Quetta’s history begins with the arrival of Islam, but it does not have any of the Mughal features found in some of our cities. In the 18th century, Quetta came under the ruler of Kalat. In 1935 there was a terrible earthquake which destroyed most of the city. It was gradually rebuilt, and today Quetta is an important road junction with routes leading into Afghanistan and Iran. It is situated at a height of 1700 metres, so it gets very cold in the winter.
Quetta is also known for the variety of fresh and dried fruits available there. Hannah Lake near Quetta is a popular picnic spot. Close to Quetta is the hill resort of Ziarat, which was a favourite place of the Quaid-e-Azam. His last days were spent in the house which is called the Quaid-e-Azam residency, and is now a museum.