Pakistan Grade 9 Geography of Pakistan PDF

# Geography of Pakistan ## Land of Pakistan In this unit the students will be able to: - Explain Pakistan's precise cardinal location on a world map. - Evaluate the significance of location in terms of its proximity to neighboring countries, seas, and oceans. - Describe the significance of Pak...

# Geography of Pakistan ## Land of Pakistan In this unit the students will be able to: - Explain Pakistan's precise cardinal location on a world map. - Evaluate the significance of location in terms of its proximity to neighboring countries, seas, and oceans. - Describe the significance of Pakistan’s major cities based on their geographical location, including their relationship to surrounding physical features such as rivers, mountains, and coastal areas. ## Location of Pakistan Pakistan is located in South Asia with a land area of 796,096 km². It is 1,600 km long from north to south and 885 km wide from east to west. According to the coordinates shown on the map, Pakistan is located between the latitudes of 24° N and 37° N and extends from longitude 61°E to 77°E Islamabad is federal capital of Pakistan. It is one of the most modern and well-planned capitals in the world. The map also shows the administrative divisions of Pakistan's four provinces namely, Punjab, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh. Pakistan's Northern areas were assigned a new identity i.e., Gilgit-Baltistan and internal and political autonomy by the federal cabinet of Pakistan on 29th August 2009. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a self-governing territory with its capital at Muzaffarabad, is also administered by the federal government of Pakistan. In the south Pakistan has 1058 Km long coastal areas. ## Pakistan (Political Map) - Capital of Country - Headquarters; Province - Boundary, International - Boundary: Province - Boundary: Working - Line of Control - River ### Significance of Pakistan's Location Strategically, Pakistan's location makes it a potential gateway to Central Asia and the Middle East. It also serves as a doorway to Islamic block. This gives Pakistan a strategic advantage in the region for both cooperation and competition from other countries. It is explained as follows; - Pakistan is situated to the northwest of China and to the northeast of Iran and Afghanistan. It is also close to Central Asia. Pakistan provides transit trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asian States which are land locked countries with no access to sea. This gives Pakistan access to Central Asia, which is a region with rich natural resources and growing economies. - The Arabian Sea is a valuable resource for many countries from the viewpoint of trade by sea. It is a warm water sea and provides major shipping lane and a source of oil and gas. As the Arabian Sea is located in a strategic position, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf. - This makes it a major shipping route for sea trade between South Asia, the Far East, and the Middle East. This gives Pakistan access to global markets and energy resources. - Pakistan is located at the intersection of the world's two busiest air traffic corridors, the North Atlantic and Asia-Pacific routes. This makes it a natural transit hub for air traffic between East and West. The Jinnah Terminal Karachi is important as an international airport because it handles large passenger and cargo traffic. - The Arabian Sea serves as important source of sea food. It provides habitats for many marine creatures including fish, sharks, whales, and dolphins. There are three important seaports of Pakistan including Karachi Keamari port, Qasim port and Gwadar port. ### Expand Your Horizon The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a 62-billion-dollar infrastructure project that connects China to the Arabian Sea. CPEC is a crucial part China's Belt and Road Initiative, which is an investment project that aims to connect China to countries around the world through roads, railways largely. CPEC is expected to boost Pakistan's economy and improve its trade links with China and other countries of the world. ### Major Cities of Pakistan Major cities are often the economic centers of their countries. They are home to businesses, industries, and financial institutions that play a vital role in the economy. Some cities have important historical and cultural sites, such as museums, monuments, and theaters. By learning about the history and culture of these cities, we can better understand our own country's past and present and may develop an appreciation for the diversity of our country and its people. #### Karachi Karachi, Pakistan's financial hub and the capital of Sindh Province, is considered an important city due to its strategic location and economic potential. As a pioneer in cable networking and information technology, Karachi has become a center of software outsourcing. Moreover, it is home to a number of salient industries, such as textile manufacturing, shipping, and tourism. Karachi is also a major transportation hub, with the country's largest airport and seaport which facilitate exports and imports of Pakistan. #### Lahore Lahore is the second-most populous metropolis in Pakistan, situated in the Punjab province. It is a salient cultural and historical metropolis, and is home to the Badshahi Mosque, one of the world's largest mosques. Lahore is also a major commercial and industrial center for manufacturing, particularly in the textile, food processing, and engineering industries. #### Faisalabad Faisalabad is situated in the north-east of the country, lying between the plains of the Ravi and Chenab Rivers. Faisalabad is one of the most industrialized cities in Pakistan and known as the "Cotton polis of Pakistan" owing to its textile industry. Agriculturally, Faisalabad produces some main crops including cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane. #### Multan Multan is the fourth largest city in Pakistan, situated in the Punjab province. It is an antique metropolis with a storied history, and is home to the Multan Fort, one of the country's oldest forts. Multan is also a salient religious metropolis, and is home to many shrines of Sufi saints including Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam. #### Peshawar Peshawar is the metropolis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, situated in the north-west of Pakistan. It is a salient transportation hub, For examples the Khyber Pass is a historic trade route between Central Asia and South Asia. Peshawar is also a salient cultural city and is the center of a number of historical monuments, such as the Mohabbat Khan Mosque. #### Quetta Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, situated in the south-west of Pakistan. It is renowned for its orchards producing plums, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, melons, cherries, pistachios, and almonds. Quetta has mineral wealth such as coal, copper, and Gold. Quetta is also a hub of education, business, and commerce, and is also known for its handicrafts. #### Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan is a region which is located in the northern Mountains. It is a popular tourist destination, and is home to a number of glaciers, including the Baltoro Glacier, the Siachen and Batura glacier. Gilgit-Baltistan is also a major source of hydroelectric power for Pakistan. CPEC, a massive economic project under Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aims to enhance the socioeconomic and political dividends in Gilgit Baltistan. It is projected to generate more than half a million jobs by establishing Special Economic Zones in Gilgit, invigorating the tourism industry, and expanding the reach of e-commerce. The CPEC-driven hydropower development, technical expertise, and human resource development has transformed the region's socioeconomic dynamics. #### Rawalpindi Rawalpindi is located in the Punjab province of Pakistan and serves as a major cantonment area. Rawalpindi is a major transportation hub, with a network of roads, railways, and airports connecting it to other parts of Pakistan. This makes it easy for the businesses to import and export the goods and services. There are several important commercial and wholesale markets in Rawalpindi that sell goods in bulk to retailers, wholesalers, manufacturing and construction industries. ## What I have Learned - Pakistan is situated on important commercial corridors that connect South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It becomes a strategically significant site for trade and commerce. - Arabian sea is a source of maritime trade. - Pakistan provides transit route to the land locked countries. - CPEC is a project of China which is lucrative for economic growth of Pakistan. - Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan after Karachi. It is industrial hub of Pakistan. - Faisalabad is known for producing world class textile goods. - Pakistan and India have very complex relations. - On August 29, 2009, the federal cabinet of Pakistan granted internal and political autonomy to Gilgit-Baltistan ## Exercise Answer the following questions by choosing the best answer A, B, C or D. 1. What is the land area of Pakistan? - a. 796,096 km² - b. 716,796 km². - c. 696,296 km². - d. 996,596 km². 2. Islamabad is located in - a. the Karakoram - b. Punjab - c. Potwar region - d. in the foothills of Karakoram 3. Mohabbat Khan Mosque is located in - a. Karachi - b. Faisalabad - c. Peshawar - d. Rawalpindi 4. The city called Cotton polis of Pakistan is - a. swat - b. Lahore - c. Hyderabad - d. Faisalabad 5. The Durand line is situated - a. between Iran and Pakistan - b. between Afghanistan and India - c. between China and Pakistan - d. between Afghanistan and Pakistan 6. What is the recent economic project between China and Pakistan is called - a. QUAD - b. BRICS - c. SAARC - d. CPEC 7. Multan is known for its - a. sky scrappers - b. gardens - c. monuments - d. Sufi-saints 8. Metropolis means - a. Natural forest - b. Airport - c. center - d. city 9. Wakhan territory connects Pakistan with - a. Russia - b. China - c. Central Asian states - d. India 10. Pakistan is bordered by India to the - a. Northwest - b. West - c. East - d. South west Answer the following questions briefly. 1. Describe the geographical location of Pakistan. 2. What are the characteristics of Islamabad that distinguish it from other cities of Pakistan? 3. What is meant by landlocked countries? Give examples 4. Describe the location of Arabian sea 5. What are the natural resources found in the Arabian Sea? 6. Describe the significance of Jinnah terminal Karachi as an international airport. 7. What is Faisalabad famous for? Answer the following questions in detail. 1. What is the strategic importance of Pakistan's location in relation to Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia? 2. Describe the importance of following cities with respect to their economic importance for Pakistan? - Lahore - Rawalpindi - Karachi 3. Explain reasons for the significance of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan? 4. How do Pakistan and China strengthen their relationship through their geographical location? 5. What are the factors that make Lahore an important city of Pakistan? ## Compare and Contrast Does Pakistan's strategic location have more advantages or disadvantages? Discuss. ## Project Divide the class into small groups. Each group will be assigned a city of Pakistan. Each group will research the city and gather information about its history, geography, economy, culture, and tourism. They will then create a presentation or infographic that summarizes the information they have gathered. ## Relevance Across Time What are the key changes that have taken place in Pakistan's cities over time? You may discuss the city of your choice. ## Glossary - **Profuse:** Plentiful - **Metropolis:** urban center, City - **Populous:** densely populated, overcrowded - **Transportation Hub:** A place where passengers and cargo are exchanged between vehicles and/or between transport modes. - **Autonomy:** self-government - **Maritime:** navigation round the year List more words and write their meaning that you find difficult in this chapter.