Baluchistan

Pakistan's largest and perhaps the least known province, Baluchistan is largely dominated by hills, basins and plateaus. The transition zone between the plains of the Indus and the mountain ranges to its west, Baluchistan has been a crossroads for centuries. A role it continues to play to date.

Pakistan's largest and perhaps the least known province, Baluchistan is largely dominated by hills, basins and plateaus. The transition zone between the plains of the Indus and the mountain ranges to its west, Baluchistan has been a crossroads for centuries. A role it continues to play to date.

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Main towns: Quetta, Kalat

Geography: The Kirthar and the Suleiman ranges stand out in this province of hills and dales. The rough but amazingly beautiful terrain has many a scenic spot, though tourism potential is still unrealised. The narrow Makran coast is one of the most arid coastlines in the world. Between the coast and the ranges is the desert, which largely consist of large salt pan depressions.

Economy: That dates and camels dominate Baluchistan is evident from the fact that both words have over a hundred variants in the local language, Baluchi. Fishing and date farming are still the main occupations in this inhospitable region, though of late a few industries have also come up. Though mineral rich, the industrial output is still negligible.

History: Important as a passage route through most of prehistoric times, Baluchistan has been always on the periphery of major historical movements since. A legacy of near independence from the neighbouring powers, Afghan, Sikh or British have seen it carry over to independent Pakistan as well.

Places to see:
Quetta: The hill station for south Pakistan, Quetta, though an ancient city, was rebuilt in 1935 after a devastating earthquake destroyed most of the city.
Mehrgarh: One of the oldest inhabited sites of the subcontinent, it is also the site where the earliest evidence of agriculture has been found.