district
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
in northwestern
Balochistan
Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...
province,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. It was established as a district in 1988 comprising two former administrative units of
Zhob District
Zhob District ( ps, ږوب ولسوالۍ, ur, ) is a district in the north west of Balochistan province of Pakistan. The population of Zhob District is estimated to 310,544 in 2017. Zhob River is used for irrigation in the Zhob District.
Admi ...
: the Upper Zhob sub-division and the sub-tehsil of Badinai, previously named ''Kashatoo'' and part of the subdistrict of Kakar Khurasan.
History
Early in the 13th century the country came within the sphere of the raids organised by
, the Mongol. In 1398 AD, an expedition against the Afghans of the area was led by Pir Muhammad, grandson of Amir
Timur
Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kür ...
. Although no authentic information exist about any foreign occupation, many forts, mounds and karezes are attributed to the
Mughals
The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...
. Both
Nadir Shah
Nader Shah Afshar ( fa, نادر شاه افشار; also known as ''Nader Qoli Beyg'' or ''Tahmāsp Qoli Khan'' ) (August 1688 – 19 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian h ...
(reigned 1736–47) and Ahmed Shah (reigned 1747–73) extended their power through Balochistan and thenceforth Zhob remained under the more or less nominal suzerainty of the Durranis and Barakzais until it came under British protection. In the middle of the 18th century Ahmed Shah granted a sanad (certificate) to Bekar Nika, fourth in descent from Jogi and the head of the Jogezai family, conferring upon him the title and position of "Badshah or Ruler of Zhob". Shah Jehan Jogezai was conferred as Badshah of Zhob. The descendants of Shah Jehan Jogezai used to live in Loralai District of Balochistan.
The British sent its Zhob Expedition in 1884 in order to occupy the Zhob region through Baratkhail. Meanwhile, the castles of Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai and Shah Jehan Jogezai (Badshah of Zhob) were demolished. On 7 October 1884, an assault on the Qalla (castle) of Shah Jehan near Akhterzai resulted the killings of many tribal people including Malik Hamza Daulatzai and Mohammad Ghous who fought bravely. All 500 tribal Sardars admitted their submission before the British forces and also signed an agreement that they will not interfere in the affairs of British Government in
Zhob
Zhob (; ) or Zhobak (), formerly known as Appozai or Fort Sandeman, is a city and district capital of Zhob District in Balochistan province of Pakistan. Zhob is located on the banks of Zhob River 337 km from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.
T ...
region except Saifullah Khan Khoidadzai and Shah Jehan Jogezai who had a narrow escape from the battle scene and established themselves at Kalat; where they used to operate their insurgency campaign against the British and never subdued before the British occupying forces.
Demographics
At the time of the 2017 census the district had a population of 342,932, of which 63,293 (18.46%) lived in urban areas. Qilla Saifullah had a sex ratio of 886 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 32.77% - 43.22% for males and 21.00% for females. 135,817 (39.60%) were under 10 years of age. 432 people in the district were from religious minorities.
Pashto
Pashto (,; , ) is an Eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family. It is known in historical Persian literature as Afghani ().
Spoken as a native language mostly by ethnic Pashtuns, it is one of the two official languages ...
was the predominant language, spoken by 97.84% of the population.
Administration
The district is administratively subdivided into the following
tehsil
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...
s:
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Killa Saifullah
Killa Saifullah ( ps, قلعه سيف الله), also Qilla Saifullah is a city in Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan.) is a district in northwestern Balochistan province, Pakistan. Killa Saifullah is famous for its fertile soil produ ...
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Muslim Bagh
Muslim Bagh (Pashto/ ur, مسلم باغ), is a town in Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at an altitude of . According to the Census of 1998, the population of Muslim Bagh is 70,361 (male 37,303 and female 33,058), w ...
At present the district is divided into two sub-divisions: Qilla Saifullah and
Muslim Bagh
Muslim Bagh (Pashto/ ur, مسلم باغ), is a town in Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at an altitude of . According to the Census of 1998, the population of Muslim Bagh is 70,361 (male 37,303 and female 33,058), w ...
. Kila Saifullah sub-division comprises one tehsil (Killa Saifullah) and one sub-tehsil (Badinai). Killa Saifullah tehsil is further sub-divided into two Qanungo circles and then into five ''patwar'' circles. The entire Badinai sub-tehsil is a Qanungo circle as well as ''patwar'' circle. Muslim Bagh sub-division comprises Muslim Bagh tehsil and Loiband sub-tehsil. The entire Muslim Bagh tehsil is one Qanungo circle, further sub-divided into four ''patwar'' circles. The Loiband sub-tehsil consists of one ''qanungo'' circle and is sub-divided into two ''patwar'' circles.
Muslim Bagh
Muslim Bagh (Pashto/ ur, مسلم باغ), is a town in Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at an altitude of . According to the Census of 1998, the population of Muslim Bagh is 70,361 (male 37,303 and female 33,058), w ...
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Qilla Saifullah
Killa Saifullah ( ps, قلعه سيف الله), also Qilla Saifullah is a city in Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan.) is a district in northwestern Balochistan province, Pakistan. Killa Saifullah is famous for its fertile soil produ ...
Education
According to the
Pakistan District Education Rankings The Pakistan District Education Rankings are a series of 5 consecutive annual publications by Alif Ailaan, first published in 2013.
Pakistan District Education Rankings 2018
The last district rankings published by Alif Ailaan were in 2022.
Top ...
2017, district Killa Saifullah is ranked at number 127 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 stands at 40% whereas for females it is only 6%.
Post primary access is a major issue in the district with 88% schools being at primary level. Compare this with high schools which constitute only 4% of government schools in the district. This is also reflected in the enrolment figures for 2016–17 with 15,836 students enrolled in class 1 to 5 and only 338 students enrolled in class 9 and 10.
Gender disparity is another issue in the district. Only 24% 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
Alif Ailaan ( ur, ) was a nonprofit organization working in the field of education in Pakistan from 2013 to 2018. Launched by a team of media and communications specialists, the program aimed to highlight education on priority basis in Pakistan ...
district education rankings 2017, the district is ranked at number 140 out of the 155 districts of Pakistan for primary school infrastructure. At the middle school level, it is ranked at number 134 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. Approximately 3 out of 4 schools do not have electricity in them. 2 out 3 schools lack a toilet and 1 out of 2 schools do not have a boundary wall. 2 out of 5 schools do not have clean drinking water.
The main issue for the district is the poor infrastructure of schools. They are reported to be in poor condition and need immediate repair.
Oil and minerals
The district is rich with mineral wealth and produces high quality chromite in Pakistan, the second largest reserve in the world. Gypsum, ores of coal, salt, granite, marble, copper and gabbro are also found in various parts of the district. Being rich in oil and gas, the government of Pakistan has started oil and gas exploration in the Murgha Fairzai, Shaighala and Kakar Khurasan areas.
Location
Killa Saifullah is about 182 km south of the provincial capital
Quetta
Quetta (; ur, ; ; ps, کوټه) is the tenth List of cities in Pakistan by population, most populous city in Pakistan with a population of over 1.1 million. It is situated in Geography of Pakistan, south-west of the country close to the ...
. Neighbouring districts are
Zhob
Zhob (; ) or Zhobak (), formerly known as Appozai or Fort Sandeman, is a city and district capital of Zhob District in Balochistan province of Pakistan. Zhob is located on the banks of Zhob River 337 km from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.
T ...
,
Loralai
Loralai ( ps, لورلايي, ur, ), also known as Bori ( ps, ), is the division headquarter of Loralai Division and district headquarter of Loralai District. It is in the northeast of Balochistan province in Pakistan. It is above sea level ...
Nawab Ayaz Jogezai
Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai ( ps, نواب محمد ایاز خان جوګېزی, ur, ) (Born 28 January 1959) is the Pashtun Nawab. He became Nawab after the death of Nawab Taimoor Shah Khan Jogezai. While he was still alive, Nawab Taimoor Sha ...
Wranga Loni
Wranga Loni ( ps, وړانګه لوڼۍ, ur, وڑانگہ لونی; also spelled Wrranga Lunri or Wrranga Luni) is a human rights activist and writer from Sanjawi in northern Balochistan, Pakistan. She is a leading member of the Pashtun Tahafuz ...
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Arfa Siddiq
Arfa Siddiq Kakar ( ps, عارفه صدیق کاکړه, ur, عارفہ صدیق کاکڑ; born 28 January 1987), also spelled Arifa Siddique, is a politician and human rights activist from the town of Muslim Bagh in northern Balochistan, Pakista ...
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Maulana Abdul Wasay
Maulana Abdul Wasay ( ur, )is a Pakistani politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018.
Political career
In March 2013, he became leader of the Opposition in Provincial Assembly of Balochistan.
He wa ...