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Nal, Balochistan
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Nal, also spelled Naal (Urdu: نال; Balochi: نال, pronounced [nɑːl]) is the third largest urban centre in the Khuzdar District, in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan. Home to 6,167 households, it serves as the administrative centre of Nal Tehsil.
Key Information
History
[edit]The town and its surroundings are historically significant due to its association with the prehistoric Amri-Nal culture, which flourished between 3800 and 2300 BCE. The nearby archaeological site of Sohr Damb (also known as Red Mound) has yielded artifacts indicative of early urban planning and distinctive pottery styles.[4] These findings suggest that Nal was part of a complex society that predated the Indus Valley Civilisation. The Nal pottery (3100-2800BC) have figurative motifs and polychrome decoration.[5]
In modern history, Nal has been notable as the hometown of prominent Baloch leaders, including Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, who played a pivotal role in Balochistan's political landscape.[6][7] The town's water needs were supported by Karez system, a traditional water channel that flows from the nearby mountains in a series of connected underground wells and channels water across the valley using gravity as a force.[8]
Economy
[edit]The economy of Nal primarily revolves around agriculture, livestock rearing, and mining. The fertile valley supports the cultivation of crops such as wheat, barley, and dates. Livestock, including goats and sheep, are reared for meat and wool. Additionally, the region is rich in mineral resources, with marble and chromite mining contributing to the local economy.[9] Town's hand-made Balochi embroidery, locally known as Doch, is well known across the district.[10]
Demographics
[edit]Population
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 33,299 | — |
| 2023 | 48,481 | +6.46% |
| Sources:[11] | ||
According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics survey in 2023, Nal has a total population of 48,481.[12] In total, the town encompasses 6,167 households.[13] The literacy rate in Nal stands at 54.44%, reflecting ongoing challenges in access to education. This includes a male literacy rate of 59.49% and a significantly lower female literacy rate of 48.48%, indicating a persistent gender gap in educational attainment.[3]
Language
[edit]Nal's population predominantly comprises Baloch. The predominant spoken languages are Balochi and Brahui, whereas Urdu is used for official and educational purposes.[15] [16]
Culture
[edit]Archaeology
[edit]
The Sohr Damb site near Nal has been the focus of archaeological excavations revealing a sequence of cultural phases. Artefacts unearthed include polychrome pottery, terracotta figurines, and evidence of early urban planning. These discoveries provide insight into the social and economic structures of the Amri-Nal culture and its connections to other contemporary civilisations.[19] The excavations has taken place in different periods, for instance, Harold Hargreaves led an excavation party in 1924s.[20][21]
References
[edit]- ^ Notezai, Muhammad Akbar (12 July 2018). "The hidden hands of politics in Kalat". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ "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 16 May 2025.
- ^ a b "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 16 May 2025.
- ^ Frankfort, H. (September 1930). "EXCAVATIONS IN BALUCHISTAN 1925, SAMPUR MOUND, MASTUNGAND SOHR DAMB, NĀL. By H. Hargreaves. Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India, no. 35. Calcutta, 1929. pp. IV, 89, with 24 plates. 16s. 3d". Antiquity. 4 (15): 396–398. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00005172. ISSN 0003-598X. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Salman, Peerzada (20 November 2015). "Exhibition of prehistoric Balochistan pottery opens". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Yaqubi, Himayatullah; Ahmad, Iftikhar. "Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo: The Evolution of a Leftist Politician in Balochistan". Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan. 57 (2). Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Miraan, Shah. "Of Clan and Kin". Newsline. NewsLime. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ "Karez System Cultural Landscape". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Kakar, Asmat (2017). "District Khuzdar Profile" (PDF). Rural Support Programmes Network. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Warren, Liz (3 May 2022). "Soorty's Organic Cotton Initiative Earns Certification, Reaches Nearly 1,000 Farmers". Sourcing Journal. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ "Population by administrative units 1951-1998" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ "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 16 May 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Pakistan Bureau of Statistics – Data, Statistics, Decisions" (PDF). www.pbs.gov.pk. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ^ Kakar, Asmat. "District Khuzdar Profile" (PDF). p. 17. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ "Nal (Tehsil, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de.
- ^ Mengal, Maleeha (14 February 2008). "Baloch traditions: Food, games and dances you didn't know of - LifeStyle". Dunya News. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ British Museum Collection
- ^ Yule, Paul. "Silver Grave Goods from the Sohr Damb near Nal, Pakistan". www.uni-heidelberg.de. Heidelberg University. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Hargreaves, Harold; Seymour Sewell, Robert Beresford (1929). "Excavations in Baluchistan, 1925, Sampur Mound, Mastung, and Sohr Damb, Nāl". Archaeological Survey of India. OCLC 5696085.
- ^ "Sohr Damb Archaeology". Scribd.