Mastung, Pakistan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mastung
مستونگ |
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 Mastung
مستونگ Location in Balochistan, Pakistan
Mastung
مستونگ Location in Pakistan
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Balochistan |
| Division | Kalat |
| District | Mastung |
| Elevation | 1,701 m (5,581 ft) |
| Population
(2023)
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| • Total | 40,374 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Number of Union councils | 2 |
Mastung (Balochi and Urdu: مستونگ) is a town in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. It serves as the main town for the Mastung District. Mastung is located high up, about 1,701 meters (5,583 feet) above sea level. It is also the administrative center for a smaller area called Mastung Tehsil. The town is divided into two smaller parts known as Union Councils. Mastung is part of Sarawan, which was once a division of the old princely state of Kalat. The main languages spoken here are Brahui and Balochi.
Mastung's Past
Mastung was known to important mapmakers and writers as far back as the 10th century. Two famous geographers, al-Muqaddasi and Istakhri, both mentioned Mastung. They listed it as one of the towns in a province called Bālis, which was also known as Bālish or Wālishtān. The capital city of this province was Sibi.
Later, in the late 1500s, during the time of the Mughal Empire, a book called the Ain-i-Akbari was written. This book was created during the rule of Emperor Akbar. It listed Mastung as one of 24 mahals (which were like smaller administrative areas) within the Sarkar (a larger administrative division) of Kandahar.
At that time, Mastung had a fort made of mud bricks to protect it. The town also produced a good amount of income each year. This included 10 tumans and 8,000 dinars in cash. It also produced 470 kharwars of grain. The people living in Mastung during this period were a mix of Afghans and Balochs.
People of Mastung
Many different tribes live in Mastung. These include both Baloch and Pashtun tribes. Some of the most common and important tribes in the area are the Bangulzai, Shahwani, Pirkani, Sarpara, Raisani (Tareen), and Muhammad Shahi Khilji]]. These tribes are very active in local politics and leadership. Other tribes living in Mastung include the Dehwar, Lehri, Satakzai, Bangulzai, Tareen, and Ali Zai.
Religions in Mastung
People in Mastung follow different religions. The main religion is Islam. In 1941, most people in Mastung were Muslim. By 2017, the number of Muslims had grown a lot, making up the vast majority of the population.
Other religions are also present in Mastung. Hinduism is practiced by some people, and their numbers have also increased over the years. There are also followers of Christianity in the town. In the past, some people practiced Sikhism, but their numbers are no longer recorded in recent surveys.
See also
In Spanish: Mastung para niños
