Zhob

Zhob (ژوب), formerly known as Mandokhail, is a city and district headquarters of the Zhob District in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. Zhob is located on the banks of the Zhob river. It lies 337 kilometres away from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

The city was originally named Mandokhail after a nearby village. During the British colonial era, it was named Fort Sandeman after the British Indian Army officer Robert Groves Sandeman. It obtained its current name in 1976 when the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto changed its name.

Tourist places

 * 1) Salyaza: One of the most visited picnic spots of the Zhob district, Pakistan. The stream is surrounded by the orchards of apples, grapes, almonds and apricots and extensive fields of maize and wheat. The Pashtoon tribes living here are Mandokhail and village named Takai.
 * 2) Paryan-o-Ghundi:  Visiting places in this area are Oboo Shakh, Tarjana Narai, Shaly Narai, Uzgii Ghbarga, Sur Ghundai. This area is also rich with Zaitoon (Olive) forests.
 * 3) Tor Ghar Ali Khan zai is situated 16 km away in the south of Zhob district. Tor Ghar is also called K2 of Zhob District.

History
A Chinese pilgrim, Xuanzang, who visited the region in 629 AD mentioned Pashtuns living in Zhob. The prime historical importance of Zhob is having been a cradle of the Pashtuns. Early in the 13th century the country came within the sphere of the Mongol raids organised by Genghis Khan. In 1398 AD, an expedition against the Pashtuns of the area was led by Pir Muhammad, the grandson of Amir Timur. Although no authentic information exists about any foreign occupation, many forts, mounds and karizes are attributed to the Mughals. Both Nadir Shah (1736-47 AD) and Ahmed Shah Abdali (1747-73 AD) extended their power through Balochistan and thenceforth Zhob remained under the more or less nominal suzerainty of the Durranis and the Barakzais until it came under British protection.

In the middle of the 18th century, Ahmed Shah granted a sanad (certificate) to Bekar Nika, fourth in descent from Jogi and the head of the Jogizai family, conferring upon him the title and position of "Badshah or Ruler of Zhob". This family continued to exercise authority over the Kakars until the British were first brought into contact with them.

Until the Zhob Valley Expedition of 1884, the area was practically unknown to Europeans. In 1889, the Zhob Valley and Gomal Pass were taken under the control of the British Government. In December 1889, the town of Zhob, then known as Apozai, was occupied by the British and named Fort Sandeman after Sir Robert Sandeman.

The district of Zhob was formed in 1890 with Fort Sandeman as the capital. The population was 3552 according to the 1901 census of India. The military garrison included a native cavalry and a native infantry regiment. It was also the headquarters of the Zhob Levy Corps. In 1894, a supply of water from the Saliaza valley was established, allowing irrigation and planting of fruits and trees and providing drinking water. It cost a little over a lakh of rupees.

During the colonial era, the political agent resided in a building known as "the Castle" that lay to the north of the town and 150 ft above the surface of the plain. The military lines, bazaar, dispensaries, and schools lay below. During this time, the railway system was built. The nearest railway station in Baluchistan is Harnai, 168 mi distant. Bhakkar, the railway station for Dera Ismail Khan, is 122 mi distant. The population numbered 3,552 in 1901.

A local fund was created in 1890. The income during 1903-4 was 18,000 rupees and the expenditure 17,000 rupees. One-third of the net receipts from octroi were paid over to the military authorities. There is a small sanitarium, about 8500 ft above sea-level, about 30 mi away at Shinghar on the Sulaiman range, to which resort is made in the summer months.

There is a Pakistan Army cantonment in Zhob too. Semi-nomadic people from various provinces or Afghanistan migrate to Zhob amid the weather of the city. Tribes known for migration include Yusafzai, Tarakai, Mehsud, Wazir etc.

Demographics
Zhob's population is predominately Pashtun. According to the census of 2017, the total population of Zhob city was 46,164, while the population of Zhob district was 310,544. The average annual growth rate was 2.52% from 1998 to 2017.

Climate
Zhob has a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Its rainfall is high enough to avoid the arid climate category found at lower elevations. Unlike most of Balochistan, Zhob does receive rainfall on occasions from the monsoon, though this occurs very erratically.

Roads
Zhob is 365 km far from Quetta and 225 km far from Dera Ismail Khan. However, the road linking with Dera Ismail Khan is mostly a track passing through water streams and almost all of the road is metalloid. The Quetta to Zhob National Highway has been completed recently on the expenditure of 7 billion rupees by NHA in five years in two shifts (Quetta-Killasaifulah and Killasaifulah-Zhob). Zhob has an important link with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because it connects Balochistan with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and then with Punjab; originally it took 12 hours or more to reach Dera Ismail Khan, but now it is distance of almost 4 hours. On this route there is a heavy traffic of cargo and goods carrying vehicles to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The route is very convenient for transportation between Punjab and Balochistan. This road is very important for carrying goods from province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the sea port of Karachi.

Railway
Zhob was linked by rail with the Pakistan Railways network. In 1986 all service stopped and in 1991, the Pakistan Railways lifted the rails and permanently removed the line. There have been proposals to replace it with a broad gauge line but nothing has been implemented. The Zhob line originally split off the Chaman line north of Quetta at Bostan. A more direct route to the capital via Dera Ismail Khan and Darya Khan was also proposed. A new project was proposed in 2021 to link Quetta with Peshawar via Bostan, Zhob, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Kohat.

Nothing became of this proposal.

Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan constructed an airport at Zhob with a 6390 ft runway that links Zhob by air with the major cities of Pakistan.