Districts of Pakistan

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Districts of Pakistan
Blank Districts of Pakistan.svg
Category administrative division
LocationAdministrative units of Pakistan
Number159 (as of 2021)
PopulationsGreatest: Lahore, Punjab— 11,126,285(2017 census)[1]
Least: Awaran, Balochistan, Pakistan—121,660 (2017 Census)[1]
AreasLargest: Chagai, Balochistan—44,748 km2 (17,277 sq mi)
Smallest: Torghar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—497 km2 (192 sq mi)
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The Districts of Pakistan (Urdu: اِضلاعِ پاكِستان); are the third-order administrative divisions of Pakistan, below provinces and divisions, but forming the first-tier of local government. In total, there are 160 districts in Pakistan including the Capital Territory and the districts of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.[2][3] These districts are further divided into Tehsils, Union Councils.

History[]

In 1947, when Pakistan gained independence there were 124 districts. In 1969, 2 new districts (Tangail and Patuakhali) in East Pakistan were formed totalling to 126. After the Independence of Bangladesh, Pakistan lost 20 of its districts and so there were 106 districts. In 2001, the number was reduced to 102 by the merger of the 5 districts of Karachi Central, Karachi East, Karachi South, Karachi West and Malir to form Karachi District. The number of districts rose to 106 again in December 2004, when four new districts were created in the province of Sindh of which one (Umerkot) had existed until 2000 and three districts (Kashmore, Qambar and Jamshoro) were newly created.[4][a] The new districts were carved out of Mirpur Khas, Jacobabad, Larkana and Dadu Districts respectively. In May 2005, the Punjab provincial government created a new district by raising the status of Nankana Sahib from a tehsil of Sheikhupura District to a district in its own right.[5][b] On 11 July 2011, the Sindh Government restored again the districts of Karachi South, Karachi East, Malir, Karachi West and Karachi Central, then later in 2013, the district of Korangi was carved out of Karachi East District. In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a second-tier of government was formed from three administrative divisions into ten districts. In Gilgit–Baltistan, there are ten districts divided between the two regions of Gilgit and Baltistan. In 2018, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and FATA agencies were converted into districts.

Chagai is the largest district of Pakistan by area while Lahore District is the largest by population with a total population of 11,126,285 at the 2017 census. Quetta is the largest district of Balochistan by population with a total population of 2,275,699 at the 2017 census. Bahawalpur is the largest district of Punjab by area. Chitral is the largest by area and Peshawar is the largest by population from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the population of 4,269,079 at the Census 2017. Sindh's largest district by area is Tharparkar[6] and by population its Karachi West with a population of 3,914,757 at the 2017 Census. The combined population of the six districts of Karachi division is over 16 million at the 2017 census, giving an average population for these six districts of Karachi division of over 2.675 million each. Neelum and Kotli are the largest districts of Azad Kashmir by area and population respectively. Gilgit is the largest by area and population both for Gilgit-Baltistan.

Administration[]

Deputy commissioner[]

Main article: Deputy Commissioner (Pakistan)

A deputy commissioner (popularly abbreviated to "DC") is the executive head of the district. Deputy commissioners are appointed by the government from the Pakistan Administrative Service.

District council[]

A district council (or zila council) is a local government body at the district level.

The functions of a district council include construction and maintenance of roads, and bridges, building hospitals and dispensaries, schools and educational institutions, health facilities and sanitation, tube wells for drinking water, rest houses, and coordination of activities of the Union councils within the district.

District police officer[]

District health officer[]

Provinces and Territories[]

Districts of Pakistan
Sr. No. States / Provinces Districts Area
(km2) 		Population
(2017)[7] 		Density
(people/km2)
1 Azad Jammu and Kashmir 10 13,297 4,045,366 304.23
2 Balochistan 34[8] 347,190 12,344,408 35.55
3 Gilgit-Baltistan 14 72,971 3,500,000 47.96
4 Islamabad Capital Territory 1 906 2,006,572 2,214.76
5 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 35[9] 101,741 35,525,047 349.17
6 Punjab 36[10] 205,345 110,012,442 535.74
7 Sindh 30[11] 140,914 47,886,051 339.82

Azad Jammu and Kashmir[]

Main article: Districts of Azad Kashmir
AJK Districts
# District Headquarters Area
(km2) 		Population
(1998)[12] 		Population
(2017)[12] 		Density
(people/km2) 		Division
1 Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad 1,642 453,957 650,370 394 Muzaffarabad
2 Hattian Bala Hattian Bala 854 166,064 230,529 270 Muzaffarabad
3 Neelum Athmuqam 3,621 125,712 191,251 53 Muzaffarabad
4 Mirpur Mirpur 1,010 333,482 456,200 452 Mirpur
5 Bhimber Bhimber 1,516 301,633 420,624 297 Mirpur
6 Kotli Kotli 1,862 563,134 774,194 416 Mirpur
7 Poonch Rawalakot 855 411,035 500,571 585 Poonch
8 Bagh Bagh 770 281,721 371,919 483 Poonch
9 Haveli Forward Kahuta 598 111,694 152,124 254 Poonch
10 Sudhnati Pallandari 569 224,091 297,584 523 Poonch

Balochistan[]

Main article: Districts of Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan Districts.svg
Sr. No. District Headquarters Area
(km2) 		Population
(2017)[13] 		Density
(people/km2) 		Division
1 Awaran Awaran 29,510[14] 956,011 4 Kalat
2 Barkhan Barkhan 3,514 171,556 48.8 Loralai
3 Chagai 44,748[15] 226,008 5 Rakhshan
4 Chaman Chaman Quetta
5 Dera Bugti Dera Bugti 10,160 1,500,603 31 Sibi
6 Duki 153,000 Loralai
7 Gwadar Gwadar 12,637 4,500,514 21 Makran
8 Harnai[16] Harnai 4,096 97,017 24 Sibi
9 Jafarabad Dera Allahyar 2,445 513,813 210 Nasirabad
10 Jhal Magsi 3,615 149,225 41 Nasirabad
11 Kachhi Dhadar 7,499 237,030 32 Nasirabad
12 Kalat Kalat 6,622 412,232 62 Kalat
13 Kech Turbat 22,539 909,116 40 Makran
14 Kharan Kharan 8,958 156,152 17 Rakhshan
15 Khuzdar Khuzdar 35,380 802,207 23 Kalat
16 Kohlu Kohlu 7,610 214,350 28 Sibi
17 Lasbela Uthal 15,153 574,292 38 Kalat
18 Loralai Loralai 9,830 397,400 40 Loralai
19 Mastung Mastung 5,896 266,461 45 Kalat
20 Musakhel Musa Khel Bazar 5,728 167,017 29 Loralai
21 Nasirabad Dera Murad Jamali 3,387 490,538 145 Nasirabad
22 Nushki[17] Nushki 5,797 178,796 31 Rakhshan
23 Panjgur Panjgur 16,891 316,385 19 Makran
24 Pishin Pishin 7,819 736,481 94 Quetta
25 Quetta Quetta 2,653 2,275,699 858 Quetta
26 Qila Abdullah Jungle Pir Alizai 3,293 757,578 230 Quetta
27 Qilla Saifullah Qilla Saifullah 6,831 342,814 50 Zhob
28 Sherani 2,800 153,116 55 Zhob
29 Sibi Sibi 7,796 135,572 17 Sibi
30 Sohbatpur Sohbatpur 1,412 200,538 142 Nasirabad
31 Shaheed Sikandarabad Surab - - - Kalat
32 Washuk Washuk 29,510 176,206 6 Rakhshan
33 Zhob Zhob 20,297 310,544 15 Zhob
34 Ziarat Ziarat 1,489 160,422 108 Kalat

Gilgit Baltistan[]

Main article: Districts of Gilgit Baltistan
Gilgit Baltistan Administrative divisions and districts
Gilgit Baltistan's map with districts
# District Headquarters Area
(km2) 		Population
(1998) 		Division
1 Ghanche Khaplu 6,400 88,366 Baltistan
2 Skardu Skardu 15,000 214,848 Baltistan
3 Astore Eidghah 8,657 71,666 Diamer
4 Diamer Chilas 10,936 131,925 Diamer
5 Ghizer Gahkuch 9,635 120,218 Gilgit
6 Gilgit Gilgit 38,000 243,324 Gilgit
7 Hunza Aliabad 17,145 80,355 Gilgit
8 Kharmang Tolti 20,000[18] Baltistan
9 Shigar Shigar 8,500 109,000 Baltistan
10 Nagar Nagar 15,567 89,420 Gilgit
11 Gupis–Yasin Phander Gilgit
12 Tangir Diamer
13 Darel Diamer
14 Roundu Dambudas Baltistan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[]

Main article: Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.png
Sr. No. District Headquarters Area
(km2) 		Population
(2017)[1] 		Density
(people/km2) 		Division
1 Abbottabad Abbottabad 1,967 1,332,912 785 Hazara
2 Bajaur Khar 1,290 1,093,684 848 Malakand
3 Bannu Bannu 1,227 1,167,892 952 Bannu
4 Battagram Battagram 1,301 476,612 366 Hazara
5 Buner Daggar 1,865 897,319 481 Malakand
6 Charsadda Charsadda 996 1,616,198 1,623 Peshawar
7 Dera Ismail Khan Dera Ismail Khan 7,326 1,627,132 222 Dera Ismail Khan
8 Hangu Hangu 1,097 518,798 473 Kohat
9 Haripur Haripur 1,725 1,003,031 581 Hazara
10 Karak Karak 3,372 706,299 209 Kohat
11 Khyber Landi Kotal 2,576 986,973 383 Peshawar
12 Kohat Kohat 2,545 993,874 390 Kohat
13 Kurram Parachinar 3,380 619,553 201 Kohat
14 Kolai - - - Hazara
15 Lakki Marwat Lakki Marwat 3,164 876,182 277 Bannu
16 Lower Dir Timergara 1,582 1,435,917 908 Malakand
17 Lower Kohistan Pattan 7,492 784,711* 105 Hazara
18 Lower Chitral Chitral 7,492 784,711* 105 Malakand
19 Malakand Batkhela 952 720,295 757 Malakand
20 Mansehra Mansehra 4,579 1,556,460 340 Hazara
21 Mardan Mardan 1,632 2,373,061 1,454 Mardan
22 Mohmand Ghalanai 2,296 466,984 203 Peshawar
23 North Waziristan Miranshah 4,707 543,254  115 Bannu
24 Nowshera Nowshera 1,748 1,518,540 869 Peshawar
25 Orakzai Kalaya 1,538 254,356 165 Kohat
26 Peshawar Peshawar 1,257 4,269,079 3,396 Peshawar
27 Shangla Alpuri 1,586 757,810 478 Malakand
28 South Waziristan Wana 6,620 679,185  103 Dera Ismail Khan
29 Swabi Swabi 1,543 1,624,616 1,053 Mardan
30 Swat Saidu Sharif 5,337 2,309,570 433 Malakand
31 Tank Tank 1,679 391,885 233 Dera Ismail Khan
32 Torghar Judba 497 171,395 345 Hazara
33 Upper Dir Dir 3,699 946,421 256 Malakand
34 Upper Kohistan Dasu 7,492 784,711* 105 Hazara
35 Upper Chitral Booni - - - Malakand

Note: Recently merged 7 agencies and Frontier Regions of FATA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa included in the list. Population and area of Frontier Regions is merged in respective districts.

Punjab[]

Main article: Districts of Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab (Pakistan) Districts.svg
Sr. No. District Headquarters Area
(km2) 		Population
(2017) 		Density
(people
per
km2) 		Division
1 Attock Attock 6,858 1,883,556 275 Rawalpindi
2 Bahawalnagar Bahawalnagar 8,878 2,981,919 336 Bahawalpur
3 Bahawalpur Bahawalpur 24,830 3,668,106 148 Bahawalpur
4 Bhakkar Bhakkar 8,153 1,650,518 202 Sargodha
5 Chakwal Chakwal 6,524 1,495,982 229 Rawalpindi
6 Chiniot Chiniot 2,643 1,369,740 518 Faisalabad
7 Dera Ghazi Khan Dera Ghazi Khan 11,922 2,872,201 241 Dera Ghazi Khan
8 Faisalabad Faisalabad 5,856 7,873,910 1,345 Faisalabad
9 Gujranwala Gujranwala 3,622 5,014,196 1,384 Gujranwala
10 Gujrat Gujrat 3,192 2,756,110 863 Gujranwala
11 Hafizabad Hafizabad 2,367 1,156,957 489 Gujranwala
12 Jhang Jhang 8,809 2,743,416 311 Faisalabad
13 Jhelum Jhelum 3,587 1,222,650 341 Rawalpindi
14 Kasur Kasur 4,796 3,454,996 720 Lahore
15 Khanewal Khanewal 4,349 2,921,986 672 Multan
16 Khushab Jauharabad 6,511 1,281,299 197 Sargodha
17 Lahore Lahore 1,772 11,126,285 6,279 Lahore
18 Layyah Layyah 6,291 1,824,230 290 Dera Ghazi Khan
19 Lodhran Lodhran 2,778 1,700,620 612 Multan
20 Mandi Bahauddin Mandi Bahauddin 2,673 1,593,292 596 Gujranwala
21 Mianwali Mianwali 5,840 1,546,094 265 Sargodha
22 Multan Multan 3,720 4,745,109 1,275 Multan
23 Muzaffargarh Muzaffargarh 8,249 4,322,009 524 Dera Ghazi Khan
24 Narowal Narowal 2,337 1,709,757 732 Gujranwala
25 Nankana Sahib[5] Nankana Sahib 2,960 1,356,374 458 Lahore
26 Okara Okara 4,377 3,039,139 694 Sahiwal
27 Pakpattan Pakpattan 2,724 1,823,687 669 Sahiwal
28 Rahim Yar Khan Rahim Yar Khan 11,880 4,814,006 405 Bahawalpur
29 Rajanpur Rajanpur 12,319 1,995,958 162 Dera Ghazi Khan
30 Rawalpindi Rawalpindi 5,286 5,405,633 1,322 Rawalpindi
31 Sahiwal Sahiwal 3,201 2,517,560 786 Sahiwal
32 Sargodha Sargodha 5,854 3,703,588 633 Sargodha
33 Sheikhupura Sheikhupura 3,030 3,460,426 1,142 Lahore
34 Sialkot Sialkot 3,016 3,893,672 1,291 Gujranwala
35 Toba Tek Singh Toba Tek Singh 3,252 2,190,015 673 Faisalabad
36 Vehari Vehari 4,364 2,897,446 664 Multan

Sindh[]

Main article: Districts of Sindh, Pakistan
Sindh districts Pakistan.PNG
Sr. No. District Headquarters Area
(km2) 		Population
(2017) 		Density
(people/km2) 		Division
1 Badin Badin 6,726 1,804,516 268 Banbhore
2 Dadu Dadu 7,866 1,550,266 197 Hyderabad
3 Ghotki Mirpur Mathelo 6,083 1,646,318 270 Sukkur
4 Hyderabad Hyderabad 5,519 2,199,463 398 Hyderabad
5 Jacobabad Jacobabad 5,278 1,006,297 191 Larkana
6 Jamshoro Jamshoro 11,250 993,142 88 Hyderabad
7 Karachi Central Karachi 69 2,971,626 43,067 Karachi
8 Karachi East Karachi 165 2,907,467 17,610 Karachi
9 Karachi South Karachi 122 1,791,751 14,686 Karachi
10 Karachi West Karachi 929 3,914,757 4,214 Karachi
11 Kashmore Kandhkot 2,592 1,089,169 420 Larkana
12 Khairpur Khairpur 15,910 2,404,334 151 Sukkur
13 Korangi Korangi 95 2,457,019 25,918 Karachi
14 Keamari - - - - Karachi
15 Larkana Larkana 1,906 1,524,391 205 Larkana
16 Malir Malir 2,268 2,008,901 886 Karachi
17 Matiari Matiari 1,417 769,349 543 Hyderabad
18 Mirpur Khas Mirpur Khas 2,925 1,505,876 515 Mirpur Khas
19 Naushahro Feroze Naushahro Feroze 2,945 1,612,373 548 Shaheed Benazir Abad
20 Qambar Shahdadkot Qambar 5,599 1,341,042 239 Larkana
21 Sanghar Sanghar 10,720 2,057,057 192 Mirpur Khas
22 Shaheed Benazirabad Nawabshah 4,502 1,612,847 358 Shaheed Benazirabad
23 Shikarpur Shikarpur 2,512 1,231,481 490 Larkana
24 Sujawal Sujawal 8,699[19] 781,967 106 Banbhore
25 Sukkur Sukkur 2,512 1,487,903 592 Sukkur
26 Tando Allahyar Tando Allahyar 5,165 836,887 162 Hyderabad
27 Tando Muhammad Khan Tando Muhammad Khan 2,310 677,228 293 Hyderabad
28 Tharparkar Mithi 19,638 1,649,661 84 Mirpur Khas
29 Thatta Thatta 7,705[6] 979,817 98 Banbhore
30 Umerkot[20] Umerkot 5,608[6] 1,073,146 191 Mirpur Khas

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ No data is available on the recently created districts of Sindh Province.
  2. ^ No data is available on the recently created district of Nankana, which was part of Sheikhupura District.

All the figures require being re-checked. Data entry error has occurred in Sindh Province.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "DISTRICT WISE CENSUS RESULTS CENSUS 2017" (PDF). www.pbscensus.gov.pk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Dividing governance: Three new districts notified in G-B - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Administrative Setup". ajk.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Four new districts in Sindh". Daily Times. 11 December 2004. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Nankana becomes district". Dawn.Com. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Thatta (District, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de.
  7. ^ http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/PAKISTAN%20TEHSIL%20WISE%20FOR%20WEB%20CENSUS_2017.pdf
  8. ^ Correspondent, The Newspaper's Staff (30 June 2021). "New division, two districts created in Balochistan". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Government". Khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Districts | Punjab Portal". Punjab.gov.pk. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  11. ^ "Map of Sindh". Government of Sindh. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  12. ^ a b Azad Government of Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, 2019.
  13. ^ "Pakistan Bureau of Statistics - 6th Population and Housing Census". www.pbscensus.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Home - Government of Balochistan" (PDF). balochistan.gov.pk. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Country escapes major earthquake damage". Daily Times. 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  16. ^ "Harnai is new district of Balochistan". Dawn.Com. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  17. ^ "Kharan and Noshki District" (PDF). American Refugee Committee. July 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Sujawal (District, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de.
  20. ^ "Historically & Geographically". District Government Umerkot. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2014.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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