Dera Allah Yar is a city and the headquarters of the Jaffarabad District located in Pakistan's Balochistan province. It lies 300 km from the provincial capital Quetta. According to 2023 Pakistani census population of Jhatpat Subdivision is 302,498.

History

Dera Allahyar became part of newly created Kalat District in 1954. Dera Allahyar merged into newly created Nasirabad District in 1984. Dera Allahyar became headquarter of new created Jafarabad District split from Nasirabad District in 1987. The city was formerly known as Jhatpat. The city was renamed after the assassination of Mir Allahyar Khan Khosa, a political leader from the area.

Languages

According to 2023 Pakistani census Population of Dera Allahyar Subdivision is 302,498 of which 188,011 spoke Balochi, 44,211 Sindhi, 34,493 Saraiki, 31,374 Brahui, 1,273 Pashto, 612 Urdu, 609 Hindko 390 Punjabi & 1,515 others.

Etymology

The word Dera means abode or settlement in Balochi, Pashto, Urdu, and Punjabi languages. Dera Allah Yar thus means the settlement or city of Allah Yar. Some other cities also have Dera as a pre-fix such as Dera Bugti, Dera Ismail Khan, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Incidents

On 27 August 2008 at least 25 people belonging to the Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP-Aali) suffered injuries when a bomb exploded in a public meeting. The bomb had been placed on a motorcycle, the activists had gathered for a meeting on the second anniversary of the death of Akbar Bugti.