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Districts of Balochistan, Pakistan
Location	Balochistan, Pakistan
Number	37 (as of Dec 2022)
Populations	97,017 (Harnai District) – 2,275,699 (Quetta District)
Government	District Government City District Government Zilla Council
Subdivisions	Tehsils

The province of Balochistan is the least populated province of Pakistan and the largest province by area, is divided into 36 districts and eight divisions. Below, you will find an overview of the recent history of districts in Balochistan, Pakistan, a map showing each district, the divisions of Balochistan and their districts, and a list showing each district's name, the division the district belongs to, the district's area, the location of the district's headquarters, the district's population and population density (in 2017), the average annual population growth rate of each district (between 1998 and 2017), and a map showing each district's location.

History

Colonial times

1877–1901

The area which covers the modern-day Pakistani province of Balochistan was first introduced to districts and divisions as administrative units under the British, and the area was first incorporated into British India in 1877. The first census of the Balochistan region was held in 1891, but it only covered the parts of Balochistan east of the 66th meridian east, was incomplete, and never had a report written about it. The first full census that was completed and had a report written on it took place in 1901. By 1901, Balochistan was divided into both the Baluchistan Agency and the Chief Commissioner's Province of Baluchistan, which was also more commonly known as British Baluchistan.

In 1901, British Baluchistan consisted principally of the areas which were under the control of Afghans, but were ceded to the British with the Treaty of Gandamak in 1879, and were formally declared British India in 1887. It was divided into two districts: Thal-Chotiali District, which consisted of the Tehsils of Duki, Shahrig (Shahrug), and Sibi, and Quetta-Pishin District, which was subdivided into Pishin Tehsil, Chaman Subdivision, and Shorarud Sub-Division. The administration given below:

British Balochistan Province

• Thal-Chotiali District

1. Duki tehsil
2. Shahrig (Shahrug) tehsil
3. Sibi tehsil

• Quetta-Pishin District

1. Pishin Tehsil
2. Chaman Subdivision
3. Shorarud Sub-Division

Balochistan Agency

• Native States

1. Khan of Kalat
2. Kharan State
3. Las bela State
4. Makran State

• British Agencies

1. Bolan Agency
2. Chagai Agency
3. Quetta-Pishin Agency
4. Thal-Chotiali Agency
5. Zhob Agency

• Tribal Areas

1. Bugti Country
2. Marri Country

The Baluchistan Agency was split into three divisions: The areas directly administered by the British, the Native States, and the Tribal Areas.

The areas directly administered by the British consisted of the Bolan Agency, the Chagai Agency (which consisted of Chagai, Nushki, and Western Sinjrani), the Quetta-Pishin Agency (which consisted of Quetta Tehsil excluding Shorarud), the Thal-Chotiali Agency (made of the Barkhan Tehsil, the Kohlu Sub-Tehsil, and the Sanjawi (Sinjawi) Sub-Tehsil), and the Zhob Agency (which included Fort Sandeman, Hindobagh, Loralai, Musakhel, and Qilla Saifullah Tehsils).

There were four autonomous princely states, making up the native states, in Balochistan: The state of Kharan (which was a vassal of Qalat), The state of Las Bela, The state of Makran, and the Khanate of Qalat (which was divided into Domki, Kaheri, and Umrani Country; Jhalawan Country; Kachhi Country; Nasirabad Niabat; and Sarawan Country).

The two tribal areas were Bugti Country and Marri Country. The tribal areas consisted of Baloch tribes which, as per the census report of 1901, exhibited "nomadic tendency to the largest degree".

This meant that the administrative setup of the Balochistan region under British control was as follows in 1901:

Territories which do not exist anymore

• British Baluchistan
  • • Quetta-Pishin District
    • Thal-Chotiali District
• Baluchistan Agency
  • • Quetta-Pishin Agency
    • Thal-Chotiali Agency
    • Bolan Agency
    • Chagai Agency
    • Zhob Agency
• Tribal Areas
  • • Bugti Country
    • Marri Country
• Native Princely States
  • • State of Makrann
    • Kharan (princely state)
    • Las Bela (princely state)
    • Khanate of Qalat

1901–1947

By the time of the 1911 census, all the directly administered territories of the Baluchistan Agency had been abolished and reformed into districts in the Chief Commissioner's Province (British Baluchistan). Thal-Chotiali District was also abolished. In their place came the six districts of Bolan (previously Bolan Agency), Chagai (previously Chagai Agency), Loralai (previously parts of Thal-Chotiali District and Thal-Chotiali Agency), Quetta-Pishin (previously Quetta-Pishin District and Quetta-Pishin Agency), Sibi (previously parts of Thal-Chotiali District and Thal-Chotiali Agency), and Zhob (previously Zhob Agency). The two Tribal Areas of Bugti Country and Marri Country were also abolished as a separate unit and were made a part of Sibi District called Marri-Bugti Country (which became known the unadministered area of Sibi District, as opposed to the administered areas which covered parts of Thal-Chotiali District and Thal-Chotiali Agency).

No changes occurred to the administrative setup of the Native Princely States, which now made up the entire Baluchistan Agency until 1940, when the State of Kharan gained complete independence from the Khanate of Qalat. This did not, though, have any effect on the borders and administrative units of the borders themselves, as the State of Kharan already existed as an entity before. The only difference was now it was completely separate from Qalat.

This left the following administrative setup, which would see no changes through the 1921, 1931, and 1941 censuses, all the way until Pakistani independence:

Territories which do not exist anymore

• British Baluchistan
  • • Quetta-Pishin District
    • Bolan District
    • Chagai District
    • Loralai District
    • Sibi District
    • Zhob District
• Unadmistration Areas of Sibi District
  • • Marri-Bugti Country
• Native Princely States
  • • State of Makran
    • Kharan (princely state)
    • Las Bela (princely state)
    • Khanate of Kalat

Post-independence

1947–1955

On 3 October 1952, the four princely states of Kalat, Kharan, Las Bela and Makran was merged to form Balochistan State Union with the capital at the town of Kalat.

Administration of Balochistan

• Quetta Division
  • • Quetta-Pishin District
    • Bolan District
    • Chagai District
    • Loralai District
    • Sibi District
    • Zhob District
• Unadmistration Areas of Sibi District
  • • Marri-Bugti Country
• Balochistan State Union
  • • State of Makran
    • Kharan (princely state)
    • Las Bela (princely state)
    • Khanate of Kalat

On 14 October 1955, the Balochistan state union finally merged into Balochistan Province to form Kalat division and Marri-Bugti county abolished.

Administration is given below;

• Quetta Division
  • Quetta-Pishin District
  • Bolan District
  • Chagai District
  • Loralai District
  • Sibi District
  • Zhob District
• Kalat Division
  • Kalat District
  • Makran District
  • Kharan District
  • Lasbela District

1955–1970

In 30 September 1955, To diminish the differences between the two regions, claimed the government, the 'One Unit' programme merged the four provinces of West Pakistan into a single province to parallel the province of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

1970–1998

On 1 July 1970, West Pakistan was abolished and all four provinces of Pakistan were restored as 1947.

The administration as given below:

• Quetta Division
  • Quetta-Pashin District
  • Bolan District
  • Chagai District
  • Loralai District
  • Sibi District
  • Zhob District
• Kalat Division
  • Kalat District
  • Makran District
  • Kharan District

In 1974, Balochistan government create three new districts Khuzdar and Nasirabad District by bifurcation of Kalat District, Kohlu district from Sibi district and Sibi division created from Quetta division.

In 1975, Pishin District was separated from Quetta District and Lasbela district transferred from Karachi division to Kalat division(From 1970 to 1975 Lasbela district was a part of Sindh province).

On 1 July 1977, Makran was declared a division and was divided into three districts, named Panjgur, Turbat and Gwadar.

In July 1983, Dera Bugti was established as a separate district .

In 1986, Ziarat District was established, previously being part of Sibi District.

In 1987, Jafarabad was notified a district.district’s headquarters are at Dera Allah Yar, also known as Jhatpat among locals and Nasirabad division created by bifurcation of Sibi division.

In 1988, Killa Saifullah District was established as a district by bifurcation of Zhob District and Zhob division established after bifurcating of Quetta division.

In December 1991, Mastung creation as a separate district from Kalat District and Barkhan district from Loralai district.

In December 1991, Bolan district divided into two districts New Bolan (Kachhi)and Bolan (Jhal Magsi) district.

In 11 November 1992, Awaran District was created as a separate district from Khuzdar District and Musakhail district from Loralai district.

In May 1992, Old Kachhi district renamed to Jhal Magsi.

In June 1993, Kila Abdullah was separated from Pishin District and made a new district.

In 1994- 95, the name of Turbat district was changed to its old name Kech.

The administration as given below:

• Quetta Division
  • Quetta District
  • Pashin District
  • Killa Abdullah District
  • Chagai District
• Zhob Division
  • Zhob District
  • Killa Saifullah District
  • Musakhel District
  • Loralai District
  • Barkhan District
• Kalat Division
  • Kalat District
  • Khuzdar District
  • Awaran District
  • Kharan District
  • Lasbela District
  • Mustang District
• Sibi Division
  • Sibi District
  • Kohlu District
  • Dera Bugti District
  • Ziarat District
• Nasirabad Division
  • Nasirabad District
  • Jhal Magsi District (Formally Bolan)
  • Kachhi District(Formally New Bolan)
  • Jafarabad District
• Makran Division
  • Kech (Turbat) District
  • Gwadar District
  • Punjgur District

1998–2017

At the time of the 1998 Census of Pakistan, Balochistan had 26 districts, but since then, the province has created 12 new districts and abolished 01 district.

In 2004, Nushki was separated from Chaghai and made a district.

In 2005, the tehsil of Washuk received district status after splitting off from the district of Kharan, and became Washuk District.

Sherani District was established 3 January 2006 by the bifurcation of Zhob district.

In 2007, Harnai district would be created by splitting the Sibi district .

In 2013, two new districts were created Lehri district created by splitting of Sibi District and Sohbatpur District created by splitting of Jafarabad district.

In 2016, Duki district created.

In 2017, Surab District creation as a separate district, Surab was part of Kalat District and Rakhshan division established after bifurcating of Kalat and Quetta division.

The administration as given below:

• Quetta Division
  • Quetta District
  • Pashin District
  • Killa Abdullah District
• Zhob Division
  • Zhob District
  • Killa Saifullah District
  • Musakhel District
  • Loralai District
  • Barkhan District
  • Sherani District
  • Duki District
• Kalat Division
  • Kalat District
  • Khuzdar District
  • Awaran District
  • Lasbela District
  • Mustang District
  • Surab District(Sikanderabad)
• Sibi Division
  • Sibi District
  • Kohlu District
  • Dera Bugti District
  • Ziarat District
  • Harnai District
  • Lehri District
• Nasirabad Division
  • Nasirabad District
  • Jhal Magsi District (Formally Bolan)
  • Kachhi District(Formally New Bolan)
  • Jafarabad District
  • Sohbatpur District
• Makran Division
  • Kech (Turbat) District
  • Gwadar District
  • Punjgur District
• Rakhshan Division
  • Kharan District
  • Chagai District
  • Nushki District
  • Washuk District

2018–present

In 2018, Balochistan Cabinet abolished or reannexed Lehri district into Sibi district.

In 2021, Chaman District is created after bifurcating Qila Abdullah District and Loralai division was created after bifurcating of Zhob division.

In 2022, Balochistan Cabinet Create 3 new districts Hub district from Lasbela, Usta Muhammad district from Jafarabad and Karezat district from Pashin district.

In Dec 2022, Balochistan government announced that the Las Bela is purposed a new Division to spelt largest Kalat division.

The administration as given below:

• Quetta Division
  • Quetta District
  • Pashin District
  • Killa Abdullah District
  • Chaman District
  • Karezat District
• Zhob Division
  • Zhob District
  • Killa Saifullah District
  • Sherani District
• Loralai Division
  • Loralai District
  • Musakhel District
  • Barkhan District
  • Duki District
• Kalat Division
  • Kalat District
  • Khuzdar District
  • Awaran District
  • Lasbela District
  • Hub District
  • Mustang District
  • Surab District(Sikanderabad)
• Sibi Division
  • Sibi District
  • Kohlu District
  • Dera Bugti District
  • Ziarat District
  • Harnai District
• Nasirabad Division
  • Nasirabad District
  • Jhal Magsi District (Formally Bolan)
  • Kachhi District(Formally New Bolan)
  • Jafarabad District
  • Sohbatpur District
  • Usta Muhammad District
• Makran Division
  • Kech (Turbat) District
  • Gwadar District
  • Punjgur District
• Rakhshan Division
  • Kharan District
  • Chagai District
  • Nushki District
  • Washuk District

List of all districts by population over the years

List of all districts by population, area, density, literacy rate etc.

Former district

• Lehri District abolished in 2018.
• Karezat-Barshore District created on 21 November 2022,on 22 November Barshore tehsil minus from karezat-barshore District and barshore tehsil merge again in Pishin district Later on 29 November 2022 Balochistan Government Abolished Karezat District.

See also

• List of tehsils of Balochistan
• Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan

Notes

References

1. ^ Correspondent, The Newspaper's Staff (30 June 2021). "New division, two districts created in Balochistan". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 June 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
2. ^ "Census of India 1901. Vol. 5, Baluchistan. Pt. 1, Report". Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. 1902. JSTOR saoa.crl.25352843. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
3. ^ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 4, Baluchistan : pt. 1, Report; pt. 2, Tables". 1. Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. 1913. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393763. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. ^ India Census Commissioner (1942). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 14, Baluchistan". 14. Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215993. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. ^ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 4, Baluchistan : part I, Report; part II, Tables". Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. 1923. JSTOR saoa.crl.25394124. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
6. ^ "Census of India 1931. Vol. 4, Baluchistan. Pts. 1 & 2, Report [and] Imperial and provincial tables". Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. 1934. JSTOR saoa.crl.25797115. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
7. "Balochistan". Balochistan | Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
8. "Washuk District Profile" (PDF). District-Washuk-Profile.pdf. RSPN. April 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
9. "Map of Subdistricts of Zhor District". Archived from the original on 10 February 2009.
10. "Washuk District Education Plan (2016-17 to 2020-21)" (PDF). WASHUK DISTRICT EDUCATION PLAN FOR 2016-2017 TO 2020-2021.pdf. Balochistan EMIS. 18 February 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
11. "AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, CENSUS-2023, BALOCHISTAN" (PDF).

• Districts of Pakistan
• Districts of Balochistan, Pakistan