Mashkay Tehsil
Mashkay, also spelled Mashkai, is an administrative subdivision of Awaran District in southern Balochistan, Pakistan, covering an area of approximately. According to the 2023 national census, it has a population of approximately 45,938 residents distributed across 129 settlements. Administratively, Mashkay is sub-divided into three Union Councils: Gajjar,
Nokjo, and Parwar.
Geography
Mashkai 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.The landscape is predominantly mountainous, with elevations around. 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
Mashkai experiences a hot desert climate, characterised by extremely hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is sparse and largely confined to the short monsoon season between August and September.Demographics
As of the 2023 census, the tehsil comprises 6,888 households, with 4,441 in rural areas and 2,447 in urban settings.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.