Jhal Magsi is a district in central Balochistan in Pakistan. Previously part of Kachhi District, it was established as a district of its own in December 1991 and after a brief period in which it was known as Kachhi, its name was changed to Jhal Magsi in May 1992. The district is named after the town of Jhal, seat of the Magsi tribe, the major Baloch tribe within the district. Historically, the Magsi tribe branched off from the earlier Lashari tribe. The district has two main towns, Gandawah, the administrative centre and Jhal Magsi; and is divided into two subdivisions: Gandawah and Jhal Magsi. The district has a hospital which was built by the government of Punjab to help their Balochistani brothers. The predominant religion is Islam, although there is a minority of Hindus. The most common first languages are Balochi, Sindhi and Saraiki.
Administrative divisions
Jhal Magsi District is administratively divided into two tehsils, Jhal Magsi and Gandawah; with one sub tehsil. Both subdivisions have a different administrative history. It had nine Union Council in 2012, but last year four Union Council were added by the LocalGovernment Department at recommendation of Deputy Commissioner/Delimitation Officer. Namely the union councils of Jhal Magsi District are as under:
According to the Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, district Jhal Magsi is ranked at number 108 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 25% whereas for females it was only 11%. Post primary access is a major issue in the district with 84% schools being at primary level. Compare this with high schools which constitute only 5% of government schools in the district. This is also reflected in the enrolment figures with 7,553 students enrolled in class 1 to 5 and only 118 students enrolled in class 9and 10. Gender disparity is another issue in the district. Only 33% 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 142 out of the 155 districts of Pakistan for primary school infrastructure. At the middle school level, it is ranked at number 141 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 200 out of the 301 government schools in the district do not have electricity, toilet and a boundary wall. 139 schools do not have clean drinking water. The main issues reported in for the district is the unavailability of teachers in schools.
