Pakistan is a subtropical country spread over an area of 79.6 million hectares (mha) lying between 24° and 37° N and 61° and 75° E. Most of the area is semiarid to arid, extending over 70 mha (87.94% of its land mass), receiving 250 mm annual rainfall.
The deserts of Pakistan cover 11 mha (13.82%) of the land situated in the central and southeastern regions.
These areas are broadly separated and are located between 100 and 1000 m above sea level.
These deserts are monsoon in type, referring to a wind system marked with seasonal fluctuation in response to temperature variations between continents and oceans.
The Thar Desert covers large areas of Pakistan (15%) and India (85%). It is the 16th largest desert on the planet and the third largest in Asia. It is the part of the Great Indian Desert.
Katpana Desert is a high-altitude desert (elevation of 2,226 meters (7,303 feet) above sea level) located near Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan region and contains expanses of large sand dunes that are sometimes covered in snow during winter.
| Name | District | Province | Area (Sq Km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kharan Desert | Kharan | Balochistan | 20,000 |
| Cholistan (Rohi) Desert | Bahawalpur | Punjab | 16,000 |
| Thal Desert | Bhakkar | Punjab | 34,450 |
| Thar Deser | Tharparkar | Sindh | 200,000 |
| Katpana (Biama Nakpo) Desert | Skardu | Gilgit Baltistan |
