Divisions of Punjab | |
---|---|
Category | First-level administrative division |
Location | Pakistan |
Found in | Punjab |
Number | 11 (as of January 2023[1]) |
Populations | Greatest: Lahore —22,772,710 (2023 census) Least: Sahiwal —8,533,471 (2023 census) |
Areas | Largest: Bahawalpur — 45,588 km2 (17,602 sq mi) Smallest: Gujrat —8,231 km2 (3,178 sq mi) |
Government |
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Subdivisions |
The divisions of Punjab (Urdu: پنجاب کےڈویژن), are the first-order administrative bodies of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. In total, there are 10 divisions, which are further divided into districts ranging from three to six per division, depending upon area.[2][3] Divisions are governed by Commissioners while districts are governed by Deputy Commissioners.
Administrative divisions had formed an integral tier of government from the times of Mughal Empire and latterly British Raj. The Lahore and Multan Subahs (combinedly Punjab) during Mughal era while Punjab Province during British era were subdivided into divisions, which were themselves subdivided into districts.
After independence, The province of West Punjab had four divisions – Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sargodha. From 1955 to 1970, during One Unit policy the Princely State of Bahawalpur was joined with West Punjab and made part of Bahawalpur Division. In the late 1970s new divisions were formed; Gujranwala Division was formed from parts of Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions; Dera Ghazi Khan Division was split from Multan Division; Faisalabad Division was split from Sargodha Division and, with the passage of time, the number of these divisions increased and now there are nine divisions.
On 17 August 2022, Gujarat Division established in Punjab Province. On January 14, 2023, Mianwali Division was added to Punjab Province.
Every division of province is divided into many districts and then further into tehsils. Each division is administrated by a commissioner. He is assisted by different deputy commissioners of all districts of his division. The duties of commissioner according to Punjab Government Act 2013 (XVIII of 2013) are as follows:[4]
Division Name (English) |
Division Name (Urdu) |
Headquarter | Districts | Area
(km2)[5] |
Population (2023)[5] | Pop. Density (2023)[5] | Literacy rate (2023)[5] | Map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bahawalpur Division[6] | بہاولپور | Bahawalpur | 45,588 | 13,400,009 | 293.94/km2 | 52.13% | ||
Dera Ghazi Khan Division[7] | ڈیرہ غازی خان ڈویژن | Dera Ghazi Khan | 38,778 | 12,892,465 | 332.47/km2 | 48.00% | ||
Faisalabad Division[8] | فیصل آباد ڈویژن | Faisalabad | 17,918 | 16,228,526 | 905.71/km2 | 68.80% | ||
Gujranwala Division[9] | گوجرانوالہ ڈویژن | Gujranwala | 8,975 | 12,410,098 | 1,400/km2 | 76.41% | ||
Gujrat Division[10] | گجرات ڈویژن | Gujrat | 9,438 | 6,337,678 | 670/km2 | 76.41% | ||
Lahore Division[11] | لاہور ڈویژن | Lahore | 11,727 | 22,772,710 | 1941.90/km2 | 73.63% | ||
Multan Division[12] | ملتان ڈویژن | Multan | 15,211 | 14,085,102 | 925.98/km2 | 59.43% | ||
Rawalpindi Division[13] | راولپنڈی ڈویژن | Rawalpindi | 18,823 | 10,804,250 | 574.50 | 79.9% | ||
Sahiwal Division[14] | ساہیوال ڈویژن | Sahiwal | 10,302 | 8,533,471 | 828.33/km2 | 61.02% | ||
Sargodha Division[15] | ڈویژن سرگودھا | Sargodha | 26,360 | 9,591,275 | 263.86/km2 | 63.19% | ||
Mianwali Division | ڈویژن مِيانوالى | Mianwali | 16,925 | 4,357,984 | 257.36/km2 | N/A |