Abbottabad District

Abottabad District
—  District  —
Map of Hazara, Pakistan with Abbottabad District highlighted
Country	Pakistan
Province	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Capital	Abbottabad
Established
Government
- District Nazim	Sardar Haider Zaman
- District Naib (Khuata) Nazim	Malik Muhammad Junaid [1]
Area
- Total	1,969 km2 (760.2 sq mi)
Population (1998)
- Total	881,000
- Density	448/km2 (1,160.3/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Number of Union Councils	51
Number of Tehsils	2
Website	http://www.abbottabad.gov.pk

Abbottabad (Urdu: ضلع ایبٹ آباد) is a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The district covers an area of 1,969 km with the city of Abbottabad being the principal town.^[2] Neighbouring districts are Mansehra to the north, Muzaffarabad to the east, Haripur to the west, and Rawalpindi to the south.^[3]

History

A picture of Abbottabad city taken in 1907.

Origin of name

The district is named after Major James Abbott, the first deputy commissioner of Hazara (1849–1853).^[3]

Hazara

During British rule Abbottabad became the capital of Hazara division, which was named after and contained the Hazara valley, a small valley in the outermost Himalayas, between the Indus in the west and Kashmir in the east.^[4]

The current Abbottabad District was originally a tehsil of Hazara, the Imperial Gazetteer of India described it as follows:

“

Tahsīl of Hazāra District, North-West Frontier Province, lying between 33°49' and 34° 22' N. and 72°55' and 73° 31' E., with an area of 715 square miles (1,850 km2). It is bounded on the east by the Jhelum, which divides it from Pūnch and the Punjab District of Rawalpindi; and it comprises part of the mountain valleys drained by the Dor and Harroh rivers, together with the hill country eastward. The hill-sides to the north and north-east are covered with timber forest. The population in 1901 was 194,632, compared with 175,735 in 1891. It contains the towns of ABBOTTABAD (population, 7,764), the tahsil and District head-quarters, and NAWASHAHR (4,114); and 359 villages. The land revenue and cesses amounted in 1903-4 to Rs. 97,000.[5]

”

As Hazara District covered a large area, the provincial government decided for administrative purposes to divide Hazara into Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan, Haripur and Batagram districts. In 1981 Hazara was divided and Abbottabad was formed as a district with two tehsils. In 1981 the total area of District Abbottabad was 3,665 square miles (9,490 km²) with a population of 977,212. Tehsil Abbottabad (a sub division of the district) – had an area of 1,802-square-mile (4,670 km²) and a population of 667,328 including 51% of Circle Bakote. In 1990 the total population of the district was 1,425,032 including Circle Bakote 43%.

Earthquake of 2005

Main article: 2005 Kashmir earthquake

In October 2005, the district was hit by an earthquake, nine Union Councils were badly hit, these were Dalola, Boi, Balakot, Pattan Kalan, Nambal, Berote, Kukmong, Palak and Beerangali located across the two rivers Jehlum and Kunhar.^[6]

Demography and society

According to the 1998 census of Pakistan the population of the district was 0.88 million – and according to an estimate this had risen to 1.05 million in 2008.^[7]according to hazara gazzeter the main tribes are the Dhunds, Tanolis, Awans, Jadoons,Kashmiris,shilmani, Sarrara, Karrlals,Qureshi,mughals, Gujjars, Syed and Satti^[8]

Famous peaks

Miranjani (3,313m) and Mukeshpuri are the highest peaks in this district.

Parks and protected areas

Under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act of 1975, two areas have been designated with the district: Ayubia National Park and Qalanderabad game reserve.^[9] Both areas cover only 6% of the landed area of the district.^[9]

Ayubia National Park

Established in 1984, this park covers an area of over 3,312 ha.^[9]

Neelan Vally

It is part of Mojohan Union Council and is located in an area that was affected by the 2005 earthquake. It is located on Lora Road. The views in this area are quite scenic due to the topography of the land. It is also known locally as the 'Queen of beautiful valleys, along this valley runs the Neelan stream. The origins of this stream are in the Nara Hills through which the streams seems to have cut the valley over time.The natural scenery is highly magnificent. It is actually famous for it scenic beauty, the lush green meadows, deep forests of oak, cedar and pine,vast tracts of unspoiled nature ranging from tropical forest, magnificent waterfalls, fog in Agust/Sept present a glory.In winter snowfall makes scene more attractive and beautiful.Government Of Pakistan Must Should take attention provision of basic infrastructural facilities, namely, good roads, water, electricity, communications and hotels, to centres of attraction, in order to accelerate their development for the purpose of exploiting fully their touristic value. In furtherance of this goal, the appropriate government agency responsible for tourism promotion and development, Must should establish and maintain this close Liaison with other government agencies responsible for the provision of the infrastructure. We would Like the Asian, Europeans and Americas tour companies to having tour offices in this region, It is advisable for the local visitor to make reservation during the holidays and weekends with a particularly busy season. Reservations can be made in Sarbon hotel Abbottabad. You can travel by road from Abbottabad to Havelian City,which is about 45-Min Drive,and visitors coming from Islamabad can travel directly from Hari Pur to Havelian City, where you can make an hour stay for lunch or for refreshment & then to Lora, as restaurants are not aveileble over there due to no development,it is about 40 -Min journey by car from Havelian to heart of queen Nillan vally over well-maintained road.

Qalanderabad game reserve

Established in 1980 with an area of 8,940ha.^[9]

Minerals

Some of the minerals mined within the district are barite, dolomite, granite, gypsum, limestone, magnesite, marble, phosphate, red ochre and red oxide.

Subdivisions

Map showing the administrative subdivisions of Abbottabad District, the Union Councils of Havelian Tehsil are highlighted in green, whilst those of Abbottabad Tehsil are highlighted in red (the names neighbouring districts to Abbottabad are also shown).

Abbottabad district is divided into two tehsils, Abbottabad and Havelian as well as one urban administration area – Nawanshehr. There are fifty-one Union Councils in the district, 35 in Abbottabad tehsil and 16 in Havelian. These are:

Abbottabad Tehsil

GHUMMAVA Abbottabad Central Bagh Bagnotar Bakot Baldheri Banda Pir Khan Beerangali Berote Kalan Boi Chamhad Dalola Dhamtour

Jarral Jhangi Kakul Urban Kehal Urban Kukmang Kuthiala Kuthwal Malikpura Urban urban Mirpur Nagri Bala Nambal Namli Maira

Nathia Gali Nawansher Urban Palak Pattan Kalan Pawa Phalkot Pind Kargu Khan Salhad Sarbhana Sheikh-ul-Bandi Sherwan Sherwan

A===Havelian Tehsil===

Chamnaka Banda Attai Khan Sajikote Hairlan Sharif Satora Dewal Manal Ghari Phulgran Goreeni Havelian Urban Jhangra Langra Langrial

Lora Mojohan Nagri Totial Nara Phallah Seer Gharbi Seer Sharqi Bhattian Tajwalnaqar qutbaal Danna Nooral Kiala Paine Faqir Mohammad Karhakki Bodla

dobather

Provincial assembly

The district is represented in the provincial assembly by five elected MPAs who represent the following constituencies:^[10]

Constituency	MPA	Party
PF-44 (Abbottabad-1)	Inayatullah Khan Jadoon	PML N
PF-45 (Abbottabad-2)	Sardar Shamun Ahmed Khan	PML N
PF-46 (Abbottabad-3)	Haji Qalandar Khan Lodhi	PML Q
PF-47 (Abbottabad-4)	Sardar Aurangzeb Khan Nalotha	PML N
PF-48 (Abbottabad-5)	Muhammad Javed Abbasi	PML N

National assembly

The district is represented in the National Assembly by two elected MNAs who represent the following constituencies:^[11]

Constituency	MNA	Party
NA-17 (Abbottabad-I)	Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi	PML-N
NA-18 (Abbottabad-II)	Murtaza Javed Abbasi	PML-N 2nd

Government and Politics

Election 2008

With the announcement by the Election commission of Pakistan that elections would be held on the 8th January, 2008^[12] more than a dozen candidates filed their nomination papers in Abbottabad.^[13]

Political Campaigns

Abbottabad was the centre of the Sooba Hazara movement that started after national assembly passed 18th amendment to change the name of province from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) or Sarhad to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The former govenor of the province has been vocal in this opposition to the new name^[14]

Education

Abbottabad is home of some of the best educational institutes of the country, including Ayub Medical College, Army Burn Hall College, Abbottabad Public School, COMSATS,Peshawar university of Engineering and Technoly Abbottabad campus and Pakistan International Public School among others. The city also hosts a large number of public and private schools and colleges. It hosts the first private medical college for women in Pakistan, Women Medical College, established in 1999.^[15] Its literacy rate is higher than national average.

NEW CONCEPT OF LEARNING galliat metropolitan institute bringing new concept of learning in hazara division with patnership with uk colleges and universities

• Khanka Mahboobabad Shareef Havelian
• Ilyasi Masjid
• Thandiyani
• Harnounee
• Shimla hill
• Galyaat
• Havelian Railway Station
• Neelan Velly
• Sajikote
• Hairlan
• Satora

Abbottabad

Main article: Abbottabad

Abbottabad the capital city of the district was founded in 1853 by James Abbott, since then it has been an important military cantonment and sanatorium.^[16]

Bakote Circle

Bakote Circle or proposed Tehsil is a cluster of Union Councils in the eastern part of Abbottabad District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Bakote Circle is located on the upper and west bank of the Jhelum River at Kohalla Bridge. The region is somewhere between 65 kilometres and 90 kilometres northwest of Islamabad. "Bakote" means the "land of forts". The Kanhar and Jehlum rivers are the two main rivers in Circle Bakote. Famous hill stations in the area are Miran Jani, Mukeshpuri, Thandiani, Pather Gali, Ayubia, Khanas Pur and Nathia Gali. There are an emerging tourist point at near New Kohala Bridge on Karair Pull.

Ayubia Chair Lifts

Ayubia is 38 km east of Abbottabad. A cluster of four small hill stations of Khanspur, Khairagali, Changlagali and Ghora Dhaka, is called Ayubia and was named after former President Ayub Khan. The complex is spread over an area of 26 km. The central place has chair lifts.

Dungagali

Dungagali is a small resort situated on the slopes of the Mukshpuri hill (2,376 m). It commands a view of a series of wooded spurs projecting towards the river Jhelum on the western side. From Dungagali one can climb the 2,813 metres peak of Mukhshpuri, which is the highest point in the range. Natural springs abound on the slopes. It is 34 km from Abbottabad.

Nathiagali

Nathiagali is clad in pine, walnut, oak and maple trees. It can be approached both from Murree and Abbottabad. It is 32 km from Abbottabad as well as from Murree. Nathiagali is 2493 meter above sea level and is surrounded by mountains.

Thandiani

Thandiani meaning “cold” in the local language, It is one of the highest places of district Abbottabad at an altitude of 2,700 m. It is 31 km from Abbottabad City. The drive takes more or less 80 minutes from Abbottabad with lovely views on both sides of the road. The road rises more than 1,219 metres above Abbottabad. En route from Abbottabad (23 km), the main settlement is the village of Kalapani. "Hullah" is about 2 km east of Thandiani where you can view a part of Muzaffarabad, Pattan sialkot lal.Haweli mohallah jabbri Pattan Kalan, Chamiali, Bandi, Battangi, and Kukmang and other adjioning area. Very beautiful place to visit in the summer time. Thandiani in on the way between Abbottabad and Pattn Kalan. The view of Pattan Kalan and other adjioning area can be seen from "Hullah" and part of Thandiani.

Marhes

Marhes is located some 14 kilometres from Thandiani, a mountain place from where Abbottabad, Mansehra and Muzaffarabad can be seen. Marhes is located in Boi, the border between Muzaffarabad and Abbottabad. The drive takes more than 2 hours from Abbottabad. This is forested area, with some wildlife near the bank of River Kunhar from Balakot to Boi and the 6 kilometres of mountainous areas.

Notable people

• Yasir Hameed, cricketer

References

1. ^ Administration Department – Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa government website
2. ^ Geography of District Abbottabad
3. ^ ^{a b} IUCN Pakistan (2004). Abbottabad – State of the environment and Development. IUCN Pakistan and Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa: Karachi p. 2.
4. ^ Hazara – Nordisk familjebok
5. ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 5, p. 1
6. ^ [EARTHQUAKE RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION AUTHORITY – ERRA]
7. ^ District Profile: Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Abbottabad
8. ^ ELECTIONS 2002 (Hazara Division) – Daily times Pakistan
9. ^ ^{a b c d} IUCN Pakistan (2004). Abbottabad – State of the environment and Development. IUCN Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Karachi p. 50.
10. ^ PF-48 (Abbottabad-V) Result: Announced
11. ^ 2008 Election Result
12. ^ 2008 Elections – ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
13. ^ Election campaign starts in Abbottabad – Associated press of Pakistan
14. ^ Complete strike on riots anniversary: Hazara to get separate identity soon: Baba
15. ^ "Women Medical College, Abbottabad". Colleges/Universities. ilmkidunya.com. http://www.ilmkidunya.com/colleges/women-medical-college-abbottabad.aspx. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
16. ^ Abbottabad – Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition

Coordinates: 34°00′N 73°00′E / 34°N 73°E / 34; 73