Gr IX Geography: The Balochistan Plateau

Gr IX Geography: The Balochistan Plateau

The vast tableland of Balochistan contains a great variety of physical features.

The Baluchistan Plateau: Location

• Located in the south-west of Pakistan with altitudes rabging from 600-3010 metres.

• The area covers 347,190 sq km with a number of distinct natural topographical and drainage features.

Basins of Northern Baluchistan

• Irregular depressions such as Zhob and Loralai basins which are situated between the Toba Kakar Ranges and the Sulaiman Range

• The Quetta valley lies south-west of the Loralai basin.

• Rainfall is infrequent but when it does rain, the rivers transport and deposit gravel, boulders sand and silt to form alluvial fans on the piedmont plains

What is an alluvial fan?

• An alluvial fan is a triangle-shaped deposit of gravel, sand, and even smaller pieces of sediment, such as silt. This sediment is called alluvium.

• Alluvial fans are usually created as flowing water interacts with mountains, hills, or the steep walls of canyons. 

• Streams carrying alluvium can be trickles of rainwater, a fast-moving creek, a powerful river, or even runoff from agriculture or industry. 

Basins of Western Balochistan

• There are a number of basins between mountain ranges such as Chagai Hills, Ras Koh, Siahan and Central Makran

• The area is totally devoid of vagetation due to infrequent rainfall

•  

Characteristics of Basins

• These basins have no outlet to the sea

• When it does rain, the rain is capyured into these basins.

• The water soaks into the ground or gathers in temporary lakes.

• These basins are called inland drainage basins.

• They are salt lakes; when water evaporates; leaving a salty crust known as a salt pan

Mountain Ranges within the Balochistan Plateau

• Ras koh (3010 m)

• Kirthar Range

• Central Brahui Range

• Toba Kakar Range

• Central Makran Range (900-1200 m)

• Makran Coastal Range (600 m)

Balochistan's Economic Potential

• Surrounded and crossed by mountains

• To the south is a narrow coastal plain bordering the Arabian Sea

• The area has low rainfall so the climate is dry

• There is no major source of water for either drinking or irrigation

• Absence of link roads

• Limited railway line coverage

Economic Structure

• Crop farming and livestock are the main pursuits of the people in Balochistan

• About 67% of the labor force is involved in agriculture

• It is a poor province - annual per capita is PKR 455

• Insufficient rain and poor irrigation is a problem for formers

Economic Wealth of Balochistan - Mineral Resources

The area is rich in gold, silver, platinum, urnanium, antimony. crude oil and natural gas. About 46% of the nation's natural gas comes from Sui.

Economic Wealth of Balochistan - Fruit Production

The main fruits are: dates, grapes, apples, almonds, apricots, plums, peaches, melons and pomergranates. There is a surplus -- how can this be potentially advantageous?

Economic Wealth of Balochistan -Vegetable Seed Production

The uplands have cooler temperatures (cold winters) -- good for transplantation of seeds. Warm and dry summers are excellent for superior and extensive flowering and formation of high quality seeds.

Economic Wealth of Balochistan -Livestock and their Products

Nomadic farming-- due to scarcitry of rainfall and irrigation. Wool, goat hair and skins are important livestick products. These products have to go through a gradng process to ensure high quality -- for exporting.

Economic Wealth of Balochistan - Fishing (Subsistence and Commercial)

• Gawdar: 10,000 tonnes of fish and 200 tonnes of shrimp annually -- exported to Sri Lanka

• Pasni: 2,500 tonnes of fish -- 400 tonnes consumed locally -- balance exported to Sri Lanka

• Ormara: 700 tonnes annually -- exported to Sri Lanka

Balochistan Plateau

Balochistan is a province that is rich in resources but remains the second poorest in the nation. If you were the Governor of Balochistan, what would you do to enhance the economic potential of your province? (See pg 16 of text)