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.[1] Neighbouring districts are Mansehra to the north, Muzaffarabad to the east, Haripur to the west, and Rawalpindi to the south.[2]
History
Origin of name
The district is named after Major James Abbott, the first deputy commissioner of Hazara (1849–1853).[2]
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.[3]
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.[4] | ” |
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 that also include Union Council Birote, The highly populated area 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.[5]
Language, demography and society
Chhachi/Hindko, Pahari, Potohari, Majhi, Gojri dialects of Punjabi Language and Urdu are the predominant languages of the district.
According to the 1998 census of Pakistan the population of the district was 880,666.[6] 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, Karlals, 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]
Neelam Valley
Main article: Neelam Valley
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 Neelam 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 August/September present a glory. In winter snowfall makes scene more attractive and beautiful. Government Of Pakistan 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 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 have tour offices in this region. It is advisable for the local visitor to make reservations 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 a 45-minute 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 and then to Lora, as restaurants are not available over there due to no development; it is about a 40-minute journey by car from Havelian to the heart of Queen Neelam Valley over well-maintained roads.
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
Abbottabad district is divided into two tehsils, Abbottabad and Havelian as well as one urban administration area – Nawanshehr. There are fifty-one Union Councilsin the district, 35 in Abbottabad tehsil and 16 in Havelian. These are:
Abbottabad Tehsil
- Abbottabad Central
- Bagh
- Bagnotar
- Bakot
- Baldheri
- Banda Pir Khan
- Beerangali & Andersari
- Berote Kalan
- Birote
- Boi
- Chamhad
- Dobather
- Dalola
- Dhamtour
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- kangher pain
Havelian Tehsil
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Government and politics
Election 2008
With the announcement by the Election commission of Pakistan that elections would be held on 8 January 2008[10] more than a dozen candidates filed their nomination papers in Abbottabad.[11]
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) to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The former governor of the province has been vocal in this opposition to the new name[12]
Provincial assembly
The district is represented in the provincial assembly by five elected MPAs:[13]
National assembly
The district is represented in the National Assembly by two elected MNAs who represent the following constituencies:[14]
Education
Abbottabad hosts a large number of public and private schools and colleges, including Abbottabad Public School, Ayub Medical College, Army Burn Hall College, Peshawar university of Engineering and Technology (Abbottabad campus) and Pakistan International Public School and College. The city also 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
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