Sherani or Shirani () is a rural district in the Zhob Division of Balochistan province in Pakistan. The district is located within the Sulaiman Mountain Range, whose highest peak, Takht-e-Sulaiman, reaches the height of .
As of the 2023 census, it had a population of 191,687 people. Villages (also known as Dargah) in the district include: Ahmadi Dirga (also spelled as Ahmedi Dergga), Karama, Zarkai Landawar, Shinghar, Tsappar Kili, and Manikhawa (also known as Mani Kwa).
Administration Before 2006, Sherani was a sub-district of Zhob district. The new district was created on January 3, 2006. TehsilArea (km²)Pop. (2023)Density (ppl/km²)
(2023)Literacy rate (2023)Union CouncilsSherani Tehsil4,310191,68744.4723.86%14
History
The Shirani tribe lived for centuries in the frontier region that is now divided between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Qais Abdul Rashid (575-661 A.D.),Makhzan-i-Afghani by Nemathullah who is believed to be one of the progenitors of the Pashtuns, lived in the Sulaiman Mountains.
Outside rulers had little control over the Shirani for much of their history. This changed in the late 19th century, as the British Empire expanded into the region. In the winter of 1890, British forces carried out the Khiderzai Expedition, a military campaign aimed at bringing the Shirani under colonial authority and securing the frontier. After the campaign, Shirani territory was brought into the British administrative system.Balochistan through the ages
Mountstuart Elphinstone (1779–1859), a Scottish statesman and historian associated with the British government of India, visited the region in the early 19th century and said that the Shiranis were led by a "Neeka" who received an annual tax of one lamb and one calf from those who owned such animals. The Neeka functioned as both a judge and a commander-in-chief, with his authority believed to be derived from the conviction that he was "under the immediate guidance and protection of providence."
British occupation The occupation of Appozai by the British Empire took place on 31 October 1890. By 13 November, all the principal points in Shirani were occupied. At Karama, a grand inquest was held into the conduct of the tribe and fines imposed, and the proceedings were terminated by a Durbar, at which the submission of the tribe was formally received and rewards conferred upon the deserving.Colonel Sir Robert Sandeman: his life and work on our Indian ...
Events of the 21st century On 8 June 2022, a minivan crashed in the Killa Saifullah District, killing 22 people. Rescue sources said that the bodies and injured were moved to Zhob and Mughal Kot. Less than a month later, on 3 July, a bus traveling from Rawalpindi to Quetta carrying 33 people fell into a ravine, killing at least 20 people and injuring 11 others near Sherani District.
Geography In the northeast of the Balochistan plateau, the Zhob and Sherani Basin form an oval surrounded by mountains.
In 1883, with the consent of the chiefs of the Sherani tribe (the inhabitants of the range), a survey party under Major Holdich, R.E., ascended the mountain, accompanied by a military escort. They found the summit of the ridge consisted of a long valley between two high rims, covered with Chilgoza Pine. At the north end of the western rim is the highest peak, known as Kaisa Ghar, 11,300 feet above sea level; at the south end of the eastern rim is Takht-e-Sulaiman, 3,441 metres (11,060 feet) above sea level.A Biography of Sir Robert Samdeman by Thomas Henry Thornton C.S.I., D.C.L., page 220
A number of legends are associated with this place. One legend says Noah's Ark settled here after the Deluge, while others connect it with King Solomon and his throne, hence the name Takht-i-Suleiman (Throne of Solomon). Ranges west of the Takht-i-Suleiman contain strata of the Liassic (lower Jurassic) and middle Jurassic (about 208 to 146 million years ago).Gazetteer
In autumn 1897, an earthquake was felt in Sherani District, in which several houses in Ghurlama, Kacchi, Burkhurdar, and Pasta collapsed. No human or livestock loss was recorded.Gazetteer vol I p82
Demographics
According to the 1998 Population Census of Pakistan, the total population of Sherani District was 83,771. Of this population, 26,111 resided in the Harifal area, while 57,660 were settled in the Sherani area. Administratively, the district is subdivided into seven union councils: Kapip, Manikwa, Dhanasir, Mughal Kot, Ahmedi Derga, Shinghar Harifal South, and Shinghar Harifal North.
The total number of voters in the district was 31,837.ECP According to the available electoral records, the Harifal area contained a total of 8,728 registered voters. In the Sherani area there were 23,109 registered voters.
As of the 2023 census, Sherani district has 36,100 households and a population of 191,687. The district has a sex ratio of 122.02 to 100 and a literacy rate of 23.86%. 75,400 (39.34% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age. The entire population lives in rural areas. 636 (0.33% of the surveyed population) are religious minorities, nearly all Christians. Pashto is the predominant language, spoken by 99.87% of the surveyed population.
Villages According to the 1998 census, there were 186 rural villages in Sherani district, though 16 of these were unpopulated. Population of rural villages in Sherani district, according to the 1998 census. Number Village Name Population in 1998 Households in 1998 1 Abu Sar 479 75 2 Aghberga Ragha 405 37 3 Ahmdi Dirgha 900 175 4 Astashai 1265 209 5 Atatazai 611 98 6 China 87 17 7 Ghundi Adam Khan 93 22 8 Ghund Ser 82 23 9 Ghundi Kohna 463 58 10 Gurgur Chinah 184 30 11 Karim Kachh 50 6 12 Kori Wasta Qurieshi 874 136 13 Kori Wasta Yasinzai 795 95 14 Kothah 371 45 15 Kuram Abu Thal 0 0 16 Nawab Kot 216 39 17 Niazi Kot 535 83 18 Sanni Zai 186 36 19 Sher Ghali 1268 134 20 Shinah Kazhah 388 46 21 Surlakai 1103 134 22 Turjana 395 61 23 Wala Shol 597 120 24 Aghburgai 435 50 25 Killi Gul Muhammad 545 75 26 Killi Khan Alam 3338 347 27 Killi Pir Muhammad 475 59 28 Mandao 655 84 29 Mushken Bund 118 17 30 Raghsar Manglazi 0 0 31 Sharo 673 67 32 Spin Shah 331 49 33 Surabah 0 0 34 Tangi Perowezan 785 104 35 Aghburga Wah 191 19 36 Algazzai 102 12 37 Anghushtai 235 38 38 Besh Lawara 1098 139 39 Chashmaragh 125 13 40 Daglawara 547 87 41 Dahana Sar Post 154 25 42 Dori 26 4 43 Ghagra 368 64 44 Gharing 421 74 45 Gharyasa Tarozai 185 38 46 Ghazi 0 0 47 Ghozai 0 0 48 Ghurwandi Zarghovilla 85 11 49 Ghuryasa 85 15 50 Ghuryasi 296 39 51 Hasar 492 62 52 Hasarkai Lowara 137 17 53 Kazah 121 15 54 Khawaja Wahi 295 41 55 Lawara 494 67 56 Macharogai 188 25 57 Mukhwai 108 21 58 Pasta,Taki karmanzai 89 20 59 Promah 142 21 60 Ragha Sar 354 52 61 Sara Kohnah 66 13 62 Sari Lawara 340 32 63 Sera Raiz 170 34 64 Shauha 456 71 65 Soroi Kani 441 66 66 Sozai 36 5 67 Spin Lawara 84 13 68 Tor Bandanar 261 25 69 Torkani 22 6 70 Wila Shoi 52 3 71 Zar Gawah 166 26 72 Zerpan 0 0 73 Anzar Khezai 1029 131 74 Aspasta Aghburga 2524 380 75 Ghurlama 860 132 76 Ibrahim Zai/Sozai 206 33 77 Ibrahimzai 280 41 78 Kachhe 358 35 79 Kahol Tirkai Lihkwan 279 62 80 Kamal Zai 568 77 81 Khanki Jallat 0 0 82 Khankai karmanzai 328 42 83 Karama karmanzai 941 87 84 Lehar Chopper Khail 1331 118 85 Lehar Karmanzai 872 101 86 Manikhwa 796 106 87 Mobi Tjwar Khar 185 16 88 Mosai Aziz Khan 944 59 89 Pasta karmanzai 709 115 90 Ragha Mina 757 75 91 Rusta Wusta Wast(Spal) 168 26 92 Siratoi Mena 282 43 93 Tairi Karmanzai 342 51 94 Uzhdan 391 42 95 Walmai karmanzai 513 82 96 Warghari 1205 123 97 Zara Killa 2344 348 98 Zarina Monah 160 33 99 Ziandi Miloo 797 51 100 Bhambrat 173 23 101 Chajobi 2069 222 102 Chaudai 90 12 103 Chur Kandi 174 43 104 Daghalo Kazha 110 12 105 Domandi 97 11 106 Duglor Zor 0 0 107 Gahai 190 22 108 Hota 106 8 109 Ingashai Pan 528 27 110 Kachh Mina 46 4 111 Kajal Khail 238 23 112 Karamachah 158 22 113 Karezai 131 24 114 Kazha 583 74 115 Khawazha 179 22 116 Khozai 60 15 117 Laghre Kazha 315 48 118 Lakai 0 0 119 Landai 191 18 120 Lio Band 183 18 121 Loghai Mena 0 0 122 Loi Raghah 642 69 123 Manah 109 13 124 Mankai 48 8 125 Mehrapai 328 50 126 Mir Ali Khail 452 63 127 Mughal Kot 705 76 128 Mughal Kot Malitia 0 0 129 Munga 14 4 130 Oshe Wasta 357 25 131 Ragha Karigran 910 83 132 Sarokai 525 74 133 Ser Qund 233 28 134 Serraggha 483 66 135 Sharun 355 54 136 Shen Narai 86 13 137 Shen Urmezai 200 31 138 Shenah Kohnah 610 36 139 Shenaki Kohnah 540 108 140 Shinah Pounga -I 878 98 141 Shinah Pounga-Ii 0 0 142 Shinalandai 1020 115 143 Tarkha Bayan 1010 89 144 Terkey Bayan 0 0 145 Tor Ghandi 1086 177 146 Tor Ragha 327 41 147 Tor Saman Zoi 406 71 148 Tora Murgha 304 57 149 Tungi Kohnah 556 49 150 Turwa Phail 0 0 151 Zara Kazha 359 28 152 Zebai Sar 314 38 153 Abrahim Khail 917 152 154 Arund Bund Munglzai 289 62 155 Babkow Zai 466 77 156 Behlol 2020 205 157 Daryakhan Zai 1361 139 158 Dwala Garh 688 142 159 Haudakai 522 60 160 Hurm Zai 588 63 161 Kachh Mulanica 442 83 162 Kazha Malizai 1058 100 163 Kot Mallezai 480 82 164 Lalukzai 275 32 165 Landai 161 26 166 Lor Khadazai 408 85 167 Malik Jankaz Khudazai 641 118 168 Pahlan 193 30 169 Phezai 357 54 170 Pustah 0 0 171 Ragha Surankan 566 67 172 Shah Umarzai 137 20 173 Sharn/Pai Mohammad 139 28 174 Shin Kowai 244 29 175 Shina Landai 1473 154 176 Shingar Hassanzai 308 32 177 Showangai 93 15 178 Shubkai Menzai 375 66 179 Shucha 0 0 180 Soor Ghar 74 6 181 Spinah 286 41 182 Sumezai 829 103 183 Tora Murgha 140 19 184 Trai Malazai 404 55 185 Zama 242 33 186 Zor Khar 776 119
Education Balochistan is the least literate province of Pakistan, with a literacy rate of 37%, compared to 54% nationally. The lack of secular education is more noticeable in Balochistan than in any other province, with 50% of children compelled to attend religious schools. The national budget for the MRA (Ministry of Religious Affairs) is around 1.2 billion rupees, whilst the secular education ministry is allocated 200 million.
There is only one intermediate college in the entire district, with 19 teachers and 70 students, and four high schools with 67 teachers, insufficient for the thousands of children seeking admission. All four high schools and the college are located in the Sherani District, whereas none are located in Harifal. Similarly, there are only eight middle-standard boys' schools with 263 enrolled students and 102 teachers in the whole district.NCHD Sherani.
76 schools are working with one teacher and one room without any shelter. There are five registered Seminaries and five private schools. The NCHD is running five feeder schools. Teachers in these private schools work in a quack fashion and use very crude methods of teaching, including bastinado-type caning on the hands. 83% of schools are without electricity, 45% are without a boundary wall, 50% are without a toilet, and 35% are without drinking water.
Flora Sherani District has plant life typical of the dry mountains and plains of northern Balochistan. Most plants are shrubs, grasses, and small trees that can survive low rainfall, rocky ground, and grazing. The district lies within the wider Shinghar (Shin Ghar) mountain range and includes desert, steppe, and mountain vegetation.
In higher and more mountainous areas, natural woodland is mainly made up of Pistacia khinjuk (khinjuk pistachio), locally called shina, which forms the main tree cover on mountain slopes. This tree is legally protected, though some cutting for fuelwood has been reported in nearby areas. In plains and low-lying land, Tamarix aphylla (athel tamarisk) grows near seasonal streams and open ground, but its numbers have decreased locally due to harvesting.
Calotropis procera (Sodom's apple) is a common shrub in the district and grows widely in dry parts of Pakistan; the plant is known to be toxic and typically occurs in disturbed or overgrazed areas.