Total population
815,878 2023 Census
Karak District
Karak District, in Kohat Division’s arid belt, spans 3,372 km² and has a 2023 population of 815,878. Rich in oil, natural gas, salt, coal, gypsum, limestone, and Pakistan’s largest uranium reserves, it hosts the TAL Block and Nashpa Field energy projects. Despite its resource wealth, Karak faces chronic water scarcity, under-resourced healthcare, and high youth unemployment due to limited local industrial development. This page summarises district statistics, services, and priority development challenges.
Basic information
Total area
3,372 km²
Administrative units
3 tehsils · 166 union councils · 117 mauzas
Administrative scale
Indicators
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total population (2023 Census) | 815,878 |
| Total area | 3,372 km² |
| Tehsils | 03 |
| Union councils | 166 |
| Mauzas | 117 |
| Police stations | 09 |
| Civil courts | 19 |
Educational institutions
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Primary schools (boys/girls) | 742 (407/335) |
| Middle schools (boys/girls) | 83 (51/32) |
| High schools (boys/girls) | 83 (54/29) |
| Higher-secondary schools (boys/girls) | 18 (14/4) |
| Mosque schools | 08 |
| Total govt. schools (incl. mosque) | 926 |
| Colleges | 8 degree + 1 PG + 1 polytechnic + 1 commerce |
| Universities | 1 — Khushal Khan Khattak University |
| Private schools | 14 primary + 129 middle-to-higher-sec. |
Hospitals & health facilities
| Facility type | Count |
|---|---|
| Hospitals (beds) | 8 (532) |
| Rural Health Centers (beds) | 5 (40) |
| Basic Health Units | 19 |
| Dispensaries | 02 |
| Mother & Child Health Centers | 02 |
| TB clinics | 01 |
| Private medical practitioners | 07 |
Police stations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Police stations (district total) | 09 |
Stations: B.D Shah, Gurguri, Habib Ullah, Khurram, Latamber, Sabir Abad, Shah Slim, Takht-e-Nasrati, Teri.
Civil courts
| Tehsil | Civil courts |
|---|---|
| Karak Tehsil | 10 |
| Banda Daud Shah Tehsil | 05 |
| Takht-e-Nasrati Tehsil | 04 |
| Total | 19 |
Priority issues & challenges
1. Road infrastructure
Poor connectivity and rugged terrain, compounded by a lack of routine maintenance; heavy transport linked to mining and oil/gas exploration damages regional link roads and highways.
2. Water crisis
Acute scarcity in this arid-to-semi-arid region; groundwater levels are depleting rapidly and are often contaminated with high TDS, salinity, and heavy minerals.
3. Health
Under-resourced basic health centers; shortages of specialized medical staff, modern equipment, and regional general hospitals for distant rural communities.
4. Unemployment
Vast oil, gas, and salt mineral reserves coexist with high youth unemployment due to limited local industrial processing plants and technical training institutes.
5. Environmental challenges
Unregulated salt, gypsum, and coal extraction causes soil erosion and land degradation; industrial runoff and salt deposits pollute drinking water and land.