Chagai District

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Chagai District
Area	50,545 km²
Population (2005 Estimate)  • Density	250,000  • 4.95/km²
Time zone	PST (UTC+4:30)
Established  • District Nazim  • District Naib Nazim  • District Council  • Number of Tehsils	1896  • {{{nazim}}}  • {{{naib_nazim}}}  • {{{seats}}} seats   • {{{tehsils}}}
Main language(s)	Balochi
Website	http://www.bdd.sdnpk.org/chagai.htm

Chagai district is the largest district of Pakistan and is located on the north west corner of Balochistan, Pakistan. It forms a triangular border with Afghanistan and Iran.

[edit] History

Chagai District was created in 1896. Nushki was the only sub division of the district with two tehsils, Nushki and Dalbandin. Naukundi sub tehsil was upgraded to tehsil in 1950. Chagai district was attached to Kalat in 1957 but was detached after two years. The Police Department is still under the Superintendent of Police, Kalat. Dalbandin Tehsil was upgraded to Sub-Division on 1st February, 1978. Taftan was created as sub tehsil in 1981. Chagai sub-tehsil was created with effect from 1st October, 1985. The Assistant Political Agent Nushki remained sub-Divisional Magistrate of Nushki Sub Division till September 1989 when an independent post of Additional Political Agent was created for the district. Very little is known about the ancient history of Chagai.

The earliest monuments are the ruins of terraced embankments. These are found at the foot of the Ras Koh hills; they are ascribed to the fire-worshippers, who are said to have been the inhabitants of this area more than two thousand years ago. The next traces of ancient history are the square shaped tombs in the western areas of the district, which are attributed by the local traditions to the Kianian dynasty of Iran. The remains of the ruined forts and karezes found in different parts of the district are assigned to the Arabs. These are also sometimes attributed to the Mughals and in any case indicate the presence of a richer civilisation than is now found among the Baloch and Brahui inhabitants of the district.

[edit] Population

According to the census there is a population of 202,562 (1998) living there, along with approximately 53,000 Afghan refugees. The population of the Chagai district is estimated to be over 250,000 in 2005. Over 99% of the people of the area are Muslims. The major Baloch tribes in the district are Sanjrani and Nothazai.

Administrative Divisions of Balochistan (Pakistan)
Capital	Quetta
Districts	Awaran | Barkhan | Bolan | Chagai | Dera Bugti | Gwadar | Jafarabad | Jhal Magsi | Kalat | Kech | Kharan | Khuzdar | Kohlu | Lasbela | Loralai | Mastung | Musakhel | Nasirabad | Nushki | Panjgur | Pishin | Qilla Abdullah | Qilla Saifullah | Quetta | Sibi | Zhob | Ziarat