Quetta

The name Quetta is derived from the Pashto (the language of Afghanistan) word “Kwatta” which means a fort and relates to the fact that the city is a natural fort, being ringed by hills, dominated by three mountains: Chiltan, Zarghun and Koh-e-Murdar, all of which are capped with snow in the winter. Balochistan shares a border with Punjab and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the northeast, with Sindh to the southeast, the Arabian Sea to the south, Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north.

Most of the province’s inhabitants are Balochs, Pashtuns and Brahuis though there are smaller communities of Iranian Balochs, Hazaras, Sindhis, Punjabis, and other settlers such as the Uzbeks, and Turkmens. The name Balochistan means “the land of the Baloch” in many regional languages. Although largely underdeveloped, the provincial economy is dominated by natural resources, especially its natural gas fields, which supply the entire country.

Known as the fruit basket of Pakistan, Quetta is famous for its wild tulips, saffron fields and its glorious selection of fruits and nuts, which include plums, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, guavas (locally called zaitoon), melons, cherries, pistachios and almonds.

Trip Itinerary