Geography of Pakistan

World Map
Map of Pakistan
 What is Geography?
O Geography is the study of the earth’s
landscapes, peoples, places and environments. It
is, quite simply, about the world in which we
live.
O Geography is unique in bridging the social
sciences (human geography) with the natural
sciences (physical geography).
O Human geography concerns the understanding
of the dynamics of cultures, societies and
economies, and physical geography concerns
the understanding of the dynamics of physical
landscapes and the environment.
 Geography informs us about:

The places and communities in which we live and work

O Our natural environments and the pressures we face
O The interconnectedness of the world and our communities
within it
O How and why the world is changing, globally and locally
O How our individual and societal actions contribute to those
changes
O The choices that exist in managing our world for the future
O The importance of location in business and decision-
making
What are Important Geographical
Features
O Physical Environment
1. Natural Resources:
O water Sources: Rivers, Glaciers, Ground
Water
O Land Forms :Mountain, Valleys, Plateaus,
Plains, Deserts
O Climate: Temperature, Rainfall, Pressure,
Humidity
O Natural Vegetation: Forests
 Cont.
2. Uses of the physical environment creates
“Human Environment”
Human Resources:
O Industry
O Agriculture
O Mining
O Settlement
O Transport
O Trade
Importance of Pakistan’s Location

O Air Links
O Sea ports
O Land route/ links
 Location of Pakistan
O The total area of Pakistan is 796,096 sq km
O Boundaries of Pakistan:
O China : in the extreme north-east.
O Afghanistan : in the west, known as Durand line
O Iran: in south-west.
O India: in east
O Arabian Sea: south
O Tajikistan: Wakhan is the narrow strip of Afghan territory
which separates Pakistan from Tajikistan.
O The map shows that Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan
and India are longer than those with Iran and China
O It was discovered after the disintegration of USSR in
1991that:
1. CAS Republics possess untouched power resources
such as mineral oil and natural gas
O Which can easily be transported through Pakistan and
Iran to the South Asian and South East Asian countries
by constructing pipelines.
O These projects could bring huge economic benefits to
Pakistan such as transit revenue, power resources for
various industrial, commercial and domestic uses etc.
O Karakoram Highway makes communication with China
O Khyber Pass provides a route to Afghanistan
O North and north-west are land locked: thus Pakistan’s
seaport of Karachi and Gwader can also serve these
areas.
O Feasibility of Natural Gas Pipeline Project from the CAS
countries and Iran to India and South East Asian
countries after passing through Pakistan.
O Easy access to CAS Republics via Afghanistan.
O Inflow of Chinese industrial products to Pakistan through
common border.
O Jinnah Terminal connects the West with Asia by Air
O Karachi, a natural harbor and an important warm water
port also serves as a refueling stop for ships.
 Pakistan: The Natural Topography
O The Northern Mountains and North-Western Mountains.
Himalayas-Hindukush, Karakorm, Safed Koh range,
waziristan hills, sulaiman range, kirthar range, The Siwaliks ,
salt range etc
O Valleys of Himalayas: Murree and galiyat, kaghan
O Valleys of Hindukash range: Sawat, Chitral, Dir
O Valleys of karakuram range: Gilgit, Haunza, Baltistan
O Glaciers: Baltoro, Batura and Siachin in the karakuram range.
O Passes through the western mountains: Khyber, Kurram,
Tuchi, Gomal, Bolan.
O Passes through the northern mountains: Khunjerab,
Shandur, Babusar.
O Plateau: Pothohar, Salt range, Baluchistan plateau
O Plains: Upper Indus Plain, Lower Indus Plain, Labella
Plain
O Deserts: Cholistan(Punjab), Nara (Sindh),
Therparkar(Sindh), Thal(Punjab), Kharan
(Balochistan)
 Government:
O Country name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
O Government type: Federal Republic
O Administrative division:
Four provinces, one capital territory, Federally
Administrated Tribal Areas, Federally
Administrated Northern Areas, the Pakistani-
administered portion of the disputed Jammu
and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir.
O Pillars of the Government System
Legislation, Administration, Judiciary
Defense, Media
O Political Pressure groups:
military, ulema, landowners, industrialists and
small merchants also influential
 Population:
The population of the country is a double faced
phenomena is a vital factor in the development
process on one hand while rapid population
growth can impede development on the other.
O Two aspects of population: (A) Quantitative, (B)
Qualitative
O (A)Quantitative population: the quantitative
aspects of population includes statistics of total
population, density of population, birth and
death rates and migration.
O (B) Qualitative population: The qualitative
aspects refer to the ability and capability of the
people.
O Total Population:21 million (approx.)
O Nationality: Pakistani
O Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi,
Pashtun, Baloch, Muhajir etc
O Religions: Muslim 97%(Sunni 77%,
Shi’s 20%), Christian, Hindu and others
3%
O Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki
10 %; Pashtu 8%, Urdu (National) 8%,
Balochi 3%, Hindko 2% Brahui 1%, English
(official), Burushaski and others 8%
O Literacy rate: age 15 and over can read and
write
O Total literate population: 48.7% (approx.)
O Male: 61.7% and Female: 35.2% , (approx.)
 Current Environmental
Issues:
O Water pollution from raw sewage, industrial
wastes
O Limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not have access
to portable water;
1. Deforestation;
2. Soil erosion;
3. Desertification.
Agriculture in Pakistan
O About 57% of Pakistan's total land area is
under cultivation and is watered by one of the
largest irrigation systems in the world.
O The most important crops are cotton, wheat,
rice, sugarcane, corn, pulses, oil seeds, barley,
fruits and vegetables.
 Fishing in Pakistan
O Fishery and fishing industry plays an
important role in the national economy of
Pakistan. With a coastline of about 1046 km,
Pakistan has enough fishery resources that
remain to be fully developed. It is also a major
source of export earning.
 Forestry in Pakistan
O About only 4% of land in Pakistan is covered
with forests. The forests of Pakistan are a main
source of food, wood for domestic use, paper,
fuel wood, rubber, medicine as well as used
for purposes of wildlife conservation and
tourism.
 QUOTATION

“Geography has made us neighbors,

History has made us friends,
Economics has made us partners,
and necessity has made us allies.”

Thank you