Nal Tehsil

Nal, also spelled Naal (Brahui: نال; Balochi: نال, pronounced [nɑːl]) is an administrative subdivision (Tehsil) of Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan.^[1] The tehsil covers an area of 1,791 square kilometres. Nal is predominantly defined by mountainous and arid terrain. It is one of ten administrative units of the district, comprising tehsils and sub-tehsils, alongside Aranji, Gresha, Karakh, Khuzdar, Moola, Ornach, Saroona, Wadh, and Zehri.^[1]

Nal نال نال
Tehsil of Khuzdar District
Evening view of date palm trees in Nal, Balochistan
Nal Show map of Balochistan, Pakistan Nal Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 27°41′N 66°11′E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Balochistan
District	Khuzdar District
Headquarter	Nal
Area
• Tehsil of Khuzdar District	1,791 km2 (692 sq mi)
Elevation	1,178 m (3,865 ft)
Population  (2023)[1]
• Tehsil of Khuzdar District	103,631
• Density	57.86/km2 (149.9/sq mi)
• Urban	48,481 (46.78%)
• Urban density	1,241/km2 (3,210/sq mi)
• Rural	55,150 (53.22%)
Literacy
• Literacy rate	47.26[2]
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Area code	+92848
Main language	87,685 Balochi, 15,560 Brahui[3]

Geographically, the tehsil is located east of Khuzdar Tehsil, northeast of Wadh Tehsil, and bordered by the tehsils Gresha to the west and Ornach to the south. It also shares boundaries with Surab District to the south and Kalat District to the north.

Climate

The tehsil experiences a typical arid climate, marked by two distinct seasons: summer and winter. Summers are intensely hot and dry, with temperatures often rising to around 40°C. Winters, while generally milder, can become cold due to the area's elevation, with nighttime temperatures frequently falling below freezing. Overall, precipitation is low throughout the year.^[4]

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1951	...	—
1961	...	—
1972	...	—
1981	60,458	—
1998	80,221	+1.68%
2017	85,249	+0.32%
2023	103,631	+3.31%
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics:[5]

According to the 2023 national census, Nal Tehsil has a total population of 103,631, comprising 55,150 rural and 48,481 urban residents. The urban population is primarily concentrated in the town of Nal, which functions as the tehsil headquarters.^[1] In total, the tehsil encompasses 15,283 households, with 9,116 in rural areas and 6,167 in urban areas.^[6]

Education

The literacy rate in Nal tehsil stands at 47.26%, reflecting ongoing challenges in access to education. This includes a male literacy rate of 53.94% and a significantly lower female literacy rate of 39.73%, indicating a persistent gender gap in educational attainment.^[2]