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1. Topography of Pakistan
Made by: Areeba Mushtaq
Class: 8-Service
Subject: Pak Studies
Submitted to: T. Asifa

2. The Northern Mountains of Pakistan
 Northern Pakistan is host to three of the world's biggest and most
spectacular mountain ranges, the Himalaya, the Karakoram and the
Hindu kush. The convergence of these magnificent ranges, at the
confluence of Indus and Gilgit rivers create a unique geographical
feature on earth. These magnificent mountain ranges are also home
to one of the densest collection of highest and most precipitous
mountain peaks in the world. These include five, out of the total
fourteen, above 8000 meter high peaks in the world, including the
second highest mountain peak -the K-2 (8611m). Nevertheless these
mountain ranges also boast more than 160 peaks above 7000 meters
and around 700 peaks above 6000 meters. As these mountains have
very low temperatures so they consist of numerous ice glaciers such
as Biafo (63 km) and Siachen (70 km). These mountains are divided
into three major ranges:

3. Himalayan Range
 The western most parts of the Himalayas fall in Pakistan. The sub-
Himalayas - the southern most ranges - do not rise to great heights
(600 - 1200 masl). The Lesser Himalayas lie to the north of the sub-
Himalayas and rise to 1,800 - 4,600 masl. The Great Himalayas are
located north of the Lesser Himalayas. They attain snowy heights (of
more than 4,600 m). 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). They are further divided into three mountain ranges:
 i. The Siwaliks (Foothills)
 ii. The Lesser or Outer Himalayas
 iii. Central Himalayas

4. Karakoram Range
 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 Godwin Austin (K-2) which
stands at 8,610m. Karakoram means black stone, it is believed to be
the north western extension of greater Himalayan mountain system,
covering the borders between Pakistan, India and China, in the
regions of Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan), Ladakh (India), and Xinjiang
region, (China). It is highly glaciated and has a very dense collection
of mountains. 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.

5. North-Western Mountain range
 The North Western Mountain ranges are located in further north western part of Pakistan.
They only include Hindu kush 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 such as Shandur, Shangla and
Lawarai Pass. The Hindu Kush is a range of mountains starting near Pamir in the north
of Gilgit extending in the southwest deep into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
On the west of this range is some land called Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan which
separates Gilgit from the Tajikistan. Many rivers including Chapursan River, Ishkuman
River, Ghizar River, Gilgit River and Shandur River originate in the valleys of Hindukush and
ultimately join the Indus River.

6. Western Mountain Ranges
 The Western mountains of Pakistan consist of many parallel
mountain ranges. Passes through these mountains have been widely
used over several decades i.e Khyber, Kurram, Tochi, Gomal and
Bolan. Due to the insufficient facilities, Nomadic culture is widely
followed. These mountains are devoid of vegetation. Farming and
irrigation cannot be performed on these mountain ranges. Literacy
rates are very low. No proper infrastructure has been provided to the
inhabitants of these mountains due to which there is very low
population density and no proper transportation assets are given.
These mountains are very rich in minerals but unfortunately none of
these valuable minerals have been
explored or exploited. These
mountain ranges include:

7. The Hindu Kush Range
 Between the Indus and Kabul rivers lies the Hindu Kush range. The
average height of this range is between 10,000 to 16,000 feet above
sea level. The highest peak of this area is known as Tirich Mir, having
an altitude of 25230 feet. Most of the mountain remains snow-
covered during winter months. The Kabul, Swat, Panjkora and Kunar
flow through months. The minor ranges of this mountain. These
entire rivers join the Indus from the western side. The famous Khyber
Pass lies south of the Kabul river. This pass is a historical trade route
between Peshawar and Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

8. Safed Koh Range
 South of the Kabul River up to Kurram pass lies the Safed
Koh range, which runs east and west. These mountains
have an average height of 12,000 feet and are often
covered with snow in winter. The rover Kurram lies to the
south of this range. The Kurram pass, which provides an
easy route in to Afghanistan, is situated near this range.
Kohat is an important military base situated at the end of
this pass.

9. Waziristan Hills
 Between the Kurram and the Gomal rivers lies the Waziristan hills
area. These hills have low altitude. The Tochi River joins the Kurram
River from the west in North Waziristan. These rivers after passing
through Tochi pass join the Indus. Similarly Gomal River coming from
Afghanistan joins Indus near Dera Ismail Khan. Bannu at Tochi pass
and Dera Ismail Khan at Gomal pass are the important towns and
military centers.

10. Sulaiman Range
 In the south of the Gomal river lies the Sulaiman mountain. It rims
southward for a distance of about 300 miles. Its highest peak is
known as Takhat-I-Sulaimani, whose height is 11,100 feet above sea
level. At the southern end of the Sulaiman mountain, the Bugti and
Mari hills run from the southeast to the northwest. The Bolan is the
main river of this region. The Bolan river passes through the Bolan
Pass, which provides communication facilities between Iran and
Pakistan . Quetta is and important base at the northern end of Bolan
pass.

11. Kirthar Range
 In the west of lower Indus plain lies a hilly area known as “The Kirther hills”. These
hills are not high enough, their average height being about 7000 feet. The Kirther
hills are drained by the Hab and Layari stream join the water of the Arabian sea
near Karachi.
Kirthar Mountain Range is located in Balochistan and Sindh provinces
of Pakistan. The Range extends southward for about 190 miles (300 km)
from the Mula River in east-central Balochistan to Cape Monze (Muari), near
Mubarak Village, Karachi on the Arabian Sea.

12. Balochistan Plateau
 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. 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’. 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.

13. 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 very unhygienic. 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. 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.

14. Per capita income is also very low. Crop farming and livestock raising are the main
pursuits of the people in this area. Coal mines and other measures are taken to
obtain the precious untapped resources like crude oil and natural gas widely
available in this region. PMDC and Saindak copper-gold project is also progressing.
Inhabitants of Balochistan plateau rely on agricultural production to earn their
income. Fruit and vegetable seed production brings a large opportunity to export
these quality goods to other Gulf states. Fishing activity is either done for domestic
(subsistence) use or for commercial purpose. Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara are the 3
major fishing ports. Balochistan plateau has remained undeveloped and untapped
for a large period of time but is now beginning to move forward.

15. Potwar Plateau
 Potwar Plateau, tableland in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Jhelum districts,
Punjab Province, Pakistan. Lying between the Indus and Jhelum rivers and
bounded on the north by the Hazara Hills and on the south by the Salt Range, its
varied landscape is constantly affected by erosion. Its elevation varies from 1,000 to
2,000 ft (300 to 600 m) in a system of residual hills and hillocks formed from glacial
debris as remnants of the Ice Age. The Kala Chitta Range thrusts eastward across
the plateau toward Rawalpindi, the valleys of the Haro and Soan rivers cross the
plateau from the eastern foothills to the Indus. Most of the hills and rivers are
bordered by dissected ravine belts. The streams, due to constant rejuvenation, are
deep set and of little use for irrigation. Agriculture is dependent largely on rainfall,
which averages 15 to 20 in. (380 to 510 mm) annually; rainfall is greatest in the
northwest and declines to arid conditions in the southwest. The chief crops are
wheat, barley, maize, and gram, onions, melons, and tobacco are grown in the more
fertile areas near the Indus. The Potwar Plateau is one of the most densely
populated areas of Pakistan. It contains the city of Rawalpindi and the new national
capital, Islamabad, built since 1961. The plateau is the location of Pakistan’s major
oil fields

16.  It is an open undulating land with extensive flat areas. Residual hills
are widely found over here. A large part of the plateau is dissected
and eroded by the action of running water. It has a badland
topography with a landscape consisting of ridges and troughs. It
forms gullies and large alluvial plains. Potwar Plateau is rich in non-
metallic minerals like limestone, dolomite and clay. It provides raw
material to chemical and ceramic industries. It is accessible by roads,
railways and air transport. Kallar Kahar and Khabeki add scenic
beauties to the plateau.

17. The Indus Plain
. The Indus, one of the great rivers of the world, rises in southwestern Tibet only
about 160 kilometers west of the source of the Sutlej River, which joins the Indus in
Punjab, and the Brahmaputra, which runs eastward before turning southwest and
flowing through Bangladesh. The catchment area of the Indus is estimated at
almost 1 million square kilometers, and all of Pakistan's major rivers—the Kabul,
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej—flow into it. The Indus River basin is a large,
fertile alluvial plain formed by silt from the Indus. This area has been inhabited by
agricultural civilizations for at least 5,000 years. The upper Indus Basin includes
Punjab; the lower Indus Basin begins at the Panjnad River (the confluence of the
eastern tributaries of the Indus) and extends south to the coast. In Punjab
(meaning the "land of five waters") are the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej
rivers. The Sutlej, however, is mostly on the Indian side of the border. Indus Plain
is an active and old flood plain. A wide range of Alluvial terraces is found on this
plain. Piedmont plains are also found on the foothills of Sulaiman, Kirthar, and
Himalayan mountains. The upper Indus plain is located in the northern part of the
Indus plain and the lower Indus plain is located in the southern part of the Indus
plain. River Indus and it’s tributaries flow through the Upper Indus plain.

18. Due to Indus plain agricultural and textile industry are at the top and making the
economy very strong. The Indus plain is one of the main contributors making the
discount strong as the Indus river flows in the Indus plain, and due to this a canal
system has be developed which has promoted agriculture and that is why many
crops are growing surrounded by that place here. The basmati rice grown by Indus
River at Indus basin is one of the best rice in the world. The Indus plain is the most
productive and cultivated region of Pakistan. An extensive system of canal
irrigation has been developed because of favourable relief for the construction of
canals. This plain has a high population density. Cultivated and man made goods
create a large foreign market. The Indus plain is very valuable and precious for
Pakistan.

19. Desert Areas
Deserts in Pakistan constitute a significant part of the country’s geography,
especially in the central and south-eastern regions. The major deserts of
Pakistan include Thar, Cholistan, Thall, Nara and Kharan deserts. Despite
harsh living conditions these desert areas are also inhabited by a significant
number of people and livestock. Generally prevalence of poverty is high and
resources are scarce among inhabitants of the desert. Development and
communication infrastructure in these areas is also very poor or even non-
existent. Despite of these devastating problems of the desert dwellers, they still
follow their customs and traditions and live a semi-nomadic life.

20. Thar Desert
 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 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. Thar desert is among the most
populated deserts of the world.

21. Cholistan Desert
 The Cholistan Desert, locally known as Rohi, constitutes the south
eastern region of Punjab Province with an estimated area of 26,000
square KM. 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. Beside the unique landscape and
unique nomadic culture, the major attractions of Cholistan include Lal
Suhanra National Park, Drawar Fort and Annual Desert Car Rally, the
biggest motor sport event in Pakistan.

22. Thall Desert
 Thal desert is the third largest desert in Pakistan, situated in the
central Punjab it covers an estimated area of 20,000 Square KM. It is
boarded by Indus and Jhelum Rivers on its western and eastern
flanks respectively and, in the north it meets the foothills of Salt
Range of Potohar Plateau. Thall desert is well established and people
are living more settled lifestyle, widely practicing irrigated and rain-fed
agriculture.

23. Nara Desert
 Nara Desert is located near the Cholistan desert
and the Thar desert. The southern border areas of
Khairpur district in Sindh is known as Nara desert.
These are also part of Rajhistan desert in India.
These are the desert parts of country.

24. Kharan Desert
 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,
ranging from 1000 meter in the north east to 500 meters in the west. It mostly falls
in the Kharan District covering an estimated area of more than 20,000 Square KM.
It is the most inhospitable deserts in Pakistan with extreme dry climatic conditions
supporting very little vegetation cover of mainly desert bushes. Due to its vastness
and isolation Kharan desert was selected for Pakistan's second nuclear test
executed on May 30, 1998.

25. Thank You!