List of the country's 20 most backward districts released
Pakistan Population Council has issued a list of the 20 most underdeveloped districts in the country, in which 17 districts are from Balochistan and 2 are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As per the report, Balochistan and Sindh have the highest unemployment and unpaid labor.
According to the Samaa TV report, these include the Washuk, Khuzdar, Kohlu, Zhob, and Kohistan districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The most inaccessible healthcare access has been reported in Balochistan and KPK. On the other hand, Karachi had the highest number of educational institutions, while in the same category, Balochistan ranked the lowest.
The other underdeveloped districts according to the report are Mashkel, Dera Bugti, Qila Saifullah, Kalat, Tharparkar, Sherani, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Awaran, Kharan, North Waziristan, and Panjgur.
It estimates that in poor households, 65% of the homes are made of mud or temporary materials; this rises to as high as 97% in Jhal Magsi. Similarly, most districts in Balochistan have either no roads, transportation, or telecommunication services, which ultimately affects emergency response and development work.
Employment wise, 15 of the worst 20 districts are in Balochistan. Where unemployment and unpaid household labor are concerned, both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa report the highest rates. Inhabitants of many remote areas have to travel more than 30 kilometers to reach a health centre.
The situation of education is also alarming. As per the report, Balochistan presents the greatest distance of girls and access to high and higher secondary schools in the rest of the country. Sindh’s Tharparkar district ranks the lowest in population vulnerabilities, and the high birth rate puts extra pressure on already limited education and healthcare facilities.
