Mastung District
Mastung District
ضلع مستونگ مستونگ دمگ | |
|---|---|
Top: Mountains near Dasht Bottom: Koh-i-Chiltan | |
Map of Balochistan with Mastung District highlighted | |
| Coordinates: 29°48′N 66°51′E / 29.80°N 66.85°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Balochistan |
| Division | Kalat |
| Established | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Mastung |
| Administrative Areas | 04
|
| Government | |
| • Type | District Administration |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Captain (R) Mir Baz Khan Marri |
| • Constituensy | NA-261 Surab-cum-Kalat-cum-Mastung |
| Area | |
• District of Balochistan | 5,896 km2 (2,276 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,701 m (5,581 ft) |
| Population | |
• District of Balochistan | 313,271 |
| • Density | 53.13/km2 (137.6/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 40,374 (12.89%) |
| • Rural | 272,897 (87.11%) |
| Literacy | |
| • Literacy rate |
|
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (PKT) |
| • Summer (DST) | DST is not observed |
| ZIP Code | |
| NWD (area) code | 843 |
| ISO 3166 code | PK-BA |
Mastung District is located in the northwest of Balochistan (Pakistan), covering an area of 3,308 km². It lies south of Quetta District, with elevations between 5,600 feet (1,700 m) to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level.
The Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park, one of Balochistan's protected areas, is situated between Quetta and Mastung, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Quetta city.
Formerly a sub-division of Kalat District, Mastung was granted district status in July 1991 and has functioned independently since 18 February 1992. Its name is traditionally derived from the Brahui words Mas (mountain) and Tung (hole).
The district is prone to natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, and droughts. Its varied landscapes encompass the high Sulaiman Mountains, desert, and forest habitats, and support a rich diversity of flora. Medicinal plants remain an important part of rural healthcare, while agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for nearly half the population, with major crops including wheat, barley, cumin, fodder, melon, potato, and other vegetables.