Topography of Pakistan: Mountains, Plateaus and Plains (O Level Geography)

The topography of Pakistan is the foundation of Paper 2. Climate, rivers, farming, population and transport are all explained by the shape of the land.

Quick answer: Pakistan’s topography has six main regions: the Northern Mountains, the Western Mountains, the Balochistan Plateau, the Potwar Plateau and Salt Range, the Indus Plain, and the desert and coastal areas.

1. Northern Mountains

• Three ranges: the Karakoram, the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush.
• K2 (8,611 m) in the Karakoram is Pakistan’s highest peak.
• Glaciers such as Siachen and Baltoro feed the Indus river system.
• Importance: source of rivers, tourism, forests and a natural barrier.

2. Western Mountains

• Safed Koh, Waziristan Hills, Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges.
• Lower and drier than the northern ranges, with little vegetation.
• Passes such as Khyber, Tochi, Gomal and Bolan link Pakistan with its neighbours.

3. Balochistan Plateau

• Dry, rugged upland with basins, hills and inland drainage.
• Rich in minerals such as copper, gold, chromite and natural gas.
• Low population because of scarce water and difficult terrain.

4. Potwar Plateau and Salt Range

• Lies between the Indus and Jhelum rivers.
• Badland landscape cut by ravines; barani (rain-fed) farming.
• Rock salt at Khewra, plus limestone, gypsum, coal and oil.

5. Indus Plain

• Upper Indus Plain (Punjab) with doabs between the rivers; Lower Indus Plain (Sindh) ending in the Indus Delta.
• Features: active flood plain, old flood plain, alluvial terraces (bar uplands) and piedmont plains.
• Fertile alluvial soil and canal irrigation make it the country’s agricultural heartland.

6. Deserts and Coast

• Deserts: Thar, Thal and Kharan, with sand dunes and very low rainfall.
• Coast: the Makran coast and the Sindh coast with the Indus Delta and mangroves.

Exam Tip

Learn to locate each region on an outline map and to link landform to human activity, e.g. “flat land and alluvial soil in the Indus Plain allow canal irrigation and dense population”. Related notes: climate of Pakistan and water resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main topographic regions of Pakistan?

The Northern Mountains, Western Mountains, Balochistan Plateau, Potwar Plateau and Salt Range, the Indus Plain, and the desert and coastal areas.

Which is the highest peak in Pakistan?

K2 in the Karakoram Range, at 8,611 metres, is the highest peak in Pakistan and the second highest in the world.

Why is the Indus Plain densely populated?

It has flat land, fertile alluvial soil, canal irrigation, good transport and many cities and industries.