Mashkay, also spelled Mashkai,[a] is an administrative subdivision (tehsil) of Awaran District in southern Balochistan, Pakistan, covering an area of approximately 2,418 square kilometres (934 sq mi). According to the 2023 national census, it has a population of approximately 45,938 residents distributed across 129 settlements.[1][4] Administratively, Mashkay is sub-divided into three Union Councils: Gajjar, [5] Nokjo, and Parwar.
Mashkai Tehsil
Balochi: تحصیل مشکے Mashkay Tehsil | |
|---|---|
  Mashkai Tehsil  Mashkai Tehsil | |
| Coordinates: 27°7′29″N 65°40′10″E / 27.12472°N 65.66944°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Balochistan |
| District | Awaran District |
| Headquarters | Gajjar |
| Area | |
| 2,418 km2 (934 sq mi) | |
| Population (2023)[1] | |
| 45,938 | |
| • Density | 19/km2 (49/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 18,056 (39.31%) |
| • Rural | 27,882 (60.69%) |
| Literacy | |
| • Literacy rate |
|
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Number of Union Councils | 3 |
| Main languages | 43,649 (99.88%) Balochi, 2,069 Brahui[3] |
Geography
editMashkai is situated in the northern part of Awaran District, within the Central Makran Range. It shares borders with Awaran Tehsil to the south and Korak Jhao Tehsil to the east. To the southwest, it borders Gichk Tehsil of Panjgur District, while its western boundary meets Besima Tehsil in Washuk District. To the northeast lie the tehsils of Gresha and Nal in Khuzdar District.[6]
The landscape is predominantly mountainous, with elevations around 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The terrain is arid and marked by seasonal streams and drought-resistant vegetation, such as xerophytic shrubs, hardy trees, and ephemeral plant species adapted to low water availability.
Climate
editDemographics
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 37,668 | — |
| 1998 | 34,373 | −0.54% |
| 2017 | 33,076 | −0.20% |
| 2023 | 45,938 | +5.63% |
| Sources:[8] | ||
As of the 2023 census, the tehsil comprises 6,888 households, with 4,441 in rural areas and 2,447 in urban settings.[9]
The overall literacy rate is 41.21%, with a significant gender disparity: 48.92% among men and 32.70% among women. These figures reflect ongoing structural challenges in educational access, particularly in remote and underserved communities.[2]
Languages
editSee also
editReferences and notes
editExplanatory notes
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "Table 1: Area, Population by Sex, Sex Ratio, Population Density, Urban Population, Household Size and Annual Growth Rate, Balochistan" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Census. 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- 1 2 "Table 12 - Literacy Rate, Enrolment and Out of School Population by Sex and Rural/Urban, Census 2023" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- 1 2 "Table 11: Population by Mother Tongue, Gender, and Rural/Urban Residence (Census 2023)" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ↑ "Balochistan Mouza Census 2020" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 2020. p. 63. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ Brinkhoff, Thomas (26 August 2024). "Gujar Mashkai in Awaran (Balochistan)". citypopulation.de. City Population. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ Brinkhoff, Thomas (26 August 2024). "Gishkore: Tehsil in Balochistan". citypopulation.de. City Population. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Mashkai, Balochistan, Pakistan". mindat.org. Hudson Institute of Mineralogy. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Population by administrative units 1951-1998" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.[dead link]
- ↑ "Table 24: Housing Characteristics, Facilities of Toilet and Washroom Used by Households, Rural/Urban: Census 2023" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
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