page_title: Balochistan, Pakistan
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Balochistan, Pakistan / History
caption_attribution_description: English: A historical sketch of Bolan Pass, Balochistan, Pakistan. Caption: "Entrance to the Bolan Pass from Dadur."English: بولان پاس کی ایک یادگار تصویر
context_page_description: Balochistan
  is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. It is the largest province in terms of land area, forming the southwestern region of the country, but is the least populated. Its provincial capital and largest city is Quetta.
  Balochistan shares borders with Punjab and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the northeast, Sindh to the east and southeast, the Arabian Sea to the south, Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north and northwest.
  The main ethnic groups in the province are the Baloch people and the Pashtuns, who constitute 52% and 36% of the population respectively. The remaining 12% comprises smaller communities of Brahuis, Hazaras along with other settlers such as Sindhis, Punjabis, Uzbeks and Turkmens. The name "Balochistan" means "the land of the Baloch". Largely underdeveloped, its provincial economy is dominated by natural resources, especially its natural gas fields, estimated to have sufficient capacity to supply Pakistan's demands over the medium to long term. Aside from Quetta, the second-largest city of the province is Turbat in the south, while another area of major economic importance is Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.
caption: A historical sketch of Bolan Pass, Balochistan, Pakistan
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