17 of Pakistan’s 20 Poorest Districts Are in Balochistan: Report

A new Population Council report shows 17 of Pakistan’s 20 most deprived districts are in Balochistan. They have severe shortages of basic services, extreme poverty, and failing infrastructure. The worst-hit districts include Washuk, Khuzdar, Kohlu, Zhob, Dera Bugti, Mashkhel, Qila Saifullah, and Kalat. Kohistan and North Waziristan rank as the weakest districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Tharparkar is the most deprived in Sindh. 13 of the 20 most prosperous districts are in Punjab, with Balochistan absent from the list. More than 10 million people in these 17 districts lack basic facilities. Employment is scarce: 15 of the 20 districts with the worst job prospects are in Balochistan. Both Balochistan and KP have the highest rates of unemployment and unpaid household labour. Housing is dire. 65 percent of households live in mud or temporary structures, and half have no toilets. Clean drinking water is a luxury for many: 40 percent cannot access safe water. In Jhal Magsi, 97 percent of families live in mud or semi-constructed homes, and in some areas, three-quarters of houses have only one room. Poor roads, limited transport, and weak phone connectivity make delivering health and emergency services almost impossible. Clinics are scarce: in remote areas of Balochistan and KP, residents often travel more than 30 kilometres for basic healthcare. Education access is equally uneven. Karachi has the most schools, Balochistan has the fewest, and girls in rural districts face the longest journeys to high or higher secondary schools. The report warns that rapid population growth worsens deprivation. Large family sizes limit access to education, healthcare, and clean water, driving already vulnerable districts deeper into poverty.