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Carved out of the Mianwali district in 1982, Bhakkar district is known for its Thal desert and the gram/chickpeas and moong pulse produced there. The desert, which protrudes into adjoining Khushab and Layyah districts, produces 80 per cent of chickpeas in the country. Spread over 8,153 sq km, the district lies along the left bank of River Indus and is part of the Sindh Sagar Doab.
Bhakkar, the headquarters of the district, is an ancient walled town. Various Baloch tribes are in an overwhelming majority in its 1.65 million population. Non-Pushto speaking Pathans like Niazis and Mastikhels as well as Jats and Rajputs are also in good numbers, while others migrating communities from India may also be found. Dhandlas, Niwanis and Shahanis have been occupying the political scene in the district, which comprises over 2m acres of cultivable and 130,000 acres of uncultivated land. At least 65,000 acres are under forest while 47,500 acres is a wasteland.