Army Dog Center in Ziarat

Ziarat is a hill station in Balochistan, known for its ancient juniper forests, the Quaid-e-Azam Residency and apple orchards, about two hours from Quetta. Winters bring heavy snow, and summers bring visitors from the plains.

Situations we are asked about in Ziarat

• A visitor or hiker lost in the juniper forest.
• Theft from a guest house or cottage during the season.
• Vehicles taken from a hill road or car park.
• Fruit or tools taken from an orchard village.

Thick forest and steep slopes make search on foot slow, and snow or rain can erase a trail quickly. A trained dog follows scent through woods where people have trouble. Houses stand empty in winter, so a break-in may be found late.

Ziarat's guest houses and cottages are busy in summer and almost empty in winter. If you are reporting a break-in, tell us when the property was last occupied, who holds the keys, and whether the caretaker saw anything. For a missing hiker, give the trail or forest block, the time they started, what they carried and wore, and the weather when they were last seen.

If the property is a seasonal cottage, tell us who the caretaker is and when they last visited, and whether snow lay on the path outside. If footprints are visible in snow, protect them with a clean sheet and keep people away, and tell us whether more snow has fallen since.

Tell us the guest house, village or road, and the time. Keep the spot closed. Report serious crimes to the police on 15, then call Army Dog Center on 0300-5780720, at any hour.