Divisions of Sindh

{{Short description|Second-level administrative regions of Pakistan}}

{{Infobox subdivision type

| name = Divisions of Sindh

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| category = First-level administrative body

| territory = {{PAK}}

| upper_unit = {{flag|Sindh}}

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| current_number = 6

| number_date = 2024{{Cite web|url=https://mcqtimes.com/clearing-the-confusion-is-bhambhore-sindhs-seventh-division/|title=Clearing the Confusion: Is Bhambhore Sindh's Seventh Division?|website=mcqtimes.com|access-date=2024-05-21}}

| type =

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| population_range = Greatest: Karachi —20,382,881 (2023 census)
Least: Mirpur Khas —4,619,624 (2023 census){{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/Sindh.pdfaccess-date=2024-05-21|title=2023 population}}

| area_range = Largest: Hyderabad — {{convert|48,670|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
Smallest: Karachi —{{convert|3,528|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| government = Division Administration

| subdivision = Districts

| subdivision1 = Tehsils

| subdivision2 = Union councils

}}

The divisions of Sindh{{efn|{{langx|sd|{{naskh|سنڌ جا ڀاڱا}}}}; {{langx|ur|{{nq|سندھ کے ڈویژن}}}}}} are the first-order administrative bodies of the Pakistani province of Sindh. In total, there are 6 divisions, which are further divided into districts depending upon area. Divisions are governed by Commissioners while districts are governed by Deputy Commissioners.

History

Administrative divisions had formed an integral tier of government from colonial times. The Governor's provinces of British India were subdivided into divisions, which were themselves subdivided into districts.

On 1 April 1936 Sind division separated from Bombay Presidency and established a Province.

Most of the former Sind Province became Hyderabad Division. In 1955, the One Unit policy meant that there were only two provinces – East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan had the same divisions as East Bengal had previously, but West Pakistan gradually gained seven new divisions to add to the original six. The princely state of Khairpur and some parts of Hyderabad Division to form Khairpur Division. When West Pakistan was dissolved, the divisions were regrouped into four new provinces.

Gradually over the late 1970s, new divisions were formed. In 1975 the Khairpur Division was abolished and create Sukkur Division and Divisional Headquarters also shifted from khairpur to Sukkur. Larkana Division also created by bifurcation of Sukkur Division.{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1108462|title=Shaheed Benazirabad made division|date=25 May 2014}}

1990 Mirpurkhas Division were split from 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 first elections held in 2001. Following that there was radical restructuring of the local government system to implement "the principle of subsidiarity, whereby all functions that can be effectively performed at the local level are transferred to that level". This meant devolution of many functions, to districts and tehsils, which were previously handled at the provincial and divisional levels. At abolition, there were five divisions in Sindh.

In 2008, after the public elections, the new government decided to restore the divisions of all provinces.{{cite web |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Oct-2008/commissionerate-system-restored |title=Commissionerate system restored |date=26 October 2008 |access-date=2010-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109092219/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/26-Oct-2008/Commissionerate-system-restored |archive-date=2010-01-09 |url-status=live }} In Sindh after the lapse of the Local Governments Bodies term in 2010 the Divisional Commissioners system was to be restored.{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.tv/5-26-2009/42856.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731171324/http://www.geo.tv/5-26-2009/42856.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-31 |title=Commissioner system to be restored soon: Durrani }}{{Cite web|url=http://eproperty.pk/news/2009/07/31/sindh-commissioner-system-may-be-revived-today|title=Sindh: Commissioner system may be revived today|access-date=2010-04-26|archive-date=2019-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106213139/https://eproperty.pk/news/2009/07/31/sindh-commissioner-system-may-be-revived-today|url-status=dead}} In July 2011, the Govt. of Sindh decided to restore the commissioner system in the province. As a consequence, the five divisions of Sindh have been restored, namely, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, and Larkana with their respective districts.{{cite web |title=Commissioners, DCs posted in Sindh |date=12 July 2011 |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/12-Jul-2011/commissioners-dcs-posted-in-sindh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713092405/http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/12-Jul-2011/Commissioners-DCs-posted-in-Sindh |archive-date=2011-07-13 |access-date=2011-07-13}} In the year 2014, Sindh Government decided to create a new division in the province, the Shaheed Benazirabad division.

Karachi district was de-merged into its 5 original constituent districts, namely, Karachi East, Karachi West, Karachi Central, Karachi South, and Malir. Recently, Korangi District and Kemari District were carved out of the original 5 districts of Karachi. These seven districts form the Karachi Division now.{{cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/21-Aug-2020/sindh-cabinet-approves-division-of-karachi-into-seven-districts|publisher=nation.com.pk|author=ABDULLAH ZAFAR|title=Sindh Cabinet approves division of Karachi into seven districts|date=21 August 2020|access-date=24 August 2022}}

Administration

Every division of Sindh is divided into many districts and then further into talukas and union councils. Each division is administered by a commissioner, assisted by different deputy commissioners of all districts of their division.

List of the Divisions by area, population, density, literacy rate etc.

{{static row numbers}}

class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-hash" style="text-align:left"
Name

! Headquarter

! Districts

! Area

(km2)

!Population (2023){{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/table_12_sindh_province.pdf|title=Population 2023 tables sindh}}

!Pop. Density (2023)

!Literacy rate (2023)

! Map

style="text-align:center;" |Hyderabad Division

| style="text-align:center;" |Hyderabad

| style="text-align:center;" |

| 48,670

| 11,659,246

| 239.56/km2

|45.38%

| style="text-align:left;" |File:Pakistan - Sindh - Hyderabad (division).svg

style="text-align:center;" |Karachi Division

| style="text-align:center;" |Karachi

| style="text-align:center;" |

| 3,527

| 20,382,881

| 5,779.10/km2

|75.11%

| style="text-align:left;" |File:Pakistan - Sindh - Karachi (division).svg

style="text-align:center;" |Larkana Division

| style="text-align:center;" |Larkana

| style="text-align:center;" |

| 15,213

| 7,093,706

| 466.29/km2

|44.53%

| style="text-align:left;" |File:Pakistan - Sindh - Larkana (division).svg

style="text-align:center;" |Mirpur Khas Division

| style="text-align:center;" |Mirpur Khas

| style="text-align:center;" |

| 28,170

| 4,619,624

| 153.99/km2

|40.41%

| style="text-align:left;" |File:Pakistan - Sindh - Mirpur Khas (division).svg

style="text-align:center;" |Shaheed Benazirabad Division

| style="text-align:center;" |Nawabshah

| style="text-align:center;" |

| 18,176

| 5,930,649

| 326.29/km2

|49.91%

| style="text-align:left;" |File:Pakistan - Sindh - Shaheed Benazirabad (division).svg

style="text-align:center;" |Sukkur Division

| style="text-align:center;" |Sukkur

| style="text-align:center;" |

| 27,158

| 6,010,041

| 221.30/km2

|49.72%

| style="text-align:left;" |File:Pakistan - Sindh - Sukkur (division).svg

List of the Divisions by Population & Density over the years{{static row numbers}}

class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-hash"

!Name

!Population (2023){{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/sindh/pcr/table_1.pdf|title=Wayback Machine|website=www.pbs.gov.pk}}

!Pop. Density (2023)

!Population (1998)

!Pop. Density (1998)

!Population (2017)

!Pop. Density (2017)

Hyderabad Division

|11,659,246

|

|4,610,071

|137.503/km2

|7,026,335

|209.572/km2

Karachi Division

|20,382,881

|

|9,856,318

|2,793.741/km2

|16,051,521

|4,549.751/km2

Larkana Division

|7,093,706

|

|N/A

|N/A

|6,190,926

|406.950/km2

Mirpur Khas Division

|4,619,624

|

|2,585,417

|91.776/km2

|4,228,683

|150.108/km2

Shaheed Benazirabad Division

|5,930,649

|

|3,510,036

|193.124/km2

|5,282,277

|290.634/km2

Sukkur Division

|6,010,041

|

|3,447,935

|140.703/km2

|5,538,555

|226.017/km2

**Thatta Division or Bhanbhore Division was a proposed division of Sindh. It was supposed to include Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts. All three of these districts are included in the Hyderabad Division.

See also

References

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}10. [http://known.pk/jacobabad-unveiled/ ^ "5 Fascinating Historical Secrets of Sindh's Enchanting Jacobabad City"] (Division of Sindh) Retrieved 2023-09-21

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