Total population
260,352 2023 Census
Kharan District
Kharan District in Rakhshan Division serves as the divisional headquarters. It covers an area of 14,958 km² with a 2023 population of 260,352, of which about 31% is urban. The district is divided into 4 tehsils and features arid desert terrain. About 91.2% of the population is Balochi-speaking while 8.5% is Brahui, and 97.58% are Muslim. Literacy stands at 41.07% and its economy relies on agriculture and mineral resources.
Basic information
Total area
14,958 km²
Administrative units
4 tehsils · 13 union councils
Administrative scale
Indicators
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total population (2023 Census) | 260,352 |
| Total area | 14,958 km² |
| Tehsils / Sub-Divisions | 4 |
| Union councils | 13 |
Educational institutions
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Schools (government total) | 226 |
| Colleges | 3 |
Hospitals & health facilities
| Facility type | Count |
|---|---|
| Hospital | 1 |
| RHU | 2 |
| BHU | 23 |
| Civil dispensaries | 5 |
Police
2 police stations (district total).
Courts by tehsil
| Tehsil | Courts |
|---|---|
| District & Sessions Judge, Kharan | 1 |
| Additional District & Sessions Judge-I, Kharan | 1 |
| Additional District & Sessions Judge-II, Kharan | 1 |
| Additional District & Sessions Judge, Sar Kharan | 1 |
Total: 4 civil courts.
Elected representation (Provincial Assembly, party mix)
National Assembly constituencies
| Constituency | Name (Party) |
|---|---|
| NA-260 Chagai-cum-Nushki-cum-Kharan-cum-Washuk | Mohammad Usman Badini (JUI (P)) |
Provincial Assembly constituencies
| Constituency | Name (Party) |
|---|---|
| PB-33 Kharan | Mir Shoaib Nusherwani (PMLN) |
Priority issues & challenges
1. Education
Literacy stands at 41.07% (2023), with female literacy at only 29.36%. Many schools lack electricity, clean drinking water, toilets, and boundary walls.
2. Health
Limited medical infrastructure — one main district hospital plus BHUs/RHUs that often suffer from staff shortages, medicine gaps, and poor infrastructure.
3. Livelihood and Climate Vulnerabilities
Rural livelihoods based on livestock and agriculture are highly vulnerable to drought, extreme temperatures, and flash floods in the arid desert climate.