Rawalakot

Rawalakot ( _ur. راولا کوٹ) is a city in Azad Kashmir, and is the capital of Poonch District. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at elevation 1615 metres (5300ft). It is 76 kilometres (47 miles) from Kohala, and is also linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via the neighbouring districts of Azad Pattan and Tain Dhalkot,and with Muzaffarabad via Kohala and Sudhangali by asphalt roads. The main tribe of Rawalakot are the Sudhan tribe.

Surrounding villages include Topa Soon aka Soon Topa or just Topa, Kaimon, Thithrot, Motialmara, Trar Dewan,Chare, Chuck, Tranni, Dahmni, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek, Dreak, Banjosa, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira, Thorar, Rehara, Tain, and Pachiot. Bagh District lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south of Rawalakot. The road passing through (Jalooth)Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh And Muzaffarabad. While towards the West are Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan.

Since the raid by Pakistan Army on the Red Mosque, Pakistan Army has deployed new army contingents in Rawalakot. The Rawalakot CMH and the telephone exchange are under extreme security to avoid the acts of terrorism by so called religious extremists.

Location

Surrounding villages include Topa Soon aka Soon Topa or just Topa, Kaimon, Thithrot, Motialmara, Trar Dewan, Chare, Chuck, Tranni, Dahmni, Parat, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek, Dreak, Banjosa, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira, Thorar, Rehara, Tain, and Pachiot. Bagh District lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south of Rawalakot. The road passing through (Jalooth)Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh And Muzaffarabad. While towards the West are Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan.

Rawalakot has an airport which has not functioned since 2000 due to lack of demand for air travel by the local population and the indifference of the Government of Pakistan. This Airport is situated near Chuck Bazar approximatively 1 kilometre from Chare and approximately 3 KM from Rawalakot Main CityFact|date=February 2007

Construction of Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad Pattan has considerably reduced the distance travel time.

The Shaeed Galla /Toli peer is very famous place in Rawalakot District, it is 20km from Rawalakot and beautiful natural scenes and forest.

Communications

*Two privately owned Cable Television systems are available in Rawalakot, which transmits Pakistani and international television programs.

*A local FM radio station has been established and broadcasts at FM 105.8. [ [http://www.pemra.gov.pk/pdf/list_of_fm_radio_station_licences_issued_by_pemra.pdf List Of Fm Radio Licences Issued By Pemra ] ]

*Cell phone service is available through five private cell phone operators Paktel,Mobilink, Ufone, Warid, Telenor, SCOM. PTCL Wireless also available.

* The local phone company is operated by Pakistan Army [ [http://www.sco.gov.pk Special Communications Organization] ] .

*Construction of Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad Pattan has considerably reduced the distance travel time.

Rawalakot-Poonch Trade Route

Before the partition of the subcontinent, the Poonch-Rawalakot trade route was the only road link between Poonch and Sudhnati, now called Rawalakot, the Line of Control (LoC) is 15 kilometres from Hajira and 43 kilometres from Rawalakot.

After the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir comprising Bagh, Sudhanoti (Rawalakot), Mendhar and Haveli were declared as the State of Poonch and transferred to Raja Moti Singh as his Jagir (landed estate). The ethnic diversity of this region offers a unique blend of different tribes and clans. [ [ http://www.ajk.gov.pk/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2352&Itemid=138 Azad Jammu & Kashmir - About Poonch] ]

Tehsil Mendhar in the State of Poonch was the most fertile area in this region. Trade and agricultural links between people of Rawalakot and Poonch were common. Apart from agriculture, sheep and goat farming was the major source of income for the people of Poonch region. The Poonch-Rawalakot trade route played an important role in the economy of this area. It was one of the few trade routes in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which remained open throughout the year. Traders and businessmen freely traded fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, wool, tobacco, cereals, rice, spices and many other items. Barter trade system was followed by most of the traders and businessmen.

Although major chunk of the people’s income went to the State rulers through taxes, including Abiana and Maalia, duties, fines, and forced labour, there was economic activity and the region was considered rich in resources. Much has been conceived and propagated about ethnic and religious divide between the rulers and the ruled in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. But an impartial and unbiased study of the Dogra rule would expose that socio-economic conditions of the population played an important role in the emergence of a conflict between the rulers and the masses.

It is on the record that rulers of the state imposed taxes on most of the belongings which one could own in his household e.g. cattle, utensils, hearths, windows, crops, agricultural tools and even wives. There was no other choice for the people to protect their belongings than to defy the authoritarian rule. The most crushed and trodden among the masses turned into the most violent dissidents and liberated their lands and belongings. Bagh, Rawalakot and parts of Haveli were liberated and the area liberated was named as Azad (free) Kashmir. Poonch town, the capital of this tiny state stood isolated and besieged till November, 1948 when Indian forces recaptured this town. As the region was divided, a large number of families got divided on both sides of the Cease Fire Line (later named as LoC) having no contact with each other. This is the most tragic element of the existence of Line of Control. After the emergence of LoC not only the families were divided but their businesses also ruined. Agricultural and grazing lands were bifurcated. Guns replaced the crops and cattle.

Rawalakot Bar Association

The Rawalakot Bar Association invited the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Chaudhry to address the Bar Association on June 30, 2007.

Rawalakot Turkiye College for Girls

The Rawalakot Turkiye College for Girls, a unique school has been established in Rawalakot to replace the Post-Graduate College for Girls, located at Kharick, which faced severe destruction in the October 2005 earthquake.

Through a joint organization of IHLAS Media Holding of Germany and DITIB (Religious Affairs of Turkish Islamic Union Germany), the Government of Turkey took on the task for the construction of Rawalakot Post-Graduate Girls College with the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority. The reconstruction effort was later joined by the Turkish Islamic Union of Netherlands which participated through donations of Basic Health Unit facilities to the said school.

The design, construction, decoration and landscaping of the school have been carried out by Turcon Private Limited. A geological survey of the land led to the decision of construction limited to two floors. In a campus-wise set-up, all the buildings have been scattered in a 240,000 square feet area.The educational facilities include 30 classrooms, five laboratories, a gymnasium, hostel, lodgment for teachers, principal’s house, BHU, Mosque, multi-purpose hall, and an administration block. A total of 14 buildings exceeding a covered area of 60,000 square feet have been built for the school.Basic amenities such as computers, television sets, music system, sofa sets, beds, mattresses and blankets for teachers and students have been arranged for with the help of donors. Thousands of trees and flowers have also been planted for landscaping.

Construction was done using conventional methods. Both ends of the buildings have been strengthened through shear walls, providing an earthquake-proof structure to ensure safety of the children. The materials used in construction are the same as in the developed countries.

Lightweight insulated shingle roof material has been imported and used for the first time in Pakistan for added comfort. Well-insulated U-PVC type windows have also been used. The college will be inaugurated on April 7 at 12.30 p.m. [http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=105266]

Rawalakot Air Port

Rawalakot Airport is non operational as there is no demand for the air service provided by Pakistan International Airlines. The Airport has been closed since 1998.

Rawalakot Airport Airport codes|RAZ|OPRT is located at Rawala kot in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.

Publications and Literary Activities

Local periodical by the name of "Dharti"(edited by Abid Siddique) is published monthly. Many authors as well as poets have been produced in the valley of Rawalakot.Internationally recognized magazine Mearaj International is well circulated in Rawalakot published from Kashmir, Pakistan & UKDaily news papers from Pakistan are available in English as well as Urdu. Most read newspaper is the Urdu daily Jang and the most listened to Radio Statio is BBC Londonand Vice of Kashmir FM 105 RawalakotFact|date=May 2007.

Hotels and Rest Houses

Small hotels with living accommodations are available in and around the city. Government owned cabins are available in Rawalakot and Banjosa. Advance reservations are recommended as most of these accommodations are used by Government Officials on their tours.

Climate

Average temperature during the summer varies from 60 degrees F to 75 degrees F. During the winter snow falls start during the month of December and last through January. Rainy season starts from April through June. [ [http://www.met.gov.pk Pakistan Meteorological Department ] ]

Culture

Rawalakot has no theatres, however the university does have some sorts of cultural events.

Shopping

Rawalakot has a down town which consists of shops selling everything from groceries to electronic goods.

Non governmental organizations(NGOs)

There are very few active non governmental organizations working in Rawalakot. Press for Peace(PFP) is a very active local NGO. PFP was established by Khawaja Zafar Iqbal, a famous journalist and peace activist from Trar village of Rawalakot. However,PFP headquarters is based in Muzaffarabad, while it has extended its network across Kashmir and abroad.

Education

In addition to The Agriculture University of Azad Kashmir, Rawalakot has a Government College for men and for women, numerous high schools and a number of private schools.

During the earthquake of October 8,2005, many degree colleges were badly damaged, but these have not yet been rebuilt. [ [http://www.ajk.gov.pk/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2351&Itemid=138 Education Statistic] ]

Population

Rawalakot has an estimated population of 50,000. Over 60% of the population belongs to the Sudhan tribe. The remaining 40% is of the population includes many others.

Famous Personalities from Rawalakot

* Sardar Ibrahim Khan,First president of Azad Kashmir.
* Major General (Retired) Muhammad Hayyat Khan, former president of Azad Kashmir.
* Major General (Rtd) Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, former president of Azad Kashmir.
* Justice Sardar Muhammed Nawaz Khan, Current Chief Justice of High Court of [Azad Kashmir.
* Sardar Masood Khan Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
* Tasnim Aslam Ambassador of Pakistan to Italy.
* General (Retd) Muhammad Rahim Khan, former Chief of Pakistan Army in East Pakistan, former Chairman Pakistan International Airlines, former Chairman Pakistan Chrome Mines Ltd and Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense of Pakistan.
* Shaikh Ghulam Ahmad, author, educator and philanthropist.
* M. Rasheed Khan, former chairman, Pakistan Banking Council. Financial consultant.

*Sabir Hussain Sabir International Award winning Author,English/urdu poet and writer.
* Khawaja Zafar Iqbal,renown journalist,peace activist**,founder of Press for Peace(PFP),currently residing in UK where he is associated with research about Media and Globalisation.
* Sardar Ejaz Afzal Khan, Naib Ameer Jamat-Islami Azad Kashmir.
* Sardar Sagheer Ahmed Khan Advocate Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
*Justice Sardar Mohammad Sharif Khan Former Chief Justice of Supreme court Azad Kashmir.
*Justice Raja Mohammad Khurshid Khan former chief Justice of Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir.
*Justice Sardar Said Muhammad Khan Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir] .

Virtual Tour of Rawalakot

References

External links

* [http://www.sudhun.com/ Sudhun]
* [http://www.deiraguesthouse.com/ Rawalakot Guest House]
* [http://www.rawalakot.org/ RAWALAKOT ]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjGijuJD13g Rawalakot video 1]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhmEFN5xI9M Rawalakot video 2]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kqMncPkbI Rawalakot video 3]
* [http://groups.myspace.com/rawalakot Rawalakot development issues forum]
* [http://www.kct-uk.org/kashmir Beauty full wallpapers ]
* [http://www.ajk.gov.pk Official Web Site of Azad Kashmir]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykonR7QRznQ Invasion of Kashmir]
* [http://www.najmi.bravehost.com NaeemOnline]