Killa Saifullah district borders with Afghanistan and has a centuries old tribal social set-up. It is one of the relatively newly incepted districts of Balochistan (notified on 14^th December 1988). Like all the other districts, availability of reliable and exclusive data on the district is a problem in Killa Saifullah which undermines the attempts to fine tune the development planning in order to address the natural as well as the human potential of the district. At present a large amount of information is unavailable, while a part of the available data show inconsistencies. For instance the accurate geographical area of the district is not available and all the concerned agencies have provided contradicting figures. There has been no census since the inception of the district in 1988. The birth and death rates are not available at district level and the jumpy growth trends are beyond comprehension in absence of these rates. Some data, like those of agricultural produce, are collected at union council level, but they are not analysed there, neither are they maintained on that level. The aggregation of these data at higher levels is done without the lower level’s concern and leads to aggregated figures that divert from the reality. In the end the data published in the Agricultural Statistics of Balochistan are not compatible with those provided by the Extra Assistant Director, Agriculture Extension in Killa Saifullah. There are two absolutely contradicting reports on land under forest in the district, as one claims 2,302 hectares as forest, while the other one denounces this claim. The land settlement is 42 years old. In this situation existing data are hard to rely on and in the future it is highly recommended to collect and compile accurate data on, at least, district level. Within the current state of affairs, the administration on district level has to be improved. Currently the system is not able to render the required services. In terms of development, the district level is not well incorporated in the development planning and implementation process. Financially the district does not have a clear picture of all government income and expenditure, as only a part is administered at district level.

Killa Saifullah is a frontier district, with the consequence that availability of fire arms is easy and affordable. This creates law and order problems for the district administration and the crime rate is increasing.

The local councils are not effective in rendering services at grass-root level. Examples are the poor level of sewerage and solid waste disposal; activities which the local bodies are responsible for. On the one hand they do not have much financial autonomy and on the other hand the resources which are available to these councils seem to be managed inefficiently. The local councils are not incorporated in the development process either; nor are the local communities.

The economy of Killa Saifullah is based on agriculture, with agricultural income per capita estimated to be rupees 12,100 in 1994-95. The cultivated land constitutes less than 2 percent of the total geographical area, which is about half of the potential available land. Tomato, apple and almond are the highest earning produce, as two third (66.6%) of the agricultural income comes through these produce. In this context Killa Saifullah has a lot of potential for agro-based industry. Fruits and vegetables are exported to the Punjab and NWFP. The non-availability of cold storage facilities and short-distant markets has resulted in relatively lower profit for the farmers. Small enterprise development in Killa Saifullah needs training of local labour in different trades, provision of physical infrastructure and incentives from the side of the government. Micro credit systems may be a good strategy to develop the small enterprises in Killa Saifullah.

The physical infrastructure, a prerequisite for economic development, is underdeveloped in Killa Saifullah. Road links, in particular intra district shingle roads, are inappropriate. This has hampered proper marketing of the agricultural produce as well as the provision of agricultural inputs for affordable prices. At the verge of the 21^st century about half of the population is deprived of electricity. The district has the potential to prosper economically, provided that physical infrastructure and financial incentives are available.

Livestock is the second most important economic activity in the district. There is great potential for its further development but it is not an organised sector yet. The main reasons include lack of incentives by the government, non-availability of adequate veterinary services and lack of technical support like marketing and selection of more productive species. The Livestock development project is a commendable effort in this regard.

It is estimated that about one third of the population has access to drinking water through water supply schemes, but the safety of this water is still questionable.

The health status of Killa Saifullah’s population is unsatisfactory as the district is facing severe shortage of health personnel, especially female staff. The immunisation programme is not at a satisfactory level and the provision of health care is below average. Medicines are given irrespective of the local needs, thus giving no benefit to the population in Killa Saifullah district.

Although the number of girl primary schools are about one fifth of the total primary schools in Killa Saifullah, the girl students are 27.6 percent of the total primary enrolment. This percentage decreases to 19.1 percent at middle, 7.6 percent at high and 5.6 percent at the intermediate level. There is no girls college and girls of the district either have to go to Loralai or Quetta or to get education along with the boys. This indicates a still negative social attitude towards female education. This situation is resulting in non-availability of highly educated female professionals, both in the health and in the education sector. In this way the vicious cycle continues and the female population as a whole, suffers greatly.

Community participation is being ensured through national and international development projects, but there is need for more community mobilisation for development in the fields of education, health, sanitation and water supply. The active participation of women in development, specially in income generating activities, may help improving the socio-economic situation of the district. The model presented by the Balochistan Rural Support Programme should be analysed carefully and be replicated if viable.