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Districts of Pakistan
| Districts of Pakistan | |
|---|---|
| Also known as: اِضلاعِ پاكِستان अज़्ला-ए-पाकिस्तान | |
 | |
| Category | Third-level administrative division |
| Location | Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
| Number | 166 (as of 2024) |
| Populations | Greatest: Lahore, Punjab — 1,30,04,135 (2023)[1] Least: Harnai, Balochistan — 1,27,571 (2023)[1] |
| Areas | Largest: Chagai, Balochistan — 44,748 km2 (17,277 sq mi) Smallest: Nazimabad (Karachi Central), Sindh — 69 km2 (27 sq mi) |
| Government | District Administration |
| Subdivisions | Tehsils Union councils |
The districts in Pakistan function as the third-level administrative units, situated beneath provinces and divisions, while representing the first tier of local governance. Currently, there are 166 districts across the country, which includes the Capital Territory along with the regions of Pakistan illegally occupied Jammu-Kashmir (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan). These districts are further subdivided into tehsils and union councils.
Historical Background[edit]
When Pakistan was created in 1947, it comprised 124 districts. By 1969, this number increased to 126 with the formation of two new districts—Tangail and Patuakhali—in East Pakistan. Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Pakistan lost 20 districts, resulting in a total of 106 districts. In 2001, the count was reduced to 102 due to the consolidation of five districts—Karachi Central, Karachi East, Karachi South, Karachi West, and Malir—into one Karachi District. However, in December 2004, the number of districts rose back to 106 with the creation of four new districts in Sindh province. Among these, Umerkot had existed prior to 2000, while three others—Kashmore, Qambar, and Jamshoro—were newly established from portions of Mirpur Khas, Jacobabad, Larkana, and Dadu districts, respectively. In May 2005, the Punjab provincial government elevated Nankana Sahib from a tehsil within Sheikhupura District to become an independent district.
On 11 July 2011, the Sindh Government reinstated the districts of Karachi South, Karachi East, Malir, Karachi West, and Karachi Central. Later, in 2013, Korangi District was created from Karachi East District. In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a second tier of governance was developed, reorganizing three administrative divisions into ten districts. Gilgit-Baltistan is also divided into ten districts across its two regions. Notably, in 2018, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) were merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, transforming FATA agencies into formal districts.
Chagai holds the title of the largest district in Pakistan in terms of area, while Lahore District is the most populous, boasting a total population of 1,11,26,285 according to the 2017 census. In Balochistan, Quetta stands as the largest district by population, with 22,75,699 residents recorded in the same census. Bahawalpur is recognised as the largest district by area in Punjab.
From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chitral is the largest district by area, whereas Peshawar leads in population, with a total of 42,69,079 residents as per the 2017 census. In Sindh, Tharparkar is the largest district by area, while Karachi West ranks highest in population, housing 39,14,757 individuals according to the 2017 data.
The combined population of the six districts within the Karachi division exceeds 1.6 crores, resulting in an average population of over 26.75 lakhs for each district. In PIOJK, Neelum is the largest district by area, while Kotli is the largest by population. For Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit is the largest district in both area and population.
Provinces and other territories[edit]
| Sr. No. | Province or territory | Division(s) | District(s) | Area (km2) |
Population (2017)[2] |
Population (2023)[3] |
Density 2017 (people/km2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azad Jammu and Kashmir | 3 | 10 | 13,297 | 4,045,366 | 304.23 | |
| 2 | Balochistan | 8[4] | 36[5] | 347,190 | 12,344,408 | 14,894,402 | 35.55 |
| 3 | Gilgit-Baltistan | 3 | 14 | 72,971 | 1,492,924 | 47.96 | |
| 4 | Islamabad Capital Territory | 1 | 1 | 906 | 2,006,572 | 2,363,863 | 2,214.76 |
| 5 | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 7[4] | 38[4] | 101,741 | 35,525,047 | 40,856,097 | 349.17 |
| 6 | Punjab | 10[4] | 41[6] | 205,344 | 110,012,442 | 127,688,922 | 535.74 |
| 7 | Sindh | 6 | 30[7] | 140,914 | 47,886,051 | 55,696,147 | 339.82 |
| Pakistan | 39 | 166 | 882,363 | 213,312,810 |
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "District Wise Census Results – Census 2023" (PDF). www.pbscensus.gov.pk. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ↑ "Province Wise Provisional Results of Census – 2017" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-15.
- ↑ https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/national/table_1.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Babakhel, Mohammad Ali (2018-10-23). "New districts". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ↑ "New division, two districts created in Balochistan". Dawn. Pakistan. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
- ↑ "Districts | Punjab Portal". Punjab.gov.pk. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ↑ "Map of Sindh". Government of Sindh. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
