O-LevelPakistan StudiesThe environment of PakistanMay/June 2015 · Q125 Marks

(a) (i) On the outline map of Pakistan Fig. 1 mark and shade two areas which experience low annual rainfall (125mm or less). N Arabian Sea Key: international boundary disputed boundary 0 km 400 [Figure 1]

(a)(i)On the outline map of Pakistan Fig. 1 mark and shade two areas which experience low annual rainfall (125mm or less).[2]
(a)(ii)Name the crop which is mainly grown in these areas of low annual rainfall.[1]
(a)(iii)Explain the difficulties for people living in areas of low rainfall.[3]
(b)(i) A.Compare the amount and pattern of monthly rainfall in Hyderabad with that of Dera Ismail Khan.[3]
(b)(i) B.Give three reasons for any similarities or differences in the two patterns of rainfall.[3]
(b)(ii)Explain the effect of flooding on the local economy and transport links in communities along the River Indus.[4]
(c)Give an example of a dry port and explain why it is located where it is.[3]
(d)It has been proposed that a new motorway should be built in Sindh from Hyderabad via Thatta to Keti Bandar on the Indus Delta, a town with a population of less than 25000. Explain why this motorway might be needed. To what extent would this proposal be possible?[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 (May/June 2015). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[2] (a) (i) Any two separate regions within the overlay provided. Shaded areas may touch lines but not go outside lines. 1 mark for each accurately drawn and shaded region
[1] (a) (ii) Dates
[3] (a) (iii) Very little pasture/have nomadic lifestyle with livestock; Very little arable area limited to oases/valley floors or where Karez underground irrigation/limited crops/shortage of food; Few rivers/water has to be supplied from great distances/lack of water for irrigation/irrigation needed; Lack of water for cleaning/hygiene/domestic use/drinking; Lack of water for industries; Problems associated with an arid climate, e.g. dust storms/extreme temperatures/seasonal drought
[3] (b) (i) A Amount: Both high Jul and Aug; Both identical Jun/Nov; Both low Oct/Nov; For Dera Ismail Khan (accept converses for Hyderabad); Greater total; 274 mm as opposed to 179 mm; Higher in all months except Aug and Sep/any named month / lower in Aug/Sep; A pair of stats to illustrate for any month (e.g. May H – 4mm, DIK –17mm); Max 1; Tolerances: ± 1 mm; Pattern: Both maximum Jul-Aug; For Dera Ismail Khan (accept converses for Hyderabad); Has double maximum Jul-Aug and Mar (H – one maximum); Has more evenly distributed rainfall over the year (H – more variable)
[3] (b) (i) B Both experience monsoon rainfall [Jul-Sep]; Dera Ismail Khan experiences rainfall from western depressions [Dec-Mar]; Dera Ismail Khan experiences some thunderstorm rainfall [Apr-Jun]; Accept converses for Hyderabad
[4] (b) (ii) Local economy: Livestock/crops/farm equipment/fisheries lost (causing loss of income); Factories/workplaces temporarily closed (causing damage/unemployment/loss of production/income/profit); Electricity supply disrupted (factories closed); Build up of silt behind dams (less water storage/effect on HEP production); Alluvium/nutrients deposited by flood water (fertilises soil). Transport Links: Bridges washed away (limiting ability to trade); Roads/railways destroyed/damaged/flooded (making journeys longer/slower/more dangerous); Rivers become unnavigable (communications cut/villages cut off). Allow development of points illustrated by information in parentheses
[3] (c) Faisalabad/Hyderabad/Lahore/Larkana/Multan/Peshawar/Quetta/Rawalpindi/Sambrial (Sialkt); Inland/far from seaport; In largest cities; Where industries/productive agricultural regions; Where good road/rail connections
[6] (d) Indicative content (development of points in parentheses). Why needed/Importance: New route to open up a seaport desirable (to relieve pressure on port of Karachi); Enables quicker/more efficient trade/movement of local goods/people; Stimulates industry (industrial estates along motorway/near junctions/more efficient supply of raw materials/manufactured goods). Possible: Possible with high government/foreign funding; Already Indus Highway as far as Thatta (and could more easily be upgraded to motorway). Not possible: High cost; Difficult to connect to coast/construct due to mangrove swamp (as would need deep foundations/high pillars/causeways); Difficult to connect to coast/construct due to being a delta region (and therefore prone to flooding or distributaries changing course); Would involve felling mangrove forests (and destruction of vital habitat and a human resource); Keti Bandar too small to be served by a motorway/serve as a port (and therefore not economically worthwhile)