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.