What is the terrain and geography like in Pakistan?
The major political divisions of the country are the Provinces of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Northwest Frontier, and the federally administered Northern Areas, Tribal Areas, and Azad Kashmir. The provinces roughly correspond with the country’s major geographic, ethnic, and linguistic regions.
There are five distinct geographic regions:
The Thar Desert and Lower Indus Valley, located in the southernmost province of Sindh, consists largely of arid valleys and rocky hills that extend into neighboring India. Farming is successful only in the irrigated areas nearest to the Indus River.
The Balochistan Plateau is a broad, arid tableland that lies between 1,000 and 3,000 feet above sea level in the western province of Balochistan. The plateau is encircled by rugged mountains and covers nearly one-half of the country’s territory.
The Indus Basin features the largest contiguous irrigation system in the world. "Punjab," the name of the province in which much of the basin is located, means "five waters" in Persian, referring to the five major rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej) in the basin. The province of Punjab comprises the northeastern quarter of Pakistan.
The Northwest Frontier is a region of barren mountains sheltering rich irrigated valleys. The provincial capital of Peshawar is situated on an ancient trade route that leads through the Khyber Pass and into Afghanistan.
The Far North offers Pakistan’s most spectacular scenery with towering snowcapped mountains, deep narrow valleys, and glaciers. The world’s second highest mountain, K–2, is located in the Far North, as are a dozen other peaks of more than 25,000 feet elevation, including Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrun, and Rakaposhi.
The average annual rainfall varies from 6 inches in Karachi, 15 inches in Peshawar, and 18 inches in Lahore, to about 30 inches in Islamabad. Most rain falls during the summer monsoon from July to September, although parts of the Punjab and the Northwest Frontier experience a moderate winter rainy season as well.
The average annual rainfall varies from 6 inches in Karachi, 15 inches in Peshawar, and 18 inches in Lahore, to about 30 inches in Islamabad. Most rain falls during the summer monsoon from July to September, although parts of the Punjab and the Northwest Frontier experience a moderate winter rainy season as well.
Geographic Location | Asia |
Total Area |
307,372 Square Miles 796,095 Square Kilometers |
Land Area |
297,635 Square Miles 770,875 Square Kilometers |
Water Area |
9,737 Square Miles 25,220 Square Kilometers |
Land Boundaries |
4,209 Miles 6,774 Kilometers |
Irrigated Land |
77,181 Square Miles 199,900 Square Kilometers |
Border Countries | Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km |
Coastline |
650 Miles 1,046 Kilometers |
Geographic Coordinates | 30 00 N, 70 00 E |
Terrain | flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west |
Highest Point | 8,611 Meters |
Highest Point Location | K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m |
Lowest Point Location | Indian Ocean 0 m |
Natural Resources | land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone |
Time Zone | UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |