Economic Infrastructure and Communications Zhob
Introduction
The infrastructure and communication system in the district is very much neglected.
Roads
The number of metalled roads in the district is very small. The majority of the roads are shingle. The main road which links Quetta with Killa Saifullah and Zhob is a National Highway. There is a metalled road which links Zhob with D.I.Khan through Danasar. It was built by the (army) Frontier Works Organisation. The road linking Zhob with Waziristan is metalled, but is not very well maintained near the border at Gul Kach bridge.
|
Type of Road |
National Highway |
Provincial Roads |
District Council |
Other Agencies |
Total |
|
|
Metalled (km) |
121 |
19 |
- |
- |
140 |
|
|
Shingle (km) |
|
718 |
- |
- |
718 |
|
|
Total (km) |
121 |
737 |
- |
- |
858 |
|
|
Source: |
|
|||||
Transport
Mini bus and bus services are available from dawn to dusk. Travelling at night is uncommon as it is regarded to be unsafe, except on the highway.
There is one Excise and Taxation Officer for the district for the registration of both private and government vehicles. Some plates are marked with a T indicating Tribal; these are exempted from tax. In Zhob district, however, a large number of vehicles are without registration, particularly in the case of smuggled Iranian motor cycles. A large number of tractors are without any registration also.
|
Type of Vehicle Registered in the District |
1995 |
|
Trucks / mini trucks |
612 |
|
Mini buses |
86 |
|
Cars |
35 |
|
Station wagons / pick ups |
75 |
|
Jeeps |
49 |
|
Motor cycles / scooters |
124 |
|
Tractors |
73 |
|
Vans |
84 |
|
Ambulances |
1 |
Source: Excise and Taxation Officer, Zhob
Rail- and Airways
Since 1983, the district has an airport. There are daily flights from Zhob to Islamabad, three times a week there is flight from Islamabad to Peshawar, D.I. Khan, Zhob and Quetta and vice versa and four times a week there is flight to Multan and back.
The airport at Zhob has also a military base.
The train service from Quetta to Zhob was established in 1916. It was actually built from Bostan to Khanai (3 km off Bostan) to Muslimbagh (previously called Hindubagh) as a private siding for Balochistan Chrome Ore Company for exploration of the Chrome Ore mines near Muslim Bagh. Later on it was extended to Fort Sandeman (Zhob). It ran from Bostan railway station, at 30 kilometres distance from Quetta, to Zhob city. It served as an important means of transportation of goods. People travelled for shorter distances. The highest altitude railway station on this route was Kan Matarzai at 2800 metres. The total distance of the track was 295 kilometres. In total there were 11 railway stations on the track. The train service was abandoned in 1985, as it was uneconomic and the tracks were not properly maintained.
Radio and Television
There is a radio station in Zhob. The station started functioning on experimental basis. Television sets have become more common. The signal is transmitted from Loralai. The use of dish antennas is growing, though still many conservative people do not allow satellite tv in their homes. The use of dish antenna in restaurants is limited.
Telecommunications
The telephone system in Zhob is connected to the national system. The telephone office is under a Sub-Divisional Officer. The total number of connections in Zhob city is 815. There are six exchanges in the district with telephone connections as follows on 30 April, 1997: Mani Kwa 31, Walaak (not functioning), Qamardin Karaz 13, Babar 14, Omza (hometown of Rahim Mandokhel MPA) 22, and Badanzai 6.
Post Offices / Courier Services
The postal service in Zhob is partially developed. There are three departmental sub offices at Zhob city, Zhob GPO and Qamardin Karez respectively. There are nine extra-departmental branches at Killi Appozai, Killi Ibrahim Khel, Killi Gohar Appozai, Killi Lowara, Mani kwa, Mir Ali Khel, Sambaza, Shinghar and Sharan Jogazai. The sub-post offices have license renewal facilities. The Superintendent of Post Offices is stationed in Loralai.
Zhob has a courier service, making use of the flights coming and going from the airport near Zhob city.
Banking/Financial Institutions
There are six bank branches in Zhob city: the Allied Bank, the National Bank of Pakistan, the Muslim Commercial Bank, the United Bank of Pakistan, the Habib Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP). There is also an ADBP branch in Murga Kibzai.
The Women’s Development Bank does not have a branch in the district, though none of the other banks provide credit facilities especially for women.
Electricity and Gas
There is no piped gas provision in the district. People depend on gas cylinders. They are used selectively in urban areas. The use of gas cylinders in rural areas is very rare.
The sub-division of Zhob is under a SDO of WAPDA. The Xen office is in Loralai. There is a grid station in Zhob facilitating the supply from Quetta and Sibi power lines. Its capacity is 132 KV. Because of the inadequacy of power supply against load-power, load-shedding frequently happens.
|
Electricity Connections (as of March 1996) |
|
|
Domestic |
4,283 |
|
Commercial |
856 |
|
Industrial |
21 |
|
Bulk Supply |
6 |
|
Tube wells |
14 |
|
St. Light |
1 |
|
Total |
5,190 |
Source: SDO WAPDA, Zhob
Rest Houses
There are few rest/guest houses in the district. There are three guest houses in Zhob city of B & R, Irrigation, and Livestock. The one of the Livestock Department is not very good. There are two semi-furnished guest houses at Qamardin Karez and Sherani.
There is an old FC Mess established in 1892. There are two Army Officer Messes --- all well furnished. A VIP who visits Zhob district for a night stays in FC Mess. The PA house (Castle) has got two well furnished rooms designed for a VIP night stay. The staying of VIP in Castle is also commonly reported.
GO/NGO/Private Enterprise, etc. involvement in Energy, Transport and Communications Development
|
Coverage Economic Infrastructure Services |
Local Govt. |
Prov. Govt. |
Fed. Govt. |
NGO |
Internat. Donor |
Private Entr. |
||
|
Road works |
- |
xxx |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Transport (buses) |
- |
xx |
- |
- |
- |
xx |
||
|
Railway |
- |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Airway |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Radio & Television |
- |
- |
xx |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Banking/Financial Institutions |
- |
xx |
xx |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Electricity |
- |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Gas |
- |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Rest houses |
- |
xxx |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Legend: |
- x xx xxx |
no involvement minor involvement substantial involvement major involvement |
||||||
Conclusion and major Development Issues
The communication system in the district has improved, but it needs more development as the condition of roads in the eastern part of the district has worsened. Shingle roads need to be replaced by black top as they are impassable in rainy season.
Piped gas is not available. Though there is a demand for it, not only in Zhob city, but also in big villages like Kandaka and Bhanwar, the provision of gas is not given priority.
Credit for women to generate income is becoming a development trend since the Grameen Bank experience in Bangladesh. However, banks nor NGOs have initiated any such scheme to encourage women’s economic participation in this area.