BALOCHISTAN IRRAGATION SYSTEM Abdullah Khan

Centre For Integrated Mountain Research

Balochistan area : 347,190 Sq Kms. In Pakistan 44%

Cultivated Areas in Balochistan :4.3% area Geographic zones: Upper high lands (Khorasan)

Height :3,700 meters Valley floor:1,500meters above sea level

Lower high lands: 600 to 1200 (MSL) Dera Bugti and Nasirabad

Plains: Kachi, Las Bela ,15% of the landscape.

Deserts: Kharan and Chaghi districts

Introduction of Balochistan

Mountain Ranges of BALOCHISTANThe plateau of Baluchistan has a number of mountain ranges which although barren are rich with mineral resources. These ranges form natural borders with

Iran and Afghanistan.

The Chaghi RangeBorder with Afghanistan and IranFamous Pass: GonsheroMinerals:  Copper, Gold and Sulpher

The Central Brahui RangeLength:360km ,Peak: Khilafat Peak (3,487 meters)Forests: Juniper forestsFamous Passes : Bolan Pass, Harnai Pass and Mula Pass.

The Suleiman RangeAverage height : 1,520 meters Famous peak : Takhat-e-Suleiman ( 3,379 ) meters Forests: Juniper forests Minerals :Limestone and Sandstone

The Toba Kakar Range Vegetation: Juniper, pistachio and tamarisk trees

CLIMAT AND RAINFALL

• CLIMATE• The climate of the upper highlands is characterized

by very cold winters and warm summers.• RAIN FALL• Average annual precipitation in Balochistan varies

from 2 to 20 inches (50 to 500 mm). Maximum precipitation falls in the northeastern areas with annual average rain fall ranging from 8 to 20 inches (200 to 500 mm).

Agriculture in Baluchistan

• Agriculture and lives took is major sources of income of the people of Baluchistan

• There are many valuable agricultures in Balochistan like apple ,dates and grapes

• The main problem of agriculture in shortage of water for demotic use and also for agriculture

• Karez is use for storage of water for demotic use and irrigation prepress

Karez irrigation system

• Karezes are the underground channels, which bring the water from the higher to the lower place• Mostly for irrigational purposes

A karez consists of three parts:

Mother-well(s)

Only mother-well contains water, which is present at the head of karezat a higher altitude.

TunnelUnderground horizontal tunnel is dug to bring the water from mother-well to the ground surface. ShaftsThese shafts are wells which are dug vertically at a regular distance, normally 25-30 meters, throughout the karez. At the bottom these are connected with tunnels. Their main function is ventilation.

Construction of Karez