HUM111 Pakistan Studies

Lecture 10
HUM111
PAKISTAN STUDIES
1
HUM 111
PAKISTAN STUDIES
Lecture 10
Topography of Pakistan
Land and People of Pakistan
Dr. Sohail Ahmad
2
Mountains [3/6]
• The Karakoram Range covers the borders between Pakistan, India

and China, in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan), Ladakh
(India), and Xinjiang region, (China). The range is about 500 km (311
mile) in length.
• The Western Himalayan Range is situated in Kashmir valley.
Dominated by Nanga Parbat, Pakistan’s 2nd and world’s 9th highest,
is considered as one of the most difficult and dangerous to climb,
nick named as Killer Mountain. In local language its called “deo
mir”. It is situated in Gilgit-Baltistan.
3
Fairy Meadows
4
Mountains [4/6]
• The Hindu Kush is an 800 km long mountain range that stretches

between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.
• The highest point in the Hindu Kush is Tirich Mir (7,708 m or
25,289 ft.) in Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• The mountain range separates Central Asia from South Asia.
• Numerous high passes (“kotal”) transect the mountains, forming a
strategically important network for the transit of caravans.
• The most important mountain pass is the Salang Pass.
5
Mountains [5/6]
• Tangi Gharu and Khyber pass

• Chitral is considered to be the pinnacle of the Hindu Kush region.
• High peaks, as well as countless passes and massive glaciers, are
located in this region.
6
Salang Tunnel Afghanistan
7
Mountains [6/6]
• Pakistan's forth major mountain range is the Suleiman range.

• It emerges in the south western region of the country, mostly
covering Baluchistan Province.
• However, the mountain range is quite different in character from the
northern mountains as it is less precipitous, extremely steep, and
with medium elevations.
• The highest peak is Takht-i-Suleiman rising 3,487 meters above sea
level.
8
Snow Covered Mesa in Sulaiman Range
9
Sulaiman Range
10
Desert [1/6]
• Thal Desert
• The Thar Desert (Sindh)
• The Cholistan Desert (Punjab)
• The Kharan Desert (Baluchistan)
11
Desert [2/6]
12
Thal Dessert
13
Thar Dessert, Sindh
14
Derawar Fort, Cholistan Desert, Punjab
15
Kharaan Desert, Baluchistan
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Desert [3/6]
• Thal desert is situated in Punjab, Pakistan.

• It is vast area mainly between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers.
• Its total length from north to south is 190 miles, and its maximum
breadth is 70 miles (110 km) while minimum breadth is 20 miles.
• This region is divided into the districts of Bhakkar, Khushab,
Mianwali, Jhang, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh.
17
Desert [4/6]
• Thar Desert is the largest among all and mostly falls under the
territory of Sind province, extending eastwards from irrigated plains
on the left bank of River Indus towards the Indian states of Rajhistan
and Gujrat, constituting the largest desert in South Asia, also known
as the Great Indian Desert.
• The approximate area of greater Thar Desert in total is around
200,000 square KM, of which around 50,000 square KM falls in the
Pakistani territories, covering the districts of Tharparker, Mirpur
Khas, Umerkot, Khairpur, Sukkar and Ghotki in Sindh Province.
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Desert [5/6]
• The Cholistan Desert, locally known as Rohi, constitutes the south

eastern region of Punjab Province with an estimated area of 26,000
square KM, covering the districts of Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan
and Bahawalnagar.
• Towards the eastern flanks, Cholistan extends into the Indian states
of Rajhistan and Punjab, and joins the greater Thar Desert. While on
the north-western front it is bordered by the irrigated plains of Indus
and Sutlaj rivers. The total estimated population living in these
desert districts is around 7.5 million (1998 Census).
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Desert [6/6]
• The Kharan Desert is situated in the western regions of Baluchistan

Province of Pakistan. Overall, all of Baluchistan plateau is
characterized by extreme arid conditions and very barren terrain.
• However, Kharan desert can be separated from the rest of the arid
landscape due to its sandy nature and more even terrain. It mostly
falls in the Kharan District covering an estimated area of more than
20,000 Square KM with a population of only 0.23 Million.
20
Sea
• The coastal areas of Pakistan are in the province of Sindh and

Baluchistan.
• Longest Coastline Of Pakistan is Baluchistan coastline which is 771
KM.
• 250 KM coast line is in Sindh.
• These coastal areas are on the shore of Arabian sea and it connects
Pakistan with other countries of the world through a sea route.
• Gawadar and Karachi are two prominent ports on these coastal
areas of Pakistan.
21
Coastal Areas of Pakistan
22
Plain
• The plain region of Pakistan is largely covered by Punjab and Sindh,

where Punjab is highly fertile and suitable for agriculture.
23
Rivers [1/7]
• Chanab River
• Indus River
• Jhelum River
• Ravi River
• Kabul River
• Sutlej River
24
25
Rivers [2/7]
• The Chenab River, is one of the major rivers of Pakistan.

• It originates in the Himachal Pradesh-India, and flows through the
Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab,
Pakistan.
• Indus river is one of the longest rivers in the world. Originates from
the glacial Tibetan mountains, the Indus gushes into Pakistan with
all its might and fright from the northern areas. It then runs through
Jammu and Kashmir, enters the Gilgit-Baltistan (formerly Northern
Areas of Pakistan) region and flows through the entire length of the
country and merges with the Arabian Sea.
26
Rivers [3/7]
• Besides Indus, four other rivers also enter Pakistan from the
neighboring India, namely the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej and
all empty into the Indus to add to its might and power. The place
where all these four rivers meet the Indus is known as Panj Nadh.
• In KP its called Abaseen; Aba means father and seen means river.
Thus, Abaseen means the father of rivers.
• Indus basin water treaty (1960).
• Indus basin project (Construction of Mangla Dam-1967- on river
Jehlum and Terbela Dam-1976 on river Indus).
27
Mangla Dam
28
Tarbela Dam
29
Rivers [4/7]
• Kotri Barrage near Hyderabad (1955)

• The Taunsa Barrage near Dera Ghazi Khan (1958)
30
Kotri Barrage
31
Rivers [5/7]
• The Kalabagh dam is a proposed hydroelectric dam planned to be

built on the Indus River by the Government of Pakistan.
• The proposed site for the dam was situated at Kalabagh in Mianwali
District of the Punjab province, bordering the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• However, due to reservation of Sindh and KP, construction of the
dam could not be started yet.
32
Kalabagh Dam Site
33
Rivers [6/7]
• Jhelum River, originates from India, enters Pakistan Jhelum district.

• The Jhelum was crossed in 326 B.C. by Alexander the Great, who
defeated the Indian king Porous. The river's ancient name was
Hydaspes.
• This river is a tributary of the Indus River, and its hydrology is
basically handled by snowmelt in the spring and the Indian
monsoon.
• Strategically very important, any construction of dam by India can
effect, Pakistan.
34
Rivers [7/7]
• The Ravi, is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern

India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus
System in Punjab region.
• Sutlaj, originates from India, enters Punjab, tributary of Indus river.
• The hydrology of the Sutlej is controlled by spring and summer
snowmelt in the Himalayas and by the South Asian monsoon.
35
Sources
 Most of the text for these slides has been taken from
www.forum.urduworld.com , www.Pakistan.wsno.org ,
www.pakistantoursguide.pk and www.dawn.com
36

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Lecture 10

Dr. Sohail Ahmad

• The Karakoram Range covers the borders between Pakistan, India

• The Hindu Kush is an 800 km long mountain range that stretches

• Tangi Gharu and Khyber pass

• Pakistan's forth major mountain range is the Suleiman range.

• Thal desert is situated in Punjab, Pakistan.

• The Cholistan Desert, locally known as Rohi, constitutes the south

• The Kharan Desert is situated in the western regions of Baluchistan

• The coastal areas of Pakistan are in the province of Sindh and

• The plain region of Pakistan is largely covered by Punjab and Sindh,

• The Chenab River, is one of the major rivers of Pakistan.

• Kotri Barrage near Hyderabad (1955)

• The Kalabagh dam is a proposed hydroelectric dam planned to be

• Jhelum River, originates from India, enters Pakistan Jhelum district.

• The Ravi, is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern

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