Dera Ismail Khan, named after the Baloch mercenary Ismail Khan (son of Malik Sohrab Dodai), was founded in the 15th century. It became a significant frontier district during British rule due to its proximity to the Derajat region and the border with Afghanistan. The first systematic gazetteer for the district was compiled in the late 19th century, with revised editions appearing periodically (e.g., 1883–84, 1897, 1907–08, and a notable 1935 edition under the NWFP series).
: The text functions as a "miniature encyclopaedia," covering physical aspects, history, population, administration, and finance. gazetteer of dera ismail khan pdf
No. The colonial series ended in 1921. Modern editions are called "District Development Profiles" or "Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)" published by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bureau of Statistics. These are not historical gazetteers and are usually not bundled as "Gazetteer." Dera Ismail Khan, named after the Baloch mercenary
Climate researchers use these PDFs to track the shifting course of the Indus River and the deforestation of the Sulaiman range. The gazetteer describes a time when the Chashma Barrage did not exist and irrigation depended entirely on inundation canals . : The text functions as a "miniature encyclopaedia,"