Quetta
Quetta (/ˈkwɛtə/; Urdu: کوئٹہ, ko'eṭa, [ˈkweːʈə] ⓘ Balochi: کویٹہ) ( Hazargi کویته )is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. It is the tenth largest city in Pakistan, with a population of over 1.1 million. It is situated in the south-west of the country, lying in a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides. Quetta is at an average elevation of 1,680 metres (5,510 feet) above sea level, making it Pakistan's only high-altitude major city. The city is known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the numerous fruit orchards in and around it and the large variety of fresh and dried fruits produced there.
Quetta
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Emblem | |
| Nickname: Fruit Garden of Pakistan | |
Quetta Quetta | |
| Coordinates: 30°11′N 67°00′E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Balochistan |
| Division | Quetta |
| District | Quetta |
| Settled | 1876 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Seat Vacant |
| • Deputy Mayor | Seat Vacant |
| • Commissioner | Hamza Shafqaat |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Saad Bin Asad |
| Area | |
| • City | 3,501 km2 (1,352 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,501 km2 (1,352 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,680 m (5,510 ft) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • City | 1,001,205 |
| • Rank | 10th in Pakistan; 1st in Balochistan |
| • Density | 290/km2 (740/sq mi) |
| • Demonym | Quettan or Quettawal (kʰwətə.wal) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (PKT) |
| Postal code | 87300 |
| Dialing code | 081 |
| Website | www |
Located in northern Balochistan near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the road across to Kandahar, Quetta is a trade and communication centre between the two countries. The city is near the Bolan Pass, which was on a major gateway from Central Asia to South Asia. Quetta is currently home to 500,000 undocumented Afghan refugees.