Zulqarnain Haider Ciit islamabad

management
[Type your address] sciences
[Type [Type your phone number]
your e-mail address]
 
SP10-MBA-169 (B) 1st Semester
ZULQARNAIN HAIDER

ASSIGNMENT ON

Submission Date

SUBMITTED TO
Mr Omer Vikas
26-03-2010
My City
My name is Zulqarnain Haider and I belong to Quetta City. I am doing MBA from COMSATS
University Islamabad

Introduction
Quetta valley which lies between north
latitudes 29° 45′ and 30° 20; and east
longitudes 66° 50 and 67° 15, is situated at
1650 meters above sea level and is surrounded
by Chiltan (south-west), Takatu (north-east)
and Murdar (east-south-east) mountain ranges.
The peaks of Chiltan, Takatu and Zarghun are
distinctively visible from Quetta. The Zarghun
peak (east-north-east of Quetta) is the highest (3754 meters) but because of its distance (24
kilometers) from Quetta seems the smallest. Quetta, more commonly known as the fruit garden
of PAKISTAN, is the capital of Baluchistan and one of the most beautiful cities of PAKISTAN.

During The powerful Khans of Kalat held the fort from 1730. In 1828 the first westerner to visit
Quetta described it as a mud-walled fort surrounded by 300 mud houses. Although occupied
briefly by the British during the First Afghan War in 1839, it was not until 1876 that Quetta
came under permanent British control and Robert Sandeman was made political agent in
Baluchistan.
The British Raj, Quetta was of utmost strategic importance to British and was considered an
important outpost of the Empire – the station was secured to keep an eye on Russia in case it
attacked India (the British would have sent Army into Afghanistan if Russia had attacked India).
Quetta also controlled the trade route from India to Kandahar as well as the Bolan Pass to the
south, the road to Kalat State. It is said that in 1872 Robert Groves Sandeman, a British Army
captain at the time, was the man who had his eyes on Quetta and had expressed his wish to be
there. Five years later in 1877 it was occupied officially.
The city was designed to meet the needs of British Garrison, with about 12,000 troops stationed
there. In fact Quetta developed and prospered because of British military presence.

Quetta of 2010 is quite a different place from that of 1935! In 1930’s it was a well planned,
organized and well managed city with a population of about 40 to 50 thousand which in summer
increased between 65,000 to 70,000 as thousands of people escaped the heat of the plains, from
the nearby regions, and sought sanctuary in the pleasant summer season of Quetta; in the hot
weather it was considered as a health resort. By contrast, Today’s Quetta has a population of
somewhere between 1.5 to 2 million people and since 1935 the city instead of growing outwards
has been growing uncontrollably fast, both inwards and upwards, in a very haphazard manner – a
ticking time bomb waiting to implode!
Geographical Location
Quetta is the legendary stronghold of the western frontier
Geographically, Quetta lies at 1,680 meters (5,500 feet) above sea level.
Geographically Quetta also holds a vital and strategic position, and is one of the most important
military stations of the country. Boundaries of Iran and Afghanistan meet here and the Bolan
Pass control important lines of communications.
The Quetta region is important for fruit-growing. Coal, natural gas, chrome and other minerals
have also been discovered and exploited. The 1,600 km/1,000 mi rail network has strategic as
well as economic significance. Although Quetta is on the western edge of PAKISTAN but still it
is connected with the country through a wide network of roads, railways and airways.

Places of Attraction

Hana Lake
A little short of the place where the Urak valley
begins and ten kms from Quetta is the Hinna Lake.
The greenish- blue water of the lake provides a rich
contrast to the sandy brown of the hills in the back
ground.

Urak Valley
The Urak valley is 21 km from Quetta city. The road is lying on both sides with wild roses and
fruit orchards. Peaches, palms, apricots and apples of many varieties are grown in this valley.

Hazarganji Chiltan National Park

In Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, rare animals like' Markhors' have been declared a protected
species. The park is spread over 38,429 acres with altitude ranging from 2021 to 3264 meters.

Climate
Quetta has a continental arid climate with high variations between summer and winter
temperatures. Summer high’s can reach 40 o C (105 o F) while winter temperatures can drop to
-19 o C (-3 o F). Summers start in late May and go on till early September with average
temperatures ranging from 24-26 o C (75-78 o F). Autumn starts in late September and goes on
till mid-November with average temperatures in the 12-18 o C (55-65 o F) range.
Winters start in late November and end in late March, with average temperatures near 4-5 o C
(39-42 o 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 o C (60 o 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.
Demography
According to the 1998 census Quetta was the ninth biggest city of Pakistan with a population of
565,137 (however according to non-governmental census the population of Quetta along with
Afghan immigrants is over 1,500,000). The city in general is dominated by a Pashtun majority, a
Balochi and Hazara minority with an eclectic smattering of smaller groups. However the city is
also a home to thousands of Afghan immigrants. The 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.
Quetta was the outskirts of Kandahar until it was captured by the British in Second Afghan war.
Most of the Balochis settled in Quetta after 1970 when a new province by the name of
Balochistan was created after One Unit system was abolished in Pakistan. Quetta was made the
capital city of Balochistan.

Culture
Beside millions of Afghan immigrants, the local inhabitants are mainly Pashtuns. Others include
Baloch, Brahuis,Hazaras, Punjabis, Hindko, Mohajirs and Sindhis. During the summer season
main bazaars are full of people from all over Pakistan. The merchants are mainly Pushtun
people. The Hazaras mainly live in Mariabad, Syedabad, Alamdar Road, Brouri/Brewery Road
and surrounding areas. Most Hazaras/Changazis immigrated from Afghanistan during the 1880s
and 1890s due to persecution by King Abdur Rahman Khan and instability. It is one of the hot
spots of Hazara migrants especially for Hazaras of Bamiyan province and its surrounding areas.
People of Quetta are known for their friendliness and hospitality. Making visitors comfortable is
an integral part of their local traditions. The tribes include Kakar, Daavi Tareen, Bazai, Ghilzai,
Sherani, Looni, Kansi and Achakzai. The main bazaar on Jinnah Road is full of Pashtun traders,
many of them wearing turbans.

Sports
Football is popular in Quetta, which has produced more renowned players then any other part of
Pakistan. Sadiq Shaheed Footbal Ground is the best-known football ground.

Educational Institutions
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. Balochistan
DAR-E-ARQAM School Of Islam & Modern Sciences
Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University
Iqra University
Bolan Medical College Quetta
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.

Air Transport
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 other major
cities of Pakistan including Islamabad Gwadar
Karachi Lahore and Peshawar. Pakistan
International Airlines has a direct flight between
Manchester Dubai New York and other major
Airports and Quetta.

Railways
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 were temporarily disabled in
2006 due to unrest in Balochistan.

Quetta Railway StationRecently the 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 NWFP. 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.
Roads

Quetta is well 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 Loralai, Fort Mendro , Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan.
Quetta is also connected with Afghanistan through Chaman and to Iran through the Mastung,
Nushki, Dalbandin and Taftan route.

Tourist Attractions
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
Bazaar, Alamdar road (little Tokyo). 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 carpets, with their pleasing and intricate
designs, fur coats, jackets, waist-coats, sandals and other creations of traditional Pashtun skills.
local handicrafts, specially green marble products, mirror work and embroidered jackets, shirts,
and hand bags, pillow covers, bed sheets, dry fruits, etc. Balochi carpets are made by the
nomadic tribes of this area.
there are many sumptuous dishes to feast upon. The “Sajji” (leg of lamb) is said to be very good
by locals. The Pathan tribesmen of the valley also enjoy “Landhi” (whole lamb), and Khadi
Kebab. “Landhi” is a whole lamb which is dried in shade and kept for the winters. “Kebab”
shops are very popular,

THE END