Helmand Province

Helmand (Pashto/Dari: هلمند) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation.

Helmand هلمند‎
Province
Helmand River and the town of Grishk
Map of Afghanistan with Helmand highlighted
Coordinates (Capital): 31.0°N 64.0°E / 31.0; 64.0
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Lashkargah
Government
• Governor	Maulvi Abdul Ahad Talib
• Deputy Governor	Mulavi Hizbullah[1]
Area
• Total	58,584 km2 (22,619 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	1,472,162
• Density	25/km2 (65/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time)
ISO 3166 code	AF-HEL
Main languages	Pashto Dari

Helmand is the world's largest opium-producing region. It makes 75% of the world's total production.^[3][4] This is more than all of Burma, which is the second largest producing nation after Afghanistan. Afghan opium accounts for more than 90% of the global supply.

The current governor is Mohammad Golab Mangal (since March 2008).

Much of the fighting between NATO and Taliban forces is taking place in this province. Helmand is said to be a Taliban stronghold.

Border with Pakistan

Helmand has a southern border with the Balochistan province of Pakistan. Many domestic and international observers have criticized Pakistan's efforts towards securing the border against Taliban insurgents.

Cities

Districts of Helmand

• Lashkar Gah
• Sangin
• Musa Qala

Demographics

The population is 1,441,769. The area is 58,584 square kilometres. Pashtuns are the majority estimated at 92% of the population.^[5][6] There are also Balochs who are in the south. Also there are small numbers of Hazara, Brahui and Tajik.^[7]

Districts

Districts of Helmand Province

District	Capital	Population[8]	Area[9]	Notes
Baghran		129,947
Dishu		29,005
Garmsir		107,153
Nahri Saraj		166,827		also known as Nahre Saraj
Kajaki		119,023
Khanashin (Reg)		17,333
Lashkargah		201,546
Musa Qala	Musa Qala	138,896
Nad Ali		235,590
Nawa-I-Barakzayi		89,814
Nawzad		108,258
Sangin	Sangin	213,901
Washir		31,476

References

1. بلال, رضوان الله (23 December 2021). "د هلمند له زندانه ۲۱۸ روږدي له درملنې وروسته کورونو ته ولېږل شول".
2. "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021-22" (PDF). nsia.gov.af. National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA). April 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
3. Pat McGeough (2007-03-05). "Where the poppy is king". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2010-02-03. More than 90 per cent of the province's arable land is choked with the hardy plant. A 600-strong, US-trained eradication force is hopelessly behind schedule on its target for this growing season in Helmand - to clear about a third of the crop, which is estimated to be a head-spinning 70,000 hectares.
4. "Afghanistan still the largest producer of opium: UN report". Zee News. Archived from the original on 2010-02-03. She said opium cultivation is concentrated in the south of the country, with just one province 'Helmand' accounting for 42 percent of all the illicit production in the world. Many of the provinces with the highest levels of production also have the worst security problems.
5. "Helmand provincial profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
6. Helmand Executive Summary, nps.edu
7. NPS.edu
8. "MRRD.gov.af" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
9. Afghanistan Geographic & Thematic Layers