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Quetta

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Quetta
کوټه
City District
A night time aerial view of the city
A night time aerial view of the city
Country Pakistan
RegionBalochistan
DistrictQuetta District
Autonomous towns2
Union councils66[1]
Government
 • NazimMir Maqbool Ahmed Lehri
 • StudentKAMRAN ALI ASADI
Area
 • Total
2,653 km2 (1,024 sq mi)
Elevation
1,900 m (6,230 ft)
Population
 (2007)[2]
 • Total
759,894
 • Density213/km2 (550/sq mi)
 [3][4] [5]
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+6 (PDT)
Area code081
Websitewww.quetta.gov.pk

Quettaⓘ (Template:Lang-ps Template:Lang-ur) is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. It is known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan", due to its diversity in plant and animals wildlife. The city has been a major stronghold along the western frontier of the country. It is situated at an average elevation of 1,654 metres (5,429 feet) metres above sea level.[6] The city is also home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, a national park containing some of the rarest species of wildlife in the world. The city is also home to the research institute, Geological Survey of Pakistan.

Quetta sits near the Durand Line border with Afganistan which makes the city an important marketing and communications centre for Pakistan with the neighbouring country. The city is an important military installation within the country occupying a vital and strategic position for the Pakistan Armed Forces. The city also lies on the Bolan Pass route which was once the only gateway to and from South Asia. The city was also the closest city to the 1935 and the 2008 earthquakes which had left a great deal of damage to the city on both instances.

Etymology

Quetta is also spelled Kuwatah which is a variation of Kuatta, a Pashto word meaning "fort".[7] It is believed the city received its name due to imposing hills on all sides of the city. The hills which act as a natural fort are called Chiltan, Takatu, Mehrdar.

History

Main article: History of Quetta
Quetta cantonment, 1889.
File:Jinnah road, Quetta.jpg
Bruce Street, Quetta, before the devastation of the earthquake of 1935

It is not known when Quetta was first inhabited, but most likely it was settled during the 6th century. The region remained part of the Sassanid Persian Empire and was later annexed by the Rashidun Caliphate during the 7th century Islamic conquest. It remained part of the Umayyad and Abassid Empires. However, the first detailed account of Quetta was in the 11th century when it was captured by Mahmud of Ghazni during one of his invasions of the Indian subcontinent. In 1543 the Mughal emperor Humayun rested in Quetta on his retreat to Persia, leaving his one-year-old son Akbar in the city until his return two years later. The Mughals ruled Quetta until 1556, when the Persians conquered the city, only to have it retaken by Akbar in 1595. The powerful Khans of Kalat held the fort from 1730. This allowed railway and telegraphic lines being constructed to run through the city, connecting Quetta with other cities of the Sindh province.

In 1828 the first westerner to visit Quetta described it as a mud-walled fort surrounded by three hundred mud houses. Although occupied briefly by the British during the First Afghan War in 1839, it was not until 1876 that Quetta came under the British Empire with Robert Sandeman being made the political leader within Baluchistan. Before the devastating 1935 earthquake on 31 May, Quetta was a bright and bustling city with multi-storey buildings. The British were building the city due to its importance and beauty over the years. However, due to the close proximity of the earthquake it completely destroyed most of the city infrastructure. The earthquake virtually razed the city to the ground in the early hours of the morning, when about 40,000 people also perished. Even with limited funds and lack of government support the houses were rebuilt over the years and the city once again started to rebuild.

Today, houses are generally single storey and quake proof, built with bricks and reinforced concrete. The preferred structure is generally of lighter material. Incidentally, the bricks of Quetta are known to have a yellowish tinge unlike the red variety of Sindh and the Punjab. This has made Quetta district itself from the other cities of Pakistan. Since the partition the population of Quetta has increased dramatically. There has been an increase in tourism and many Pakistani travel to the city from all over Pakistan for its beauty and tranquility.

Geography and climate

Quetta
Climate chart (explanation)
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Source: Weatherbase
Imperial conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Quetta has a continental arid climate with high variations between summer and winter temperatures. Summer highs can reach 46°C (115°F) while winter temperatures can drop to -26°C (-15°F). Summers start in late May and go on till early September with average temperatures ranging from 24-26°C (75-78°F). Autumn starts in late September and goes on till mid-November with average temperatures in the 12-18°C (55-65°F) range. Winters start in late November and end in late March, with average temperatures near 4-5°C (39-42°F) and snowfall in the months of January and February. Spring starts in early April and ends in late May, with average temperatures close to 15°C (60°F). Unlike most of Pakistan, Quetta does not have a monsoon season of sustained, heavy rainfall. The snowfall in the winter months is the principle mode of precipitation.

The city of Quetta consists of valleys which act as a natural fort surrounded by imposing hills on all sides. The encircling hills have the resounding names of Chiltan, Takatoo, Murdar and Zarghun. It is surrounded by three different mountain ranges. The area of city is approximately 2653 sq. km. There are no natural boundaries between Quetta and its adjoining districts. Quetta is bounded by Dera Ismail Khan to the northeast, Dera Ghazi Khan and Sibi to the east. Sukkur and Jacobabad to the southeast, Karachi and Gawadar to the east and Ziarat to the southwest. However the closest major city to Quetta would be Kandahar in Afganistan toward the west.

Government and politics

Under the latest revision of Pakistan's administrative structure, promulgated in 2001,[8] Quetta was restructed as a City District, and divided into two towns[9][10] Each town in turn consists of a group of union councils (U.C.'s).[11]:

  1. Zarghoon Town
  2. Chiltan Town

Transport

Quetta is on the western edge of Pakistan and is well connected with the country by a wide network of roads, railways and airways.

Quetta International Airport

At an altitude of 1605 meters above sea level, Quetta Airport is the second highest airport of Pakistan. Pakistan International Airlines, Shaheen Air International and Airblue all have regular flights between Quetta and the other major cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Gwadar, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. Pakistan International Airlines operates direct flights to Manchester, Dubai, New York and other major international airports from Quetta.

Quetta Railway Station is one of the highest railway station of Pakistan, at the height of 1676 meters above sea level. The railway track was lined in 1890s during the British era to link Quetta with rest of the country. The extensive network of Pakistan Railways connects Quetta to Karachi in south, by a 863 km (536 miles) track, Lahore in northeast (1,170 km or 727 miles) and Peshawar further northeast (1587 km or 986 miles). A metalled road is also present along the railroad that connects Quetta to Karachi via Sibi, Jacobabad and Rohri. A track from the Iranian city of Zahedan links to Quetta via Taftan, but the train service was temporarily disabled in 2006 due to unrest in Balochistan.

Quetta Railway Station

Recently a new project has been proposed for constructing a railway track that will link Gawadar to China, this will also link Gawadar with Quetta via Kalat. Even though the linear distance from Quetta to Lahore is merely 700 km, there is no direct railroad track on this route because of the Sulaiman Range that lies in the east of Quetta. So all northeast-bound trains for Punjab or the North-West Frontier Province must go 350+ km south down to Rohri, Sindh (near Sukkur) first, before continuing north to Punjab and/or North-West Frontier Province. Recently Railway is under attack by the Balochs specially in the Bolan Pass area. Some innocent passengers have been killed and wounded. This has created a great sence of insecurity amongst the travellers.

Quetta is connected by roads to the rest of the country. A recently built road connects it with Karachi through Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar and Lasbela. Another road connecting Quetta to Karachi follows the Sibi, Jacobabad, Sukkur and Hyderabad route. Quetta and Lahore are also connected through two routes. The older route is the Sibi, Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan route. Another route is via Khanozai, muslimbagh Loralai, Fort Mondro, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan. Quetta is also connected with Afghanistan through Chaman and to Iran through the Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin and Taftan route.

Educational institutions

Main article: List of educational institutions in Quetta

Quetta has many higher education institutions. The prestigious military Command and Staff College, which was founded by the British, recently celebrated its hundredth anniversary. University of Balochistan was established in 1974. The Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences is also located in Quetta. The city is the home of a geophysical institute, the Geological Survey of Pakistan, Sandeman Library, and two government colleges affiliated with the University of Peshawar. In 1970, with the creation of the University of Balochistan.

Flora and fauna

A wide variety of Mammals like Markhor, "Gad" (wild sheep), leopards, wolves, hyena, rabbits, wild cats and porcupines can be found in the Quetta region. While Birds may contain species of partridge, warblers, shikra, blue rock pigeon, rock nuthatch, golden eagle, sparrows, hawks, falcons and bearded vultures. For Flora of Quetta, one may find about 225 species of some pretty exotic plants like; pistachios, juniper, wild olives, wild ash and wild almonds. Also found amongst such Flora are wide range of shrubs like; wild fig, barbery, wild cherry, makhi and herbs like; Ephedra intermadia, as well as gerardiana.

Culture

File:Hanna Lake, Quetta.JPG
Hanna Lake In Winter
File:Abubakar & Ali.JPG
Kayaking in front of the historical Bridge wall at Hanna Lake

Quetta is a tourist attraction for foreigners from abroad. It is advertised as a thrilling location, full of adventure and enjoyment. Some prominent bazaars of Quetta are located on the roads Shahrah-e-Iqbal (Kandahari Bazaar) and Shahrah-e-Liaquat (Liaquat Bazaar and Suraj Gang Bazaar). Here, tourists can find colourful handicrafts, particularly Balochi mirror work and Pashtun embroidery which is admired all over the world. The Pashtun workers are prominently expert in making fine Afghan rugs, with their pleasing and intricate designs, fur coats, embroidered jackets, waist-coats, sandals and other creations of traditional Pashtun skills.

Balochi carpets are made by the nomadic tribes of this area. They are generally not nearly as fine or expensive as the Persian city products, or even the Turkoman tribal rugs from further North, but they are generally more authentic than the inferior copies of Turkoman and Persian designs sometimes found in the major cities of Pakistan. The rugs can range in price, starting from relatively crude rugs that can, with some bargaining, be had at very reasonable prices to quite fine and valuable pieces. Many are small enough to be fairly portable.

For those interested in local cuisine, there are many sumptuous dishes to feast upon. The famous Pashtun tribal cuisine “Roash” whch non-locals call “Namkin” is very famous in the city restaurants as well as in the interior areas. Another Pashtun tribal dish is “Landhi” which is made of a whole lamb, which is dried and kept fresh during the cold winters. "Khadi Kebab" is a lamb BBQ. The "Sajji" (leg of lamb) is said to be very good by locals. The best restaurants are Green Hotel, Gulab Hotel, Lal Kabab, Tabaq, Usmania and Abasin Hotel. They serve Pakistani and Continental food, while Cafe China is one of the oldest and most reputable Chinese restaurant that specializes in Chinese cuisine. Some of the finest mutton in the country is raised around Quetta. It has a delicious smell which can be sampled in the "Pulao" that most of the eating houses offer. Small and clean hotels in Alamdar road provide real comfort for tourists in peaceful environments.

Hanna Lake nestles in the hills ten kilometres (six miles) east of Quetta, a startling turquoise pool within bare brown surroundings. There is a lakeside restaurant with picnic tables shaded by pine trees. At one end, the irrigation dam rises out of the depths like battlements of a fort, and on the eastern part the well known Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy (HDWSA) is the only rowing, canoing, kayaking and sailing training center in the Balochistan Province. Hanna Lake is very attractive for holidaymakers, and is crowded with hikers and campers in holidays. You can hire a boat and paddle on the lake and round the island. The Hana Lake Development Authority,Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy and Merck Marker (Pvt.) Ltd has planted various trees for the beautification and protection of the environment in Hanna Lake Mountains. Askari Park is the biggest park of Quetta with a children's playground, toys and entertainment. It is located on Airport Road near Custom House Quetta. It is administered by the Army. Built in mid 1990s, Askari Park is equipped with modern rides with "Dragon" being the main attraction.

The Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, 20 km south-west of Quetta, Markhors have been given protection. The park is spread over 32500 acres, altitude ranging from 2021 to 3264 meters. Hazarganji literally means "Of a thousand treasures". In the folds of these mountains, legend has it, there are over a thousand treasures buried, reminders of the passage of great armies down the corridors of history. The Bactrains, Scythians, Muslims, Mongols passed this way. Pir Ghaib is a waterfall and picnic point located 70km from the City Center on Sibi Road. Kharkhasa is located 10km west of Quetta which 16 km long narrow valley which shows a variety of flora and fauna species of the region. The Chiltan Hill Viewpoint is a spot to get a panoramic view of the city. A visit to the nearby cities of Kirani and Ziarat have always been a popular stop travelling to and from Quetta.

The Quetta Geological Museum, Sariab Road (near Balochistan University) has a collection of rocks and fossils found in Balochistan. The Command and Staff College Museum is a museum dedicated to the British military history. It is housed in the former bungalow of Field Marshal Montgomery. The Quetta Archaeological Museum, Fifa Road has a collection of rare antique guns, swords and manuscripts. It has a display of Stone Age tools, prehistoric pottery and articles found from Mehrgarh. There are also coins, manuscripts and photos of Quetta before 1935 earthquake. The Balochistan Arts Council Library is a newly inaugurated library that houses a variety of arts and carts of the Balochistan province.

There are also cultural and religious festivals held in the city every year. The two Eid festivals which mark the end of fasting and the end of the Hajj allow the majority muslim community to put on musical shows, distribute sweets and presents. The Sibi festival is a cultural festival celebrating the history of the Balochi people with folk music performance, cultural dances, handicrafts stalls and cattle and horse shows. Buzkashi is a peculiar festival celebrated by the Pashtun people. It is celebrated on horse-back by two teams that use their skills to snatch a goat from each other.

Demography

Pashtuns form the majority of population in Quetta. Quetta was at the outskirts of the Kandahar state until it was captured by the British in Second Afghan war. Most of the Balochis in Quetta arrived after 1970, when a new province with the name of Balochistan was created. The city in general is dominated by a Pashtun majority,[12] a Baloch and Hazara minority with an eclectic smattering of smaller groups. Pashto is the main language spoken throughout the city. Other languages include Urdu, Balochi, Hazaragi[13], Brahui, Sindhi, and Punjabi. Quetta has expanded at a very slow pace it population was recorded to be 11,000 in 1891. According to the 1998 census Quetta was the ninth biggest city of Pakistan with a population of 565,137 (however, according to non-governmental censuses the population of Quetta, including Afghan immigrants, is over 1,500,000). 99% of the people are Muslims. There is also a Christian, Hindu, and Sikh population living in the city.

Notable people

  • Hazaras

Sports

The city is mad about the different types of sports. Unlike in most of Pakistan, cricket is not the most popular sport of the city. Football is the most popular sport in Quetta. Teams in Quetta include Quetta Zorawar, Afghan Football, Hazara Green Football, Baluch Football and Quetta Bazigars Club. Among the famous footballers of Quetta are Abdul Wahid Durrani (Wahido) Taj Senior; Taj Junior, Qayyum Changezi, Agha Gul, Mohammad Younas Changezi; Mohammad Ismaeel Durrani (famous goal keeper) in the Indian subcontinent and his son Dawood Durrani of PIA football team, and Kazim Ali Sheralyat, the former captain of Pakistan. in Body building Shoukat Ali Changezi - Mr.Norway; Din Mohammad Brohvi - Mr. Pakistan; and Noorullah Khan Durrani,(Mr. Pakistan Runner-up). The city has also produced minor cricket players for the national team such as Shoaib Khan who played for the Pakistan national cricket team. The Ayub National Stadium is the prime stadium which hosts many international cricket and football matches.

In field hockey, Quetta has produced Zeeshan Ashraf and Shakeel Abbasi who are still representing the Pakistan national field hockey team. In Mountain climbing and caving, Hayatullah Khan Durrani (Pride of Performance), chief executive of Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy (HDWSA) at Hanna Lake Quetta. In Kayaking, Muhammad Abubakar Durrani, National Junior Champion selected for world Junior Canoeing Championship 2009 Moscow (Russia). In Boxing Olympians from Quetta include: Abdul Salam Khan Kakar; Syed Ibrar Ali Shah; Asghar Ali Changezi; and Haider Ali Changezi.

In squash Hiddy Jahan Khan was ranked among the top-6 players in the world from 1970 through to 1986. British Open champion Qamer Zaman also hails from Quetta. Other famous squash players include: Zarak Jahan Khan; Abdul Wali Khan Khilji; Hamayoon Khan Khilji; Zubair Jahan Khan; Shams ul Islam Khan Kakar; Tariq Rahim Khan Kakar; and Shaied Zaman Khan.

See also

References

  1. ^ National Reconstruction Bureau of Pakistan, list of Zila, Tehsil & Town Councils Membership for Balochistan. URL accessed April 5th, 2006
  2. ^ World Gazetteer estimate (01-01-2006)
  3. ^ According to non-government sources the population along with Afghan immigrants is between 14,00000-16,00000
  4. ^ Population Census Organization, Pakistan. 1998 Census. URL accessed April 5th, 2006
  5. ^ World Gazetteer population estimate for Quetta. URL accessed April 5th, 2006
  6. ^ Location of Quetta - Falling Rain Genomics
  7. ^ "History of Quetta" Government of Quetta
  8. ^ "The Local Government System 2001". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. August 14, 2001. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  9. ^ "City District Governments". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  10. ^ Official City District Government Quetta Website
  11. ^ "City District". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  12. ^ http://www.mongabay.com/indigenous_ethnicities/asian/Pashtun.html
  13. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazaragi

See also

Further reading

Template:PakistanCapitals Template:Administrative divisions of Balochistan (Pakistan)

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