Pakistan has a diverse climate owing to its varied topography and geographical location. These include its proximity to the Arabian Sea, the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges as well as the deserts in the southwestern part of the country.
In this article, we will explore the different climatic zones of Pakistan and the various factors affecting it.
Climatic Elements
Before we delve into the different types of climate Pakistan experiences, we must first understand the elements that constitute the climate of a particular region.
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Temperature: The degree of hotness or coldness. Temperature is usually measured in degrees on either the Celsius or Fahrenheit scale.
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Atmospheric Pressure: The force per unit area exerted on a surface by the weight of air.
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Precipitation: Rainfall
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Humidity: The amount of water vapour in the air.
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Winds: Air in motion is essentially classified by its speed and direction.
The above elements have the potential to change as one travels through the country and its various climatic regions, which we will explore in our next section.
Climatic Zones of Pakistan
Highland Zone
This zone mostly comprises the northwestern and the western mountains which include parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Gilgit-Baltistan, Swat, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Kaghan. Here, winters are extremely cold and long with temperatures falling below freezing point while summers are short and range from mild to hot with temperatures going to about 20 degrees Celsius.
The arrival of monsoon winds causes rainfall during the summer season whereas the western depressions bring rainfall at lower altitudes. At higher altitudes (mountain ranges) during the winter season, this is replaced with snowfall.
Lowland Zone
The entire Indus Plain, including the eastern and southeastern sides of Pakistan (Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sukkur, Rohri, etc.) are classified as the lowland zone. Here, the summer season is incredibly hot and long with temperatures going up to 40 degrees Celsius while the winter months are short and range from cool to cold with temperatures dropping down to 5 degrees Celsius and sometimes even below.
Monsoon winds bring rainfall to the upper Indus plains during the summer months while depressions cause rainfall in the northern part of Punjab during the winter season.
Desert Areas
Such areas generally experience an extremely arid climate which is characterized by incredibly low precipitation along with high temperatures. Pakistan has three desert regions; Thal, Kharan and Tharparkar.
In all these areas, summers are extremely long and hot with temperatures going up to 50 degrees Celsius and hot, dusty winds blowing all through May until September. Winters in such regions are known to be extremely mild and short with temperatures dropping to 20 degrees Celsius.
Since the climate is so arid, there is very little precipitation; hence, hardly any rainfall is experienced here. In addition, because of the intense sunlight, the daytime is very hot while nights are very cold.
Coastal Climate Regions
Also known as the ‘Maritime Climate’, this type of weather is mostly dominated by sea breezes. Pakistan has about 1000 km of coastline; 750 km are along Baluchistan while the remaining 250 km are along Sindh. Cities such as Karachi and Gwadar fall under this climate zone.
Summers in such areas are generally hot and humid and last quite a few months; winters, on the other hand, are mild relatively humid and last a short while. Humidity exists on varying levels throughout the year as a result of the proximity of the area to the sea. Rainfall is considerably low as the relative humidity in coastal areas is extremely high.
Factors Affecting the Climate of Pakistan
The factors affecting the climate of Pakistan are:
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Monsoon Winds: The southwest monsoon brings heavy rainfall to the eastern and northern regions during the summer months.
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Western Disturbances: Climate changes from these regions bring about rainfall in the winter months along with snowfall in mountainous regions.
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Topography: The mountainous terrain in the north and west (high altitude versus low altitude) ultimately influences temperature and precipitation patterns.
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The Arabian Sea: Coastal areas, such as areas in Sindh and Baluchistan, are affected by their proximity to the Arabian Sea (in terms of humidity and rainfall).
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Altitude: As mentioned above, altitude plays a crucial role in determining climate, with higher altitudes experiencing cooler temperatures.
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Desert Influences: Deserts are known to have arid climates with minimal rainfall. The Thar Desert in the southeast, for example, contributes to severe arid conditions in that region.
How Does Latitude Affect the Climate of Pakistan?
Latitude has a considerable bearing on the climate of a particular region. In the case of Pakistan, since it is located in South Asia, it spans a wide range of latitudes from about 24 degrees to 37 degrees north. Other factors related to latitude that affect Pakistan’s climate include:
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Temperature: As one moves further south of the country, the temperature begins to rise. This is because such regions are closer to the equator whereas the northern parts of the country, due to their distance from the equator, experience far lower temperatures.
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Seasonal Changes: The connection between latitude and the tilt of the Earth’s axis is also evident through the seasonal changes experienced in different parts of the country. Latitude is what causes variations in the angle of sunlight reaching different parts of Pakistan, thus resulting in hotter summers in some regions and cooler winters in others.
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Monsoon Influence: During the summer months, moist air from the Indian Ocean is drawn towards the subcontinent due to the low-pressure system from created by intense heating. This results in monsoon rains that significantly affect the climate in the eastern and northern parts of Pakistan.
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Connection between Altitude and Latitude: The northern areas of Pakistan, which have both higher altitudes and latitudes due to the presence of the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, experience colder winters complete with snowfall.
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Extremes in Temperatures: The Tropic of Cancer passes through the southern part of Pakistan contributing to the occurrence of higher temperatures, especially in the arid and desert region of Sindh and Baluchistan. The northern regions, which have higher latitudes, experience colder temperatures with some areas even experiencing sub-zero temperatures.
Conclusion
By learning more about Pakistan’s climate in the O Level/IGCSE Pakistan Studies syllabus, we can be in a much better position to determine how it impacts various aspects of our lives and how to best prepare for certain climactic changes.
To learn more about the changing climate of Pakistan as well as the factors that influence it, head on towards Out-Class Crash Course!
Most Common Repeated Questions:
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- Describe the climate characteristics (rainfall and temperature) of the semi‑arid region of Pakistan. (4)
- Explain two benefits of the climate for people living in mountain areas in Pakistan. You should develop your answer. (4) [May/June 2023]
- Scientific evidence suggests that cyclones are likely to continue to increase in severity and frequency across South Asia due to climate change. Evaluate the influence of storms such as cyclones on secondary and tertiary industries in Pakistan. Give reasons to support your judgement and refer to examples you have studied. You should consider different points of view in your answer. (6) [Oct/Nov 2022]
- Which of the following factors cause seasonal variations in Pakistan’s climate? Tick (3) two boxes in the table below: (2)
- Describe the characteristics of an arid climate in Pakistan (3)
- In 2019, more than 1.2 million people experienced food shortages in the south of Pakistan due to drought. Evaluate the extent to which extremes of climate influence the lives of people and the economy in Pakistan. Give reasons to support your judgement and refer to examples you have studied. You should consider different points of view in your answer. (6)
- Explain how the natural factors of soil and climate affect the growth of cotton. You should develop your answer. (4) [May/June 2022]
- Describe the benefits and problems of cold climates for people in Pakistan. (4)
- Pakistan experiences extremes of climate which can have many effects on people’s lives. Read the following two views. Which view do you agree with more? Give reasons to support your answer and refer to examples you have studied. You should consider View A and View B in your answer. (6) [Oct/Nov 2021]
- Suggest two ways in which latitude affects the climate of Pakistan. (2) [May/June 2018]
- How does Fig 7. show that the climate in Lahore is typical of a monsoon climate? (2) [Oct/Nov 2017]
- Describe briefly the climatic region in which Karachi is located (1) [Oct/Nov 2016]
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