Sibi (Urdu and Balochi: سبی ; Sindhi: سيوي) is a district in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.[2] The main mountain ranges are Zen, Bambore and Dungan. The climate and topography of Sibi District is quite varied compared to the other districts of Balochistan. It is also known as the "hotspot" of Pakistan where the temperatures in the summer has exceeded 52.6 °C (126.7 °F). Until 2013 the district had two sub-divisions, Sibi and Lehri, further organized into Tehsils and sub-tehsils: Sibi, Lehri, Kutmandi and Sangan. Lehri was rejoined with Sibi district in 2018.
History
The early recorded history of Sibi District begins with the Hindu Sewa dynasty. The Hindu Sewa dynasty ruled much of Baluchistan up until the 7th century AD. The Sibi division carved out of Quetta division still derives its name from Rani Sewi, the queen of the Hindu Sewa dynasty.[3]
Until the end of the 15th century the district had been a dependency of Multan and had been part of Ghaznavid Empire ruled by a petty chief named Nasiruddin Kubacha. Around 1500 it was taken by Shah Beg of the Arghun dynasty from Samma dynasty of Sindh[4] and so came under the control of Kandahar. However, during the period of Mughal rule the territory was once again ruled from Multan. In 1714 the territory was conquered by the Kalhoras Amirs of Sindh,[5][6] but they were then displaced by the Durranis. During the short rule of the Durranis, the local administrators were nominated from the Barozai Sub clan of the Panni( Panri) Tribe.[7] In the 19th century it fell under Marris and Bugtis hand. To finish rebellion in the area as raised by Marri & Bugti Tribes, the British signed the treaty with Khan of Kalat in the late 19th century were under the Sibi, Shalkot and Chagai territory leased out to British India.
The District of Sibi was established in 1903 during British Rule its area was larger than the current district and lay between 27°55' and 30°38'N and 67°17' and 69°50'E lying south of Loralai District, north of the Upper Sind Frontier District, west of Dera Ghazi Khan District and east of Kachhi, Bolan Pass and Quetta- Pishin. The total area of the district was 11,281 square miles (29,220 km2), but this included Marri Bugti county (7,129 square miles) which not directly administered by the British, leaving 4,152 square miles (10,750 km2) that were directly administered by the British [8] The population according to the 1901 census of India was 74,555 or 18 persons per square mile, the district contained four tehsils these were:
Tahsil
Area (sq mi)
Population
Kohlu
362
1,743
Sibi
1,343
20,526
Shahrig
1,595
16,573
Naseerabad
852
33,713
Total
4,152
74,555
In 1974 the district was subdivided to create Naseerabad and Kohlu districts, in 1983 Dera Bugti District, and in 1986 Ziarat District. Until 2000, except for Naseerabad, these new districts were part of Sibi Division of Pakistan. In 2000 the third-tier "divisions" structure of government was dissolved. Two further new districts were cleaved out of its territory: Harnai in 2007 and Lehri in 2013. Lehri was reannexed into Sibi in 2018.
Demographics
At the time of the 2017 census the district had 27,177 households and a population of 179,751. Sibi had a sex ratio of 897 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 45.97% - 57.71% for males and 32.85% for females. 64,674 (35.98%) lived in urban areas. 56,211 (31.27%) were under 10 years of age.[1]
Islam was the predominant religion with 97.16%, while Hindus were 2.41% of the population and Christians were 0.43% of the population. Sibi district had the highest proportion of Hindus of any district in Balochistan at the time of the 2017 census.
At the time of the 2017 census, 38.18% of the population spoke Balochi, 25.33% Sindhi, 17.82% Saraiki, 11.02% Pashto, 3.39% Brahui, 2.27% Punjabi and 1.73% Urdu as their first language.[1]
Transport
Sibi is on the western edge of Pakistan and is well connected with the country by a wide network of roads, railways and airways.
Railways
Sibi Railway Station is a junction railway station. The railway track was lined in 1890s during the British era to link Sibi with rest of the country.
Festivals
The famous Sibi Mela first held in January 1885 a market for Livestock trade with passage of time adopted as cultural show, tent pegging, departmental exhibitions, musical show and sports festivals.
1998 District census report of Sibi. Census publication. Vol. 17. Islamabad: Population Census Organization, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 1999.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sibi District.
Pakistan
Balochistan
