QUETTA: During a session of the Balochistan Assembly, members proposed upgrading the Tump and Mand subdivisions into a separate district.
Parliamentary Secretary Mir Asghar Rind and other lawmakers argued that the vast area and law-and-order challenges of the current Kech district are hindering access to education and health services for local residents.
They noted that Kech spans nearly 300 kilometers, making administration difficult, and suggested that dividing the district would improve governance.
The legislators recalled that similar recommendations had been made in the past but were never implemented.
With a population exceeding three hundred thousand, they maintained, the region fully meets the criteria for district status.
Creating a new district in Balochistan follows a provincial process that blends administrative assessment with legislative and executive action.
Under Pakistan’s constitutional framework, provinces have the authority to alter their internal administrative boundaries, but such changes typically require a combination of cabinet approval, provincial assembly endorsement, and formal notification by the provincial government.
In practice, proposals often begin with local representatives or district councils highlighting governance challenges—such as vast geography, population growth, or limited access to health, education, and security services.
The provincial Planning & Development and Home departments then review population data, revenue records, infrastructure needs, and law-and-order considerations.
If the cabinet agrees, a resolution or bill is presented in the Balochistan Assembly, where debate allows members to examine financial implications, administrative feasibility, and public feedback.
After passage, the government issues an official gazette notification defining the new district’s boundaries and administrative setup, including appointment of a deputy commissioner and establishment of police, revenue, and municipal offices.
Over the past two decades Balochistan has periodically created new districts—such as Sohbatpur (2013) and Lehri (later merged)—to improve governance across its vast, sparsely populated terrain.
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Each case has involved balancing local demands for representation and services with the province’s limited fiscal and human resources.
