Mirpur District (Urdu: ضلع میر پور) is a district in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, which is part of the larger disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.[1] The district is named after the main city, Mirpur. The District of Mirpur has a population of 371,000 and covers an area of 1,010 km2 (390 sq mi).[1] The district is mainly mountainous with some plains. Its hot, dry climate and other geographical conditions closely resemble those of Jhelum and Gujrat, the adjoining districts of Pakistan.
Contents
- 1 Language and history
- 2 Government
- 3 Tourism
- 4 Refugees
- 5 Villages
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Language and history
Prior to the independence of Pakistan and India, Mirpur was part of the Jammu division of the independent state of Jammu & Kashmir. The Jammu division, separated from ethnic Kashmiris in Kashmir Valley by the Pir Panjal mountain range is distinct from the Kashmir Valley division in its culture as its people are of Potwari / Pahari ethnicity rather than Kashmiri ethnicity.
Mirpuri Potohari, Majhi and Gojri dialects of Punjabi Language and Kashmiri language are the predominant languages of the district. Other languages spoken include Urdu and English.
Government
Mirpur District is located in southwestern Kashmir, and west of the Jammu province. It is part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which comes under the protection of Pakistan. Part of Jammu is currently managed by India. Both countries are currently in dispute as to which country owns Jammu and Kashmir. Azad Kashmir is considered politically, constitutionally and geographically part of a separate state, Azad Kashmir, which is in turn an autonomous entity under the government of Pakistan. The district is administratively subdivided into three tehsils:
- Chakswari
- Dadyal
- Mirpur
Tourism
- Islamgarh (town)
- Kakra (town) - Located 12 KM from Mirpur - comes between Mirpur and Islamgarh.
- Khari Sharif - located 8 km from Mirpur; it is famous for its Sufi shrines.
- Mangla, a town 16 km from Mirpur; it is situated at the mouth of the Mangla Dam.
- Rajoa
- Ramkot Fort
- Sahalia
- Lehari Power HouseLocated 24 KM from Dina
Refugees
Erstwhile Mirpur District (including present-day Bhimber District) has a considerable refugee population (like refugees in Karachi) from Indian-held Kashmir who migrated to Azad Kashmir during 1947 and 1965 wars. They are from almost all the castes; however, Mirpur (especially Tehsil Dadyal) has predominantly Jat and Gujjar caste refugees. The villages of Jat refugees in Tehsil Dadyal are Mohra Malkan and Mehndir Colony. A vast majority from Mohra Malkan has shifted to Village Khairowal Jattan, Tehsil Barnala, Distt Bhimber in 1974 where each family was alloted 64 Kanals of agricultural land. However, many of the families which shifted to Khairowal or Chamb still have nostaligic feelings of their days in Dadyal and great people of Dadyal. They do not miss an opportunity (funeral, weddings, festivals) to enjoy their occasional reunions with the inhabitants ofMohra Malkan and other nearby villages like Chapran, Mehra etc.
Villages
- Mirpur tehsil
Abdupur, Abdulahpur, Andrah Kalan, Arah Jagir, Bains, Bani, Burjan, Chabrian Dattan, Chak Haryam, Chandral, Chatan, Chechian, Dalyala, Dheri Thothal, Ghaseetpur Awan, Ghaseetpur Sohalian, Islamgarh, Jatlan,Jangian Kotla, Kakra, Kalyal Bhainsi, Kas Kalyal, Khari Sharif, Khokhar, Mehmunpur, Nagial, Pindi Subherwal, Potha Bainsi.Saang Nakka
- Dadyal tehsil
Amb, Chattroh, Haveli Baghal, Kathar Dilawar, Mandi, Mohra Malkan, Mohra Sher Shah, Rajoa, Ratta, Sahalia, Siakh Pahaith, Thalarajwali Khan, Thub Jagir, Ankar Raajgan.
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