Nal Tehsil

{{Short description|Tehsil of Khuzdar District, Balochistan, Pakistan}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Nal | native_name = {{lang|bal|نال}} / {{lang|brh|{{Nastaliq|نال}}}} | settlement_type = Tehsil of Khuzdar District | image_skyline = An evening view of data palm trees in Naal, Balochistan.jpg | imagesize = 300px | image_caption = Evening view of date palm trees in Nal, Balochistan | pushpin_map = Balochistan Pakistan#Pakistan | coordinates = {{coord|27|41|N|66|11|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 = Headquarters | subdivision_name3 = Nal | area_total_km2 = 1,791 | elevation_m = 1,178 | population_total = 103,631 | population_as_of = 2023 | population_density_km2 = 57.86 | 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 |date=2023 |access-date=16 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> | population_urban = 48,481 (46.78%) | population_rural = 55,150 (53.22%) | demographics_type1 = Literacy | demographics1_title1 = Literacy rate | demographics1_info1 = 47.26%<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=16 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> | timezone = PST | utc_offset1 = +5 | area_code = +92848 | blank1_name_sec1 = Main languages | blank1_info_sec1 = Balochi (87,685), Brahui (15,560)<ref name=lang>{{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=22 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> }}

'''Nal''', also spelled Naal ({{langx|brh|{{Nastaliq|نال}}}}; {{langx|bal|{{Nastaliq|نال}}}}, {{IPA|ur|nɑːl|pron|}}) is a tehsil of Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan.<ref name=census/> The tehsil covers an area of 1,791 square kilometres and comprises mountainous and arid terrain at an elevation of 1,178 metres. It is one of ten administrative subdivisions of Khuzdar District, alongside Aranji, Gresha, Karakh, Khuzdar, Moola, Ornach, Saroona, Wadh, and Zehri.<ref name=census/> The tehsil headquarters is the town of Nal. According to the 2023 national census, the tehsil has a population of 103,631.

The area around Nal town is of archaeological significance. The nearby site of Sohr Damb (also known as Red Mound) is associated with the Amri-Nal culture, which flourished between approximately 3800 and 2300 BCE, and has been the subject of multiple excavation campaigns.<ref name=PPAF>{{cite web |title=District Profile: Khuzdar |url=https://www.ppaf.org.pk/district-profiles/ |website=ppaf.org.pk |publisher=Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund |access-date=15 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

== Geography == Nal Tehsil is located east of Khuzdar Tehsil, northeast of Wadh Tehsil, and bordered by Gresha Tehsil to the west and Ornach Tehsil to the south. It also shares boundaries with Surab District to the south and Kalat District to the north. The Nal and Kalachi rivers are the main waterways within the tehsil area.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

== History == The area now comprising Nal Tehsil formed part of the historic district of Khuzdar, which was separated from Kalat District and established as an independent district on 1 March 1974.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Khuzdar District |url=https://bhc.gov.pk/district-judiciary/khuzdar/introduction/history |website=bhc.gov.pk |publisher=Balochistan High Court |access-date=15 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

The archaeological site of Sohr Damb, situated near Nal town, dates to between 3800 and 2000 BCE and is associated with the Amri-Nal culture, one of the pre-Indus Valley civilisations of the region. Excavations were conducted at the site by Harold Hargreaves in 1924 and in subsequent campaigns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nal, Balochistan |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nal,_Balochistan |website=en.wikipedia.org |access-date=15 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=May 2026}}

== Climate == Nal Tehsil has an arid climate characterised by two distinct seasons. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures reaching approximately 40°C. Winters are milder but can be cold owing to the area's elevation, with nighttime temperatures sometimes falling below freezing. Precipitation is low throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=District Profile Khuzdar |url=https://smeda.org/phocadownload/Balochistan/District_Profiles/District%20Profile%20Khuzdar%20Mar-2024.pdf |website=smeda.org |publisher=Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) |access-date=21 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Demographics ==

=== Population === {{Historical populations |1981|60,458 |1998|80,221 |2017|85,249 |2023|103,631 |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 |access-date=3 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref>}}

According to the 2023 national census, Nal Tehsil has a total population of 103,631, of whom 55,150 are rural residents and 48,481 are urban residents. The urban population is concentrated primarily in the town of Nal, which serves as the tehsil headquarters.<ref name=census/> The tehsil encompasses 15,283 households in total, with 9,116 in rural areas and 6,167 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 |date=2023 |access-date=21 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Languages === According to the 2023 census, Balochi is the first language of 87,685 residents and Brahui of 15,560 residents, making Nal Tehsil one of the Balochi-majority tehsils within Khuzdar District.<ref name=lang/>

=== Economy === The principal economic activities in the tehsil are livestock rearing, agriculture, and mining. Agricultural produce includes dates, fruits, and vegetables. The district of Khuzdar is rich in mineral resources including barite, chromite, granite, marble, and iron ore.<ref>{{cite web |title=Balochistan – Khuzdar |url=https://pakistanalmanac.com/balochistan-khuzdar/ |website=pakistanalmanac.com |publisher=Pakistan Almanac |access-date=15 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

== Education == The literacy rate in Nal Tehsil stands at 47.26% based on the 2023 census, comprising a male literacy rate of 53.94% and a female literacy rate of 39.73%.<ref name=literacy/>

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Populated places in Khuzdar District Category:Tehsils of Khuzdar District Category:Khuzdar District Category:Tehsils of Balochistan, Pakistan Category:1974 establishments in Pakistan {{Balochistan-geo-stub}}