ICom Notes Part 2 Commercial Geography Plains & Desert Regions of Pakistan

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Plain of Pakistan

The Upper Indus Plain

The Northern part of Indus Plain is known as Punjab (West and East) and the greater portion of which lies in Pakistan .The level plain is largely made of fertile alluvium deposited by the river Indus and its rubutaries. Orly near Sargodha, Chiniot and Sangla, some old dry hills rise above the plain known as the Kirana hills.

The land which lies between two rivers is known as “doab” .The Punjab plain is,therefore,divided into several doabs e.g.The Bari doab (land between Sutlej and Ravi),the Rechna doab (land between the Ravi and the Chenab),the Chaj doab (land between the Chenab and the Jhelum) and the Sindh Sagar doab (land between the Kirana Bar (in the middle of the Chaj doab).

The land in the center of the doab rises to an elevated land called “bar” e.g,the Nili Bar (between the Sutlej and the Beas),the Ganji Bar (the old course of the beas and the Ravi),the Sandal Bar (in the middle of the Rechna Doab) and the Kirana Bar (in the middle of the Chaj Doab).

The Sub Mountain plain area ,west of the Indus known as “Derajat” is divided into the districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Dera Ismail Khan.

The annually flooded riverine area is called “Bet” and agriculturally is the most important area.

The Lower Indus Plain

Below Mithonkot in Sindh, the Indus carries not only its own water but also that of its five big tributaries..The river flows very slowly and the silt carried by it is largely deposit on its bed, there fore severe floods are experienced, but the soil is very fertile.

The area is marked by ox-bow lakes locally called “Dhoros” and small salt lakes called “Dhands”.

West of the Indus lies the high Kirtan prdment plain which slopes gently to the river.

Economic Importance

1.Both upper and lower Indus plain are the most important agricultural areas in Pakistan .Wheat ,rice ,cotton, sugar cane, maize, barley, millets, grains, oil seeds, tobacco and fruits are the main crops.

2.The plain areas produce the bulk of food grains, agricultural raw ,material ,vast market, food products and manufactured goods. Hence most of the Pakistan’s greatest industries are located in the plains.

3.These plains with gentle slope ,levelled topography are suitable for the construction of canals. Our Pakistan has got world’s one of the most excellent system of irrigation.

4.The ease of mobility on plains also facilitates the exchange of foods, hence Pakistan’s roads and railways are found mobile in the plain areas.

5.The economic activities of man are the greatest in the plains also the developed, civilized, cultured areas, greatest cities concentration of population in Pakistan are found in there areas.

6. Actually the plain areas are the gift of the Indus and its tributaries .Also these plains are the cradles of the old civilization e.g. Mohen-jo-daro in Sindh and Harrappa in Punjab.

The Desert Regions

There are three different desert areas located in Punjab and Sindh e.g.:

1.Thal Desert:

More than three fourth of the Sindh Sagar Doab is still a desert or semi-desert (in between Chenab-Jhelum and Indus river).

2.The area in South of Bahawalpur is an arid waste of shifting sand and is known as “Cholistan”.

3.In the eastern parts of the Khairpur and Tharparkar districts, the desert areas are known as “Pat” and “Thar” respectively.

Economic Importance

Annual rainfall is less than 5%. Population is very sparse Agriculture is carried on with the help of durigation. Also rearing of animals is carried on to some extent.

The Indus Delta

The Indus Delta is marked by a number of tributaries of the Indus River, from Thatta to Arabian Sea. Most of the part is covered with mangrove swamps. The eastern part is more swampy than the western. Most of the area is barren. Agriculture is carried out in small patches.

Economic Importance

The major part of the delta is burren. Agriculture is practiced in small patches. The irrigational facilities provided by the Kotri Barrage have made it possible to reclaim a vast area of the delta.

Coastal Areas

Pakistan has about 600 miles of coastline ,about 150 miles of which is in Sindh from Kutch to Karachi and about 450 miles long coast is in Baluchistan from Karachi to Jiwani.

Economic Importance

The progress of any country depends upon its coastal importance. International trade with the out side world is carried on through its ports. For this purpose, in Pakistan, the ports of Karachi and port Qasim are of very great importance. Also these ports have great defence value. Majority of the coastal population are fishermen. Fish is not only consumed as food internally, but it is also a source of earning foreign exchange.