2. BALOCHISTAN

Location of Balochistan

• Balochistan is the largest province in Pakistan.
• It shares a border with Iran to the south-west.
• It shares a border with Afghanistan to the west.
• It has borders with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the north.
• It has borders with Punjab and Sindh provinces to the east.
• The southern part of the province has a coastline along the Arabian Sea.

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Landscape of Balochistan

• Balochistan has many mountains and plateaus.
• A plateau is a wide, flat area of high land.
• The Sulaiman Range is located in the north-east of the province.
• The Kirthar Range is located in the south-east of the province.
• The Toba Kakar Range is located in the north of the province.
• The Balochistan Plateau is in the southern part of the province.
• The Khanan Desert lies to the west of the province.
• There are flat plains in the north-east of the province.
• There are flat plains on the southern coast of the province.

Main Rivers of Balochistan

• Dasht River.
• Hingol River.
• Zhab River.
• Hub River.

Mud Volcanoes in Balochistan

What Are Mud Volcanoes?

• A mud volcano forms when water, gases, and mud from deep underground rise to the Earth’s surface.
• The mud and gases can spread out or form mounds or cones on the surface.
• The mud and gases may explode high into the air or slowly ooze out onto the ground.
• Unlike lava volcanoes, mud volcanoes can be quite cool in temperature.

Where Are Mud Volcanoes Found?

• Mud volcanoes are often located in areas with oil and natural gas deposits.
• Sometimes, small amounts of oil come up to the surface along with water and gas.

Mud Volcanoes in Balochistan

• Balochistan has over eighty active mud volcanoes.
• In the west of the province, in Gwadar District, the mud volcanoes are quite small.
• There are more mud volcanoes located north-east of Ormara.
• The most famous mud volcano in Balochistan is Chandrakup.

Religious Significance of Chandrakup

• Hindus on a pilgrimage to Hinglai (near the Makran Range coast) stop at Chandrakup because they believe it is holy.
• Pilgrims stay up all night at the base of the volcano.
• They prepare rotis (flatbreads) and offer them to the volcano as part of their rituals.

Juniper Forests in Balochistan

Location and Importance

• Balochistan has some of the oldest juniper forests in the world.
• These forests are located in Ziarat and Zarghoon, near Quetta.
• The juniper tree is one of the slowest-growing trees in the world.
• Some juniper trees in Balochistan are over 5,000 years old.
• Many tourists visit these forests because of their ancient trees.

Threats to the Forests

• The forests are in danger because:

1. A disease is killing the trees.
2. People cut down the trees for firewood.

• WWF Pakistan has created a plan to protect these forests.

Interesting Facts About Juniper Trees

• Juniper trees grow very slowly—only 28 mm (1 inch) per year.
• The berries from juniper trees are used to flavor food.
• Oil from the trees is used in medicines.

Conservation Message

• A sign on a juniper tree says:
• “JUNIPER – Juniperus macropoda”
• “I AM OLD! MY FRIENDS ARE DYING! WON’T YOU SAVE ME, O MEN?”
• This sign reminds visitors how important it is to protect these ancient trees.

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Climate of Balochistan

Unique Weather Patterns

• Unlike other parts of Pakistan, Balochistan does not have a monsoon season.

Winter Climate

• In winter, temperatures can drop as low as –20°C in northern and mountainous areas.
• The plains and coastal areas usually have milder winters.

Summer Climate

• Summers are hot and dry, especially in the Chaghai and Kharan regions (western Balochistan).
• Summer temperatures range between 18°C and 50°C in most parts of the province.

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The Kharan Desert

Location and Features

• The Kharan Desert is located in western Balochistan and extends into Iran.
• It is also called the Sandy Desert.
• The desert has shifting sand dunes that can be up to 30 meters high.
• Sometimes, there are strong sandstorms in this area.

Climate and Challenges

• The region gets very little rainfall.
• Long droughts make it difficult for people to grow food or raise animals.
• When it does rain, the rainfall can be very heavy and cause floods.
• Life in the desert is tough, so not many people live there.

Agriculture and Livelihood

• Wheat is the main food crop grown in the desert.
• Some farmers also grow fruits.
• Many people breed camels for their livelihood.
• Rug making is a common craft in this region.

Images of the Desert

• The desert has large sand dunes.
• There is a train that goes to Taftan Railway Station in the desert area.

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The People of Balochistan

Population and Languages

• Balochistan is the largest province in Pakistan, but very few people live there.
• The local people are called Balochs.
• People speak multiple languages, including Balochi, Brahui, Pashto, Sindhi, and Urdu.

Where People Live

• Most people live in Quetta (the capital city) and Gwadar (a port city).
• Some live in tribal groups in the mountains, where they raise animals and sell products in nearby town bazaars.
• People living along the coast work as fishermen.
• Those living on fertile plains grow fruits like grapes, apples, cherries, peaches, pomegranates, dates, and apricots.
• Almonds are also grown in these areas.

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Dry Lakes in Kharan Desert

Hamun-i-Mashkel Lake

• The Kharan Desert has several dry lakes
• The largest dry lake is called Hamun-i-Mashkel
• The lake bed contains:
• Sun-cracked clay
• Salty marshes
• Moving sand dunes

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Mining in Balochistan

What Are Minerals?

• Minerals are materials dug from the ground
• There are two types of minerals:

1. Metallic minerals:
   • Iron
   • Copper
   • Gold
   • Silver
2. Non-metallic minerals:
   • Coal
   • Oil
   • Marble
   • Gemstones
   • Sulphur

Copper Mining in Balochistan

• Balochistan has large copper deposits
• Copper was first found at Saindak in the 1970s
• More copper was discovered in 1994 at Reko Dig (near Saindak)
• Mining method used: Open-pit mining
• Diggers remove the copper ore from the ground
• The ore is loaded into huge trucks
• Trucks transport the ore for copper extraction
• Gold is also found along with copper at these mines

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Chromite Mining in Balochistan

Chromite Deposits

• Balochistan has large deposits of chromite at Muslim Bagh

Mining Methods

• Chromite is mainly mined using the open-pit method
• Underground mining is also used for chromite extraction

Processing and Export

• The mined chromite is transported by trucks to Karachi
• In Karachi, the chromite is:

1. Crushed
2. Bagged for export

• Most of Balochistan’s copper and chromite is exported to China

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Mining Fact

Open-Pit Mining

• An open-pit mine extracts minerals by:
• Creating a large opening in the ground
• Not digging underground tunnels

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Coal Mining in Pakistan

What is Coal?

• Coal is a non-metallic mineral
• Coal is a fossil fuel
• Fossil fuels are formed from plants and animals that died millions of years ago
• A fuel is something that produces heat when burned
• Other examples of fossil fuels are oil and natural gas

Where is Coal Found in Pakistan?

• Coal is found in these provinces:
• Sindh
• Punjab
• Balochistan

Coal Mining Methods

• Coal is mined in two ways:

1. Open-pit mines
2. Underground mines

Uses of Coal

• Coal is used to generate electricity
• The electricity generation process:

1. Coal heats water in a boiler to make steam
2. The steam turns turbines
3. The turbines are connected to generators
4. The generators produce electricity

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Mining Problems

Dangers of Mining

• Mining is a dangerous job
• Underground mining is more dangerous than open-pit mining
• The dangers include:
• Tunnels can collapse
• Water can enter tunnels and cause flooding
• Underground gases can explode
• Workers can develop lung diseases from dust

Environmental Problems from Mining

• Mining harms the environment in these ways:
• Animal and plant habitats are destroyed when land is cleared for mining
• There is a lot of mining waste to dispose of
• Streams and rivers get polluted by mining waste
• Air gets polluted when minerals are sent to factories for processing
• Large holes remain in the ground after mines close

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Coal Mining in China

Coal Distribution in China

• Coal is found in almost all Chinese provinces
• Eastern and northern regions have more coal than other areas

China’s Coal Production and Trade

• China is the world’s largest coal producer
• China exports coal to many countries including:
• Korea
• Italy
• France
• India
• Russia
• China also imports coal from countries like:
• Australia
• New Zealand
• South Africa

Coal Mining Workforce

• Five million people work in China’s coal mining industry
• Most Chinese mines are underground mines
• This makes the work very difficult for miners

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Comparison of Coal Mining in China and Pakistan

Production and Usage

• China produces 450 times more coal than Pakistan
• China uses 285 times more coal than Pakistan

Electricity Generation

• In 2018, 59% of China’s electricity came from coal
• In Pakistan, most electricity is produced using oil and gas

Coal Reserves

• Pakistan has one of the world’s largest coal deposits in the Thar Desert
• The Thar Desert coal deposits have not been developed yet

Pollution Problems

• Both countries face pollution from coal mining
• Linfen city in China’s Shanxi Province (coal mining area) is one of the most polluted cities in the world

Mining Accidents

• Both countries experience mining accidents every year
• These accidents cause serious injuries and deaths

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Global Coal Facts

• Coal is found on every continent in the world
• 40% of the world’s electricity is generated using coal

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Book Questions & Answers

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Geography Questions

1. In which grid squares on the map are these places?
   a. Quetta – DS
   b. Khuzdar – (Grid square not provided in text)
   c. Chuxalar – (Grid square not provided in text)
   d. Bela – (Grid square not provided in text)
2. Using the scale, decide which is the correct distance between these places:
   a. Bela and Khuzdar – (Answer depends on map scale; text mentions “200 km or 100 km?” but no specific data)
   b. Turbat and Pasni – (Answer depends on map scale; text mentions “200 km or 100 km?” but no specific data)
   c. Quetta and Chanan – (Answer depends on map scale; text mentions “200 km or 100 km?” but no specific data)

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Coal and Mining Questions

3. What are fossil fuels and what are they used for?

• Fossil fuels are formed from plants/animals that died millions of years ago (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas).
• They are burned to produce heat/electricity.

3. List three places in Pakistan where coal is mined.

• Sindh
• Punjab
• Balochistan

3. Describe the difference between an open-pit mine and an underground mine.

• Open-pit: Minerals dug from a large surface hole.
• Underground: Minerals extracted via tunnels below ground (more dangerous).

3. List four dangers of mining.

• Tunnel collapses
• Flooding from water
• Gas explosions
• Lung diseases from dust

3. List four ways mining harms the environment.

• Destroys animal/plant habitats
• Pollutes rivers with waste
• Causes air pollution
• Leaves giant holes after closure

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Unscramble the Words (Coal Mining)

8. Unscramble these words:
9. ( d \ u n r e d g r u o n ) → underground
   Sentence: Coal is found underground.
10. ( t p i – e p o n ) → open-pit
    Sentence: One type of coal mining is called open-pit.
11. ( l i f s s o \ l u e f ) → fossil fuel
    Sentence: Coal is a type of fossil fuel.
12. ( o u s d n a g r e ) → dangerous
    Sentence: Coal mining can be dangerous.
13. ( l n n u t e s ) → tunnels
    Sentence: Underground mining is done in tunnels.

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Mineral Uses Questions

9. What is iron ore used for?

• To make steel, which is used for bridges, cars, ships, buildings, machinery, and tools.

9. Which minerals can be used to make paint?
   • Sulphur
   • Baryte
   • Limestone
10. List five uses of copper.
    • Electrical wires
    • Machines
    • Jewelry
    • Cooking pans
    • Making brass/bronze
11. Which mineral is poisonous?
    • Antimony (must be handled with care).
12. Which mineral can be carved to make ornaments?
    • Marble (comes in colors like white, grey, black, green, brown).
13. Which mineral do you like best? Why?
    (Example answer:) “I like marble best because its colors make beautiful decorations.”

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Bonus Fact

15. Where is coal found globally?
    • On every continent; 40% of the world’s electricity comes from coal.

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