The Pakistan Population Council has released a list of the most underdeveloped districts in the country.
According to the report, 17 out of the 20 most underdeveloped districts are in Balochistan. The most deprived districts include Washuk, Khuzdar, Kohlu, Zhob, Mashkhel, Dera Bugti, Killa Saifullah, and Kalat.
The report further states that Jhal Magsi, Nasirabad, Awaran, Kharan, Sherani, and Panjgur are also among the most underdeveloped districts.
Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and North Waziristan are also included in the list of the most underdeveloped districts. In addition, Tharparkar is also part of the list.
According to the Pakistan Population Council, 65% of the most vulnerable households live in mud or temporary structures. In Jhal Magsi, 97% of families are forced to live in mud or semi-pucca houses. Most districts of Balochistan suffer from severe shortages of roads, transport, and phone services; weak communication affects emergency response and the delivery of development services.
The report states that 15 out of the 20 worst-performing districts in terms of employment are in Balochistan. Balochistan and KP have the highest rates of unemployment and unpaid domestic labor. Access to healthcare is also the weakest in Balochistan and KP, where the nearest health facility in remote districts is more than 30 kilometers away.
According to the report, Karachi has the highest number of schools, while Balochistan has the lowest. In Balochistan, the distance to girls’ high and higher secondary schools is the greatest. Large families further reduce access to education and healthcare services.
