Quetta District

Quetta District
District
Map of Quetta with Quetta District highlighted
Country	Pakistan
Province	Balochistan
Capital	Quetta
Established	April 1983
Government
• Deputy Commissioner	Hashim Ghilzai[1]
• District Nazim	Vacant
Population (2008)
• Total	1,140,000
• Density	281/km2 (730/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Number of Tehsils	2
Website	balochistan.gov.pk

Quetta (Pashto: کوټه‎, Balochi: کوئٹہ) is a district in the north-west of Balochistan province of Pakistan.It was part of Quetta Division until the year 2000 when divisions were abolished. The district is famous for its agriculture produce, most notably fruit orchards but also including apples and grapes. The Hanna Valley is an area where almonds are grown. The population in 2008 was estimated to be 1.14 million^[2]

History

The ancient name of Quetta was Shalkot, a term by which it is still known among the people of the country, the District was held in turns by the Ghaznavids, Ghurids, and Mongols, and towards the end of the fifteenth century was conferred by the ruler of Herat on Shah Beg Arghun, who, however, had shortly to give way before the rising power of the Mughals. The Ain-e-Akbari mentions both Shal and Pishin as supplying military service and revenue to Akbar, however these areas passed with Kandahar to the Safavids. On the rise of the Ghilzai power in Kandahar at the beginning of the eighteenth century, simultaneously with that of the Brahuis in Kalat, Quetta and Pishin became the battle-ground between Afghan and Brahui, until Nadir Shah handed Quetta over to the Brahuis about 1740. The Durranis and their successors continued to hold possession of Pishin and Shorarud till the final transfer of these places to the British in 1879.^[3]

British Era

During the 19th century Quetta (Shalkot) was captured by the British troops during the Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1879.^{[citation needed]}

On the advance of the British Army of the Indus in 1839, Captain Bean was appointed the first Political Agent in ShalKot, and the country was managed by him on behalf of Shah Shuja-ul-mulk. After Sir Robert Sandeman's mission to Kalat in 1876, the Quetta Fort was occupied by his escort and the country was managed on behalf of the Khan of Kalat up to 1883, when it was leased to the British Government for an annual rent of Rs. 25,000 through a treaty between Khan and the British Empire. It was formed, with Pishin and Shorarud, into a single administrative charge in 1883. Up to 1888 Old Chaman was the most advanced post on the frontier; but, on the extension of the railroad across the Khwaja Amran, the terminus was fixed at its present site, 7 miles (11 km) from that place. The boundary with Afghanistan was finally demarcated in 1895-6.^[3]

The city area of Shalkot was inhabited by the Kasi Tribe. Being on the outskirts of Kandahar, it was not much developed. With the arrival of British troops, doors of development were opened. Very soon people saw roads, trains and schools in the area. The British made the largely Pashtun area part of Baluchistan Agency - which was resented by many of the Pashtun tribes. In April 1883 it was combined with Pishin into a single administrative unit.^{[citation needed]}

Administration

Subdivisions

In 1975, Quetta and Pishin were made separate districts. Quetta district today consists of two Towns: Zarghoon and Chiltan.^[4] The district also comprises one Sub-Tehsil - Punjpai.

Tehsils

Quetta district is administratively subdivided into two Tehsils:^[5]

• Panjpai Tribe,"Mashwani".
• Quetta

Provincial assembly

The district is represented in the provincial assembly by six constituencies.^[6]

People

Over 99% of the people of the area are Muslims. The population of Quetta district was estimated to be over 1300,000 in 2005. Around 80% of the population of the district is Pashtun.

Notable people

References

v t e Neighbourhoods of Quetta Administrations: Quetta Division and Quetta District Tehsils Chiltan Zarghoon Cities Quetta (capital) Towns and councils Aghbarg Gulzar Hanna Valley Hazara Town Kuchlak Mehr Abad Quetta Cant. Satellite Town Localities Killi Kateer Kirani Website: Quetta District at NRB

v t e Districts of Balochistan, Pakistan Provincial capital Quetta Districts Awaran Barkhan Bolan Chagai Dera Bugti Gwadar Harnai Jafarabad Jhal Magsi Kalat Kech Kharan Khuzdar Kohlu Lasbela Loralai Mastung Musakhel Nasirabad Nushki Panjgur Pishin Qilla Abdullah Qilla Saifullah Quetta Sherani Sibi Washuk Zhob Ziarat

Coordinates: 30°10′N 67°00′E / 30.167°N 67.000°E / 30.167; 67.000