Hanna Urak Valley: The most visited yet neglected tourist spot of Balochistan.

QUETTA -- When man first began to explore the world, his top four desires have been for flowing water, blowing air, flowering flora, and pleasing serenity. The historic Hanna Urak Valley, Quetta is home to all four of these elements.

Urak Valley, a place of picturesque landscape surrounded by uneven mountains in the Quetta district of Balochistan, has a population of about 24000.

The Hana Lake, which was established by the British, is close by Urak Valley, which is 20 kilometres from Quetta. The end of it has a small waterfall that serves as the entry to the nearby Wali Tangi Dam.

It is the ancestral home of the Pashtun Kakar tribe, who are renowned for their kindness, bravery, and hospitality. High-quality apple trees are grown here, and they are exported to a number of nations.

Hanna Urak Valley now has the distinction of being the only tourist point in Balochistan with average daily visits of between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists. The most visits ever recorded at any of Balochistan's tourist points.

According to Mr. Mohammad Yunus, the landlord in the Hanna valley, "around fifteen to twenty thousand people from throughout the country and parts of Balochistan rush to Hanna Urak Valley daily to observe the natural beauty.

He said, 'We have a deep connection to this place, and we always abide by the golden rules of hospitality when visitors arrive in the valley. One cannot avoid visiting Hanna Valley at least once if you are travelling to Quetta.'

'Tired of our busy schedule and daily routine, we spare time and visit Quetta to experience scenic Urak valley', Usman Ansari, a resident of Landhi area of Karachi said.

Ameer Hamza Sarangzai, narrating the history of the valley said that before Pakistan came into being, our ancestors had inked MoU with the British rulers regarding the provision of water to the cantonment established adjacent to the Hanna Valley. The British Army stationed at Cantonment was charged per gallon.

However, he noted that 'after the Independence of Pakistan, elders of the valley including Malik Sikandar Khan, Malik Taj Mohammad, Haji Abdul Rahim Sarngzai and others met the then governor and agreed to continue providing fresh water free of cost. 'This tradition continues till day'

Our love to the homeland has compelled the then President and Field Marshal Ayub Khan to visit Hanna Urak. During his visit in 1965, he announced to build a dam for the people of the area. He fulfilled his promise and 'Wali Tanki Dam' was built...