North Pakistan Research Articles

The Geopolitics of Infrastructure and Securitisation in a Postcolony Frontier Space

AbstractInfrastructure has played an agential role in the securitisation of everyday life in the Karakoram high mountains of north Pakistan. Geopolitics bear heavily on this region where Pakistan shares borders with China, with whom it has aligned its foreign and security policy, and with India, with whom Pakistan remains embroiled in a long‐standing territorial dispute. Consequently, in the Karakoram, geopolitical anxieties have reflected inwards onto local populations through both security infrastructure and securitised infrastructure. In this postcolony frontier space, statecraft also frequently bypasses normative legal and administrative structures; such exceptions to normative law and administration have antecedents in colonial statecraft on the territorial margins of empire. This paper also argues that long cycles of military rule have allowed the military to acquire and project technocratic expertise, become custodians of state‐led development, and recently, to assume guardianship of, and to enter into joint financing with China on, construction projects.

Two Contrasting Exhumation Scenarios of Deeply Subducted Continental Crust in North Pakistan

AbstractIn Western Himalayan Syntaxis, the India‐Asia continental collision occurred at ca. 50 Ma, while its uplift history and exhumation mechanism are still in dispute despite decades of studies. A new type of eclogite was found in Naran, located ca. 30 km southwest of the Upper Kaghan Valley. Phase equilibrium calculations and thermobarometer performed on the Naran eclogite documented the peak‐P metamorphic condition of 720–780°C at 2.4–2.8 GPa. Two further exhumation stages were identified with the first one at high‐P granulite‐facies conditions of 750–800°C at 1.6–1.9 GPa, and the second at amphibolite‐facies conditions of 550–630°C at 0.5–0.8 GPa. SIMS U‐Pb dating of metamorphic zircons yielded an age of 46 ± 2 Ma, which is interpreted to constrain the high‐P metamorphism age along the northwestern margin of the Indian plate. SIMS U‐Pb dating of rutile yielded a cooling age of 26 ± 3 Ma, which is interpreted as cooling age in the amphibolite facies. The average speculated exhumation rate of the Naran massif (∼3 mm a−1) was much lower than that recovered from the Upper Kaghan Valley massif (86–143 mm a−1). The tectonic and metamorphic evolution of the whole Western Himalayan Syntaxis shows the difference in temporal and spatial change within the Paleogene era, indicating the inconsistent exhumation histories of the continental slices. Such a multi‐slice exhumation process was probably related to the closure of the Neo‐Tethys ocean and the break‐off of the Indian lithospheric slab.

Cloudburst events observed over Uttarakhand during monsoon season 2017 and their analysis

Cloudburst is an extreme weather event characterised by the occurrence of a large amount of rainfall over a small area within a short span of time with a rainfall of 100 mm or more in one hour. It is responsible for flash flood, inundation of low lying areas and landslides in hills causing extensive damages to life and property. During monsoon season 2017 five number of cloudburst events are observed over Uttarakhand and analysed. Self Recording Rain Gauge (SRRG) and 15 minutes interval data from the newly installed General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) based Automatic Weather Station (AWS) are able to capture the cloudburst events over some areas in Uttarakhand. In this paper, an attempt has been made to find out the significant synoptic and thermodynamic conditions associated with the occurrence of the cloudburst events in Uttarakhand. These 5 cases of cloudburst events that are captured during the month of June, July and August 2017 in Uttarakhand are studied in detail. Synoptically, it is observed that the existence of trough at mean sea level from Punjab to head Bay of Bengal running close to Uttarakhand, the movement of Western Disturbance over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu & Kashmir and existence of cyclonic circulation over north Rajasthan and neighbourhood are favourable conditions. Also, the presence of strong south-westerly wind flow from the Arabian Sea across West Rajasthan and Haryana on upper air charts are found during these events. Thermodynamically, the Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) is found to be high (more than 1100 J/Kg) during most of the cases and vertically integrated precipitable water content (PWC) is more than 55mm. The GPRS based AWS system can help in prediction of the cloud burst event over the specified location with a lead time upto half to one hour in association with radar products.

Water Quality Management Using Hybrid Machine Learning and Data Mining Algorithms: An Indexing Approach

One of the key functions of global water resource management authorities is river water quality (WQ) COD assessment. A water quality index (WQI) is developed for water assessments considering numerous quality-related variables. WQI assessments typically take a long time and are prone to errors during sub-indices generation. This can be tackled through the latest machine learning (ML) techniques that are renowned for superior accuracy. In this study, water samples were taken from the wells in the study area (North Pakistan) to develop WQI prediction models. Four standalone algorithms, i.e., random trees (RT), random forest (RF), M5P, and reduced error pruning tree (REPT), were used in this study. In addition, 12 hybrid data-mining algorithms (combination of standalone, bagging (BA), cross-validation parameter selection (CVPS), and randomizable filtered classification (RFC)) were also used. Using the 10-fold cross-validation technique, the data were separated into two groups (70:30) for algorithm creation. Ten random input permutations were created using Pearson correlation coefficients to identify the best possible combination of datasets for improving the algorithm prediction. The variables with very low correlations performed poorly, whereas hybrid algorithms increased the prediction capability of numerous standalone algorithms. Hybrid RT-Artificial Neural Network (RT-ANN) with RMSE = 2.319, MAE = 2.248, NSE = 0.945 and PBIAS = -0.64, outperformed all other algorithms. Most algorithms overestimated WQI values except for BA-RF, RF, BA-REPT, REPT, RFC-M5P, RFC-REPT, and ANN- Adaptive Network-Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS).

New record of Kashmir Birch Mouse Sicista concolor leathemi (Thomas, 1893) (Rodentia: Sminthidae) in the Indian Himalaya

Birch mice are grouped under the monotypic genus Sicista Gray, 1827 and placed under the family Sminthidae. They are distributed over the Palearctic ream and the fragmented population of the species Sicista concolor reported from China, North Pakistan and India in Himalayan region. The present communication is a range extension of the Kashmir Birch mouse, Sicista concolor leathemi in Indian Himalaya and first report from Himachal Pradesh.

Saving Torwali Music and Dance: Community Led Performance and ‘Public’ Archiving

Abstract Here we explore ways in which the Indigenous Torwali community of Swat, north Pakistan, is working to renew and preserve its musical and dance traditions, and how Torwalis are using social media and online archives to share and popularise their performances, worldwide. Social activism is a motivator, but people also relish the fun created through instant online engagement. The methodology for the paper is to weave a narrative, using Indigenous storytelling by both Indigenous authors, one Torwali and one Ngarigu, Australian Indigenous, about their experiences with and knowledge of performance in the community.

Terrace Soil Suitability for Highway Construction: Case Study in Lesser Himalaya (CPEC Project E-35), North Pakistan

In this study, terrace soil investigation was carried out in project E-35 (phase-I) China-Pak Economic Corridor, Lesser Himalayas, North Pakistan. The methodology in current research is based on tests that include sieve analysis, plastic index, proctor, California Bearing Ratio, Los Angeles, sand equivalent and specific gravity. The results of these tests for different layers were compared with AASHTO and NHA specifications. The results show that the embankment, subgrade and subbase layers were composed of silt, sand and gravel, respectively while the aggregate base coarse was composed of sand, aggregate and less amount of fine clay material. The sieve analysis test shows that soil and aggregate base coarse has less clay with high silt, sandy material and index plastic to low plastic, which is appropriate for the construction. The California Bearing Ratio shows that the soil and aggregate base coarse have high load-bearing capacity. The Los Angeles abrasion reveal that the sub base and aggregate base coarse are resistive. The sand equivalent shows that aggregate base coarse has high sand material. The specific gravity illustrates that aggregate base coarse material is denser. The current study shows that terrace soil is suitable for the construction of the road in project E-35 (phase-I) China-Pak Economic Corridor.

18 c Correlation of Schmidt Hammer Rebound Numbers with Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity and Slake Durability Index of Dolomitic Limestone of Khyber, North Pakistan

The ultrasonic pulse velocity and slake durability index are the indirect techniques used widely for rock strength determination. Various experimental studies like slake durability apparatus, ultrasonic pulse velocity and Schmidt hammer have been conducted on dolomitic limestone. The correlation of Schmidt hammer rebound number has been developed with these properties. The uniaxial compressive strength has been determined using the correlated rebound number. Statistical analyses were conducted and the most suitable models were recommended. The linear model was suited in correlation of Schmidt hammer and durability while exponential model appeared best fit with pulse velocity. Most of the tested samples show pulse velocity in the range of 1800-3800m/s. The mean value of pulse velocity was 2751 m/s while the rebound hammer value was 45. Using the correlations from literature the compressive strength calculated by rebound hammer and pulse velocity was 146MPa and 66MPa respectively.

Phytochemical and pharmacological uses of medicinal plants to treat cancer: A case study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Pakistan

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCancer is the top death causing disease in the world, due to its occurrence through various mechanism and form. Medicinal plants have been extensively used for the purifications and isolations of phytochemicals for the treatment and prevention of cancer. ObjectivesConsequently, this research was designed to document the traditional practices of anti-cancer plants and its phytochemical essay across the districts of KP, Pakistan. Materials and methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted in 24 districts from the informants mostly the traditional herbalists (key informants). The information were compared with the publish data using various authentic search engines including, google, researchgate, google scholar and NCBI. ResultsOne hundred and fifty-four (154) anti-cancer plants were recognized belonging to 69 families among all, Lamiaceae (13 sp.), Asteraceae (12 sp.) and Solanaceae (9 sp.) were the preferred families. The local inhabitants in the area typically prepare ethnomedicinal recipes from leaves (33.70%) and whole plants (23.37%) in the form of decoction and powder (24.67%), respectively. Herbs stayed the most preferred life form (61.68%) followed by shrub (21.4%). Similarly, breast (29.22%) and lung cancer (14.83%) was the common disease type. Literature study also authorize that, the medicinal plants of the research area were rich in phytochemical like quercetin, coumarine, kaempferol, apigenin, colchicine, alliin, rutin, lupeol, allicin, berbarine, lutolin, vanilic acid, urocilic acid and solamargine have revealed significant activates concerning the cancer diseases, that replicating the efficacy of these plants as medicines. ConclusionThe Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is rural area and the local inhabitants have very strong traditional knowledge about the medicinal plants for different diseases like cancer. The medicinal plants for significant ranked disorder might be pharmacologically and phtyochemicaly explored to demonstrate their efficacy. Moreover, the local flora especially medicinal plants facing overgrazing, overexploitation and inappropriate way of collection, however, proper management strategies like reforestation, controlled grazing, proper permission from concerned department and rangeland strategies among others may be assumed to enhance the proper usage of medicinal plants.

Multi-stage India-Asia collision: Paleomagnetic constraints from Hazara-Kashmir syntaxis in the western Himalaya

The India-Asia collision is the most spectacular, recent, and still active tectonic event of the Earth’s history, leading to the uplift of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen, which has been explained through several hypothetical models. Still, controversy remains, such as how and when it occurred. Here we report a paleomagnetic study of Cretaceous-Tertiary marine sediments from the Tethyan Himalaya (TH) in the Hazara area, north Pakistan, which aims to constrain timing for the onset of the India-Asia collision and to confirm the validity of already proposed models, particularly in western Himalaya’s perspective. Our results suggest that the TH was located at a paleolatitude of 8.5°S ± 3.8° and 13.1°N ± 3.8° during the interval of ca. 84−79 Ma and 59−56 Ma, respectively. A comparison between paleopoles obtained from the current study and coeval ones of the India Plate indicates that the TH rifted from Greater India before the Late Cretaceous, generating the Tethys Himalaya Basin (THB). Our findings support a model for a multi-stage collision involving at least two major subduction systems. A collision of the TH with the Trans-Tethyan subduction system (TTSS) began first in Late Cretaceous-Early Paleocene times (ca. 65 Ma), followed by a later collision with Asia at 55−52 Ma. The onset of the collision between the TH (plus TTSS) and Asia could not have occurred earlier than 59−56 Ma in the western Himalaya. Subsequently, the India craton collided with the TH, resulting in the diachronous closure of the THB between ca. 50 and ca. 40 Ma from west to east. These findings are consistent with geological and geochemical evidence and have a broad implication for plate reconfigurations, global climate, and biodiversity of collisional processes.

21st century precipitation and monsoonal shift over Pakistan and Upper Indus Basin (UIB) using high-resolution projections

There is research evidence that due to global warming, global precipitation and monsoon area have shown a shift which needs to be analyzed at regional scale. This study analyses future precipitation and monsoon spatial shift over Pakistan and Upper Indus Basin (UIB) based on latest Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment - Coordinated Output for Regional Evaluations (CORDEX-CORE) high resolution projections (25 km) for the South Asian domain. Three global climate models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) (MIROC5, NorESM1-M and MPI-ESM-MR) provided the lateral boundary conditions for the Regional Climate Model (RegCM4) under Representative Concentration Pathways 2.6 (RCP2.6) and RCP8.5 scenarios. Results indicate that JJA precipitation over Upper Indus Basin (UIB which also includes North Pakistan) is projected to increase more under RCP8.5 and less under RCP2.6 while for Pakistan it shows slightly increase (decrease) in RCP2.6 (RCP8.5). The results also show a projected expansion in monsoon area in UIB and northward shift of MCR which corresponds with future precipitation changes in the area and hence indicate the penetration of monsoon system over UIB under higher warming scenario. The changes in monsoon precipitation and domain are related to the changes in wind circulation patterns at 850 hPa and 200 hPa atmospheric levels.

Reflux dolomitization and subsequent hydrothermal dolomitization induced by the Alkaline Igneous Province in the Middle Devonian Nowshera Formation (Peshawar Basin, NW Pakistan)

Dolomitized strata are potential exploration targets because they host economic mineral and hydrocarbon deposits around the globe. Establishing a petrogenetic history for dolomite is thus very vital. In this study, dolomitic bodies present in the Devonian carbonates of Nowshera Formation in Peshawar Basin, North-West Lesser Himalayas in north Pakistan are investigated through field observations, petrographic studies, and geochemical analysis. The carbonates of Nowshera Formation show evidence for multistage dolomitization and a complex diagenetic history. In a first stage the succession was completely dolomitized probably by the reflux of penecontemporaneous mesohaline seawater. This process resulted in both fabric-retentive and fabric-destructive dolomite types under near surface to shallow burial realms. In the subsequent stage saddle dolomites (matrix & cement) were formed under intermediate and/or deep burial realm. This later saddle dolomite phase likely resulted from the circulation of exotic fluids at comparatively high temperature. This local hydrothermal event, evidenced from the fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures, and stable isotopic signatures, also resulted in vuggy, fracture, and dissolution enhanced porosity. Microthermometric analysis of primary fluid inclusions in saddle dolomite confirm the presence of hot (125–178 °C) and highly saline brines (17–25 mass% NaCl equivalent). The δ18Owater (+2 to +9.2‰V-SMOW) calculated from fluid-inclusion homogenization temperatures in conjunction with the comparatively high salinity values is compatible with a magmatic origin of the hydrothermal fluid. It is suggested that the investigated hydrothermal dolomites in the Nowshera Formation formed in Carboniferous-Permian time. During this time, thermal convection heated by the Peshawar Plain Alkaline Igneous Province (PPAIP) may have provided the high temperature and sufficient magnesium (Mg) flux for several millions of years (~40 M.y.), ultimately leading to the formation of hydrothermal dolomite bodies. The pore spaces resulted from the leaching of these hydrothermal fluids were subsequently occluded by meteoric calcite related to the Eocene to Middle Miocene Himalayan exhumation of the studied area. This study provides important implications for potential source of Mg in understanding the genesis and timing of dolomitization.

Perceptions of cervical cancer prevention among a group of ethnic minority women in Denmark-A qualitative study.

BackgroundCervical cancer screening (CCS) and human papillomavirus vaccination (HPVV) are effective measures against cervical cancer (CC). Attendance in HPVV and CCS provides the greatest protection, while combined non-attendance in HPVV and CCS provides little to no protection. It is hence concerning that some large ethnic minority groups show considerably lower HPVV and CCS attendance than other women–especially women from Middle-Eastern and North African (MENA) countries and Pakistan. Little is, however, known about the reasons for this low combined attendance pattern n.AimTo explore perceptions of and barriers to HPVV and CCS, among MENA and Pakistani women in Denmark.MethodFocus group interviews were conducted. Data was transcribed verbatim, and analysed using systematic text condensation.FindingsSeventeen long-term resident women originating from six major MENA countries and Pakistan were included. Mean age was 36 years. We found that these women, across different age groups and descent, had sparse knowledge and understanding about CC, and their perceived relevance of disease prevention was low. Compared to HPVV, their barriers to CCS were more fixed and often linked to socio-cultural factors such as taboos related to female genitals and sexuality. Moreover, they presented unmet expectations and signs of mistrust in the healthcare system. However, at the end of the interviews, participants became more attentive toward CC prevention, particularly toward HPVV.ConclusionElements of insufficient knowledge and understanding of CC and its prevention were found among a group of MENA and Pakistani women. Their socio-cultural background further represents a barrier particularly towards CCS. Additionally, negative experiences and unmet expectations lessen their trust in the healthcare system. All of which underlines the need for new tailored CC preventive strategies for this group. Based on our findings we suggest that future studies develop and evaluate interventions aiming to improve HPVV and CCS, including user-involvement.

The Power of Money: Chinese Investments and Financialization in an Asian Hinterland

In February 2002, a Chinese State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), Sinotrans Xinjiang, partnered with a local Pakistani collective, the Silk Route Dry Port Trust, to finance and operate a dry port in mountainous north Pakistan. Given minimal overland trade between China and Pakistan, this was an unlikely place for investment by a subsidiary of one of China’s largest SOEs. Individuals who commanded extensive social networks and possessed local knowledge were instrumental in brokering the joint venture. Brokers both Chinese and Pakistani leveraged the implicit power of money to create a new institution, the dry port joint venture, that helped normalize the presence and operations of Chinese business leaders in north Pakistan. The joint venture also enabled Pakistani strongmen to exert their control over local land and draw funds from a public bank, activities that ultimately undermined the joint venture itself. This episode is more than just a cautionary tale of an unsuccessful joint venture between a Chinese SOE and local partners. The episode highlights how, in an epoch of transnational financialization, money empowered local leaders, public officials, and official organizations to engage in and indeed benefit from loss-making activities that combine both regular and irregular processes.

The First Report of Orobanche laxissima Parasitizing Pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Georgia.

Orobanche laxissima Uhlich & Rätzel (Orobanchaceae) is a polyphagous root parasitic plant distributed in the Caucasus Mountains and Transcaucasia; especially Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, N.E. Turkey (Piwowarczyk et al. 2019). It infects many wild or sometimes cultivated trees and shrubs, such as Betulaceae, Oleaceae, Fagaceae, Aceraceae, Cornaceae, usually Fraxinus L., Fagus L., Carpinus L. (Piwowarczyk et al. 2019, 2020). Punica granatum L. (Lythraceae), commonly known as pomegranate, is native to the Caucasus, the Himalayas in North Pakistan and Northern India, and is widely cultivated, e.g. in USA and throughout the Mediterranean. Pomegranate is one of the first domesticated fruits and have been used in folk medicine or as a food for centuries. Fruit, seed, leaves, flower, root, or barks extracts have extensive medicinal properties (Shaygannia et al. 2015). Field surveys conducted in south-eastern Georgia in May 2019 revealed extensive infestations of O. laxissima on the roots of P. granatum in one locality in Kakheti Province, near Sighnaghi (41°37,4 N, 45°56,3 E, 480 m elevation), in roadside or hills scrub and cultivated areas of pomegranate. The infection was confirmed by verifying the attachment of the Orobanche to the Punica root. The population of the parasite consisted of at least a ca. thousand shoots, sometimes in one clump was ca. 100 individuals. A single plant of pomegranate was parasitized by few to c.a. a hundred of broomrape plants, and 10 to 20% of the ca. 1 ha location was infested. The main botanical features of the O. laxissima are: i) stem simple, (10-)25-40(-100) cm high, with haustoria; ii) inflorescence usually long to short cylindrical or lax, usually many-flowered; iii) calyx-segments entire or bidentate, rarely with 4 teeth; iv) corolla (16-)22-24(-31) mm long, tubular-bell-shaped; purple, pink, rarely dirty yellow, light brown; v) stigma purple, orange, or yellow (Piwowarczyk et al. 2019, 2020). For molecular analysis, total genomic DNA was extracted from the sample and the plastid gene rbcL (rubisco large subunit) was sequenced and amplified as described in Piwowarczyk et al. (2015). The sequence (1231 bp) was deposited in GenBank (MN384886). BLAST search found that it was most similar to (Query Cover 100%, Per Ident. 100%) O. laxissima (KR260928). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a O. laxissima parasitizing P. granatum. O. laxissima appearing in large numbers on singles pomegranate shrubs can weaken the plants, and reduce flowering and fruiting. In the Caucasus region, O. laxissima was observed in mesophilic forests and shrubs, but our report suggests the possibility of a potential spread to neighboring cultivated areas, especially fruit trees and shrubs. Until now, only one report of pathogenic plants was documented for P. granatum, included Phelipanche aegyptiaca (Pers.) Pomel and O. crenata Forssk. in Israel (Dor et al. 2014).

Landslide susceptibility assessment along the Dubair-Dudishal section of the Karakoram Highway, Northwestern Himalayas, Pakistan

The primary objective of this study is to analyze and characterize landslides in North Pakistan along Karakoram Highway (KKH) to produce a landslide susceptibility map using GIS and remote sensing technology. Using satellite images followed by field investigations, spatial distribution of landslide database was generated. Next, an integrated study was undertaken in the study area to perform the landslide susceptibility mapping. Dubaur-Dudishal section of KKH (about 150 km) which is a part of Kohistan Island Arc, is investigated in this study with a buffer zone of about 8 km along both sides of the KKH. Several thematic maps, e.g., lithology, distance to faults, distance to streams, distance to roads, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), slope, aspect, elevation, relative relief, plan-curvature and profile-curvature were prepared. Subsequently, these thematic data layers were analyzed by frequency ratio (FR) model and weights-of-evidence (WoE) model to generate the landslide susceptibility maps. In order to check the accuracy of the models, the area under the curve (AUC) was to quantitatively compare the two models used in this study. The predictive ability of AUC values indicate that the success rates of FR model and WoE model are 0.807 and 0.866, whereas the prediction rates are 0.785 and 0.846, respectively. Both methods show that nearly 50 % landslides in the study area fall in either high or very high susceptibility zones. The landslide susceptibility maps presented in this study are of great importance to the policy makers and the engineers for highway construction as well as the mega dams construction projects (Dasu dam and Bhasha dam which lie within the vicinity of the study area); so that proper prevention as well as mitigation could be done in advance to avoid the possible economic as well as the human loss in future.

Spatial distribution of radon concentrations in Balakot-Bagh (B–B) Fault Line and adjoining areas, Lesser Himalayas, North Pakistan

A study involving soil radon monitoring using RAD-7 instrument was carried out near Balakot-Bagh (B-B) Fault line hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in October 2005. The study aimed to determine the spatial distribution of soil radon gas levels and the relationship between the soil radon gas and fracture density. Eleven soil samples were collected near the fault line, and 56 more samples (fourteen each from the adjoining district/area). Field measurements were made in the summer season of 2013, as a part of continuous measurement for regular monitoring the area for radon emanation and for observing the anomalies with previous values. The study area is located in Lesser Himalayas, North Pakistan, the Balakot–Bagh (B–B) fault in the Hazara–Kashmir Syntaxis. Soil gas radon concentrations were found higher near the Balakot-Bagh Fault line with an average value of 11.9 $${\text{kBq}}\;{{\text{m}}^{ - 3}}$$ compared to other sites of the study area with an average value of around 6.5 $${\text{kBq}}\;{{\text{m}}^{ - 3}}$$ . The radon value near the fault line is 70% higher as compared to the surrounding area.

Empirical assessment of rockfall and debris flow risk along the Karakoram Highway, Pakistan

The Karakoram Highway links north Pakistan with southwest China. It passes through unique geomorphological, geological and tectonic setting. This study focused 200-km-long section of the highway starting from Besham until Chilas. Landslides are frequent and are mostly triggered by torrential rain during Monsoon and Westerlies, leading to highway blockade. Rockfall and debris flow are prime mode of slope failures. Regional to site-specific approach was implemented to assess risk associated with these two modes. Remote sensing-based techniques were used to identify potential hazardous sites, which were further investigated for risk assessment. Modified Pierson’s rockfall hazard rating system (RHRS) rated potential rockfalls, whereas semi-quantitative technique was employed to assess debris flows. Normalized scores of each site shaped the final map, further classified into four zones: very high, high, intermediate and low risk.

Palynostratigraphy of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan: implication for Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary and paleoclimate in the Eastern Tethys

This paper investigates the much-debated Jurassic/Cretaceous (J/K) boundary as well as the Early Cretaceous climate using palynomorphs of the Chichali Formation, Upper Indus Basin, North Pakistan. Based on the palynostratigraphy, two dinoflagellates and one spore/pollen assemblage are recorded, suggesting a Kimmeridgian to Valanginian age for the sediments of the Chichali Formation. The palynostratigraphic results further suggest that the Tithonian to Berriasian strata are truncated along the J/K boundary. The warm and humid conditions are supported by the consistent dominance of ferns corresponding to the Schizaeaceae and the intermittent appearance of herbs from Gleicheniaceae. Such climatic conditions are further supported by the consistent presence of evergreen trees with a broad leave of Cyatheaceae and Matoniaceae. The warm and humid conditions are also supported by conifers of the Araucariaceae in association with Cycadaceae. Such conditions during the Valanginian are further supported by the switch from the Bajocian–Oxfordian shallow carbonates of the Samana Suk Formation to the Kimmeridgian–Valanginain clastics of the Chichali Formation. Hence, the expansion of warm and humid tropical flora to the middle latitude (∼40°S) during the Valanginain hints strongly for global warming instead of previously suggested global cooling. KEY POINTS: Palynostratigraphic investigation shows Kimmeridgian to Valanginian age for the Chichali Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. The J/K boundary is marked by an unconformity along which the Tithonian to Berriasian time record is missing. The reconstruction of paleovegatation indicates warm humid climate during the Valanginian instead of previously reported global cooling.

The Precambrian Hazara Formation from Hazara Mountains, Northern Pakistan

The late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation along the Lora Maqsood Road near Haripur, Lesser Himalayas, North Pakistan, is studied for sedimentology, petrography, and major and trace element analysis to determine the paleoenvironment, provenance, paleoweathring intensity, and tectonic settings. The Hazara Formation is characterized by greywacke sandstone, siltstone, shale, argillite, claystone, limestone, and coarsening and finning upward turbidite lithofacies. Based on bedding style, grain size, and sedimentary structures, 11 types of lithofacies were identified within the sequence. The macroscopic studies indicate that the sequence has undergone through slight metamorphism although the texture is altered sedimentary features and bed geometries are well preserved. Compaction seems to affect the part of argillaceous sediments of an enormous thickness of the Hazara Formation to make slate-like appearance which may preferably be called argillites. The same effect is seen on sandstone to make it so hard to name it orthoquartzite. Petrographic analysis of limestone reveals that the limestone is micritic in nature; stylolites and pressure solution structures are also present in the limestone. The petrographic analysis of sandstone categorized it as feldspathic greywacke in the QFR diagram. The quartz content is higher in sandstone and may reach to 70% which indicates a weathered felsic source. The petrographic analysis suggests a continental block provenance with stable craton and an uplifted basement source. The Chemical Index of Alteration and the Chemical Index of Weathering values indicate moderate to high weathering conditions with a warm and moist climate in the source region. A sedimentary-tectonic model based on the geochemical data of sandstone indicates deposition along with active continental margin tectonic settings. The paleocurrent flow analysis indicates that the dominant source region of the sediments of the Hazara Formation was situated south to southeast, which may probably be the central Indian craton, Aravali orogeny, and Bundelkhand craton of southern India.