Prepared by Planning & Development Department, <strong>Government</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Balochistan</strong>, Quetta in Collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund Provincial Office <strong>Balochistan</strong>, Quetta July 18, 2011 District Development P R O F I L E 2 0 1 1 <strong>Gwadar</strong>
ii Message In this age <strong>of</strong> knowledge economy, reliance on every possible tool available for decision making is crucial for improving public resource management, brining parity in resource distribution and maximizing impact <strong>of</strong> development interventions. These District Development Pr<strong>of</strong>iles are vivid views <strong>of</strong> <strong>Balochistan</strong> in key development areas. The Planning and Development Department, <strong>Government</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Balochistan</strong> is highly thankful to UNICEF <strong>Balochistan</strong> for the technical and financial support for this maiden initiative. Untiring hard work has gone into shaping the development pr<strong>of</strong>iles. Appreciate our efforts by using the pr<strong>of</strong>iles pr<strong>of</strong>usely. Ali Zaheer Hazara Additional Chief Secretary (Development) June, 2011 Foreword The <strong>Balochistan</strong> District Development Pr<strong>of</strong>ile 2010 is a landmark exercise <strong>of</strong> Planning and Development Department, <strong>Government</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Balochistan</strong>, to update the district pr<strong>of</strong>ile data that was first compiled in 1998. The pr<strong>of</strong>iles have been updated to provide a concise landmark intended for development planning, monitoring and management purposes. These districts pr<strong>of</strong>iles would be serving as a tool for experts, development practitioners and decision-makers/specialists by giving them vast information wrapping more than 18 dimensions from <strong>Balochistan</strong>s' advancement extent. These pr<strong>of</strong>iles have been transformed into useful documents by extracting and summarizing up-to-date, vast and comprehensive information on socio-economic status and resources <strong>of</strong> each district. Development planning in <strong>Balochistan</strong> has always been challenging for planners due to its difficult and rugged terrain, remote and sparsely populated regions. This generally inhibits an informed planning process due to limited knowledge <strong>of</strong> the areas targeted for development. An effort has been made to collate and present information regarding sociocultural, economic and demographic status, status <strong>of</strong> productive & social sectors and district resources. This effort can be considered unique for the <strong>Balochistan</strong> Province when seen in connection with GIS-based mapping in the form <strong>of</strong> detailed datasets. Contents <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>iles show linkages among populated areas and social sector amenities. Maps have been prepared to facilitate departments/agencies involved in development works in timely and effective decision making regarding provision <strong>of</strong> health, education and infrastructural facilities etc. to public at large. The atlas provides geographical view at the precincts <strong>of</strong> district and the level <strong>of</strong> detail goes up to Union Councils. The details involve spatial spread <strong>of</strong> population, health facilities and their coverage, status <strong>of</strong> education and literacy and overview <strong>of</strong> other social and productive sectors. The overall information encompasses essential graphical and alpha-numeric facets <strong>of</strong> geo-spatial content that can be deemed imperative for any kind <strong>of</strong> development activity. The format <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>iles makes information easily understandable and readily accessible to a broad group <strong>of</strong> users, including decision makers, planners, amenity providers, researchersand relevant stakeholders. The data selected for the purpose is considered vital for policy development, local area (district level) planning and for monitoring and evaluation <strong>of</strong> social sector services. It is also <strong>of</strong> major significance for suggesting improvements in resource allocation at the macro level, i.e., physical areas, services and population groups. Data has been collected from the line departments <strong>of</strong> each district, provincial reports, departmental MIS and major household surveys such as MICS and PSLM. Presently, in the absence <strong>of</strong> any other single comprehensive information resource, the district pr<strong>of</strong>ile will serve as a ready reference for decision-makers assisting them to carry out more informed decision making and subsequent planning for the provisioning <strong>of</strong> amenities to the people <strong>of</strong> <strong>Balochistan</strong>and ultimately for the benefit <strong>of</strong> our country as whole. Shahid Pervez Chief Economist iii
Change language