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Pak Studies Geography IGCSEprinted 28 · PDF 28
162 pagesrevision 46929
printed 28 · PDF 28
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2. Importance of Water as a Resource
Agricultural Importance:
○ Agriculture accounts for approximately 20% of Pakistan’s GDP and
employs nearly 40% of the labor force.
○ The Indus River System forms the backbone of the Indus Basin
Irrigation System (IBIS)—one of the world’s largest contiguous irrigation
systems.
○ Water enables crop cultivation in arid and semi-arid zones, supporting
key cash crops like cotton, sugarcane, rice, and wheat.
○ Water availability directly affects food security, export potential, and
rural livelihoods.
Industrial Importance:
■ Completed in 1960 with Canadian assistance.
■ Primarily used for hydropower generation and irrigation
regulation.
■ Its reservoir also helps in flood mitigation during monsoon
periods.
Examples of Barrages:
○ Sukkur Barrage: Built on the Indus River in Sindh (1932), it diverts water
into seven major canals, irrigating millions of hectares in Sindh.
○ Guddu Barrage: Located between Kashmore and Jacobabad,
completed in 1962, it controls the distribution of water to northern
Sindh and southern Punjab.
○ (Others include Kotri Barrage and Chashma Barrage — often referenced
for exam mapping questions.)