Location and Climate of Pakistan
Location and Climate of Pakistan
Geographical Location
Pakistan is situated in continent of Asia between 23.300 and
36.450 latitude (North) and 610 and 75.450 longitude
(East). India is situated on Pakistan’s Eastern border, China lies to the
North-East while Afghanistan is situated in North-West. In North, only a narrow
belt of 15 miles in Afghanistan, called “Wakhan,” separates Pakistan from
Russia. To the West lies Iran and in the South is the Arabian Sea.
Area and Population
The total area of Pakistan is 796096 sq.km and its population is
about 130 million according to 1998 census.
Pakistan comprises of four provinces, viz, Sindh, Baluchistan, the
Punjab and the N.W.F.P. Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan.
Importance of Pakistan’s
Location
The following discussions throws light on the importance of
Pakistan’s location:
1. Situation
Pakistan is situated in a region of great economic, political and
military importance. Among its neighbouring countries are China and Russia
which are reckoned to be among the countries recognized as super powers.
2. Karachi as an Important Port
The industrial progress of the Western countries depends upon the
oil of the Gulf States. This oil is carried through Arabian Sea and the Indian
Ocean. Karachi is an important port of the Arabian Sea. The Foreign policy of
Pakistan can, therefore, affect the movement of oil.
3. As a center of the Muslim World
Pakistan is situated in the center of the Muslim World. To the
west of Pakistan, starting from Afghanistan and Iran lies a chain of Muslim
countries passing through Asia and terminating at the Eastern coast of the
Atlantic Ocean i.e the Middle East, Gulf and Africa. To the east of Pakistan,
starting from Bangladesh lies another chain of Muslim countries while to the
North there are six Muslim countries which gained independence from Russia in
1991.
4. Control Over Warm Water
The seas of Russia are mostly snow capped and are not fit for
navigation for the larger part of the year. To take active part in
international trade, Russia dreams to have control over the warm water of the
Indian Sea. But Pakistan is a hurdle in its way and thus enjoys an important
position in the scene of international trade.
5. Position in Third world countries
Pakistan is a great supporter of the unity of the third World
countries.
Climate of Pakistan
Climate is an average or general conditions of temperature,
humidity, atmospheric pressure, rainfall of a place. The climate of Pakistan,
on the whole is dry and extreme. It means that the summers
are extremely hot and winters are extremely cold, and there is a little
rainfall during the year.
Seasons of Pakistan
There are the following four seasons in Pakistan:
1. Summer – May to mid September
2. Winter – November to February
3. Autumn – September to November
4. Spring – March and April
Climatic Regions of
Pakistan
In Pakistan climate varies from place to place. Pakistan may be
divided into the following four regions according to climate:
The North and North
Western Mountainous Area
This region consists of the North and the North-Western Mountainous
areas. This region has a very severe winter and the temperature falls below the
freezing point. In this area the winter seasons remains from six to eight
months. On the other hand, summers of this region are very pleasant.
The Upper Indus Plain
Below the Northern Mountainous Area is the upper Indus plain. In
this area the summer is very hot. The months of May, June and first week of
July are very hot because in this period there is no rainfall. However, the
climate here becomes pleasant when rain falls in July. The winter season of the
Upper Indus Plains is very pleasant but it does not last long.
The Coastal Areas and
the Lower Indus Valley
The temperature of the coastal areas and the lower Indus valley
does not rise due to sea land breeze. In this region rain does not fall,
however due to blowing of sea breeze humidity is found in the air. Sea breeze
keeps the climate pleasant. There is not much difference in the temperature of
different months in this region.
The Plateau of
Baluchistan and the Thar Desert
In summer, the
temperature of the plateau of Baluchistan and the Thar desert rises. Most of
the mountainous regions of Baluchistan are dry and hot. The winter season is
very severe in Baluchistan and sometimes snow falls in certain parts.
