Pakistan's Cardinal Location on the World Map
Location:
Pakistan is located in South Asia, in the northern and eastern hemispheres. It lies between 24° and 37° North latitudes and 61° and 77° East longitudes.
Neighbouring Countries:
Pakistan shares borders with:
- India in the east
- Afghanistan in the west and north-west
- Iran in the south-west
- China in the north
Arabian Sea:
The Arabian Sea lies to the south of Pakistan, providing access to the Indian Ocean and important sea routes.
Strategic Location:
Pakistan’s location is strategically important because it connects South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Its position also makes it important for regional trade and transportation.
Pakistan occupies a strategically important position in South Asia, with access to the Arabian Sea and close proximity to Central Asia, China, and the Middle East.
Location of Pakistan:
Pakistan is located in South Asia with a land area of 796,096 km². It is 1,600 km long from north to south and 885 km wide from east to west.
According to the coordinates shown on the map, Pakistan is located between the latitudes of 24° N and 37° N and extends from longitude 61° E to 77° E. Islamabad is the federal capital of Pakistan. It is one of the most modern and well-planned capitals in the world.
Administrative Divisions of Pakistan:
Pakistan is divided into four provinces, one federal territory, and two autonomous territories for administrative purposes.
- Provinces:
- Punjab – Capital: Lahore
- Sindh – Capital: Karachi
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) – Capital: Peshawar
- Balochistan – Capital: Quetta
- Federal Territory
- Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) – Capital: Islamabad
- Autonomous Territories:
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) – Capital: Muzaffarabad
- Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) – Capital: Gilgit
Significance of Pakistan’s Location:
- Proximity to China:
Pakistan shares a border with China in the north. This provides opportunities for trade, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
- Proximity to Afghanistan:
Afghanistan lies to Pakistan’s west and north-west. This location is important for trade with Central Asia and regional security.
- Proximity to Iran:
Iran is situated to Pakistan’s south-west. The border supports trade, energy cooperation, and cultural links between the two countries.
- Proximity to India:
India lies to Pakistan’s east. Their shared border makes Pakistan strategically important in South Asian politics, trade, and regional security.
- Access to the Arabian Sea:
Pakistan’s southern coastline provides access to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, connecting the country to international maritime trade routes.
- Connection with the Indian Ocean:
The Arabian Sea is part of the Indian Ocean, giving Pakistan direct access to the wider oceanic trade network. This strengthens Pakistan’s strategic, economic, and commercial importance.
Significance of Pakistan's Location:
Strategically, Pakistan's location makes it a potential gateway to Central Asia and the Middle East. It also serves as a doorway to Islamic block. This gives Pakistan a strategic advantage in the region for both cooperation and competition from other countries. It is explained as follows;
- Gateway to Central Asia and Transit Trade:
Pakistan is situated to the northwest of China and to the northeast of Iran and Afghanistan. It is also close to Central Asia. Pakistan provides transit trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asian States which are land locked countries with no access to sea. This gives Pakistan access to Central Asia, which is a region with rich natural resources and growing economies.
- Strategic Importance of the Arabian Sea:
The Arabian Sea is a valuable resource for many countries from the viewpoint of trade by sea. It is a warm water sea and provides major shipping lane and a source of oil and gas.
As the Arabian Sea is located in a strategic position, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf. This makes it a major shipping route for sea trade between South Asia, the Far East, and the Middle East. This gives Pakistan access to global markets and energy resources.
- Pakistan as an Air Transit Hub:
Pakistan is located at the intersection of the world’s two busiest air traffic corridors, the North Atlantic and Asia-Pacific routes. This makes it a natural transit hub for air traffic between East and West. The Jinnah Terminal Karachi is important as an international airport because it handles large passenger and cargo traffic.
- Marine Resources and Important Seaports:
The Arabian Sea serves as important source of sea food. It provides habitats for many marine creatures including fish, sharks, whales, and dolphins. There are three important seaports of Pakistan including Karachi Keamari port, Qasim port and Gwadar port.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a 62-billion-dollar infrastructure project that connects China to the Arabian Sea. CPEC is a crucial part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is an investment project that aims to connect China to countries around the world through roads, railways largely. CPEC is expected to boost Pakistan’s economy and improve its trade links with China and other countries of the world.
Characteristics of Multan:
- Location:
Multan is situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan and is one of the country's major cities.
- Historical Importance:
Multan is an ancient city with a long history. It has remained an important centre of civilization and culture for centuries.
- Multan Fort:
The Multan Fort is one of the oldest forts in Pakistan and represents the city's rich historical heritage.
- Religious Importance:
Multan is an important religious and spiritual centre of Pakistan. It is famous for the shrines of many Sufi saints.
- Shrine of Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam:
The famous shrine of Hazrat Shah Rukn-e-Alam is located in Multan and attracts many visitors and devotees.
- City of Saints:
Because of its numerous Sufi shrines and religious heritage, Multan is widely known as the “City of Saints.”
Characteristics of Peshawar:
- Location:
Peshawar is the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is situated in the north-west of Pakistan.
- Transportation and Trade Hub:
Peshawar is an important transportation and trade centre because of its location near routes connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
- Khyber Pass:
The Khyber Pass is a historic trade and transportation route connecting Central Asia with South Asia. It has played an important role in the trade and movement of people between the two regions.
- Cultural Importance:
Peshawar is a famous cultural city with a rich history and traditional heritage.
- Historical Monuments:
The city is home to several historical monuments, including the famous Mohabbat Khan Mosque, which represents its historical and cultural heritage.
Characteristics of Quetta:
- Location:
Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province and is situated in the south-west of Pakistan.
- Fruit Orchards:
Quetta is famous for its fruit orchards. It produces a variety of fruits and dry fruits, including: plums, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, melons, cherries, pistachios and almonds.
- Educational Centre:
Quetta is an important centre of education in Balochistan, with several educational institutions.
- Business and Commercial Centre:
The city is also a significant business and commercial hub, supporting trade and economic activities in the province.
- Handicrafts:
Quetta is well known for its traditional handicrafts, which reflect the cultural heritage of Balochistan.