Zhob

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Zhob is small city in Balochistan, Pakistan. Zhob is located on banks of Zhob River and is the capital of Zhob District. The population of Zhob District is estimated to be over 425,000.

Zhob is a valley and river in the N.E. of Baluchistan. The Zhob is a large valley running from the hills near Ziarat first eastward and then northward parallel to the Indus frontier, till it meets the Gomal river at Khajuri Kach. It thus becomes a strategic line of great importance, as being the shortest route between the North-West Frontier Province and Quetta, and dominates all the Pathan tribes of Baluchistan by cutting between them and Aighanistan. Up to the year 1884 it was practically unknown to Europeans, but the Zhob Valley Expedition of that year opened it up, and in 1889 the Zhob Valley and Gomal Pass were taken under the control of the British Government. The Zhob Valley was the scene of punitive British expeditions in 1884 and 1890. In 1890 Zhob was formed into a district or political agency, with its headquarters at Fort Sandeman: pop. (1901) 3552. As reconstituted in 1903, the district has an area of 9626 sq. m.; pop. (1901) 69,718, mostly Pathans of the Kakar tribe.

Zhob means bubbling water. It refers to the Karez water which pops up everywhere when there is no drought situation. The Zhob district is located in the Balochistan (Pakistan) province in the north east of Pakistan. It lies close to the Afghanistan border. Zhob town is just east of Zhob river on an open plain. To the north is a ridge, about 150 ft high, on which is a castle from the time when the British colonized the area. In the winter, the weather is cold and the snow is normal. In the summer, although the temperature can get up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, there is little moisture, so it is not uncomfortable.

Zhob claims historical significance being the crade of the Pashtuns. Qais Abdul Rashid, who is believed to be the progenitor of Pashtuns, is said to have lived around the vicinity of Sulaiman Mountains near Zhob, where he is said to have been born in 575 AD and died somewhere 661 AD, the site is known as Takht-e-Sulaiman or "Kas-Ghar" (the mountain of Qais). He is buried near Takht-e-Sulaiman.

The district is inhabited by Pashtun tribes: Mandokhels, Kakars, Sheranis, Haripals, Babars, Lawoons, Khosty and Syeds. Sulemankhels, Nasars, Kharots, and other tribes are also present.

The rural population of the district is 350,000 thousand, constituting, 84.07 percent of the population. The average annual growth rate of the rural population during 1981-98 is 1.44 percent which was 9.74 and 5.96 percents during 1972-81 and 1961-72 respectively. The urban population of the district is 43.84 thousand of the total population, constituting 15.93 percent of the total population.