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Overview
| History | Population |
Transport
Zhob (Pashto: ژوب)
is a district in the north west of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Zhob
district is a Provincially Administered Tribal Area (PATA). Zhob district is
subdivided into three subdistricts: Zhob, Kakkar and Sherani. The population
of Zhob district is estimated to be over 500,000 in 2005. Zhob River is used
for irrigation in the Zhob district.
Zhob is located on banks of Zhob River at 31°20'32"N 69°26'55"E and has an
altitude of 1426 m (4681 ft). The city was originally known as Appozai named
after a nearby village. During the colonial era it was named Fort Sandeman.
It obtained its current name in 30 July 1976 when the then Prime Minister of
Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had the name changed.
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Overview
Zhob means bubbling water. It refers to the karez water which pops up
everywhere when there is no drought situation. Zhob town is just east of
Zhob river on an open plain and lies near to Afghanistan. To the north is a
ridge, about 150 ft high, on which is a castle from the time when the
British colonised the area. In the winter, the weather is cold and the snow
is normal. In the summer, although the temperature can get up to 100 degrees
Fahrenheit, there is little moisture, so it is not uncomfortable.The
following tribes live in zhob. Mandokhel, Kakar, Gharghasht, Daavi, sherani
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History
A Chinese pilgrim, Xuanzang, who visited the region in 629 AD mentioned
about Afghans living in Zhob.
Until the Zhob Valley expedition of 1884 the area was practically unknown to
Europeans, and 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.
In 1890 the district of Zhob was formed with Fort Sandeman, as the capital.
The population according to the 1901 census of India was 3552, the garrison
included a Native cavalry and a Native infantry regiment and was also the
headquarters of the Zhob Levy Corps. In 1894 a supply of water from the
Saliaza valley was established—this allowed irrigation and planting of
fruits and trees as well as 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 feet above the
surface of the plain. The military lines, bazar, dispensaries, and school
lay below. During this time the railway system was built the nearest railway
station in Baluchistan is Harnai, 168 miles. Bhakkar, the railway station
for Dera Ismail Khan, is 122 miles. The population numbered 3,552 m 1901.
The garrison included a Native cavalry and a Native infantry regiment, and
Fort Sandeman is also the headquarters of the Zhob Levy Corps.
A Local fund was created in 1890; the income during 1903-4 was Rs. 18,000
and the expenditure Rs. 17,000. One-third of the net receipts from octroi
was paid over to the military authorities. A small sanitarium, about 8,500
ft. above sea-level, exists about 30 miles away at Shinghar on the Sulaiman
range, to which resort is made in the summer months.
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Population
The vast majority of the population of Zhob district is Pashtun. It is
likely that over 99% of the people of the area are Muslims, with tiny
numbers of Christians and Sikhs. Currently the tribes living in Zhob are
given by; Sherani, Kakar, Mandokhail, Harifal, Lawon, Babarh the local
tribes while other immigrants include and make a huge population comprises
of Khosti, Khilji, Nasar, Kharottee, Gandapur, Khalsewal, and currently a
large number of IDPs have been settled within the confines of the Distt. NB:
pleased to draw the attention of the Webmaster towards Zhob Tehsil and new
announced boundary. Ist. Zhob had not 5 tehsils, there were only 3 tehsils.
1. Tehsil Zhob 2. Tehsil Kakar 3. Tehsil sherani. while now Sherani Tehsil
merged in Dist Sherani, as Distt Sherani was announce as new district 3
years ago.
Transport
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Roads
Zhob is 333 kilometers from Quetta, 225 kilometers from Dera Ismail Khan.
However, the road linking with Dera Ismail Khan is for most part fair now
a days track passing through water streams and almost complete road is
metalloid. now adays work is on full speed on national high way from
quetta to zhob,50% of work is completed. Zhob has great link with NWFP
because it connects balouchistan with NWFP and so on with Punjab, first it
took 12 or more than 12 hours to reach Dera ismail khan but now it is
distance of almost 4 hours and on this route there is a heavy traffic of
cargos and goods carring vehicles to NWFP and punjab and this route is
very convenient for transportation between punjab and balochistan.this
road is very important for carrying goods from province Pakhtoonkawa to
the sea port of Karachi.
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Railway
Zhob is the terminus of a branch railway of Pakistan Railways. In 2006 the
narrow gauge of this branch was converted to broad gauge. The Zhob line
junctions off the Chaman line north of Quetta at Bostan. A more direct
route to the capital via Dera Ismail Khan and Darya Khan is also proposed.
The new project will link Quetta with Peshawar via Bostan, Zhob, Dera
Ismail Khan, Bannu and Kohat.
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Air
Zhob is linked by air with the major cities of the country. A Fokker
flight operates from Quetta, linking Zhob with Multan, Dera Ismail Khan,
Peshawar and Islamabad. But now its under the control of US forces since
US attacked Afghanistan in 2001 and still unknown when to be freed for
normal transportation.
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