Wadh

Wadh is a town in the Khuzdar District of Balochistan, Pakistan. The population of the town was 48.950 according to the 1998 census. [ [http://www.bdd.sdnpk.org/districts/Khuzdar/population%20Khuzdar.html Population Khuzdar] ] Most of the inhabitants of the sub-district belong to the Mengal tribe. The majority of the people in the area are Muslims, with a small Hindu minority.

Geography

Wadh is in the mountainous region between the Kalat plateau and the plains of Sind. [ [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Baluchistan,_British_India 1911 Encyclopedia Brittanica: Baluchistan, British India] ] The climate is semi-arid, although occasionally subject to flooding, [ [http://pdi.org.pk/PDI%20Khuzdar%20District%20Flood%20Assessment2007.pdf Rains & Flood Loss Assessment of District Khuzdar Balochistan] ] with warm summers and mild winters. Agriculture is a major economic activity, followed by livestock farming.

The area of Wadh is rich in mineral resources, with large deposits of Barite, Chromite, Magnesite, Manganite. [ [http://www.mindat.org/loc.php?loc=7935&ob=4 Mindat minerals database] ] The region where the town lies is also said to be rich in Oil and Gas, although the tense political situation has inhibited exploitation.

Wadh was in Jhalawan state until 1 March 1974, when Wadh was re-defined as a sub-district within the Khuzdar district.

History

The mountainous area of Khuzdar and particularly Wadh has a turbulent history from earliest times, which continues today.

The Mengal people of Khuzdar speak Brahui, a Dravidian language, although most of their neighbors speak Iranian languages. They have retained their distinctive identity while being periodically subjugated to the Arab empire, Balochistan, India, Persia or Afghanistan. The British took control starting in 1839. In 1948 Balochistan became part of Pakistan.

The Menghal people continue to clash with the Pakistani government, seeking greater autonomy. A major battle took place at Wadh on October 10, 1958. The Baloch were led by Nowroz Khan, the 90-year-old chief of the Zehri tribe. Finally, Nowroz Khan agreed to lay down arms in return for the withdrawal of the One Unit plan, safe conduct and amnesty. However, Nowroz was arrested, and five of his men were hanged in July 1960, on charges of treason.

RCD Highway

The RCD Highway, [ [http://www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/PRESS/Press%202005/JPNEMPAK%2005-066-Balochistan,34%20Million.htm Japan extends its initial grant for the Improvement of Kararo-Wadh Section of National Highway] ] which connects Balochistan with all the provinces and their cities and especially Pakistan-Iran-Turkey, passes through the town of Wadh and continues through the Mengal dominated area. The Highway is 813 km long and stretches from Karachi-Lasbela-Khuzdar-Wadh-Kalat-Mastung-Quetta-Chaman and further onto Iran and Afghanistan. The highway also runs down to recent connection to Gwadar. The highway further connects to many towns in Balochistan and the highway to Multan, Islamabad in Punjab and Peshawar in the NWFP.

Over 150 commercial vans and coaches move between the port city of Karachi and Quetta. It is a key route to and through Balochistan. The RCD Highway was constructed under a treaty between Pakistan, Iran and Turkey and was first constructed during the regime of Sardar Attaullah Mengal as Chief Minister of Balochistan. The town of Wadh is some 380 km south of Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan.

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