Malir District () is an administrative district of Karachi Division in Sindh, Pakistan.
History
Before the independence of Pakistan, there were small villages of Sindhi and Lateeg now known by Kalmati Baloch after becoming Money and status in the Gadap Town and Malir Town of modern Karachi. Now both towns are developed as the suburbs of the city because of the urban sprawl.
Countryside
Malir has been regarded in history as the countryside of Karachi City due to its open atmosphere and lush green farms, but now these are no more.
Agriculture land
Malir was once famous for its fruit and vegetable farms; but, now due to severe scarcity of groundwater, these farmlands are being converted into residential areas, thus increasing urbanization and environmental degradation. The Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) has been concerned about drought and desertification in Malir district and has launched a campaign against illegal sand and gravel mining in dry river beds of Malir and its tributaries. Because sand and gravel mining cause lowering of ground water, as rainwater can cannot percolate in the aquifer. SCOPE is developing rainwater reservoirs in drought affected rural areas.
Administrative status
Malir District was established in 1996.
Malir District was abolished in 2000 and divided into three towns namely:
Malir Town, Bin Qasim Town and Gadap Town.
On 11 July 2011, Sindh Government restored again Malir District.
Demographics
At the time of the 2017 census, Malir district had a population of 1,924,346, of which 1,028,865 were males and 895,329 females. The rural population was 857,634 (44.57%) and urban 1,066,712 (55.43%). The literacy rate is 63.69%: 69.85% for males and 56.43% for females.
The majority religion is Islam, with 96.39% of the population. Christianity is practiced by 1.78% and Hinduism (including Scheduled Castes) is practiced by 1.77% of the population.
Languages
At the time of the 2017 census, 31.37% of the population spoke Sindhi, 19.37% Pashto, 12.91% Urdu, 12.08% Punjabi, 8.18% Balochi, 6.83% Hindko, 3.96% Saraiki and 1.26% Brahui as their first language.
Epidemic of mysterious Chikungunya virus
Due to pollution, mainly resulting from garbage dumps and overflow of sewerage water, Emergency declared in Malir Town, as thousands of patients were affected by mysterious Chikungunya virus in December, 2016. Despite joint denial by WHO and Health Ministry of Pakistan, Provincial Government of Sindh discloses that aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible for spreading Chikungunya in the area.
See also
Malir Development Authority
Malir (disambiguation) Malir Expressway Project Malir River Malir District Malir Cantonment Malir Cantonment railway station