Karakh Tehsil

Karakh Balochi: تحصیل کارخ Karkh
Tehsil of Khuzdar District
Impressions of Karakh
Karakh Show map of Balochistan, Pakistan Karakh Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 27°44′N67°10′E / 27.733°N 67.167°E / 27.733; 67.167
Country	Pakistan
Province	Balochistan
District	Khuzdar District
Tehsil	Karakh
Area
•  Tehsil of Khuzdar District	1,352 km2 (522 sq mi)
Elevation	794 m (2,605 ft)
Population  (2023) [1]
•  Tehsil of Khuzdar District	35,990
• Density	26.62/km2 (68.9/sq mi)
•  Rural	35,990
Literacy [2]
• Literacy rate	Total: (32.14%) Male: (39.70%) Female: (24.41%)
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Main language	24,489 Brahui, 7,070 Sindhi, 4,255 Balochi [3]

Karakh or locally also spelled Karkh ^[a] is an administrative subdivision (tehsil) of Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan. ^[1] 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 1,352 square kilometres (135,200 ha). ^[1] 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.

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. ^{[4] [5]} 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. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1972	...	—
1981	17,837	—
1998	21,984	+1.24%
2017	31,016	+1.83%
2023	35,990	+2.51%
Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics [10]

According to the 2023 national census, Karakh tehsil has a total population of 35,990, all residing in rural areas. ^[1] The tehsil encompasses 6,723 households, reflecting its predominantly rural character. ^[11]

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. ^[2]

Languages

Languages of Karakh tehsil (2023) ^[2]

1. Brahui (68.1%)
2. Sindhi (19.6%)
3. Balochi (11.8%)
4. Others (0.44%)

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. ^[3] 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. ^[12] The Sindhi spoken in the region is largely the distinct Lasi dialect of Sindhi. ^[13]

References and notes

Explanatory notes

1. Brahui: کارخ; Balochi: کارخ, pronounced [kə.rəx]

References

1. "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 21 May 2025.
2. "Table 12 - Population (10 years and above) by Literacy Rate, Enrolment and Out of School Population by Sex and Rural/Urban, Census 2023" (PDF). pbs.gov.pk. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics . Retrieved 21 May 2025.
3. "Karakh (Tehsil, Pakistan)". citypopulation.de. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
4. Rashid, Salman (2 December 2011). "The dog's grave". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune . Retrieved 21 May 2025.
5. Shaikh, Abdul Razak (17 June 2019). "Kutte ji Kabar: a celebration of loyalty". dailytimes.com.pk. Daily Times . Retrieved 21 May 2025.
6. Ali, Kalbe (8 March 2025). "Sindh, Balochistan asked to resolve dispute over heritage site in 30 days". dawn.com. Dawn. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
7. Yasin, Asim (8 March 2025). "'Kuttay Ji Qabar' jurisdiction dispute sparks debate in Senate panel meeting". thenews.com.pk. The News International . Retrieved 21 May 2025.
8. "Sindh govt grants heritage status to a dog's grave in Qambar". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
9. Jafrani, Shams (5 November 2024). "Tourism potential". dawn.com. Dawn . Retrieved 21 May 2025.
10. "Table 4: Area and Population of Administrative Units by Rural/Urban: 1951–1998 Censuses" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics . Retrieved 3 June 2025.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
11. "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 21 May 2025.
12. Dashti, Zahid Hussain; Baloch, Zia ur Rahman; Durdana (June 2024). "(ای ک جاب رہ) ب راہوئی زب ان کی ب اریخ". Journal of Research (in Urdu). 40 (1). Multan: Department of Urdu, Bahauddin Zakariya University: 121–135. ISSN   1726-9067 . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
13. Rasheed, Abdul; Ali*, Zahid; Khan, Khursheed Ahmed (19 June 2023). "A Morphosyntatic Analysis of Suffixation in Lasi and Sindhi". Pakistan Journal of Society, Education and Language. 9 (2): 334–346. ISSN   2523-1227 . Retrieved 8 June 2025.