National River of Pakistan - (Indus) پاکستان کی قومی دریا

The "Indus River" (Urdu:دریائے سندھ) flows from China's Tibetan plateau, into the disputed territory of Occupied Kashmir (held by India) and the rest of Pakistan. This river is the greatest river on the western side of the subcontinent, and is one of the seven sacred rivers of Pakistani Hindus. It was the birthplace of the early Indus Valley Civilization. Over 60% of the total area of the Indus drainage basin is in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India has about 22%, Tibet has 10% and Afghanistan has 7% of the Indus basin catchment area. Economy: Walnuts grow along the Indus near Skardu, and poplars and apples; there are delicious melons and nectarines and apricots in the valley of Shigar, but it is difficult to send them "down-country" because they are easily spoilt in transit. Potatoes, maize and other crops need unremitting attention; the patchwork of fields must be fed by small water-channels led off from the upper streams of the Indus, sometimes for hundreds of yards. This means endless, back-breaking work in moving boulders to dam icy water, in continually checking, adjusting and repairing the flimsy clay dykes. Strong winds funnel along the river, and the fine soil blows away and must be replaced. At this height, the growing season is short, and everyman, woman and child is pressed into service. Below Skardu, the Karakorams and Himalayas close in towards the Indus.