8-Days, 2200 km trip on Prado 1996 from Islamabad to Quetta, April 28-May 5, 2018

[dr_baloch]

Thank you and so nice of you.

[Sprite]

Good to see a detailed travelogue from your side Dr. sahib.

We also drove through that Quetta - Ziarat route in January.
Our route was bit longer in Balochistan. We drove from Karachi to Ziarat but the route was ;
N-55 : Hyderabad - Sehwan - Dadu - Larkana - Kashmore. Then entered Punjab : Rajanpur - DG Khan and from there to Balochistan through Sakhi Sarwar - Fort Monroe - Mekhter - Loralai. then we turned to Sanjawi - Ziarat.
From Ziarat to Quetta - Khuzdar - Uthal - Karachi, through a different route.

Unfortunately roads from Mekhtar till Ziarat were terrible but we enjoyed driving in terrain.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[dr_baloch]

Its nice to see your comments.Thank you. I myself, learned a lot from Pakwheel friends.
You traveling seems more adventurous. Did you write about the trip on this forum? If yes, please do share the link. It must be worth reading and enjoying. I enjoy a lot by reading others' experiences of traveling.
I traveled to Karachi from Islamabad through interior Sindh by road in Toyota Hiace, in February 2016. The route while going was from Thatha, Manchhar Lake, Makli, Bhanbhore. While coming, we took Jamshoro, Dadu, Kinchar Lake, Sehwan, Mohenjodaro and Gambat. I couldn't write travelogue for this journey. With a few exceptions, we enjoyed a lot on this trip.
From Multan, I have gone up to Fort Munro hill resort, but not beyond that, into Balochistan, via this route.
What about the security conditions in Mekhtar-Loralai-Ziarat section and Khuzdar-Uthal section?
Thanks again.

[dr_baloch]

Hanif Bhai, how one pakwheeler becomes senior pakwheeler? Can you guide me on the criteria?

[HanifBhatti]

I think after 1000 posts

[HanifBhatti]

You are a Senior PakWheeler

[dr_baloch]

1000 posts. hahhaha.
Yes, by age, at least, I deserve to be called Senior Pakwheeler
Thanks a lot for the favour

[capsat]

very well compiled and documented trip. one of THE BEST threads in Travel section which has no spoiler comments in between posts .. @HanifBhatti your travel threads are worst with plenty of bumps and every one comment replying complete post idiotically reposting the pictures repeatedly

dr saheb salute @dr_baloch

[HanifBhatti]

@capsat In this world there are different types of people, some good, some bad and some like you and some like me

[Sprite]

Thanks for your love Dr. sahib,
Unfortunately that travelogue was not posted on Pakwheels. Because I missed my camera and all pics were taken from a friend's cell phone. Now I have got all the pics and thinking about posting them on forum.
It was indeed an adventurous and interesting trip. Will start a thread Insha Allah in a couple of days.

Enjoyed your trip and details.

[adil5855]

Nice sir 🏻

[dr_baloch]

very well compiled and documented trip. one of THE BEST threads in Travel section which has no spoiler comments in between posts .. @HanifBhatti your travel threads are worst with plenty of bumps and every one comment replying complete post idiotically reposting the pictures repeatedly

dr saheb salute @dr_baloch

Dear Capsat, hahaha, this is more than I ever expected. Stay blessed brother. Hahaha, the comments about our dear and popular Admin, Hanif Bhatty are daring enough to get our heads chopped off.

[dr_baloch]

@capsat In this world there are different types of people, some good, some bad and some like you and some like me

Bravo, Hanif Bhai what a mature and pleasant response. Enjoyed both posts a lot, Stay blessed brother.

[tariqzaidi]

Dr Baloch,
You have made my day by writing this travelogue. I was planning to travel from Islamabad to Quetta with my family as well. Surprisingly I have the same Prado 1996 as you have And another similarity is that my wife also belong to Quetta So this article is right on the money for me. You explained every thing what I needed including diesel consumption, stay overs and road conditions. Thanks for this great and timely sharing. Kindly send me your contact number if possible for further guidance.

[sirajturk]

4.19. Dear Pak Wheelers, even accompanied by our ladies, there was never a sense of insecurity or risk through-out our ride via this route from Islamabad to Quetta. Interviewing professional drivers on the way revealed that night driving, along with family, is also safe and a common practice through this route. Even the 80 km-something journey through tribal area of South Waziristan was as safe as any settled area.

You are absolutely right regarding the security and safety issue concerns in Balochistan. I drove many time to Quetta from Karachi and I never felt or sense any danger even at night. I also traveled to Zhob from Quetta once and it was a wonderful and adventurous. Balochistan is truly a natural beauty and those who are fond of visiting northern areas must come and visit this part of Pakistan and explore the unseen beauty of dry mountains. Balochistan got a huge potential for tourism.

[dr_baloch]

Dear Tariq Zaidi, I felt joy while reading your comments. Welcome my dear. This is, exactly, what my effort was meant for. And, a pleasant surprise, indeed, it is, to know the similarities between us:grinning: I hope the similarities do not extend to the image of mild insanity, that I am taken for in my close circle of friends because of my adventurous nature.
Yes, you can call/text me at my cell # 0300-5192416 (6 pm to 10 pm).

[dr_baloch]

Thank you for reading my travelogue so thoroughly and vindicating my opinion. I was also made scared by a few friends, surely out of sincerity, not to venture for this trip because of security reasons. As you rightly said, most of our fears about Balochistan are not supported on the ground. And, yes, barren lands and rugged mountains of Balochistan with scattered oases having occasional fruit orchards have their own natural beauty that need to be explored by fellow country mates.

[shamgull]

Hi Sir,
Enjoyed a lot by reading this through analytical travelogue. I'm going to take this adventure myself. Another case of similarity of owning 90 series Prado, in almost the same dates after an year of yours and similar stopovers, I am going to follow your footsteps. Could you please let me know how has been the weather and what are preferred fuel stations for diesel refueling? Saving your number in case I'm gonna need your advice on the trip or maintaining Prado.

Without your permission I shared your this tour link on my Facebook page. Hope you won't mind that as it is going to help broader group this way. Thanks

[dr_baloch]

My pleasure dear brother.
The weather from Talagang to Koh-e-Suleman and short of Zhob was hot, especially Mianwali -DI Khan section, where as Zhob-Quetta region was pleasant. No problem of hot weather with Prado AC. Always travel with sufficient drinking water, two cans of 20 liter each is OK.
I took diesel from two same locations on both side: one-Pakistan Atomic Energy Foundation pump at Kundian side of Chashma Barrage and two-city center of Zhob.
A friend of mine travels between Quetta and Islamabad in one stretch. He gets refuelling only once at Daraban. That pump is famous and it is just outside Daraban city towards Zhob side