Loralai District is one of the districts of Balochistan, which has its own characteristics of tribal society. However, tribalism is fading away and losing its importance due to urbanization, commercialization, education and the role played by mass media in creating awareness.
Area-wise district Loralai ranks 19 (order: smallest to the largest), in Balochistan and has an area of 9,830 square kilometers, Loralai District lies between 67°41’18”-69°44’22″East longitudes and 29°54’50”-30°41’28” North latitudes consisting of 3 Tehsils and 20 Union Councils. Location of Loralai is at 560 km (aerial distance) south-west (230 degrees bearing) of Pakistan’s Capital City Islamabad and 150 km West (83 degrees bearing) from Quetta city, provincial capital of Balochistan.
On the 1 November 1887 AD, the district was declared as a part of British India. In 1947, prior to the creation of Pakistan, a referendum was held by the British in which the tribesmen of Loralai District, like other districts of the Frontier Region, opted for Pakistan. Loralai was granted the status of a separate district on October 1903. Formerly, the district was known as Bori. The name originates from Lorala, which is a stream that flows in the south of Loralai town. The district headquarter is in “Loralai” town. Loralai is in the North-east of Balochistan, sharing its boundaries clockwise from North with Killa Saifullah, Zhob, Musakhel, Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibi and Ziarat Districts. The terrain of the district consists of east-west aligned mountains, valleys and southern plains ranging in ground elevation from 908-3,136 meters above Mean Sea Level (MSL).
The population of the district consists of heterogeneous tribes. The main tribes of the district are Kakar, Luni, Tareen and Nasar, while the other tribes and subtribes of the main tribes are Shadozai, Dumer, Humzazai, Utman-Khail, Sarghah, Zakhpal, Jogazai, Jalazai, Vanchi, and Peechi. Loralai has been famous for its agriculture/ horticulture and livestock holdings. Almonds and apricots are popular across the country. Communications network of Loralai city is well established with radio station broadcasting, telephone exchange, and mobile communication services.
Geographically, the district is mountainous, and valleys are running through the various ranges. The valleys contain alluvial accumulations while the formation of various hill ranges consists of earth, sand and Limestone while some portions are rocky. The hill ranges consist of rugged mountains varying in elevation from 924-3,100 meters. The main range is Sulaiman Range, which runs from the Gomal River in the north to the Indus in the south. It stretches through the district in the east in continuous chain of mountain peaks.
The climate of Loralai District is dry, but it varies with the elevation; at high altitude it is cold and dry, whereas, in the low altitude, especially in the south and east area (Tehsil Duki), temperature is uniform through the year, but hot in summer. According to the climate conditions the area can be distributed into semi-arid, sub-tropical and continental highlands. The winters are very cold and windy, whereas summers are mild. Rains are mostly in March and during the monsoon (in the months of July and August).