Mastung Tehsil
Mastung is a tehsil in Mastung District, located in the northwestern part of Balochistan, Pakistan. Located approximately south of Quetta, the provincial capital, the tehsil has a population, as per the 2023 national census, of 162,319 across 511 settlements, including 121,945 people living in rural areas and 40,374 residents in the town of Mastung.
According to local tradition, the name 'Mastung' derives from two Brahui words: Mas, meaning mountain, and Tung, meaning hole.
Agriculture is central to the local economy; yet persistent water scarcity significantly limits the productivity of arable land, particularly affecting the growth of temperate fruit orchards and winter vegetables.
The district is also vulnerable to natural hazards. Earthquakes, floods, and droughts occur periodically and are recognised as major environmental risks in the region.
Geography
Covering covers an area of approximately 692 square kilometres and shares borders with Khad Koocha Tehsil to the south, Panj Pai Tehsil to the west, Quetta Saddar and Quetta City to the north, and Dasht Tehsil to the east. The landscape is largely arid and mountainous, with elevations generally above and some peaks rising over. Seasonal streams traverse, or nalas, cross the rugged terrain, which is characterised by desert-like features and sparse vegetation.Climate
Mastung experiences a semi-arid climate, marked by long, hot, and dry summers and short, intensely cold winters that often accompanied by snowfall. Temperatures typically range from to, with occasional extremes below or above. Annual precipitation averages around, with March being the wettest month.Vegetation is sparse and xerophytic, consisting of thorny shrubs, hardy bushes, occasional draught-resistant trees, and various ephemeral plants that appear after rainfall.