Flashcards · 0448 · Topic 2

Paper 2 – The Environment of Pakistan flashcards

52 cards on Topic 2, subtopics 2.1 to 2.8. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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2.1 The land of Pakistan

Which lines of latitude and longitude must you know for Pakistan?: Latitude 30°N and 36°N. Longitude 64°E, 70°E and 76°E. The Tropic of Cancer runs just south of Pakistan.
Which countries border Pakistan?: Iran to the west, Afghanistan to the north-west, China to the north-east and India to the east. The Arabian Sea lies to the south.
Name the mountain ranges of northern and western Pakistan: North to north-east: the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya. West: the Sulaiman Range and Safed Koh.
Name Pakistan’s main rivers and its three deserts: Rivers: the Indus and its tributaries Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, plus the Kabul, Hab and Dasht. Deserts: Thar, Thal and Kharan.
What causes the summer monsoon in Pakistan?: In summer the land heats up strongly, creating low pressure over the subcontinent. Moist south-west winds blow in from the sea, bringing heavy rain, mainly from July to September.
What are Pakistan’s four climate zones?: Arid, semi-arid, humid and highland.
How should you answer a question on the influence of climate?: Give a benefit paired with a problem. For example, monsoon rain supports farming but causes floods that disrupt industry and communications.
Which two cities are commonly confused on the map of Pakistan?: Gwadar, on the Balochistan coast, and Hyderabad, inland on the Indus in Sindh.

2.2 Natural resources – an issue of sustainability

Name Pakistan’s three main dams and the rivers they are on: Tarbela (Indus), Mangla (Jhelum) and Warsak (Kabul River).
Name two barrages on the Indus: For example the Sukkur, Guddu, Kotri or Taunsa barrages.
What are the effects of deforestation?: Soil erosion, silting of rivers, dams and barrages, and flooding.
How does deforestation affect Pakistan’s water resources?: Without tree cover, rain erodes soil from slopes. Sediment is carried into rivers and deposited behind dams such as Tarbela and Mangla (silting), reducing their storage capacity.
What is the difference between a plantation and afforestation?: A plantation is new forest planted for commercial use, such as Changa Manga in the Indus Plain. Afforestation on mountain slopes and plateaux is planted mainly to prevent soil erosion and manage water flow.
Where is rock salt mined in Pakistan, and what is limestone used for?: Rock salt: Khewra, in the Salt Range. Limestone: mainly for making cement.
Where are Pakistan’s main fishing ports?: On the Sindh and Balochistan coasts, such as Karachi in Sindh and Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara in Balochistan.
What are the four cross-cutting themes of the natural resources section?: The problems and opportunities of being a developing country; effects on and conservation of the environment; promotion of sustainable development; the importance of feasibility studies.
What does an “evaluate” question on mineral extraction require?: A weighed judgement: the environmental costs set explicitly against the development benefits, not two separate lists.

2.3 Power

What are the main sources of electricity in Pakistan?: Thermal power (burning oil, natural gas and coal), hydroelectric power from dams such as Tarbela and Mangla, and nuclear power, with a growing share from wind and solar.
Where is natural gas produced in Pakistan, and when was the main field found?: The Sui gas field in Balochistan, discovered in 1952, was the first major field; gas is also produced in Sindh.
Give two advantages and two disadvantages of hydroelectric power in Pakistan: Advantages: renewable, and cheap to run once built; dams also store water for irrigation. Disadvantages: very expensive to build, output falls when river flow is low, and reservoirs silt up and displace people.
Where are Pakistan’s nuclear power stations?: At Karachi (KANUPP) and at Chashma in Punjab.
Where are Pakistan’s main coal reserves?: The Thar coalfield in Sindh, a very large reserve of lignite (low-grade coal).
What is the power shortfall problem in Pakistan?: Demand for electricity has often exceeded supply, causing load-shedding (planned power cuts) that disrupts homes and industry. Heavy reliance on imported oil also raises costs.

2.4 Agricultural development

What is the difference between kharif and rabi crops?: Kharif crops are sown in summer and harvested in autumn (rice, cotton, sugar cane). Rabi crops are sown in winter and harvested in spring (wheat).
What are Pakistan’s main crops?: Wheat, rice, cotton and sugar cane.
Name three methods of irrigation used in Pakistan: Canals fed by barrages and dams, tube wells pumping groundwater, and karez (underground channels) in Balochistan.
What are waterlogging and salinity?: Waterlogging: the water table rises close to the surface because of seepage from canals and over-irrigation. Salinity: salts are left at the surface as the water evaporates. Both reduce crop yields.
What was the Green Revolution in Pakistan?: From the 1960s, the use of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice with fertilisers, pesticides and more irrigation, which greatly increased output.
What problems do small farmers in Pakistan face?: Small, fragmented landholdings, lack of credit, shortage of water and of good seed and fertiliser, and poor access to markets.

2.5 Industrial development

What is Pakistan’s most important manufacturing industry?: The cotton textile industry (yarn, cloth and garments), which is also the largest source of export earnings.
What factors affect the location of an industry?: Raw materials, power, labour, markets, transport, water supply, capital and government policy.
What is cottage industry? Give an example from Pakistan: Small-scale production in homes or small workshops using simple tools and family labour, such as carpets, handicrafts and embroidery.
Which Pakistani city is known for sports goods and surgical instruments?: Sialkot.
Name three major industrial centres in Pakistan: Karachi (the largest), Lahore and Faisalabad (textiles).
What problems hold back industrial development in Pakistan?: Power shortages, reliance on imported machinery and fuel, a shortage of skilled labour, limited capital, and political instability.

2.6 Trade

What are Pakistan’s main exports?: Textiles (cotton yarn, cloth and garments), rice, leather goods, sports goods and surgical instruments.
What are Pakistan’s main imports?: Petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals and edible oil (such as palm oil).
What is a trade deficit, and why does Pakistan usually have one?: When the value of imports is greater than the value of exports. Pakistan imports costly fuel and machinery while many of its exports are low-value goods.
Name Pakistan’s main seaports: Karachi, Port Qasim (near Karachi) and Gwadar.
How can Pakistan improve its balance of trade?: By exporting more value-added goods (such as garments instead of raw cotton), finding new markets, and reducing imports of fuel by developing its own energy sources.

2.7 Transport and telecommunications

What is the Karakoram Highway?: A road through the northern mountains linking Pakistan with China via the Khunjerab Pass.
Why is it difficult to build roads and railways in northern and western Pakistan?: Steep mountains, landslides, heavy snow and sparse population make construction costly and difficult. Deserts in the west and south cause similar problems.
What is the M-2 motorway?: Pakistan’s first motorway, linking Lahore and Islamabad, opened in 1997.
What are the advantages of rail transport over road for bulk goods?: Trains carry heavy, bulky goods such as coal and grain over long distances more cheaply and with less fuel per tonne.
Why is Gwadar port important?: It is a deep-sea port on the Balochistan coast, developed with Chinese help, that could link China and Central Asia to the Arabian Sea.
How have telecommunications developed in Pakistan?: Mobile phones and internet use have spread rapidly, improving business, banking and access to services, though rural areas are less well served.

2.8 Population and employment

What is natural increase in population?: The birth rate minus the death rate, usually given per thousand people per year.
Why is Pakistan’s population growing rapidly?: Birth rates remain fairly high while death rates have fallen because of better healthcare, vaccination and food supply.
What is the dependency ratio?: The number of dependants (the young and the elderly) compared with the number of people of working age.
Give two push and two pull factors for rural-to-urban migration in Pakistan: Push: lack of jobs and services in the countryside, small farms. Pull: more jobs, better schools and healthcare in cities such as Karachi and Lahore.
What problems does rapid urban growth cause?: Overcrowding, katchi abadis (informal settlements), pressure on water, sanitation, transport and power, unemployment and pollution.
What are the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of employment?: Primary: extracting raw materials (farming, fishing, mining). Secondary: manufacturing. Tertiary: services such as trade, transport, education and health.