Chaman

Coordinates: 30°55′20″N 66°26′41″E / 30.92222°N 66.44472°E / 30.92222; 66.44472
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For other places with the same name, see Chaman (disambiguation).
Chaman
‏‎ ‎چمن‎
City
Chaman Gate border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Chaman Gate border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Chaman is located in Balochistan, Pakistan
Chaman
Chaman
Chaman is located in Pakistan
Chaman
Chaman
Chaman is located in Asia
Chaman
Chaman
Chaman is located in Earth
Chaman
Chaman
Coordinates: 30°55′20″N 66°26′41″E / 30.92222°N 66.44472°E / 30.92222; 66.44472
CountryPakistan
ProvinceBalochistan
DistrictChaman District
Government
 • Malaksayed mad khan
 • malakLal khan
Elevation
1,338 m (4,390 ft)
Population
 (2024 Census)[1]
 • Total800,000
 • Rank76th in Pakistan;
2nd largest city in Balochistan
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Postal code
86000
Area code826
Number of Union Councils13

Chaman (Pashto and Urdu: چمن) is the capital city of the Chaman District in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The city is situated south of the Wesh–Chaman border crossing with the neighbouring Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

Etymology[edit]

The name Chaman is thought to be derived from garden in Pashto.[2] It is also thought to be derived from Chaman Das, a Hindu-dry fruit trader who was present in the city before the partition.[2][3]

History[edit]

Train station at Chaman near Khojak Tunnel in 1895, by William Henry Jackson

Chaman has been used by NATO forces as a major supply route into Afghanistan since 2000.[4]

On 30 August, 2009, an attack on a NATO convoy destroyed 20 fuel tankers and other supply trucks. The attackers reportedly fired rockets and small arms before destroying the trucks.[4][5]

Thousands of Afghan refugees enter Pakistan via the Chaman route on a regular basis.[6]

Bombings occurred in 2017, 2020 Chaman bombing, and 2021.[citation needed]

In December 2022, the Afghan Taliban forces launched indiscriminate fire at the Chaman border, twice in a week and caused civilian casualties on the Pakistani side.[citation needed]

Climate[edit]

With an influence from the local steppe climate, Chaman features a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). The average annual temperature in Chaman is 19.0 °C, while the annual precipitation averages 232 mm. June is the driest month with virtually no rain rainfall, while January is the wettest month, with an average 65 mm of precipitation.

July is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 31.0 °C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 6.4 °C.

Climate data for Chaman
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9) 		16.0
(60.8) 		21.2
(70.2) 		27.3
(81.1) 		33.8
(92.8) 		38.7
(101.7) 		39.3
(102.7) 		38.5
(101.3) 		35.2
(95.4) 		29.2
(84.6) 		21.1
(70.0) 		16.8
(62.2) 		27.5
(81.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.4
(43.5) 		9.0
(48.2) 		13.8
(56.8) 		19.5
(67.1) 		24.7
(76.5) 		29.1
(84.4) 		31.0
(87.8) 		29.6
(85.3) 		24.9
(76.8) 		18.9
(66.0) 		12.8
(55.0) 		8.5
(47.3) 		19.0
(66.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3) 		2.1
(35.8) 		6.5
(43.7) 		11.7
(53.1) 		15.6
(60.1) 		19.5
(67.1) 		22.7
(72.9) 		20.7
(69.3) 		14.7
(58.5) 		8.7
(47.7) 		3.6
(38.5) 		0.3
(32.5) 		10.5
(50.9)
Source: Climate-Data.org[7]

Demographics[edit]

After the capital Quetta, Chaman is Balochistan's fifth-largest city according to the 2017 Pakistani census.[8] The city is located at the Pashtun majority northern part of Balochistan.

Religious groups in Chaman City (1941 & 2017)[a]
Religious
group 		1941[9]: 13–14  2017[10][11]
Pop. % Pop. %
Hinduism 2,898 43.58% 379 0.31%
Islam 2,812 42.29% 122,263 99.23%
Sikhism 697 10.48% — —
Christianity 242 3.64% 515 0.42%
Jainism 1 0.02% — —
Ahmadiyya — — 49 0.04%
Total population 6,650 100% 123,206 100%

Transport[edit]

Passenger train entering the Khojak Tunnel

Chaman has a railway station which accommodates services with Kandahar as well as other parts of Afghanistan. A slow passenger train runs between Chaman and Quetta daily. In 2008, it was proposed to extend this railway to Central Asia through Afghanistan. Chaman is on the Silk Road on the eastern side.

Trade[edit]

Empty fuel trucks crossing border between Afghanistan and Pakistan through Chaman

The town is an important trade point in the Balochistan region, providing a gateway on the trade routes between Afghanistan and Karachi. It underwent development during the martial law period of 1977 - 1985. People of the city import many things like cars, motor bikes and motor rickshaws. Besides, they import Japanese, Chinese and UAE phones, cosmetics, perfumes, and many other consumer goods from Afghanistan to Pakistan.[4]

Sports[edit]

Kaleemullah is the first Pakistani footballer to play in the United States

Football is the most popular sport in the city, which have produced notable footballers for the Pakistan national football team including Muhammad Essa, Kaleemullah, Mehmood Khan, Jadid Khan Pathan, and Fareed Ullah.[12]

The Chaman Derby between popular clubs Afghan Chaman and Muslim FC, share intense rivalry which have managed to command the highest crowds in Pakistani domestic football.[13][14][15][16]

Notable people[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ 1941: Data for the entirety of the town of Chaman, which included Chaman Municipality and Chaman Cantonment.[9]: 13–14 

References[edit]

  1. ^ "PAKISTAN: Provinces and Major Cities". PAKISTAN: Provinces and Major Cities. citypopulation.de website. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b DHNS. "The Chaman tale!". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  3. ^ Achakzai, Matiullah (2014-08-25). "Far from the glare, Chaman's Hindus live in peace". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  4. ^ a b c "Pakistan Blast Sets NATO Fuel Convoy Ablaze". Voice Of America News website. 31 August 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Boy killed as local traders, security personnel clash at Chaman border". The News International (newspaper). 30 November 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  6. ^ Mian Saifur Rehman. "Afghan refugees not being harassed". The News International (newspaper). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Climate: Chaman on Climate-Data.org website". Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  8. ^ "POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD DETAIL FROM BLOCK TO DISTRICT LEVEL BALOCHISTAN (KILLA ABDULLAH DISTRICT)" (PDF). KILLLA ABDULLAH_BLOCKWISE.pdf. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME XIV BALUCHISTAN". Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Final Results (Census-2017)". Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  11. ^ "District Wise Results / Tables (Census - 2017) TABLE 9 - POPULATION BY SEX, RELIGION AND RURAL/URBAN" (PDF). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  12. ^ Staff, Editorial (2017-04-03). "Balochistan Football Cup winners: Panjgur's story of determination [Express Tribune]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  13. ^ Sohail, Shahrukh (2020-08-09). "FOOTBALL: A LEAGUE FOR PAKISTAN FOOTBALL". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  14. ^ Staff, Editorial (2021-09-30). "Balochistan football needs representation: Qadeer [Express Tribune]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  15. ^ InpaperMagazine, From (2013-01-13). "In-depth: Pakistan football". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  16. ^ Staff, Editorial (2021-11-26). "Balochistan's boundless passion for football has nowhere to go but an event is keeping the flame alive [Dawn]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2024-04-28.
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