normal sedimentation pattern. A faint stream pattern 
originating from the southern rock outcrops also 
runs across the river pattern. This modified drainage 
pattern shows runoff activity from the rocks. 
A2 Level plains. With medium to dark graytone, 
nearly level relief and low river activity, this unit 
represents parcels of typical agricultural areas on 
1953 photographs. Adjacent to A1 unit the graytone 
is somewhat lighter indicating sand at shallow depth. 
On the east and south-east of the old city, this 
unit displays somewhat darker graytone indicating 
intensive land use and/or clayey nature of soils 
or both. On 1976 photogrphy the graytone is found 
brighter with sharp parcels on the river side, revealing 
intensive agriculture, whereas the tone of the eastern 
part appeares darker but diffused. Some ponded 
sites are clearly observed. Cultivated area has reduce 
in extent. 
A3 Basins/Channel Infills. The lowest parts of 
the Flood Plains are included in this unit. It is 
medium gray with whitish patterns but no parcels. 
The area is saline. Conspicuous meander scars are 
present with open water at lowest sites and untraceable 
courses towards tips. They receive runoff from the 
rock outcrops. The basin along Hyderabad-Jamshoro 
road is a back-swamp, receiving seepage water from 
the canals, barrage and runoff from the old city 
of Hyderabad. On 1976 photographs, the overall gray 
tone is darker, meander scars got enlarged enought 
to be extrapolated almost to their entire course. 
4.2.2 Piedmont Plains 
Mapped at the foot of the rocky plateaus on the 
right bank of the river, the Piedmont Aprons appear 
as continuous belt. They are easterly sloping with 
drainage pattern perpendicular to the flow of the 
Indus river. The south-western corner of the region 
has been reshaped by wind action into low and 
high dune patterns. The following are the subdivision 
of the landscape. 
PI Piedmont Aprons/Valley Floors. They are level 
to very gently sloping with light to medium graytone. 
Locally they are cultivated with torrent water or 
lift irrigation from the K.B. Feeder canal. 
P2 Gently Undulating Plains. They represent parts 
of piedmont plain having low dunes, scattered low 
vegetation and some interdunal valleys. Dunes appear 
stable, in general. No moisture accumulation is appar 
ent . 
P3 Undulating Plains. Areas with high dunes and 
shrub vegetation are included in this unit. Inter-dunal 
valleys are common. Some dune are unstable and 
occur along the Baran Nadi. 
4.2.3 Laki Rock Formation 
The rock of this series are monoclinal in nature. 
They have light graytone with a sub-parallel drainage 
pattern. Gully density is medium. Extremely eroded 
parts display slightly darker graytone, dendritic 
drainage pattern and higher gully density. No appre 
ciable differences in drainage pattern are noticed 
on the two sets of photographs. The landscape is 
divided into the following four components. 
LI Mesas. They occupy the highest position in 
the area with extremely level central parts. The 
peripheries are very gently sloping with covex slopes. 
No gullies are apparent. 
L2 Higher Terraces. Generally this unit occurs 
at a lower elevation than the Mesas. It is linked 
with Mesas through a sharp bluff. On more dissected 
parts the terraces attain the form of Lower Mesas 
but their surface is not so flat. Gully density is 
low. 
L3 Lowest Terraces Remnants. They are severely 
eroded with high gully density. Flat surfaces occur 
on top of steep pinnacles. Graytone is generally 
a complex pattern of light and very gray shades 
indicating exposed rock strata. 
L4 Terrace Footslopes and Aprons. This unit gene 
rally occurs below the dissected terraces. It is 
characterized by dendritic drainage pattern. Gullies 
are shallow with gully bottoms having some vegetation. 
Landscape elements like terrace escarpments, pedi 
ments and colluvial footslopes are included in this 
unit. 
4.2.4 Ranikot Rock Formation 
Rocks of this formation are not extensive in the 
region. They are moderate to strongly dipping. Shales 
are erosive but sandstones are sticking out as promi 
nent features. Graytone is darker than Laki Forma 
tion. Gully density is much higher and as such 
the formation has very limited flat surfaces in the 
form of Mesas or Terraces. The subdivisions are, 
however, similar to Laki Formation i.e. Rl, R2, 
and R3. 
4.3 Discussion of results 
Physiographic analysis reveals that the drainage prob 
lem is complicated in the region because of interaction 
of several forces contributing surplus moisture (See 
Fig.l). Of these, erratic rainfall and runoff collection 
are significant. River activity in the flood plains, 
continued erosion on the rocky terrain and wind 
action on the piedmont aprons have complicated the 
surface configuration of the region and hence the 
surface drainage. Presence of contrasting stratified 
soil material and rocks at shallow depth and their 
internal topography are factors worth a mention 
in connection with internal drainage. Under-designed 
civic infrastructure and irregular urban growth are 
still other factors making the drainage problem as 
apparently enigmatic. These factors are discussed 
below as illustrated by photo image characteristics. 
4.3.1 River Activity 
The saddle between the two rock outcrops roughly 
divides the broad photo-patterns. The darker eastern 
part consists of mostly clayey sediments possibly 
deposited in a relatively vast basin by the river 
creeks taking off from the river about 10 km. north 
of the region. The whitish tone in the western 
half of the saddle indicates mainly sandy sediments 
deposited along the main course of the river. The 
photo-pattern is a characteristics channel-levee com 
plex with diverse sediments as displayed by striated 
moisture distribution pattern on 1953 photographs 
(See Fig.3, Stereogram). The saddle itself displays 
a marked meander scar which does not appear to 
be linked with main channel remnants or the main 
river trunk. Absence of drainage outlet in the saddle 
reveals irregular topography of the basement rocks. 
A shallow basin is apparent north west of the old 
A shallow basin is apparent north west of the 
old city, extending along the Hyderabad-Jamshoro 
road. This basin appears to receive moisture from 
several sources. The cut-off river creecks may contri 
bute recharge internally from the river while in 
spate. Some infilled river channels in the north 
extend across the canal system. They appear to 
add seepage water from the canals even if closed 
or lined. Pockets of wet areas around the rock 
outcrops are indicators of shallow depth to rocks. 
4.3.2 Runoff Collection 
The rocky areas are either built-up or devoid of 
any soil cover and vegetation. The drainage pattern 
is sub paralled on rock outcrops and western rock