Lasbela District ضلعِ لسبیلہ لسبݔله دمگ | |
|---|---|
  | |
.png) Map ofBalochistan with Lasbela District highlighted | |
| Coordinates:20°13′38″N66°18′22″E / 20.22722°N 66.30611°E /20.22722; 66.30611 | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Balochistan |
| Division | Kalat |
| Established | June 1954[1] |
| Headquarters | Uthal |
| Government | |
| • Type | District Administration |
| • District Police Officer | N/A |
| • District Health Officer | N/A |
| Area | |
• District | 15,153 km2 (5,851 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | |
• District | 680,977 |
| • Density | 44.940/km2 (116.39/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 330,585 (48.54%) |
| • Rural | 350,392 (51.46%) |
| Literacy | |
| • Literacy rate |
|
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Number ofTehsils | 5 |
Lasbela District (Urdu:لسبیلہLasbēla[ləsˈbeːla],Balochi:لسبݔلهLasbèla[lasˈbeːla]) is a coastaldistrict and part of theKalat Division situated in the south-east ofBalochistan, Pakistan. Located approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) northwest ofKarachi, the district is geographically and economically significant.
As per the2023 Pakistani census, Lasbela has a population of 298,092. Its economy is predominantly based onfishing,agriculture, and livestock rearing, supplemented by mineral extraction, particularlylimestone andgypsum, which contribute to regional industrial activity. The district is also historically important, with a strategic role during theBritish colonial period.
Lasbela experiences a hot and humid subtropical climate, with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 45 °C (113 °F), while winters remain relatively mild, ranging from 10 °C (50 °F) to 20 °C (68 °F). Rainfall is scarce, typically ranging from 60 millimetres (2.4 in) to 100 millimetres (3.9 in) annually.
The principal languages spoken areBalochi andLasi (a dialect ofSindhi), reflecting the area's ethnolinguistic diversity. The townUthal serves as the district's administrative headquarters.
Lasbela's varied landscape includes coastal and mountainous features, such as Sapat Beach,Kund Malir, Golden Beach, andSonmiani Bay of theArabian Sea, as well as the rugged terrain and seasonal waterfalls found inKanraj, in theKirthar Mountains, where minerals are extracted, like inDuddar.
The early history of Lasbela is for most parts obscure, until the rise of Aliani family ofJamotes in the 18th century.[4] In the early 7th century CE, the ruler of Armanbel (present-dayBela) was a Buddhist known as Samani, who descended from the governors appointed by Rai Sahiras, themaharaja of Sind. WhenChach of Aror marched toMakran he was cordially received at Bela, and the ruler of Bela pledged his loyalty to him.[4]
The district lied on the route taken byMuhammad ibn al-Qasim during hisinvasion of Sind. It later formed part of thewalayat al-Sind during theCaliphate period.[4]
Afterwards the Sindhi dynasties ofSumra andSamma appear to have held control of Lasbela. Sammas were overthrown byShah Hussein Arghun in 1523, and the subsequent history of Lasbela is lost in obscurity, although the local clans ofGujars,Runjha, Gunga andBurfat are believed to have exercised a semi-independent control of the region.[4]
In 1742–1743, Jam Ali Khan, the chief of the Jamote tribe from the Koreja Family of Samma Dynasty, established his control over Lasbela with the help ofKhan of Kalat. His descendants, known asJam of Lasbela, ruled the state until 1947, whenJam Ghulam Qadir Khan acceded to Pakistan.[4] In 1960 Lasbela was combined withKarachi to formKarachi-Bela Division. It was returned toKalat Division in 1972.Hub District was carved out of Lasbela in 2022.
The district of Lasbela is administratively divided in four tehsils, one sub-tehsil and 22 Union Councils.[5]
| Tehsil | Area (km²)[6] | Pop. (2023) | Density (ppl/km²) (2023) | Lit. rate (2023) | Union Councils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uthal Tehsil[5][1][8] | 1,756 | 88,933 | 50.65 | 33.95% |
|
| Lakhra Tehsil[5] | 1,954 | 46,744 | 23.92 | 15.31% |
|
| Bela Tehsil[1][8] | 1,527 | 129,264 | 84.65 | 40.98% |
|
| Kanraj Tehsil[5] | 1,190 | 15,996 | 13.44 | 20.32% | |
| Liari Tehsil[5] | 2,010 | 17,155 | 8.53 | 16.09% |
The main rivers of Lasbela arePorali River with its tributaries,Winder River andWirhab River. Other rivers are thePhor andHingol which rise inAwaran District before flowing through Lasbela District on their way to theArabian Sea.[9]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 68,189 | — |
| 1961 | 82,997 | +1.98% |
| 1972 | 125,263 | +3.81% |
| 1981 | 188,139 | +4.62% |
| 1998 | 312,695 | +3.03% |
| 2017 | 576,271 | +3.27% |
| 2023 | 680,977 | +2.82% |
| Sources:[10] | ||
As of the2023 census, Lasbela district has 115,539 households and a population of 680,977. The district has a sex ratio of 105.04 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 32.47%: 45.86% for males and 26.48% for females.[11][12] 209,038 (30.7% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age.[13] 330,585 (48.55%) live in urban areas.[11]
In the1951 Census of Pakistan, 80% of population of formerstate of Las Bela was reported to be speaker ofSindhi, forming a majority. The share ofBalochi was 19%.[14] At the time of the 2023 census, the share of Sindhi fell to 9.96% while that of Balochi rose to 75.32%. Other first languages includeBrahui (8.09%) andPashto (2.56%).[15]
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islam | 96.55% | |||
| Hinduism | 2.92% | |||
| Christianity | 0.37% | |||
| Other | 0.16% | |||
In the 2023 census,Islam is the predominant religion with 96.55% followers, whileHinduism has 2.92% followers. There is also a minor population which adheres toChristianity.[2]
TheLasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Science (LUAWMS) is located inUthal.Balochistan Residential College (BRC) at Uthal.Polytechnic Institute at Uthal.
In the south east, an oil refineryCnergyico was constructed in 2014 atHub in Lasbela District which is capable of processing 120,000 barrels of oil. Furthermore, a power station is located adjacent to refinery, that produces about 1350 MW of power.[16]
These are hospitals in Lesbela District:
Provincial capital:Quetta | ||
| Kalat |  | |
| Makran | ||
| Nasirabad | ||
| Quetta | ||
| Sibi | ||
| Zhob | ||
| Rakhshan | ||
| Loralai | ||
a - formerly part of Quetta Division;b - formerly part of Kalat Division;c - formerly part of Zhob Division ;d - abolished | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
