Malir District
District within the city of Karachi, Pakistan
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Malir District (Urdu: ضلع ملير) is an administrative district of Karachi Division in Sindh, Pakistan created in 1996 by bifurcation of District Karachi East. According to the 2023 Pakistani census, District Malir had a population of 2,419,736 (2.4 million).
Malir District
ضلع ملیر | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
 Map of Malir District | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Sindh |
| Division | Karachi |
| Headquarters | DC Malir |
| Preceded | District Karachi East (1972-1996) |
| Established | 1996 |
| Abolished | 2001 |
| Restored | 11 July 2011 |
| Administration | DMC Malir[1] |
| Administrative Subdivisions/Tehsils | 06 |
| Government | |
| • Type | District Administration |
| • Body | Government of Karachi |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Capt (Rtd) Muhammad Saeed Laghari, PAS |
| • National Assembly Seats (2024) | Total 3
NA-229 Karachi Malir-I NA-230 Karachi Malir-II NA-231 Karachi Malir-III |
| • Provincial Assembly Seats (2024) | Total 6
PS-84 Karachi Malir-I PS-85 Karachi Malir-II PS-86 Karachi Malir-III PS-87 Karachi Malir-IV PS-88 Karachi Malir-V PS-89 Karachi Malir-VI |
| Area | |
| 2,160 km2 (830 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Population | |
| 2,419,736 | |
| • Density | 1,120/km2 (2,900/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,155,058 |
| • Rural | 1,264,678 |
| Demonym | Karachiite |
| Literacy | |
| • Literacy rate |
|
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (PKT) |
| • Summer (DST) | DST is not observed |
| ZIP Code | |
| NWD (area) code | 021 |
| ISO 3166 code | PK-SD |
| CNIC Code of Malir District | 42501-XXXXXXX-X |
| Website | dcmalir |
History
Malir is a Sindhi word which means "greenery".[5]
Battle of Malir
In the early 18th century, Malir became the focus of a military expedition by the Kalhora Dynasty. During this period, the Kalmati and Gabol Baloch groups were settled in the Malir area and exercised local control over the surrounding villages and routes. In the 1730s, relations between these groups and the Kalhora state deteriorated following disputes related to authority and compliance. In response, the Kalhora ruler Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro ordered a campaign against the Kalmati and Gabol settlements in Malir. The Kalhora forces, supported by allied Sindhi groups, advanced into the area and engaged the defenders in a large confrontation. The fighting resulted in the defeat of the Kalmati and Gabol forces, including the deaths of their leading figures, which effectively ended their resistance in Malir. Following this campaign, the Kalmati and Gabol groups withdrew from the region, and Malir was brought under direct Kalhora control.[6]
Pre 1947
Before the independence of Pakistan, there were large villages of Sindhi and some Kalmati Baloch in Gadap Town and Malir Town of modern Karachi. Now both towns have developed as the suburbs of the city because of the urban sprawl.[7]
Countryside
Malir has been regarded in history as the countryside of Karachi City due to its open atmosphere and lush green farms, but now these are no more.[8]
Agriculture land
Malir was once famous for its fruit and vegetable farms; but, now due to severe scarcity of groundwater, these farmlands are being converted into residential areas, thus increasing urbanization and environmental degradation. The Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) has been concerned about drought and desertification in Malir district and has launched a campaign against illegal sand and gravel mining in the dry river beds of the Malir and its tributaries. Sand and gravel mining cause lowering of ground water, as rainwater cannot percolate in the aquifer. SCOPE is developing rainwater reservoirs in drought affected rural areas.[9]
Politics
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has historically dominated elections in Malir District, winning all National Assembly and Provincial Assembly seats in recent elections.[10][11]
PPP's popularity in Malir attributed to demographics and its historical development projects. The district has a large Sindhi- and Balochi-speaking population in rural and semi-urban areas, who traditionally support PPP.[12]
In the 1970s, under the leadership of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, several landmark industrial projects were initiated in the Bin Qasim subdivision of Malir District:
- Port Qasim – The foundation stone was laid in 1973 by Bhutto to create Pakistan's second deep-water port.[13]
- Pakistan Steel Mills – Conceived and built during Bhutto's tenure, located near Port Qasim, it became Pakistan's first integrated steel plant and one of the largest industrial complexes in the country.[14]
- Pakistan Machine Tool Factory (PMTF) – Established in 1968 in Karachi and expanded under Bhutto, it provided a machinery base for Pakistan's industrialization and is situated near the Bin Qasim industrial area.[15][circular reference]
These industrial projects brought employment and infrastructure to Malir, reinforcing PPP's political base and long-term popularity in the district.
Administrative status
Malir District was established in 1996.
Malir District was abolished in 2000 and divided into three towns namely:
- Gadap Town,
- Malir Town
- and Bin Qasim Town.
On 11 July 2011, Sindh Government restored again Malir District.[16]
As per the Sindh Local Government Act, 2021, Sindh government replaced the previous seven District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) with 26 towns, each with its own municipal committee. Malir District has three towns.[17][18][19][20][21][22]
Headed by the TMC Chairman.
Town Municipal Corporations (TMC's) and Union Councils (UC's)
| Union Council |
|---|
| U.C. 1 Gadap |
| U.C. 2 Gaghar |
| U.C. 3 Pipri |
| U.C. 4 Gulshan-e-Hadeed |
| U.C. 5 Steel Town |
| U.C. 6 Saleh Muhammad Goth |
| U.C. 7 Murad Memon Goth |
| U.C. 8 Darsano Chana |
| U.C. 9 Shah Mureed |
| Union Council |
|---|
| U.C. 1 Gharibabad |
| U.C. 2 Dawood Goth |
| U.C. 3 Jafar-e-Tayyar |
| U.C. 4 Khuldabad |
| U.C. 5 Qaidabad |
| U.C. 6 Dawood Chowrangi |
| U.C. 7 Future Colony |
| U.C. 8 Sharafi Goth |
| U.C. 9 Bakhtawar Goth |
| U.C. 10 Bhittaiabad |
| Union Council |
|---|
| U.C. 1 Chaukhandi |
| U.C. 2 Shah Latif Town |
| U.C. 3 Cattle Colony |
| U.C. 4 Majeed Colony |
| U.C. 5 Muzzaffarabad |
| U.C. 6 Muslimabad |
| U.C. 7 Sher Pao colony |
| U.C. 8 Ibrahim Hyderi |
| U.C. 9 Chashma |
| U.C. 10 Rehri Goth |
| U.C. 11 Ali Akber Shah |
Administrative Sub-divisions (Tehsils)
Malir district is divided into Six subdivisions (tehsils).
| Subdivision (Tehsil)[4] | Area (km2) | Population (2023) | Density (ppl/km2) | Literacy Rate (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Subdivision | 41 | 254,370 | 6,204.15 | 86.74% |
| Bin Qasim Subdivision | 447 | 322,915 | 722.40 | 62.19% |
| Gadap Subdivision | 1,104 | 100,351 | 90.90 | 58.94% |
| Ibrahim Hyderi Subdivision | 97 | 1,341,638 | 13831.32 | 57.91% |
| Murad Memon Subdivision | 195 | 376,987 | 1,933.27 | 71.88% |
| Shah Mureed Subdivision | 276 | 35,987 | 130.39 | 47.90% |
| Malir District | 2,160 | 2,432,248 | 1,126.04 | 63.14% |
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | ... | — |
| 1972 | ... | — |
| 1981 | ... | — |
| 1998 | 914,765 | — |
| 2017 | 1,924,346 | +3.99% |
| 2023 | 2,432,248 | +3.98% |
| Sources:[26] | ||
As of the 2023 census, Malir district has 421,426 households and a population of 2,432,248.[27] The district has a sex ratio of 112.70 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 63.14%: 67.74% for males and 57.84% for females.[3][28] 624,172 (25.8% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age.[29] 1,166,340 (47.95%) live in urban areas.[3]
The majority religion is Islam, with 96.45% of the population. Christianity is practiced by 1.82% and Hinduism (including Scheduled Castes) is practiced by 1.66% of the population.[30]
Languages
At the time of the 2023 census, 35% of the population spoke Sindhi, 18.71% Pashto, 14.79% Urdu, 9.94% Punjabi, 7.9% Balochi, 5.69% Hindko and 3.22% Saraiki And 4.79% others as their first language.[31]