Provincially Administered Tribal Area facts for kids
The Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) were special parts of Pakistan. They were located in the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. These areas had their own unique rules and ways of being governed, different from other parts of the provinces. Think of them as special zones within the bigger provinces.
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What Were the PATA?
The PATA were areas that had a different system of government compared to the rest of Pakistan. They were often remote and had strong tribal traditions. The government of Pakistan recognized these unique traditions. Because of this, they allowed these areas to be managed in a special way.
How Were PATA Governed?
The way PATA were governed was set out in the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan. This is like the main rulebook for the country. Article 246(b) of this Constitution specifically mentioned these areas and how they should be managed. It meant that the laws passed by the main government in Pakistan didn't always apply directly to PATA. Instead, local leaders and special rules often guided daily life there.
Why Were They Special?
These areas were special because of their history and the way people lived there. Many tribal communities had their own systems of justice and leadership. The special administration helped to respect these local traditions. It was a way for the government to work with the local communities.
Areas That Were Part of PATA
The PATA included several districts and tribal areas in two main provinces:
Areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in the northwest of Pakistan. The PATA areas here were:
- Chitral District
- Dir District
- Swat District (this included a place called Kalam)
- A special tribal area within Kohistan District
- Malakand District
- Tribal areas next to Mansehra District, including places like Batagram, Allai, and the area known as the Black Mountain of Hazara
- The former small state of Amb
Areas in Balochistan
Balochistan is the largest province in Pakistan, located in the southwest. The PATA areas here were:
- Zhob District
- Loralai District (but not including a small part called Duki Tehsil)
- Dalbandin Tehsil, which is a part of Chagai District
- The Marri Tribal Territory within Sibi District
- The Bugti Tribal Territory, also within Sibi District
What Happened to PATA?
The system of Provincially Administered Tribal Areas was changed in 2018. Many of these areas were fully merged into their respective provinces. This meant they would now follow the same laws and administrative system as the rest of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This change was made to bring these areas closer to the mainstream government and development.
Related Pages
Images for kids
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Another map showing the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas.
