Jafarabaddistrict lies in the South-East of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. Jafarabad's headquarters are at Dera Allah Yar formerly and still known as Jhatpat among locals. Jaffarabad District is sub-divided into three tehsils. The main tribes of this district are: Jamali, Khoso, Bulledi, Magsi, Babbar, Mengal, Behrani while internally displaced people of Marri, Bugti tribes also live in Jafarabad. Other minority communities are Gola, Umrani, lashari, Domki, Kanrani, Gajani, Siapad Brohi and small number of Soomro, bhanger, abro tribes. According to the 2017 census, the total population of the district is 513,813. The predominant first language are Balochi and Brahui spoken by % of the population, followed by Sindhi with %, and Saraiki with %.
Background
The district is named after Mir Jaffar Khan Jamali. It was a part of sibi district until 1975 and a part of Nasirabad district until it was given status of a district in 1987.Chowki Jamali is a famous village of Jaffarabad. Jaffarabad is at a main‑road to Sindh province. Its boundaries link four districts: Jacobabad, Nasirabad, Jhall Magsi, and Dera Bugti.
Administration
The district of Jaffarabad is administratively subdivided into the following three tehsils:
According to the Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, district Jafarabad is ranked at number 113 out of the 141 ranked districts in Pakistan on the Education Score index. This index considers learning, gender parity and retention in the district. Literacy rate in 2014–15 of population 10 years and older in the district stood at 36% whereas for females it was only 15%. Post primary access is a major issue in the district with 89% schools being at primary level. Compared with high schools which only constitute 4% of government schools in the district. This is also reflected in the enrolment figures with 27,448 students enrolled in class 1 to 5 and only 736 students enrolled in class 9and 10. Gender disparity is another issue in the district. Only 28% schools in the district are girls’ schools. Access to education for girls is a major issue in the district and is also reflected in the low literacy rates for females. Moreover, the schools in the district lack basic facilities. According to Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, the district is ranked at number 117 out of the 155 districts of Pakistan for primary school infrastructure. At the middle school level, it is ranked at number 116 out of the 155 districts. These rankings take into account the basic facilities available in schools including drinking water, working toilet, availability of electricity, existence of a boundary wall and general building condition. More than 3 out of 5 schools in the district lack electricity, working toilet and a boundary wall. More than 1 out of 5 schools do not have clean drinking water. The main issues reported in for the district are unavailability of class rooms for students and a lack of university. Political interference is also reported in development of new schools.
