Bostan, Pishin
| Bostan بوستان | |
|---|---|
  Bostan | |
| Coordinates: 30°15′N 67°00′E / 30.25°N 67.0°E | |
| Country |
 Pakistan |
| Province | Balochistan |
| Elevation | 1,593 m (5,226 ft) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
Bostan (بوستان) is a town, 30 km by road (18.64 mi) from Quetta city in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°25'57N 67°00'22E and has an altitude of 1593 metres (5229 feet). Bostan is Tehsil of the Pishin District. It was previously included in Tehsil Karezat [1] and covers an area between Mount Takathu and the Red Hills (Bostan clay).
History
This region was named after Bostan. Bostan was the name of a great tribal leader who Head of the Panezai clan of the Kakar tribe. Bostan took part in a first Anglo-Afghan war (1839–1842). During the British era, Bostan was a famous railway junction connecting Quetta with Zhob, Harnai and Chaman. Bostan and Zhob were connected by a narrow gauge railway track which was later dismantled around June 2008.
The total length of this railway from Bostan to Zhob was 294 km, which made it the longest Narrow gauge Railway of the subcontinent in 1920s. It had 11 stations in between including the famous Kan Mehtarzai station which was the highest station in Pakistan at an altitude of 2224 meters (7295 feet). For a long part of its journey, the railway followed the Zhob River and thus it was called the Zhob Valley Railway (ZVR).
Chronology of Bostan Zhob Railway
- 1916: Work started on Khanai - Hindubagh section of ZVR.
- January 1, 1921: 74.7 km (46.12 mi) long Khanai to Hindubagh Narrow gauge track was completed
- May 2, 1927: 62.93 km (38.85 mi) long Hindubagh to Qila Saifullah section of NG line was opened
- January 15, 1929: 143.62 km (88.66 mi) long Qila Saifullah to Fort Sandeman (now called Zhob) section of NG line was opened. Only goods traffic started on this section on this date.
- July 15, 1929: Passenger service started from Qila Saifullah to Fort Sandeman (now Zhob)
- Year 1932 Bostan Harnai track dismantled for political reasons.
- November 20, 1939: 15.84 km (9.78 mi) long Khanai to Bostan Jn NG was opened
- 1985: Bostan to Zhob Narrow Gauge line was closed down for passenger service
- 1986: Bostan to Zhob Narrow Gauge line was closed down for freight service
- 2007-08: Narrow gauge track was uprooted and auctioned off for roughly Rs 300 million
British resistance
According to the Balochistan Gazetteer of 1901, the Bostan railway station was used for the transportation of agriculture goods to Bombay (both areas then being part of British India). Bostan belonged to the subtribe of Kakar (Panezai). Bostan Khan who took part in first anglo war also resisted the Britishers. Later on Bostan,son of Khan Haji Muhammad Khan, also resisted the British occupation and later made a pact with them. Khan Panezai was the tribal leader with one son. Bostan Khan had two sons, Khan Bahadur Haji Haroon Khan and Haji Mohammed Khan. Haroon Khan was an immensely brave and influential tribal leader for Bostan. Abdul Aziz Khan, his third son sought education all the way in Delhi. His sons are currently the Khans of Bostan. Khan Hashim Khan Panezai is an active and respected tribal leader of the region.
Apple orchards
Bostan had orchards and its apple was known around Pishin, but today only a few trees stand due to the scarcity of water in the area. Today most water off the land is used for farming and grazing.
References
Coordinates: 30°25′57″N 67°00′22″E / 30.43250°N 67.00611°E
2. https://www.facebook.com/Bostankhanan] 3. http://bingmaps/bostan 4.