Section 2: GEOGRAPHY

Pakistan is situated between the latitudes 23° and 36° North and between the
longitudes of 61° and 75° East. It has an area of 796,095 square kilometers (kms).
India is on its eastern border, the People’s Republic of China lies to the north east.
Afghanistan is situated on its
northwestern boundary line while
Iran shares border with Pakistan in
the southwest. In north only a 24
km long Wakhan border of
Afghanistan separates it from the
Tajikistan. Jammu and Kashmīr is
a disputed territory located
between Pakistan and India.
Pakistan controls a portion of the
territory as Azad (Free) Kashmīr
and the Federally Administered
Northern Areas (FANA), while India
controls a portion as the state of
Jammu and Kashmīr.

Pakistan extends some 1,700

kilometres northward to the origins
of the Indus among the mountains
of the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and
Karakoram. Many of their peaks
exceed 8,000 metres including K-
2, at 8,611 metres, the second
highest in the world. Pakistan has
a coastline of about 1,046 kilometres
with 22,820 square kilometres of territorial waters and an Exclusive Economic Zone
of about 196,600 square kilometres in the Arabian Sea.

The land mass of Pakistan originated in the continent of Gondwanaland which is

thought to have broken off from Africa, drifted across the Indian Ocean, and joined
mainland Asia some 50 million years ago. With the creation of a land-bridge between
Gondwanaland and south-east Asia, Indo-Malayan life-forms are thought to have
invaded the evolving sub-continent, and these now predominate in Pakistan eastof
the river Indus. The north and west of the country is dominated by Palaearctic forms.
Some Ethiopian forms have become established in the south-western part. About 20
million years ago, the gradual drying and retreat of the Sea of Tethys created the
Indus lowlands, and a violent upheaval 13 million years ago gave rise to the
Himalayas. A series of Pleistocene ice-ages, the last ending just 10,000 years ago,
gave rise to some unique floral and faunal associations.

Section 6: Mountain Ranges, Peaks and Passes

Pakistan has within its borders some of the world’s highest and most spectacular
mountains. Some of the famous mountain ranges of Pakistan are Himalayas,
Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Sulaiman, Toba Kakar, Kirthar and Salt range.
The Northern and Western Highlands produced by the mountain building movement
extended from the Makran Coast in the south to the Pamir Plateau in the extreme
north. The Northern and Western Highlands cover most of Balochistan, NWFP,
Northern Areas (Gilgit Agency) and parts of the Punjab. These can be further divided
into five physiographic entities:

• Mountainous North
• Koh-e-Safaid and Waziristan Hills
• Sulaiman and Kirthar Mountains
• Balochistan Plateau
• Potowar Plateau and the Salt Ranges

Mountainous North
In the northern part of the country, the Hindu Kush mountains converge with the
Karakoram Range, a part of the Himalayan mountain system. These ranges have a
large number of peaks ranging from 6000 to 8611 meters above the sea level.
Pakistan has the densest concentration of high mountains in the world: five peaks
over 8,000 meters (26,000 feet) and 101 peaks over 7,000 meters (23,000 feet)
above sea level within a radius of 180 kilometers (112 miles). Thirteen of the world’s
30 tallest peaks are in Pakistan. The tallest include K2 (also known as Mount Godwin
Austen), the second highest peak in the world at 8,611 m (28,251 ft), in the
Karakoram Range; Nanga Parbat (8,125 m/26,657 ft) in the Himalayas; and Tirich
Mir (7,690 m/25,230 ft) in the Hindu Kush.

The Mountainous North covers the northern parts of Pakistan and comprises parallel
mountain ranges intervened by narrow and deep river valleys. East of the Indus
River, the mountain ranges in general run from east to west. To its west - from north
to south - run the following important mountain ranges:

• The Himalayas
• The Karakorams
• The Hindu Kush

The western most parts of the Himalayas fall in Pakistan. The sub-Himalayas - the
southern most ranges - do not rise to great heights (600 - 1200 masl). The Lesser
Himalayas lie to the north of the sub-Himalayas and rise to 1,800 - 4,600 masl. The
Great Himalayas are located north of the Lesser Himalayas. They attain snowy
heights (of more than 4,600 m).

The Karakoram Ranges in the extreme north rise to an average height of 6,100 m.
Mount Goodwin Austin (K-2) - the second highest peak in the world - is 8,610 m and
located in the Karakorams.

The Hindu Kush Mountains take off the western side of the Pamir Plateau that is
located to the west of the Karakorams. These mountains take a southerly turn and
rise to snowy heights. Some of the peaks rise to great heights like Noshaq (7,369
m), and Tirich Mir (7,690 m).

Koh-e-Safaid and Waziristan Hills

The Koh-e-Safaid Ranges have an east-west trend and rise to an average height of
3,600m. They are commonly covered with snow. Sikeram, the highest peak in Koh-
e-Safaid Ranges rises to 4,760 m. Similarly, the elevation of Waziristan Hills
ranges from 1,500 and 3,000 m.

Sulaiman and Kirthar Mountains

The Sulaiman-Kirthar Mountain Ranges extending from south of Gomal River, lie
between Balochistan Plateau and the Indus Plains. On reaching the Murre-Bugti Hills,
they turn northward and extend up to Quetta. Further south, they meet the Kirthar
Mountains, which merge in to the Kohistan area of Sindh. The Sulaiman Mountains
rise to an average height of 600 m that decreases southward. Takht-e-Sulaiman
(3,487 m) and Takatu (3,470m) are the highest peaks of the Sulaiman Ranges.

Balochistan Plateau
The Balochistan Plateau is located west of the Sulaiman-Kirthar Mountains. Its
western part is dominated by a number of sub-parallel ranges: the Makran Coast
Range (600 m), and the Central Makran Range (900 - 1200 m). The highest peak
Ras Koh, attains a height of 3010 m.

Potowar Plateau and the Salt Ranges

The Potwar Plateau and the Salt Range region are located to the south of the
mountainous north and lie between the Indus river on the west and the Jhelum river
on the east. Its northern boundary is formed by the Kala Chitta Ranges and the
Margalla Hills and the southern boundary by the Salt Ranges. The Kala Chitta
Range rises to an average height of 450 - 900 m and extends for about 72 km. The
main Potwar Plateau extends north of the Salt Range. It is an undulating area 300 -
600 m high. The Salt Ranges have a steep face towards the south and slope gently
in to the Potwar Plateau in the north. They extend from Jhelum River up to Kalabagh
where they cross the Indus river and enter the Bannu district and rise to an average
height of 750 - 900 m. Sakesar Peak (1,527 m) is the highest point of the Salt
Ranges.

Mountain Passes
Many mountain passes cross Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan and China. Passes
crossing over the mountains bordering Afghanistan include the Khyber, Bolan,
Khojak, Kurram, Tochi, Gomal and Karakoram passes. The most well-known and
well-traveled is the 56 kilometer long Khyber Pass in the northwest. It links
Peshawar in Pakistan with Jalalabad in Afghanistan, where it connects to a route
leading to the Afghan capital of Kabul. It is the widest and lowest of all the mountain
passes, reaching a maximum elevation of 1,072 m (3,517 ft). The route of the Bolan
Pass links Quetta in Baluchistan Province with Kandahar in Afghanistan; it also
serves as a vital link within Pakistan between Sind and Baluchistan provinces.
Historically, the Khyber and Bolan passes were used as the primary routes for
invaders to enter India from Central Asia, including the armies of Alexander the
Great. The Tochi pass connects Ghazni in Afghanistan with Bannu in Pakistan and
the Gomal pass provides an easy access from Afghanistan to Dera Ismail Khan in
Pakistan and the Punjab. Also historically significant is Karakoram Pass, on the
border with China. For centuries it was part of the trading routes known as the Silk
Road, which linked China and other parts of Asia with Europe.
Section 7: Forests of Pakistan

The forests of Pakistan reflect great physiographic, climatic and

edaphic contrasts in the country. Pakistan is an oblong stretch of land
between the Arabian sea and Karakoram mountains, lying diagonally
between 24° N and 37° N latitudes and 61° E and 75° E longitudes,
and covering an area of 87.98 million hectares. Topographically, the
country has a continuous massive mountainous tract in the north, the
west and south-west and a large fertile plain, the Indus plain. The
northern mountain system, comprising the Karakoram, the great
Himalayas, and the Hindu-Kush, has enormous mass of snow and
glaciers and 100 peaks of over 5,400 m. in elevation. K-2 (8,563 m.)
is the second highest peak in the world. The mountain system occupies
one third of this part of the country. The western mountain ranges, not
so high as in the north, comprise the Sufed Koh and the Sulaiman
while the south-western ranges forming a high, dry and cold
Balochistan plateau. Characteristically, the mountain slopes are steep,
even precipitous, making fragile watershed areas and associated forest
vegetation extremely important from hydrological point of view. The
valleys are narrow. The mountains are continuously undergoing
natural process of erosion. The nature of climate with high intensity
rainfall in summer and of soil in the northern regions render these
mountains prone to landslides.

The Indus plain consists of two features; the alluvial plain and sand-
dunal deserts. The country is drained by five rivers; namely, Indus,
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej. Of these Indus arising in snow
covered northern mountain ranges flows towards south through the
Punjab and Sindh plains into a wide delta before entering Arabian sea.
Other rivers join it on the way, together feeding one of the largest
irrigation systems in the world. The great river system of Indus in
Pakistan derives a part of their water supply from sources which lie in
the highlands beyond the Himalayas and the western mountains, and
part from countless valleys which lie hidden within the mountain folds.
Much of the silt of the alluvial plain is from natural geological erosion
of mountains in the north brought down by rivers. Thal desert lies
between the rivers Indus and Jhelum, while Cholistan and Thar deserts
occur on the south-east of the country.

A great variety of parent rock types occur in Pakistan, which exert

considerable influence on the properties of the soil. The rocks found in
Pakistan can be classified into three major groups, viz. the igneous
rocks, the sedimentary rocks and the metamorphic rocks. In the
Himalayan regions, the common rock types are metamorphic which
are gneisses, schists, slates and phyllites with some quartzite and
marble. In the northern part of Indus plain, between Sargodha and
Shahkot small outcrops of phyllites and quartzites occur. Granite,
syenite, diorite, gabbro, dolerite and peridotite are more common
types of igneous rocks, which occur in Dir, Swat, Chitral, Gilgit, Zhob,
Chagai, Las Bela and Nagarpark.

Forest area of Pakistan reported in different official documents has

varied over the years with administrative and political changes in
country as well as with changes in methods of reporting data. Different
government departments have been publishing different forest
statistics since 1947 when Pakistan was created as an independent
country. Most recently, data of land use including forest area have
been reported by Forestry Sector Master Plan (FSMP) Project in 1993,
with the help of Landsat Satellite Thematic Mapper Images at a scale
of 1:250,000 covering the whole of Pakistan.

The total area of forests in Pakistan is 4.224 million ha which is 4.8%

of the total land area. However, it may be mentioned here that the
farmland trees and linear planting along roadsides, canalsides and
railway sides covering an estimated area of 466,000 ha and 16,000 ha
respectively do not constitute forests within the context of legal,
ecological or silvicultural/management definition of forests. The
situation is also similar, but to a lesser extent, in the case of
miscellaneous plantations over an area of 155,000 ha. If the area of
these three categories of plantations is excluded from total forest area
of 4.224 million ha, then the latter is reduced to 3.587 million ha
which is approximately 4.1 % of the total area.

Of the four forest cover percentage groups (> 70%, 40-69%, 10-39%,
0-9%), Pakistan lies in the last category: 0-9%. Between 1981 and
1990, there had been a 4.3% decrease in forest areas of the Tropical
Asia and Oceania, which Pakistan is a part of. During the same period,
a 0.6% deforestation had been occurring each year. This is an
alarming situation and needs to be stalled and then reversed, if
possible.

As recognition of the multiple values of forests has grown, so have

concerns for their disappearance. In Pakistan, subtropical, temperate,
riverain and mangrove forests are being lost because of questionable
land use practices and the ever-increasing demand for timber and
firewood. As a result, more responsible management approaches are
being demanded that can accommodate complex economic and
ecological needs. Designation of selected forestlands as national parks,
area for agro-forestry practices and the development of plantations
and afforestation practices are needs of the hour.

Total Forest Area under the control of the Forest Departments

(including Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas) is 4.26 million
hectares. The per capita forest area is only 0.037 ha compared to the
world average of ONE ha. Main reason for this is that more than 70%
land area of Pakistan is Arid and semi-Arid with annual rainfall of 250-
500 mm: too low and erratic to sustain natural vegetation and to plan
afforestation/regeneration programmes.

Forest Areas and Rangelands (in ha.)

Forest NWFP Punjab Sindh Balochistan Northern Azad Total

Type Areas Kashmir
Coniferou 1105 29 - 131 285 361 1911
s
Irr. - 142 82 - 2 - 226
Plantation
s
Riverain - 51 241 5 - - 297
Forests
Scrub 115 340 10 163 658 1 1287
Forests
Coastal - - 345 - - - 345
Forests
Mazri 24 - - - - - 24
Lands
Linear 2 4 - - - - 6
Pltns.
Private 159 - - - - - 159
Pltns.
Range 150 2683 490 787 2104 195 6409
Lands
TOTAL: 1555 3249 1168 1086 3049 557 10664
The following forest types are found in Pakistan:

• Littoral and Swamp forests

• Tropical dry deciduous forests
• Tropical thorn forests
• Sub-tropical broad-leaved evergreen forests
• Sub-tropical pine forests
• Himalayan moist temperate forests
• Himalayan dry temperate forests
• Sub-alpine forests
• Alpine scrub

Littoral and Swamp forests

These are more or less gregarious forests of low height which occur in
the Arabian sea around the coast of Karachi and Pasni in Balochistan.
The main species is Avicennia marina (99%). Other species like
Rhizophora have disappeared over a period of time due to heavy
cutting. According to latest estimates, these forest cover an area of
207,000 ha.

Tropical dry deciduous forests

These are forests of low or moderate height consisting almost entirely
of deciduous species. Their canopy is typically light though it may
appear fairly dense and complete during the short rainy season. This
type does not occur extensively in Pakistan but there are limited areas
in the Rawalpindi foothills carrying this vegetation type, all much
adversely affected by close proximity to habitation or cultivation. It is
closely similar both in floristic composition and in structure to that
developed freely in the adjoining parts of North West India. The chief
tree species are Lannea (Kamlai, Kembal) Bombax ceiba (Semal),
Sterculia, Flacourtia (Kakoh, Kangu), Mallotus (Kamila, Raiuni) and
Acacia catechu (Kath). Common shrubs are Adhatoda (Bankar, Basuti,
Bansha), Gymnosporia (Putaki) and Indigofera (Kathi, Kainthi).

Tropical thorn forests

These are low, open and pronouncedly xerophytic forests in which
thorny leguminous species predominate. This type occupies the whole
of the Indus plain except the driest parts. The major tree species are
Prosopis cineraria (Jhand), Capparis decidua (Karir, Karil), Zizyphus
mauritiana (Ber), Tamarix aphylla (Farash) and Salvadora oleoides
(Pilu, wan). Among them are a large number of shrubs of all sizes. The
tree forest climax is very frequently degraded to a very open, low
thorny scrub of Euphorbia (Thor), Zizyphus (Ber), etc. owing to the
universally heavy incidence of grazing and other biotic factors. Edaphic
variants, especially connected with degree of salinity, shallowness over
rock, etc., often occur. A characteristic pioneer vegetation is developed
on inland sand dunes and the semi-deserts of the areas of least
rainfall.

On the basis of climax vegetation, the whole Indus basin plain with the
exception of parts of the districts of Sialkot, Gujrat and Jehlum,
consists of tropical thorn forests. Prior to development of irrigation,
agriculture and urbanization, the area extended from the foothills of
the Himalayas and low-hills in the south-west Punjab plains and
Balochistan to the Arabian sea. The climax species of these forests are
Salvadora oleoides, Capparis decidua, Tamarix aphylla and Prosopis
cineraria, which grow on a wide range of soil textures, from flat deep
alluvial soils to heavy clays, loams and sandy loams. The climate
varies from semi-arid (250 to 750 mm rainfall) to arid (less than 250
mm rainfall). The summer temperature in this tract is as high as 50°C.

Earlier, these forests merged with riverain forests along the river
banks and with scrub forests in the low hills in the north and north-
western regions of Pakistan. Together these forests provided an ideal
habitat to the wildlife of the area which seasonally migrated according
to their needs; during cold winter from the lower hills towards the
plains in search of food and shelter, from the flood plains towards the
dry areas during floods and towards the rivers during the summer
drought. This is no longer the situation. Riverain forests now grow in
the forms of disjunct patches over an area of 173,000 ha. Irrigated
agriculture is carried over 18.668 million ha. and irrigated tree
plantations over an area of 103,000 ha in this tract.

Sub-tropical broad-leaved evergreen forests

These are xerophtic forests of thorny and small-leafed evergreen
species. This type occurs on the foothills and lower slopes of the
Himalayas, the Salt Range, Kalachitta and the Sulaiman Range. The
typical species are; Olea cuspidata (Kau) and Acacia modesta (Phulai),
the two species occurring mixed or pure, and the shrub Dodonaea
(Sanatta) which is particularly abundant in the most degraded areas.
Total area of these forests is estimated to be 1,191,000 ha.

Sub-tropical pine forests

These are open inflammable pine forests sometimes with, but often
without, a dry evergreen shrub layer and little or no underwood. This
type consists of Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) forests found between 900
m and 1700 m elevation in the Western Himalayas within the range of
the south-west summer monsoon. It is the only pine of these forests
though there is a small overlap with Pinus wallichiana (Kail, Biar) at
the upper limit.

Himalayan moist temperate forests

The evergreen forests of conifers, locally with some admixture of oak
and deciduous broad-leaved trees fall in this category. Their
undergrowth is rarely dense, and consists of both evergreen and
deciduous species. These forests occur between 1500 m and 3000 m
elevation in the Western Himalayas except where the rainfall falls
below about 1000 mm in the inner ranges, especially in the extreme
north-west.

These forests are divided into a lower and an upper zone, in each of
which definite species of conifers and/or oaks dominate. In the lower
zone, Cedrus deodara (Deodar, diar), Pinus wallichiana, Picea
smithiana and Abies pindrow (Partal) are the main conifer species in
order of increasing altitude, with Quercus incana (rin, rinj) at lower
altitudes and Q. dilatata above 2130 m. In the upper zone Abies
pindrow and Q. semecarpifolia are the dominant tree species. There
may be pockets of deciduous broad-leaved trees, mainly edaphically
conditioned, in both the zones. Alder (Alnus species) colonizes new
gravels and sometimes kail does the same. Degradation forms take
the shape of scrub growth and in the higher reaches, parklands and
pastures are subjected to heavy grazing.

Himalayan dry temperate forests

These are open evergreen forest with open scrub undergrowth. Both
coniferous and broad-leaved species are present. This type occurs on
the inner ranges throughout their length and are mainly represented in
the north-west. Dry zone deodar, Pinus gerardiana (Chalghoza) and/or
Quercus ilex are the main species. Higher up, blue pine communities
occur and in the driest inner tracts, forests of blue pine, Juniperus
macropoda (Abhal, Shupa, Shur) and some Picea smithiana (e.g. in
Gilgit) are found locally.

Sub-alpine forests
Evergreen conifers and mainly evergreen broad-leaved trees occur in
relatively low open canopy, usually with a deciduous shrubby
undergrowth of Viburnum (Guch), Salix (Willow, Bed), etc. The type
occurs throughout the Himalayas from about 3,350 m to the timber
limit. Abies spectabilis and Betula utilis (Birch, Bhuj) are the typical
tree species. High level blue pine may occur on landslips and as a
secondary sere on burnt areas or abandoned clearings.
Rhododendrons (Bras, Chahan) occur in the understorey but do not
form extensive communities as they do in the central and eastern
Himalaya. Dwarf junipers are often abundant.

Alpine scrub
Under this type are included shrub formations 1 m to 2 m high
extending 150 m or more above the sub-alpine forests. The
characteristic genera are Salix, Lonicera (Phut), Berberis (Sumbul,
Sumblue), Cotoneaster with Juniperus and occasionally Rhododendron
or Ephedra (Asmania).

Section 9: Climate
Depending on the topography, there is an extreme variation in the temperature of
Pakistan. The country is essentially arid except for the southern slopes of the
Himalayas and the sub-mountainous tract where the annual rainfall varies between
760 and 1270 mm. This area has humid sub-Tropical climate. In the extreme north -
because of great heights - Highland climate prevails. The controlling factors of the
climate are:

1. The sub-Tropical location of Pakistan that tends to keep the temperature high,
particularly in
summer.
2. The oceanic influence of the Arabian Sea that keeps down the temperature
contrast between
summer and winter at the coast.
3. Higher altitudes in the west and north that keep the temperature down throughout
the year.
4. The Monsoon winds that bring rainfall in summer.
5. The Western Depression originating from the Mediterranean region and entering
Pakistan from the
west that brings rainfall in winter. These cyclones make a long land journey and
are thus robbed
of most of the moisture by the time they reach Pakistan. 6. A temperature
inversion layer at a
low elevation of about 1,500 m in the south during the summer, that does not
allow the
moisture-laden air to rise and condensation to take place.

Temperature
Pakistan can be divided into four broad temperature regions:

1. Hot summer and mild winter: 32o C or more in summer and 10 to 21o C in winter.
2. Warm summer and mild winter: 21 - 32oC in summer and 10 to 21oC in winter.
3. Warm summer and cool winter: 21 - 32oC in summer and 0 - 10oC in winter.
4. Mild summer and cool/cold winter: Summer temperature between 10 and 21oC
and winter
temperature between 0 and 10oC.
Maps showing maximum and minimum temperature regimes
Map Credit: UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific
(http://www.rrcap.unep.org)
 Rainfall
The major part of Pakistan experiences dry climate. Humid conditions prevail but
over a small area in the north. The whole of Sindh, most of Balochistan, the major
part of the Punjab and central parts of Northern Areas receive less than 250 mm of
rainfall in a year. Northern Sindh, southern Punjab, north-western Balochistan and
the central parts of Northern Areas receive less than 125 mm of rainfall. True humid
conditions appear after the rainfall increases to 750 mm in plains and 625 mm in
highlands. There are two sources of rainfall in Pakistan: the Monsoon and the
Western Depression. The former takes place from July to September and the
latter, December to March.

Map showing precipitation regime

Map Credit: UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific
(http://www.rrcap.unep.org)

Record rainfall extremes in Pakistan over 200 millimetres (7.9 in) in 24 hours, based on
data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 1931–2010[9] and other sources.

Rainfall Rainfall
Date City Province Notes References
(mm) (in)
24-7-2001 620 24.4 Islamabad Islamabad 620 millimetres [3][4]
Capital (24 in) rainfall
Territory was recorded in
10 hours, on 24
July 2001 in
Islamabad, it is
 the heaviest
rainfall in
Islamabad.
Khyber [24]
29-7-2010 280 11.0 Risalpur
Pakhtunkhwa
[25]
7-8-1953 278.1 10.95 Karachi Sindh
Record-
breaking
rainfall in
Peshawar,
Khyber previously [11][24]
29-7-2010 274 10.7 Peshawar
Pakhtunkhwa 187 millimetres
(7.4 in) mm
was recorded
on 10 April
2009.
[16]
5-9-1961 264.2 10.4 Fasilabad Punjab
Islamabad
[24]
30-7-2010 257 10.1 Islamabad Capital
Territory
Khyber [24]
29-7-2010 257 10.1 Cherat
Pakhtunkhwa
[26]
2-7-1972 256.5 10.1 Nawabshah Sindh
[27]
10-9-1992 255 10.0 Murree Punjab
[13]
12-9-1962 250.7 9.8 Hyderabad Sindh
The rainfall
18-7-2009 245 9.6 Karachi Sindh occurred in just [28]
4 hours
[24]
30-7-2010 240 9.4 Kamra Punjab
[27]
27-8-1997 233.8 9.2 Murree Punjab
Khyber [24]
29-7-2010 233 9.1 Kohat
Pakhtunkhwa
[24]
30-7-2010 231 9.1 Murree Punjab
Record-
breaking [29]
6-6-2010 227 8.9 Gawadar Balouchistan
rainfall in
Gwadar.
[15]
1-8-1976 211 8.3 Lahore Punjab
8-7-2003 209 8.2 Larkana Sindh
Azad [30]
10-9-1992 208 8.2 Muzaffarabad
Kashmir
[2]
1-7-1977 207.6 8.1 Karachi Sindh
29-7-2007 205 8.0 Sargodha Punjab
[2][12]
4-8-2010 202 7.9 Dera Ismail Khyber Record-
 breaking
rainfall in Dera
Ismail Khan
previously
Khan Pakhtunkhwa
116 millimetres
(4.6 in) was
recorded on 4
July 1994.
Islamabad
[20]
24-7-2001 200 7.8 Islamabad Capital
Territory
Islamabad
[20]
27-8-1997 200 7.8 Islamabad Capital
Territory
[31]
13-8-2008 200 7.8 Lahore Punjab

[edit] Record-breaking torrential rainfall of July 2010

Unprecedented heavy monsoon rain began in the last week of July 2010 in the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir regions of Pakistan which
causes floods in Balochistan and Sindh.[32] The floods which were caused by monsoon
rains, and were forecast to continue into early August, were described as the worst in the
last 80 years.[33] The Pakistan Meteorological Department said that over 200 mm
(7.88 inches) of rain fell over a 24-hour period over a number of places of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and more was expected.[34] A record-breaking 274 mm
(10.7 inches) rain fell in Peshawar during 24 hours,[35] previously 187 mm (7.36 inches)
of rain was recorded in April 2009.[11] Other record-breaking rains were recorded in
Risalpur, Cherat, Saidu Sharif, Mianwali, and Kohat regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

[edit] Heavy rainfalls recorded during the wet spell of July 2010

Heavy rainfalls of more than 200 millimetres (7.9 in) recorded during the four day wet
spell of July 27 to July 30, 2010 in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab
based on data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.[24]

Rainfall Rainfall (in) Province

City Notes References
(mm)
Risalpur 415[B] 16.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [24]

Islamabad Capital [24]

Islamabad 394 15.5
Territory
[24]
Murree 373 14.6 Punjab
Cherat 372[B] 14.6 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [24]

[24]
Garhi Dopatta 346 13.6 Azad Kashmir
Saidu Sharif 338[B] 13.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [24]
Peshawar 333[B] 13.1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [24]

[24]
Kamra 308 12.1 Punjab
[24]
Rawalakot 297 11.7 Azad Kashmir
[24]
Muzaffarabad 292 11.5 Azad Kashmir
[24]
Lahore 288 11.3 Punjab
Mianwali 271[B] 10.6 Punjab [24]

[24]
Lower Dir 263 10.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kohat 262[B] 10.3 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [24]

[24]
Balakot 256 10.0 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
[24]
Sialkot 255 10.0 Punjab
[24]
Pattan 242 9.5 Azad Kashmir
[24]
DIR 231 9.10 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
[24]
Gujranwala 222 8.7 Punjab
Dera Ismail [24]
220 8.6 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khan
[24]
Rawalpindi 219 8.6 Punjab

[edit] Floods
Main article: List of floods in Pakistan

A NASA satellite image showing the Indus River at the time of 2010 floods

Pakistan has seen many floods, the most worst and destructive is the recent 2010 Pakistan
floods, which swept away the 20 % of Pakistan's land, the flood is the result of
unprecedented Monsson rains which lasted from 28 July to 31 July 2010. Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and North eastern punjab were badly affected during the monsoon rains
when dams, rivers and lakes overflowed. By mid-August, according to the governmental
Federal Flood Commission (FFC), the floods had caused the deaths of at least 1,540
people, while 2,088 people had received injuries, 557,226 houses had been destroyed,
and over 6 million people had been displaced.[36] One month later, the data had been
updated to reveal 1,781 deaths, 2,966 people with injuries, and more than 1.89 million
homes destroyed.[37] The flood affected more than 20 million people exceeding the
combined total of individuals affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005
Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[38][39] The flood is considered as worst
in Pakistan's history affecting people of all four provinces and Gilgit Baltistan and Azad
Kashmir region of Pakistan.[40]

The other floods which caused destruction in the history of Pakistan, includes the flood of
1950, which killed 2910 people, On 1 July 1977 heavy rains and flooding in Karachi,
killed 248 people, according to Pakistan meteorological department 207 millimetres (8.1
in) of rain fell in 24 hours.[41] In 1992 flooding during Monsoon season killed 1,834
people across the country, in 1993 flooding during Monsoon rains killed 3,084 people, in
2003 Sindh province was badly affected due to monsoon rains causing damages in
billions, killed 178 people, while in 2007 Cyclone Yemyin submerged lower part of
Balochistan Province in sea water killing 380 people. Before that it killed 213 people in
Karachi on its way to Balochistan.

The weather extremes in Pakistan include high and low temperatures, heaviest rainfall
and flooding. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan is 53.5 °C (128.3 °F)
which was recorded in Mohenjo-daro, Sindh on 26 May, 2010. It was not only the hottest
temperature ever recorded in Pakistan but also the hottest reliably measured temperature
ever recorded on the continent of Asia.[3][4] and the fourth highest temperature ever
recorded on earth. The highest rainfall of 620 millimetres (24 in) was recorded in
Islamabad during 24 hours on 24 July, 2001. The record-breaking rain fell in just 10
hours. It was the heaviest rainfall in Islamabad in the previous 100 years.

[edit] Tropical cyclones and tornadoes

Main article: Tropical cyclones and tornadoes in Pakistan

Each year before the onset of monsoon that is 15 April to 15 July and also after its
withdrawal that is 15 September to 15 December, there is always a distinct possibility of
the cyclonic storm to develop in the north Arabian Sea. There is a 98 per cent chance of
cyclones to turn towards the Indian state of Gujarat, one per cent chance of moving
towards the Gulf and one per cent chance of moving towards the Pakistani coast.
However tornadoes mostly occur during spring season that is March and April usually
when a Western Disturbance starts effecting the northern parts of the country. It is also
speculated that cycles of tornado years may be correlated to the periods of reduced
tropical cyclone activity.

[edit] Drought
Main article: Drought in Pakistan

The drought has become a frequent phenomenon in the country. Already, the massive
droughts of 1998-2002 has stretched the coping abilities of the existing systems to the
limit and it has barely been able to check the situation from becoming a catastrophe. The
drought of 1998-2002 is considered worst in 50 years. According to the Economic Survey
of Pakistan, the drought was one of the most significant factors responsible for the less
than anticipated growth performance. The survey terms it as the worst drought in the
history of the country. According to the government, 40 percent of the country's water
needs went unmet.[5][6]

[edit] Floods
Main article: List of floods in Pakistan

• In 2003, Sindh province was badly affected when above normal monsoon rainfall
caused flooding in the province; urban flooding also hit Karachi where two days
of rainfall of 284.5 millimetres (11.20 in) created havoc in the city, while Thatta
district was the worst hit where 404 millimetres (15.9 in) rainfall caused flash
floods in the district. At least 484 people died and some 4,476 villages in the
province were affected.[7][8]

• In 2007, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and coastal Balochistan were badly

affected due to monsoon rainfall. Sindh and coastal Balochistan were affected by
Cyclone Yemyin in June and then torrential rains in July and August, while
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was affected by melting glaciers and heavy rainfall in July
and August. At least 130 people died and 2,000 were displaced in Khyber-
Pakhtunkwain in July and 22 people died in August, while 815 people died in
Balochistan and Sindh due to flash floods.[9]

• In 2010, almost all of Pakistan was affected when massive flooding caused by
record breaking rains hit Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The number of
individuals affected by the flooding exceeds the combined total of individuals
affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the
2010 Haiti earthquake.[10] At least 2,000 people died in this flood and almost 20
million people were affected by it.[11]