Sidagi

Sidagi is a small urban settlement located in the Kharan District of Balochistan, Pakistan. The town sits at an elevation of approximately 600 metres above sea level and is surrounded by arid plains that gradually give way to the rugged foothills of the Makran Range to the north. Sidagi occupies a strategic position on a historic trade route that once connected the interior of the Indian subcontinent with the port cities of the Arabian Sea.

The earliest records of Sidagi appear in annals from the 18th century, when it was noted as a modest caravan stop. During the British colonial era the settlement expanded modestly, largely due to the establishment of a basic water supply system and a small bazaar catering to local shepherd communities. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Sidagi grew into a municipal committee that manages a population of roughly 5,200 inhabitants. The population consists predominantly of Baloch and Saraiki speaking families, with Baluchi culture reflected in local festivals, music, and culinary traditions.

The town’s economy is largely based on agriculture and livestock rearing, with date palms and wheat being the primary crops cultivated in the surrounding irrigated plots. In recent years, a small number of residents have begun cultivating opium poppy as a cash crop, a practice that has drawn attention from regional authorities. The economy also benefits from small-scale textile weaving, which remains a traditional craft in the area.

Sidagi hosts a number of educational and health facilities, including a government primary school and a health clinic that serves both the town and nearby rural villages. Despite its modest size, Sidagi has become an example of rural resilience, balancing traditional livelihoods with emerging economic opportunities in 21st‑century Pakistan.