O Levels, Pakistan Studies

The Causes of Deforestation

POSTED BY BACEWORLD

The causes of Deforestation

Deforestation is a huge problem for us today. The threat to the forests of the world is significant,
and there are a lot of causes behind the continual loss of trees. The major causes behind
deforestation today are:
1. Urbanization As the population increases exponentially, naturally the need for proper land to
inhabit also increases. To create more space, people are chopping down forests. This is especially
true in places like the Amazon, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Urban growth has led to the
disappearance of many forests in Brazil, and in areas like Malabar Hills, and Bengal.
In Pakistan, cities like Murree, Hunza, Gilgit, and Chitral are continually expanding, and in order
to meet the need for housing, the forests are being chopped off.
2. Most of the people who live in the higher areas of Pakistan have limited access to natural gas,
and other sources of fuel common n the Indus Plains and Sindh. Therefore, in order to stay warm
during winters, and to fulfill basic needs like cooking etc, they need wood as fuel. That is also a
very predominant reason why deforestation is so rampant in Pakistan. The same is most likely
true for other countries as well.
3. Timber from trees demands a very high price in the market, and if the lumbar is procured
illegally, all the profit goes to the person selling it in the market. This notion encourages many
people to chop down trees illegally, and sell the timber for full profits. If the cutting down of
trees was regulated, this kind of deforestation could be avoided as the trees chopped off would
immediately be replaced by saplings.
These are the major causes for deforestation in Pakistan, and around the world. Forests make up
only 4% of the land area is Pakistan which is abnormally low for a country the size of Pakistan.
The little forest cover Pakistan has is being destroyed by uneducated people who are ruthlessly
chopping off precious trees. Unless the government takes strict notice of these things, the future
of a Pakistan without forests isnt unforeseeable.
The Effects of Deforestation
Deforestation is a major evil in our world today, and like any evil, it has bilious effects both on
humans, and the Earth in general. When deforestation occurs, a lot of other problems arise with it,
and the overall effect tends to be much greater than is imaginable, usually involving colossal
damages to the balance of nature.
The major effects of deforestation are:

1. Loss of tree cover means loss of habitat for many animals residing in the forests. Deforestation is
one of the primary reasons why tigers and pandas have been driven to the point of extinction.
Naturally territorial, these animals require vast areas of land to prosper, and when they are denied
those lands, all the frustration and rage is channeled into their body, and the result is difficulties in
breeding which inevitably leads to the process of extinction. had it not been for the valiant efforts of
the WWF, tigers and pandas would have long been extinct.
2. Soil erosion is also a major effect of deforestation. When trees are chopped off, there is nothing
left to hold the fertile soil in place, and when the wind blows, it takes the fertile layer of soil with it,
thereby exposing the sand below. This inevitably leads to desertification as has happened in Souther
Punjab, and large parts of Africa, and the Amazon.
3. In addition to that, when torrential rainfalls arrive, they take away a lot of the alluvial soil, and
deposit it in dams. This results is increases in silt levels in dam reservoirs which reduces the dams
capacity to hold enough water. Also, it is very difficult and costly to clean dams of the silt, and if there
would be more trees out there, less silt would be deposited
4. Chopping down trees also exacerbates the threat of landslides and avalanches in mountainous
areas. This is especially true for places like Murree, Hunza, Gilgit etc in Pakistan.
5. Deforestation also results in less rainfall. Since there would be no transpiration happening from
the area, clouds wont form, and slowly, the rain patterns will change, leaving the area a desert.
6. Trees are a major sign of natural beauty. If we cut down trees, we are severely hampering the
natural beauty of the area which is a disadvantage in itself.

The advantages and disadvantages of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is among the most ought after sources of power in todays times. The fact that the
power created by atoms is far greater than any kind of power created from coal, oil, and gas, nuclear
power has an immediate advantage. However, like everything else, nuclear power also has its own
set of disadvantages. In this section, we shall look at the respective benefits and costs of setting up a
nuclear plant.
Advantages
1. Nuclear Power is far greater in strength as compared to other sources of power.
2. Developing countries like Pakistan and India are already deficient in the production of power for
their people. Since these countries have already exhausted much of their non-renewable power
sources, it makes sense to bring in nuclear energy.

3. The chances of accidents happening in a nuclear facility are very slim. It is very rare for a accident
to happen since everything is checked and double-checked at a nuclear power facility.
4. Nuclear power contributes less to greenhouse gases, and the slow degeneration of our ozone
layer. In many ways, its an environment- friendly source of power.
5. Nuclear power will help in the industrialization of developing countries as the coal and oil reserves
can be focused on areas of industry that need them.
Disadvantages
1. Although the chances of an accident happening are slim, but when accidents do happen, they are
catastrophic. For example, the tsunami is pa has caused irreparable damage to the Fukushima
Nuclear Plant in Fukushima resulting in thousands of people being evacuated from the area. Also,
since the government used exorbitant amounts of water from the ocean to cool the fuel rods at the
plant, most of the water is now carrying highly toxic radioactive material inside. Radiation can cause
cancer in people.
2. Even if there isnt a threat of an accident, the nuclear facility has to be handled very delicately. The
fuel rods at the facility continuously expel radioactive rays which are very dangerous to people, and
great care needs to be taken.
3. Nuclear waste is very difficult to dispose. Since nuclear waste remands radioactive for thousands
of years, it is very expensive to properly seal and process the waste generated. This is a very serious
problem being faced by the Fukushima Nuclear facility. The water used to cool the fuel rods was first
sealed in specially designated tankers, but as the amount of water used increased, the government
ran out of options, and proceeded to release the water directly in the ocean.
4. Nuclear plants are very expensive to build. Developing nations like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India,
Sudan just dont have the necessary funds to undertake projects of such proportions. While it may
be possible for the to build one or two plants at any given time, it would be difficult to construct a lot
of nuclear plants.
5. It is better to use renewable resources like water, sun, and wind to generate power instead of
relying on something as dangerous and unpredictable as nuclear energy.

How does climate affect life in the Plains?

The plains of Punjab have always been extremely fertile with a good system of irrigation in place
along with decent rainfall, and extremely good soil quality. Due to this, the people of this region are
very prosperous, more so than in any other part of Pakistan. The climate is extremely agreeable for
farming, and with farming come other activities such as industries and textiles.

The presence of a large number of rivers in the area is an added advantage. Six rivers cross through
Punjab (3 are now dry), and this helps in creating irrigation networks. Due to this, the population of
Punjab is also quite high, and has soared even more recently. It is estimated that more than 70
million people are living in Punjab a sharp contrast from the less than 5 million in Balochistan.

How does climate affect life in the deserts and other arid areas?
A significant amount of land in Pakistan is covered by deserts. This basically comprises of the
Kharan Desert and the Chagai Hills. While there is some population density in the Kharan desert
with some major cities based there, the Chagai Hills is essentially devoid of human population. The
population density of that area is less than one person per square mile. It consists of vast stretches
of yellow sand, and rocky hills, not a person or thing in sight. Chagai Hills is also a very difficult
terrain, and people who visit the place often need a lot of backup in case one vehicle fails.
Since these regions are deserts, and therefore deficient in moisture and good soil, farming cannot be
practiced there. While efforts have been made to introduce irrigation in the area (especially in Sindh),
large parts of these deserts still remain devoid of any water. People travel long distances to get
water, and the economy of these areas is mostly based around local handiworks.

How does climate affect life on the Coast?

The coastal areas of Pakistan are also very hot and somewhat dry, but the maritime effect lessens
the intensity of the heat. The Arabian Sea wind currents do not allow the temperature in the coastal
areas to exceed 40C frequently whereas in interior Sindh, the temperature regularly crosses 50C in
the summers. Humidity, however, plays a factor, and during the summer months, the high levels of
humidity can make the temperature more intolerable.
With the exception of Karachi, life in the coastal areas of Pakistan is based on fishing and related
activities. The seaports are small, and the population is low.
Karachi is the sole exception in this (Gwadar is being touted as the next Dubai, but for the time
being, even Gwadar is more sedate than alive). Karachi contributes more than 40% to the national
GDP, and its presence near the sea has made it into a huge seaport as well as a gigantic city. The
population of Karachi has swollen to over 20 million inhabitants, and in addition to being the biggest
sea port in Pakistan, Karachi is also the headquarters of the Banking industry, and the Aviation
Industry. Presently, the Jinnah International Airport of Karachi is the largest airport in the country with
over 5 million passengers using it annually.

How does climate affect life in Highland Areas?

In Pakistan, the climate affects life in the Highland Areas a great deal. The people shape their
lifestyle according to the climate of the area. The Highland Areas of Pakistan basically encompass
every settlement in the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush Ranges. Major cities in the area
include Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Saidu Sharif, Chitral, Murree, Parachinar etc.
People in the Highlands dont rely on farming as it is not possible for the greater part of the year.
Instead, people have learned to use tourism and other activities to earn their livelihood. In some
parts of the Highlands, farming is possible thought. Animal farming is carried out, however. A
concept called Transhumance is also practiced in the north. This means that during the summers,
people move north while in winters, they move south to escape the bitter cold.

Rainfall in Pakistan
Pakistan lies on the tail end of the Monsoon winds. That is why, most of the monsoon rainfall is
concentrated in India and Bangladesh. However, in addition to the Monsoon system, Pakistan
receives rainfall from other sources as well including the Western Depression, Convectional currents,
Relief rainfall, and Tropical Cyclones.
Most of Pakistan is arid to semi-arid which means that rainfall is not that abundant. Generally, the
amount of rainfall decreases from the Himalayas and toward the south.
1. Monsoon Winds
The monsoon winds occur both in summers and winters, but it is only the summer monsoon winds
that reach Pakistan. The monsoon winds are giant sea breezes created in the Bay of Bengal. The
heat on the land creates a low pressure which attracts the cooler, moist wind of the sea. These winds
are laden with moisture, and cause widespread rainfall across the subcontinent in the summer.
These winds start developing in June, and reach Pakistan by July where they cause significant
rainfall for about 2 months. Some monsoon winds also originate in the Arabian Sea, but they are
usually very weak so as to bring rainfall to the region except for times when they are very active, and
cause widespread rainfall in the coastal regions which damages the infrastructure badly. Karachi is a
relatively dry city due to which it is very poorly equipped for rain. So, when a cyclone brings heavy
rainfall to the city, it jams the infrastructure, inundates toads, and causes significant damage.
2. Western Depressions
The Western Depressions are cyclones that originate in the Mediterranean Sea in the winters. They
cross Afghanistan and Iran, and reach Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hitting cities like Peshawar and
Parachinar with rain. After this, these winds move to Balochistan where they cause light
rainfall/snowfall as they have lost most of their potency and moisture on the way. For this reason,
Quetta receives most of its precipitation in the winter months.

3. Convectional Currents
Convectional currents cause some degree of rainfall in Pakistan during the summer months. This
happens when hot air rises from the hot land into the air. This air is high in moisture, and causes a lot
of condensation when it reaches the atmosphere. This condensation results in rainfall in the northern
parts of Punjab in the summer. The southern parts of Punjab are deprived from convectional currents
due to a temperature inversion layer.
4. Relief Rainfall
Relief rainfall occurs in high altitude, and unstable areas. The moist air is chilled as it rises high in
the atmosphere which results in a lot of condensation, and ultimately precipitation. Cities like Murree
and Kakul continually receive rainfall due to this while Gilgit and Chitral do not as they fall in the rain
shadow areas.

Climatic Elements Temperature

There are four main climatic elements that influence the seasonal and regional variations in the
climates of Pakistan. They are: temperature, pressure, rainfall, and winds.
The difference of temperature in different regions arises mostly due to the following factors:
1. A very large spread of latitude and longitude in Pakistan. Latitude also determines how the rays of
the sun fall on the land. Since Southern and Central Pakistan is closer to the Equator, the summers
there are extremely hot.
2. A difference of the relief aspects of the regions with some places having high altitudes while
others having low altitudes.
3. Due to the protection from the mountains in the north, the cold winds of Siberia do not reach the
lower plains of Pakistan, and thus the temperatures in summer soar to over 45C. Temperatures in
Jacobabad are especially scorching due to its infamous position as the thermal pole of the
subcontinent.
4. The coastal parts of the country have what is generally called the continental effect where
prevailing winds from the sea play a major role in determining the temperature of the region. Due to
this, the summers of coastal areas are not as hot as the inland areas, and neither are the winters as
cold.
5. Cloud cover also determines differences in temperature. Cloud cover usually reduces the
temperature significantly. That is the reason why the summers of Quetta and Gilgit are much warmer

than those of Murree and Drosh. Murree lies in the monsoon belt, and has persistent cloud cover in
the summer months. This keeps the temperature there in the 20-15C region while temperatures can
touch 40C in Gilgit and Quetta due to no cloud cover, and direct sun exposure.

What is an Arid climate?

An Arid climate is mostly an extremely hot and dry climate. There is a lot of aridity found in areas of
Pakistan especially in Southwestern Baluchistan, and the Southeastern deserts of Pakistan.
Basically, with an arid climate, there is very little rainfall through the year, and the temperatures soar
very high during the day, and dip during the night.
The summers are very long, and harsh with long daylight hours, and little could cover. In
Southwestern Baluchistan, the little rainfall that does fall, falls in the winter. In the Southeastern
deserts of Pakistan, the little rainfall is brought by the Monsoon season. Areas that have an arid
climate include:
1. Hyderabad
2. Cholistan Desert
3. Chagai Mountains
4. Nokkundi
5. Jacobabad
Other areas of international repute that have an arid climate are the Middle eastern countries. The
United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia all have a
universally arid climate. Popular cities in these countries include the following:
1. Dubai
2. Abu Dhabi
3. Muscat
4. Cairo
5. Alexandria
6. Jeddah
7. Mecca

8. Medinah
9. Aden
10. Sanaa
11. Baghdad
12. Doha
13. Kuwait
14. Manama
15. Ras Al Khaimah
16. Tripoli
17. Umm al Quwain
18. Ajman
19. Sharjah
20. Riyadh

The Effects of a Coastal Climate

Pakistan is also throughly affected by a coastal climate. The Indus Delta, Karachi region, and the
entire Makran coast have a coastal climate. The coastal climate in Pakistan is very different from
other coastal climates around the world. In Pakistan, the coastal climate is also affected by the
Monsoon season as well as the Western Depression.
The coastal winds from the sea dominate the climate throughout the year. In the coastal areas, the
summers are hot, but not as hot as in the rest of Pakistan. Also, the sea breezes keep the weather
very tolerable, and even pleasant at times. Usually, the hottest months are May, June, and October
when dry winds from the deserts can cause the temperatures to go as high as 42 C. Humidity is also
extremely high in these places which can make the heat quite unbearable if not for the sea breeze.
The coastal climate is influenced a lot by the temperature of the water in the sea. The winters in
these areas also very short and extremely mild with the temperature rarely falling below 10 C. This is
because water heats up differently than land. Land gains and loses heat very quickly which is why
there are such great temperature fluctuations in the plains of Pakistan e.g. Lahore. The sea, on the
other hand, gains and loses heat very differently. Water takes time to heat up which is why the

summers are relatively cooler in the coastal areas of Pakistan. Similarly, water also loses heat very
slowly which is why the winters are relatively warmer in the coastal areas as compared to the rest of
Pakistan.
Popular places that come under the wing of a coastal climate are:
1. Karachi
2. Gwadar
3. Thatta
4. Turbat
5. Pasni
6. Port Qasim
7. Jiwani

Features of a Lowland Climate

A lowland climate occurs mostly in areas that are flat. In Pakistan, the Indus plains and surrounding
areas have a lowland climate. This means that these areas have long, hot summers, and short
winters ranging from cool to mild.
Places with a lowland climate also vary a great deal. While some areas have a greater amount of
rainfall with colder winters, other areas have fairly little rainfall with more extreme summers, and
milder winters. One great example of this is Rawalpindi that has a lowland climate. The summers of
Rawalpindi are long and hot with very cool winters. There is a great deal of rainfall in the city.
Bahawalpur, Multan and Jacobabad also have a lowland climate, but the conditions in these cities
differ a great deal from the conditions found in cities like Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The
summers of these cities are very long, and scorching hot. The winters, on the other hand, are very
short and mild. Temperatures are a great deal higher than those of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Rainfall is also very scarce in these parts, with Jacobabad getting the lowest amount of rainfall.
Jacobabad is also famous for setting record high temperatures in Pakistan with the temperature
often exceeding 50C.
Popular places that come under the umbrella of Lowland Climates are:
1. Lahore
2. Rawalpindi

3. Islamabad
4. Multan
5. Gujranwala
6. Gujrat
7. Bahawalpur
8. Rahimyar Khan
9. Jhelum
10. Sialkot
11. Okara
12. Chiniot
13. Vehari
14. Kasur
15. Sheikupura
16. Faisalabad
17. Jhang
18. Khushab
19. Khanewal
20. Sargodha
21. Sahiwal

What is a Highland Climate like?

Highland climate typically occurs in mountainous regions. In Pakistan, highland climate mostly
occurs in the Northern parts of the county, and the Western Highlands.

In a Highland climate, the summers are usually short, and mild while the winters are long, snowy and
cold. However, in Pakistan, the highland climate of different regions differs substantially. The climate
of places like Murree and Bhurban is quite different from places like Gilgit, Chitral and Quetta.
Murree experiences very short and mild winters with temperature rarely crossing 30C whereas in
Quetta and Gilgit, temperatures in the summers go well above the 30C mark, sometimes even
touching 40C. However, the winters of both Quetta and Gilgit are as cold as Murre, sometimes even
more so. Therefore, the summers in places like Murree are short and mild while places like Quetta
and Gilgit experience longer and warmer summers.
Quetta and the Western Highlands receive most of their rainfall in the winter while the Northern
Mountains region of Pakistan experiences precipitate year round. Since Gilgit, and Chitral are rain
shadow areas, they do not receive much precipitation all through the year.
Places that come under the Highland climate in Pakistan include (but are not restricted to):
1. Murree
2. Dir
3. Drosh
4. Abbottabad
5. Quetta
6. Gilgit
7. Chitral
8. Skardu
9. Parachinar
10. Ziarat
11. Nathiagali
12. Ghoragali
13. Thandiani
14. Hunza
15. Baltistan

What are climatic zones?

Climatic zones are different sort of climates that occur in different regions. For example, a
mountainous area will have a different climate from an area that is flat, or an area that is near the
sea.
In Pakistan, there are four major climates:
1. Highland Climate
2. Lowland Climate
3. Coastal Climate
4. Arid Climate
Due to the difference in the terrains of Pakistan, these different climates occur. However, it will not be
correct to presume that all areas in the same climatic zone will have exactly the same temperature
conditions. For example, Multan and Lahore are in the same climatic zone, but their temperatures
differ as do their amounts of rainfall. The same is true for Karachi and Gwadar, both of which share
the same climatic zone, but are inherently different. Things like rainfall, temperature, and humidity
greatly affects the climatic conditions of different locations.
Another example is Murree and Quetta. Both have a Highland climate, but Murree receives a lot of
precipitation annually due to Monsoon and the Western Depression whereas Quetta has scant
rainfall throughout the year, with most of the precipitation occurring in winter.

What are the major rivers of Pakistan?

Pakistan has a lot of major rivers. River Indus is the largest river in Pakistan, and is also rated as one
of the biggest rivers in the world. Other than the River Indus, there are the Rivers Chenab, Jhelum,
Ravi, Sutlej, Kabul, Hab, Soan, and Dasht that are big.
Only Indus, Chenab and Jhelum have water throughout the year. In the past, the River Indus had 5
tributaries, and all of them had large amounts of water year round. These included Chenab, Jhelum,
Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas. However, after the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, it was decided that Pakistan
would receive the water from 3 rivers (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum) while India would get the water
from 3 rivers (Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas). Due to this, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas remain dry most of the

year, carrying water only during the monsoon season when India releases the excess water into
these dry gullies.
The Rivers Kabul, Hab, and Dasht also remain dry year round except during the monsoon season.

What is the Salt Range of Pakistan like?

The Salt Range of Pakistan covers the mountainous/hilly area of Jhelum, Chakwal, Mianwali, and
Kalabagh districts. These mountains are famous for the amount of rock salt they contain, the most
popular being the Khewra Salt Mines.The Sakesar Peak is the highest in the region (1,527 meters).
Like the Potwar Plateau region, the Salt Range is also rich in minerals.
The most popular place in the Salt Range along with Khewra Mines has to be Kallar Kahar.

The Potwar Plateau

The Potwar Plateau is a large expanse of land just south of Islamabad between the River Indus and
its tributary, River Jhelum. The Potwar Plateau has the classic badland topography that consists of
hard, resistant rock and steep hills. There are also lots of flat areas in the Potwar Plateau region that
are used for agriculture.
The Soan River is the predominant feature of this region, and it helps feed most of the agricultural
lands. Most of the hills in Potwar are between 300 and 600 metres.
Here is a list of the main features of the Potwar Plateau Region:
1. Residual hills, and deep ridges. The hills may rise up to 1000 meters (e.g. Kala Chitta)
2. Rivers and ravines. The rivers feed the agricultural lands.
3. Depressions in the land that is caused when soft rocks get eroded by water.
4. Rugged landscape.
5. Dissected or Badland Topography

O Level Pakistan Studies Notes:

The Balochistan Plateau
POSTED BY BACEWORLD

The Balochistan Plateau is located in the southwest region of Pakistan, and mainly consists
altitudes ranging from 600-3000 meters.

To the north, the Balochistan Plateau has basins like Zhob and Loralai. These basins come in
handy when it rains in Balochistan. The water slides down the mountain slopes, and gathers in
these depressions. The resulting soil is quite alluvial.
In order to see where these places happen to be on maps, please check out BACE Worlds
original videos for Pakistan Studies.
To its West, Balochistan has many other such depressions. These basins occur in the Chagai
region, Ras Koh Mountain range etc. This area is almost completely devoid of vegetation with a
very low population density. The way in which the water gathers in the basins is called inland
drainage since there are no rivers or seas nearby to soak up the water. Thus, the water collects in
temporary lakes, and when these lakes dry up, they leave behind a thin crust of salt behind. This
is called a salt pan, and these lakes are referred to as salt lakes.
To the south, Balochistan has the Lasbela Plains and the Makran Coast. Gwadar is one of the
merging cities on the coast of Balochistan.
Balochistan has immense potential what with the rich mineral and gold deposits. Balochistan
also has huge oil and natural gas deposits. Sadly, most of these minerals are still untapped
because Balochistan gets the lowest amount of money from the Federal Government despite
being the largest province. To some extent, the antiquated feudal system, low population, and
lack of education are responsible for Balochistan being so backward in everything.
Balochistan thrives in fruit production. Due to the chilly temperatures, it is the perfect place for
growing apples, pears, peaches and apricots. 75% of the fruit produced is surplus, and is shipped
to other parts of the country or exported abroad as the quality is very good.
Similarly, due to chilly temperatures, Balochistan is ideal for planting many kinds of vegetables.
Gwadar, Pasni, and Turbat are important fishing centers, Most of the fish is exported to Sri
Lanka in the form of salt fish. Shrimps are also widely available in Balochistan.
There is an immense scarcity of both drinking and irrigation water with nomadic families being
forced to consume water form temporary lakes which is bad for health, and leads to health
problems like cholera, dysentery, malaria etc.
Some recent advances have been made in improving the transport system of Balochistan with the
Makran Coastal Highway that links Gwadar with Karachi. However, other than Quetta and to a
small extent Gwadar, Balochistan lacks a proper international airport. Similarly, train facilities
are very scarce in Balochistan with recent reports revealing that only 3 trains a day serve out of
Quetta a painfully small number, unable to cater to the increasing population of the busy
metropolis.
Balochistan also lacks any sort of proper public transport system, leaving many citizens out to
fend for themselves.

Thus, there is a great potential for Balochistan to improve, and all that is needed is proper
attention from the Government.

O Level Pakistan Studies Notes: Western Mountains and their Importance

The Western Mountains mostly occur in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with
the exception of the Suleiman and Kirthar ranges that occur in Balochistan. They
mainly consist of many parallel ranges, and mainly consist of Safed Koh (up to 4500
meters), Waziristan Hills (up to 3500 meters), The Suleiman Range, and the Kirthar
Hills.
The Safed Koh Range follows an East-West direction, and these mountains are called Safed
because their peaks are usually covered with snow. The Safed Koh Range has the River Kurram
running at its south. It also has the Vale of Peshawar a fertile land.
The Waziristan Hills have the Bannu Valley. Both Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan are important military
centers for Pakistan.
Other than major cities like Peshawar and Kohat, the Western Mountains offer little in terms of
comfort, and ease of living. The climate is very harsh, and the mountains are mostly bare of
vegetation. Due to this, the people are mostly exposed to elements in these places. Life is very
difficult, and a nomadic way of life has been observed here.
The Waziristan Hills are also very famous for being terrorist dens as it is very easy for the terrorists
to climb these stunted hills, and take cover among the numerous caves.

Glaciers and their importance

Glaciers are huge masses of ice that form in valleys. The largest glaciers is Pakistan are the Baltoro
glacier (58 km long), the Batura Glacier (58 km long), and the Siachen Glacier (78 km long). It is at
the Siachen glacier that the Pakistan army has one of its bases.
Glaciers change the landscape of the mountains by erosion, and more specifically abrasion and
plucking. Glaciers contain V-shaped valleys and gorges, bare rocks, snowfields, screes, and cirques.
The natural drainage system of Pakistan is the way the water travels through rivers and streams.
River Indus is born at Mansrowar where it forms gorges in mountains. At Attock, it is joined by the
RIver Kabul, and after Kalabagh, the River Indus enters the plains. The eastern tributaries of Indus
(Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas) also originate in the mountain ranges. These rivers are also
fed by glaciers.
O Level Pakistan Studies Notes: The Northern Mountains of Pakistan

POSTED BY BACEWORLD

The Northern and North-Western Mountains can be divided into three major ranges: The
Himalayas, The Karakoram, and The Hindu Kush.

The Himalayas run across 2500 km from east to west, and form a significant part of the mountain
range in Pakistan. The comprise of the Siwaliks (600-1800m), the Pir Panjal Range/The Lesser
or Outer Himalayas (1800-4500m), and the Central Himalayas (over 4500m). The Pir Panjal
Range is where some of the more popular hill stations like Murree and Bhurban are located.
The topography of the Himalayas consists of snowcapped, and steep-sided peaks with valleys
rich in natural vegetation. The highest peak of this range in Pakistan is the Nanga Parbat
(8,126m).
The Karakoram mountain range has an average height of 6000m, and it is located above the
Central Himalayas. The highest peak of the Karakoram range in Pakistan is the Godwin Austin
(K-2) which stands at 8,610m. The Karakoram mountains are very inhospitable, and the
population in these mountains is very sporadic, and a nomadic lifestyle is seen. Some agriculture
takes place in the valleys, but mostly, the Karakoram range comprises of steep peaks, and narrow
valleys often with a fast flowing river taking up most of the space. The Karakoram Highway that
links Pakistan with China has been a major development in the Karakoram range.
The Hindu Kush mountain range runs from north to south, and is located in the region where the
border of Pakistan meets the borders of Afghanistan and China. The topography of the area is
very similar to the Karakoram range. Hindu Kush is famous for mountain peaks like Tirich Mir.
The Hindu Kush is also popular in culture because many of the greatest invaders in history
(Alexander the Great, Mahmud of Ghazni etc) crossed the mountain passes of the Hindu Kush.

Importance of Northers Mountains and their effect on human activities.

The Northern Mountains are very important for Pakistan, and its people. They affect most of the
population of Pakistan significantly. In this section of BACE Worlds original Pakistan Studies Lecture
Notes, the importance and effect of Pakistans Northern Mountains will be discussed.
1. The mountains form a natural border for Pakistan both with Afghanistan and China. In the north,
the mountains also help maintain a border with India.
2. The Northern Mountains are a rich source of rock and minerals. The rock that is used to build
roads comes from the Northern Mountains, and many minerals have been found there, although
there mining has been an issue.
3. The Northern Mountains act as a protection against the cold winds of Siberia. If it wasnt for the
mountains, the winter temperatures in the plains of Pakistan would have dipped well below zero. The
scale of farming done in Pakistan would also have been impossible.

4. The Northern Mountains are very scenic, so they offer a lot of opportunity for the tourism industry
to prosper. Many of the hill stations like Murree, Swat, and Hunza have visiting tourists year round.
The recent terrorist activities have somewhat hampered the tourism industrys effort, but the allure of
the Northern Mountains is so great that it will attract more people as soon as the situation improves.
5. The Northern Mountains also has a lot of small scale industries operating there. There are
industries for carpets, embroidered fabrics, rugs, and fruit present there.
6. The Northern Mountains are also rich in glaciers which feed the River Indus, and therefore allows
water to flow through the plains of Pakistan, and agriculture to thrive.
7. Without the mountains or the glaciers, it would be impossible to sustain the level of agriculture that
is currently being maintained in Pakistan. Without glaciers, the rivers would dry out, and with no
water, farming and irrigation would fail.
8. Without the protection of the mountains, Pakistan would very soon be reduced to a dry, cold
desert.
O Level Pakistan Studies Notes: Topography of Pakistan
POSTED BY BACEWORLD

Topography is the study of the surface features of the land- natural and manmade. Pakistan can
be divided into six major topographical ares:

1. The Northern and North-Western Mountains

2. The Western Mountains
3. The Balochistan Plateau
4. The Potwar Plateau and Salt Range
5. The Indus Plain
6. Desert Areas
The importance of Pakistans location
From a general strategic point of view, Pakistan location is very important.
1. The historic passes like the Khyber and Khunjerab Passes provide a route to Afghanistan and
China. These also allow a passage into the mountains of Pakistan.
2. Pakistan has 3 major seaports: Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar. While Karachi is the most
important of all, Gwadar is the most strategically important. It is a deep sea port which means that

ships can dock very close to the land, and thus, makes transportation and movement of things
easier. Gwadar also lies on the natural route of ships unlike Dubai Port which is located in a
peninsula.
3. Karachi also has importance as a major international airport. While it has lost a lot of its traffic to
Dubai airport over the years, it still stands as an important airport in the country.
4. Pakistan has four neighbors: Afghanistan, China, India and Iran. The 2252 km long border with
Afghanistan is known as the Durand line.