OBJECTIVES: To study the status of pharmacists working at community pharmacies in Quetta city, Pakistan. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was designed to conduct this study. A questionnaire about status of pharmacists working at community pharmacies was constructed, content validated and used. Pharmacists were hired for data collection and analyses were done by SPSS 15. RESULTS: All 415 community pharmacies of the city were approached and 392 responded (94.45%). Major respondents (81.25%) did not possess the basic requirement of Pharmacy degree although the community pharmacies were licensed under a qualified person. There were only 18.75% pharmacies were a qualified pharmacist possessing pharmacy degree was present. People with higher secondary education (31.25%) were found mostly involved in running community pharmacies. The knowledge of medicines and generics was quite high (74.95%). Drug guides (45.25%) and information given by medical sales representatives (30.25%) played a key role in the generation of this information. It was also reported by 65.50% that as business is less profitable, pharmacies cannot afford a full time pharmacist where as 41.50% described unemployment/lack of opportunities in other sectors, the reason of running a community pharmacy.  61.25% of the respondents had an experience of more than 5 years working at community pharmacies. All pharmacies sold packed medications and dispensing was not done on any of the community pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacist at the community level is important to minimize drug use problems. There must be strict monitoring by the concern departments and license issuing authorities in order to promote proper medication practices at community levels. In addition, the presence of Pharmacist at pharmacies shall be declared mandatory.