Matta, Tehsil

Matta Tehsil
تحصیل مٹہ
Tehsil
Matta Tehsil is located in Pakistan
Matta Tehsil
Matta Tehsil
Location in Pakistan
Coordinates: 34°55′32″N 72°24′52″E / 34.92556°N 72.41444°E / 34.92556; 72.41444
Country Pakistan
Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
DivisionMalakand
DistrictSwat
HeadquartersMatta
Area
 • Total684.0 km2 (264.1 sq mi)
Elevation
1,112 m (3,648 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total552,431
 • Density807.6/km2 (2,092/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5 (PKT)

Matta Tehsil (Urdu: تحصیل مٹہ; Pashto: د مټې تحصيل) is an administrative subdivision (tehsil) of Swat District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The administrative centre and principal commercial hub of the tehsil is the town of Matta.

According to the 2023 Census of Pakistan, Matta Tehsil has a total population of 552,431, making it one of the most populous tehsils in the Swat Valley.

Geography

Matta Tehsil is situated in the north-western sector of the Swat Valley, covering a total geographic area of 684.0 square kilometres (264.1 sq mi). The terrain features a fertile river plain along the Swat River that transitions steeply into surrounding hills and rugged mountainous ridges.

The tehsil borders:

Climate

Matta experiences a warm-summer Mediterranean-influenced or humid subtropical climate depending on elevation. Winters are cold, with snowfall observed at higher ridges and surrounding mountain villages. Summers are generally warm and humid, moderated by monsoon rainfall and cool mountain breezes descending along seasonal streams (locally termed khwars).

Demographics

Population

Historical population
CensusPop.±% p.a.
1998 274,380—
2017 465,599+2.82%
2023 552,431+2.88%

According to the 7th Population and Housing Census conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in 2023, Matta Tehsil has a population of 552,431 individuals across 67,236 households. This represents an increase from 465,599 recorded during the 2017 census.

The gender breakdown in 2023 recorded:

The vast majority of the population resides in rural settlements, with 500,610 rural residents compared to 51,821 living within the urban boundary of Matta Municipal Area.

Language and ethnicity

Pashto is the mother tongue and primary language spoken across the tehsil, predominantly in the Yusufzai dialect. Gujari is also spoken by Gujjar pastoral communities residing in higher mountain hamlets and upper tributary valleys. The overwhelmingly dominant religion is Islam, practiced by more than 99% of the local inhabitants.

Administrative divisions

Matta Tehsil is subdivided into numerous Village Councils (VCs) and Neighbourhood Councils (NCs) under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act.

Major towns and villages within the tehsil include:

Economy

The economy of Matta Tehsil is predominantly agrarian, complemented by local trade, services, and overseas remittances.

Agriculture and horticulture

Matta is widely regarded as one of the primary fruit-producing hubs in Pakistan. The valley is particularly renowned for its extensive peach orchards, producing high-grade varieties that are distributed nationwide. Other major horticultural products include:

Terraced fields and riverbank lowlands are cultivated for staple crops such as wheat and maize, as well as off-season vegetables including tomatoes, onions, and peas.

Commerce

Matta Bazaar functions as the primary commercial artery for northwestern Swat, housing wholesale agricultural mandis, farm supply depots, retail markets, and financial institutions servicing the surrounding valley hamlets. A notable portion of household revenue is also derived from expatriate remittances, primarily sent by workers employed in the Gulf states (particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

Healthcare and education

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "TABLE 1 : AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD SIZE - CENSUS-2023, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
  2. ↑ "DISTRICT AND TEHSIL LEVEL POPULATION SUMMARY WITH REGION BREAKUP (SWAT DISTRICT) - CENSUS 2017" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-14.