| Divisions of Sindh | |
| Map: | File:Sindh-Divisions-Map.png |
| Caption: | Map of Divisions of Sindh |
| Category: | First-level administrative body |
| Current Number: | 6 |
| Number Date: | 2024[1] |
| Population Range: | Greatest: Karachi —20,382,881 (2023 census) Least: Mirpur Khas —4,619,624 (2023 census)[2] |
| Area Range: | Largest: Hyderabad — 48670km2 Smallest: Karachi —3528km2 |
| Government: | Division Administration |
| Subdivision: | Districts |
| Subdivision1: | Tehsils |
| Subdivision2: | Union councils |
The divisions of Sindh 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.
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]
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.
| Division Name (English) | Division Name (Sindhi) | Headquarter | Districts | Area(km2) | Population (2023)[9] | Pop. Density (2023) | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad Division | حيدرآباد | Hyderabad | 48,670 | 11,659,246 | 239.56/km2 | ||
| Karachi Division | ڪراچي | Karachi | 3,527 | 20,382,881 | 5,779.10/km2 | ||
| Larkana Division | لاڙڪاڻو | Larkana | 15,213 | 7,093,706 | 466.29/km2 | ||
| Mirpur Khas Division | ميرپورخاص | Mirpur Khas | 28,170 | 4,619,624 | 153.99/km2 | ||
| Shaheed Benazirabad Division | شهيد بينظير آباد | Nawabshah | 18,176 | 5,930,649 | 326.29/km2 | ||
| Sukkur Division | سکر | Sukkur | 27,158 | 6,010,041 | 221.30/km2 | ||
10. ^ "5 Fascinating Historical Secrets of Sindh's Enchanting Jacobabad City" (Division of Sindh) Retrieved 2023-09-21