The document summarizes the Salt Range and Potwar Plateau regions of Pakistan. The Salt Range is a series of low hills and mountains between the Indus and Jhelum rivers containing large salt deposits like at Khewra salt mines. The Potwar Plateau lies between the rivers and contains historic sites like Taxila and Rohtas Fort. The climate is arid and agriculture is limited without irrigation, but the regions have mineral resources and oil/gas fields that are economically important.

1. Salt Range
and
Potwar Plateau

2. Table of Contents
• Introduction to salt range and Potowar plateau.
•Salt range
• Khewra salt mines
•Potwar plateau
• Historic importance
• Climate and vegetation
•Economic activities

3. Introduction
(Salt Range and Potwar Plateau)
• Salt Range is the series of hills
and low mountains between the
valleys of the Indus and Jhelum
rivers, located in the northern
Punjab.
• Potwar Plateau is situated in
Rawalpindi, Attock, and Jhelum
districts. It lies between the Indus
and Jhelum rivers and is bounded
on the north by the Hazara Hills
and on the south by the Salt Range.
• The salt range in the south separate
Potwar from the Punjab plain.

4. Salt Range
•The range covers Jhelum, Chakwal, kalabagh and Mianwali
districts. It is mainly known because of the famous salt mines
at Khewra, a small town about 160 km from Islamabad.
•It ranges up to more than 1,600 feet (490 m) in thickness. The
range is approximately 186 miles (300 km) long from east to
west and its width in the central and eastern parts is from 5 to
19 miles.
•Its average height is 2,200 feet. Its highest altitude point is at
Sakesar mountain which is 4,992 feet (1,527m). In addition to
the salt deposits, the Salt Range contains coal, gypsum,
limestone and other minerals.

5. • On the southern slope of the Salt Range are located the largest deposits
of rock salts at Khewra, Warchha, and Kalabagh. Coal deposits are
found at Dandot, Pidh, and Makarwal Kheji. Traces of petroleum are
associated with limestone and sandstone deposits in the western part of
the Salt Range.
• Large deposits of high-grade gypsum are found near Jilalapur. Kallar
kahar and Khabeki lakes add scenic beauty.

6. Kallar kahar lake

7. Khabeki Lake

8. Khewra Salt Mines
• Economically salt and coal mines are the most
important. It is Pakistan’s largest and world’s
2nd largest salt mines.
• The mine is part of salt range that originated
800 million years ago, by the evaporation of
shallow sea followed by geological movement.
• Salt reserves were discovered by the horses of
Alexander’s army, when they were found
licking the stones.
• Trading of the salt started during the Mughal
era. British took over the territory and
developed the mine and introduced the better
excavation of salt.
• The underground mine covers an area of 110
sq.km.

9. A beautiful mosque built from
rock salt in khewra mines.

10. Model of Minar-e-Pakistan in
khewra.

11. The Potwar Plateau
• It is an open, undulating land with an extensive flat areas. It borders the
western parts of Azad Kashmir and the southern parts of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.
• The land of Potwar was attributed as golden sparrow by EIC.
• The plateau includes the current 4 districts of Jhelum, Chakwal, Rawalpindi
and Attock. The height of the Potwar plateau mainly varies from 300 to 600
metres above sea level. Residual hills such as Kala Chitta and Khairi Murat
rise to just over 1000 metres.
• The Soan river forms channels and alluvial plains, mainly used for
agriculture.
• The Potwar plateau is rich in minerals like gypsum, limestone, coal, oil and
rock salt.

12. Historic importance
• Indus valley Civilization has its roots in this region between 23rd and 18th century
BC.
• Taxila is an ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the plateau. It was
Hindu and Buddhist site of learning, connecting the Khunjerab pass to the Silk
Road.
• Rohtas Fort located in the Potwar is another UNESCO World Heritage site, built
by Sher Shah Suri in 1541.
• Rawat Fort is located 17 km east of Rawalpindi, on the Grand Trunk Road
leading to Lahore.
• The remains of Mankiala Stupa, the ancient Buddhist site lie about 32 km south
east of Rawalpindi in Mankiala village.
• Pharwala Fort is about 40 km from Rawalpindi beyond Lehtrar road. It was built
in 10th century on the ruins of Hindu Shahi Fort.
• Katas Raj temples are also located in this region about 25 km from Chakwal.

13. Taxila Rawat Fort Pharwala fort
Rohtas Fort
Mankiala Stupa Katas Raj Temples

14. Climate and Vegetation
• The climate of the region is
continental and arid, changing from
tropic to subtropic.
• During summer, monsoon brings
largest amount of precipitation
(more than 50% annually).
• Soil of the salt range is saline due to
which agriculture is very limited.
The little vegetation that exists is
due to irrigation using the water of
lakes and springs.
• A small mass of forest has been
conserved in the south-east of the
range.

15. Economic Activities
• Potwar Plateau and salt range are rich in non-metallic minerals which
provide raw materials to the cement, ceramics and chemical industries.
• A number of oil and gas fields are also located in this region. Attock Oil
Refinery has been set up to refine oil from the oil fields of Potwar
Plateau.
• Farming in this region depends on rainfall. The rugged landscape does not
allow canal irrigation. Mostly wheat, barley, maize and gram are
cultivated here.
• Some areas are developed(like Islamabad, Jhelum, Chakwal) which
encourage high population density and are accessible by road, rail and air
transport.

16. Attock Oil Refinery