The population of Kharan District is 156, 152 in 2017 as compared to 96,900 in 1998 recording and increase of 62% over the last 19 years.

Dress

The common dress in Kharan district is shalwar (trouser and qameez (shirt). Shoes made of leather are used as footwear, which is called chawat. The people wear local made caps called toppi. The embroidery of female is very popular in the district and women wear balochi dresses.

OCCUPATIONS

Most of the workers like masons, barbers, tailors, wilders etc. are migrants from other provinces, however, now due to unemployment the local people are doing the above mentioned jobs. Important occupational groups are agriculturist, transporters, government employees, shopkeepers and labour..

 History, ethnicity/tribes and culture

The prominent tribes of the District are Nousherwani, Pirakzai, Kubdani, Siapad (Rind), Rakhshani , Mengal, Badini, Jamaldini, Syed, Tagapi, Miskanzai, Hotakani, Sohr  Sumalani, Mullahzai, Qambarani, Channal , Sheikh,  Mohammad Hassani Bangulzai, Sasoli Domaki, Yallanzai (Rind), Hussainzai (Rind), Mazzarzai (Rind)  and Saffarzai.

 Cultures, Customs and Traditions

The social organization in Kharan District is mainly structured along tribal lives. The social structure is patriarchal people live in joint family system particularly in rural areas in which polygamy is a common phenomenon. In urban areas, the trend is towards the nuclear family. The society is structured on kinship basis. Sardari system if still in practice in Kharan District. The Sardari system of Brahuis is similar to that of Baloch. However, the Sardar’s role has been altered over the years. Many of the elected representatives are tribal chiefs and sardars.

Customs of cooperation are found in the area. It includes the practice of collective labour (Ashar) at harvest time and granting of financial assistance (Bijar and Langari) to fellow tribesman on reciprocal basis.

The vast majority of the district population is Muslims and belongs to Sunni Sect with a minority of Hindus. The people are generally religious mined, offer prayers five times a day regularly. The Hindu population observes “Deva and Holi”. The hindus of Kharan make an annual pilgrimage to the Jorakken hill.

Although Kharan District is very peaceful it is customary among the people to carry arms.

Betrothals/marriages

The marriage customs are uniform throughout the district. The majority of the marriages in the District are arranged particularly in rural areas. Usually the father decides upon the formal terms of marriage, though their wives may influence them. Marriage with, the near relations though not always the rule are preferred, because exchange can be easily arranged. The bride price that has to pay is less.

Housing

Type of Housing Stock

Mostly the housing units in the Kharan district are single room houses in the rural areas in comparison to that in urban areas. The percentage of houses with five or more rooms is also much higher in urban areas as compared to that in rural areas.

The standard of construction of roofs significantly differs in rural and urban areas. Housing units in district Kharan consists of one to two rooms of mud, However people are also constructing RCC/ RBC and Pukka house baked bricks used supported by girder or wooden log/ bamboo in the construction.

The nomads live in the local made tent called Giddan. In summer, the nomads live huts made of from sticks and bushes.

Roads

Infrastructure and communication play a vital role in accelerating the pace of development; their advancement is essential for expanding the size of the markets. The construction of roads promotes the development of towns. District Kharan is linked to other parts of the province by RCD National Highway roads. The total length of roads in the District is 1200 km out of which 500 is metal led, whereas 700 km is shingle. The buses are plying between Kharan- Karachi via Khuzdar, Kharan to Larkana via Khuzdar, Kharan-Quetta-via Nushki, and Kharan- Panjgure via Basima and Kharan- Dalbandin Kharan- Washuk on daily basis.

Rail and Airways

Kharan District is not connected with Rail and Air ways.

Mobile Companies & Their Coverage

The Cellular companies are also operating in the district; these companies are Zong, Ufone, Warid, Mobilink and Telenor

Telephone Exchange

Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation (PTCL) has established a network of telephone connections in the district. There are one exchanges functioning in Kharan district. Furthermore, there is 35% of Kharan District enjoys PTCL facilities.

Judiciary

The Courts of Session Judge has been established in the year 1995, and now District & Session Judge, Additional District & Session Judge , Majlis-e-Shoora ,Judicial Magistrates and Civil Judge are in the District Kharan. A Qazi Court who deals with civil matters only, has been working at Kharan.

Post Offices/ Courier Services

Pakistan Post office has established their networks in the district. Beside Pakistan Post office numbers of Private courier services are also operating in the district which includes TCS, & LCS. Pakistan Postal Services Corporation has established one post office at Kharan town.

Banking and Financial Institution

Four Banks like wise NBP, Habib, MCB, and Al Habib are functioning in Kharan District.

Education System

State of education in District Kharan is not very different from education situation in other districts in Balochistan. Access and quality of the district are weak. The district suffers from multiple issues in the backdrop of poverty, cultural constraints and extremely low population density.The education sector in the district comprises of public and private schools with varying quality.

Schools

UNIVERSITY & COLLEGES

University

University of Balochistan Kharan Campus is also functional and currently in five disciplines, students are enrolled.

Traditional craft

The people wear local made caps called Toppi. The embroidery of female is very popular in the district and women wear Balochi dresses. The women are skilled at embroidery and decorate their clothes with elaborate geometric and abstract designs. They make felt from sheep’s wool, and also weave rugs from their own use and for sale.

Natural Resources /Minerals

Major Mineral Deposits, Chromites

Major Mineral Production: Data is not available

Agriculture

In terms of labour involvement, agriculture is the main activity in the economy of the district. Major crops grown in the Rabi season are wheat, vegetables and fodder. In Kharif season, the major crops are onion, potato, some fruits vegetable and fodder. In the agriculture sector, the labour force consists of both men and women. Melon, watermelon, pulses. Tomato, vegetable, fruits etc. are considered as cash crops while wheat and Jowar are considered as food crops. However for some crops it is difficult to draw a line between food and cash crops.

The reasons for low per hectare yield are non-availability of better quality seeds and the lack of irrigation facilities, fertilizer and pesticides.

The best soil in Kharan district is a light loam called “Matt”, which is found in the greater part of the rural plain and in the other areas.  It requires less water, retains moisture longer and is suited for all crops.  Another soil is “Reki” or “Ragi”, as the name implies, sand constitutes the predominant element; this type of soil is considered suitable for the production of Jowar and melons.  Other types of soils are the “Daddo” a hard stony soil and the “Sor”, which is impregnated with salt. Both soils are inferior. The soils are moderately deep, strongly calcareous, gravely clay loam. There is no evidence of salinity problems and the soil is considered very suitable for irrigated agriculture. Most of the forming is per formal with traditional methods of cultivation, however the People also using tractors, threshers and mechanic ploughs.

Main Crops

Wheat, Barley, Fodder, Rape Seed/Mustard, Cumin Vegetables, Onion, Sunflower, turnip, Millet Mash Cotton Moong Watermelon   Chilies, Garlic, Melon, lentil.+

Major Fruits

Dates, Grapes, Pomegranate

Live stock

Livestock and camel breeding is the second most important source of livelihood for a majority of the rural population in the district. Rug making is also popular in the district.  It not only generates income for flock owners, but is also a major source of nutrition for the population. Animals are exported from other provinces to meet food requirements. Livestock is an important source for milk, wool and hides. Most people have sheep and goats. Some rear them for domestic use, others for commercial purposes. The main animals on which the people depend are sheep and goats. Moreover, the dairy and poultry business is also growing. These animals play a vital role in the economy of the district, provide food with rich nutrition such as milk, meat and their by-products like wool, hair, butter, oil, cheese, curd, and hide (skin).

The people also keep other animals like camels, horses, and donkeys. Beside men, women and children are also involved in the grazing of their animals. The women also look after the animals within the house. They also collect fodder for the animals and do other work such as milking etc.  The livestock population in Kharan District is as under:-

Health System

The break-up of the Health Services in Kharan District by the government is as under:-