Quetta banks on art to revive lost glory

Published August 19, 2017
A newly installed statue of Markhor in Quetta. —Photo by author
A newly installed statue of Markhor in Quetta. —Photo by author

In an attempt to bring Quetta back to its former glory, the provincial government has recently reconstructed iconic structures across the city.

The structures include the Princess of Hope (Makran), Quaid-e-Azam's Ziarat residency, the national animal Markhor and the national bird Partridge. Balochistan's heritage and history have been presented through these artistic monuments.

"Airport road and its surroundings have always been desolate. We wanted to decorate this site so people of other cities could witness rich culture and iconic places of Balochistan when they are travelling towards airport or leaving it," Tariq Luni, the architect of the models, said while speaking to DawnNews.

The recreated model of Princess of Hope. —Photo by author
The recreated model of Princess of Hope. —Photo by author

"Monuments at Airport road are a glimpse of the mega-beautification project in Quetta city. Our dream is to garnish the whole city with these artistic models to embellish the little Paris (Quetta) once again," he said.

Recreated Ziarat residency.—Photo by author
Recreated Ziarat residency.—Photo by author

The residents of Quetta are cherishing this creative initiative taken by the provincial government. Zubair Ahmed, one of the visitors, said: "In past, none of the governments showed any interest in the beautification of the city. This effort will surely restore livelihood in Quetta and highlight the culture of Balochistan."

A model depicting a coal miner. —Photo by author
A model depicting a coal miner. —Photo by author

Special lighting has also been installed at the monuments, which helps the structures glow at night.

These structures are a part of Quetta's beautification project, for which a hefty sum of Rs5 billion has been allocated.

A depiction of the port.—Photo by author
A depiction of the port.—Photo by author

While restoring the charm of Quetta, this art will likely attract tourists to the valley. The provincial capital still lacks basic sanitation, road infrastructure, and parks, and the security situation in the city continues to hamper its return to former glory.

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