Sir Basit Notes

Pakistan Studies Class 9 Unit 3: Land of Pakistan Notes

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Key notes

Short questions 5 marks, 5 points each

1. Describe the geographical location of Pakistan. (5 points)

  1. Location in Asia. Pakistan lies in South Asia with an area of 796,096 sq km.
  2. Latitude and longitude. It lies between 24 N and 37 N latitude and 61 E and 75 E longitude.
  3. Size. It is 1,600 km long (north to south) and 885 km wide (east to west).
  4. Neighbours. It has India to the east, China to the north-east, Afghanistan to the west (Durand Line) and Iran to the south-west.
  5. Coast and capital. The Arabian Sea lies to the south with a coastline of about 1,000 km. It has four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK, and Islamabad is the capital.

2. Explain the strategic importance of Pakistan's location. (5 points)

  1. Gateway. It is a gateway to Central Asia and the Middle East and a doorway to the Islamic world.
  2. Transit trade. It gives a transit trade route to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia.
  3. Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea, a warm-water sea, is a major shipping lane connecting the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.
  4. Air routes. It lies at the crossing of two busy air corridors (North Atlantic and Asia-Pacific), making it an air transit hub.
  5. Ports and CPEC. The Arabian Sea gives sea food and oil and gas, and three ports (Karachi, Qasim, Gwadar) support trade. CPEC links it with China.

3. What are landlocked countries? How does Pakistan help them?

Meaning

A landlocked country is one which is surrounded by land and has no direct access to the sea or coast. Afghanistan and Bhutan are examples of such countries, and the Central Asian states are also landlocked. Because they have no seaports of their own, they have to depend on their neighbours for their imports and exports.

Pakistan's Help

Pakistan gives Afghanistan and the Central Asian states a transit trade route to the sea. Goods from these countries can travel through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea, and Pakistan has three important seaports, Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar. This gives Pakistan access to Central Asia, which is a region with rich natural resources and growing economies. The transit trade also earns money for Pakistan and increases its strategic importance in the region.

4. Describe the importance of the Arabian Sea for Pakistan. (5 points)

  1. Location. It lies to the south of Pakistan and connects the Indian Ocean with the Persian Gulf.
  2. Shipping lane. It is a warm-water sea and a major shipping lane between South Asia, the Far East and the Middle East.
  3. Sea food. It is a rich source of sea food (fish, sharks, whales, dolphins).
  4. Oil and gas. It is a source of oil and gas.
  5. Ports. Pakistan's three ports (Karachi, Qasim, Gwadar) give access to global markets and energy resources.

5. How do Pakistan and China strengthen their relationship through geographical location? (5 points)

  1. Neighbours. The two countries are neighbours, connected across the Karakoram range.
  2. CPEC. CPEC links western China with Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea.
  3. Gwadar. Gwadar gives China a short alternative route to the sea, reducing dependence on the Malacca Strait.
  4. Development. CPEC brings roads, rail, energy and special economic zones, also creating jobs in Gilgit-Baltistan.
  5. Belt and Road. It is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative and boosts Pakistan's trade and economy.

Long questions 10 marks, 10 points each

1. [Model] Identify in ten points the strategic importance of Pakistan's position on the world map for regional and global politics.

  1. South Asian junction. Pakistan is located in South Asia at the junction of South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and China.
  2. Central Asia. It is a gateway to Central Asia, rich in natural resources.
  3. Sea access. It provides the shortest sea access to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian states.
  4. Persian Gulf. It is close to the Persian Gulf, the main source of world oil.
  5. Shipping lane. The Arabian Sea is a major shipping lane between the Far East, Africa and the Middle East.
  6. Seaports. It has three seaports (Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar) for imports and exports.
  7. Air hub. It lies on two busy air routes, so Karachi and Lahore airports are major air hubs.
  8. CPEC. CPEC and Gwadar connect China to the Arabian Sea and the Belt and Road Initiative.
  9. Neighbours. It borders the nuclear and large powers India and China, and neighbours Iran and Afghanistan, giving it a strong role in regional security.
  10. Islamic bloc. It is a leading Muslim country and a doorway to the Islamic bloc, a strategic advantage for both cooperation and competition.

2. [Model] Illustrate how Pakistan's proximity to India, China, Afghanistan and Iran enhances its geopolitical relevance.

India

India lies to the east of Pakistan and shares the international border with it. At the northern end the Line of Control (LOC), which is 806 km long, separates Pakistani-administered Kashmir from the part held by India. Relations between the two countries are very complex because of Kashmir and other issues. This makes Pakistan important in the politics and security of South Asia, and it also gives it a great strategic importance in the region.

China

China lies to the north-east of Pakistan, across the remote and mountainous Karakoram range. The two countries are close friends. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a project of about 62 billion dollars which connects China to the Arabian Sea. It is an important part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. Through Gwadar port, China gets a shorter and easier route to the Arabian Sea, and Pakistan gets roads, energy projects and better trade links. CPEC is also expected to create jobs and special economic zones in places like Gilgit-Baltistan.

Afghanistan

In the west Pakistan shares a border of 2,611 km with Afghanistan along the Durand Line. Afghanistan and the Central Asian states are landlocked, which means they have no sea of their own. Pakistan gives them a transit trade route to the sea. The Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of Afghan land which touches Tajikistan, separates Pakistan from the rest of Central Asia, so Afghanistan is the main link to that region. Central Asia has rich natural resources and growing economies, so this gives Pakistan a great chance for trade.

Iran

In the south-west Pakistan shares a border of 909 km with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran links Pakistan to the Gulf and the Middle East. Trade and energy ties between the two countries, and their shared Islamic culture, make this neighbour important.

Result

Because of these four neighbours Pakistan lies at the meeting point of South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East. This gives it the role of a bridge and a gateway between these regions, and it is the reason for its importance in regional and world politics.