Nushki (Balochi and Brahvi: or Noshkay, Nushkay; ) is a city in
Nushki District
Nushki District (, locally known as ''Noshkay'' ) is one of the districts of Balochistan province, Pakistan. The administration of the Nushki district was taken over from the Khan of Kalat by the British government in 1896 and was leased from hi ...
of
Balochistan
Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
. It lies in the southwest of
Quetta
Quetta is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. It is the ninth largest city in Pakistan, with an estimated population of over 1.6 million in 2024. It is situated in the south-west of the country, lying in a ...
, the provincial capital, at an elevation of above sea level. From Nushki, the flat Balochistan desert stretches northward and westward to the
Helmand River
The Helmand river (Pashto/Dari: ; Ancient Greek: Ἐτύμανδρος, ''Etýmandros''; Latin: '), also spelled Helmend, or Helmund, Hirmand, is the longest river in Afghanistan and the primary watershed for the endorheic Sistan Basin. It o ...
.
History
Nushki was a starting point for the British exploration of Central Asia. The British, concerned that their colonies in India would be attacked overland by either Napoleon or the Russians, sent two British officers, Captain
Charles Christie and Lieutenant Henry Pottinger, to explore the regions between Balochistan and Persia, which was then allied with the British. Christie and Pottinger traveled from the coast to Kelat (now Kalat) and separated at Nushki on March 22, 1810, with Christie going northwest to Herat and Pottinger traveling west across the deserts. It was unlikely that either of the two men would be accepted by the locals, and they concealed their identities by posing as horse traders or holy men during their respective journeys. They were reunited in
Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
on June 30, 1810, with Christie having ridden 2,250 miles and Pottinger having ridden 2,412 miles.
Demographics
Population
According to
2023 census, Nushki had a population of 48,572.
See also
*
Districts of Pakistan
The districts of Pakistan () are the third-level administrative divisions of Pakistan, below administrative units of Pakistan, provinces and divisions of Pakistan, divisions, but forming the first-tier of local government in Pakistan, local ...
References
{{commons category, Nushki tehsil
Populated places in Balochistan, Pakistan
Nushki District
Deserts of Pakistan