SWAT: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has officially bifurcated Swat district into two separate administrative units —Swat and Bar Swat — with immediate effect, according to a notification issued on Tuesday.
Under the decision, taken in pursuance of a provincial cabinet meeting held on December 19, 2025, Bar Swat district will have its headquarters in Matta while Swat district will retain its headquarters in Gulkada in Babuzai tehsil. The decision has been made under sections 5 and 6 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Land Revenue Act, 1967.
As per the notification, Matta, Bahrain and Khwazakhela tehsils will become part of the newly-created Bar Swat district while Babuzai, Kabal, Charbagh and Barikot will constitute Swat district. The decision has attracted mixed reaction from residents of Swat.
In Khwazakhela, many people welcomed the decision and terming it their longstanding demand. “For decades, people from upper Swat had to cover long distance to reach Mingora and Saidu Sharif for basic administrative and judicial matters. Now district administration, courts, police offices and other departments will be closer to us, which will save time and money,” said Abdul Wali, a local trader.
Similarly, the residents of Matta expressed optimism about improved governance. “This is a historic moment for Bar Swat. A district headquarters here will create jobs, improve law and order and ensure faster resolution of public complaints,” said Shahzad Khan, a social activist from Matta.
However, the decision has also drawn criticism from some people, who question the utility of further administrative division.
“This bifurcation will not solve real problems of Swat. The government made Buner and Shangla separate districts years ago, yet pressure in terms of population growth, traffic congestion and lack of facilities continues. Creating new districts alone does not guarantee development,” said Hidayatullah, a resident of Mingora.
Saeed Ahmed, another resident of the area, feared that the move could deepen social divisions. “Instead of unity, this decision may create an unnecessary rift between the people of Bar Swat and Swat,” he said, adding that better planning and resource allocation were needed rather than administrative fragmentation.
Some people said that the division of Swat would further elevate financial burden.
Officials, however, maintain that the bifurcation will improve service delivery, reduce administrative burden and ensure more focused governance in both districts.
The notification has been circulated to all relevant federal and provincial departments for implementation.
Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026
