{{Short description|Pakistani administrative area}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Karakh | other_name = Karkh | native_name = {{langx|bal|{{Nastaliq|تحصیل کارخ}}}} | settlement_type = Tehsil of Khuzdar District | image_skyline = Karkh Balochistan - Sarap Area.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Impressions of Karakh | pushpin_map = Balochistan Pakistan#Pakistan | coordinates = {{coord|27|44|N|67|10|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{Pak}} | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Balochistan | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Khuzdar District | subdivision_type3 = Tehsil | subdivision_name3 = Karakh | area_total_km2 = 1,352 | area_metro_km2 = | elevation_m = 794 | elevation_ft = | elevation_footnotes = | population_total = 35,990 | population_as_of = 2023 | population_density_km2 = 26.62 | 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=21 May 2025 |language=en |date=2023}}</ref> | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_rural = 35,990 | demographics_type1 = Literacy | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name=literacy>{{cite web |title=Table 12 - Population (10 years and above) by 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=21 May 2025}}</ref> | demographics1_title1 = Literacy rate | demographics1_info1 = {{bulleted list|'''Total:'''<br />(32.14%) |'''Male:'''<br />(39.70%) |'''Female:'''<br />(24.41%)}} | timezone = PST | utc_offset1 = +5 | area_code = | blank1_name_sec1 = Main language | blank1_info_sec1 = 24,489 Brahui, 7,070 Sindhi, 4,255 Balochi<ref name=language>{{cite web |title=Karakh (Tehsil, Pakistan) |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/pakistan/balochistan/admin/khuzdar/21207__ornach/ |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=21 May 2025 |language=en |date=26 August 2024}}</ref> }} '''Karakh''' or locally also spelled ''Karkh''{{efn|{{langx|brh|{{Nastaliq|کارخ}}}}; {{langx|bal|{{Nastaliq|کارخ}}}}, {{IPA|ur|kə.rəx|pron|}}}} is an administrative subdivision (tehsil) of Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan.<ref name="census"/> It is one of ten administrative units in the district, comprising tehsils and sub-tehsils, alongside Aranji, Gresha, Khuzdar, Nal, Moola, Ornach, Saroona, Wadh, and Zehri.
== Geography == Karakh Tehsil, is predominantly defined by mountainous and arid terrain, covers an area of approximately {{convert|1352|km2|ha}}.<ref name="census"/> It is located southeast of Moola Tehsil, east and northeast of Khuzdar Tehsil, and borders Jhal Magsi District to the west and Qambar Shahdadkot District in Sindh to the east. thumbnail|left|''Kuttay Ji Qabar'' on top of the second-highest peak of the Kirthar Mountains Among its notable natural landmarks is the second-highest peak of the Central Brahui Range, part of the Kirthar Mountains, rising to an elevation of 2,096 metres. This peak is situated in Mouza Dhadaro, within Union Council Sunchuko, and is locally known as ''Kuttay Ji Qabar'' ("Dog's Grave" in Urdu) and ''Kuchak na Qabar'' in Brahui. The site holds cultural significance due to its association with a prominent Brahui folktale.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rashid |first1=Salman |title=The dog's grave |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/301193/the-dog’s-grave |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=tribune.com.pk |publisher=The Express Tribune |date=2 December 2011 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaikh |first1=Abdul Razak |title=Kutte ji Kabar: a celebration of loyalty |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/413903/kutte-ji-kabar-a-celebration-of-loyalty/ |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=dailytimes.com.pk |publisher=Daily Times |date=17 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Located approximately 25 kilometres from the Sindh-Balochistan boundary, the area is subject to a jurisdictional dispute between the provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan, primarily due to its perceived value as a protected heritage and tourism site.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Kalbe |title=Sindh, Balochistan asked to resolve dispute over heritage site in 30 days |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1896484 |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=dawn.com |publisher=Dawn |date=8 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Yasin |first1=Asim |title='Kuttay Ji Qabar' jurisdiction dispute sparks debate in Senate panel meeting |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1289795-kuttay-ji-qabar-jurisdiction-dispute-sparks-debate-in-senate-panel-meeting |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=thenews.com.pk |publisher=The News International |date=8 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sindh govt grants heritage status to a dog's grave in Qambar |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2500168/sindh-govt-grants-heritage-status-to-a-dogs-grave-in-kirthar-region |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=tribune.com.pk |publisher=The Express Tribune |date=2 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jafrani |first1=Shams |title=Tourism potential |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1870002 |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=dawn.com |publisher=Dawn |date=5 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
== Population == {{Historical populations|1972|...|1981|17837|1998|21984|2017|31,016|2023|35,990|title= |type= |align=left |direction= |width=|state=|shading=|pop_name=|percentages=pagr|source=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 |access-date=3 June 2025 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}} According to the 2023 national census, Karakh tehsil has a total population of 35,990, all residing in rural areas.<ref name="census"/> The tehsil encompasses 6,723 households, reflecting its predominantly rural character.<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=21 May 2025 |language=en |date=2023}}</ref>
The literacy rate in the tehsil stands at 32.14%, reflecting limited access to educational resources. This figure includes a male literacy rate of 39.70% and a significantly lower female literacy rate of 24.41%, highlighting a notable gender disparity in educational attainment.<ref name=literacy/>
== Languages == {{Pie chart | caption = Languages of Karakh tehsil (2023)<ref name=literacy /> | value1 = 68.08 | label1 = Brahui | color1 = crimson | value2 = 19.65 | label2 = Sindhi | color2 = limegreen | value3 = 11.83 | label3 = Balochi | color3 = yellow | value4 = 0.44 | label4 = Others | color4 = grey }}In Karakh Tehsil, Brahui is the predominant language, spoken by approximately 24,489 (~68.08%) people, followed by Sindhi, spoken by around 7,070 (~19.65%) individuals, and 4,255 (~11.83%) Balochi speakers.<ref name=language/> The dominance of Brahui reflects the tehsil's historical roots as part of the central Brahui-speaking highlands of Balochistan, where tribal and cultural affiliations have preserved the language over centuries. Balochi, while present, plays a thirdly role in local communication, often coexisting with Brahui in multilingual households and public life.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dashti |first1=Zahid Hussain |last2=Baloch |first2=Zia ur Rahman |last3=Durdana |title=(ای ک جاب رہ) ب راہوئی زب ان کی ب اریخ |journal=Journal of Research |date=June 2024 |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=121–135 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383868394 |access-date=8 June 2025 |publisher=Department of Urdu, Bahauddin Zakariya University |location=Multan |language=ur |issn=1726-9067}}</ref> The Sindhi spoken in the region is largely the distinct Lasi dialect of Sindhi.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rasheed |first1=Abdul |last2=Ali* |first2=Zahid |last3=Khan |first3=Khursheed Ahmed |title=A Morphosyntatic Analysis of Suffixation in Lasi and Sindhi |journal=Pakistan Journal of Society, Education and Language |date=19 June 2023 |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=334–346 |url=https://pjsel.jehanf.com/index.php/journal/article/view/1177/873 |access-date=8 June 2025 |language=en |issn=2523-1227}}</ref>
==References and notes==
===Explanatory notes=== {{notelist}}
=== References === {{reflist}}
{{Tehsils of Balochistan}}
Category:Tehsils of Khuzdar District Category:Khuzdar District