The national highway from Quetta to Jacobadad passes through the district, as does the railway. Sibi airport is the nearest airport. Only about 3% of the villages is supplied with electricity.

The data from different sources on road connections within the district vary. The federal government, as well as the provincial government and the district council, all are responsible for the maintenance of certain parts of the road network. Some of the roads have been constructed within some of the towns/villages with MPA funds by the district council/local bodies authorities. None of the sources give a total overview and therefore it is not sure, whether the overview underneath, does not include certain overlaps.

* constructed within some of the towns/villages with MPA funds by District Council/Local Bodies authorities.

The road link from urban to rural areas is not metalled at large. By bus it takes one hour to travel the hundred km journey from Dhadar to the interior of Dhadar. Taking the shingle road from Dhadar to Sanni and Suran as an example; it takes four to five hours to cover a distance of 100 km.

Registration numbers are issued by the Sibi District Excise Office. (**) In Bolan there are not many vehicles registered by the D.C. Office. If registration was assigned to the Excise and Taxation Department in Bolan, the number of registrations would increase rapidly.

The railway track going through Bolan district is 140 km: 90 km from Kolpur to Nari bank (18 km before Sibi junction) and 50 km from Sibi onward to the last railway station within Bolan district. Main railways stations are Kolpur, Mach, Abagum, Dhangar, Landsay, and Belpat (now called Baktiarabad, named after the father of Chakar Khan Domki: Baktiar Khan Domki). In total there are 20 tunnels between Kolpur and Nari bank stations. They were all constructed in the period 1892-94 and bear the names given by British railway officers, like Mary Jane, Windy Corner, Cascade, P.R. Panjeh, etc. No considerable expansion has been made in the railways since the partition in 1947. At a distance of 27 km, Sibi airport is the nearest airport for people visiting Dhadar.

Bolan does not have a radio or TV station of its own. Still, radio is a major source of entertainment. TV-sets are commonly found in places where there is electricity. TV transmission is available through a booster. According to the D.C. Office the approximate number of TV-sets in Bolan is 10,000, though hardly 20 individuals carry a license.

The cities of Dhadar and Mach are linked with a dial system. There is a small digital exchange designed for Sardar Yar Khan Rind at Suran. The cities of Lehri and Bhag have an operator trunk dialling system with a manual exchange system. Highly-placed persons (MPA, MNA, etc.) in the district are facilitated with direct dialling from Sibi and Dhadar.

There are two categories of post offices: sub post offices and extra-departmental branch post offices. The former are regular post offices. The extra-departmental branches are run by businessmen who offer postal services in addition to their regular business, e.g. in a shop, someone's store or Bhatak (sitting place). The extra-departmental branches render services irregularly. Nonetheless, they cater to the needs for postal service of people in remote areas, as they take care of incoming and outgoing mail and provide registration facilities. The owners of extra-departmental branches are paid 590 Rupees per month. They come under the Superintendent of the post office at Sibi and are regularly visited by the post office supervisor.

 There are a total of 30 post offices in the district. There is no courier service. As observed and confirmed, people hand over their packets and parcels to the drivers of buses, mini-buses and flying coaches to be delivered in Quetta, Sibi, Nasirabad, etc.

The total number of banks in the district is eight. There are three branches of the United Bank Limited (UBL) at Bhag, Dhadar, and Mach respectively. The National Bank (NBP), the government bank run on commercial basis, has one branch at Dhadar and one at Mach. The Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP) with branches in Dhadar and Bhag gives credit and loans to landowners and farmers for agricultural purposes. There are no specific credit facilities to generate income available for women.

Twenty one villages in Bolan district have been electrified during the last decade. The provision of electricity under the WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) is federally financed. The Bolan district electrification system is linked with two grids of 132 KV (132,000 voltage) at Bhag and Mach. Most supply comes from Mach grid, which in turn receives electricity from Gudoo barrage. It is carried through 11 KV and high tension lines. The electricity division is in Sibi under an executive engineer for WAPDA. A sub-divisional officer (SDO) sits in Mach.

 The electricity supply to the entire area, falling under Bolan district, is through five feeders in Dhadar, Bhag, Lehri, Mach Mithri. There are five categories of connections: domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and bulk. The connection record includes all, however, most connections are domestic.

 According to the Project Director Office WAPDA for Rural Electrification, the scattered lay-out of villages impedes their electrification, which explains the small number of electrified villages.

 The gas supply is provided to urban areas and some villages, like Mach, Bhag, Lehri, Belpat and Dhadar. After Quetta and Sibi, the district has the largest number of gas connections installed. Provision of gas to villages lying within 30 km (under the "30 km policy") is not implemented.

There are a total of nine rest houses in Bolan district. Except for the one at Mach of B&R department, which is occupied by Sibi Scouts, they are available for visitors to stay with the permission of concerned authorities.

There are not any motels or tourist hotels along the highways, though there are some places offering food and drinks for bus travellers and truck-drivers. They are open twenty-four hours a day with tea and food facilities. By exception it is possible to stay for a night, but they do not provide regular hotel facilities.

In Dhadar, Mach and Bhag, the hotel/restaurant facilities are limited to the serving of food and tea. They have limited room for rent without proper comforts.

Legend: - no involvement

x minor involvement

xx substantial involvement

xxx major involvement

The economic infrastructure and communications development in the district is not satisfactory. They are worse in rural areas. The road link from urban to rural areas is not metalled at large. The only good road is the national highway passing through the district from Quetta to Jacobabad. Taking the shingle road from Dhadar to Sanni and Suran as an example; it takes four to five hours to cover a distance of 100 km. The construction of roads within the district will improve the socio-cultural exposure of rural people.

 The area has made progress in gas and electricity supply. Gas is provided in major towns. The provision of gas to the villages lying within 30 km (under the 30 km policy) is not implemented. The provision of electricity has improved, but demand for further electrification is still high.

Back to Bolan