Topography of Pakistan

By Sir Ashar
Class 9th
 The Natural topography
Topography: the study and description of the surface features of land, which
includes both natural and artificial features.
Six Major Natural Topography of
Pakistan

The northern Mountains and

North Western Mountains Of
Pakistan
 The northern mountains compromise three main
mountain ranges:

The Karakoram The Himalaya

The Hindu Kush
The Karakoram Range (black gravel)

The Karakoram is bounded on the northeast by the edge of the

Tibetan Plateau, and on the north by the Wakhan Corridor and the
Pamir Mountains. The southern boundary of the Karakoram is formed
by the Gilgit, Indus, and Shyok Rivers,

•Average altitude (height) 6000 m

•Extended 400 Km from Hunza to the Shyok River.
•Wester end lies in Pakistan.
•K-2 located here (2nd highest peak in the world) 8610 m.
•Precipitation mainly in the form of snow because of high
altitude.
• The most heavily glaciated part of the world outside of the
polar regions. The Siachen Glacier at 78km long and
Biafo Glacier at 63 km.
•Baltoro 62 kmand batura 58km (Skardu Dist, Hunza Valley)
•Glacier causes erosion as it moves down a valley.
Most of the highest of Karakoram peaks are in northern Pakistan;
principally Chitral and the Northern Areas.

Life : nomadic and semi nomadic

Agriculture is practiced in those valleys where
water is plentiful.
Cattle breeding is common.
Crops:
•Apple
•Barley
•Millet
•Attracted scientist and mountaineers because of its
geography and attractive beauty.
•Karakoram Highway links Pakistan and China.
THE Himalaya range
Himalaya means “home of snow” because the tallest
peaks of the Himalayas are always capped with snow.
Location:
•It is Asia
•Himalayan Mountain stretches from India, Nepal,
Bhutan, China, Afghanistan & Pakistan.
•North east are the highest mountains of the world
known as Himalayas.
•Length of Himalaya 2500 Km from east to west.
•North west border by the mountain Hindu Kush and
north by the Karakoram.
•Average altitude 4000m.
They are compromises of three ranges :
1. Siwaliks Hills located near Attock
Also called Churia or Margalla Hills
Average altitude (600-1200 metres)

2. The Lesser or Lower Himalayas:

average altitude 1800-4500 m

In Pakistan these mountains lie just north of

Rawalpindi district covering the districts of Batagram,
Mansehra and Abbottabad as well as
Pakistan Administered Kashmir.

These mountains are also home to Pakistan's important

hill stations like Murree, Ghora Gali and Nathia Gali.
3. The Central Himalaya
•Located between Pir Panjal Range & the Karakoram
Range.
•Mostly lies in Kashmir.
•Average altitude 6000m
•Mostly peaks are covered with snow throughout the
year.
•Nanga Parbat lies in Kashmir and has a height of
about 8126m.
 Hindu Kush

Lies between the borders of Afghanistan and China meet on

Pakistan’s north and north-west border.
The highest point in Hindu kush mountain region is the Tirich
Mir (7690m).
Mostly covered with snow
The average altitude of the Hindu Kush is 4,500 meters
Rivers that flow from the mountain system include the
Helmand River, the Hari River and the Kabul River, watersheds
for the Sistan Basin.
•Helmand River: longest river in Afghanistan.
•Hari River is a river flowing 1100 kilometers from the
mountains of central Afghanistan to Turkmenistan.
•Kabul River: It is the main river in the eastern part of
Afghanistan. It flows 700 km before joining the
Indus River near Attock.

Historical importance of passes

Many invaders cross the hindu kush
•Alexander the Great
•Mahmud of Ghazni
•The Ghauris
•Timurlane
•Babar
•The Shandur Pass: Gilgit & Chitral

•The Shangla Pass: Swat valley and the upper parts of the Indus
valley

•The Lawari Pass: Chitral to the Swat valley and the vale of
Peshawar

Vegetation are found in extreme south east and in the hills of

Swat
Kohistan
Pajokara valley
Dir District
Rice is cultivated in the areas of Swat, Chitral & Dir.
Important northern valleys:
•Swat (Hindu Kush)
•Chitral
•Gilgit (Karakoram)
•Hunza
•Baltistan
•Murree & Gallies (Himalayas)
•Kaghan

Glaciers:
Is a tongue shaped mass of ice moving slowly down a
valley.
Important Glaciers:
Baltoro: 58 km long, Karakorum range
Batura: 58km long, hunza Valley
Siachen 78 km long, Karakorum range
Importance Of Northern Mountains

Economic importance:
A permanent reservoir of water which irrigate vast Indus plain.
Karakorum highway has been connected to carry out trade.
A source of valuable minerals, timbers and fruits. Provide raw material to several
industries e.g. furniture, paper, chipboard and chemical industries.
Scientific beauty promotes tourist resorts which are a source of income to local people
during summer.

Physical Importance:
High mountain peaks protect Pakistan from cold winds from Central Asia. Due to this the
climate remains tolerable throughout the year. It also protects the country from being
invaded.
People and economy :
The population, settlements and economic activities greatly influenced by the variation
in topography.
•Most of the population is dependent on agriculture and cattle breeding.

Products:
Wheat, rice, barley, maize, apricot, walnut & mulberry.

Small scale industries:

Carpets, embroidered material, rugs and other handicrafts items.
Major Industries:
Food grains processing, making vegetable oil, refining of sugar and fruit processing
industry.
Disadvantages:
•Hydro-electric potential but requires huge investment.
•Modern industries but mineral resources have not been explored.
•Low literacy rate.
•Shortage of safe drinking water and poor health.
•Food production is not equal to the required amount due to which they face
malnutrition.
•Towns of northern areas like Mingora, Murree, Kaghan & Gilgit have regional trade by
road with cities like Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar & Abbotabad. However, due to
difficult terrain and limited transport facilities it is difficult to carry out regional trade on
a large scale.
•Tourism is also popular in the northern mountains but it has had an adverse impact on
regions where tourist numbers exceed the facilities available.
•Low economic growth rate combined with high rate of population due to which prevents
low level of per capita income (average income per person).
•Infrastructure is not good.
•Most of the population is dependent on agriculture and cattle breeding.
Environmental Issues:
Deforestation and overgrazing have led to soil erosion.
Deforestation increased due to increase in demand of firewood and extensive tree
trimming in order to feed live stock.
The construction in the border regions have increased the rate of deforestation.
Rapid population growth rate has accelerated the pollution. It also polluted the water
which causes many diseases like typhoid, cholera and dysentery .

Drainage Features Of The Northern Mountains:

Originating in the Tibetan plateau in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in China,
the National River runs a course through the Ladakh district of
Jammu and Kashmir and then enters Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan), flowing
through the North in a southerly direction along the entire length of the country,
to merge into the Arabian Sea near Pakistan's port city of Karachi in Sindh. The
total length of the river is 3,180 kilometers (1,976 miles). The river has a total
drainage area exceeding 1,165,000 square kilometers (450,000 square miles).
Gorge: when the river flows down hill the less resistant rocks are eroded
leaving behind verical hard rocks.

Water falls: a step fall of river water from a resistant rock.

Rapid: series of very short and fast waterfalls.

Streams & Springs: when the snow melts from mountain tops water
flows down in form of stream springs.
 The Western Mountains
It consists of many parallel ranges:
•Safed Koh: 4712 m
•Sulaiman Range: 3383 m
• Waziristan Hills: 3513 m
•Kirthar Range: 2174 m

Safed Koh Ranges:

•Because their peaks are often covered with snow.
•Located in an East West direction South of the Kabul River.
•Average height 12000 ft.
•In its south Khurram River flows and Khurram pass provides a route to Afghanistan.
Valleys:
•On the other end of Khurram pass Kohat valley is located . Wheat, rice and sugar-
cane are cultivated with the help of irrigation.
•Vale of Peshawar drained by the rover Kabul and Swat. It is a fertile, alluvial plain
irrigated by canals originating from Warsak dam on the river Kabul.
Waziristan Hills:
•Located between Khurram And Gomal River.
•Highly mineralized.
•These hills form a rampart between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Valleys:
•Bannu Valley is located to the east.
•Banu near the Tochi pass & Dera Ismail Khan near the Gomal Pass are important towns
and military centres.
•Low lying basin bordered by hills & mountains and drained by streams with braided
channel.
•Deposit of clay & boulders brought down by streams.
•Khurram river is the main source of irrigation.
Sulaiman Ranges:
•West of River Indus.
•Average height 1500m.
•Highest peak Takht-i-Sulaiman, at 3383m.
•Lime stone and sand stone are the main minerals.
•Bolan is the main river of this region. Bolan pass provides communication facilities
between Iran and Pakistan.
•Quetta is an important military base at the northern end of Bolan pass.

The Kirthar Hills:

•West of River Indus.
•Average height 2100m.
•These hills are drained by the Hab and Lyari Streams which joins Arabian Sea.
Passes Of Western Mountains

Kurram Tochi Gomal Bolan

Afghanistan to Connects the

A route to Ghazni to
Derajats Khi Sibi plain
Afghanistan Bannu
to Quetta

Khyber

Wide enough to
Leads to the fertile
facilitate the
vale Peshawar
passage of troopa
Economic Activities & Lifestyle In The
Western Mountains
•Are mostly bare of vegetation.
•Climate and relief do not support vegetation.
•Canal irrigation is not possible because of mountainous terrain and rugged
landscape.
•Transportation facilities are not possible except Peshawar & Kohat, the rest area is
not connected by air or railway network.
•Most areas are not accessible through main roads.
•Infrastructure is not good.
•Basic necessities require huge investment.
•Mining facilities, education and industries haven't been established yet.
•Nomadic lifestyle is common.
•Sheep and goat rearing is the main occupation.
•Population density is lower than 100 persons/km²
•Abundant mineral resources but due difficulty of extracting them, they have not
been explored.
 The Baluchistan Plateau
Located in south-west .
Area covered 347196 km ² of Pakistan.
Altitude ranging from 600- 3010 meters.
The hills ranges on the south are lower than the North.

Basins Of Northern Baluchistan:

Number of irregular depressions such as Zhob & Loralai basins which are
situated between Toba Kakar ranges and Sulaiman range.
To the South-West of Loralai basin is the Quetta valley surrounded by
mountain ranges.
Seldom rain.
The river channel bought materials which form alluvial soil.
Basins Of Western Baluchistan:
Chagai Hills, Ras Koh, Siahan & Central Makran.
Totally devoid of vegetation. Very little rain even in winter.
Theses basins are known as inland drainage basins (no outlet to the sea due to which
temporary lakes are formed)
The temporary lakes are called Hamuns (local language). They are salt lakes water is
evaporated the salty crush is left behind called salt pan.
Largest temporary lake is called Hamun-i-Mashkel, located in the western part of
Kharan Desert.

Year Literacy Rate

1972 10.1%
1981 10.3%
1998 26.6%
2008 48.8%
 Mountain Ranges:
 The plateau is covered with a number of barren mountain ranges with an altitude of 600 to
3010 m.
 Chagai hills: Highly mineralized, deposit of gold, copper & sulphur.
 Ras Koh
 Hala Range
 Makran Coast Range
 Centreal Brahui Range
 Toba Kakar Range
 Siahan Range
The Coastal Areas:
It is divided into eastern and western parts.
Eastern compromises the Lasbela plain.
Western part is known as Makran Coast.
Important Rivers are:
Hab, Porali, Hingol and Dasht which flow into Arabian
Sea.
Baluchistan's Economic Potential.
 Largest province according to area, and with vast untapped resources, remained
neglected.
 Lowest population density.
 In South-West of Baluchistan the population density is 10 people/km²

Water Resources:
 No major source of water, the province faces a scarcity of both drinking and irrigation
water.
 The supply of water depends on Karez systen, flood diversion channels and tubewells.

Transport & Communication:

Absence of link road with the main road.
Railway lines covers a limited area.
No outlet to the sea.
No regular coastal service between Karachi and Makran coast.
Development of Gwadar is likely to solve this problem.
Economic Structure:
Crop farming and livestock raising are the main
pursuits of the people.
67% of the people engaged in agriculture.
Annual per capita income was Rs.455
N.W.F.P. Rs. 360
Sindh Rs. 854
Punjab Rs.614
Economic Wealth
Mineral Resources:
Pakistan Mineral Development corporation(PMDC) is
operating three coal mines.
Resource Development corporation.
Deposits of antimony & gold in Punjgore & Kharan
district.
Deposits of crude oil and natural gas.
46% of the gas supply in the country is obtained from Sui.
Sui is at the edge of lower Indus Plain.
Agriculture:
Fruit Production:
Dates, grapes, apples, almonds, apricots, plums, peaches, melons & pomegranates.
75% of the fruit is produced of the total production.
Good opportunity for the export of fruit to the gulf stream due to their good quality.

Vegetable Seed industry:

Cold winter offer the best scope for growing vegetables seeds.
Livestock and their products:
Nomadic livestock farming is common. Most important livestock products are wool, goat
hair and skins.
They are also exported abroad under government grading scheme.
Fishing:
It is don’t for domestic and for commercial purpose.
The main fishing ports are
Gwadar:
Total annual catch is 10000 tonnes, including 200 tonnes of shrims.
Pasni:
2500 Tonnes
Ormara:
700 tonnes

It is exported to Sri Lanka.

The Potwar Plateau & The Salt
Range:
Located between River Indus & River Jhelum, on the north by the Kala Chitta
Range and the Margalla Hills, and on the south by the Salt Range.
It is an open undulated land with extensive flat areas.
Height 300 to 600 meters from sea level.
Height of Kala Chitta and Khairi Murat tise to just above 1000m.
Large part of land has been dissected and eroded by the action of running water.
This dissected land termed as badland and is a land scape of ridges, ravines and
troughs.
Soan River is main river. It forms gullies and large alluvial plains, mainly used for
agriculture.
Rich in minerals like rock salt, gypsum, lime stone, coal, marble, clays, dolomite &
soapstone and oil.
The mountains peak provides protection against cold winds from Central Asia.
The Salt Range:
It is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its
extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to The
Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province.
The mountain range covers most of the areas of the Jhelum, Chakwwal, Kalabagh
and Mianwali district.
It consists of parallel ranges.
The Salt Range contains the great mines of Mayo, Khewra, Warcha and Kalabagh,
which yield vast supplies of salt. Coal of a medium quality is also found.
Average height 750 to 900m.
Sakesar Peak is the highest point in the Salt Range at a height of 1527m.
Rich in minerals like rock salt, gypsum and limestone.
Economic Activity and Life Style:
Rich in non-metallic minerals, which provide raw material to
the cement, ceramics and chemical industries.
Attock Oil Refinery is set up to refine the oil of Potowar
Plateau.
Scientific attract tourist resorts which are a source of income
to the local people during summer
Farming depends on rain fall. Canal irrigation is not possible
due to its rugged landscape.
Wheat, maize, barley & gram are cultivated.
Accessible by road, railway and air transport.
Average rainfall 15 to 20 in. (380 to 510 mm) annually.
The Indus plain:
 Located in Punjab and Central part of Sindh.
 North part is known as upper Indus plain. (from Attock to Mithankot)
 The lower Indus Plain (from Mithankot to Thatta)
 The Delatic Plain (from Thatta to Coastal strip of Arabian Sea)

The Upper Indus Plain:

 River in Punjab province, Pakistan, formed just below Uch by successive
junctions of the Sutlej, Beās, Rāvi, Jhelum, and Chenāb rivers. The Panjnad
(literally “Five Rivers”)
 Beas Sutlej Chenab at Panjnad (72km) River Indus at Mithankot
 Its height is 180 to 300 m.
 The River Punjab can be divided into 4 doabs. The land which lies between
two rivers.
Four Main Doabs:
Bari Doab: River Beas & River Ravi
Rachna Doab: River Ravi & River Chenab
Chaj Doab: River Chenab & River Jhelum
Sindh Sagar Doab: River Jhelum & River Indus
Doabs are favored for a number of activities such as
farming, construction, transport and for business
activities.
Features of Indus Delta:
Active flood plains
Old flood plains
Alluvial terraces
Piedmont plains
Tidal Delta
Rolling sand plains
Active Flood Plain:
The narrow strip of both land on both sides of the river is called active
flood plains.
It is known as bet or khaddar land.
It is undated almost every year.
It is flooded almost every year in rainy season.(July –September.
At the end of rainy season the land is marked with dry and braided
channel, rich in alluvium.
The are good farming areas of Pakistan because it is covered with alluvium
soil.
They are found in all the rivers except Southern half of River Ravi due to
low volume of water.
Maximum width 24-40km along River Indus and 3-5km along River Ravi.
Meanders, ox-bow lakes and levees are its important features.
Old Flood Plain/ Cover Flood Plain:
Cover areas between alluvial terraces and active flood
plain.
Only flooded when there is heavy rainfall.
The are covered with old alluvial.
Meanders, ox-bow lakes and levees are its main
features.
Bar Upland / Alluvial Terraces:
Alluvial Terraces are areas of higher ground between
rivers formed by erosion of old alluvial 5-15m.
It surface is flat and has a South West slope.
Also called scalloped interfluves.
Ideal for agriculture with the help of irrigation
facilities.
Sandal bar on Rachna Doab.
Gangi Bar & Nili Bar on Bari Doab.
Kirana Bar on Chaj Doab.
Piedmont Plains:
Are located on the foothills of the Sulaiman, Kirthar
and Himalayan Mountains.
The Sulaiman piedmont plains also known as Derajat.
They are mainly agricultural.
Most important features are the alluvial fans or cones
that develop eastwards from Sulaiman & Kirthar
ranges.
Rivers coming from these ranges have low water flow.
Tidal Delta:
Located to the South of Thatta.
It covers an area of 36-45km
Economic Activities:
80% of the total area of the cultivated land of Pakistan is located in
the Indus plain.
Crops are grown on the whole year.
Summer crops: rice, sugar cane and cotton
Winter crops: wheat
Infrastructure facilities are easier to provide.
Good transportation network.
Electricity is supplied to all urban areas like Lahore, Faisalabad,
Gujranwala, Sukkur & Hyderabad.
Cotton textile, sugar mills & chemical industries consumes local raw
material.
Population density 50-400 persons/km²