Quetta
| Quetta - The Fruit Garden of Pakistan | |
 Location of Quetta in Pakistan | |
| Province | Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Location - Longitude - Latitude - Altitude |
67.02° East 30.21° North 1,680 metres (5,500 feet) above sea level AMSL |
| Area | 2,653 sq. kms |
| Population | 2, 000, 000 persons |
| Calling Code | 04 |
| Time zone | PST +05:00 ahead of GMT |
| Number of towns | |
| Number of UCs | |
| City Mayor (Nazim) | |
Quetta (کویتہ) is the capital of the province Balochistan in Pakistan. Quetta word is derived from kwatta meaning 'fort' in Pushtu language. It is known as the fruit garden of Pakistan. It is located in a densely populated Quetta District in the northeast of the province. Quetta is situated in a river valley near the border with Afghanistan, with a road to Kandahar in the northwest.
Quetta has a population of more than 2 million. The city is dominated by a Pashtun majority and a Balochi minority with an eclectic smattering of smaller groups. Pushto, Balochi, Persian (Hazaragi dialect), Brahui, Sindhi, Punjabi and Urdu languages are spoken in large parts of Quetta, giving the city a very multicultural feel.
Sites of Interest
Quetta is a major tourist attraction for tourists 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 (the Kandahari Bazaar) and Shahrah-e-Liaquat (the Liaquat and Suraj Gang Bazaars),Alamdar road(little Tokyo) and Hazara town. Here, tourists can find colorful handcrafted art, particularly the Balochi mirror work embroidery,Hazaragi Chapal, Hazaragi Carpet, which is admired all over the world. For those interested in local cuisine, there are many sumptuous dishes to feast upon. The "Sajji" (leg of lamb),Hazaragi Aash, Mantho is said to be very good by locals. Small and clean hotels in Alamdar road is the real comfort for tourists in peaceful environments. Pishin Valley About 50 km, from Quetta is the valley of Pishin, which is surrounded by thousands of acres of vineyards and orchards, made by boring holes into rocks to bring to the surface the deep water. The rich harvest of apples, grapes, plums, peaches and apricots is loaded at Yaru railway station, seven miles from Pishin.
Hanna Lake
It nestles in the hills ten kilometer (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. It is very attractive for holiday makers, are crowded with hikers and campers in holidays. You can hire a boat and paddle on the lake and round the island in the middle.
Urak Tandi Valley
To the left of the Hanna Lake for two kilometer(one mile) away, and right for the eight-kilometer (five-mile), there is another picnic spot
Bund Khushdil Khan
After 16 km from Pishin is the man made lake Bund Khushdil Khan.
Places to stay
- Serena Hotel
- Lourdes Hotel
- Islamabad Hotel
- Qaser-e-Gul
- Sheer
- Zulfiqar
- Mauxton
- Fabes
- Deluxe
- Marina
- Bloom Star
- Muslim
- Faran
Places to Eat
- Tabaq
- Leheri Sajji
- Farah House
- Baldia
- Lal Kabab
- China
Culture
Quetta tribesmen are known for their friendliness and hospitality. Making visitors comfortable is an integral part of their local traditions. The main bazaar on Jinnah Road is full of Pathan traders wearing huge turbans, Baluchi hawkers with red embroidered caps, and full-skirted nomad women carrying bundles of imported cloth for sale.
Communication
Although Quetta is on the western edge of Pakistan, it is still connected with the country by a wide network of roads, railways and airways. Quetta is connected to Lahore by a 727 mile long railway line. Similarly it is also connected by railways with Peshawar (986 miles away) and Karachi, which is 536 miles away. Many Internet Service Providers and almost all major mobile phone companies are operating in Quetta.
Sports
People of Quetta are huge football fans. This city has produced more renowned footballers then any other part of Pakistan. Football is still widely played in Quetta. "Mali Bagh" is the famous foot ball ground. The famous footballers include Qayum Changezi, Taj Muhammad Senior and Taj Muhammad Junior. One of the most famous football club in Quetta is Hazara Club. The boxers of Quetta have earned world recognition for the Pakistan. The main Olympean boxers are Syed Ibrar Ali Shah, Asghar Ali Changezi and Haider Ali Changezi.
Universites and Colleges
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 and Management Sciences is also located in Quetta.
- Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences
- Command and Staff College
- Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University
- University of Balochistan