Divisions of Sindh

The divisions of Sindh^{[lower-alpha 1]} 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.

Divisions of Sindh
Map of Divisions of Sindh
Category	First-level administrative body
Location	Pakistan
Found in	Sindh
Number	6 (as of 2024[1])
Populations	Greatest: Karachi —20,382,881 (2023 census) Least: Mirpur Khas —4,619,624 (2023 census)[2]
Areas	Largest: Hyderabad — 48,670 km2 (18,790 sq mi) Smallest: Karachi —3,528 km2 (1,362 sq mi)
Government	Division Administration
Subdivisions	Districts Tehsils Union councils

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.^[3]

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.^[4] In Sindh after the lapse of the Local Governments Bodies term in 2010 the Divisional Commissioners system was to be restored.^[5][6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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 divisions

Division Name (English)	Division Name (Sindhi)	Headquarter	Districts	Area (km2)[9]	Population (2023)[9]	Pop. Density (2023)[9]	Literacy rate (2023)[9]	Map
Hyderabad Division	حيدرآباد	Hyderabad	Dadu District Hyderabad Jamshoro District Matiari District Tando Allahyar District Tando Muhammad Khan District Badin District Sujawal District Thatta District	48,670	11,659,246	239.56/km2	45.38%
Karachi Division	ڪراچي	Karachi	Central East South West Korangi Malir Kemari	3,527	20,382,881	5,779.10/km2	75.11%
Larkana Division	لاڙڪاڻو	Larkana	Jacobabad District Kashmore District Larkana District Qambar Shahdadkot District Shikarpur District	15,213	7,093,706	466.29/km2	44.53%
Mirpur Khas Division	ميرپورخاص	Mirpur Khas	Mirpur Khas District Tharparkar District Umerkot District	28,170	4,619,624	153.99/km2	40.41%
Shaheed Benazirabad Division	شهيد بينظير آباد	Nawabshah	Naushahro Feroze District Shaheed Benazir Abad District Sanghar District	18,176	5,930,649	326.29/km2	49.91%
Sukkur Division	سکر	Sukkur	Ghotki District Khairpur District Sukkur District	27,158	6,010,041	221.30/km2	49.72%

References

1. Sindhi: سنڌ جا ڀاڱا‎; Urdu: سندھ کے ڈویژن

1. "Clearing the Confusion: Is Bhambhore Sindh's Seventh Division?". mcqtimes.com. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
2. https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/Sindh.pdfaccess-date=2024-05-21. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
3. Correspondent, The Newspaper's (25 May 2014). "Shaheed Benazirabad made division". {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
4. "Commissionerate system restored". 26 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
5. "Commissioner system to be restored soon: Durrani". Archived from the original on 2012-07-31.
6. "Sindh: Commissioner system may be revived today". Archived from the original on 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
7. "Commissioners, DCs posted in Sindh". 12 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
8. ABDULLAH ZAFAR (21 August 2020). "Sindh Cabinet approves division of Karachi into seven districts". nation.com.pk. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
9. https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/sindh/pcr/table_1.pdf

10. ^ "5 Fascinating Historical Secrets of Sindh's Enchanting Jacobabad City" (Division of Sindh) Retrieved 2023-09-21