub-divided as:

1. The siwalik range

2. The peer pinjal range
3. Central or great hamaliya
4. Karakoram range

THE SIWALIK RANGE:

These are the line of low altitude hills, situated adjacent to plain areas of Hazara district in
NWFP and Attock, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujarat and Sialkot district. Here these hills have a
height of between 2000 to 3000 feet from the sea level.

THE PEER PINJAL RANGE:

These range lies further of the north and mostly run parallel to the Siwlik hills. Beside Murree
and Hazara hills , Peer pinjal range is one of the famous ranges that lie in these areas, it has an
average altitude of 14000 to 15000feet: most of the peaks remains snow covered during winter.
These are also covered with natural vegetation; forests are also seen at some places.

THE CENTRAL OF GREAT HIMALAYA:

These mountains lie in between the Pir Pinjal range & Karakoram range. These ranges have an
average height of 2000feet and most of the peaks remain snow-covered throughout the year. The
heigst peak of this range known as Nanga Parbet lies in Kashmir has an height of about 26600
feet. The beautiful valley of Kashmir lies between the Pir Pinjal range and the great Himalaya.
THE KARAKORAM RANGE:

the famous Karakoram Range lies to the north of central Himalaya in northern Kashmir and
Gilgit area. This range has an average height of about 20000 feet above sea level. The second
highest peak of the world and highest peak of Pakistan, Godwin Austin (K-2) having a height of
28,250 feet or 8475 meters in this range near Gilgit. This peak was first conquered by an Italian
expendition in 1954. The peak having a high altitude remain snow covered throughout the year.

The northeastern mountains of our country are quite high and it is difficult to cross them easily, but
these mountains have a few passes, which are used for communication purpose. Some of the
important passes are:

 THE BABUSAR PASS

 THE LAWARI PASS
 THE SHANDUR PASS
 THE MAZTAGH PASS

NORTH WESTERN MOUNTAINS

T he north western ranges of our country are also known as western branches of the Himalayas
mountains. These mountains consist of series parallel ranges and are lower in altitude than the
northeastern mountains. As most of these ranges lie outside the course of summer monsoons
coming from Arabian Sea, and so there the rainfall is low and they are almost bare of natural
vegetation. These mountains act as a boundary between Afghanistan, Iran and our country.
These mountain ranges lie north to south, having some passes in river, beds in the valleys. So
the northwestern mountains can be sub-divided into following divisions:

Between the Indus and Kabul rivers lies the Hindu Kush range. The average height of this range
is between 10,000 to 16,000 feet above sea level. The highest peak of this area is known as
Torch Mir, having an altitude of 25230 feet. Most of the mountain remains snow-covered
during winter months. The Kabul, Swat, Panjkora and Kunar flow through months. The minor
ranges of this mountain. These entire rivers join the Indus from the western side. The famous
Khyber Pass lies south of the Kabul river. This pass is a historical trade route between Peshawar
and Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
South of the Kabul River up to Kurram pass lies the Safed Koh range, which runs east and west.
These mountains have an average height of 12,000 feet and are often covered with snow in
winter. The rover Kurram lies to the south of this range. The Kurram pass, which provides an
easy route in to Afghanistan, is situated near this range. Kohat is an important military base
situated at the end of this pass.

Between the Kurram and the Gomal rivers lies the Waziristan hills area. These hills have low
altitude. The Tochi River joins the Kurram River from the west in North Waziristan. These rivers
after passing through Tochi pass join the Indus. Similarly Gomal River coming from Afghanistan
joins Indus near Dera Ismail Khan. Bannu at Tochi pass and Dera Ismail Khan at Gomal pass are
the important towns and military centers.

In the south of the Gomal river lies the Sulman mountain. It rims southward for a distance of
about 300 miles. Its highest peak is known as Takhat-I-Sulaimani, whose height is 11,100 feet
above sea level. At the southern end of the Sulaiman mountain, the Bugti and Mari hills run
from the southeast to the northwest. The Bolan is the main river of this region. The Bolan river
passes through the Bolan Pass, which provides communication facilities between Iran and
Pakistan . Queta is and important base at the northern end of Bolan pass.

In the west of lower Indus plain lies a hilly area known as “The Kerther hills”. These hills are not
high enough, their average height being about 7000 feet. The Kerther hills are drained by the
Hab and Layari stream join the water of the Arabian sea near Karachi.

INDUS PLAIN

River Indus is the largest river of our country. This river after originating from northern slopes of
Kailash Range in Tibet (China) passing through the Himalaya and enters in Pakistan's territory
near Gilgit. In the upper region a number of streams join in it, but at the later stage, some of its
western and eastern join in it, but to at the later stage, some of its western and eastern
tributaries make it more huge and vast in volume and speed. Its eastern tributaries are Sutlaj,
Bias, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum, while its western tributaries include rivers Swat, Kunar,
Panjkora, Kabul, Kurram, Tochi, Gomal, Bolan, etc
All the plain areas of our country have existed by the Sediment brought by River Indus and
its tributaries. The whole of the Indus Plain can be sub-divided into three parts for detailed
study:
  The Upper Indus Plain
 The Lower Indus Plain
 The Indus Delta

THE UPPER INDUS PLAIN :-

From the point of junction eastern tributaries of river Indus is known as the upper Indus
Plain . It includes most of the areas of Punjab Province. The upper Indus Plain has a
height from 600 feet to 1000 feet. The northeastern part is comparatively higher.
Although most of the plain area has existed by the alluvial soil brought by the rivers, but
near Sargodha, Chiniot and Sangal, some old dry hiss appear above the plain. These are
known as [Kinara hills]. The five big rivers of Punjab drain this plain. The land that lies
between the two rivers if known as [DOAB]. Thus the area of Punjab plain can be divided
into following Doabs:

i. Bari Doab
ii. The Rachna Doab
iii. The Chaj Doab
iv. The Sindh Sagar Doab

THE LOWER INDUS PLAIN:-

Mithankot is known as junction of Indus river and its eastern tributaries. Beyond
Mithankot River Indus flows alone and carries not only its own water, but also that of its
eastern and western tributaries, while flowing \from the Province of Sindh, if becomes
several miles wide especially during the flood season. The river Indus flows very slowly
and the silt carried by if is largely deposited on its bed, thereby raising it above the level
of the sandy plain. The land on either side is, therefore, protected by the construction of
embankments of bunds a number of difficulties has to be faced during floods season.
THE INDUS DELTA:-
The Indus delta begins near Thatta(Sindh) and the river Indus by distributing itself into a
number of branches joins with the water of Arabian sea. The tidal Deltaic land covers an
area . It is submerged during high tides , It has mangrove swamps. The old Deltaic land
in the south are being reclaimed by the canals of the Ghulam Muhammad barrage, still
most of the areas of lower plain are barren waste lands.
 PLEATEUS

Balochistan Plateau: The area west of the Suleman and Kirthar mountains constitutes the
Balochistan Plateau, located on an average height of 600-900 metres. To the west, mountains of Toba
Karrar and Chagai separate Balochistan from the neighbouring Afghanistan. Due to absence of any
meaningful rains, the north western part of the plateau is generally sandy and lifeless. However, sterams
of water gush into the area if it rains. Devoid of any major river, Zhob River which has its headway in the
Suleman mountains, falls into Gomal River. Hamman Mashkhel Lake is a salt water lake in the area.
Coal, natural gas, chromites, iron and copper are some of the minerals that abound the Balochistan
Plateau.

The Salt Range and Potwar Plateau: The area between Tilla Jogian - Bakrala Hills near
River Jhelum to Suleiman mountains is the area of Slat Range. The range sits at an altitude of no more
than 600 - 700 metres . The Khwera Salt Mines are the biggest salt mines in the world, discovered in
1922 and till continue to produce the best quality of salt. One must never miss to visit these mines

DESERTS

Kharan Desert

The Kharan Desert is located in Northwest Balochistan. It makes a nature boundary between
Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. It is located in Kharan District. The Kharan Desert is a sandiest
desert in Pakistan. It is distinct from the rest of the province's landscape due to its sandy nature
and more even ter. The desert was used for nuclear testing by the Pakistan military, making it the
most famous of the five deserts. It is in the center of a large empty basin. It estimated area of
more than 20,0000 square km.

Thal Desert

The Thal Desert is located in Bhakkar District of Pakistan between the Indus and Jhelum rivers.
A large canal-building project is currently underway to irrigate the land. Irrigation will make
most of the desert suitable for farming. In the north of the Thal Desert there are salt ranges, in the
east the Jhelum and Chenab rivers and to the west the Indus river.
Thar Desert
The Thar Desert spans an area of 175,000 square kilometers and covers large areas of Pakistan and
India. It is the largest desert of Pakistan and the only subtropical desert of Asia. It is the seventh largest
desert on the planet and the third largest in Asia. It has also spread into India. The Thar Desert, also
known as the Great Indian Desert