Geography of Quetta City
Quetta city consists of a valley and is a natural fort, delimited as it is by grand hills on all sides. The surrounding hills have the booming names of Chiltan, Zarghun, Takatoo and Murdar, encircled by three different mountain ranges. Quetta City is north west of Karachi and Hyderabad, and south west of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Quetta City is situated at an altitude of seventeen to nineteen hundred meters above sea level.
Land Area of Quetta City
Quetta City has a land area of two thousand six hundred and fifty square kilometers.
Population of Quetta City
As per non-governmental census in 2007, the population of Quetta City was approximately 7.6 million including 1.6 million Afghan immigrants. Population mostly consists of Pashto speaking people.
Climate of Quetta City
The climate of Quetta City is dry, and mountain air is energizing. Winter starts from the month of November and ends in the month of February. Snowfall is light, though it is not odd to have one in March. Quetta City has minimum winter temperatures ranging well below freezing point and as low as -18˚C. Conveniently the educational institutes are closed in winter due to temperature below freezing point. Quetta City can show off the best spring and autumn in Pakistan. Although summers are warm, the maximum temperature hardly exceeds 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). The evenings are very pleasant, distinguished by a cool breeze that springs to life an hour or two after sunset. Fans are necessary during May and August. Quetta City does not have a rich rainy season during monsoon time. However, it rains during winter.
Towns in Quetta City
Quetta City has several small housing areas, few of which are following.
Gulistan Town, Quetta Cantt, Satellite town, Jinnah Town, Samugli Housing Scheme.
Notable Places Near Quetta City
Following are some famous places near Quetta City.
Pishin Valley, Hanna lake, Askari Park, Hazarganji Chiltan National Park.
Main Hospitals in Quetta City
Children Hospital, Civil Hospital, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Lady Dufferin Hospital , Helper's Eye Hospital , Fatima Jinnah T.B. Sanitorium, Cenar Hospital.
Main Hotels in Quetta City
Quetta Serena, Fabbs Hotel, Bloom Star Hotel, PTDC Taftan, PTDC Ziarat.
Main Libraries in Quetta City
Balochistan University Library, Central Library, Baluchistan Provincial Assembly Library.
Main Educational Institutes in Quetta City
Balochistan Institute of Technology, Dare Arqam School of Islam & Modern Sciences, Balochistan University of Information Technology & Engineering and Management Sciences, Command and Staff College, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, University of Balochistan, Pharmacy Department Of Balochistan University, Iqra University, F.G Degree College Quetta Cantt, Model Public School & college, Tameer-i-Nau public college, Government College of Technology Balochistan, Army public school and college, Bolan Medical College Quetta,
General Info about Quetta City
- Quetta City is a variation of kwatkot, a Pashto language word, which means ‘fort’.
- Quetta City is a vital marketing and communications centre between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- Quetta City is famous as the fruit basket of Pakistan.
- Football is very popular among the people of Quetta City.
- Quetta City Airport is the fourth highest airport of Pakistan in terms of altitude.
- Quetta City was first mentioned in the 11th century when it was captured by Mahmud Ghaznawi.
- Quetta City was completely destroyed in an earthquake of 7.1 magnitudes on 31 May 1935.
- Thousands of orchards can be found in Pishin Valley, a valley, 50 km far from Quetta City.
- Quetta City is the ninth largest city of Pakistan by population.
- Quetta City was the outer edge of Qandahar until it was captured by the British in Second Afghan war.
- Quetta City is one of those cities that are mostly visited by tourists from abroad.
- Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, spread over 32500 acres is located 20 km far from Quetta City.