Jafarabad (Balochi: جعفر آباد, Urdu: ضلع جعفر آباد) district lies in the southeast the Pakistani province of Balochistan. Jafarabad’s headquarters are at Dera Allah Yar formerly and still known as Jhatpat among locals. Jaffarabad District is sub-divided into three tehsils. The main tribes of this district are Jamali, Umrani, Khoso, Bulledi, Mastoi, Magsi, Babbar, and Behrani while internally displaced people of Bugti tribes also live in Jafarabad. Other minority communities are Gola, Lashari, Domki, and a small number of Banger, Abro tribes.
At the time of the 2017 census, the district had a population of 513,972, of which 262,872 were males and 251,047 females. Rural population was 356,261 (69.32%) while the urban population was 157,711 (30.68%). The literacy rate was 30.66% – the male literacy rate was 41.72% while the female literacy rate was 19.24%. Islam was the predominant religion with 98.53%, while Hindus are 1.34% of the population.
At the time of the 2017 census, 48.62% of the population spoke Balochi, 19.80% Sindhi, 15.39% Saraiki, and 14.32% Brahui as their first language.
Education:
According to the Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, district Jafarabad is ranked at number 113 out of the 141 ranked districts in Pakistan on the Education Score index. This index considers learning, gender parity, and retention in the district.
The literacy rate in 2014–15 of the population 10 years and older in the district stood at 36% whereas for females it was only 15%.
Post-primary access is a major issue in the district with 89% of schools being at the primary level. Compared with high schools which only constitute 4% of government schools in the district. This is also reflected in the enrolment figures with 27,448 students enrolled in classes 1 to 5 and only 736 students enrolled in classes 9 and 10.
Gender disparity is another issue in the district. Only 28% of 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 117 out of the 155 districts of Pakistan for primary school infrastructure. At the middle school level, it is ranked at number 116 out of the 155 districts. These rankings take into account the basic facilities available in schools including drinking water, working toilets, availability of electricity, the existence of a boundary wall, and general building conditions. More than 3 out of 5 schools in the district lack electricity, a working toilet, and a boundary wall. More than 1 out of 5 schools do not have clean drinking water.