O-LevelPakistan StudiesThe environment of PakistanOct/Nov 2025 · Q425 Marks

Study Fig. 4.1 (Insert), a photograph of a brick production area in Pakistan. [Figure 4.1]

(a)(i)Using Fig. 4.1 only, describe two features of the brick production area shown.[2]
(a)(ii)Suggest two advantages of the brick production industry shown in Fig. 4.1 for the local area.[2]
(a)(iii)State three factors that influence the location of cement production in Pakistan.[3]
(a)(iv)Identify the main market for the products shown in the table. Tick (✔) the correct box for each product. product | mainly for export market | mainly for domestic market ---|---|--- fertiliser | | refined oil | | sports goods | | sugar | |[2]
(b)(i)Study Fig. 4.2 (Insert), a map showing an industrial estate in an urban area of Pakistan. [Figure 4.2] Using Fig. 4.2 only, identify two features of the industrial estate.[2]
(b)(ii)State the compass direction from the lake to the railway station on Fig. 4.2.[1]
(c)(i)Define the term 'export processing zone' and name two examples of export processing zones in Pakistan.[3]
(c)(ii)Explain two reasons for the growth of export processing zones in Pakistan. You should develop your answer.[4]
(d)Read the following two views about expanding industries in Pakistan: A Expanding large-scale manufacturing industries in Pakistan has the most potential to further economic growth. B Expanding cottage industries in Pakistan has the most potential to further economic growth. 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]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[2] smoke/air pollution/brick dust
tower/chimney
fire underground/ovens/kiln/holes (in the ground)/small mounds
round lids (with handles)/covers
fuel/coal/pile of wood
labour intensive/manual labour/chair for the workers
hazardous environment/lack of protective clothing/wooden pole holding wires
traditional tools/rod with hook/shovel/scoop for coal
located on the edge of/within an urban area/outskirts of a settlement
piles of finished bricks/sheet covering bricks/scattered bricks/stack of bricks
open/flat/plain land
water source available/river/lake
[2] provides employment/work/skills
provides income/can support families
provides bricks/raw materials for construction/buildings/housing/infrastructure example
attracts other investment/industries
does not rely on electricity
potential for cheaper bricks locally/damaged bricks sold at lower price/reduced transport costs to buy bricks
[3] large site
flat site
raw materials/gypsum/clay/shale/sand/limestone/marl
power/reliable electricity/fuel supply/coal supply
water supply
road/rail/transport/market
demand/population growth
labour
environmental concerns/air pollution (away from residential area)
government policies/investment
[2] fertiliser (domestic market)
refined oil (domestic market)
sports goods (export market)
sugar (domestic market)
[2] cluster of/many/13/several factories
access to road network/roads run through the industrial estate/planned roads/industrial area separated by road
railway line nearby/north of industrial estate
close to train station/train station on the edge of industrial estate
close to canal/lake/water source/canal runs through industrial area
close to residential area/outskirts of residential/north/north-east of residential area
area of service industries nearby/north of service industries area
[1] north-east/NE/NNE
[3] an area that offers freedom from taxes/custom duties
an (industrial) area for exports/increased industrial investment
group of industries to manufacture goods for export
a type of free trade zone
Duddar
Reko Diq
Gujranwala
Risalpur
Gwadar
Sialkot
Karachi/Landhi
Saindak
Khalifa
Multan
Sundar/Sunder Green
Tuwairqi
[4] it could encourage local and foreign investors to establish new businesses/expand industries/attract TNCs/protect local industries; which can increase exports/GDP
can lead to more exports/output/standardised products/value added goods; which increases foreign exchange
government policies/incentives; to encourage industrial growth/to reduce trade deficit
can support the development of named infrastructure; which can make transport of goods easier/can be used by local people
potential to increase employment; which can lead to a more skilled workforce/providing opportunities for lower skilled labour/can increase household incomes
can lead to better trade links with other countries; due to increased production/more favourable tax rates
increased demand for specific products; leads to more variety in the local market
[6] government has invested in expansion of industry, which has led to improvements in infrastructure etc. which can lead to more efficient transport systems
potential to reduce the trade deficit if more high value goods are produced
potential to increase development in more areas of the country away from the core regions of Punjab and Sindh which could reduce unevenness of economic growth
involves the highest amounts of investment so could lead to increased debts/loans etc
large-scale industries require large amounts of land for which there is lots of competition from other sectors
often high-polluting industries/use a lot of electricity/lots of water
often are highly mechanised so many not employ as many people
Pakistan has an established reputation for many goods that are produced in cottage industries such as sports goods/textiles
potential for greater rate of employment as it can be done at home/ in smaller buildings than needed for large-scale industries
does not necessarily require rural-urban migration/can avoid rural decline and support a more even path to development across the country
often harder to regulate cottage industries/produce fewer standardised goods which are more difficult to export
cottage industries often use informal labour
operate on a smaller scale than large-scale industries so have a lower potential to generate significant income
cottage industries often produce lower value goods