Land Resources, their management and use in Pakistan

Dr. M. S. Younus Jafri

Abstract

Pakistan occupies the eastern most basin of the three great rivers that traverse the steppe desert of the old world--the Nile, the Tigris-Eupharates and the Indus. Pakistan is located between 24° and 37° N latitudes and 61° and 77° E longitudes. It has a land area of 796,100 sq km and a population of 149 million, which is increasing at a rate of 1.9 percent per annum. About
68 per cent of the people live in rural areas and 32 percent in urban areas. The climate is characterized by irregular rainfall, low relative humidity and extreme temperatures. In the plains the maximum temperature exceeds 40 C in summer and goes below the freezing temperature in winter. Most part of the land is arid or semi-arid in the sub-tropical continental zone. The
average annual precipitation ranges from 100 mm in the central zone to more than 250 mm in the Himalyan foothills. About three-fourth of the country receives less than 250 mm rainfall therefore the irrigation plays a vital role utilizing Pakistan's land resources for agriculture purpose.