| Divisions of Sindh सिन्ध के मण्डल | |
|---|---|
| Category | First-level administrative body |
| Location |  Pakistan |
| Found in |  Sindh |
| Number | 6 (as of 2024[1]) |
| Populations | Greatest: Karachi —2,03,82,881 (2023 census) Least: Mirpur Khas — 46,19,624 (2023 census)[2] |
| Areas | Largest: Hyderabad — 48,670 km2 (18,790 sq mi) Smallest: Karachi —3,528 km2 (1,362 sq mi) |
| Government | Division Administration |
| Subdivisions | Districts Tehsils Union councils |
The divisions of Sindh constitute the primary administrative units within the Pakistani province of Sindh. In aggregate, six divisions comprise the province, each of which is subdivided into districts contingent upon territorial extent. Administrative oversight of divisions is vested in Commissioners, whereas districts fall under the jurisdiction of Deputy Commissioners.
History[edit | edit source]
Administrative divisions constituted a fundamental tier of government from the colonial period onwards. The Governor's provinces of British India were subdivided into divisions, which were themselves further partitioned into districts.
On 1 April 1936, the Sind Division was separated from the Bombay Presidency and established as a province.
The greater portion of the former Sind Province became Hyderabad Division. In 1955, the One Unit policy resulted in the consolidation of provinces into merely two entities—East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan retained the same divisions as East Bengal had previously maintained, whereas West Pakistan gradually acquired seven new divisions in addition to the original six. The princely state of Khairpur, along with certain territories of Hyderabad Division, coalesced to form Khairpur Division. Upon dissolution of West Pakistan, these divisions were regrouped under four new provinces.
Over the late 1970s, additional divisions were progressively established. In 1975, Khairpur Division was abolished, and Sukkur Division was created; concurrently, the Divisional Headquarters were transferred from Khairpur to Sukkur. Larkana Division was also established through bifurcation of Sukkur Division.
In 1990, Mirpurkhas Division was carved out of Hyderabad Division.
In August 2000, local government reforms abolished the "Division" as an administrative tier and introduced a system of local government councils, with the inaugural elections held in 2001. This initiative precipitated radical restructuring of the local government apparatus to implement "the principle of subsidiarity, whereby all functions that can be effectively performed at the local level are transferred to that level". Consequently, numerous functions previously administered at provincial and divisional levels were devolved to districts and tehsils. At the time of abolition, Sindh contained five divisions.
In 2008, following public elections, the new government resolved to restore divisions across all provinces. In Sindh, upon expiration of the Local Government Bodies' terms in 2010, the Divisional Commissioners system was slated for restoration. In July 2011, the Government of Sindh formally decided to reinstate the commissioner system within the province. As a consequence, the five divisions of Sindh were restored, namely, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, and Larkana, with their respective districts. In 2014, the Sindh Government resolved to create an additional division: Shaheed Benazirabad Division.
Karachi District was demerged into its five original constituent districts—Karachi East, Karachi West, Karachi Central, Karachi South, and Malir. Subsequently, Korangi District and Keamari District were carved out of the original five Karachi districts.[CORRECTION: "Kemari" corrected to standard spelling "Keamari"] These seven districts now constitute Karachi Division.
List of the Divisions by area, population, density, literacy rate etc.[edit | edit source]
| Name | Headquarter | Districts | Area
(km2)[3] |
Population (2023)[3] | Pop. Density (2023)[3] | Literacy rate (2023)[3] | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad Division | Hyderabad | 48,670 | 1,16,59,246 | 239.56/km2 | 45.38% | .svg) | |
| Karachi Division | Karachi | 3,527 | 2,03,82,881 | 5,779.10/km2 | 75.11% | .svg) | |
| Larkana Division | Larkana | 15,213 | 70,93,706 | 466.29/km2 | 44.53% | .svg) | |
| Mirpur Khas Division | Mirpur Khas | 28,170 | 46,19,624 | 153.99/km2 | 40.41% | .svg) | |
| Shaheed Benazirabad Division | Nawabshah | 18,176 | 59,30,649 | 326.29/km2 | 49.91% | .svg) | |
| Sukkur Division | Sukkur | 27,158 | 60,10,041 | 221.30/km2 | 59.72% | .svg) |
List of the Divisions by Population & Density over the years[edit | edit source]
| Name | Population (1998) | Pop. Density (1998) | Population (2017)[4] | Pop. Density (2017) | Population (2023)[5] | Pop. Density (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad Division | 46,10,071 | 137.503/km2 | 70,26,335 | 209.572/km2 | 1,16,59,246 | 252.1/km2 |
| Karachi Division | 98,56,318 | 2,793.741/km2 | 1,60,51,521 | 4,549.751/km2 | 2,03,82,881 | 5,536.3/km2 |
| Larkana Division | N/A | N/A | 61,90,926 | 406.950/km2 | 70,93,706 | 408.8/km2 |
| Mirpur Khas Division | 25,85,417 | 91.776/km2 | 42,28,683 | 150.108/km2 | 46,19,624 | 164.3/km2 |
| Shaheed Benazirabad Division | 35,10,036 | 193.124/km2 | 52,82,277 | 290.634/km2 | 59,30,649 | 331.5/km2 |
| Sukkur Division | 34,47,935 | 140.703/km2 | 55,38,555 | 226.017/km2 | 60,10,041 | 232.5/km2 |
Notes and References[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Clearing the Confusion: Is Bhambhore Sindh's Seventh Division?". mcqtimes.com. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ↑ "2023 population".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Population 2023 tables sindh" (PDF).
- ↑ "TABLE - 1 : AREA, POPULATION ... (Census-2017) - Sindh" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ "TABLE 1 : AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, POPULATION DENSITY (Census-2023) - Sindh" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 6 October 2025.