The Afghan government issued its first district map in 1973.[1][2] It recognized 325 districts, counting wuleswalis (districts), alaqadaries (sub-districts), and markaz-e-wulaiyat (provincial center districts).[2] In the ensuing years additional districts have been added through splits, and a few eliminated through mergers. In June 2005, the Afghan government issued a map of 398 districts.[3] It was widely adopted as by many information management systems, though usually with the addition of Sharak-e-Hayratan for a 399 district total. It remains the de facto standard, as of late 2018, despite a string of government announcements of the creation of new districts.