Sibi - History

History

The history of the town goes back to the 13th century. The town is now an important junction on the Sindh-Peshin railway, where the Harnai line and the Quetta loop line meet, near the entrance of the Bolan Pass, 88 kilometres (55 mi) southeast of Quetta. Its population in 1901 was 4551. The district, which was formed in 1903, has an area of 4152 mi² and had a population in 1901 of 74,555. The greater part became British territory by the treaty of Gandamak in 1879; the rest is administered under a perpetual lease from the Khan of Kalat. Political control was also exercised over the Marri-Bugti country, with an additional area of 7124 mi², and population in 1901 of 38,919. Besides the town of Sibi, the district contained the hill station of Ziarat, the summer residence of the government and The Victoria Memorial Hall, now known as Jirga Hall, which was built in 1903. Sibi is a historical city of Balochistan, and is its hottest city. It is sometimes also known as Sivi, purportedly for a Hindu princess. As of 1963, nine percent of Sibi's population were Hindu.