Districts of Pakistan


The districts of Pakistan are the third-level administrative divisions of Pakistan, below provinces and divisions, but forming the first-tier of local government. In total, there are 145 districts in Pakistan. excluding Islamabad Capital Territory. These districts are further divided into tehsils and union councils.

History

In 1947, when Pakistan gained independence there were 124 districts. In 1969, 2 new districts in East Pakistan were formed, bringing the total to 126. With 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 had existed until 2000 and three districts were newly created. 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. 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 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 a population of 4,269,079 in the 2017 census. Sindh's largest district by area is Tharparkar and by population its Karachi West with a population of 3,914,757 in the 2017 census. The combined population of the six districts of Karachi division is over 16 million in 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

A deputy commissioner is the executive head of the district. Deputy commissioners are appointed by the government from the Pakistan Administrative Service.

District council

A district 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.

Provinces and territories

Sr. No.Province or territoryDivisionDistrictArea
Population
Population
Density 2017
1Azad Jammu and Kashmir31013,2974,045,366304.23
2Balochistan836347,19014,894,40212,344,40835.55
3Gilgit-Baltistan31472,9711,492,92447.96
4Islamabad Capital Territory--9062,363,8632,006,5722,214.76
5Khyber Pakhtunkhwa740101,74140,856,09735,525,047349.17
6Punjab1041205,344127,688,922110,012,442535.74
7Sindh630140,91455,696,14747,886,051339.82
Pakistan37169882,363~241,499,431213,312,810

List of districts by province and territory

Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Gilgit-Baltistan

Balochistan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Punjab

Sindh

N.B. All the figures require to be re-checked. Data entry error has occurred in Sindh Province.

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

DistrictHeadquarterArea
Population
Density
Literacy
rate
DivisionProvince
MuzaffarabadMuzaffarabad1,642...394...MuzaffarabadAzad Kashmir
Hattian BalaHattian Bala854...270...MuzaffarabadAzad Kashmir
NeelumAthmuqam3,621...53...MuzaffarabadAzad Kashmir
MirpurMirpur1,010...452...MirpurAzad Kashmir
BhimberBhimber1,516...297...MirpurAzad Kashmir
KotliKotli1,862...416...MirpurAzad Kashmir
PoonchRawalakot855...585...PoonchAzad Kashmir
BaghBagh770...483...PoonchAzad Kashmir
HaveliForward Kahuta598...254...PoonchAzad Kashmir
SudhnatiPallandari569...523...PoonchAzad Kashmir
GhancheKhaplu6,400.........BaltistanGilgit-Baltistan
SkarduSkardu15,000.........BaltistanGilgit-Baltistan
RounduDambudas1,89539,490......BaltistanGilgit-Baltistan
KharmangTolti7,909.........BaltistanGilgit-Baltistan
ShigarShigar8,500.........BaltistanGilgit-Baltistan
AstoreEidghah8,657.........DiamerGilgit-Baltistan
DiamerChilas7,234323,643......DiamerGilgit-Baltistan
DarelDarel1,657.........DiamerGilgit-Baltistan
TangirTangir1,106.........DiamerGilgit-Baltistan
GhizerGahkuch9,635.........GilgitGilgit-Baltistan
GilgitGilgit38,000.........GilgitGilgit-Baltistan
HunzaKarimabad17,145.........GilgitGilgit-Baltistan
NagarNagarkhas15,567.........GilgitGilgit-Baltistan
Gupis-Yasin DistrictPhander............GilgitGilgit-Baltistan
HaripurHaripur1,7251,174,783681.374.88%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
BattagramBattagram497335,984676.0241.20%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
AbbottabadAbbottabad1,9671,419,072721.677.34%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
AllaiAllai Valley804218,149676.0241.20%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Lower KohistanPattan642340,017529.522.05%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
MansehraMansehra4,1251,797,177435.663.79%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
TorgharJudba454200,445441.629.74%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Upper KohistanDasu5,440422,94777.819.05%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kolai PalasKolai1,410280,162198.718.80%HazaraKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
HanguHangu1,097528,902482.343.15%KohatKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
KurramParachinar3,380785,434232.435.22%KohatKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
KarakKarak3,372815,878241.965.36%KohatKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
KohatKohat2,9911,234,661412.958.55%KohatKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
OrakzaiKalaya1,538387,561252.033.57%KohatKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
BajaurKhar1,2901,287,960998.426.26%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
BunerDaggar1,8651,016,869545.143.75%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Lower ChitralChitral6,458320,40749.666.10%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Lower DirTimergara1,5831,650,1831,042.457.36%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
ShanglaAlpuri1,586891,252562.033.74%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
MalakandBatkhela952826,250868.1...MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
SwatSaidu Sharif5,3372,687,384503.648.13%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Upper ChitralBooni8,392195,52823.373.83%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Upper DirDir3,6991,083,566292.946.77%MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Central Dir DistrictWari1,483.........MalakandKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
CharsaddaCharsadda9961,835,5041,843.153.94%PeshawarKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
KhyberLandi Kotal2,5761,146,267445.038.45%PeshawarKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
NowsheraNowshera1,7481,740,705995.856.78%PeshawarKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
PeshawarPeshawar1,5184,758,7623,135.653.28%PeshawarKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
MohmandGhalanai2,296553,933241.231.28%PeshawarKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Upper South WaziristanSpinkai2,815......31.96%Dera Ismail KhanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Lower South WaziristanWana3,805......31.96%Dera Ismail KhanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
TankTank2,900470,293162.240.67%Dera Ismail KhanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Dera Ismail KhanDera Ismail Khan9,3341,829,811196.146.58%Dera Ismail KhanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
North WaziristanMiranshah4,707693,332147.332.82%BannuKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
BannuBannu1,9721,357,890688.641.75%BannuKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Lakki MarwatLakki Marwat3,2961,040,856315.848.47%BannuKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
SwabiSwabi1,5431,894,6001,228.058.48%MardanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
MardanMardan1,6322,744,8981,681.455.79%MardanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
JamshoroJamshoro11,2041,117,30899.749.63%HyderabadSindh
HyderabadHyderabad9932,432,5402,448.767.21%HyderabadSindh
BadinBadin6,8581,947,081284.636.65%HyderabadSindh
DaduDadu7,8661,742,320221.847.13%HyderabadSindh
MatiariMatiari1,417849,383599.045.88%HyderabadSindh
SujawalSujawal8,785839,29295.527.02%HyderabadSindh
Tando AllahyarTando Allahyar1,554922,012592.839.80%HyderabadSindh
Tando Muhammad KhanTando Muhammad Khan1,423726,119509.134.02%HyderabadSindh
ThattaThatta8,5701,083,191126.826.88%HyderabadSindh
GhotkiMirpur Mathelo6,0831,772,609291.341.38%SukkurSindh
KhairpurKhairpur15,9102,597,535163.350.14%SukkurSindh
SukkurSukkur5,1651,639,897317.758.26%SukkurSindh
Karachi CentralNorth Nazimabad693,822,32555,39683.55%KarachiSindh
Karachi EastGulshan e Iqbal1393,921,74228,41780.07%KarachiSindh
Karachi SouthSaddar Karachi1222,329,76419,096.478.57%KarachiSindh
Karachi WestOrangi Town3702,679,3807,241.667.43%KarachiSindh
KeamariMoriro Mirbahar5592,068,4513,700.362.07%KarachiSindh
KorangiKorangi1083,128,97128,97279.86%KarachiSindh
MalirMalir2,1602,432,2481,126.863.14%KarachiSindh
LarkanaLarkana1,9481,784,453915.855.58%LarkanaSindh
JacobabadJacobabad2,6981,174,097434.042.34%LarkanaSindh
KashmoreKandhkot2,5801,233,957477.335.59%LarkanaSindh
Qambar ShahdadkotQambar5,4751,514,869276.440.02%LarkanaSindh
ShikarpurShikarpur2,5121,386,330552.143.70%LarkanaSindh
Mirpur KhasMirpur Khas2,9251,681,386574.745.37%Mirpur KhasSindh
UmerkotUmerkot5,6081,159,831207.238.69%Mirpur KhasSindh
TharparkarMithi19,6371,778,40790.636.39%Mirpur KhasSindh
SangharSanghar10,7282,308,465215.043.66%Mirpur KhasSindh
Shaheed BenazirabadNawabshah4,5021,845,102409.550.86%Shaheed BenazirabadSindh
Naushahro FerozeNaushahro Feroze2,9451,777,082603.257.15%Shaheed BenazirabadSindh
HubHub6,716382,8855736.47%KalatBalochistan
SurabSurab762279,038366.537.44%KalatBalochistan
LasbelaUthal15,153680,97744.936.47%KalatBalochistan
MastungMastung3,308313,27194.745.97%KalatBalochistan
KhuzdarKhuzdar35,380997,21428.238.59%KalatBalochistan
KalatKalat7,654271,56035.539.70%KalatBalochistan
AwaranAwaran29,510178,9586.136.34%KalatBalochistan
BarkhanBarkhan3,514210,24959.833.62%LoralaiBalochistan
DukiDuki4,233205,04448.444.18%LoralaiBalochistan
MusakhelMusa Khel Bazar5,728182,27531.836.60%LoralaiBalochistan
LoralaiLoralai3,785272,43272.043.16%LoralaiBalochistan
GwadarGwadar12,637305,16024.250.30%MakranBalochistan
KechTurbat22,5391,060,93147.049.65%MakranBalochistan
PanjgurPanjgur16,891509,78130.242.07%MakranBalochistan
JafarabadDera Allahyar1,643594,558361.935.53 %NasirabadBalochistan
Jhal MagsiGandava3,615203,36856.230.14%NasirabadBalochistan
KachhiDhadar5,682442,67477.930.20%NasirabadBalochistan
NasirabadDera Murad Jamali3,387563,315166.128.96%NasirabadBalochistan
SohbatpurSohbatpur802240,106299.641.02%NasirabadBalochistan
Usta MuhammadUsta Muhammad953...28035.53%NasirabadBalochistan
Dera BugtiDera Bugti10,160355,27435.024.07%SibiBalochistan
KohluKohlu7,610260,22034.228.53%SibiBalochistan
SibiSibi7,121224,14831.547.41%SibiBalochistan
HarnaiHarnai2,492127,57151.239.83%SibiBalochistan
ZiaratZiarat3,301189,53557.443.37%SibiBalochistan
ChamanChaman1,341466,218347.739.97%QuettaBalochistan
PishinPishin6,218835,482134.651.07%QuettaBalochistan
QuettaQuetta3,4472,595,492754.356.29%QuettaBalochistan
Qila AbdullahJungle Pir Alizai3,553361,971101.936.40%QuettaBalochistan
Qilla SaifullahQilla Saifullah6,831380,20055.732.96%ZhobBalochistan
SheraniSherani4,310191,68744.523.86%ZhobBalochistan
ZhobZhob15,987355,69222.236.62%ZhobBalochistan
KharanKharan14,958260,35217.441.07%RakhshanBalochistan
NushkiNushki5,797207,83435.957.12%RakhshanBalochistan
WashukWashuk33,093302,6239.121.58%RakhshanBalochistan
ChagaiDalbandin44,748269,1926.033.15%RakhshanBalochistan
RawalpindiRawalpindi4,5475,745,9641,868.7983.06%RawalpindiPunjab
JhelumJhelum3,5871,382,308385.780.65%RawalpindiPunjab
AttockAttock6,8582,170,423316.770.22%RawalpindiPunjab
MurreeMurree738372,94748086.01%RawalpindiPunjab
ChakwalChakwal6,5241,734,854266.277.79%RawalpindiPunjab
TalagangTalagang2,932...140...RawalpindiPunjab
TaunsaTaunsa2,769...240...Dera Ghazi KhanPunjab
Kot AdduKot Addu3,471...390...Dera Ghazi KhanPunjab
LayyahLayyah6,2892,102,386334.561.83%Dera Ghazi KhanPunjab
Dera Ghazi KhanDera Ghazi Khan11,9223,393,705285.846.78Dera Ghazi KhanPunjab
MuzaffargarhMuzaffargarh8,2495,015,325607.547.99%Dera Ghazi KhanPunjab
RajanpurRajanpur12,3192,381,049193.336.09%Dera Ghazi KhanPunjab
Toba Tek SinghToba Tek Singh3,2522,524,044776.271.38%FaisalabadPunjab
JhangJhang6,1663,065,639499.159.45%FaisalabadPunjab
ChiniotChiniot2,6431,563,024591.355.05%FaisalabadPunjab
FaisalabadFaisalabad5,8569,075,8191,551.773.41%FaisalabadPunjab
LahoreLahore1,77213,004,1357,336.679.62%LahorePunjab
KasurKasur3,9954,084,2861,022.362.85%LahorePunjab
Nankana SahibNankana Sahib2,2161,634,871737.063.12%LahorePunjab
SheikhupuraSheikhupura3,7444,049,4181,080.368.88%LahorePunjab
SialkotSialkot3,0164,499,3941,492.578.37%GujranwalaPunjab
GujranwalaGujranwala2,4264,966,3382,045.476.77%GujranwalaPunjab
NarowalNarowal2,3371,950,954834.375.28%GujranwalaPunjab
OkaraOkara4,3773,515,490802.260.25%SahiwalPunjab
PakpattanPakpattan2,7242,136,170785.357.13%SahiwalPunjab
SahiwalSahiwal3,2012,881,811900.664.77%SahiwalPunjab
Rahim Yar KhanRahim Yar Khan11,8805,564,703468.247.94%BahawalpurPunjab
BahawalnagarBahawalnagar8,8783,550,342399.657.01%BahawalpurPunjab
BahawalpurBahawalpur24,8304,284,964172.353.35%BahawalpurPunjab
SargodhaSargodha5,8544,334,448740.166.73%SargodhaPunjab
KhushabJauharabad6,5111,501,089230.862.52%SargodhaPunjab
BhakkarBhakkar8,1531,957,470240.555.68%SargodhaPunjab
MianwaliMianwali5,8401,798,268307.462.87%SargodhaPunjab
KhanewalKhanewal4,3493,364,077773.560.97%MultanPunjab
VehariVehari4,3643,430,421787.759.10%MultanPunjab
MultanMultan3,7205,362,3051,441.161.41%MultanPunjab
LodhranLodhran2,7781,928,299693.551.68%MultanPunjab
Mandi BahauddinMandi Bahauddin2,6731,829,486683.170.27%GujratPunjab
GujratGujrat3,1923,219,3751,007.081.37%GujratPunjab
HafizabadHafizabad2,3671,319,909557.065.77%GujratPunjab
WazirabadWazirabad1,206993,412690...GujratPunjab
Islamabad Capital TerritoryIslamabad9062,363,8632,609.183.97%Islamabad Capital TerritoryIslamabad Capital Territory