Killa Saifullah, a political agency in administrative terms, was notified as a district on 14^th December 1988. Previously it was part of Zhob district and known as Upper Zhob sub-division. About two years ago Kashatoo sub-tehsil of Zhob district was transferred to Killa Saifullah district with a new name, Badinai. After the inclusion of Badinai sub-tehsil, (whose area is not known) in Killa Saifullah district, the district was re-organised as far as administrative division is concerned. At present the district is divided into two sub-divisions: Killa Saifullah and Muslim Bagh. Killa Saifullah sub-division comprises one tehsil (Killa Saifullah) and one sub-tehsil (Badinai). Killa Saifullah tehsil is further sub-divided into 2 qanungo circles and then into 5 patwar circles. The entire Badinai sub-tehsil is a qanungo circle as well as patwar circle. Muslim Bagh sub-division comprises Muslim Bagh tehsil and Loiband sub-tehsil. The entire Muslim Bagh tehsil is one qanungo circle, further sub-divided into 4 patwar circles. The Loiband sub-tehsil consists of one qanungo circle and is sub-divided into 2 patwar circles (see Annex 1 for details).

This division was made to facilitate administration, maintenance of land record and revenue collection. Only a part of the district’s land is settled. The remaining area could not be settled mainly due to hilly terrain and the tribal set-up. The revenue record (settlement) is reviewed every 30 years with the purpose of consolidating the fragmented holdings. In Killa Saifullah district, the first settlement record was prepared in 1902 and the second in 1955. No settlement was carried out after that year.

For the purpose of settlement all the land is divided in rectangles of about 4 hectares (10 acres) consisting of two rows of 2 hectares (5 acres) each. Every rectangle is given a number and every acre in the rectangle is numbered as well from 1 to 10. A landmark carved with the corresponding rectangle number is fixed on every corner of the rectangle. The landowners of every plot in this rectangle are recorded in a register and on a map known as shajrah. Land which at the time of settlement is not claimed by anyone is considered as shamlat-e-deh (common property of the whole village). The government has declared this land to be state land which may not be used without permission of the district administration.