Khuzdar

Etymology

The name for the city was originally in the Middle Persian language, deriving from the Middle Persian word for silk - "qaz", and "dar" which originates from Arabic meaning "house of" or "seat of" - "Qazdar", meaning "place of silk". After the Islamic conquest of Sindh (which included Khuzdar at the time) that solidified the leadership of the area under the Muslims, the name of the city was changed to "Khuzdar". "Khuz" means to "take firmly" or "retain forever" in Arabic.

History

Under the rule of the Umayyad caliphate, the city was the capital of the Turan province, which was retained administratively from the Sasanian Empire.

Under Abbasid rule a route from Iran through north-west Balochistan connected Qandabil, Kalat, Khuzdar, and Multan. A caravan route connected Khuzdar with Sehwan. After the decline of Arab rule, Sabuktigin, the founder of the Ghaznavid dynasty, conquered Khuzdar.

Khuzdar became the capital of the Brahui kingdom of Makran.

In the early 17th century, it was part of the Jhalawan Kingdom, but it soon fell under the Khanate of Kalat, where it remained until a series of revolts during the reign of Khudadad Khan (1857–1893). By 1896, after Khudadad's death, the authority of Kalat was restored.

Under a treaty with Kalat, the British appointed a political agent at Khuzdar in 1903. British assistance continued until 1947, after which the area was acceded to Pakistan and became a democracy. When the Balochistan States Union became Kalat Division, Khuzdar was established as the divisional headquarters. The divisional administration of Pakistan ended in 2000. Khuzdar was again established as the divisional headquarters in 2009, by the Pakistan People's Party government.

Demographics

Languages

Geography and climate

Khuzdar is at the apex of a narrow valley at an elevation of 1237 m. Despite this altitude, Khuzdar like most of Balochistan has a semi arid climate (Köppen BSh) with very low and erratic rainfall. Unlike most parts of the province, the heaviest average rainfall comes from the Asian monsoon in July and August, though this rainfall tends to be very erratic and in many summers there is no significant rain at all. |Jan record high C = 27.1 |Feb record high C = 28.4 |Mar record high C = 33.0 |Apr record high C = 39.0 |May record high C = 41.7 |Jun record high C = 43.0 |Jul record high C = 43.0 |Aug record high C = 42.0 |Sep record high C = 40.2 |Oct record high C = 38.0 |Nov record high C = 31.2 |Dec record high C = 28.0 |Jan record low C = −8.0 |Feb record low C = -4.1 |Mar record low C = 0.6 |Apr record low C = 8.6 |May record low C = 11.0 |Jun record low C = 16.0 |Jul record low C = 17.0 |Aug record low C = 15.0 |Sep record low C = 12.8 |Oct record low C = 5.0 |Nov record low C = 1.0 |Dec record low C = −6.1 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201031065046/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/PK/41744.TXT |archive-date = 2020-10-31 |url-status = dead |access-date = January 17, 2013}}{{cite web | access-date = 2 August 2023}} Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity 1979-1995), | access-date = September 17, 2016}} Ogimet{{cite web | access-date = 29 April 2025}}

Education

The city has a number of government and private colleges, including the following:

• Balochistan Residential College
• Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology
• Boys Degree College, Khuzdar
• Al Farooq Residential School, Khuzdar
• Divisional Public School and College, Khuzdar
• Girls Degree College, Khuzdar
• Government College of Elementary Education (Women), Khuzdar
• Hamdam College of Education, Khuzdar
• Jhalawan Law College
• Jhalawan Medical College
• Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Science, Khuzdar campus
• Pakistan Public School, Khuzdar
• Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University, Khuzdar sub-campus
• Shaheed Sikander Zarakzai University, Khuzdar
• Sunrise Public School and College, Khuzdar
• Workers Model Higher Secondary School

References

References

1. "Balochistān (Pakistan) Province and Major Cities, Municipalities & Towns". citypopulation.de.
2. "Khuzdār".
3. (2023). "Table:1 Area, Population by Sex, Sex Ratio, Population Density, Urban Population, Household Size and Annual Growth Rate, Census–2023 {{!}} Balochistan".
4. "History of District".
5. (2023). "Table:11 Population by Mother Tongue, Sex and Rural/Urban, Census–2023 {{!}} Balochistan".
6. (13 December 2025). "دار".
7. "History of District".
8. (6 October 2019). "HERITAGE: THE RUINED FORTS OF KHUZDAR".
9. 2196225
10. Hughes-Buller, R. (ed.) (1908) ''Imperial gazetteer of India: Provincial Series: Baluchistan'' Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fyG2AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA16 pages 16–17]
11. "District Khuzdar - KALAT DIVISION".
12. "Table 5: Area and Population of Administrative Units by Rural and Urban Classification (1951–1998 Censuses)". [[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]].
13. "Population by mother tongue, sex and rural/urban, census-2023".