{{Short description|Pakistani administrative area}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=August 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Surab Tehsil | other_name = Soorab, Sorab | native_name = {{langx|brh|{{script/Arabic|تحصیل سوراب}}}} | settlement_type = Tehsil of Surab District | image_skyline = Surab - panoramio.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = On the N-25 National Highway in Surab Tehsil | pushpin_map = Balochistan Pakistan#Pakistan | coordinates = {{coord|28|30|00|N|66|15|0|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Pakistan | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Balochistan | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Surab District | subdivision_type3 = Tehsil | subdivision_name3 = Surab | area_total_km2 = 233 | area_metro_km2 = | elevation_m = 1,762 | elevation_ft = 5,781 | elevation_footnotes =<ref name=climate/> | population_total = 95,469 | population_as_of = 2023 | population_density_km2 = 409.74 | 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=12 August 2025 |language=en |date=2023}}</ref> | population_urban = 36,468 (38.2%) | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_rural = 59,001 (61.8%) | demographics_type1 = Literacy | demographics1_title1 = Literacy rate | demographics1_info1 = {{bulleted list | Total:<br />(34.34%) | Male:<br />(43.21%) | Female:<br />(25.99%) }} | 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=12 August 2025}}</ref> | timezone = PST | utc_offset1 = +5 | area_code = | blank1_name_sec1 = Main languages | blank1_info_sec1 = 91,107 Brahui, 3,964 Balochi, 126 Pashto<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=12 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> }} '''Surab Tehsil''',{{efn|{{langx|brh|{{Nastaliq|تحصیل سوراب}}}}, {{IPA|ur|t̪əhsˈiːl suːˈɾaːb|pron}}, {{langx|bal|{{Nastaliq|تحصیل سوراب}}}}, {{IPA|ur|t̪ahˈsiːl soːˈɾaːb|pron|}}}} is an administrative sub-subdivision (tehsil) of Surab District, in central Balochistan, Pakistan. It lies about {{convert|82|km|mi}} northwest of Khuzdar, and {{convert|111|km|mi}} south from Kalat, forming the northern part of the district.
According to the 2023 national census, the tehsil has a population of 95,469.<ref name="census"/> Agriculture, particularly the cultivation of temperate fruit and winter vegetables, forms the basis of the local economy, though yields are constrained by chronic by chronic water scarcity.<ref name=SMEDA>{{cite web |title=District Economic Profile Kalat |url=https://smeda.org/phocadownload/Balochistan/District_Profiles/District%20Profile%20Kalat%202021.pdf |publisher=Small & Medium Enterprise Development Authority, Government of Pakistan |access-date=12 August 2025 |pages=22 |language=en |date=2020}}</ref> [oultry farming is also present, including a government-run facility in Surab.<ref name=SMEDA/>
== Geography == Covering an area of approximately {{convert|233|sqkm|sqmi}}, equivalent to 30.6% of the district's total area, Surab Tehsil is largely arid and mountainous. Elevations generally exceed {{convert|900|m|ft}}, with some peaks rising above {{convert|1700|m|ft}}.
Vegetation is sparse and drought-adapted, including species such as Capparis aphylla (karir), Periploca aphylla (milk broom), and Caralluma tuberculata (pipa).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bibi |first1=Tahira |last2=Ahmad |first2=Mushtaq |last3=Bakhsh Tareen |first3=Rsool |last4=Mohammad Tareen |first4=Niaz |last5=Jabeen |first5=Rukhsana |last6=Rehman |first6=Saeed-Ur |last7=Sultana |first7=Shazia |last8=Zafar |first8=Muhammad |last9=Yaseen |first9=Ghulam |title=Ethnobotany of medicinal plants in district Mastung of Balochistan province-Pakistan |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |date=18 November 2014 |volume=157 |pages=79–89 |doi=10.1016/J.JEP.2014.08.042 |url=https://www.academia.edu/23984666/Ethnobotany_of_medicinal_plants_in_district_Mastung_of_Balochistan_province_Pakistan |access-date=12 August 2025}}</ref> The tehsil is prone to earthquakes, floods, and droughts, and includes sections of the Central Brahui Range of the Sulaiman Mountains.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shah |first1=Syed Ali |title=Earthquake jolts Surab area of Balochistan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1136637 |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn |date=8 October 2014 |language=en}}</ref>
== Climate == Situated at an elevation of {{convert|1762|m|ft}} above sea level, Surab has a cold desert climate (Köppen climate classification).<ref name=Mindat>{{cite web |title=Surab, Balochistan, Pakistan |url=https://www.mindat.org/feature-1164306.html |website=www.mindat.org |publisher=Hudson Institute of Mineralogy |access-date=12 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The average annual temperature is {{convert|26.7|C|F}}, over 5% higher than Pakistan's averages. Surab typically receives about {{convert|13.6|mm|in}} of precipitation and has 26.75 rainfall per year.<ref name=climate>{{cite web |title=Surab, Balochistan |url=https://weatherandclimate.com/pakistan/balochistan/surab |website=weatherandclimate.com |access-date=12 August 2025}}</ref>
== Population == The 2023 census recorded 95,469 residents in 15,389 households.<ref>{{cite web |title=Table 24: Housing characteristics, toilet and washroom facilities 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=12 August 2025 |language=en |date=2023}}</ref> The population density is relative is about 409 persons per square kilometre.<ref name="census" /> The literacy rate is 34.34%, with significant gender disparities: 43.21% for males and just 25.99% for females, reflecting limited educational access, particularly for women and girls.<ref name=literacy/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hassni |first1=Adil Nazeer |title=Educational Emergency: Surab Needs Attention |url=http://thebalochistanpoint.com/educational-emergency-surab-needs-attention/ |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=thebalochistanpoint.com |publisher=Balochistan Point |date=25 November 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
===Language=== Brahui is spoken by about 95.4% of the population (91,107 people), followed by Balochi, (4.2%, 3,964 people), Pashto (0.13% 126 people), and other languages (0.3% of the population).<ref name=language/>
== Insurgency == Since early 2000s, the province has been affected by unrest associated with the Insurgency in Balochistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senior Balochistan official martyred in terrorist attack on Surab Bazaar |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2548642/indian-sponsored-terrorists-attack-surab-market-in-balochistan |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=tribune.com.pk |publisher=The Express Tribune |date=30 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
Armed groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army, have sought greater political autonomy and control over local natural resources, though such resources are not a major factor in the tehsil or district.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haider |first1=Ejaz |title=Tired Cliches Won't Improve Balochistan |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/27-Aug-2024/tired-cliches-won-t-improve-balochistan |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=thefridaytimes.com |publisher=The Friday Times |date=27 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Mindat/> Security concerns compounded by persistent socio-economic challenges, including widespread poverty, inadequate healthcare and education, and underdeveloped infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmadzai |first1=Princess Mezyuna |title=Balochistan's Paradox: Rich in Resources, Poor in Development |url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/04/06/balochistans-paradox-rich-in-resources-poor-in-development/ |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=moderndiplomacy.eu |publisher=Modern Diplomacy |date=6 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Abdullah |title=Decades of change |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1896978 |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn |date=10 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== References and notes == ===Explanatory notes=== {{notelist}}
===References=== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT: Surab Tehsil}} {{Tehsils of Balochistan}} Surab Category:Surab District Category:Tehsils of Balochistan, Pakistan Category:Tehsils of Surab District