{{Short description|Pakistani administrative area}} {{About|the tehsil|other places|Qalat (disambiguation)#Pakistan{{!}}Qalat § Pakistan}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kalat | other_name = Qalat | native_name = {{langx|brh|{{script/Arabic|تحصیل قلات}}}} | settlement_type = Tehsil of Kalat District | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Balochistan Pakistan#Pakistan | coordinates = {{coord|29|2|2|N|66|34|41|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{Pak}} | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Balochistan | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Kalat District | subdivision_type3 = Headquarters | subdivision_name3 = Kalat | area_total_km2 = 3,788 | area_metro_km2 = | elevation_m = 1000-3000 | elevation_ft = | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=Drought>{{cite journal |last1=Mirza |first1=Sarwat Naz |last2=Athar |first2=Mohammad |last3=Qayyum |first3=Manzar |title=Effect of Drought on Rangeland Productivity and Animal Performance in Dryland Region of Balochistan, Pakistan |journal=Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus |date=2009 |volume=74 |issue=2 |url=https://acs.agr.hr/acs/index.php/acs/article/download/8/7 |access-date=8 June 2025}}</ref> | population_total = 167,405 | population_as_of = 2023 | population_density_km2 = 44.19 | population_urban = 44,440 (26.55%) | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_rural = 122,965 (73.45%) | population_footnotes = <ref name="census">{{cite web |title=Table 1: Area, Population by Sex, Sex Ratio, Population Density, Urban Population, Household Size and Annual Growth Rate, Balochistan |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/table_1_balochistan_districts.pdf |website=pbs.gov.pk |publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Census |access-date=8 June 2025 |language=en |date=2023}}</ref> | demographics_type1 = Literacy | demographics1_title1 = Literacy rate | demographics1_info1 = {{bulleted list | Total:<br />(44.19%)| Male:<br />(54.36%) | Female:<br />(33.51%) }} | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name=literacy>{{cite web |title=Table 12 - Literacy Rate, Enrolment and Out of School Population by Sex and Rural/Urban, Census 2023. |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/table_12_balochistan_district.pdf |website=pbs.gov.pk |publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |access-date=8 June 2025}}</ref> | blank_name_sec1 = Number of Union Councils | blank_info_sec1 = .. | timezone = PST | utc_offset1 = +5 | area_code = | blank1_name_sec2 = Main languages | blank1_info_sec2 = 154,741 Brahui, 10,896 Balochi<ref name=language>{{cite web |title=Table 11: Population by Mother Tongue, Gender, and Rural/Urban Residence (Census 2023) |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/table_11_balochistan_districts.pdf |website=pbs.gov.pk |publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |access-date=8 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref> }} '''Kalat''', also spelled Qalat,{{efn|{{langx|brh|{{Nastaliq|قلات}}}}, {{langx|bal|{{Nastaliq|قلات}}}}, {{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|قلات}}}}, {{IPA|ur|ˈqaːlat|}}}}{{efn|Locally known as Kalat-e-Brahui and Kalat-e-Sewa<ref name=Smeda>{{cite web |title=District Economy Profile Kalat |url=https://smeda.org/phocadownload/Balochistan/District_Profiles/District%20Profile%20Kalat%202021.pdf |website=smeda.org |publisher=Small & Medium Enterprise Development Authority Government of Pakistan |access-date=8 June 2025}}</ref>}} is an administrative subdivision (tehsil) of Kalat District, located in central Balochistan, Pakistan. Covering approximately {{convert|3788|sqkm|sqmi}}, it is the largest tehsil in the district both in terms of area and population. According to the 2023 national census, the tehsil has a population of 167,405 residents, dispersed across 1,170 rural settlements.<ref name="census"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Balochistan Mouza Census 2020 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/agriculture/publications/mouza_census_2020/mouza_census_2020_balochistan_report.pdf |publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |access-date=8 June 2025 |page=63 |date=2020}}</ref> The tehsil's administrative offices are located in the town of Kalat, which also serves as the district headquarters and holds significant historical importance.
Situated at an elevation exceeding {{convert|1500|m|ft}}, the tehsil experiences a predominantly arid highland climate, with low and variable precipitation and pronounced seasonal temperature fluctuations.<ref name=Drought/>
== Geography == Kalat Tehsil covers an area of approximately {{convert|3788|km2|ha}}.<ref name="census"/> It shares borders with eight other tehsils: Kirdgap and Mangochar to the north, Johan and Gazg to the east, Zehri to the southeast, Surab to the south, and Kharan and Nushki to the west.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brinkhoff |first1=Thomas |title=Kalat: Tehsil in Balochistan |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/pakistan/balochistan/admin/kalat/20901__kalat/ |website=citypopulation.de |publisher=City Population |access-date=8 June 2025 |language=en |date=26 August 2024}}</ref>
The landscape is predominantly mountainous, with elevations ranging from {{convert|1000|m|ft}} to over {{convert|3000|m|ft}}. The landscape is characterised by arid terrain, seasonal watercourses, and xerophytic vegetation, including Artemisia-Haloxylon shrub steppe, drought-resistant trees and seasonal ground flora adapted to the dry climatic conditions.<ref name=Drought/>
== Climate == As part of highland Balochistan, Kalat has an arid to semi arid climate, with low irregular rainfall. It is regarded as one of the coldest districts in Pakistan, with average peak temperatures reaching only around {{convert|24|C|F}} in July.<ref name=Smeda/> The region is prone to frequent droughts, typically occurring every three to four years.<ref name=Drought/> Climatically, Kalat falls within a semi-arid continental Mediterranean zone, where annual rainfall ranges from {{convert|200|mm|in}} to over {{convert|400|mm|in}}. Rainfall occurs during both summer and winter, though winter precipitation is more substantial.<ref name=H2O>{{cite journal |last1=Kanwal |first1=Kalsoom |last2=Achakzai |first2=G. D. |title=Limnological Variation and its Effect on Fresh Water Bodies of District Kalat (Karchamp Dam Mangochar) Balochistan, Pakistan |journal=Pakistan's Multi Disciplinary Journal for Arts & Science |date=July 2021 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=28–35 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362125785 |access-date=7 June 2025 |issn=2789-2611}}</ref> Rainfall occurs during both summer and winters, with winter precipitation rainfall, often accompanied by snow, with temperatures falling below {{convert|-15|C|F}}.<ref name=H2O/> One of the most severe droughts in recently occurred in 2009, when annual rainfall dropped to as little as {{convert|60|mm|in}} to {{convert|150|mm|in}} over five consecutive years.<ref name=Drought/>
== Population == {{Historical populations|1951|...|1961|22185|1972|50008|1981|59219|1998|86565|2017|121,458|2023|167,405|align=left|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics:<ref>{{cite web |title=Table 4: Area and Population of Administrative Units by Rural/Urban: 1951–1998 Censuses |url=https://repository.lahoreschool.edu.pk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/13673/Administrative%20Units.pdf |publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |website=Lahore School of Economics |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>}}According to 2023 census, Tehsils had a population of 167,405 living in 20,124 households, including 14,926 in rural and 5,198 in urban areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Table 24: Housing Characteristics, Facilities of Toilet and Washroom Used by Households, Rural/Urban: Census 2023 |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/table_24_balochistan_districts.pdf |website=pbs.gov.pk |publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |access-date=8 June 2025 |language=en |date=2023}}</ref>
The overall literacy rate stands at 44.19%, with a marked urban-rural divide: 68.49% in urban areas compared to only 35.07% in rural areas of the tehsil.<ref name=literacy/> A significant gender gap is also evident, with male literacy at 54.36% and females literacy at just 33.51%.<ref name=literacy/> These figures highlight persistent challenges in educational access, particularly for women and girls.
=== Languages === {{Pie chart | caption = Languages of Kalat tehsil (2023) | value1 = 92.44 | label1 = Brahui | color1 = crimson | value2 = 6.51 | label2 = Balochi | color2 = limegreen | value3 = 1.05 | label3 = Others | color3 = grey }} In Kalat Tehsil, Brahui is the predominant language, spoken by approximately 154,741 individual (~92.44% of the population). Other languages include Balochi (10,896 speakers, ~6.51%), with the remaining population speaking various other languages.<ref name=language/>
== Economy == The economy is primarily rural and relies on agriculture, livestock, and some local resources. Agriculture, as a main employer, produces wheat, barley, melons, and various fruits. Pile carpets, embroidery, leather goods, and palm bags and mats are local products.<ref name=Smeda/> It relies, outside the canal-irrigated zones, primarily on tube-wells, followed by traditional systems such as karezes and natural springs. However, the unchecked proliferation of tube-wells, both authorised and unauthorised, over the past five decades has resulted in severe over-extraction of groundwater, causing water tables to decline by more than two metres annually.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite news |title=Improving Balochistan's agriculture |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/351006/improving-balochistan-s-agriculture |access-date=7 June 2025 |work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn |date=16 February 2004 |language=en}}</ref> Consequently, groundwater resources have been critically depleted, leaving virtually no exploitable reserves. The majority of cultivated land is dedicated to dryland agriculture, which typically yields low productivity due to limited water availability. Predominant dry-farming methods include ''sailaba'' (floodwater) farming, ''bundat'' farming, ephemeral stream cultivation, and ''khushkaba'' (rain-fed) farming, all of which rely on seasonal runoff and moisture conservation techniques.<ref name=Dawn/>
The N-25 National Highway runs through the tehsil from north to south, connecting Quetta to Karachi.
==References and notes==
===Explanatory notes=== {{notelist}}
===References=== {{reflist}}
{{Tehsils of Balochistan}} Category:Tehsils of Balochistan, Pakistan Category:Tehsils of Kalat District Category:Kalat District