Chapter 2

Land and people of Pakistan------- Geography,

Society, Natural resources,
Agriculture, Industry and education with reference to characteristics, trends and
Problems.

What is Geography
Geography is the study of Earths landscapes, peoples, places and
environments.
Today, geography is commonly divided into twomajor branches
1) physical geography.
2) cultural geography (also called human geography)
Cultural geographyis the branch of geography dealing with human culture and its
impact on the earth. Cultural geographers study languages, religion, foods, building
styles,urban areas, agriculture, transportation systems,politics, economies,
population and demographics and more.
Physical geographyis the branch of geography dealing with the natural features of the
earth, the home of humans. Physical geography looks at the water, air, animals, and
land of the planet earth (i.e. everything that is part of the four spheres - the
atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere.) Physical geography focuses more
on the landscapes at the surface of the earth and not what is inside our planet.

 Geography is unique in bridging the social

sciences (human geography) with the natural
sciences (physical geography).
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 is, in the broadest sense, an
education for life and for living.

Geography informs us about

The places and communities in which we live and work
Our natural environments and the pressures they face
The interconnectedness of the world and our
communities within it
How and why the world is changing, globally and locally
How our individual and societal
actions contribute to those changes
The choices that exist in managing our world for the
future
The importance of location in business and decisionmaking

Geography of Pakistan

What should be learn?

Pakistan location
Neighbors
Land
Climate
Environment
People
In short both physical and human
geography

What could be asked on this

topic?
Geopolitical importance of Pakistan
About climate of Pakistan etc

Map of pakistan

Location of Pakistan
Pakistan is located at the epicenter of
three important regions of Asia: Central
Asia to the North, Indian subcontinent to
the East and the Middle East to the West.
Pakistan is located in South Asia.
Pakistan is located between 23 degrees
North to 37 degrees North Latitude and 61
degrees East to 77 degrees East Longitude.
Geography of Pakistan is a mixture of
landscapes varying from plains to
mountains, desert to forest, plateaus to
the coastal areas.

Area (total): 803,940 sq km (approx.)

land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Land boundaries: total: 6,774 km (approx.)
Border countries: Afghanistan, China , India,
Iran
Coast line: 1,046 km (approx.)
Climate: mostly hot and dry
Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas
reserves, limited petroleum, coal, iron ore,
copper, salt, limestone

Provinces Punjab Largest province having largest population percentage.

Sindh Balochistan Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw Azad Kashmir
Mountains: K-2 , the second-highest peak of the world. The Himalaya
Range The Karakoram Range The Hindu Kush The Suleman Range
Natural Diversity
Rivers & Sea: The Indus The Sutlej The Ravi The Jehlum The
Chenab The Kabul Arabian Sea at extreme South
Deserts: The Kharan Desert Located in Kharan District The Thal
Located between Indus & Jehlum The Cholistan Spans an area of 16000
square kilometer. The Thar It is the seventh largest desert of the world
and third one in Asia
Lakes: Saif-al-Maluk Dadi patsar Ansu Jheel Attabad Lake Hanna
Lake Valleys: Chitral valley Kaghan valley Swat Kalam Valley
Skardu Natural Diversity

Natural Resources
Pakistan is rich in natural resources.
Coal: Huge reserves of coal are found in Sindh &
Balochistan.
Natutral Gas: There is a large number of Gas
fields in Balochistan esp. in SUI Balochistan
Salt mines: Khewra is the largest salt mine in
the world. Other two salt mines are warcha &
Kalabagh. Gold & precious metals: Gold
deposits are found in Reko dik Balochistan.
Furthermore, copper manganese & iron is also
found there.

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.
Two aspects of population: (A) Quantitative
(B) Qualitative
Quantitative population: the quantitative aspects
of population includes statistics of total population,
density of population, birth and death rates and
migration.
Qualitative population: The qualitative aspects
refer to the ability and capability of the people

Total Population:170 million (approx.)

Nationality: Pakistani

Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, Baloch, Muhajir etc

Religions: Muslim 97%(Sunni 77%, Shis 20%), Christian, Hindu

and others 3%

Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki 10 %; Pashtu 8%,

Urdu (National) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2% Brahui 1%, English
(official), Burushaski and others 8%

Literacy rate: age 15 and over can read and write

Total literate population: 48.7% (approx.)

Male: 61.7% and Female: 35.2% , (approx.)

Punjab is the most populous province

with the population density of 333.5
persons per sq. Km followed by KPK
253.6 persons per sq. Km and
Sindh 212.8 person per sq. Km.
Baluchistan has the least population
density where only 18.8 persons live in
a sq. Km.

Most Urbanized Areas

Islamabad
Sindh
Punjab
Baluchistan
KPK
Lahore and Karachi are the thickly
populated areas of Pakistan

Climate and Weather of

Pakistan
Punjab and Sindh are very hot in summer and
winters are pleasant.
Climate divisions of Pakistan are:
1.Highland: Northern areas (cold winters, mild
summers and rainfall in all seasons)
2.Lowland: Punjab (cool winters, hot summers,
monsoon rainfall)
. Coastal: Makran and Surrounding areas (mild
winters and warm summers.
. Arid: Desert areas(Mild winter, hot summers and
extreme aridity)

Current Environmental Issues:

1. Water pollution from raw sewage,
industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff
2. Limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not
have access to clean drinking water
3. Deforestation
4. Soil erosion
5. Desertification
6. Global warming and climate change

Natural Hazards:
1. Frequent Earthquakes
2. Occasionally severe especially in
north and west
3. Flooding along the Indus after heavy
rains (July to August)

Government
Country name: Islamic Republic of
Pakistan
Government type: Federal Republic
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.

 Pillars of the Government

System
Legislation, Administration, Judiciary
Defense, Media
Political Pressure groups:
military, ulema, landowners,
industrialists and small merchants
also influential

 Export commodities: Garments,

bed linen, cotton cloth and yarn, rice,
leather goods, sports goods,
chemicals, carpets and rugs
Imports commodities: Petroleum,
petroleum products, machinery,
plastics, transportation equipment,
edible oils, paper and paperboard,
iron and steel, tea.

Currency code: PKR

Internet country code: .pk
T.V stations: 27 (approx.)
International Air ports: 08
Airports: 50 (approx.)
Sea ports: 05 (Baluchistan),03 (Sind)
Dry ports: 11
Railway Stations: 34

Agriculture in Pakistan
About 57% of Pakistan's total land
area is under cultivation and is
watered by one of the largest
irrigation systems in the world.
The most important crops are cotton,
wheat, rice, sugarcane, corn, pulses,
oil seeds, barley, fruits and
vegetables.

Fishing in Pakistan
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

About only 5.2% 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

Mining in Pakistan
The Salt Range in the Potwar Plateau
has large deposits of rock salt.
Pakistan has extensive mineral
resources, including fairly sizable
reserves of gypsum, limestone,
chromites, iron ore, rock salt, silver,
gold, precious stones, gems,
marbles, tiles, copper, sulfur, fire
clay, silica sand.