2.1. Study area
Pakistan (Figure 1) spans over an area of 881,913 km2which extends from 24° N to 37.5° N latitudes and from 62 ° E to 75.5° E
longitudes. It is the world’s fifth-most populous country with a
population exceeding 212.2 million with a population density of 287 per
km2 and 2.08% annual population growth. Pakistan
shares administrative borders with India to the east, Afghanistan to the
west, Iran to the southwest, and China in the northeast. The lowest and
highest elevated points are sea level and K-2 mountain (8,611 meters
above sea level) respectively. It comprises total seven administrative
units, four provinces (Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and
Sindh), two autonomous territories (Azad Jammu & Kashmir,
Gilgit-Baltistan) and one federal territory (Islamabad Capital
Territory). Pakistan is in the temperate region with an arid and
semi-arid climate characterized by hot summers and chilling winters.
Pakistan’s climate is characterized by extreme variations in temperature
and rainfall, because it is located on a great landmass north of the
Tropic of Cancer (between latitudes 25° and 36° N). The agrarian economy
of Pakistan is the backbone of the country which is highly dependent
upon the Panjnad (Punjab, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) and
Indus river system. The livelihood of almost 70% population is directly
or indirectly depends on agriculture and its relevant sectors.