Islamabad, Nov 17, 2025: The latest report from the Pakistan Population Council has brought attention to the country’s most underdeveloped districts, particularly highlighting the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, where infrastructure deficits and limited access to basic services continue to hinder development.
In KP, the districts of Kohistan and North Waziristan have been flagged as some of the most underdeveloped. These areas face significant challenges due to poor infrastructure, limited healthcare facilities and insufficient educational opportunities. For many residents, daily life is marked by a lack of economic prospects and accessibility to essential services. The report emphasizes the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.
Additionally, Tharparkar in Sindh is also listed among the most backward regions, struggling with similar issues of underdevelopment.
However, Balochistan bears the brunt of Pakistan’s developmental challenges with 17 out of the top 20 most underdeveloped districts situated in this province. Districts such as Washuk, Khuzdar, Kohlu, Zhob, Mashkel, Dera Bugti, Qila Saifullah and Kalat are among the most marginalized in the country. These areas face a dire lack of essential infrastructure, including roads, transportation networks, and telecommunication services. The absence of reliable infrastructure further hampers development efforts and delays emergency responses during crises.
The report reveals that in many of these regions, 65% of homes are constructed from temporary or poorly built materials. In Jhal Magsi, a staggering 97% of households live in substandard, semi-pucca or makeshift homes. This poor housing situation is compounded by high unemployment rates, with large sections of the population dependent on informal or unpaid labor, especially in rural areas of both Balochistan and KP.
Furthermore, access to healthcare is severely limited in these underdeveloped districts. In some remote regions, the nearest healthcare center is more than 30 kilometers away, making it nearly impossible for people to access timely medical care.
In the education sector, the report highlights a significant disparity in the distribution of schools. While Karachi boasts the highest number of schools, Balochistan lags behind, having the fewest. Girls in Balochistan face particularly severe barriers to education, with long distances to secondary and higher secondary schools and cultural challenges that often prevent them from attending. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that large family sizes and poor transportation options make it even more difficult for families in these districts to access education and healthcare.