Districts (etraplar) serve as Turkmenistan's second-level administrative divisions, with 61 districts currently operating beneath the country's five provinces and one independent city. These districts function as the primary local governance units, responsible for implementing national policies, managing municipal services, overseeing local infrastructure, and administering public education and healthcare facilities within their boundaries. District administrations handle civil registration, maintain local records, coordinate agricultural production in rural areas, and serve as the direct interface between citizens and the central government. Each district is headed by an appointed governor (hakim) who reports to the provincial administration, ensuring vertical integration of governmental authority from the national level down to local communities.