Kachhi District

The Kachhi Plains are home to the archeological site of Mehrgarh. One of the most important Neolithic sites in archaeology, lies on what is now the Kachhi Plain of today's Balochistan, Pakistan. It is one of the earliest sites with evidence of farming (wheat and barley) and herding (cattle, sheep and goats) in South Asia.^[6]

The Kacchi is historically part of Sindh, with indigenous Sindhi population,^[7] the history of Kacchi is also closely connected with the history of Sindh. Kachhi was part of Rai and Chach dynasties of Sindh, later Soomra and Samma ruled.^[8] Around 1500, it was taken by Shah Beg of the Arghun dynasty from the Samma dynasty of the Sultans of Sindh. The territory was conquered by the Kalhora Amirs of Sindh,^[9][10][11] who were themselves displaced by Nadir Shah of Persia. Shah gave the territory to Kalat Khanate in 1740, as a blood compensation for the death of Mir Abdullah Khan Ahmadzai,^[12][13][14] in the Battle of Kachhi.^[15][16][17] Kachhi was notified as a district in February 1965. At that time Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi and Jafarabad districts were included; these were separated in 1987.

The district is administratively subdivided into the following Tehsils:^[4]

The Union councils of Kachhi District are:

• Noushera
• Mehram
• Machh
• Jalal Khan
• Chalgari
• Sanni
• Chander
• Gazai
• Dhadar
• Masso
• Bashkya
• Mithri

According to the Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, district Kachhi is ranked at number 109 out of 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 of 10 years and older in the district stood at 43% whereas for females it was only 23%.^[30]

Post primary access is a major issue in the district with 86% schools being at primary level. Whereas with high schools it constitutes only 6% of government schools in the district. This is also reflected in the enrolment figures for academic year 2016–17 with 12,688 students enrolled in class 1 to 5 and only 261 students enrolled in class 9 and 10.

Gender disparity in education 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 of 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 139 out of the 155 districts of Pakistan for primary school infrastructure. At the middle school level, it is ranked at number 129 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 half of the government schools in the district do not have the provision of electricity, toilet and a boundary wall. 213 out of 465 schools do not have clean drinking water.

• Tehsils of Pakistan
  • Tehsils of Balochistan
• Districts of Pakistan
  • Districts in Balochistan
• Divisions of Pakistan
  • Divisions of Balochistan