THE SALT RANGE:

The areas of salt range begins in the east near the Jhelum in the Jogi tilla and Bakralla ridges and runs south-west to the north of the river Jhelum for some distance before turning north west to cross the Indus near Kalabagh. West of the Indus the salt range continues south into the districts of Bannu and Dera Ismali Khan. The average height of the range is about 2000 feet, but near Sakesar it rises to about 5000 feet above sea level. Large quantities of rock salt and the minerals like gypsum and coal are found in the range.

POTWAR PLATEAU:

North of salt range the area of Rawalpindi Jhelum and Mianwali districts are known as potwar plateau. These areas have also an uneven surface. The height of this plateau area varies from 1000 to 2000 feet above sea level. A large part of plateau has been dissected and rcoded by the action of running water and it represents a varied land-escapes. The valleys of Haro and Soan rivers pass across the Potwar plateau. These are the impotant river of these area s and mostly flow during rainy season. Thus due to scanty of rainfall and uneven surface these areas are not suitable for agricultural activities, but most of the minerals of our country such as mineral oil, iron, lime-stone, etc., are found from the potwar plateau areas.

THE BALOCHISTAN PLATEAU:

This plateau lies to the west of the Sulaiman and Kirthar mountains. Like potwar plateau, the dry hills run across the plateau from the north east to the south west. These hills are about 1000 feet high. The Toba Kakar and Chaghai ranges in the north separate it from Afghanistan. The Brahui and Makran ranges lie in the center and the coastal Makran range skirts south of the plateau. A large areas in the north west is desert. Here there is a large salt lake Hamun-I-mashkhel into which several small rivers small rivers drain. The only rivers of importance are the Zhob which joins with the Gomal in the north, and the Porali, Hangol and Dasht which flow into the Arabian sea in the south. The mountains in the north-east are higher than those in the south and contain valuable deposit of coal, iron, chromite and other minerals. These areas receive a small amount of rain fall and there is scarcity of water. So due to shortage of water and uneven surface these are not suitable for cultivationl; In a few areas of Quetta and Pashin cultivation of various crops is possible with the with the help of Kareez irrigation system, but sheep rearing is the major occupation of the people living in the region.