Provincial symbols of Balochistan

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan. Balochistan is situated on the southwest of Pakistan and covers an area of 134,051 mi² or  (347,190 km²).The province is bordered by Iran to the south-west; Afghanistan to the west and Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to the north; and Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh provinces to the east. To the south lies the Arabian Sea.The provincial capital is Quetta and Gwadar is the major port.

Following  are Provincial symbols of Balochistan

^{CAMEL Provisional Animal:}

^{Camel is an animal of desert. Camel is a large animal with hump on its back.} They show remarkable adaptability in body temperature, from 34°C to 41.7°C,. This is an adaptation to conserve water.They have an average lifespan of 40 years, which can be extended to 50 years under captivity.

HOUBARA BUSTARD Provisional Bird:

Houbara Bustard is a large bird.In Pakistan, the Houbara Bustard is regarded as the provincial bird of Balochistan.The Houbara Bustard measures 55–65 cm (22–26 in) in length and spans 135–170 cm (53–67 in) across the wings. It is brown above and white below, with a black stripe down the sides of its neck. In flight, the long wings show large areas of black and brown on the flight feathers. 

 

DATE PALM Provincial Tree:

 

Date palm is Provincial Tree of Balochistan.The tree is a medium-sized plant, 15–25 m tall, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root system. The leaves are 3–5 m long, with spines on the petiole, and pinnate, with about 150 leaflets; the leaflets are 30 cm long and 2 cm wide. The full span of the crown ranges from 6 to 10 m.The fruit is known as a date.

 

 

EPHEDRA DISTACHYA Provincial Flower:

 

Ephedra distachya is Provincial flower of BALUCHISTAN.It is a shrub  about 25 cm to 50 cm high.It is used to relieve acute muscular and rheumatic pains.Ephedrine, an alkaloid, is obtained from its dried branches and is used as a stimulant, often to control asthma.

 

Quetta Provincial capital (Summer)

Quetta the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the Fruit Garden of Balochistan due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife. The city is situated at an average elevation of 1,680 meters (5,500 ft) above sea level, making it Pakistan's only high-altitude major city. Located in a river valley, Quetta derives its name from the Pashto word "Kuwatta", which means a fort. With breathtaking natural beauty, a diverse populace, and ornate bazaars, Quetta remains one of Pakistan's most unique cities.Quetta is known to be the best city in pakistan.

 

Gwader Provincial capital (Winter)

Gwadar  is an international developing port city on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan.It is the district capital of Gwadar District in Balochistan province as well as its winter capital. Gwadar is 0–300 meters above sea level and is mainly dry, arid and hot. The oceanic influence keeps the temperature lower in summer and higher in winter as compared to the interior. The mean temperature in the hottest month (June) remains between 31°C and 32°. The mean temperature in the coolest month (January) varies from 18°C to 19°C.

Suroz Provincial musical instrument:

The suroz is a bowed string instrument with a long neck, similar to a fiddle or sarangi and played vertically. It is considered the provincial instrument of the Balochistan. 

 

BALUCHISTAN FOLK MUSIC

Folk music has always played a great role in Baluchi traditions.Baluchi music and instruments belong to the same branch of Iranian music performed by many other Iranian peoples including Persians, Kurds, Lurs, Tajiks and others. Baluchi music has also influenced Sindhi and Seraiki folk music.The most commonly used instruments in Baluchi folk music are Tanbur, Dohol, Sorna, Ney, single or double flutes, Suroz (a Baluchi folk), Tar, Saz, and others.

 

SUROZ (Baluchi Folk Violin)

The Suroz is a bowed string instrument with a long neck, similar to a fiddle or sarangi and played vertically. It is considered the national instrument of the Balochistan.

TANBUR

The tanbur is a fretted string. The tanbur measures 80 cm in length and 16 cm in width. The resonator is pear-shaped and made of either a single piece or multiple carvels of mulberry wood. The neck is made of walnut wood and has fourteen frets, arranged in a semi-tempered chromatic scale.

SORNA

The Sorna is an ancient woodwind instrument. A small amount of air is forced under pressure through a small metal tube called the staple which serves to hold the reed and match it to the bore. This requires the player to make sure, as in oboe playing, that one also empties the lungs of stale air when taking a new breath. Sorna is used as a main instrument during wedding ceremonies and also funeral ceremonies.

 DHOOL

A Dohol is a large cylindrical drum with two skin heads. It is generally struck on one side with a wooden stick bowed at the end, and with a large thin stick on the other side, though it is also played by the bare hands. Dohol is almost always accompanied by Sorna.

FLUTE
The art of playing double flute is traditional to Baluch and can be seen in many parts. The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Flutes are the earliest known musical instruments. A flute produces sound when a stream of air directed across a hole in the instrument creates a vibration of air at the hole. The air stream across this hole creates a Bernoulli, or siphon. In balucoh music a single or double flutes are used and commonly played with “NEY”.

NEY
It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of “NEY” players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids. This indicates that the Ney has been played continuously for 4,500–5,000 years, making it one of the oldest musical instruments still in use. It is a forerunner of the modern flute. The Ney consists of a piece of hollow cane or reed with five or six finger holes and one thumb hole. Modern NEY may be made of metal or plastic tubing instead. The pitch of the Ney varies depending on the region and the finger arrangement

TAR
The Tar body is a double-bowl shape carved from mulberry wood, with a thin membrane of stretched lamb-skin covering the top. The long and narrow neck has a flat fingerboard running level to the membrane and ends in an elaborate pegbox with six wooden tuning pegs of different dimensions, adding to the decorative effect.The melodies performed on tar were considered useful for headache, insomnia and melancholy, as well as for eliminating nervous and muscle spasms.

  

SAZ
Saz is a long-necked lutes used in Ottoman classical music.

 

SUGARCANE JUICE (National drink of Pakistan)

Sugarcane juice is the national drink of Pakistan. Sugar cane juice is called “Roh” in Pakistan and very popular drink in the summer months.  It is a refreshing drink in the hot Pakistani climate. It is available from mid March to the last of October.

Sugarcane juice made of sugarcane. It is much flavorsome and appears to be delightful. Sugar cane juice is the juice extracted from pressed sugarcane. The juice is extracted from the cane by pressing it through iron rollers. It is consumed as a beverage worldwide, and especially in regions where sugarcane is commercially grown. People usually like this drink in the summer months.

Sugar cane juice is a very refreshing summer drink. It is found abundantly in most cities of Pakistan .It is sold fresh by roadside vendors only Most of the vendors do prepare fresh juice quickly on demand, as the juice begins turning black very quickly due to oxidation. Sugar cane juice is usually served with lemon or black salt, ginger, mint and ice. It is sold in glasses with or without ice.

Pakistan is an agricultural country and grows outstanding amount of sugarcane. It has the bigger sugar industry as well. Thus sugarcane juice is quite well-liked and is obtainable throughout the year.

Sugarcane juice is nutritious and refreshing. It contains about 15% natural sugar and is rich in organic salts and vitamins. This juice has many medicinal properties. It strengthens the stomach, kidneys, heart, eyes and brain The juice is beneficial in fevers. The intake of sugarcane juice supplies the body with necessary protein and other food elements.

Sugarcane juice is a fattening food and is an effective remedy for thinness. Immediate weight is gained by its regular use.

 

SUGARCANE JUICE

MANGO (National Fruit Of Pakistan)

Mango is National fruit of Pakistan. Its scientific name is Mangifera Indica. Mangifera indica is a species of mango in the Anacardiaceae family. It is the largest fruit-tree in the world. Its height is usually one-hundred feet and an average circumference of twelve to fourteen ft. Mangifera indica is the only mango tree commonly cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions, and its fruit is distributed worldwide.

 Pakistan produces lot of varieties of mangoes. In Pakistan the mango fruit is mainly grown in Sindh and southern Punjab provinces.  But mangoes are also cultivated in Balochistan Khyber-Pakhtun khwa provinces.Mirpur Khas and Multan are the main cities where are huge mango gardens. Other important mango growing areas in the country  are Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Naushahroferoz, Khairpur (Mir's), Rahim Yar Khan, Bhawalpur, Mu:afargarh, Sheikhupura.Mango production in Khanewal, Sahiwal, Vehari, Okara, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Sargodha etc is also significant.

Mangoes have various Varieties. All vaieties are different in colors and sizes and each with a distinct flavor and taste.The most popular and the most important varieties of Pakistan are Sindhri, Chaunsa, Dasehri, Langra, Sonaro, Anwar Katole, Anwar Retol, Saroli. Fajri, Malda, Gulab Khns, Totapari. Saharni, Beganpali, Collestor, Fazli, Neelam, Pairi, Pndam and Sensation etc. “Sindhuri" variety is known for its uniqueness, taste and flavor and is most well-liked through out the world.

Mango is one of the most popular fruit.Mango fruit shape is oval long, size large, skin color lemon yellow when ripe, pulp color yellowish, texture fine and firm fibreless, stone medium sized, flavor pleasantly aromatic and taste sweet. It is nutritionally rich with distinctive zest, taste and fragrance. Due to popularity Mango fruit is called “The king of the fruits. Mangoes are delicious tropical seasonal fruits therefore it is also called “super fruits”.

Mangoes have been cultivated in South Asia for thousands of years and reached East Asia between the 4th and 5th centuries BC. By the 10th century AD, cultivation had begun in East Africa. In the 15th century was cultivated in Philippines. In the 16th century cultivation started in Brazil and later to West Indies and Mexico, where an appropriate climate allows its growth. Mango is now cultivated in most frost-free tropical and warmer subtropical climates. The mango tree is long-lived and still fruit after 300 years. The species of mango was described for science by Linnaeus in 1753.

Mango trees grow up to 35–40 m (115–130 ft) tall, with a crown radius of 10 m (33 ft). The leaves are evergreen, alternate, 15–35 cm (5.9–14 in) long and 6–16 cm (2.4–6.3 in) broad. The leaves are orange-pink when they are young. They rapidly change to a dark glossy red, then dark green as mature. The flowers are produced 10–40 cm (3.9–16 in) long. Each flower is small and white with five petals 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long.

Each fruit measures 5 to 15 cm in length and about 4 to 10 cm in width, and has typical “mango” shape, or sometimes oval or round. Its weight ranges from 150 gm to around 750 gm. Outer skin is smooth and is green in un-ripe mangoes but turns into golden yellow, bright yellow or orange-red when ripen depending on the cultivar.

 

Fresh mango fruit season begins in the month of May. The fruit takes three to six months to ripen. The ripe fruit varies in size and color. The mango is a fleshy stone fruit. The husk is enveloped with a single large kidney-shaped seed. The seed contains the plant embryo. Mango seed may either have a single embryo or sometimes poly embryonic. Usually fruits grow at the end of a long, string like stem with sometimes more than one fruit to a stem.

The mango is generally sweet. Flavor is pleasant and rich, and tastes sweet with mild tartness some having a soft, pulpy texture, while the flesh of others is firmer, or may have a fibrous texture mangoes come with various sizes and colors.

Mangoes account for approximately half of all tropical fruits produced worldwide.Mango is the not only the national fruit of Pakistan but also national fruit of India and Philippines.

Mangoes are widely used in cuisine. The mango is most­ly eaten fresh as a dessert. It is also processed into preserves, juices, squash, jams, jellies, nectars as well as crisp mango chips, which are eaten as snacks. Ripe mangoes are typically eaten fresh. But on the other hand they are consumed in many other culinary purposes. Mangoes are used in preserves like dried and powdered. Sour and unripe mangoes are used in chutneys, pickles, and side dishes. Some people eat them raw.

Mango has lot of health benefits. Mangoes contain sugar, an important source of vitamin A, and contain vitamins B and C. Small amounts of protein, iron, calcium and phosphorus are also present. Latest research studies declare that mango fruit prevents from colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. Mango fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin-A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin.

Fresh mango is a very rich source of potassium. It is also a very good source of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin-C, Vitamin Vitamin A, K and vitamin-E. It also contains Folates, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin and Thiamin. Pyridoxine Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals.

Mango contains lot of minerals like Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc Copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase Copper is also required for the production of red blood cells.

Mango peels are also rich in phytonutrients. Such as the pigment antioxidants like carotenoids, Carotene, Lutein-zeaxanthin, Lycopene, Crypto-xanthin and polyphenols.