Quetta کوئٹہ

Quetta (Urdu: کوئٹہ, Pashto: کوټه) is the provincial capital of Balochistan, in west-central Pakistan. It is located 1,680 m (5,500 ft) above sea level in a mountainous area near the border with Afghanistan. Covering 2,653 sq km (1,024 sq mi), it has a population of around 900,000 people (2012 estimate).

The local inhabitants of Quetta are the Kasi Pashtun tribe. The area traces its history to the 11th century, when Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered it. In 1543, Mughal emperor Humayun left his one-year-old son Akhar for two years in the city. It was occupied by the British in 1839, following the First Afghan War, and was made part of the British Empire in 1876.

A major earthquake in 1935 brought much devastation to Quetta, killing some 40,000 of its population. The city has since rebuilt itself with subsequent generations. It was made the provincial capital of Balochistan upon joining Pakistan, but lost that status under Zulfiqar Bhutto in 1971. It retained the status when General Zia ul Haq reinstated the provincial system.

Visiting Quetta

There are flights to Quetta from various cities in Pakistan. If you are coming from Afghanistan, there is a train service from the border town of Chaman. It takes 4.5 hours to reach Quetta.

Places of Interest in Quetta

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