Sawal Dher

Sawal Dher is an historic village in Mardan District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan [ [http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=53&dn=Mardan Tehsils & Unions in the District of Mardan- Government of Pakistan] ] that contains the remains of an ancient city. The village is located 5 kilometres southwest of Jamal Garhi, most of the relics of this site are now in Lahore Museum [ [http://www.mardan.sdnpk.org/Historical%20Sites.htm Mardan District - IMPORTANT HISTORICAL PLACES] ] . This site is situated at a distance of 4/5 kilometres in the southwest of Jamal Garhi. Most of the sculptures of this monastery are preserved in Peshawar and Lahore Museums. It is 19 km from the provincial capital Mardan.

There is a small woodcutting industry. This village has an ancient history. Most of the sculptures of this monastery are preserved in Peshawar and Lahore museum. Sawaldher is mainly inhabited by the Khattak family. The population of Sawaldher, according to the 1998 census, is about 40,000. Most of the people of the village are farmers. Moreover, the linked villages(also part sawal dher) Guli Bagh and Musa Khatt are situated 5 kilometres north east and are famous for their sales outlets.

Many people are engaged in business and government service also. There is one higher secondary school for boys and one for girls, as well as private schools and tutoring. The Basic Health Unit fulfils the needs of health of the village.

The main sources of the irrigation are the canals. The Upper Swat canal irrigates Sawaldher, Besides, irrigation is done by tube-wells and lift irrigation. The major crops grown in the village are wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, maize, rice, rapeseed, and mustard. Fruits and vegetables are also grown. The important fruits are orange, plum, peach, apricot, pear, rare mango and apple. The most common diet is bread, which is made of wheat or maize flour. The people of the area are fond of meat; various forms of beef cooked in the shape of chapli kebab, seekh kebab, tikkas and qahwa (green tea) are all popular and enjoyed by most people.

The maximum temperature recorded in the summer season is 39.5 degree Celsius. A steep rise in temperature is observed from May to June. Due to intensive cultivation and artificial irrigation, the tract is humid and heat is oppressive. However, the average daily temperature falls quite steeply from October onward. The coldest months are December and January. The mean minimum temperature recorded for the month of January, Sawal Dher's coldest month, is 0 degree Celsius. Most of the rainfall occurs in the months of July, August, December and January. August is the wettest month with the highest recorded precipitation at 125.8 mm. Towards the end of the cold season there are occasional thunderstorms and hail storms. The relative humidity is quite high throughout the year, while 73% maximum humidity has been recorded in December.

Occupations

Most of the people in the village are farmers. However, most of the educated class is employed by the Education Department.

Center for Information Sawal Dher (CIS)

Is a group of young Sawaldherians gathered to investigate the history of Sawal Dher & to work for the development of Sawal Dher. Most of the CIS members are university graduates & are highly motivated. They are firmly committed to make the village a model for other villages & towns. Currently the chairman of CIS is Mr. Muhammad Tayyab who is by profession a lawyer, with deep interest history & religion. The Web Development unit at CIS headed by Mr. Muhammad Aslam is currently busy in designing & developing a full eGovernment website for the local government.History unit of CIS is ready to publish two books on Sawal Dher. The development section has developed a comprehensive plan for the development in education, health & poverty reduction; expected to be funded by UN & the local government.

References

External links

[http://www.geocities.com/sawaldhervillage/Book.htm A Book On Sawal Dher By Hafiz Sherin Gul]

[http://sawaldher.blogspot.com Sawal Dher Blog]

[http://www.geocities.com/sawaldhervillage/map.gifSawal Dher Map]