Short Questions | XII – Class Commercial Geography Notes

SHORT QUESTIONS

1. Area of Pakistan.

Ans. Area of Pakistan is 796095 sq.km. or 310403 miles.

2. Total Population of Pakistan.

Ans. According to the census of March 1991,the local population of Pakistan is 83782000.As on January 1,1992 the population was estimated to be 117.32 million.

3. Important Mountains.

Ans. The Himaliyas, The Karakoram, The Hindukush, The Suleman mountains,Koh Safes etc.

4. Rivers of Pakistan.

Ans.The Indus,the Sutlej,the Ravi ,the Chenab,The Jhelum,River Swat,River Kabul,River Bolan etc.

5. Important “Doabs” of Pakistan.

The land which lies between the two rivers is known as “Doab” e.g.Bari Doab,Rachna Doab,Chaj Doab and Sind Sagar Doab.

6. The plateaus of Pakistan.

Ans. Potwar Plateau and Baluchistan Plateau.

7. Passes of Pakistan.

Ans. Khyber Pass, Bolan Pass, Tochi Pass, Gomal Pass, Lawari Pass etc.

8. Deserts of Pakistan.

Ans. Thal Desert,Cholistan Desert,Nara Desert and Thar Desert.

9. Climatic regions of Pakistan.

Ans.1.Sub-tropical continental highlands.

2.Sub-tropical continental lowlands.

3.Sub-tropical continental plateau.

4.Tropical coast lands.

10. Climatic Seasons of Pakistan.

Ans.1.Winter Season (from November to February)

2.Summer Season (from March to June)

3.Rainy Season (from July to October)

11. Administrative Divisions of Pakistan.

Ans. Pakistan comprises of four provinces with Federal Capital Islamabad. The Provinces are Punjab, Sindh, N.W.F.P. and Baluchistan.

12. Dry ports of Pakistan.

Ans. Lahore dry port, Quetta and Sialkot dry ports.

13. Sea ports of Pakistan.

Ans. Karachi port and Port Qasim.

14. Important Dams.

Ans. Mangla dam, Tarbela dam and Warsak dam.

15. Important Barrages.

Ans. Chashma Barrage,Guddu Barrage,Taunsa Barrage,Jinnah Barrage etc.

16. What are the food crops of Pakistan.

Ans. Rice ,Wheat,Barley and Corn.

17. Name the main agricultural products of Pakistan.

Ans. Wheat,Cotton,barley,rice,sugar cane,millets(Jawar and bajra),grams and tobacco.

18. What are the main mineral resources of Pakistan.

Ans. Coal,natural gas,chromite,gypsum,petroleum,iron,ore,rock salt and copper.

19. What are the main industrial Centers of Pakistan.

Ans.Karachi,Hyderabad,Faisalabad,Lahore,Multan,Quetta,Rawalpindi,Nowshera,Kotri,Gujranwala,Peshawar.

20.What are the main industries of Pakistan.

Ans. Cotton Textile Industry, Cement Industry, Sugar Cane Industry, Woolen Textile Industry.

21.Main Imports of Pakistan.

Ans.Mineral Oil,Edible Oil,dyes and colours,machineries,chemicals and drugs,tea,paper.

22.Main exports of Pakistan.

Ans.Cotton cloth,cotton yarn,raw cotton,rice,carpets,rugs,leather,synthetic textile,fish and their products.

Read More

Power Resources | XII – Class Commercial Geography Notes

Power Resources 

Introduction

Energy is the essential need of the present age. Pakistan is self sufficient to the extent of about 67% of its energy supply. The rest is being met through imports, mainly of crude petroleum and deficit petroleum products. The following are the main power resources of our country:

1. Coal

2. Petroleum of Mineral Oil

3. Natural Gas

4. Hydro-Electric Power

About 42 % of energy in Pakistan is obtained from oil,35% from Natural gas,12% from hydle power and 4% from coal.

(A) COAL

Usage

Coal is described as the mother of modern Industry. It is at the back of the rapid Industrial development of the great industrial powers which might not have been possible without its presence.

Coal is unique among natural products in the number of uses to which it can be put. The main function of coal is to run the factories, the locomotives and the steam ships. Supplying heat for domestic purposes is of secondary importance. Apart from these, coal tar, dyes, perfumes, colour films, sewing thread and typewriter ribbons are some of the 200,000 by products derived from coal.

Occurrence

Coal Mines of the Punjab

1.Salt Range Mines

The coal found in these areas is of low quality. The main centers of coal in this area are Dandot and Pidh. Besides, some coal is also mined at Ara Katha, Chilaj, Pir Jahania etc. Reserves are estimated at 70 million tonnes.

2.Makarwal Coal Mines

These are second important coal mines of Baluchistan. The coal found here is of poor quality and reserves are small .

3.Degari Coal Mines

The coal found here is of low quality, having more ash and sulphur content. Reserves are estimated at 54 million tonnes.

Besides the above mentioned coal mines. Some coal has also been discovered in other areas of Baluchistan such as Pir Ismail, Ziarat, Sinjidi and Kach, but extraction of coal has not been started from those places.

Coal Mines Of Sindh

1.Lakhara Coal Mines

The coal found here is of inferior quality lignite and has a high moisture content. Reserves are about 22 million tonnes.

2.Meting Jhimpir Coal Mines

The seams of coal are thin and are of poor quality. Reserves are about 28 million tonnes.

Besides coal has been discovered in other areas of Pakistan such as Cherat hills. Nowshera in N.W.F.P and at Kotli, Kuiratta, Dandili and Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, but due to inferior quality and small quantity, mining is uneconomical.

Total Reserves

Coal has been the traditional source of energy and its resources are estimated to the tune of 17.77 billion tonnes.

(B) MINERAL OIL OR PETROLEUM

Usage

The use of petroleum as a power resource is indispensable. Today, it illuminates the houses and runs ships, locomotives and factories. It is of great significance for automobiles and aero planes. As a source of lubricant petroleum has no rival.

It provides a number of by-products e.g. gasoline, petrol, diesel oil, kerosene oil, furnace oil, road oil, wax, naphtha, benzine etc. It remaining dust is used in the cement industries. It is also an important raw material for many chemical textile and pharmaceutical industries.

Occurrence

Punjab

1.Dhurnal oil Field (DistL: Chakwal, Punjab)

2.Meyal Oil Field (Dist: Attock, Punjab)

3.Toot Oil Field (Dist: Attock ,Punjab)

4.Chak Naurange Oil Field (Dist.Chakwal,Punjab)

5.Joya Mir Oil Field(Dist.Attock,Punjab)

6.Dhulian Oil Field(Dist.Attock,Punjab)

7.Khur Oil Field(Dist.Attock,Punjab)

8.Balkasar Oil Field (Dist.Chacwal,Punjab)

9.Karsal Oil Field(Dist.Chakwal,Punjab)

10.Adhi Oil Field(Dist.Rawalpindi,Punjab)

11.Bhangli Oil Field(Dist.Rawalpindi,Punjab)

Sindh

1.Laghari Oil Field(Dist.Badin,Sindh)

2.Tando Alam (Dist.Hyderabad,Sindh)

3.Thora Oil Field(Dist.Badin,Sindh)

4.Dhsbi Oil Field(Dist.Badin,Sindh)

5.Khashkheli Oil Field(Dist.Badin,Sindh)

6.Mazari Oil Field(Dist.Badin,Punjab)

7.South MAzari (DIst.Badin,Sindh)

8.Sono Ghotana Central Lashari

Besides the above in Sindh province at Gularchi Bobi Pasakhi,Tajedi Nari,Turk,Hali Pota,Ghunghro,Panero,Kunner,Oil has also been discovered and experimental processes and under progress.

Oil Refining

At present, Three refineries are operating in the country. Of these ,Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) and National Refinery Limited (NRL) are located at Karachi and Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) at Rawalpindi. PRL and NRL have refining capacity of 1.8 million tonnes per year. In addition to imported crude oil, NRL is also processing indigenous crude from new find at Legari-Khashkheli.

Total Reserves And Production

The recoverable reserves of crude oil were estimated at 145.69 million barrels on March 31,1992.

The production of oil increased from 53,481 barrels per day in 1989-90 to 64,348 barrels per day in 1990-91. However, during the period July-March, 1992 the production declined on an average to 62,500 barrels per day.

(C) NATURAL GAS

Usage

Natural Gas is an important means of energy,especially for countries like Pakistan which are deficient in the production of mineral oil and coal.

Occurrence

The country is well endowed with natural gas. Following are some of the important gas fields

(a) Natural Gas Deposits At Sui

It is the biggest deposit of natural gas in our country. It is situated in Sibbi district of Baluchistan. This gas field is considered as one of the biggest gas fields of the world and gas is being supplied to different parts of our country from this field through pipe lines.

(b) Dhullian Gas Field

Mineral oil has been discovered at this place in 1937, so Attock Oil Company, while searching for more oil, found natural gas at this field in 1994.

(c) Meyal Gas Field(Dist.Attock ,Punjab)

Pakistan Oil Field Ltd. Company discovered both oil and gas at this place in 1968. Gas is being supplied through a pipe line for the industrial areas around Rawalpindi.

(d) Mari-Sari –Hundi

Mari-Sari-Hundi are also the gas fields from which gas is being supplied for various other purposes and also to three fertilizer factories.

(e) Toot Gas Field (Dist.Attock,Punjab)

Natural gas has also been found at toot and it is being used since 1980.
Recently gas has been discovered at Dhabi South Sonoro, Bukhari, Matil and Jabo in Sindh and at Makhdompur in Punjab.

Total Reserved And Production

The recoverable reserves of natural gas are estimated at 542.505 billion cubic meres. During the first nine months of 1991-92 the production was 11543.19 million cubic mores as against 10932.92 million cubic meres during the same period in the previous year showing an increase 5.58%. The country produces about 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

(D) HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

The hydro-electric potential of Pakistan, substantial part of which has now been harnessed, is mostly located in the hilly north-western areas, where the different lated terrain provides natural sites for dams. Some sites in the plains have also been developed by utilizing fall in rivers and canals. While the use of the three eastern rivers has, as a result of the Indus Water Treaty, passed to India, the hydro-electric potential of the three western rivers, the Indus,the Jhelum and the Chenab has been estimated at 30 million Kw. Following are the main hydro projects of our country:

1.The Tarbela Power Station

When it comes into full operation it will have the largest capacity and generation. The installed capacity of our units presently in operation 700 MW,and generation 4,129 MKWHS.

2.The Mangla Power Station

This power station will ultimetly have an installed capacity of 1,000 million watts in ten sets of 100,000 KW each. The first three generating sets, each of 100,000 KW, were installed as part of the Indus Basin Plan and the other four have been added later by WAPDA.

3.The Warsak Power Station

It has six units with a total capacity of 240 MW. The turbines are fed by a concrete lined tunnel from the 46 metre high dam. This station was one of the major sources of hydro-electric power before the completion of Mangla and Tarbela.

4.The Malakand And Dargai Power Stations

They produced electricity from falls in the upper Swat Canal. Water is taken back into the canal from the Malakand station to feed the power house at Dargai. Malakand station was completed in 1938 ,with an installed capacity of 16,700 KW, and this was to 80,000 KW in 1952. Dargai also has an installed capacity of 80,000 KW.

5.The Rasul Project:

This project was started in 1946,with the limited purpose of feeding 1860 tube -wells in Gujrat and Sargodha. The scheme was later modified to meet the requirements of the Punjab, before the completion of Warsak power station. The water in the 3-km power channel is taken from the Upper Jhelum Canal, and after passing through the turbine, joines the Lower Jhelum Canal.

6.The Chichoki Mallian Power Station

This station is located on the upper Chenab Canal about 48 km from Lahore,and in the event of a power failure on the main grid,can be isolated to supply the city.

7.The Shadiwal Power Station

It is located on the upper Jhelum Canal near Gujrat.

8.The Nandipur Power Station

It is located on the upper chenab canal,about 7 miles north-west of Gujrat.

9.The Kurram and Garhi Station

These stations are on the irrigation canal taken out from the kurram River. About 40,000 KW of electricity is being produced from this project which is providing the needs of Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan divisions.

Energy Generation:(million Kwh)

1989-90 – 16925

1990-91 – 18298

1991-92 – 13724

(July to March)

Future Hydro Plans of WAPDA

Detailed engineering of the Kalabagh Dam Project is in progress. The Kalabagh Hydle Power Station will be built about 12 miles upward from Kalabagh city on River Indus; It will have a capacity of about 1800 MW.Stage-I of 880 MW is planned to be completed in 1993 and stage-II in 1996. A reservoir at Thal has been planned to firm Tarbela Power by about 200 MW in the low-water months.Besides,hydro potential estimated at 60 MW available on the Chashma-jhelum link Canal is also planned for exploitation.

Read More

Population | XII – Class Commercial Geography Notes

Population 

Details of Population

Since Independence the population of Pakistan has increased four-fold from 32.5 million in 1947 to 117.32 million on January 1,1992 of which :

47,063,000 live in Punjab

19,029,000 live in Sindh

11,062,000 in NWFP

4332,000 live in Baluchistan

2,198,00 live FATA

340,000 live in Islamabad

(FATA-Federally Administered Tribal Area)

Rate of Population Growth

The growth of Population depends upon the net addition of the people which is related to the behavior of three factors, migration, birth rate and death rate.

Pakistan being a developing country provides no attraction for the people from the other parts of the world and so the influence of migration on its population growth is almost negligible .It is therefore clear that the rate of population growth in the country is influenced by the difference between the birth and death rates.

Therefore, the high rate of growth is due to natural increase, that is, the excess of births over deaths. Pakistan has one of the highest rates of Population growth in the World. The population is increasing at the rate of 3.1% per annum as against 3.5% for Mexico 2.3% for India,2% for China,1.6% for U.S.A ,2% for Asia and Africa ,1% for Europe and average rate 1.8% for the whole world. At this speed of growth, the total population by the year 2000 will touch 150 million.

Population Density

Density of population refers to the number of people living per square km. Its study is important because through it the pressure on the land can be measured and also magnitude of the requirements of the people can be assessed .It also becomes the base for economic planning.

The density of population in Pakistan, according to the 1981 census, is estimated at 106 persons per sq.km.as against 82 persons in 1972 census. The density, however, varies widely between provinces. The Punjab has the highest density of 230 persons, compared to 12 persons per sq.km. for Baluchistan,135 for Sindh,148 for NWFP ,81 for FATA and 376 for Islamabad.

Causes of Difference in Density of Population

1.The more densely populated centers of Pakistan are situated in the Urban areas, which are the busiest centers of trade and commerce. Besides, so many industries have also developed around these areas. The surrounding areas, around Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala, are very fertile. The irrigation facilities are available, so the necessities of life can be had easily. The employment facilities in different industrial and commercial units are also available. That is why the population of rural area is migrating towards these Urban centers and their population is increasing very rapidly.

2.The areas situated in the plains are more densely populated than the mountain, regions, because the mountains having pegged topography are not suitable for agricultural activities. Besides, in winter, due to intense cold, snowfall is common and the mean of transportation become ineffective the establishment of industries not possible in these areas due to scarcity of resources. That these areas are thinly populated.

3.In the plains ,the density if population also differs in various regions. The areas of Punjab and Sindh there irrigation facilities and other resources are available, density of population is more than the dry Barani areas. Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan districts are more dense than Attock, Jhelum and Dera Ghazi Khan districts. Similarly in Sindh, Hyderabad, Larkana, Nawabshah districts are more densely populated than Tharparkar, Thatta, Dadu and Sanghar Districts.

4.Those areas which are situated far away and where climate is intense, irrigation facilities are not available ,rain is meager and there is scarcity of resources, even the water for drinking purpose has to be brought from long distances, there density of population is very low.

Birth and Death Rates

1.Birth Rate

Birth rate in Pakistan also figures highest in the World. In 1988 it stood at 41 per 100 persons. Factors responsible for the high birth rate in our country are:

(i) Climatic Conditions

(ii) Poverty

(iii) Ill-Literacy

(iv) Social Convention

(v) Psychology of the people

(vi) Economic Conditions and to marry in the early age and

(vii) Religious minded people.

2.Death Rate

Death rate in Pakistan ,particularly of women and infants is very high. In 1988 it stood at 11 per 100 persons. It is because of this factor that the average age in Pakistan is below 30 years.

Distribution of Population in Pakistan

(A)Rural/Urban Distribution

The basis of Urbanity of settlement in Pakistan is its administrative organization (metropolitan, municipality, town committee, cantonment, civilizations, satellite town) and size (5,000 persons or over).Pakistan is pre-dominantly an agricultural country, in-spite of the developments of the last more than three decades in the field of industry and commerce. Hence, the vast majority of the population lives in rural areas.

The table below gives the percentage of the population of Pakistan by Urban/Rural areas during the last four censuses:

Census Year ———————–Percentage of Population Rural

………..…………………………..’Urban……………………………………………..Rural

1951——————————17.8%—————————————-–82.2%

1961——————————22.50%—————————————-77.50%

1972——————————25.48%—————————————-74.52%

1981——————————28.28%—————————————-71.72%

Percentage figures of urban population to the total since the beginning of regular censuses in the country, indicate a general acceleration of growth of urban population. The rate of natural increase of urban population has been lower than that of rural population. The higher rate of growth of urban population is, therefore, largely a result of rural-urban migration.

1.Dense Population

With the passage of time, the village autonomy and solidarity crumbled under impact of economic forces conductive to rural urban migration. The “freedom” of the city or the availability of greater job opportunities in the town acted as a magnet.

The process of industrialization has involved marked shifts with the use of material and human resources. It has altered the occupational large-scale movement of population from rural to the urban areas.

Pakistan is essentially dry with a large area of un-productive and barren land. For example, in the hills and sandy wastes of Sindh and Baluchistan, the population is very sparse. By contrast, the fertile Indus plain supports a fairly dense population. Since, with the help of irrigation. It is possible to grow good crops there. The highest density-over 2,000 persons per square kilometer is in Karachi division and 1,984 persons per sq.km.is found in Lahore division. This is, of course, due to that city’s great urban, commercial and industrial development. In the same way, other industrial districts like Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Mardan are densely populated.

In most of the metropolitan centers, improvement of facilities has called to keep pace with the rapid growth of population and these cities can be said overgrown. The distances to be covered are long and the means of transport and the width of the roads in adequate and these cities are also known as city of problems or city of smoke.

The historical evolution of the cities has been such that they have two distinct parts, the old and the modern. The modern sections have wide roads, impressive lay-out and expensive buildings. The old city suffers from narrow roads and alleys, closest and small buildings and residential over crowding .Also, problems of “Katchi Abadis” are also growing rapidly.

2.Sparsely Populated Areas

Before the advent of canal irrigation the population of rural areas was very sparse. After the construction of canals, water became available to areas away from the rivers, new settlements grew in the irrigated areas of Sindh and Punjab and there was a continuous rise of population. On the other side ,sparsely populated areas in the country are :

(i) The Northern and Western hill tracts

(ii) The dry plateau of Baluchistan

(iii) The desert areas of Thal, Thar and Cholistan

In these regions, low rainfall and sol that is either sandy or stone have resulted in barren or waste lands. For these reasons cultivation is difficult. As a result ,the density of population is less than 50 persons per sq.km. In the more barren regions of Kalat Division, there are only 10 persons per sq.km. and in Chaghi and Kharan, where less than three percent of the area is cultivated, the density falls as low as two.

(B) Distribution of Sex

The last three population censuses estimates and also that of 1992 are as follows:

Census Year---—-——–Total—-—-——-–Male——-—————————Female

1961————————-–42,978————-23,017——————————-19,961
1972—————————65,321————-34,840——————————–30,481
1981—————————84,253————-44,232——————————–40,021
1992—————————11,7310————61,000——————————–56,310

(estimated)

(C) Distribution By Age

According to 1981 census the distribution of population by age is as under:

(i) Under 15 years-44.04%

(ii) 15 to 54 years-51.84%

(iii) 65 years and above-4.12%

It will be observed that people falling in the age group (15 t 54) years may be considered working population which is 51.84%,remaining 48.16% is the dependent population .The high degree of dependency is due to the high proportion of children in the total population.

(D) Literacy-Wise Population

In Pakistan the literate people in towns is higher than in villages. Similarly it is higher in men than in women. Ratio of educated men and women is 23% and 7.5% respectively. Among the literate persons in Pakistan only 3.15% have been educated upto secondary school level or above. According to the present census report, only 20% of the workers are educated .Only 0.40% of the total population have done their B.A Even fewer are highly educated.

Read More