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Lovely Quetta loved by many

Zarbab Ayesha Malik

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Quetta is a district and division of Balochistan province, Pakistan. The name is taken from ”kwatkot” a Pashto word meaning “fort” and the city is still locally known by its ancient name of Shal or Shalkot. Quetta is the 5th largest city of Pakistan also known as the Fruit Garden of Pakistan due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife. Quetta is an excellent base for the exploration of Balochistan. Three large craggy mountains Chiltan, Zarghun, and Koh-e-Murdar seem to brood upon this town, other mountains form a ring around it. Their copper ring and russet rocks and crests are powdered with snow in winters add immense charm to the town.

Quetta has an area of 2,653 km2, and consists of series of valleys that act as a natural fort surrounded by hills: these are named Chiltan, Takatoo, Murdar, and Zarghun. There are no natural boundaries between Quetta and its adjoining districts. Strategically, Quetta is an important city due to its proximity to borders with Iran and Afghanistan. There is a huge military base just outside the city. Quetta owes much of its importance to the Bolan Pass which links it to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Excavations in Quetta valley prove that humans have lived there since pre-history. Modern-day is a growing center of excellence. Quetta has a semi-arid climate with a significant variation between summer and winter temperatures. The highest temperature in Quetta was recorded in 1998, it was 42 degrees C. The population of Quetta is approximately 2 million. Some unique varieties of melon, Garma, Sarda, cherries, pistachios, and almonds are all grown in abundance. Some pistachios are also grown in Qila Saif Ullah. Saffron grows very well and is being cultivated on a commercial scale.

Tulips are the local flowers of Pakistan. The yellow and red tulip grows wild around Quetta. A trip to Quetta is incomplete without Urak, Hannah Jheel, Ziarat, and other surrounding hill stations. Try out kaddi kabab. This is a traditional food of Balochistan. Both chicken and mutton can be used but locals prefer mutton with it. The best places to enjoy food in Quetta are Lehri Sajji House, Mir Afzal Gosht Karahi Regal Chowk, Gulshan Karahi, Dubai Restaurant Kuchlak. The city saw a severe drought from 1999 to 2001. In 2003, the city received snowfall after five years.

The inhabitants of Quetta are mostly Pashtun followed by Brahui and Baloch. They are known to be hospitable to visitors. It is an important element in their culture. When Baloch and Pakhtun come together, it’s a meat-lover paradise. Quetta is connected by roads with the rest of the country. Educational institutions include:

  1. Group of Islamia schools
  2. Federal government degree college
  3. Tameer-e-Nau public college
  4. The Military Command and Staff college
  5. The University of Balochistan
  6. Bolan Medical college
  7. The geological survey of Pakistan.

Etc.

Mammals such as Markhor are to be found in the Quetta region. Local birds species include partridge, warblers, shikra, the blue rock pigeon, rock nuthatch, golden eagle, sparrows, hawks, falcons, and bearded vultures.

A total of 225 species of flora have been found in the area. Cultural and religious festivals are held every year. Buzkashi is a festival celebrated by Pashtuns every year. In this game, two teams on horses try to snatch a goat from each other.

Quetta bazaars are Shahrah-e-Liaquat, Shahrah-e-Iqbal, and Jinnah road. Balochi mirror work and Pashtun embroidery are sold in these bazaars. Afghan rugs and fur coats are also very famous there. Embroidered jackets, waistcoats, and sandals are also well known.  Pakhtun rugs and Balochi carpets are also very famous. Kadi kebab, lamb Roash, and Balochi Sajji are loved by many. Other traditional dishes are also available around the city. ‘Roash’ is also known as ‘Namkin’. Some of the finest mutton in the country are available in Quetta. ‘Landhi’ is made up of the whole Lamb. Shaheed Nauoroz stadium is the largest stadium. If you want to look at how diversity is celebrated, Pakistan is a place to visit. As our culture is diverse in itself. One can find many colors of joy. To lose yourself in a culture that is so vibrant is the deal. One needs to be lost in order to be found. To be found with a tradition so old and lovely that it brings nothing but joy to the faces. A tradition is what defines a nation. It gives a hint on what a nation possesses. What type of people lives in a certain area? Also, what are their beliefs? Traditions and culture give you the whole knowledge about it. The food they eat shows what they enjoy. What type of taste do they have. It is loved by many, the culture of Quetta. Let’s celebrate it.

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Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder while Pakistan comes into every Eye (Episode 6)

Fariyal Mir

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Hello… Welcome back with the hope that you all will be fine and doing great. If some have got some issue even then no worries ups and downs are part of life. We all wish for the betterment of each other and everything will be alright. Anyhow you must be waiting for the next episode of our visual tour. Before going into visualization I want to tell you that always do remember that everything happens for something better. So keep your struggle and hope for the best. As Quaid once said: “Expect the best, Prepare for the worst”.

Now, what do you think to have a visualization of our northern area? I believe whenever you hear northern area the name of Hunza comes to your mind. So let us know something about the forts of Hunza valley.

Altit Fort              

Hey ….! This is the Altit Fort located in Karimabad in the Hunza valley in Gilgit Baltistan. This fort was home to the hereditary rulers of the Hunza state. They were known to be the Mir. You know it is one of our antiques as it is about 900 years old. That means it is the oldest monument in Gilgit–Baltistan. Some decades back it was in great disrepair. But Aga Khan Trust for Culture has graciously restored it. And then it has been open to the public since 2007. You can see the antiques preserved from the Mir kingdom. Oh, how lovely are old things.

Altit Fort

A fort under the clear blue sky, high mountains, and down valley is just an ideal to many but it is present. Nature is shouting from every angle. Now just mend your imaginative steps toward Baltit Fort that is not far from the Altit Fort.

Baltit Fort

So here we have reached our second destination of today’s trip. This fort is also near the Karimabad town Hunza Valley. Let’s know a bit about its history.  It was founded in the 8th century CE, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list since 2004. In the past, the survival of the feudal regime of Hunza was ensured by the impressive fort, which overlooks Karimabad. The foundations of the fort date back to 700 years ago, with rebuilds and alterations over the centuries. In the 16th century, the local prince married a princess from Baltistan who brought master Balti craftsmen to renovate the building as part of her dowry. All this information is so interesting, aren’t they?

You all know there is a level of our kings or Mirs so far the Mir of Hunza also abandoned the fort in 1945 and moved to a new palace down the hill. The fort started to decay which caused concern that it might possibly fall into ruin. But fortunately, the Royal Geographical Society of London initiated a restoration program and was supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Historic Cities Support Program. The program was completed in 1996 and the fort is now a museum run by the Baltit Heritage Trust. You can see it has preserved the rich heritage of Mirs of Hunza. How finely everything has been restored. You can see its architecture is far different and unique.

Baltit Fort

I think we should have to stop it here so that we have some more to visit and to visualize some other day. We will be covering the whole of our country. And for that, we would like to thank digital to bring us together and making this visualized tour. Bye, Bye for today.

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Culture

Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder while Pakistan comes into every Eye (Episode 1)

Fariyal Mir

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This writing is for all beauty lovers. Especially for those who love nature. The Ultimate Being has blessed this land with all the elements of nature. I invite you all to start your visual tour of Pakistan. And I assure you all its five provinces have mesmerizing scenes. Let’s begin our tour from Sindh province.

Nature Spots in Sindh:

Sindh is the bottom down sea level province of Pakistan. It has amazing spots to be visited. Here we will visualize some of them.

  • Gorakh Hill:

So Gorakh Hill comes first which is an elevation of 5700 feet. The amazing hill shower you with its coldness. It gives breathtaking views. The footpath diverging the shrubs and the sandy elevation leads you to unending peace. Moreover, the blue sky seems about to touch you.

Gorakh Hills
  • Kot Diji Fort

Now enter into Kot Diji Fort located in the town of Kot Diji in Khairpur. The symbolic fort has preserved an important cultural heritage of Sindh. As Talpur Dynasty was built from 1785 to 1795. So, the royal structure widens eyes.

Kot Diji Fort
  • Mohenjo Daro

Hey come out of the social study book and visualize this beautiful civilization. It is located in Harappa, Mohenjo Daro which means “the mound of the dead”. Whereas it takes you away from the present back to that oldest civilization. The inside construction system is just an amazing and idealized one.

Mohenjo Daro

Let’s have some views of Baluchistan province. That is also an amazing outskirt for tourism.

  • Pir Ghayb (The Invisible Saint) Waterfalls – Bolan, Balochistan

Aww, these beautiful falls flow emotions with it. The beautiful scenery is associated with the myth. But what is seen is no less than a miracle.

Pir Ghayb
  • Quaid-e-Azam Residency, Ziarat

It is so honoring to visualize the residency of the Father of the nation. This wooden cottage is very fine to speak about Quaid. So have a mesmerizing visualization.

Quaid-e-Azam Residency, Ziarat
  • The Hannah Jheel, Quetta

Continue your journey with me because now we are entering into the frozen and astounding lake, Hannah. It is too perfect and amazing. A complete depiction of nature.

Hannah Jheel

Hey readers what do you say? Should we end our trip here? I think we should stop so that we can have the rest of it on our next reading. I hope you have enjoyed the visualization. It is not just for visualization. You can come and visit all these nature spots. Believe Pakistan is full of natural beauty. Bye….. Bye …. Will meet you all in the upcoming writing.  

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Culture

Pakistani culture has the worth to attract millions

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(APP): Pakistan Community Purchasing Center set up in Chengdu, Sichuan Province would help set up a good foundation for the sale of Pakistani products to Chinese consumers. In the future, more such centers will be set up in different places in China, said Li Hongwu, President of Pakistan Sichuan Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday during his visit to the Pakistan Commodity Purchasing Center.

Our center aims to shorten the lengthy procedure of wholesale distribution and retail to enable buyers to communicate with manufacturers directly, he said adding that this center is similar to a factory store, but its quality requirements are more strict.

Li Hongwu told China Economic Net (CEN) that the center selects representative products from both China and Pakistan, where Chinese customers can physically examine Pakistani products. It can help set up a good foundation for wider sale channels of Pakistani products including handmade products with Pakistani characteristics which are very popular in China.

Many people appreciate handmade brasses and asked about how many days it takes to make one piece, said Pakistani Hamza Malik, a merchant whose business settled in the center. Last month, the center organized a 7-day event, which attracted around 300 visitors. The visitors tasted Pakistani milk tea and Pakistani food, and Pakistani rice was their favorite, he said.

“We also played a video of Pakistan’s scenery, and many people showed interest to visit Pakistan. People’s enthusiasm was beyond our expectations,” Li Hongwu said.

Cultural representation is the actual representation of any nation. It covers up our values, norms, tradition, language, and all others. And it is the time to show our cultural values to the world, not just China. Culture is the aspect that makes us unique and different from the world.

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