Natural Resources of Pakistan

with reference to Provinces

Class BS/CS-I
Subject Pakistan Studies
Section B
 Natural Resources
• Ever since the Earth was inhabited, humans and other life on earth have
depended on things that exist freely in nature to survive.
• All the resources that exist in nature are called natural resources
 Natural Resources in Pakistan
• Pakistan is one of the resource rich countries in the world having large
amount of coal, natural gas, limestone, gold, copper, iron, oil, water and
forestry which are necessity for any growing economy.
 Types of Natural Resources
Renewable Resources:
• These kinds of resources are replenished
naturally and are continuously available for
human consumption.
• Examples of renewable resources are
Forest, mountains, water, animals, etc.
Non-renewable Resources:
• These kinds of resources do not replenished
naturally in the environment or either takes
a long time the form.
• Examples of non-renewable resources are
Coal, natural gas, limestone, gold,
copper, salt, iron ore, sand, etc.
COAL MINERAL OIL FOREST SALT

COPPER WATER IRON ORE MOUNTAINS

There are four categories of Natural resources

• Forests
• Mountains
• Minerals
• Water
Forests
• Extensive, continuous area of land dominated by tress.
• Forests are critical to our country's economic development.
• Forests are often known as the country's green gold.
• Source of Raw Material
• Source of Fuel
• Forests supply fuel for both residential and commercial purposes. It is also less expensive than oil and
electricity.
• Forests provide opportunities for enjoyment. Wood can be recycled and used to make a variety of items.
• Attraction for Tourists
 Forests
• 5% area of Pakistan is covered with forests
• Total Covered Forest Area in Each Province of Pakistan
• AJK: 6.5%.
• Baluchistan: 14%.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 40%.
• Punjab: 14.4&.
• Sindh: 9.4%.
• Example: Changa Manga Forest, Swat Forest ,Ziarat Juniper Forest, Alpine Forest etc.
Mountains
• Mountains play a significant role in providing water and food supply to the
millions of people.
• There are three biggest mountain ranges in paksitan.
• Hindu Kash Tirich Mir Pak+Afganistan
• Karakoram K2 Pak+China
• Himalaya Nanga Parbat Pak+India
• The highest peak in Sindh is Gorakh Hill Station.
 Agriculture
• According to the source, approximately 28% of Pakistan's total land area is
agriculture.
• The most agricultural province is Punjab where wheat & cotton are the most grown.
• Sindh with cotton, rice, wheat, sugar cane, bananas, and mangoes as the most
important crops.
• Balochistan is called the fruit-basket of the country, producing 90 per cent of
all grapes, cherries and almonds, 60 per cent of peaches, pomegranates, apricots
and 70 per cent of all dates produced in Pakistan.
 Mineral Resources
• Mineral resources are defined as occurrence of natural solid, inorganic or
fossilized organic material in or on the Earth crust in such form and of
such grade and quality that is has reasonable prospects for economic
extraction.
• Examples:
• Coal, copper, gold, oil, salt, limestone, gas etc.
Coal
• Play an important role as primary and an inexpensive source of power generation.
• It is used as a fuel to fire.
• One of the most valuable content of coal is its carbon content which supplies most of its heating value.
• The annual coal production of Pakistan is 3.2 million tones.
• However, the other various factors are used to determine the rank of coal such as, moisture content, sulphur
content, and ash content.
• It is mostly found in Sindh (Thatta, Tharparkar, Manara)
• Balochistan (Deegari, Maach)
• Punjab (Makarwal, Dandot)
• NWFP (Cherat and Noshera)
Categories of coal on the basis of its quality
• There are four categories of coal.
• Lignite
• Sub-bituminous
• Bituminous
• Anthracite.
 Natural Gas
• Natural gas is an important means of energy. It was discovered in 1952
• The sui gas field is the biggest natural field in Pakistan which is located
sui in Baluchistan and Kohat KPK.
• It is used for house holds and industries.
 Gold and Copper
• Antofagasta a company found Gold copper mine
initial production of copper 170000 metric tons and
300000 ounces gold extract per year.
• It is found in Baloshistan Reco Dec.
• Saindak gold and copper mine in Baluchistan
• Used for Jewelry and other purposes.
Mineral Salt
• Pakistan is the only country for having world’s largest salt mines
including more than 6.687 ton only in Khewra Rocky salt mine.
• It not only meet our salt requirements from the khewera salt mine, but
Pakistan also exports salt to different countries.
• Uses house and industry.
• Khewera mine in Punjab and other two mines are in Kalabagh and
Warcha.
Limestone

• In KPK province Limestone is found near Nowshera and Kohat.

• In Sindh Limestone is found at Kot Deji Hills near Rohri in upper Sind , at
Ganjo takkar Hills near Hyderabad , at Mango pir and Murli Hills near
Karachi .
• In Baluchistan it is found in Harnai .
 O U
K Y
A N
TH