Human Geography

Section B
2.1 (a) Physical/environmental factors affecting farming
Various factors in the natural environment affect agriculture.

Topography, soil and climate are the main physical factors affecting agriculture.

Topography/relief: Topography is associated with land cultivation difficulties, soil erosion,

and poor transport networks and facilities. Usually the flatter the land, the large and more
efficient is the farm. The more valuable crops like wheat, cotton and sugarcane are
successfully cultivated on these flat lands. Large commercial Farms are rare in mountainous
regions and large areas of such farms are non-existent Agriculture can be mechanized,
depending on the topography of the land used.

Climate: Climate factors such as precipitation and temperature affect agriculture. The areas
located to the north, including the Potwar plateau, receive adequate rainfall. For most of the
year this area tends to produce crops without irrigation. Water for irrigation comes from the
snow-fed and monsoon-fed rivers flowing from the Northern Mountains or from
groundwater, sometimes from deep underground.
In the northern areas, the length of the growing season is limited from April to September
whereas, in the South it is sunnier just ideal for growing crops. Cereals and fruit can ripen
throughout the year.
Soil: The plant grows on rich loamy soil with proper drainage. Plants absorb food and water
from the soil through their roots. Soil with poor texture and harsh chemicals is less productive.
Rich soil produces high farming output. Alluvial soil is best suited for farming.
The River Indus and its tributaries spread alluvium on their banks making the soil rich and
fertile. It is important for farmers to be aware of these factors in the particular area where
they are planning to grow so that they can choose the right crop to grow. Choosing the right
crop for every agricultural area is key to high crop growth and yield.

2.1 b) Strategies to increase agricultural production in Pakistan

Green Revolution which started in the 1960s introduced a series of strategies to increase
agricultural production, transforming farming practices through biochemical, mechanical and
social changes.
• High yielding varieties of rice and wheat. HYVs grow faster which means there can be more
crops harvested per year. HYVs are more able to resist the impact of storms. Although some
HYVs have been more susceptible to pests and diseases, and they are often less resistant to
drought so need greater irrigation.
• Use of fertilisers to increase yields, increasing the number of harvests per year. The use of
pesticides reduces the loss of crops to insects such as the yellow stem borer, weeds taking
nutrients from the soil, and diseases such as fungal growth. These are both costly to farmers

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and overuse can lead to damage to biodiversity in the area. These chemicals can lead to
contamination of groundwater sources, which can lead to eutrophication and as a
consequence death of fish and aquatic plants.
• Irrigation of surface water and ground water allows increased yields as crops are not lost
due to water shortages, particularly during the dry season. However, irrigation machinery
such as motor pumps can be expensive and require maintenance. This has been recognised
by the government which is exploring options to support community-based solutions for
maintaining irrigation structure.

Assess the importance of education for increasing agricultural production In Pakistan.

Education about farming practices has been a key component of working towards food
security. Around half of Pakistan’s population work in agriculture, with this closer to 87% in
rural areas.

National Agricultural Technology Program focuses on increasing productivity as well as food

security, and adaptation to climate change. This includes supporting education to improve
women’s participation in agriculture as well as improving access to technology and farming
practices.

The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) consists of federal and provincial research
establishments, agricultural universities and research organizations.

Education has been an important for increasing agricultural production in conjunction with a
number of other strategies:
• Pakistan has created a consistent programme and series of investment in technology and
rural infrastructure to facilitate increased production.
• Use of appropriate technology in farming communities has helped increase production
particularly on small scale farms, as these options are more easily affordable and easy to
maintain.
• The Green Revolution in Pakistan increased agricultural production. High yielding varieties
of crops were introduced such as Lasani 89 wheat) rice, as well as crops that were more
tolerant to extreme conditions. A range of fertilisers were introduced to increased yields as
well as pesticides to reduce loss of production through pests. Improved irrigation methods
also increased yields.
Through mechanisation and the increased use of technology on the farm, larger areas of land
could be farmed more efficiently.
• More recently the use of selective breeding and GM crops with specific traits (tolerant to
higher water levels for example, or ability to cope with drier conditions).

Importance of plant breeding programs

To increase crop yield plant breeding programmes have resulted in high yielding varieties of
rice and wheat.
• To develop crops better adapted to drought affected areas, for example Balochistan
improving regional food security.
• To develop genetically modified crops which reduces dependence on herbicides and
insecticides.

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Importance of Fertilizers

• Without the use of fertilisers crop production falls as crops deplete the nutrient content of
soil.
• Fertilisers add nutrients and minerals such as zinc to soils which have a low natural content
these nutrients and minerals are taken up by crops and are important for a balanced diet.
• The Pakistani government proposed (2020) to provide a subsidy of Rs 37bn to encourage
the use of fertilisers to help maintain food security during Covid-19.

Land REFORMS
Pakistan inherited a land tenure system based on feudalism. In 1947, 7% of the landowners
owned 53% of the land. These big landlords had little incentive to cultivate all the land or to
raise the productivity of the land. It was necessary to break up these landed assets to increase
productivity and to provide security to landless peasants.
The government of Pakistan was aware of the importance of land reforms and a number of
measures were taken to abolish the ‘ZAMINDARI’ System.
A maximum limit was set to keep a land
. 1000 hectares (unirrigated)
. 500 hectares (irrigated)
A minimum limit was set
. 12.5 hectares
Effects of Land Reforms
The land reforms introduced by several governments were aimed at increasing productivity
by breaking the hold of the few landlords and by re-organization the size of holdings to an
economic level. Unfortunately, the desired results could not be achieved because of the half-
hearted implementation and the lack of political will. Many of the barani lands (rainfed area)
in Pakistan have incomplete land records. In the past they were transferred from one
generation to the next without proper documentation. The big landlords cloud easily
manipulate the agencies which were assigned the responsibility of implementing land
reforms.
Benefits/importance of land reforms

• The tenants have the right to land ownership, therefore is more likely to invest money
and time in their land which will result in more efficient faming producing higher yields.
• • There is a now a limit on the size of farms. This means that here will be less land
division resulting from inheritance reasons and farms remain large enough to produce
economic amounts of produce.

2.1 (c) Food security

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access
to sufficient food that meets their dietary needs.

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The three components of food security are:
Availability (having sufficient quantities of appropriate food available),
Access (having adequate income or other resources to access food),
Utilization/consumption (having adequate dietary intake and the ability to absorb and use
nutrients in the body).

How to achieve Food security in Pakistan/ways of improving food security in Pakistan.

Improve agricultural output production by using genetically modified crops to increase

resistance to plant disease and therefore increasing yield.
• Train farmer to use new technology as man y farmers in Pakistan use traditional farming
methods that result in low or subsistence agricultural production.
Pakistan has made significant progress in increasing home produced food supplies for
example the per capita output of cereals, such as wheat and rice, has increase. This improves
the food security situation as it reduces the need to import food supplies.
•
Green Revolution technologies have reduced the large food deficit and Pakistan now
successfully produces enough rice for domestic consumption and significant quantities are
exported, earning income, both of which result in improved food security.

Government’s efforts to ensure food security

Food security remains an important issue for the future development of Pakistan.
• Pakistan has made great improvements to its food security since the 1960s when it
experienced pace with population growth for many years due to developments in agriculture
(Green Revolution etc).

• Country Investment Plan

Country Investment Plan allocated, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $1.5
billion in financing to help the Government of Pakistan provide social protection, promote
food security.
• The ministry of NFS&R has planned to start National Zero Hunger Program such as School
Feeding developed by the government were designed to ensure sufficient nutrition for
children in poor and vulnerable areas of Balochistan and Azad Kashmir…
• Several programmes have been established by the government of Pakistan (with several
ministries working together including finance, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, food etc) as
well as with NGOs and other international organisations ( WFP, USAID).

Challenges of food security

• Pakistan has made great progress in expanding food production in recent decades,
keeping pace with population growth, but there are still short-falls in some crops, and access
to food is unequal.

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• • Food security in Pakistan is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because the
country is so dependent on the agricultural sector and may experience changing patterns in
rainfall and temperatures which will threaten production.

• Despite efforts to address issues of food security many people remain without
sufficient nutrition. Approximately 60 percent of the population is facing food insecurity and
malnutrition is highly prevalent in Pakistan, according to the UN World Food Program (WFP).
According to WFP, 44 percent of Pakistani children under 5 are stunted, 32 percent are
underweight and 15 percent suffer from acute malnutrition.
• • While Pakistan grows a large amount of food, this is not evenly distributed to
accessible to all the population.
Conclusion
Greater efforts are needed to ensure equality of access to food to ensure greater food security
in the future. • Concerns over the future of food security are interlinked with the challenges
of climate change and the potential impact on the ability for Pakistan to grow food. Pakistan
has to comprehensively implement Food Safety Laws for provision of safe food to the
population.

2.2 b) SECONDARY INDUSTRY

Secondary industry is concerned with changing raw material from the primary sector or
secondary products, to form a semi-finished product.

Types of secondary industries

Large scale
As the name suggests, everything needed in large scale industries is in bulk or large amounts.
All the different resources like workforce, the influx of capital, raw materials, the
infrastructure required for the setup and execution of large-scale industry is enormous. It
includes various types of industries. The heavy industry like steel, textile, and automobile
manufacturing industry falls under the category of large-scale industry. It is also observed that
IT has boomed in recent years. A large amount of revenue is generated from the IT industry;
thus, the IT industry also comes under the large-scale industrial niche.

Medium scale

Small scale
Small scale industries are those industries in which production, manufacturing and providing
the services are executed on a small or micro scale.

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In a country like Pakistan, the small scale industries play a very important role in generating
employment, improving the financial status of people, development of rural areas and
removing the regional imbalances.

1. The Brick Kilns Industry

Brick making is an important industry to Pakistan providing employment in rural areas where
agriculture may not be enough to sustain all the people. Suitable clays for manufacturing
bricks exist mainly in Punjab and the brick, making process can be done with simple manual
methods.
2. Handicrafts

Cottage and small-scale industries include carpets, textiles, embroidery, jewellery, ceramics,
woodwork, metalwork etc.
3. Sports Goods Industry

The sports goods industry, located in Sialkot, is one of the main medium/small industries,
which is export orientated.

Factors Influencing the Location of Secondary Industry

• Industries in Pakistan are mainly located in Punjab and Sindh. There are relatively few
industries in the less developed areas, such a Balochistan.
•
• Physical factors
• • Raw material; heavy and bulky to transport / so factory would be best located close to the
source of the raw material in order to reduce cost of [Link] such as textile
production are located near to the source of raw materials. In Pakistan cotton grown in canal
irrigated areas of Punjab and Sindh provinces, near to the main textile manufacturing areas
such Faisalabad as this reduces transport costs
• Water; a large quantity of water is needed in steel manufacture / so the factory would
be sited near to a large source of water e.g. a river or lake. In Pakistan steel industry is located
near the Arabian Sea coast.
• • Land; flat land is required; as it is easier to build on / unused land is preferred as
money does not have to be spent cleaning up the land first s/ large area of land so there is
room for expansion and storage if needed in the future; cheap land / so that it is affordable
for businesses and loans do not have to be taken out. In Pakistan flat areas of upper and lower
Indus plain are ideal for locating secondary industries.

• Industries tend to be located in areas of low relief as this makes it to construct industrial
buildings and infrastructure, therefore reducing costs. In Pakistan, the relatively flat Indus
valley and flood plain provide more suitable industrial locations than the upland areas of the
Northern provinces or Balochistan.

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;
•;

Human factors

Finance/Capital: Industries are located in cities and regions where there is finance available
to allow the establishment and investment in industries. Karachi is the financial centre of
Pakistan, and this helps to explain why shipyards, steel mills and industrial parks are located
there.

• Power; situated near to a thermal or nuclear power station / is preferred so that energy
supplies will be uninterrupted;
• Labour; skilled and unskilled labour is required so located near to a large town or city / so
that labour can access the factory. Faisalabad is Pakistan’s textile centre. The city has a
population of more than 3 million, which supplies a large skilled and semi-skilled work force.
• Market; located to large towns and cities / railways / ports / so that the products can easily
be transported for sale or export. Karachi is a port city of Pakistan so most of manufacturing
industries are located here to export the products (semi-finished, finished) to trading
partners.
• Communication; near to motorways / railways and / or good IT infrastructure / so that goods
can be transported efficiently and deals can be made within Pakistan or beyond;
• Transport; near to main road and rail network and ports for the movement of raw material
in / finished products out / and for workers / large and bulky raw material needs to be near
factory;

SMALL-SCALE COTTAGE/CRAFT INDUSTRY

The traditional or craft industry normally does not use modern technology and is often
organised on a family basis. Cottage or household industries hold an important position in the
rural set up. Most villages are self-sufficient in the basic necessities of life. They have their
own carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, craftsmen and cotton weavers. Many families depend
on cottage industries for their income.
Cottage industries have also gained immense importance in cities and towns. There is great
demand for hand-woven carpets, embroidered work, brassware, rugs and traditional bangles.
These are also considered important export items and are in good demand in international
markets.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LOCATION OF SMALL-SCALE COTTAGE/CRAFT INDUSTRY

1. Local raw materials

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This industry uses available raw material in the villages like rubber, wood pulp, stitching
thread, leather, clay, water and coal.
2. Labour

For cottage industry skilled labour is not required. The labour is mostly unskilled like children,
women, and Afghan refugees.
3. Less Capital.

Very little amount of money is required for cottage industry, like 5000 to 1000 rupees starting.
4. Venue

The place for manufacturing could be a house or even a street.

5. Manual machines or hand tools.

TERTIARY INDUSTRY

Tertiary industry is concerned with providing a service and is sometimes known as a service
industry. It can be divided into a number of different groups such as public administration,
transport, defence and tourism.

Characteristic of the tertiary economic sector.

• Usually involves provision of services.

• Can involve selling goods and products from primary and secondary industries.

• Dominant in developed countries/urban areas/cities

• Workers usually need to be highly skilled /qualified.

• White-collar workers.

Factors that affect the location of tertiary sector activities.

• Transport links to ensure workers can access the site.

• Fast communications provision as usually telecommunications (internet) are an important

component of operations.

• Access to skilled labour to ensure suitable workers are available.

• Reliable power supply as often this is needed for technology involved.

• Access to market to ensure it remains profitable.

QUATERNARY SECTOR (Knowledge based) Industry

This is a new economic sector based on expertise that includes activities related to the
creation, distribution and manipulation of information, also social, cultural and economic

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innovation and research. Workers in these fields need special training and high levels of
expertise. It is highly skilled, information-based services; usually includes management.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE GROWTH OF THE QUATERNARY SECTOR

Increased demand:
As tertiary industries grow there is an increased demand for innovation, and investment.
Development of communication Technology:
Over the past 20 years there have been major improvements in the ability of developing
countries to communicate. This allows the outsourcing of jobs to new markets.
Increased education:
More people are seeking higher education and are now able to fill roles in the
information/research and development positions.
Research programmes:
A new sector which is linked to ICT and research development (Genetics Researchers)

Factors that affect the location of quaternary sector employment.

Good transport connections as companies need good access to road and rail connections to allow a
skilled workforce to reach them.

• Reliable internet access as many companies rely on this to operate their business.

• Proximity to a university as they can provide a skilled workforce suitable for the sector.

• Large area of land available to allow room for growth.

Formal and informal sectors/employment

Formal sector as activities which are taxed and monitored by the government and the activities
involved are included in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In contrast to formal economy is
the informal sector which is neither taxed nor included in the GDP and Gross national product (GNP)
of a country

The advantages of the informal economy is that it provides income and employment to all people
regardless of education, experience etc that a formal economy is deemed to be relying on. Most
people who are employed also find themselves engaged in the informal economy to support their
living expenses.

Reasons for the growth of informal sector in Pakistan

Small-scale industries and other enterprises remain unregistered to avoid paying tax. Many
of these informal industries operate at very low-profit margins such as making cooking pots
and therefore remain unregulated as regulation would make them uneconomic.

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• Child labour is common in the informal economy. Pakistan’s only child labour survey (1996)
showed that 3.3 million under the age of 14 years were working in Pakistan. Rural and urban
poverty, food insecurity and a range of other factors have increased the dependence of a
large percentage of Pakistan’s population on informal industries.
• Many small scale and even larger informal industries, such as seasonal wheat mills, remain
unregulated because they only operate for a relatively short periods of the year and
government officials either do not have time to inspect them, or more commonly are bribed
not to do so.
• Unemployment in urban areas, due to rural- urban migration, has encouraged the
development of the informal sector in urban areas.

Disadvantages of informal employment:

• Money earned from informal employment does not contribute to tax systems so does not benefit
overall economy.
• Often involves unsafe work and there are no regulations to protect workers in such conditions.
• It is often poorly paid and often holds no legal contract.
• Does not provide the employee with health or unemployment benefits and therefore does not
provide security.
• Where children are involved it prevents them from going to school which damages their chance of
gaining more skilled employment.
Example of occupation in an informal service.

Carpet making
• Embroidery
• Shoe cleaning
• Vehicle/car washing
• Brick making

Occupation in the formal tertiary sector

Scientist
• Doctor
• Engineer
• IT specialist
• Solicitor
• Web designer
• Banking

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 (2.2 c)
Transportation

Transport and Economic Development

Everyone recognizes that, in today’s world, transportation is a key element of the global
economy. It has changed the face of employment, trade, family life and health care, bringing
benefits that were unimaginable.
Transportation network of any country is of vital importance to its development and affects
all sectors through economic linkages.
It ensures safe and timely travel encourages business activities and cuts down transportation
costs while granting produces access to markets for their goods. A reliable transportation
network also provides swift access to labor force and hence generates employment
opportunities.
Evaluate the impact of the transport system on the economic development of Pakistan.

The economy of Pakistan depends on exporting goods, particularly clothing, and requires an
efficient, well-maintained transport system. Pakistan’s present and future economic
development relies on efficient movements of raw materials, manufactured products and
developing the road transport network and constructing and improving
rail links is therefore a government priority. There have been significant developments in road
transport networks since 2007, including major roads such as the coastal highway and routes
to China.

provinces. This uneven network and investment limits overall development. Coordinated
investment is needed on a national scale to increase economic development in regions such

Pakistan has a trade deficit that severely limits economic growth. Research indicates that
infrastructure investment on its own is not sufficient to increase the economic activity in the
underdeveloped regions of Pakistan.

Benefits
• Quicker / cheaper long distance travel for passengers / goods;
• More developed public transport network means less need for / expense of car ownership;
• Employment in named transport industry / building motorways;
• Greater mobility of labor / university students;
• Greater ability to transport bulky / low value goods / freight / minerals;
• Rail development reduces number of cars / Lorries on the roads and amount of air pollution
/ fumes from road vehicles;
• Development of industrial estates / settlements alongside new roads.

Transportation Issues/challenges

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• Railways have received little investment or maintenance which means many of the
trains are old and overcrowded and experiences problems.
• • Inherited colonial network of railways do not meet the modern needs of Pakistan
today with some areas of country with poor access.
• • Increased population growth has not been matched by expansion in public transport
leading to overcrowding of services.
• • Congestion due to increased demand for services due to increased rural-urban
migration.

2.3 b) The benefits and challenges of TNCs for people and government of Pakistan.

Positive Impacts
• TNCs can provide a range of more highly skilled employment and training opportunities,
therefore increasing the potential to increase income and develop transferable skills.
• TNCs can bring increased foreign investment into Pakistan, which can improve not only
services but technology and infrastructure too, which in turn can improve quality of life for
some local people.
• Presence of TNCs can introduce aspects of different international cultures to the people of
Pakistan.

Negative Impacts
• Often a substantial proportion of TNCs profits are sent back to the country where the
headquarters is located, therefore not necessarily generating income which will benefit
Pakistan and its people directly.
• Introduction of more globalized companies may influence local culture and practices, such
as types of food, therefore causing a threat to local cultures.
• Sometimes TNCs may locate in Pakistan due to lower wage costs, and so workers may feel
exploited. Although TNCs often require highly skilled workers, sometimes these are imported
from other countries, and therefore not benefitting local workers.
Globalization and Impacts

Globalisation and TNCs may adversely affect the culture and traditions of Pakistan due to
introduction of western ideas and technology.
• Globalisation and TNCs can encourage polluting industries and practices as manufacturing
and resource extraction are for profit. In

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Pakistan industrial development tends to be poorly regulated, resulting in environmental
damage. For example this includes river pollution such as the Indus which is polluted by heavy
metals.
•
Globalisation and TNCs can cause over-exploitation of resources. For example, developing
industry in Pakistan is increasing water scarcity.
•
Globalisation and TNCs tend to benefit the richest countries, which control and dominate
world trade at the expense of developing countries. Countries such as Pakistan provide the
north and west with cheap labour and raw materials. This limits Pakistan's economic
development.
• Profits tend to go to more developed countries limiting the development and financial
security of the 'host' country such as
Pakistan.
• However, globalisation can increase free trade between countries, encouraging TNCs to
invest in Pakistan
• Globalisation can increase the sharing of information between countries

The profits made by transnational corporations (TNCs) located in

Pakistan are sent back to the TNC’s base in another, usually developed, country. This finance
is not available to help with the development of Pakistan.

• Globalisation is affecting the culture of Pakistan. For example, the national dress of Pakistan
is Shalwar Qameez, but cultural globalisation is affecting people’s choices and many are
adopting western style clothing.
• The introduction of fast-food outlets has altered the traditional diet of many, especially
younger, Pakistanis.
• Globalisation increases the disparity between the regions of
Pakistan. Large urban centres such as Karachi benefit from the links with a broader market
base and communications. However, regions which largely depend on traditional agriculture
such as Gilgit-Baltistan do not receive these benefits or develop economically.

Explain one way how regional disparity may effect economic development.
• The resulting disparity in Pakistan helps to increases rural to urban migration, particularly
by younger people. This reduces the work force in rural areas and increases the imbalance of
population distribution.
2.4 The challenges of economic development
2.4 a) Trade
The action of buying and selling goods and services.
Remittances
Money earned by a worker abroad and sent to family/friends in the worker’s home country
Trade deficit
The amount by which the cost of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

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Means the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country over a
particular period of time.
Gross National Product (GNP)
Means the total monetary value of all goods and services produced by the resources owned
by the citizens of the country. This production can take place anywhere in the world.
Capital Goods
Goods that are used in producing other goods, rather than being bought by consumers.

Major Exports of Pakistan.

. Primary Commodities (e.g. raw cotton, fruits, vegetables, leather and fish
. Processed Goods (e.g. cotton yarn)
. Manufactured goods (e.g. ready- made garments, carpets and rugs, sport goods, surgical
instruments, leather products and bedding.
Name of the Countries to which Pakistan Exports
. USA
. China

United Kingdom
. Germany
. Afghanistan
Imports
Capital goods
·Machinery for different industries
Raw material
·Manganese, iron ore, coke (coal), crude oil (unrefined)
Consumer goods
·Electrical appliances, sugar, wheat, fertilizer

Major Imports of Pakistan:

. Food e.g wheat, edible oil, sugar, pulses, machinery e.g textile, electrical, construction,
mining and agricultural machinery,
Petroleum and petroleum products
Name of the countries from which Pakistan Imports
. China
. Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
. Kuwait
Balance of payment
·Different between value of exports and imports of goods as well as services
·Formula:-
(Value of exports of (goods + services) ) – (Value of imports of (goods + services) )
Trade deficit
Value of imports-_ value of exports
Pakistan’s Balance of Payment/Trade always negative
Why?
Ø More value of imports and less value of exports

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Ø Imports of capital goods e.g. machinery for industries
Ø Imports of luxury goods due to improved standard of living e.g. cosmetics, vehicles
Ø Import of crude oil due to insufficient oil reserves of Pakistan
Ø Increasing population so more need of imports
Ø Low value exports as they are agro –based so less price
Ø Restriction by foreign governments
● Due to child labor e.g. in sports good industry
Reasons for Pakistan’s negative balance of payment.
1. Pakistan imports are more than exports.
2. Pakistani goods cannot compete in a highly competitive world market due lack of
standardization and good quality control.
3. The effect of rise in oil prices in the international market since oil is our biggest import item.
4. Since Pakistan main export items are cotton and rice and both are dependent on nature
and unexpected flood, droughts, pest attack and late monsoon does affect our economy.
Why high trade deficit?
Between 2016 and 2017 Pakistan's exports declined by 3% and imports rose by 21% The rise
in exports is due to increased demand for high value goods such as machinery, food and
petroleum but exports tend to consist of relatively low value goods such as textiles and
agricultural products.

• The value of Pakistan’s imports exceeds that of its exports. Pakistan imports high value
petroleum and manufactured goods but exports less expensive household linens, rice and cotton yarn
leading to a trade deficit.

The cost of importing energy, especially oil contributes to Pakistan’s trade deficit which
means that there is less money available to promote economic development.
• Load shedding/power cuts partly due to the high cost of imported energy means that many
industries are without power for extended periods reducing output and economic
development.
• Importing energy is expensive and this leads to an increase in manufacturing costs in
Pakistan therefore manufactured products are not always competitive in the global market
which adversely affects Pakistan’s economy.
• Pakistan spends approximately one quarter of its total import bill on energy. This high cost
means that funds are not available to develop renewable and other energy resources in
Pakistan which greatly reduces the opportunities to extend economic development.

Explain one way how remittances may help to reduce trade balance.
• Pakistan received 3.69 billion $US in remittances which are invisible imports. These
remittances are essential to Pakistan’s balance of trade as they reduce the trade
deficit/reduce the balance between imports and exports.

2.4 The challenges of economic development

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Regional disparity impacts on economic development

• Investment is much higher in Sindh and the Punjab, most of the main urban and
industrial areas, such as Karachi, are located in these provinces and the government gives
priority to these areas when investing in improvements such as infrastructure. This leads to
increasing inequality in development between regions and adversely affects the over- all
development of Pakistan.
• • The main commercial agricultural areas are also Punjab and Sindh, providing income
and economic advantages to these areas and promoting economic stability. Other areas such
as Balochistan have lower agricultural production. As agricultural products are important
exports, this limits the value of exports and the development of Pakistan. • Feudal systems
and unrest in the northern areas result in low investment and low levels of economic
development. Large areas of Pakistan do not contribute to the economy development of
Pakistan.
•
• • Infrastructure is unevenly balanced across the country with most of the major
road/rail links in the Indus regions. This limits the development of Pakistan as many areas are
isolated and limits development. • Development in Pakistan is unequal, with more investment
in the Punjab and Sindh provinces. However, urban areas such as Karachi, which provide
relatively high incomes and are financial centres, are important for Pakistan's development
and help to reduce the disparity of economic development within the country.
•

• • Education levels and literacy rates vary within Pakistan. Literacy is directly linked to
economic development and there are inequalities. However, government incentives to
reduce illiteracy levels will help to increase development and reduce the impact of regional
variations.
•
Explain why there are differences in levels of development within regions.

presence/absence of raw material/resources or examples; development of a specific economic

activity such as tourism, mining or manufacturing; accessibility/presence of port/land-
locked/transport; government policies; political system/level of corruption; levels of education/skills
of workforce; investment/aid from other countries/loans; trade policy/free trade; presence of
transnationals;

Gender inequality impacts on economic development

Gender inequality is considered to be a major factor affecting economic development.

Pakistan is currently ranked as the second lowest country in the world for gender equality by
Global Gender Gap Index.

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• There is lack of access to quality family planning services, especially in rural areas, therefore
woman have a high fertility rate, an average of 3.8 children per woman. This means that
Pakistan’s population is rapidly increasing which is hindering economic development.
• The status of women is low, especially in rural areas. Women are not permitted to leave the
home to work, and this loss of labour adversely affects the economic development of
Pakistan, both regionally and nationally.
• The number of women in education is significantly lower than that of men. 33% percent of
primary school age girls do not attend school in Pakistan, compared to 21% of boys. Girls are
therefore not equipped to participate in the work place, reducing their contributions to the
over-all economic development of Pakistan.

Reliance on imported energy

Reasons why relying on imported energy affects the economic development of
Pakistan.

The cost of importing energy, especially oil contributes to Pakistan’s trade deficit which means that
there is less money available to promote economic development.
• Load shedding/power cuts partly due to the high cost of imported energy means that many
industries are without power for extended periods reducing output and economic development.
• Importing energy is expensive and this leads to an increase in manufacturing costs in Pakistan
therefore manufactured products are not always competitive in the global market which adversely
affects Pakistan’s economy.
• Pakistan spends approximately one quarter of its total import bill on energy. This high cost means
that funds are not available to develop renewable and other energy resources in Pakistan which
greatly reduces the opportunities to extend economic development.

Imported energy sources including coal and oil are expensive, and this increases the negative
balance of trade in Pakistan and potential for economic growth.
• High levels of imported energy reduces energy security and there may be shortages of
energy.
• Alternative energy sources are needed to reduce reliance on imported energy such as
renewable energy sources e.g. solar and wind.
• High energy costs may discourage growth of industry and therefore reduce economic
growth.

Explain why relying on imports of energy could cause problems for Pakistan.

Expensive; Prices fluctuate; Impact on balance of trade; Reliance on a fuel which is non-renewable /
will eventually run out / may have to find alternative fuel; Specified impact(s) on natural environment
e.g. air pollution, global warming; Supply may be restricted (if there are political disputes); Problems
of damage to pipeline / explosions / leaks;

Loss of young skilled workers and economic development.

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Many scientists, engineers, and teachers, trained in Pakistan, are working in other countries,
for example the United States and Canada. This loss of skilled workers is a considerable
problem for Pakistan. Pakistan is the third leading source of International Medical graduates
(IMGs) to more affluent countries. The bureau of emigration and overseas employment
estimate that thousands of doctors migrate from Pakistan each year.
Although some of these trained doctors return, Pakistan often losses both their skills and the
cost of their training, which negatively affects Pakistan’s economic development.
• Pakistan has 9.7 doctors for every 10,000 of Pakistan’s population. This figure is lower in
rural areas and the less developed provinces. Migration of skilled workers such as doctors
means that health care is very limited in many areas of Pakistan, affecting the population’s
health and their ability to work. This is an important factor, affecting regional development
and the overall economic development of Pakistan.
• However, the most significant economic development in Pakistan over the past ten years
has been the dramatic growth of remittances. Remittances from overseas Pakistanis
amounted to $2.768 billion in July 2020, the highest amount recorded and 36.5% increase
from July 2019. Remittances make up 7.9% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and are
therefore essential for Pakistan’s economy.
• Migration of skilled workers is beneficial to Pakistan, which has a median population age of
22.8(2020). Consequently, Pakistan has a very large working-age population and migration to
other countries reduces
Pakistan’s unemployment and therefore benefits Pakistan’s economic development.

Pakistan’s transport system and economic challenges.

• A World Bank study indicated that that over 90% of Pakistan’s freight and passenger traffic is
transported by road. 50% of the national highway network is in a poorly maintained, significantly
adding to transportation costs and reducing the competitiveness of businesses and exports. This has
a negative economic impact on Pakistan.
• • The main transport network is concentrated along the coastal regions and the flat Indus
floodplain. Other areas of Pakistan, such as Balochistan, have a much undeveloped transport network
which restricts development and the exploitation of mineral resources. This has a negative impact on
the economic development of Pakistan.
• • Pakistan relies on the exportation and sale of primary products, especially rice, wheat cotton
and sugar cane. Difficult and expensive transportation means that these products less competitive,
reducing the amount of foreign exchange received and consequently negatively affecting Pakistan’s
economic growth.

Impact of remittances and economic development

• Remittances can help address the negative the balance of trade increasing disposable
income which may allow families to start small businesses.
• • May reduce poverty in rural areas by providing an income that can be invested in
farming equipment to increase yields.
• • Remittances can help pay for services such as education which means family
members might be able to access skilled jobs and earn more money which can be spent in
Bangladesh.

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 Primary sector and the environment
FARMING/Agriculture
Although modern methods of farming have brought great benefits to the people by increasing
crop yield, unfortunately continuous and careless use of these methods may damage our
physical environment in many ways.

1. The use of fertilizers and Pesticides

FERTILIZERS
Chemical fertilizers are used to increase agricultural production by increasing soil fertility. In
Pakistan, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is becoming increasingly popular
among the farmers as our soil lacks nitrogenous matter. However, when these chemicals
drain into rivers, the river water gets polluted. The growth of algae and other plants on the
river bed use up oxygen leaving insufficient oxygen for fish life. The water in cities may also
be supplied from rivers. The toxic element in water gradually affects human health and that
of livestock.
PESTICIDES, A HAZARD FOR HUMAN HEALTH
Research has shown that the use of pesticides has weakened the human immune system. This
can happen if the pesticides remain in the crop which is then eaten, or if farm workers come
into contact with the pesticides when using them. The use of pesticides has opened away for
diseases like gastro-intestinal infections, tuberculosis etc.

Explain one way in which the environment is damaged by exploitation for natural resources.

Soil erosion can be accelerated due to overgrazing as this leaves the soil exposed to the
elements. Water quality might decline due to increased usage of chemical fertilisers on the
land, which run off into rivers when it rains.
Reduced air quality as the machinery that is used to cut down trees gives produces carbon
emissions.
Reduction of biodiversity in an area of forest due to deforestation leading to a loss of habitats.
Loss of trees / biodiversity as the land is cleared allow for mining / quarrying / oil extraction.

Types of Pollution Caused By Secondary Industries

Secondary Industries do require large amounts of raw materials in order to make them into
finished products. Fitting of this great amount, it can also be categorized into many different
types of pollution. These types triggered by the Secondary Industries are listed down below:
● Air Pollution
● Land Pollution
● Water Pollution
● Thermal Pollution

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Secondary Industries rely heavily on the use of fossil fuels to manufacture finished products.
In 2015, a study conducted by the Dawn Newspaper concluded that about one-third of the
energy used in Pakistan went to the industrial sector. This energy usually comes in the form
of fossil fuels and is burned for the cause of production. To burn fossil fuels does not sound
like anything at first, but it is the leading cause to Air Pollution in Pakistan. When fossil fuels
are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases into
the air. These have a pernicious effect on the environment and society, as they lead to the
formation of smog and acid rain hence increasing the risk of respiratory infections, heart
diseases and many types of cancer.
Moreover, greenhouse gases also trap heat in our atmosphere, causing global warming. It
has become such a serious problem in Pakistan that every ⅛ deaths has been linked with air
pollution. The World Bank estimates that 6.5% of Pakistan’s annual GDP was spent on health
implications related to air pollution in 2019. The World Health Organisation has even deemed
Pakistan as the 2nd most polluted country in the world in terms of air quality and the
secondary industry is to take a major part of the blame.

Air pollution is not the only type of pollution this act triggers. Yes, land pollution is to an extent
also a consequence of just that. Acid rain caused by greenhouse gas emissions cause to affect
land and groundwater. As this rain has acidic components when it seeps into the ground it
destroys the fertility of the soil, decreases the productivity of crops and leads to even the
contamination of foods that may eventually be consumed.

Thermal pollution is the discharge of heated water into bodies of water, and includes any way
in which the natural temperature of water is changed. The main contributors to this is as
guessed, secondary industries. They release chemical emissions produced by the
manufacturing of products such as such as paper, medicine, and steel. The natural water
temperature is the most vital requirements for survival of aquatic fauna and flora. The effects
of thermal pollution include decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, which
aquatic life requires, damage to larvae and eggs of fish in rivers, killing off some species of fish
and macro invertebrates that have a limited tolerance for temperature change, and migration
of living entities from their environment, hence causing a loss in biodiversity. A report by the
WWF (World Wildlife Fund) found that in Pakistan alone 160 species of marine life have gone
extinct because of unnatural factors in which thermal pollution by secondary industries plays
a great role.
Secondary Industries might cause this by dumping in waste materials into water bodies, these
can be in the form of both chemical substances injected directly into water bodies through
sewage systems or other more visible waste such as plastic, and metal that is dumped by
industries into water bodies. Water that is to be consumed by humans. The results of a survey
conducted by the PCRWR (Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources) found that in Pakistan
About 20% of the whole population of Pakistan has access to safe drinking water. The remaining 80%
of the population is forced to use unsafe drinking water due to the scarcity of safe and healthy drinking
water caused by secondary industries.

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Explain the impacts of named primary Industry on the natural environment.
Explain the impacts of named secondary Industry on the natural environment.

Answers could refer to any economic activity/primary/secondary industry at any scale and are likely
to refer to issues such as: Air pollution; Water pollution; Destruction of vegetation; Impacts on
ecosystems/food chains; Impacts on climate/global warming; Soil erosion etc.

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