Determining the absolute "smallest" city in Pakistan is challenging due to varying definitions of "city" and a lack of consistent, comprehensive data on all settlements across the country. Different sources offer conflicting information. However, based on available information, we can examine some contenders for the title.
Contenders for Smallest City:
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Torghar District (formerly Kala Dhaka): Multiple sources cite Torghar District as the smallest city in Pakistan.[^1][^2][^3][^4][^5] It's located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and covers a large geographical area (approximately 3,380 square kilometers). However, it's important to note that "district" and "city" are not always interchangeable terms. A district is an administrative unit, while a city typically refers to an urban area with a significant population.
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Sibi: Another source claims Sibi, situated in Balochistan, holds the title of the smallest city by population.[^6] This highlights the ambiguity. While Torghar might have a small population density, Sibi could have a smaller overall population.
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Jhelum: One less reliable source lists Jhelum as the smallest city.[^7] This information lacks supporting evidence from reputable sources.
It's crucial to understand the limitations of the available data. A definitive answer requires a standardized census that categorizes all settlements in Pakistan consistently as either "city" or "town" based on population size and urban characteristics.
The discrepancies highlight the need for clearer definitions and more comprehensive data collection on Pakistani settlements to answer this question definitively.
[^1]: Graana.com, Torghar District: Smallest City Of Pakistan
[^2]: lakeshorecity.com, Torghar District: Smallest City Of Pakistan
[^3]: Quora, What is the small city of Pakistan?
[^4]: Quora, What is your favorite small city in Pakistan?
[^5]: Facebook post, Knowledge_Hub852
[^6]: Quora, What is the small city of Pakistan?
[^7]: Facebook post, Knowledge_Hub852
