Editing Pakistan (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Pakistan|Environment of Pakistan|Climate of Pakistan|List of extreme weather records in Pakistan|l4=Extreme weather records in Pakistan|List of tropical cyclones in Pakistan|List of beaches in Pakistan}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_PAK_present.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Köppen climate classification]] of Pakistan]]

Pakistan's diverse [[Geography of Pakistan|geography]] and [[Climate of Pakistan|climate]] host a wide array of [[Wildlife of Pakistan|wildlife]].{{sfn|Cheng et al.|2022}} Covering {{convert|881913|km2|abbr=on}},{{sfn|Agarwal|Ahmad|2021}} Pakistan's size is comparable to France and the UK combined.{{sfn|Malik|2015}} It ranks as the [[List of countries by area|33rd-largest nation by total area]],{{sfn|Mordi|Adisa|2022}} but this varies based on Kashmir's disputed status. Pakistan boasts a {{convert|1046|km|abbr=on}} coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman,{{sfn|Haque|2002}}{{sfn|Britannica (Gulf of Oman)|2024}} and shares land borders totaling {{convert|6774|km|abbr=on}}, including {{convert|2430|km|abbr=on}} [[Durand Line|with Afghanistan]], {{convert|523|km|abbr=on}} [[China–Pakistan border|with China]], {{convert|2912|km|abbr=on}} [[India–Pakistan border|with India]], and {{convert|909|km|abbr=on}} [[Iran–Pakistan border|with Iran]].{{sfn|Factbook|2024}} It has a maritime border with Oman,{{sfn|Karaman|2012}} and shares a border with Tajikistan via the [[Wakhan Corridor]].{{sfn|Banerjee|2019}} Situated at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia,{{sfn|Mohiuddin|2007|page=3, 317, 323–324}} Pakistan's location is geopolitically significant.{{sfn|Kreft|2007}} Geologically, Pakistan straddles the Indus–Tsangpo Suture Zone and the [[Indian Plate|Indian tectonic plate]] in Sindh and Punjab, while Balochistan and most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sit on the [[Eurasian Plate]], primarily on the [[Iranian plateau]]. Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, along the Indian plate's edge, are [[List of earthquakes in Pakistan|susceptible to powerful earthquakes]].{{refn|name="Geology"}}

[[File:Indus.A2002274.0610.1km.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|A satellite image showing the topography of Pakistan.{{sfn|Descloitres|2002}}]]

Pakistan's landscapes vary from coastal plains to glaciated mountains, offering deserts, forests, hills, and plateaus.{{sfn|Cavendish|2006|page=297}} Pakistan is divided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indus River plain, and the Balochistan Plateau.{{sfn|Blood|1996|page=82}} The northern highlands feature the [[Karakoram]], [[Hindu Kush]], and [[Pamir Mountains|Pamir]] mountain ranges, hosting some of the world's highest peaks, including five of the fourteen [[eight-thousanders]] (mountain peaks over {{convert|8000|m|ft|-1||disp=or}}), notably [[K2]] ({{convert|8611|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and [[Nanga Parbat]] ({{convert|8126|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}).{{sfn|Jiwani|2021}}{{sfn|Bright|2017}} The Balochistan Plateau lies in the west and the [[Thar Desert]] in the east.{{sfn|Blood|1996|page=83}}{{sfn|Ahmad|2009}}{{sfn|Hasan|Raza|2009|page=10}} The {{convert|1609|km|abbr=on}} Indus River and its tributaries traverse the nation from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea, sustaining alluvial plains along the Punjab and Sindh regions.{{sfn|Samuel|2016}}

The climate varies from tropical to temperate, with arid conditions in the coastal south. There is a monsoon season with frequent flooding due to heavy rainfall, and a dry season with significantly less rainfall or none at all.{{sfn|Chandrappa|Gupta|Kulshrestha|2011}} Pakistan experiences four distinct seasons: a cool, dry winter from December through February; a hot, dry spring from March through May; the summer rainy season, or southwest monsoon period, from June through September; and the retreating monsoon period of October and November.{{sfn|Blood|1996|page=87}} Rainfall varies greatly from year to year, with patterns of alternate flooding and drought common.{{sfn|Lane|Norton|Ryan|2017}}

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{Main|Wildlife of Pakistan|Flora of Pakistan|Fauna of Pakistan}}
The diverse landscape and climate in Pakistan support a wide range of trees and plants.{{sfn|El-Esawi|2019}} From coniferous [[alpine plant|alpine]] and [[subalpine]] trees like [[spruce]], [[pine]], and [[deodar cedar]] in the northern mountains to [[deciduous trees]] like [[shisham]] in the [[Sulaiman Mountains]],{{sfn|Chandrappa|Gupta|Kulshrestha|2011}} and palms such as [[coconut]] and [[Phoenix dactylifera|date]] in the southern regions.{{sfn|Abul-Soad|2011}}{{sfn|Descals et al.|2023}} The western hills boast [[juniper]], [[tamarisk]], coarse grasses, and scrub plants.{{sfn|Spate|Learmonth|2017}} [[Mangrove]] forests dominate the coastal wetlands in the south.{{sfn|Sandhu|2010}} Coniferous forests span altitudes from {{convert|1,000|to|4000|m|abbr=off}} in most northern and northwestern highlands.{{sfn|UNEP-WCMC|2024}} In Balochistan's xeric regions, date palms and ''[[Ephedra (genus)|Ephedra]]'' are prevalent.{{sfn|Abul-Soad|2011}}{{sfn|Akhtar|Mirza|2006}} In Punjab and Sindh's Indus plains, tropical and subtropical dry and moist broadleaf forests as well as tropical and xeric shrublands thrive.{{sfn|PEPA|2016}} Approximately 4.8% or {{convert|36,845.6|km2|ha}} of Pakistan was forested in 2021.{{sfn|World Bank|2024}}{{efn|The World Bank data lists the total area of Pakistan as 770,880 km², excluding Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and water areas.}}

[[File:Markhor_Horns_(5779055412).jpg|thumb|[[Markhor]] is the national animal of Pakistan.{{sfn|Fatima|2020}}]]

Pakistan's fauna mirrors its diverse climate. The country boasts around 668 bird species,{{sfn|Faridah-Hanum|Hakeem|Öztürk|Efe|2015}} including [[crow]]s, [[Old World sparrow|sparrow]]s, [[Acridotheres|mynas]], [[hawk]]s, [[falcon]]s, and [[eagle]]s. [[Palas, Kohistan]], is home to the [[western tragopan]], with many migratory birds visiting from Europe, Central Asia, and India.{{sfn|Grimmett|Inskipp|2021}} The southern plains harbor [[mongoose]]s,{{sfn|Hunter|2018}} [[small Indian civet]],{{sfn|San|Belant|Sato|Somers|2021}} hares,{{sfn|Flux|Chapman|1990}} the [[Asiatic jackal]],{{sfn|Srinivasulu|Srinivasulu|2012}} the [[Indian pangolin]],{{sfn|Waseem et al.|2020}} the [[jungle cat]],{{sfn|Sunquist|Sunquist|2014}} and the [[sand cat]].{{sfn|Sunquist|Sunquist|2017}} Indus is home to [[mugger crocodile]]s,{{sfn|Stoneman|2021}} while surrounding areas host [[wild boar]]s,{{sfn|Tisdell|2013}} deer,{{sfn|Srinivasulu|2018}} and [[Indian porcupine|porcupines]].{{sfn|Roze|2012}} Central Pakistan's sandy scrublands shelter Asiatic jackals,{{sfn|Srinivasulu|Srinivasulu|2012}} [[striped hyena]]s,{{sfn|Somerville|2021}} wildcats, and [[leopard]]s. The mountainous north hosts a variety of animals like the [[Marco Polo sheep]],{{sfn|Nyrop|1975}} [[urial]], [[markhor]] goat, [[ibex]] goat, [[Asian black bear]], and [[Himalayan brown bear]].{{sfn|Chandrappa|Gupta|Kulshrestha|2011}}

The lack of vegetative cover, severe climate, and grazing impact on deserts have endangered wild animals.{{sfn|CBD Report|2009}} The [[chinkara]] is the only animal found in significant numbers in [[Cholistan]],{{sfn|Mallon|Kingswood|2001}} with a few [[nilgai]] along the Pakistan–India border and in some parts of Cholistan.{{sfn|Woods|Mufti|Hasan|1997}} Rare animals include the [[snow leopard]] and the blind [[Indus river dolphin]],{{sfn|Chandrappa|Gupta|Kulshrestha|2011}} of which there are believed to be about 1,816 remaining, protected at the [[Indus Dolphin Reserve]] in Sindh.{{sfn|WWF|2024}} In total, 174 species of mammals, 177 species of reptiles, 22 species of amphibians, 198 species of freshwater fish, 668 species of birds, over 5,000 species of insects, and over 5,700 species of plants have been recorded in Pakistan.{{sfn|Faridah-Hanum|Hakeem|Öztürk|Efe|2015}} Pakistan faces deforestation, hunting, and pollution, with a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 7.42/10, ranking 41st globally out of 172 countries.{{sfn|Grantham et al.|2020}}