District Jaffarabad

Introduction

Jaffarabad officially became a District in 1987. The District is named after Mir Jaffar Khan Jamali, a close friend of Quaid-e-Azam and a veteran of Independence movement. The District was merged in District Naseerabad in the year 2001 and was restored in 2002. Jaffarabad is famous for its agricultural plains locally known as ‘Pat’. Jaffarabad is a heterogeneous composite of various Baloch/ Sindhi population with predominant presence of Jamali and Khosa tribes. The other tribes include Gola, Jamote and Brohi. Main languages spoken in the District are Sindhi, Balochi and Seraiki ,Brahvi etc.

TOPOGRAPHY

As discussed earlier, Jaffarabad is predominantly a plain area. The area of the district is formed of alluvial soil and with an elevation of about 50 to 100 meters above the sea level. The soil is rich in essential nutrients and that is why it is highly productive area for agricultural practices. There is an extensive communication network comprising of Roads and a Railway line. The main Roads include the National Highway (N-65), Usta Muhammad/ Gandakha road and that of Sohbatpur road. The railway and highway going through the district is approximately 15 kilometers in total. ‘Sam Shakh’ or Hairdeen Drainage network serves as a boundary between Jaffarabad (Balochistan) and Jacobabad (Sind).

CLIMATE

The climate of the District in general is very hot as it lies at the confluence of Sibi and Jacobabad. The weather becomes extremely hot and humid in summer. The harshness of summer is prolonged over the months of May, June, July, August, September, and October. It is mildly hot in April. Summer begins from mid March and lasts to the end of October.

In winters, the weather is pleasant all over the District. It lasts from December to January. The months of April, November and February are pleasant. The humidity is highest in summer, particularly in the area adjacent to the Pat Feeder canal, where rice cultivation takes place.

Dust storms are common in hot weather; they appear in summer. Nowadays, they are less frequent than before, mainly because of the increase in vegetation. Generally, they traverse from West and North and are accompanied by heavy dust columns. A dust storm may be followed by rain. The area gets inadequate rainfall, both in winter and Summer. It is only in July and August that the rain-fall is adequate because of the monsoon rains. According to the Agricultural Department’s classification of lands in Balochistan in five ecological zones based on the altitude from Sea level, the District falls in the area ranging up to 635 meters (1500 feet) above sea level.

Environment

The environment of the District in general is free from Air pollution caused due to heavy traffic or industrial emissions. Though, the Dust storms caused by extreme temperature and low atmospheric pressure (which can continue from a few minutes to hours) can cause air pollution concentrated in dust particles and pollen. Soil erosion is rare, although water-logging and salinity have ruined some land in the district (1 %).

Water pollution by chemical items is also rare. Water pollution in case of water tanks and stored water is caused by animals and/or insects. This happens in areas irrigated by Canal waters. In rural areas, water may be polluted by ill hygienic use of water resources and use of the water-source by wild/domestic animals. The living conditions in rural areas vary as to access of the area from communication and irrigation network. The drinking water is carrier of various water-borne diseases such as Hepatitis, Gastro-intestinal diseases, diarrhea, etc.

LOCATION

Jaffarabad is located between longitude of 67 degree 39′ in the West and 69 degree 12′ in the East. In altitude, it is 27 degree 55′ and 28 degree 40′.The District serves as geographic boundary between the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh.

GEOPGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES

District Jaffarabad is geographically placed in a very important region as it serves as a gateway to historical Upper Sind Frontier region (Jacobabad).To its North lies District Naseerabad while to its South is District Jacobabad. To its East in the newly formed District Suhbatpur District while Usta Muhammad District is lies to its West. To the South- West of Jaffarabad lies District Kambar Shahdad Kot of Sindh.