Administrative units of Pakistan

{{short description|none}}  {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use British English|date=May 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox subdivision type | name = Administrative Units of Pakistan | map = File:Pakistan location map.svg | category = Federated state | start_date = 1 July 1970 | current_number = {{plainlist| * 4 provinces * 2 administrative territories * 1 federal territory }} | number_date = | population_range = {{Collapsible list | title = ''{{nobold|Least, most:}}'' | 1,249,000 (Gilgit–Baltistan) | 110,012,442 (Punjab) }} | area_range = {{Collapsible list | title = ''{{nobold|Smallest, largest:}}'' | {{Convert|349.81|sqmi|order=flip|abbr=on}}, Islamabad Capital Territory | {{Convert|134050|sqmi|order=flip|abbr=on}}, Balochistan }} | government = {{Collapsible list | title = ''{{nobold|Descending order:}}'' | 1. National government | 2. Provincial governments | 3. District governments | 4. Tehsil Municipal Administration | 5. Local governments }} | subdivision = {{Collapsible list | title = ''{{nobold|Descending order:}}'' | 1. Divisions | 2. Districts | 3. Tehsils | 4. Union councils }} | territory = {{flag|Pakistan}} }}

Pakistan is administratively divided into four provinces, one federal territory, and two disputed territories: the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; the Islamabad Capital Territory; and the administrative territories{{#tag:ref|Proclaimed as autonomous by the Government of Pakistan.|group="Note"}} of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan.{{#tag:ref|In November 2020, erstwhile Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan announced that Gilgit–Baltistan would attain "provisional provincial status" after the 2020 assembly election.<ref name="ProvisionalProvincialStatus1">{{cite web |title=Fifth province |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2270797/fifth-province |website=Fifth province {{pipe}} The Express Tribune |publisher=The Express Tribune |access-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109185546/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2270797/fifth-province |archive-date=9 November 2020 |date=2 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ProvisionalProvincialStatus2">{{cite web |title=Pakistani PM says he will upgrade status of part of Kashmir, angering India |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pakistan-politics-kashmir/pakistani-pm-says-he-will-upgrade-status-of-part-of-kashmir-angering-india-idINKBN27H1FP |publisher=Reuters |access-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102040803/https://www.reuters.com/article/pakistan-politics-kashmir/pakistani-pm-says-he-will-upgrade-status-of-part-of-kashmir-angering-india-idINKBN27H1FP |archive-date=2 November 2020 |date=1 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ProvisionalProvincialStatus3">{{cite web |title=Gilgit-Baltistan to get provisional provincial status post-election: PM Imran |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/737641-gilgit-baltistan-to-get-provisional-provincial-status-post-election-pm-imran |website=The News International |location=Karachi |access-date=14 November 2020 |date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114231112/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/737641-gilgit-baltistan-to-get-provisional-provincial-status-post-election-pm-imran |url-status=live }}</ref>|group="Note"}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-07-20 |editor-last=Tikkanen |editor-first=Amy |editor2-last=Gorlinski |editor2-first=Virginia |editor3-last=Javed |editor3-first=Murtaza |editor4-last=Tesch |editor4-first=Noah |title=Azad Kashmir {{!}} quasi-state, Kashmir region, India-Pakistan |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Azad-Kashmir |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012065802/https://www.britannica.com/place/Azad-Kashmir |archive-date=2020-10-12 |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan: Between the Kashmir conflict and China |url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/pakistan-s-gilgit-baltistan-between-the-kashmir-conflict-and-china-40053 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104211548/https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/pakistan-s-gilgit-baltistan-between-the-kashmir-conflict-and-china-40053 |archive-date=4 November 2020 |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan: Between the Kashmir conflict and China |language=en}}</ref> As part of the Kashmir conflict with neighbouring India, Pakistan has also claimed sovereignty over the Indian-controlled territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh since the First Kashmir War of 1947–1948. It also has a territorial dispute with India over Junagadh,<ref>{{cite news |last=Iwanek |first=Krzysztof |date=10 August 2020 |title= Why Did Pakistan Lay Claim to the Indian Territory of Junagadh? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/08/why-did-pakistan-lay-claim-to-the-indian-territory-of-junagadh/ |work=The Diplomat |access-date=25 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/mapcollection/2019/10/03/pakistan-india-and-mapping-the-contested-accession-of-south-asias-princely-states/ |title= Pakistan, India and mapping the contested accession of South Asia's princely states |last= Jagessar |first= Philip |date= 3 October 2019 |website= |publisher= University of Nottingham |access-date= 25 July 2024 |archive-date= 25 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230425115821/https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/mapcollection/2019/10/03/pakistan-india-and-mapping-the-contested-accession-of-south-asias-princely-states/ |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/world/pakistan-unveils-new-political-map-claiming-jammu-india-retorts/ |title=After Nepal, Pakistan unveils new political map; Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh claimed, India retorts |work=The Himalayan Times |date=4 August 2020 |access-date=25 July 2024 |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117184850/https://thehimalayantimes.com/world/pakistan-unveils-new-political-map-claiming-jammu-india-retorts |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Noronha |first=Rahul |date=7 August 2020 |title=Why Pakistan has claimed Junagadh in its new political map |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-pakistan-has-claimed-junagadh-in-its-new-political-map-1708515-2020-08-06 |access-date=25 July 2024 |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920194529/https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-pakistan-has-claimed-junagadh-in-its-new-political-map-1708515-2020-08-06 |url-status=live }}</ref> but has never exercised administrative authority over either regions. All of Pakistan's provinces and territories are subdivided into divisions, which are further subdivided into districts, and then tehsils, which are again further subdivided into union councils.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20DISTRICTS%20%26%20TEHSILS.pdf|title=List of Districts, Tehsils/Talukas|date=July 2014|website=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics|access-date=15 October 2016|archive-date=9 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009115713/http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20DISTRICTS%20%26%20TEHSILS.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History== {{Main|Former administrative units of Pakistan}}

===Post-independence=== {{Disputed map|section=y|date=November 2024}}[[File:Princely states of Pakistan map.gif|thumb|right|West Pakistan (pale yellow) as it was at the time of independence, with the independent princely states of 1947 in purple]] Pakistan inherited the territory comprising its current provinces from India following the Partition of India on 14 August 1947. Two days after independence, the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district in Bengal was moved out of the Dominion of Pakistan and put within the Dominion of India due to a boundary adjustment by the Radcliffe Commission which was aimed at keeping the Hooghly River entirely within India.<ref name="Murshidabad Govt Website">{{Cite web |url=http://murshidabad.gov.in/ |title=Murshidabad Govt Website |access-date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716073018/http://murshidabad.gov.in/ |archive-date=16 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Chatterji|first1=Joya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FjQ0iWSq2R0C&pg=PA59|title=The Spoils of Partition: Bengal and India, 1947–1967|date=2007|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781139468305|page=59|language=en|access-date=21 June 2019|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203647/https://books.google.com/books?id=FjQ0iWSq2R0C&pg=PA59|url-status=live}}</ref> At its inception, Pakistan consisted of two wings, which were separated from each other by around {{Convert|1600|km|mi}} of Indian territory. The western wing consisted of a merger of the North-West Frontier Province, West Punjab, Sind Province, and Baluchistan CCP. The eastern wing consisted of East Bengal. What later became the Princely states of Pakistan chose at first to remain independent.

In 1948, Karachi was separated from Sind Province to form the Federal Capital Territory. In 1950, the North-West Frontier Province absorbed the princely states of Amb and Phulra while West Punjab (designated 'West' to distinguish it from India's Punjab in the east) was renamed to simply Punjab. In 1952, the four princely states in the southwest formed the Baluchistan States Union.

In 1955, the ''One Unit'' policy was launched by then-Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra, whereby all the provinces and princely states of the western wing were merged to form the provincial wing of West Pakistan, with Lahore serving as its provincial capital. Simultaneously, East Bengal was redesignated as East Pakistan, with Dacca serving as its provincial capital. The One Unit policy aimed to reduce expenditure and to eliminate provincial prejudices, but the military coup of 1958 brought difficulties when the first military President, Ayub Khan, abolished the office of the Chief Minister of West Pakistan in favour of Governor rule.

On 7 September 1958, after four years of negotiations (including six months of intense negotiations), Pakistan purchased the enclave of Gwadar from Oman for {{Nowrap|₨.5.5 billion (US$3 million; approximately $22,410,311.42 in 2017)}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Matt|date=2019-02-11|title=Who Purchased Gwadar?|url=https://www.cpicglobal.com/who-purchased-gwadar/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-11|website=CPIC Global|language=en-GB|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126015550/https://www.cpicglobal.com/who-purchased-gwadar/}}</ref> Gwadar formally became a part of Pakistan on 8 December 1958, ending 174 years of Omani rule. In 1960, the federal capital was moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi and in 1961, the Federal Capital Territory was also merged into West Pakistan. In 1966, the capital was again moved to the newly constructed city of Islamabad. In 1962, Dacca was made the legislative capital of the country due to East Pakistan's high population.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pakistan Affairs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hFIdAQAAMAAJ|year=1968|publisher=Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan.|page=19|access-date=3 November 2019|archive-date=23 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223091257/https://books.google.com/books?id=hFIdAQAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the 1963 Sino–Pakistan Agreement, a part of the Gilgit Agency (controlled by Pakistan since the First Kashmir War) was formally relinquished by Pakistan to the People's Republic of China (the Trans-Karakoram Tract/Shaksgam Valley in northeastern Kashmir) with the provision that the settlement was subject to the final solution of the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.

===Since 1970=== In 1970, the second military President, Yahya Khan, abolished the political structure of West Pakistan and established four new provinces: Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province. In 1971, the Bengali-majority wing of East Pakistan seceded from the Pakistani union following the Bangladesh Liberation War, consequently forming the independent People's Republic of Bangladesh. In 1974, the remaining princely states of Hunza and Nagar were abolished and their territories merged into the Gilgit Agency, following which the Northern Areas were formed. In 1975, portions of the districts of Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan were separated to form the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. In 1981, the region surrounding Islamabad was separated from Punjab province, and renamed to the Islamabad Capital Territory.

In August 2000, divisions were abolished as part of a plan to restructure local governments, followed by elections in 2001. Many of the functions previously handled at a provincial level had been transferred to individual districts and tehsils. In 2008, the government restored the former divisions and appointed commissioners.

In 2009, the Northern Areas were renamed to Gilgit-Baltistan, and retained its formal status as an autonomous territory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Northern Areas renamed Gilgit-Baltistan Poll for assembly, CM in Nov Regional groups unhappy: Autonomy package for NAs approved|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/851176|work=DAWN|date=August 30, 2009|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=8 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508185655/https://www.dawn.com/news/851176|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Disputed Northern Areas renamed as Gilgit-Baltistan|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/disputed-northern-areas-renamed-as-gilgit-baltistan/story-qickZAJF82JoXg1CnzZJsJ.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=Aug 30, 2009|access-date=3 November 2019|archive-date=3 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103103232/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/disputed-northern-areas-renamed-as-gilgit-baltistan/story-qickZAJF82JoXg1CnzZJsJ.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, the North-West Frontier Province was formally renamed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<ref>{{cite news|title=From NWFP to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/854215|work=DAWN|date=April 1, 2010|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=8 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508185415/https://www.dawn.com/news/854215|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the National Assembly of Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly passed the historic ''FATA Merger Bill'' with the Twenty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment. On 31 May 2018, the final step in the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was completed, as then-President Mamnoon Hussain signed the 25th Constitutional Amendment Bill into law. The amendment's signing abolished the Federally Administered Tribal Areas as a separate political entity and merged them into the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1720162/1-jui-f-stages-protest-outside-k-p-assembly-ahead-vote-31st-amendment-bill/|title=New dawn for FATA as K-P approves merger - The Express Tribune|date=27 May 2018|access-date=27 May 2018|archive-date=27 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527091009/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1720162/1-jui-f-stages-protest-outside-k-p-assembly-ahead-vote-31st-amendment-bill/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1410351|title=KP Assembly approves landmark bill merging Fata with province|first=Arif|last=Hayat|date=27 May 2018|access-date=27 May 2018|archive-date=27 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527130911/https://www.dawn.com/news/1410351|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1411156/president-signs-kp-fata-merger-bill-into-law|title=President signs KP-Fata merger bill into law|first=Amir|last=Wasim|date=31 May 2018|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-date=31 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531112516/https://www.dawn.com/news/1411156/president-signs-kp-fata-merger-bill-into-law|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Tiers of governance== {{main|Local government in Pakistan}}

The diagram below outlines the six tiers of government:

{{Tree chart/start}} {{Tree chart|}} {{Tree chart| | | FED | FED='''Islamic Republic of Pakistan'''}} {{Tree chart| | | |!| | | | | }} {{Tree chart| | | PRO | PRO='''Province''' (e.g. Punjab Province)}} {{Tree chart| | | |!| | | | | }} {{Tree chart| | | DIV | DIV='''Division''' (e.g. Rawalpindi Division)}} {{Tree chart| | | |!| | | | | }} {{Tree chart| | | DIS | DIS='''District''' (e.g. Jhelum District)}} {{Tree chart| | | |!| | | | | }} {{Tree chart| | | TEH | TEH='''Tehsil''' (e.g. Sohawa Tehsil)}} {{Tree chart| | | |!| | | | | }} {{Tree chart| | | UNC | UNC='''Union Council''' (e.g. Domeli U.C.)}} {{Tree chart|}} {{Tree chart/end}}

=== Division === {{Main|Divisions of Pakistan}}{{unref section|date=February 2026}} The Provinces and administrative territories of Pakistan are subdivided into administrative "divisions", Divisional Commissioner is the administrative head of a division. Divisional Commissioner is appointed by the government of Pakistan from Pakistan Administrative Service

=== District === {{Main|Districts of Pakistan}} The District Coordination Officer is the administrative head of the District Administration. They have wide-ranging responsibility for overseeing, improving and directing the approved plans of the District Government.<ref>[http://www.nrb.gov.pk/local_government/district_government_05.htm DCO job description] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430030015/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/local_government/district_government_05.htm |date=2013-04-30 }}</ref>

The Zila Nazim used to be the executive head of the District Administration until 2010 when the government gave their powers to the District Coordination Officers also. Their role is similar to district governor or prefect, with responsibility for implementing government strategy and developing initiatives arising out of it.<ref>[http://www.nrb.gov.pk/local_government/district_government_01.htm Zila Nazim job description] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704031120/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/local_government/district_government_01.htm |date=2007-07-04 }}</ref>

In order to decentralize administrative and financial authority to be accountable to Local Governments, for good governance, effective delivery of services, and transparent decision making through institutionalized participation of the people at grassroots level, elections to the local government institutions are held after every four years on none party basis by the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan.

=== Tehsil === {{Main|Tehsils of Pakistan}} Among the three tiers of local government, tehsil government is the second tier. It is where the functions, responsibilities, and authorities of districts government are divided into smaller units, these units are known as "tehsils". The tehsils are used all over Pakistan except Sindh province where the word "taluka" is used instead, although the functions and authorities are the same. The head of the Tehsil government is "Tehsil Nazim" who is assisted by the tehsil Naib-Nazim. Every tehsil has a Tehsil Municipal Administration, consisting of a tehsil council, Tehsil Nazim, tehsil/taluka municipal officer (TMO), chief officer and other officials of the local council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Administrative-Structure-of-the-Tehsil-Municipal-Administration_fig3_253292593|title=Administrative Structure of the Tehsil Municipal Administration|website=ResearchGate|last1=Ebel|first1=Robert E.|date=January 2006|accessdate=September 6, 2020|archive-date=11 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711184759/https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Administrative-Structure-of-the-Tehsil-Municipal-Administration_fig3_253292593|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Union council === {{Main|Union councils of Pakistan}}{{unref section|date=February 2026}} Members of the union council including Union Administrator and Vice Union Administrator are elected through direct elections based on adult franchise and on the basis of joint electorate. However, for the election to the reserved seats for women in Zila Council proportionately divided among tehsils or towns shall be all members of the union councils in a tehsil or town. It is the responsibility of the Chief Election Commissioner to organize and conduct these elections.

==Current administrative units== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;" |- ! ! Name (English) ! Abbr. ! Capital and largest city ! class="unsortable" | Emblem ! class="unsortable" | Flag ! class="unsortable" | Map ! Map Key |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Azad Jammu and Kashmir{{efn|name=disputed|Disputed with India.}} | style="text-align:center;" | AJK | style="text-align:left;" | Muzaffarabad | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | border|50px | 120px | 6 |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Balochistan | style="text-align:center;" | BA | style="text-align:left;" | Quetta | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | border|51x51px | 120px | 1 |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Gilgit-Baltistan{{efn|name=disputed|Disputed with India.}} | style="text-align:center;" | GB | style="text-align:left;" | Gilgit | style="text-align:center;" | 67x67px | style="text-align:center;" | | 120px | 7 |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Islamabad Capital Territory | style="text-align:center;" | IS / ICT | style="text-align:left;" | Islamabad | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | border|51x51px | 120px | 5 |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | style="text-align:center;" | KP / KPK | style="text-align:left;" | Peshawar | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | border|50px | 120px | 2 |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Punjab | style="text-align:center;" | PB | style="text-align:left;" | Lahore | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | border|50px | 120px | 3 |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Sindh | style="text-align:center;" | SD | style="text-align:left;" | Karachi | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | border|50px | 120px | 4 |- class="sortbottom" ! ! style="text-align:left;" | Pakistan ! style="text-align:center;" | PAK ! style="text-align:left;" | Islamabad ! style="text-align:center;" | 60px ! style="text-align:center;" | border|50px ! 120px ! |}

Note: (a) 2023 Population total excludes Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

==Uncontrolled administrative units== {{see also|Kashmir conflict|Annexation of Junagadh}} {{static row numbers}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;" |- ! ! Name (English) ! Capital and largest city ! class="unsortable" | Emblem ! class="unsortable" | Flag ! class="unsortable" | Map |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Jammu and Kashmir{{efn|name=disputed|Disputed with India.}} | style="text-align:left;" | Srinagar | style="text-align:center;" | N/A | style="text-align:center;" | N/A | 120px |- | | style="text-align:left;" | Junagadh{{efn|name=disputed|Disputed with India.}} | style="text-align:left;" | Junagadh | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | border|50px | 120px |}

==At independence== ===(i) Provinces of Pakistan=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Name ! Capital ! class="unsortable" | Emblem ! class="unsortable" | Flag ! class="unsortable" | Map |- | style="text-align:left;" | East Bengal {{nastaliq|مشرقی بنگال}} পূর্ব বাংলা | style="text-align:left;" | Dacca {{nastaliq|ڈھاکہ}} ঢাকা | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | West Punjab {{nastaliq|مغربی پنجاب}} পশ্চিম পাঞ্জাব | style="text-align:left;" | Lahore {{nastaliq|لاہور}} লাহোর | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Sind {{nastaliq|سندھ}} সিন্ধু | style="text-align:left;" | Hyderabad {{Nastaliq|حیدر آباد}} হায়দ্রাবাদ | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | North-West Frontier {{nastaliq|شمال مغربی سرحدی}} উত্তর-পশ্চিম সীমান্ত | style="text-align:left;" | Peshawar {{nastaliq|پشاور}} পেশাওয়ার | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Baluchistan {{nastaliq|بلوچستان}} বেলুচিস্তান | style="text-align:left;" | Quetta {{nastaliq|کوئٹہ}} কোয়েটা | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |}

===(ii) Federal Capital Territory of Pakistan=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Name ! Capital ! class="unsortable" | Emblem ! class="unsortable" | Flag ! class="unsortable" | Map |- | style="text-align:left;" | Federal Capital Territory {{nastaliq|وفاقی دارالحکومت}} বেফাকী রাজধানী এলাকা | style="text-align:left;" | Karachi {{nastaliq|کراچی}} করাচী | style="text-align:center;" | 60px|Emblem of Federal Capital Territory | style="text-align:center;" | 75px|Flag of Federal Capital Territory | 60px|Federal Capital Territory |}

===(iii) Princely States of Pakistan=== {{Main|Princely states of Pakistan}} Between August 1947 and March 1948, the rulers of the following princely states (which had existed alongside but outside British India) acceded their states to Pakistan, giving up control of their external affairs, while all retaining internal self-government, at least to begin with. This was lost by stages, until by 1974 all of the states had been fully integrated into Pakistan. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Name ! Capital ! class="unsortable" | Coat of arms ! class="unsortable" | Flag ! class="unsortable" | Map |- | style="text-align:left;" | Bahawalpur {{nastaliq|بہاولپور}} বাহাওয়ালপুর | style="text-align:left;" | Bahawalpur {{nastaliq|بہاولپور}} বাহাওয়ালপুর | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Khairpur {{nastaliq|خیرپور}} খয়েরপুর | style="text-align:left;" | Khairpur {{nastaliq|خیرپور}} খয়েরপুর | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Kalat {{nastaliq|قلات}} কালাত | style="text-align:left;" | Kalat {{nastaliq|قلات}} কালাত | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Las Bela {{nastaliq|لاس بیلا۔}} লাস বেলা | style="text-align:left;" | Bela {{nastaliq|بݔلہ}} বেলা | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Kharan {{nastaliq|خاران}} খারান | style="text-align:left;" | Kharan {{nastaliq|خاران}} খারান | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Makran {{nastaliq|مکران}} মাকরন | style="text-align:left;" | Kech {{nastaliq|کیچ}} কেচ | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Phulra {{nastaliq|پھلرا}} ফুলরা | style="text-align:left;" | Amb {{nastaliq|امب}} আমবা | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Amb {{nastaliq|امب}} আমবা | style="text-align:left;" | Shergard {{nastaliq|شیر گڑھ}} শেরগড় | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Swat {{nastaliq|سوات}} সোয়াত | style="text-align:left;" | Saidu Sharif {{nastaliq|سیدو شریف}} সাইদু শরীফ | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Dir {{nastaliq|دیر}} দির | style="text-align:left;" | Dir {{nastaliq|دیر}} দির | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Chitral {{nastaliq|چترال}} চিত্রল | style="text-align:left;" | Buni {{nastaliq|بنی}} বুনি | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Hunza {{nastaliq|ہنزہ}} হুনজা | style="text-align:left;" | Baltit {{nastaliq|بلتیت}} বাল্টিট | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Nagar {{nastaliq|نگر}} নগর | style="text-align:left;" | Nagarkhas {{nastaliq|نگرخاس}} নগরখাস | style="text-align:center;" | 60px | style="text-align:center;" | 50px | 60px |- | style="text-align:left;" | Gilgit {{nastaliq|گلگت ایجنسی}} গিলগিট রাষ্ট্রসংস্থা | style="text-align:left;" | Gilgit {{nastaliq|گلگت}} গিলগিট | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | style="text-align:center;" | ''None'' | 60px |}

==Proposed provinces== * Bahawalpur Province * South Punjab Province * South Balochistan<ref>{{Cite web|title=A new province in south Balochistan?|url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/a-new-province-in-south-balochistan/%3famp=1|access-date=2021-09-12|website=www.thefridaytimes.com|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> * Karachi Province<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1079781|title=Karachi as a province|first=S. Akbar|last=Zaidi|date=11 January 2014|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-date=13 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513171145/https://www.dawn.com/news/1079781|url-status=live}}</ref> / Jinnahpur Province * Hazara Province<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1409134|title=TSH to shut Hazara after Eid|first=|last=|work=Dawn|date=22 May 2018|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-date=22 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522065819/https://www.dawn.com/news/1409134|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brecorder.com/2018/05/08/416588/treasury-benches-demand-appreciation-opposition-criticize-govt-for-ignoring-development/|title=Treasury benches demand appreciation, opposition criticize govt for ignoring development -|date=8 May 2018|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153549/https://www.brecorder.com/2018/05/08/416588/treasury-benches-demand-appreciation-opposition-criticize-govt-for-ignoring-development/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Gilgit-Baltistan Province<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/gilgitbaltistan-a-question-of-autonomy/519428/2|title=Gilgit-Baltistan: A question of autonomy|last=Singh|first=Pallavi|date=29 April 2010|work=The Indian Express|quote=But it falls short of the main demand of the people of Gilgit- Baltistan for a constitutional status to the region as a fifth province and for Pakistani citizenship to its people.|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320001447/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/gilgitbaltistan-a-question-of-autonomy/519428/2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-election-idUSTRE5AB1ZE20091112|title=Pakistan's disputed Northern Areas go to polls|last=Shigri|first=Manzar|date=12 November 2009|work=Reuters|quote=Many of the 1.5 million people of Gilgit-Baltistan oppose integration into Kashmir and want their area to be merged into Pakistan and declared a separate province.|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227130945/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-election-idUSTRE5AB1ZE20091112|url-status=live}}</ref> / Balawaristan Province / Karakoram Province * Review of the Divisions of Pakistan for New Provinces<ref>{{Cite web|last=Babakhel|first=Mohammad Ali|date=2019-01-16|title=New provinces?|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1457865|access-date=2020-11-06|website=DAWN.COM|language=en|archive-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616055726/https://www.dawn.com/news/1457865|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1905813/6-new-provincial-map-pakistan|title=A new provincial map of Pakistan?|work=The Express Tribune|date=7 February 2019 |access-date=5 January 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624215854/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1905813/6-new-provincial-map-pakistan|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist|group="Note"}} {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.ajk.gov.pk/ Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir] * [http://www.balochistan.gov.pk/ Government of Balochistan] * [http://gilgitbaltistan.gov.pk/ Government of Gilgit-Baltistan] * [http://www.islamabad.gov.pk/ Government of Islamabad Capital Territory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122033707/http://www.islamabad.gov.pk/ |date=22 November 2008 }} * [http://www.khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk/ Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] * [http://www.punjab.gov.pk/ Government of Punjab] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510003636/http://www.punjab.gov.pk/ |date=10 May 2015 }} * [http://www.sindh.gov.pk/ Government of Sindh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531075317/http://www.sindh.gov.pk/ |date=31 May 2013 }}

{{Administrative units of Pakistan}} {{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of Asian countries}} {{Geography of Pakistan}} {{Pakistan topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Administrative units of Pakistan}} *