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Quetta http://www.kjti.co.uk/

Quetta (or sometimes-spelled kwatah) is a city and provincial capital of Baluchistan. The name is a variation of kwatkot, Meaning "fort" and the city is still locally known by its ancient name of Shal or Shalkot. The city is the divisional and district Headquarters and is an important marketing and communications center at the north end of the Shal valley about 5500-ft (1675 m) above sea level. It is the southern most point in a line of frontier posts and in the system of strategic roads and railways near the Northwest (Afghanistan) border. Commanding the Bolan and Khojak passes, Quetta was occupied by the British in 1876; a residency was founded by Sir Robert Sandeman, and the town developed around its strongly garrison army station. Incorporated as a municipality in 1896, its Army commands and Staff College was open in 1907. A violent earthquake partially destroyed the city in May 1935, with a loss of 20000 lives. Now a market center for western Afghanistan, eastern Iran, and part of Central Asia, its industries include cotton mills, sulphur refinery, coke briquetting plants, a thermal power station, and fruit canneries. The city is the site of a geophysical institute, the geological survey of Pakistan, Sandeman, Library, and two government colleges affiliated with the University of Peshawar. The University of Baluchistan was established at Quetta in 1970.Quetta district is bounded north by Pishin district, west by Afghanistan, east by district and south by Kalat and Chagai districts. Physically, it comprises a series of long valleys 4500 5500-ft above sea level enclosed by the Central Brahui range in the south and drained by the Pishin Lora River and its tributaries. Its climate is dry and temperate and suitable for valley cultivation of grape peaches, plums, apricots, apples, almonds, pears, and pomegranates. Wheat, barley and corn are common crops; juniper and pistachio forests abound. Horse breeding is widespread. Felts, rugs, silk embroidery and copper vessels are local handicrafts. Quetta division constituted in 1955. It is mostly mountainous and is bounded east by Solomon range and north by the TobaKakar range, separating it from Afghanistan. South of Chaman (near Afghan border) are the Khawaja Amran and Sarl Ath ranges. Across the former lies the famous Khojak Pass with the Shelabagh railway tunnel piercing 2.5 miles (4 km) of solid rock. From Nushki (Southwest of Quetta city) to Dalbandin (Southwest of Nushki), the division consists of a sandy level plain; and Farther west beyond Dalbandin, and Pishin Lora are the chief rivers. Rainfall is scarce, cultivation depending mostly on irrigation From karezes (underground channels) in the submontane area, springs and streams in the highlands, and wells in parts of Sibi Plain. Wheat is the main Rabi (spring) crop; jowar (sorghum) is the chief kharif (autumn) crop in the plains and corn in the highlands. Potato growing is also increasing. Cooking coal is mined at Khost in Sibi and in the Sor range east.