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Pakistan Studies · Class 9 · Chapter 5: Resources of Pakistan

8 min

Key points

Natural resources are materials or substances that occur naturally and are useful to humans
Pakistan has abundant water resources including rivers, lakes, and underground water
Major rivers of Pakistan are Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej
Mineral resources include coal, natural gas, petroleum, iron ore, and rock salt
Forest resources cover about 4.8% of Pakistan's total land area
Agricultural resources make Pakistan primarily an agricultural country
Tarbela Dam on River Indus is the largest earth-filled dam in the world
Mangla Dam is built on River Jhelum for irrigation and electricity generation
Sui gas field in Balochistan is the largest natural gas field in Pakistan

Definitions

Natural Resources: Materials or substances that occur naturally in the environment and are useful to humans for their survival and development
Renewable Resources: Resources that can be replenished naturally over time and do not get exhausted with use
Non-renewable Resources: Resources that are available in limited quantities and cannot be replenished once exhausted
Conservation: The wise use and protection of natural resources to prevent their wastage and ensure their availability for future generations

Worked example

Define natural resources and explain the importance of water resources in Pakistan's economy. (5 marks)

Natural resources are materials and substances that occur naturally in the environment and are useful to humans for economic purposes. Pakistan's water resources include rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej), glaciers in northern areas, and groundwater. These resources are vital for Pakistan's economy as they provide irrigation for agriculture which employs 70% of population, generate hydroelectric power through dams like Tarbela and Mangla, supply water for industries like textiles and chemicals, and meet domestic water needs of the population.

Common mistakes

Students confuse renewable and non-renewable resources - remember forests are renewable, minerals are non-renewable
Writing wrong percentages for forest coverage - it's 4.8% not 5%
Mixing up dam locations - Tarbela is on Indus, Mangla is on Jhelum
Forgetting to mention River Indus as the main river when listing rivers
Not including conservation methods when asked about resource management

Quick recap

Natural resources are naturally occurring materials useful for economic purposes, classified as renewable (forests, water, soil) and non-renewable (minerals, oil, gas). Pakistan's major resources include water resources (Indus river system), mineral resources (coal, natural gas, rock salt), agricultural resources (fertile soil, favorable climate), and forest resources (coniferous and deciduous forests). These resources form the backbone of Pakistan's economy through agriculture, industry, and energy production.

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