Here is another review on another beautiful city of Pakistan. Its not that comprehensive as I went to Quetta on a very short trip, so didnot get the whole information about it but I did gather some. Its more about its past and i’m afraid in this review its just the background or past discussed and very little for tourists. Well, anyway I’ll write about Quetta in much more detail in my future articles. i’m working on the places that one must visit if one goes to a particluar city and you’ll hopefully find that information valuable......but for now this is a short contribution from me about Quetta.
QUETTA
The fruit garden of Pakistan and the capital of province Baluchistan, Quetta, is the legendary stronghold of the western frontier. It is situated at 1, 680 meter’s (5, 500 feet) above sea level.
Quetta, derived from kwatta, meaning fort in Pushtu, no doubt is a natural fort, surrounded as it is by hills on all sides whose names are Chiltan, Takatoo, Mordar and Zarghun.
Since Partition in 1947 the Population of Quetta has increased dramatically. Because of its military base and trading activities, and the introduction of commercial fruit farming, Quetta District can now support almost half a million people.
One of the most important military stations of the country because of its vital and strategic position on account of the fact that the boundaries of Iran and Afghanistan meet here, and the Bolan Pass lies on important lines of communications. It is connected by rail with Lahore, with Peshawar and Karachi. A new road connects it with Karachi through Khuzdar, Makran and Las Bela. It is also connected with Zahidan (Duzdab), Iran, by railway.
Quetta, before the great earth-quake of 31 May, 1935, was a bright and bustling city, having multi storied buildings, it was almost completely destroyed in this great earthquake and was razed to the ground in the small hours of the morning of that fateful day, when about 40, 000 souls perished within the twinkling of an eye. After the great calamity that overtook Quetta, houses are generally single storeyed and quake proof. These houses are built with bricks and reinforced concrete. The structure is generally of lighter material.