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Land and rivers of Pakistan: Class 10 Pakistan Studies
The location and neighbours of Pakistan, its provinces, the physical divisions, the rivers of the Indus system, dams and the climate and seasons.
Key points
Location. Pakistan lies in South Asia, to the north of the Arabian Sea. It has Iran on the west, Afghanistan on the north-west, China on the north-east and India on the east. The coast along the Arabian Sea is about 1,046 kilometres long. The location is important because it links South Asia with Central Asia, the Middle East and China.
Administrative units:
- Four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
- Islamabad Capital Territory, where the federal capital is.
- Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which have their own administrative arrangements.
Pakistan has five main physical divisions:
- The northern mountains, formed by the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush. K2 (8,611 m), in the Karakoram, is the second highest peak in the world. Nanga Parbat is 8,126 m high, and Tirich Mir (7,708 m) is the highest peak of the Hindu Kush.
- The Potohar plateau and the Salt Range in the north of the Punjab.
- The Indus plain, a flat and fertile plain made by the Indus and its tributaries, where most of the farming and population are found.
- The Balochistan plateau in the west, which is dry and rocky, with passes such as the Bolan Pass.
- The deserts: the Thar in Sindh, the Cholistan in the Punjab and the Kharan in Balochistan.
The Khyber Pass connects Peshawar with Kabul in Afghanistan and has been an important trade and invasion route.
The Indus river system. The Indus rises in Tibet and flows through Gilgit-Baltistan, the Punjab and Sindh to the Arabian Sea. The Kabul river joins it from the west near Attock. The Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej are its eastern tributaries. They join one another in the Punjab, and the combined stream, called the Panjnad, meets the Indus at Mithankot. The Indus and its tributaries supply one of the largest irrigation systems in the world.
By the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, signed with the help of the World Bank, the waters of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej were allocated to India and the waters of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan.
Dams. The Tarbela Dam on the Indus and the Mangla Dam on the Jhelum store water for irrigation and generate hydroelectric power. They also help to control floods.
Climate. Most of Pakistan has a dry climate with four seasons:
- Winter (December to February) is cold in the north, with some rain from western disturbances.
- Summer (April to June) is very hot in the plains. In the Sindh and the southern Punjab the temperatures can be above 45 °C.
- The monsoon season (July to September) brings most of the rain to the north-east of the country.
- Autumn (October and November) is the time of falling temperatures and little rain.
Karachi has a moderate climate because it is next to the sea. The northern mountains are much cooler than the plains, because temperature falls with height.
Study tip: Draw a simple outline map in the exam if the question allows it. Mark the neighbours, the main rivers and the mountains. It often earns a mark by itself.
Definitions and flashcards
Say the meaning first, then open the card to check.
Plateau
A high, flat area of land.
Tributary
A river that flows into a larger river.
Doab
The land between two rivers.
Monsoon
A seasonal wind that brings heavy rain in the summer.
Western disturbance
A weather system from the west that brings winter rain to the north of Pakistan.
Irrigation
The supply of water to land by canals or other means for crops.
Pass
A gap between mountains that makes travel possible.
Coastline
The line where the land meets the sea.
Short questions with model answers
These are the kind of questions asked for 2, 3 and 5 marks. Try each one before opening the answer.
Name the neighbouring countries of Pakistan. (2 marks)
Iran on the west, Afghanistan on the north-west, China on the north-east and India on the east.
Why is the Khyber Pass important? (2 marks)
It connects Peshawar in Pakistan with Kabul in Afghanistan. It has been a route for trade and for armies for many centuries.
Name the five main physical divisions of Pakistan. (3 marks)
The northern mountains, the Potohar plateau and Salt Range, the Indus plain, the Balochistan plateau and the deserts.
Name the eastern tributaries of the Indus. (3 marks)
The Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej. They join one another and the combined stream, the Panjnad, meets the Indus at Mithankot. The Kabul river joins the Indus from the west.
Describe the importance of the Tarbela and Mangla dams. (3 marks)
They store water that is used for irrigation, generate electricity from falling water, and help to control floods. Tarbela is on the Indus and Mangla is on the Jhelum.
Describe the climate of Pakistan and the four seasons. (5 marks)
Most of Pakistan has a dry climate with large differences between summer and winter. Winter, from December to February, is cold in the north and mild in the south. Summer, from April to June, is very hot in the plains. The monsoon season, from July to September, brings most of the yearly rain to the north-east. Autumn comes in October and November, with falling temperatures and little rain. The northern mountains are cooler throughout the year because temperature falls with height, and the coast has a moderate climate.
Common mistakes
- Writing that K2 is in the Himalayas. It is in the Karakoram range.
- Mixing up the rivers: the Kabul river joins the Indus from the west, while the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are its eastern tributaries.
- Giving the monsoon months as the winter months.
- Naming only the provinces when asked for the administrative units. Add Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.