River Indus is the largest river of our country. This river after originating from northern
slopes of Kailash Range in Tibet (China) passing through the Himalaya and enters in Pakistan's
territory near Gilgit. In the upper region a number of streams join in it, but at the later
stage, some of its western and eastern join in it, but to at the later stage, some of its western
and eastern tributaries make it more huge and vast in volume and speed. Its eastern tributaries
are Sutlaj, Bias, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum, while its western tributaries include rivers Swat,
Kunar, Panjkora, Kabul, Kurram, Tochi, Gomal, Bolan, etc
All the plain areas of our country have existed by the Sediment brought by River Indus and its
tributaries. The whole of the Indus Plain can be sub-divided into three parts for
detailed study:
- The Upper Indus Plain
- The Lower Indus Plain
- The Indus Delta
- THE UPPER INDUS PLAIN :-
- From the point of junction eastern tributaries of river Indus is known as the upper Indus
Plain . It includes most of the areas of Punjab Province. The upper Indus Plain has a height
from 600 feet to 1000 feet. The northeastern part is comparatively higher. Although most of the
plain area has existed by the alluvial soil brought by the rivers, but near Sargodha, Chiniot
and Sangal, some old dry hiss appear above the plain. These are known as [Kinara hills]. The five
big rivers of Punjab drain this plain. The land that lies between the two rivers if known as
[DOAB]. Thus the area of Punjab plain can be divided into following Doabs:
- Bari Doab
- The Rachna Doab
- The Chaj Doab
- The Sindh Sagar Doab
- THE LOWER INDUS PLAIN:-
- Mithankot is known as junction of Indus river and its eastern tributaries. Beyond Mithankot
River Indus flows alone and carries not only its own water, but also that of its eastern and
western tributaries, while flowing \from the Province of Sindh, if becomes several miles wide
especially during the flood season. The river Indus flows very slowly and the silt carried by
if is largely deposited on its bed, thereby raising it above the level of the sandy plain. The
land on either side is, therefore, protected by the construction of embankments of bunds a number
of difficulties has to be faced during floods season.
- THE INDUS DELTA:-
- The Indus delta begins near Thatta(Sindh) and the river Indus by distributing itself into a
number of branches joins with the water of Arabian sea. The tidal Deltaic land covers an area .
It is submerged during high tides , It has mangrove swamps. The old Deltaic land in the south
are being reclaimed by the canals of the Ghulam Muhammad barrage, still most of the areas of
lower plain are barren waste lands.
The above map shows the plain areas that are with the river Indus. The Indus plain of our
country are very fertile and all the cultivation is done here due to the ample amount of water.