The basic principles employed in the strategy for devolution of power and decentralization of administrative units in the country are people-centered, responsibility-based and service-oriented. The proposed change in the system and the process warrants availability of data and information at district level to facilitate job of district functionaries and elected representatives.

2. Keeping in view this objective, Bureau has compiled data for all the twenty one districts in the Province. This compilation has been done from number of Statistical publications chiefly, District Census Reports of the Population Census conducted in March, 1998 and Bureau's own data base at district level. This booklet provides information on Administrative Setup, Population and Housing characteristic and data on Agriculture, Education, Health, Transport & Communication, Industries and Poverty Alleviation Programme sectors for all the districts in Sindh and for urban and rural areas and by gender where necessary. Bureau has made attempt to compile data which may be needed by district administrators, planners and elected representatives.
3. Bureau's offices functioning at divisional, district and sub-divisional level are also engaged in collecting data from their counterparts departments compile it in the form of Brochures, keep it handy and make it available to anyone who need data/information. This process is on going and Brochures are being regularly updated at our field offices as a part of their functions/duties.

4. An important computerized data base developed by the Bureau is, "Survey of Human Rural Settlements/villages" of Villages having population of more than 150 persons covering all the districts of Sindh. Total number of such settlements/villages stood to nearly 22,000. Bureau has prepared village directory for each district containing information on availability of basic socio-economic facilities in each village/settlement. Bureau's field offices functioning in the Province are focal point for supplying data to their counterparts in nation building departments and repository for Bureau's publication.
Contd.
5. Bureau has also developed computerized data bases for Agriculture, Industries, Social Sectors and Human Rural Settlements. Bureau is in the process of converting these data bases into internet languages and is developing its own Website. Once Website is developed and hosted, data will be available to any one who has access to internet. The Website will provide inter-linkage to Sindh Govt. Information Department Website http://www.sindh.gov.pk.shtml which provides information on history, culture, geographical background, organization function of various Sindh Govt. Departments, Budget and Annual Development Program, Selected Statistical Data, Business and Investment Opportunities and other related information.

6. I would like to place on record my appreciation for hardwork done by M.Sayeed Deputy Director, S.Murtaza Hasan, and Mr. Maqbool Khan, Statistical Officers, Mr. Ghayas-un-Nabi Khan, Programmer and Mr. Muneer Hussain Qureshi, KPVO and Mr. Anwarul Hasan, in compiling and computerizing this booklet.

7. It is hoped this booklet would be useful for district administrators, planners, elected representative's and researchers at every level.

( MUHAMMAD YAHYA WALIULLAH )
Director,
Bureau of Statistics
Government of Sindh