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 1.7 million in 2024. It is situated in the south-west of the country, lying in the Quetta Valley region surrounded by mountains on all sides. Quetta is at an average elevation of 1,680 metres above sea level, making it Pakistan's highest-altitude major city.