Jafarabad District

Jafarabad (Balochi and Urdu: جعفر آباد‎) district lies in southeast of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. Jafarabad's headquarters are at Dera Allah Yar formerly and still known as Jhatpat among locals. [2] Jaffarabad District is sub-divided into three tehsils. The main tribes of this district are: Jamali, Umrani, Khoso, Bulledi, Magsi, Babbar, Behrani while internally displaced people of Bugti tribes also live in Jafarabad. Other minority communities are Gola, Lashari, Domki, and small number of Bhanger, Abro tribes.

Jafarabad District

جعفر آباد
District
District Jaffarabad
Map of Balochistan with Jafarabad District highlighted
CountryPakistan
ProvinceBalochistan
DivisionNasirabad
Established1987
Founded byMir Zafrullah Khan Jamali
HeadquartersDera Allah Yar
Government
 • MNAMir Khan Muhammad Jamali (PTI)
 • Deputy CommissionerAbdul Razzaq Khan Khujjak
Area
 • Total2,445 km2 (944 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Total513,813
 • Density210/km2 (540/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
ConstituencyNA 261
WebsiteOfficial site

According to the 2017 census, the total population of the district is 613,813. The predominant first language[note 1] are Balochi spoken by 62% of the population, followed by Sindhi with 24%, and Saraiki with 11%.[3]

Background

The district is named after Mir Jafar Khan Jamali. It was a part of sibi district until 1975 and a part of Nasirabad district until it was given status of a district in 1987. Chowki Jamali is a famous village of Jaffarabad. Jaffarabad is at a main‑road to Sindh province. Its boundaries link four districts: Jacobabad (Sindh), Nasirabad, Jhall Magsi, and Sohbatpur. Jaffarabad and Naseerabad are only two districts in Balochistan which have irrigation system and produce a large amount of rice, wheat, soybean and pulses. It is also the second largest owner of livestock in Balochistan after Naseerabad. There is a public cattle farm in the district as well situated near Usta Muhammad. Apart from the potentials the district has, it is worse affected by weak leadership. Only a single family has ruled the district since its inception. The political leaders are not interested in development projects. There are no Universities, technical colleges and research centers in the district. The politicians still have the imperialistic mindset and that is the reason they are gradually losing their influence. On the other hand, the most corrupt institute in the district is the Education department which is headed by incompetent people who fail to deliver adequately and nepotism keeps ruling the poor people.

Administration

The district of Jaffarabad is administratively subdivided into the following three tehsils:[4]

Education

According to the Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, district Jafarabad is ranked at number 113 out of the 141 ranked districts in Pakistan on the Education Score index. This index considers learning, gender parity and retention in the district.

Literacy rate in 2014–15 of population 10 years and older in the district stood at 36% whereas for females it was only 15%.[5]

Post primary access is a major issue in the district with 89% schools being at primary level. Compared with high schools which only constitute 4% of government schools in the district. This is also reflected in the enrolment figures with 27,448 students enrolled in class 1 to 5 and only 736 students enrolled in class 9 and 10.

Gender disparity is another issue in the district. Only 28% schools in the district are girls’ schools. Access to education for girls is a major issue in the district and is also reflected in the low literacy rates for females.

Moreover, the schools in the district lack basic facilities. According to Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, the district is ranked at number 117 out of the 155 districts of Pakistan for primary school infrastructure. At the middle school level, it is ranked at number 116 out of the 155 districts. These rankings take into account the basic facilities available in schools including drinking water, working toilet, availability of electricity, existence of a boundary wall and general building condition. More than 3 out of 5 schools in the district lack electricity, working toilet and a boundary wall. More than 1 out of 5 schools do not have clean drinking water.

The main issues reported in Taleem Do! App for the district are unavailability of class rooms for students and a lack of university. Political interference is also reported in development of new schools.

Notes
  1. defined as the language for communication between parents and children

References

Citations
  1. "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. PCO 2000, p. 1.
  3. PCO 2000.
  4. Tehsils & Unions in the District of Jaffarabad – Government of Pakistan Archived 26 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (2016). Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2014-15. [online] Islamabad: Government of Pakistan, p.111. Available at: http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//pslm/publications/PSLM_2014-15_National-Provincial-District_report.pdf [Accessed 6 Aug. 2018].

Sources
  • 1998 District Census report of Jaffarabad. Census publication. 80. Islamabad: Population Census Organization, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 2000.

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