DERA GHAZI KHAN, a town and district of British India, in the Punjab. The original town was founded at the close of the 15th century and named after Ghazi Khan, son of Haji Khan, a Baluch chieftain, who after holding the country for the Langah sultans of Multan had made himself independent. The greater part of this town was washed away by the Indus in 19o8–o9 and the new town, built near by, is now the headquarters of the District.
The district, which consists of an area of 5,325 sq.m., is a long narrow strip of country, 198 m. in length, sloping gradually from its western boundary hills to the river Indus on the east. Although liable to great extremes of temperature, and to a very scanty rainfall, the district is not unhealthy. The population in 1931 was 491,044, the great majority being Baluch Mohammed ans. The principal exports are wheat and indigo. The only manu factures are for domestic use. There is no railway in the district. In the hills beyond the limit of the district is an area occupied by Biloch tribes which is administered by the deputy commissioner of Dera Ghazi Khan. The frontier tribes here include the Kas ranis, Bozdars, Khosas, Lagharis, Khetrans, Gurchanis, Mazaris, Marris and Bugtis. The chief of these are described under their separate names.