User:Muhammad Noman Abbasi

Quetta Quetta (کوئٹہ) is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. It ranks as the tenth-largest city in Pakistan, with a population exceeding 1.1 million. Situated in the southwestern region of the country, it's nestled within a valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides. Quetta's elevation averages about 1,680 meters (5,510 feet) above sea level, making it Pakistan's sole high-altitude major city. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan," the city boasts numerous fruit orchards and a wide variety of fruits and dried fruits.

Located near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the road to Kandahar, Quetta serves as a critical trade and communication hub between the two nations. The city's strategic location near the Bolan Pass made it a significant military asset for the Pakistani Armed Forces during the ongoing Afghanistan conflict. Presently, it's home to around 500,000 undocumented Afghan refugees.

Etymology
The name "Quetta" is derived from the Pashto word "Kwatkōṭ" or "kōta," meaning "fortress." In the past, Quetta was also known as Shalkot.

History
The Quetta region has a long history of pastures, mountains, and unique flora and fauna. It was under the rule of the Kasi Pashtun tribe from the 11th century. It was captured by Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi during his invasion of South Asia. Later, it became part of the Afghan Hotak dynasty until Ahmed Shah Durrani incorporated it into the Durrani Empire. The first European visitor came to Quetta in 1828, describing it as a "mud-walled fort surrounded by three hundred mud houses."

In 1876, Quetta was occupied by the British and subsequently integrated into British India. The city saw extensive development during the British era, leading to its nickname "Little London." However, the devastating earthquake of 1935 wreaked havoc on the city, destroying most of its infrastructure and causing significant loss of life.

Climate
Quetta has a cold semi-arid climate with significant temperature variations between seasons. Summers last from late May to early September, with average temperatures ranging from 24–26°C. The highest recorded temperature in Quetta was 42°C in July 1998. Autumn lasts from mid-September to mid-November, with average temperatures ranging from 12–18°C. Winter begins in late November and ends in late February, with average temperatures near 4–5°C. The lowest recorded temperature in Quetta was -18.3°C in January 1970. Spring starts in early March and ends in mid-May, with average temperatures close to 15°C.

Unlike eastern parts of Pakistan, Quetta doesn't experience a monsoon season with heavy rainfall. Snowfall is erratic during the winter months.

The city saw a severe drought from 1999 to 2001 during which the city did not receive snowfall and below normal rains. In 2002, the city received snow after a gap of five years. In 2004 and 2005, the city received normal rains after three years without snowfall while in 2006, 2007 and 2009 the city received no snow. In 2008, it received a snowfall of 10 cm in four hours on 29 January, followed on 2 February by 25.4 cm in 10 hours – the city's heaviest snowfall in a decade. During the winter of 2010, it received no snow and saw below-normal rains due to the presence of El-Nino over Pakistan.

Demographics
Quetta has a diverse population. Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group, followed by Balochs, Hazaras, Brahuis, Punjabis, and Muhajirs. Urdu serves as a lingua franca, understood by all residents.

The Hazara community in Quetta has a significant presence, with an estimated 500,000-600,000 Hazaras living in and around the city.

Administration
The city is governed by a municipal corporation consisting of 66 ward members who elect a mayor and deputy mayor. The Quetta Development Authority is responsible for providing municipal services to the city.

Transportation
Quetta is well-connected through a network of roads, railways, and its international airport. Quetta International Airport is the second highest airport in Pakistan, offering regular flights to major cities. Quetta Railway Station is one of the highest in Pakistan and connects the city to Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Roads also link Quetta to nearby towns and cities.

Education
Quetta serves as the educational center for Balochistan. It houses several government and private colleges, universities, and schools catering to the educational needs of the province's population.

EGDI Status of Quetta
Quetta is the provincial capital and largest city of Balochistan, Pakistan. According to the UN E-Government Survey 2022², Pakistan ranked **152nd** out of 193 countries in the overall E-Government Development Index (EGDI), which is a measure of how countries use information and communication technologies to deliver public services. The EGDI is composed of three sub-indices: online service index (OSI), telecommunication infrastructure index (TII), and human capital index (HCI). Pakistan scored **0.362** in OSI, **0.137** in TII, and **0.499** in HCI, with an overall EGDI score of **0.333**³.

The UN E-Government Survey 2022 also included a study of local e-government development based on the United Nations Local Online Service Index (LOSI), which assessed the online presence of 40 cities per country. Quetta was one of the cities selected for Pakistan, along with Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and others. Quetta scored **0.125** in LOSI, which is below the national average of **0.183** and the global average of **0.346**³. This means that Quetta has a low level of online service delivery and digital inclusion at the local level.

To improve its e-government development, Quetta can learn from the best practices of other cities and countries that have achieved high scores in the EGDI and LOSI. For example, Denmark, Finland, and the Republic of Korea are the top three countries in the EGDI ranking, with scores above **0.9**⁶. They have implemented various initiatives to enhance their online service provision, telecommunication infrastructure, and human capital development. Some of these initiatives include digital identity systems, open data platforms, mobile applications, broadband networks, digital literacy programs, and citizen engagement mechanisms². Similarly, Seoul, Singapore, Helsinki, London, and New York are among the top five cities in the LOSI ranking, with scores above **0.8**³. They have leveraged their local resources and capacities to provide innovative and inclusive online services to their citizens and businesses².

Source: Conversation with Bing, 10/29/2023 (1) UN E-Government Survey 2022 - United Nations. https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Reports/UN-E-Government-Survey-2022. (2) E-Government Survey 2022 - United Nations. https://desapublications.un.org/sites/default/files/publications/2022-09/Web%20version%20E-Government%202022.pdf. (3) Online connectivity improves, but digital inclusivity remains a .... https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/Portals/egovkb/2022/Press%20Release%20-%202022%20E-Gov%20Survey_Sep21rev.pdf. (4) Overview > E-Government Development Index - United Nations. https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/About/Overview/-E-Government-Development-Index. (5) The UN E-Government Survey | The Official Portal of the UAE Government. https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/uae-competitiveness/the-uae-in-egovernment-development-index. (6) E-Government Survey 2022 - United Nations. https://desapublications.un.org/sites/default/files/publications/2022-09/Annexes%2B%20cover.pdf.

Television

 * Mechid TV

Sports
Football is the most popular sport among the people of Quetta. Football clubs from Quetta include: Quetta Zorawar, Muslim FC, Balochistan United W.F.C., Hazara Green Football Club, Baluch Football Club and Quetta Bazigars Club. Balochistan United W.F.C. won the 2014 National Women Championship.

Bugti Stadium is the home of Balochistan cricket team, a first-class cricket team which competes in domestic tournaments, and the Quetta based team Quetta Gladiators compete in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). They were the champion of the PSL 2019.

Boxing is highly popular as well. Muhammad Waseem is a professional boxer from Quetta. In Body Building Nisar Ahmed Khilji has Mr. Balochistan and Mr. Pakistan Titles and Pakistan representation in International Body Building Contests. In hockey, Quetta has produced Zeeshan Ashraf and Shakeel Abbasi, who were members of the Pakistan's national hockey team.

Facilities
The Shaheed Nauoroz Stadium is the largest stadium in the city. The city also has Ayub National Stadium, a multipurpose stadium used for football and cricket and Bugti Stadium for cricket.

Local facilities were created in the city for mountain climbing and caving as well as water sports. Hayatullah Khan Durrani (Pride of Performance) is the chief executive of Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy, Balochistan's first and only Rowing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Sailing, rough swimming and boating academy where all such facilities provide free to the youth members at Hanna Lake.