Tonsa District () is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It was created in 2022 from part of Dera Ghazi Khan District, and was officially notified in 2024. It is situated on the bank of River Indus. It consists of three tehsils: Koh-e-Suleman, Tonsa and Vehowa. The eastern part of district consists of fertile plains irrigated by River Indus and its canal systems, while the western half comprises mountains of Koh e Sulaiman range.
It is mainly inhabited by Saraiki-speaking Baloch people in plain areas whereas Balochi is spoken in mountainous areas of the district.
History
The region around Tonsa district was an ancient settlement and remained a village or town earlier to 21st century. The region was conquered by Arab Umayyads in 8th century CE when Muhammad bin Qasim invaded Multan spreading Islam in the region. Tonsa remained part of Multan region in medieval era.
After Baloch Civil War in the 14th century Baloch tribes settled in waves in Tonsa and the adjoining mountain range. Tonsa Sharif was part of the Khanate of Kalat from 1717 to 1795, and later controlled by Afghans before being surrendered to the Sikh Empire in 1819. Sakhani (a Baloch tribe was ruler,who pledged allegiance to the Maharaja, before arrival of British rule which made them semi autonomous as part of British divide and rule policy.
Demography
Population
As of the 2023 census, Tonsa district has 161,806 households and a population of 1,045,460. The district has a sex ratio of 104.69 males to 100 females and a literacy rate of 53.05%: 64.59% for males and 40.81% for females. 353,488 (33.83% of the surveyed population) are under 10 years of age. 158,122 (15.12%) live in urban areas.
Religion + Religion in contemporary Tonsa DistrictReligiousgroup194120172023Islam 133,302 91.70%890,17299.97%1,042,46499.76% Hinduism 12,0198.27%500.01%28~0% Christianity 6~0%20~0%2,1890.21%Ahmadi1750.02%2160.02% Others360.03%20~0%400.01% Total Population 145,363890,4371,044,937100%
Language
At the time of the 2023 census, 66.79% of the population spoke Saraiki, 31.18 Balochi and 1.19% Pashto as their first language.
Administration The district is administratively subdivided into three tehsils.
TehsilDivisions/Districts of Pakistan Note: Although divisions as an administrative structure has been abolished, the election commission of Pakistan still groups districts under the division namesArea (km²)Pop. (2023)Density (ppl/km²)
(2023)Literacy rate (2023)Union CouncilsKoh-e-Suleman5,339248,68346.5836.04%6Tonsa2,769796,777287.7557.96%68Vehowa...............
References