Introduction
The concept of division of a country into small administrative units is not a new one in the world. We shall take an overview of what a district is, and what is its significance, and answer the question “Is Murree a district?” in the lines below.
What is a District?
A district in Pakistan referred to as “zillah” in Urdu, is the first tier of local government. The district configuration plays a key role in broad administrative tasks, and it is the largest in terms of territory among Pakistan’s administrative units.
Pakistan consists of 149 districts in total, with several of these being city districts. The governing body of a district includes a District Government or a City District Government and a Zillah Council, with a District Coordination Officer serving as the administrative head.
The Government of Pakistan has divided its provinces, territories, and autonomous regions into 39 administrative “divisions”. These “divisions” have further sub-classes known as districts, tehsils, and finally union councils.
Why Does It Matter to Count as a District?
The existence of districts in Pakistan is crucial for the implementation of effective administration and good governance. It serves the needs of local residents by performing the following functions:
- Administrative and Local Needs: District councils are responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, hospitals, dispensaries, schools, educational institutions, and health facilities, as well as the coordination of activities of the Union councils within the district.
- Economic Development: Districts can be central hubs for commercial business activity, promoting urbanization and economic growth.
- Improved Accessibility & Services: Depending on the districts and their positioning, residing within them can provide accessibility to multiple services within walking distance.
- Decentralization: Devolution of power, the statutory delegation of powers from the central government to regional and local governments, makes governance structures more efficient and responsive to local needs.
Overall, the establishment of districts in Pakistan brings improved responsiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency in providing public services to the local population.
Is Murree a District?
Murree was previously part of Rawalpindi District, and there were discussions about granting it district status. On October 14, 2022, Murree got the status of a separate district, and it falls under Rawalpindi Division in the Punjab province. Murree District consists of two tehsils, namely, Kotli Sattian and Murree. At the time of the 2017 census, what is today Murree tehsil had 64,319 households and a population of 352,329. Being a district, Murree has its own local administration and governance separate from Rawalpindi District.
Upgrading Murree to a district aims at providing better administration, particularly in terms of local services, development, and law & order. The district status facilitates the allocation of funds and resources more effectively.
See Also: Is Murree in Punjab or KPK?
Conclusion
Counting as a district has several benefits. Murree’s current status (as of Dec, 2023)is that of a district and this status was given to Murree in 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many Tehsils does Murree have?
A: Murree is a district but relatively a smaller one. Therefore as of now, it has only 02 Tehsils namely Kotli Sattian and Murree.
Q: Is it beneficial for any territory to count as a district in Pakistan?
A: Yes, it is beneficial for that area in the sense that each district is entitled to some facilities by the provincial governments. Therefore the actual beneficiaries of district status are the residents of that district.
