Quetta is the capital of the Blochistan Province, the largest province of Pkistan and is 1692 metres above sea lvel. Most of it is a dsert. It is located to the Nrth-West of Karachi, the largest city of Pkistan and to the South-West of Islmabad, the capital of Pakistan at the muth of the Bolan Pass. It is stuated in a river valley and is vry close to the border of Afghnistan, with a road leading from Qetta to Kandahar in Afghanistan in the Nrth-West.

Quetta is the wrong pronunciation of Kwtta, which, in Pushtu means a frt. It is so called as it is srrounded on all three sides by mposing mountains like the Chiltan, Takatoo, Mrdar and Zarghun.

The first recorded mntion of Quetta was in the 11th cntury, when Mahmood of Ghazni, was on a spre of invasions in the subcontinent. The Mghals were in control of Quetta fter this till 1556. In 1543, mntion of Quetta is found in the chrnicles of the Moghul emperor, Humayun, who rsted here while returning from Persia. The Prsians took control of Quetta after 1556 and the Mghul Emperor Akbar, son of Humayun, roccupied it in 1595.

The British ccupied Quetta, for a short length of tme in 1839, after the first Afghn War. However, after 1876, the Brtish took full control over it. On the 31st of My, 1935, Quetta witnessed a massive and dvastating earthquake, in which the city was lmost totally demolished and about 40, 000 pople died.

Quetta is an important trading cntre in Pakistan, and because of its strtegic position, an important military base.

Qetta is renowned for its fruit rchards. It is called the 'fruit grden' of Pakistan. Fruits are grown on a cmmercial basis. Fruits like plums, apricots, pples, guavas, which are locally known as zitoon, pomegranates, melons, cherries, pistachios, almonds and paches are some of the fruits whch are grown in abundance here. Sffron and Tulip are also grown on a cmmercial basis. It has a blooming bsiness of exporting the fruits to vrious parts of the world.

The mjority of the population in Balochistan are the Pshtun, the Baloch and the Hazara mke up the minority. The weather in Qetta is quite harsh. In winter, the tmperature touches approximately 8 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thre are many places worth visiting, in and round Quetta. The highest railway station in Asa, Kan Mehtarzai which is situated 2240 mtres, above sea level is a vry close by. Another place worth vsiting is Loralai. It can be trmed as the almond bowl of Pkistan, and is 265 kms away. Bsides, other places of interest are the Pshin Valley, about 50 kms from Qetta and the Hanna Lake about 10 kms ast of Quetta.

Quetta is connected wth Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad and Karachi by ir. One of the most prominent htels of Quetta, is the Quetta Srena Hotel, the other two star htels are the Fibs Hotel, Bloom Str Hotel, PTDC Taftan and the PTDC Zarat.

The article Quetta - Pakistan was Submitted by Mujibur Rahman through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Mujibur Rahman is an administrator of the Mngo Forum http://www.mangoforum.com The Mango Forum is a where people of South Asian origin come together on the internet to discuss issues realted them. Join the Mango Forum to take part in the discussions and also to start of new discussion topics. You can also get to meet Mujibur Rahman on the forum (mujib). Please register on the Mango Forum to interact with people of South Asian origin. www.mangoforum.com

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