Location, relief, climate and natural hazards of Pakistan

Last time

Before we start: last time, in Pakistan's relations with the USA, the UK, the USSR, Afghanistan and China, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.

The land of Pakistan

Pakistan stretches from the Arabian Sea to some of the highest mountains on Earth. Its relief and climate shape where people live, what they farm, and the hazards they face. This lesson covers location, the main landforms, the climate, and natural hazards.

Location

Pakistan lies in South Asia. China is to the north-east, India to the east, Afghanistan to the north-west and west, and Iran to the south-west. The Arabian Sea forms its southern coast. Its position links South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East, which matters for trade and routes.

The northern mountains

The Karakoram, the Himalaya and the Hindu Kush meet in the north. K2, in the Karakoram, is the second highest mountain in the world, 8,611 metres. They have glaciers, which feed the rivers, deep valleys and steep slopes. Steep slopes, cold and remoteness make farming, transport and mining difficult.

The western mountains and plateaus

The western mountains include the Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges, running north to south along the west. The Balochistan Plateau is dry and rugged. The Potwar Plateau, in northern Punjab, is cut by gullies and has oil fields. These areas have few people, as water is scarce.

The Indus Plain and deserts

The Indus Plain, built from river sediment, is flat and fertile. Most people and most farming are here. It has the Upper Indus Plain in the Punjab, with five rivers, and the Lower Indus Plain in Sindh. Deserts include the Thar and Cholistan in the south-east, the Thal in Punjab, and the Kharan in Balochistan.

The climate

Most of Pakistan has a hot, dry climate, with very hot summers on the plains, and cold winters in the north and on the plateaus. Rainfall is low in most places, and decreases from north-east to south-west. The coast is milder, as the sea keeps temperatures more even.

Where the rain comes from

The summer monsoon, from July to September, brings moist winds from the Indian Ocean and most of the year's rain to the north-east. In winter, western depressions from the Mediterranean bring rain and snow to the north and west. Relief rain falls where moist winds are forced up mountains, so the foothills are wettest.

Floods

Floods happen when heavy monsoon rain and melting snow fill the rivers. Pakistan suffered huge floods in 2010 and 2022. They destroy crops, homes, roads and bridges, kill livestock, and spread disease. Responses: dams to store water, embankments, early warning systems, and planning to keep homes off flood plains.

Drought, cyclones and rain storms

Drought, a long period with too little rain, hits the Thar and Balochistan, killing crops and livestock and forcing people to move. Cyclones from the Arabian Sea can strike the coast with strong winds and storm surges. Heavy rain storms can flatten crops, cause flash floods and landslides, and damage roads and power lines.

How rainfall affects people

Good rain fills reservoirs and helps crops, but heavy rain can wash away roads and cut communications. Industry can be hit by power cuts and damaged supplies. When a question says develop your answer, add a second step: the effect, then a further consequence.

Mistakes that lose marks

Mistake one: placing a mountain range in the wrong region, such as the Kirthar in the north. Mistake two: saying all rain comes from the monsoon. Western depressions bring winter rain. Mistake three: describing a hazard without its effects and responses. The fix: name, place, effect, response.

The full-marks tip

The full-marks tip: for a figure question, use the figure's own names and directions, such as north-east. For hazards, give the cause, the effects on people, and a way to reduce them.

On one card

So, on one card: land and climate. Keep it for revision.