Geography of Pakistan

Location Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north GEOGRAPHY OF Map References: Asia PAKISTAN Geographic Coordinates 30 00 N, 70 00 E The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations-back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President Musharraf, elected Asif Al Zardari to the presidency. The Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. Area Total: 796,095 sg km Land Boundaries Country comparison to the world: Land: 770,875 sq km Water: 25,220 sq km Coastline 1,046 km Total: 6,774 km Border countries: Afghanistan Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km WATEEHA ABBAS Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate Khyber Pass mostly hot, dry desert Routes traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent Environment limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to portable water; desertification |temperate in northwest; arctic in north Bolan Pass Territorial sea: 12 nm Land Use deforestation Maritime claims Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm arable land: 24 44% 夫 学 夫 等 Natural Resources flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) agricultural runoff BR* soil erosion land frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west 牛 美 美 美 能 美 美 美 Terrain permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005) 销 美 夫夫 美 美 美 water pollution from raw sewage poor quality coal Balochistan plateau in west industrial wastes natural gas reserves flat Indus plain in east limited petroleum mountains in north and north-west iron ore Irrigated land 182,300 sq km (2003) copper salt limestone Environment - International agreements Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Fresh water withdrawal Law of the Sea (domestic/ industrial/ agricultural) Marine Dumping OzoneLayer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands total: 169.39 cu km/lyr (2%/2%/96%) per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000) Total renewable water resources lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin- Austen) 8,611m Marine Life Conservation 233.8 cu km (2003) Location Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north GEOGRAPHY OF Map References: Asia PAKISTAN Geographic Coordinates 30 00 N, 70 00 E The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations-back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President Musharraf, elected Asif Al Zardari to the presidency. The Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. Area Total: 796,095 sg km Land Boundaries Country comparison to the world: Land: 770,875 sq km Water: 25,220 sq km Coastline 1,046 km Total: 6,774 km Border countries: Afghanistan Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km WATEEHA ABBAS Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate Khyber Pass mostly hot, dry desert Routes traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent Environment limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to portable water; desertification |temperate in northwest; arctic in north Bolan Pass Territorial sea: 12 nm Land Use deforestation Maritime claims Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm arable land: 24 44% 夫 学 夫 等 Natural Resources flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) agricultural runoff BR* soil erosion land frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west 牛 美 美 美 能 美 美 美 Terrain permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005) 销 美 夫夫 美 美 美 water pollution from raw sewage poor quality coal Balochistan plateau in west industrial wastes natural gas reserves flat Indus plain in east limited petroleum mountains in north and north-west iron ore Irrigated land 182,300 sq km (2003) copper salt limestone Environment - International agreements Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Fresh water withdrawal Law of the Sea (domestic/ industrial/ agricultural) Marine Dumping OzoneLayer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands total: 169.39 cu km/lyr (2%/2%/96%) per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000) Total renewable water resources lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin- Austen) 8,611m Marine Life Conservation 233.8 cu km (2003) Location Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north GEOGRAPHY OF Map References: Asia PAKISTAN Geographic Coordinates 30 00 N, 70 00 E The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations-back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President Musharraf, elected Asif Al Zardari to the presidency. The Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. Area Total: 796,095 sg km Land Boundaries Country comparison to the world: Land: 770,875 sq km Water: 25,220 sq km Coastline 1,046 km Total: 6,774 km Border countries: Afghanistan Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km WATEEHA ABBAS Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate Khyber Pass mostly hot, dry desert Routes traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent Environment limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to portable water; desertification |temperate in northwest; arctic in north Bolan Pass Territorial sea: 12 nm Land Use deforestation Maritime claims Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm arable land: 24 44% 夫 学 夫 等 Natural Resources flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) agricultural runoff BR* soil erosion land frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west 牛 美 美 美 能 美 美 美 Terrain permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005) 销 美 夫夫 美 美 美 water pollution from raw sewage poor quality coal Balochistan plateau in west industrial wastes natural gas reserves flat Indus plain in east limited petroleum mountains in north and north-west iron ore Irrigated land 182,300 sq km (2003) copper salt limestone Environment - International agreements Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Fresh water withdrawal Law of the Sea (domestic/ industrial/ agricultural) Marine Dumping OzoneLayer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands total: 169.39 cu km/lyr (2%/2%/96%) per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000) Total renewable water resources lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin- Austen) 8,611m Marine Life Conservation 233.8 cu km (2003) Location Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north GEOGRAPHY OF Map References: Asia PAKISTAN Geographic Coordinates 30 00 N, 70 00 E The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations-back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President Musharraf, elected Asif Al Zardari to the presidency. The Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. Area Total: 796,095 sg km Land Boundaries Country comparison to the world: Land: 770,875 sq km Water: 25,220 sq km Coastline 1,046 km Total: 6,774 km Border countries: Afghanistan Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km WATEEHA ABBAS Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate Khyber Pass mostly hot, dry desert Routes traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent Environment limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to portable water; desertification |temperate in northwest; arctic in north Bolan Pass Territorial sea: 12 nm Land Use deforestation Maritime claims Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm arable land: 24 44% 夫 学 夫 等 Natural Resources flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) agricultural runoff BR* soil erosion land frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west 牛 美 美 美 能 美 美 美 Terrain permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005) 销 美 夫夫 美 美 美 water pollution from raw sewage poor quality coal Balochistan plateau in west industrial wastes natural gas reserves flat Indus plain in east limited petroleum mountains in north and north-west iron ore Irrigated land 182,300 sq km (2003) copper salt limestone Environment - International agreements Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Fresh water withdrawal Law of the Sea (domestic/ industrial/ agricultural) Marine Dumping OzoneLayer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands total: 169.39 cu km/lyr (2%/2%/96%) per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000) Total renewable water resources lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin- Austen) 8,611m Marine Life Conservation 233.8 cu km (2003) Location Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north GEOGRAPHY OF Map References: Asia PAKISTAN Geographic Coordinates 30 00 N, 70 00 E The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations-back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President Musharraf, elected Asif Al Zardari to the presidency. The Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. Area Total: 796,095 sg km Land Boundaries Country comparison to the world: Land: 770,875 sq km Water: 25,220 sq km Coastline 1,046 km Total: 6,774 km Border countries: Afghanistan Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km WATEEHA ABBAS Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate Khyber Pass mostly hot, dry desert Routes traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent Environment limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to portable water; desertification |temperate in northwest; arctic in north Bolan Pass Territorial sea: 12 nm Land Use deforestation Maritime claims Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm arable land: 24 44% 夫 学 夫 等 Natural Resources flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) agricultural runoff BR* soil erosion land frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west 牛 美 美 美 能 美 美 美 Terrain permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005) 销 美 夫夫 美 美 美 water pollution from raw sewage poor quality coal Balochistan plateau in west industrial wastes natural gas reserves flat Indus plain in east limited petroleum mountains in north and north-west iron ore Irrigated land 182,300 sq km (2003) copper salt limestone Environment - International agreements Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Fresh water withdrawal Law of the Sea (domestic/ industrial/ agricultural) Marine Dumping OzoneLayer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands total: 169.39 cu km/lyr (2%/2%/96%) per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000) Total renewable water resources lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin- Austen) 8,611m Marine Life Conservation 233.8 cu km (2003)