Pakistan is a land of many splendours. The scenery changes northward from
coastal beaches, lagoons and mangrove swamps in the south to sandy deserts,
desolate plateaus, fertile plains, dissected upland in the middle and high
mountains with beautiful valleys, snow-covered peaks and eternal glaciers
in the north.
The variety of landscape divides Pakistan into six major
regions:
the North High Mountainous Region,
the Western Low Mountainous Region,
the Balochistan Plateau,
the Potohar Uplands,
the Punjab and
the Sindh Plains.
High
Mountain Region: Stretching in the North, from east to west, are a series
of high mountain ranges which separate Pakistan from China, Russia and
Afghanistan. They include the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindukush.
The Himalayas spread in the north-east and the Karakoram rises on the north-west
of the Himalayas and extends eastward up to Gilgit. The Hindu Kush mountains
lie to the north-west of the Karakoram, but extend eastward into Afghanistan.
With the assemblage of 35 giant peaks over 24,000 ft. high (7,315m), the
region is the climbers' paradise. Many summits are even higher than 26,000
ft.(7,925 m) and the highest K-2(Mt.Godwin Austin) is exceeded only by
Mt.Everest. Inhospitable and technically more difficult to climb than even
Everest, they have taken the biggest toll of human lives in the annals
of mountaineering.
The
passes are rarely lower than the summit of Mt. Blanc and several are over
18,000 ft. (5,485 m). The Karakoram Highway, that passes through the mountains,
is the highest trade route in the world. Besides, the region abounds in
vast glaciers, large lakes and green valleys which have combined at places
to produce holiday resorts such as Gilgit, Hunza and Yasin in the west
and the valleys of Chitral, Dir, Kaghan and Swat drained by rivers Chitral,
Pankkora, Kunhar and Swat respectively in the east. Dotted profusely with
scenic spots having numerous streams and rivulets, thick forests of pine
and junipers and a vast variety of fauna and flora, the Chitral, Kaghan
and Swat valleys have particularly earned the reputation of being the most
enchanting tourist resorts of Pakistan.
South of the high mountains, the ranges lose their height
gradually and settle down finally in the Margalla hills (2,000-3,000 ft.)
in the vicinity of Islamabad, the Capital of Pakistan, and Swat and Chitral
hills, north of river Kabul. Although the climate of the region is extremely
diverse, according to aspect and elevation, yet as a whole it remains under
the grip of severe cold from November to April. May, June and July are
pleasant months. The southeren slopes receive heavy rainfall and consequently
are covered with forest of deodar, pine, poplar and willow trees. The more
northerly ranges and north-facing slopes receive practically no rains and
are, therefore, without trees.
There is a considerable trans-humane from the mountains
to the plains in winter and from plains to the mountains in summer. The
permanent settlers grow corn, maize, barely, wheat and rice on the terraced
fields and also raise orchards of apples, apricots, peaches and grapes.
Peaks and Glaciers Eric Shipton, a great mountainer who perished in Pakistan's
Northern Areas, wrote in his account. To describe this region is to indulge
in superlatives, for everywhere you look are the highest, the longest and
the largest mountains, glaciers and rivers in the world.
Making some allowance for Shipton's tendency towards slight
exaggeration, born out of awe and fascination, the fact remains that Pakistan
boasts of the largest share of the highest mountain peaks in the world.
Its own highest peak, the famed and dreaded K-2, is the second highest
in the world, being just some `ropes' short of the Everest in Nepal. With
due respect to the Everest, K-2 is regarded as far more firmidable to climb
than its relatively facile superior. Three of the mightiest mountain systems-
the Hindukush, the Karakorams and the Himalayas- adorn the forehead of
Pakistan. The second highest peak of Himalayas, as also of Pakistan, is
the Nanga Parbat which literally means the "Naked Mountain".
Pakistan has seven of the 16 tallest peaks in Asia. The
statistics are simply baffling: 40 of the world's 50 highest mountains
are in Pakistan; in Baltistan over 45 peaks touch or cross the 20,000 foot
mark; in Gilgit within a radius of 65 miles, there are over two dizens
peaks ranging in height between 18,000 to 26,000 feet.
The awe-inspiring beauty provided inspiration to a Pakistani
writer to observe lyrically, "in Pakistan's lofty mountain regions, reaching
for the sky doesn't seem too ambitious". Pakistan's Eight Thousanders:
There are a total of 14 main peaks soaring above 8000 metres in the world.
Out of these, 8 are located in Nepal, 5 in Pakistan and 1 in China. It
has become prestigious to make these peaks as targets by mountaineers every
year. In fact, successful climb over these peaks is considered an enviable
measure of their attainment. By far, the largest number of mountaineering
expeditions visiting Pakistan has been coming from Japan.
K-2 (8611m) It is the second highest mountain the world.
It was first attempted by Martin Conway's expedition in 1902 which was
composed of British, Austrian and Swiss climbers. Ashraf Aman was the first
Pakistani climber to climb on top of K-2 with five other climbers of the
Jap-Pak expedition in 1977, with Ichire Yoshizawa as its leader and Isao
Shinkai as the technical leader.
Nanga Parbat (8125m) It is also known as the killer mountain.
It claimed the life of AF Mummery, leader of an expedition and two porters
in 1895. Since then Nanga Parbat has cost scores of lives, though quite
a few have successfully scaled it. Harmann Buhl was the first to set foot
on this formidable peak in 1953. In spite of its bloody past record, Nanga
Parbat is still the most sought after target. Its dangerous challenge seems
to add spurs to the determination of climbers.
Hidden Peak (8068m) This peak was first attempted in 1892
by Martin Conway's expedition who gave it this name because it was hidden
by the neighbouring peaks of Baltoro glacier. The peak was first conquered
in 1958 by an American expedition. Nick clinch was the leader. The climbing
leaders Peter Schoening and Kanfuran were the two summiters.
Broad Peak (8047m) This peak was also named by Martin
Conway and was first attempted by a German expedition headed by Karl Herligk
offer in 1954. The peak was climbed in 1957 when the entire team of four
climbers with Marcus Schmuck scaled it.
In the far-north of Pakistan are valleys which are closed
within the silent, brooding forts of these mountains and are almsot as
high as the mountains themselves. Here dwell, from times immemorial, various
tribes differing in race and culture. If one tribe has Mongol features,
its neighbour is obviously Aryan. Separated by insurmountable obstacles,
these tribes very often live a totally land-locked existence blissfully
unaware of the world beyond. But, a traveller is simply wonderstruck by
one common element - Islam.
Every-where you hear the familiar Assalam-o-Alaikum, the
universal Muslim greeting and welcome. and no matter how small or poor
the inhibtation, the same muezzin's call to prayer "Allah-u-Akbar rings
in the thin mountain air, issuing from the minarets of mosques hidden in
the inaccessible fold of these ranges pulsates an infinite variety of life;
animals reptiles, birds, insects and plants. There is, of course, the yak
which is an enormous but docile beast, at once the beast of burden and
food. It is notable in the wildlife of these regions, but, its hunting
is strictly restricted and in many areas totally forbidden by law.
Glaciers:
Pakistan has more glaciers than any other land outside
the North and South Poles. Pakistan's glacial area covers some 13,680 sq.km
which represents an average of 13 per cent of mountain regions of the upper
Indus Basin. Pakistan's glaciers can rightly claim to possess the greatest
mass and collection of glaciated space on the face of earth. In fact, in
the lap of the Karakoram of Pakistan alone there are glaciers whose total
length would add up to abvoe 6,160 sq. km. To put it more precisely, as
high as 37 per cent of the Karakoram area is under its glaciers against
Himalayas' 17 per cent and European Alps' 22 per cent. The Karakorams have
one more claim to proclaim; its souther flank (east and west of the enormous
Biafo glacier) has a concentration of glaciers which works out to 59 per
cent of its area.
There is a historical reason for the fact that we, and
the world outside, are better acquainted with glaciers in the Nanga Parbat
region. It is through this region, hazardous though it is, that man has
trudged to and fro since the beginning of his civilized history of movement
and migration. The Siachin glacier is 75 kms. The Hispar (53 kms) joins
the Biafo at the Hispar La (5154.16 metres (16,910 ft) to form an ice corridor
116.87 kms (72 miles) long. The Batura, too is 58 kms in length. But, the
most outstanding of these rivers of ice is the 62 kms Baltoro. This mighty
glacier fed by some 30 tributaries constitues a surface of 1291.39 sq.
kms. Western Low Mountains Region.
These western low mountains spread from the Swat and Chitral
hills in a north-south direction (along which alexander the Great led his
army in 327 B.C) and cover a large portion of the North-West Frontier Province.
North of the river Kabul their altitude ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 ft.
in Mohamand and Malakand hills. The aspect of these hills is exceedingly
dreary and the eye is everywhere met by the dry rivers between long rows
of rocky hills and crags, scantily covered with coarse grass, scrub wood
and dwarf palm. South of the river Kabul spreads the Koh-e-Sofed Range
with a general height of 10,000 ft. Its highest peak, Skaram, being 15,620
ft. South of Koh-e-Sofed are the Kohat and Waziristan hills (5,000 ft)
which are traversed by the Kurram and Tochi rivers, and are bounded on
south by Gomal River.
The whole area is a tangle of arid hills composed of limestone
and sandstone. South of the Gomal River, the Sulaiman Mountains run for
a distance of about 483 kilomaters in a north-south direction, Takht-e-Sulaiman
(11,295 ft.) being its highest peak. At the southern end lie the low Marri
and Bugti hills. The area shows an extraordinary landscape of innumerable
scarps, small plateaus and steep craggy out-crops with terraced slopes
and patches of alluvial basins which afford little cultivation.
Kirthar Range South of the Sulaiman Mountains is the Kirthar
Range which forms a boundary between the Sindh plain and the Balochistan
plateau. It consists of a series of ascending ridges running generally
north to south with broad flat valleys in-between. The highgest peak named
Kutte ji Kabar (dog's grace is 6,878 ft. above sea level. Bleak, rugged
and barren as these hills are, they afford some pasturage for flocks of
sheep and goats. The valleys are green with grass and admit cultivation
up to a highest of 4,000 ft. Historical Passes The western mountains have
a number of passes, which are of special geographical and historical interest.
For centuries, they have been watching numerous kings, generals and preachers
passing through them and the events that followed brought about momentous
changes in the annals of mankind.
Although the country is in the monsoon
region, it is arid, except for the southern slopes of the Himalayas and
the sub-Mountainous tract which have a rainfall from 76 to 127 cm. Balochistan
is the driest part of the country with an average rainfall of 21 cm. On
the southern ranges of the Himalayas, 127 cm. of precipitation takes place,
while under the lee of these mountains (Gilgit and Baltistan) rainfall
is hardly 16 cm. Rainfall also occurs from western cyclonic distrubances
originating in the Mediterranean.
It is appreciable in the western mountains and the immediate
forelying area; hre the rainfall average ranges from 27 to 76 cm. The contribution
of these western distrurbances to rainfall over the plains is about 4 cm.
A large part of the precipitation in the northern mountain system is in
the form of snow which feeds the rivers. The all-pervasive aridity over
most of Pakistan, the predominant influence on the life and habitat of
the people, coupled with the climatic rhythm, characteristic of a monsoon
climate, are conducive to homogeneity of the land.
Seasons The four well-marked seasons in Pakistan are:-
(i) Cold season (December to March).
(ii) Hot season (April to June).
(iii) Monsoon season (July to September).
(iv) Post-Monsoon season (October and November).
The cold season sets in by the middle of December. This
period is characterised by fine weather, bracing air-low humidity and large
diurnal range of temperature. Winter distrubances in this season accordingly
cause fairly widespread rain. Average mimimum and maximum temperatures
are 4 oC and 18 oC, though on occasions the mercury falls well below freezing
point. The winter sun is glorious. The hot season is usually dry. Relative
humidity in May and June varies from 50 per cent in the morning to 25 per
cent or less in the afternoon. The temperature soars to 40 oC and beyond.
The highest recorded temperature at Jaccobabad in June is 53 oC. While
the interior is blazing hot, the temperature along the sea coast ranges
between 25 oC to 35 oC, but the humidity persists around 70 to 80 per cent.
The south-west monsoon reaches Pakistan towards the beginning
of July and establishes itself by the middle of the month. The strength
of the monsoon current increases form June to July; it then remains steady,
and starts retreating towards the end of August, though occasionally, it
continues to be active even in September when some of the highest floods
of the Indus Basin have been recorded. From the middle of September to
the middle of November is the transitory period which may be called the
post-monsoon season.
In October, the maximum temperature is of the order of
34 oC to 37 oC all over Pakistan, while the nights are fairly cool with
the minimum temperature around 16 oC. In the month of November, both the
maximum and the mimimum temperatures fall by about 6 oC and the weather
becomes pleasant. October and November are by far the driest months all
over the plains of Pakistan.
People and Population
The population of the country as on 1st January, 1994,
is estimated at about 124.45 million with its male/female ratio of 52.50:47.50
per cent. The current growth rate of 3.0 per cent is the highest among
nine most populous countries of the world. The population is expected to
reach 150 million by the year 2000. Density per square kilometre is 156
persons. Literacy rate is estimated to be 36.8 per cent. Of the four provinces,
with 25.8 per cent of land area of the country, Punjab has 56.5 per cent
of the total population; Sindh, with 17.7 per cent of land area, has 22.6
per cent: NWFP, (including FATA) with 12.8 per cent of land area, has 15.7
per cent; Balochistan, with 43.6 per cent of land area, has 5.1 per cent.
Thus, Punjab is the most densely (240 persons per sq km) populated province,
follwed by Sindh and NWFP. Balochistan is the least populated province,
with 19 persons per square kilomatre. The overall population density of
the country is 156 persons per square kilometre as estimated in 1994. Sindh
is the urbainised province with 43 per cent of the people living in urban
areas including Karachi City. The urban population of Punjab is 28 per
cent followed by NWFP, 21 per cent, and Balochistan 16 per cent. About
67 per cent of the total urban population of the country lives in 28 cities
with population of 100,000 and above, while 57 per cent of the total urban
population lives in 12 cities with population lives in 12 cities with population
of 200,000 and above. Age Composition According to the Labour Force Survey,
1990-91, 46.93 of the population is under 15 years of age; 49.66 per cent
is between the age groups of 15 and 64 years, while 3.41 per cent comprises
persons 65 years old and above. |