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History
| Boundary | Politics |
Main Tribes of Loralai |
Development | NGOs |
Resources
Loralai is a district in the centre of Balochistan province of Pakistan.
Loralai district was created on October, 1903. Loralai town is the district
headquarters. Loralai was further partitioned in 1992 when Musakhel and
Barkhan were given the status of separate administrative districts.
It was formerly known as Bori. It is inhabited by Pashtun tribes such as
Naser, Tareen, Khilji (including Kakar, Sulaiman Khel, Tarakai, Andar, and
Luni). The Tareen tribe of Pashtuns is in majority and Khilji arrived from
the Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan region at some point in time during
the past. Malazai is the sub tribe of Kakar and they live in Loralai, Qila
Saifullah and Chaman.
The area has Coal mines. The terrain of the area is part of the landscape
created by the Sulaiman Range. A peculiar feature of the soil of the
Loralai is that it cannot be used for baked bricks as a baked brick gets
brittle. Hence most of the town is made of mud. On the northern side of the
town, there exists an old cantonment established before the Partition of
India in 1947 by the British Empire to make the defence of India strong
against the Russian Empire.
Search Loralai on Satellite Map
Places of Interest
| Hotels |
Eating &
Dining | Parks &
Gardens |
Educational Institutes |
Hospitals |
Sport Centers |
Banks |
ATM |
Fuel Stations |
Police Stations |
Shopping /Trade
History
In 1545 Duki, a dependency of the Kandahar province, was conferred upon Mir
Sayyid Ali by the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The province of Kandahar continued
under Mughals until the year 1559 when it passed into the hands of the
Safavids Kings of Persia and remained under their control until 1595. In
1595 it was recaptured by Emperor Akbar the Great, during Akbar’s reign the
territory of Duki which was generally garrisoned, formed an eastern
dependency of the Kandahar Province and provided a contingent of 500 horses
and 1,000-foot (300 m) soldiers. In 1622 Kandahar again passed under the
Safavids.
In 1653 Emperor Shah Jahan sent a large expedition under his eldest son
Dara-Shikoh to regain Kandahar but in vain. This was the last attempt on the
part of the Mughals to regain Kandahar which was now lost to them for ever.
Mir Wais Ghilzai or Khilji established Ghilzai/Khilji power in Kandahar
around 1709. After 30 years of supremacy the Ghilzai/Khilji power gave way
to Nadir Shah who captured after a severe struggle in 1737. However in 1747
Nadir Shah was assassinated and Ahmad Shah Durrani took over the reign of
Government. The Durranis were followed in about 1826 by the Barakzai under
Dost Mohammad. Almost the whole of Loralai District remained under this
dynasty till 1879, in 1879 Duki and the Thal Chotiali country with other
parts of Balochistan passed into the hands of the British.
In 1879 at the close of the first phase of Afghan war a British contingent
while returning from Kandahar was opposed by a large body of tribesmen from
the Zhob and Bori valley at Baghao under command of Shah Jahan (chief of
Zhob). However tribal lashkar was defeated completely. In 1881 Thal Chotiali
(Sibi) which included Duki was made Sub district of the Harnai political
Agency. In 1881 inhabitants of Sanjavi were brought under British
subjugation. In 1883 it was decided to build cantt at Duki and the Garrison
of Thal Chotiali (Sibi) leaving a detachment at Gumbaz. In October 1884 a
force comprising 4800 men moved in to Bori (Loralai) valley and the mission
was completely successful. In the following years it was decided that a
frontier road should be constructed from Dera Ghazi Khan to Pishin through
Loralai. The cantt from Duki was accordingly moved forward in 1886 to
Loralai and Mil posts were stationed at Sanjavi, Mekhtar and Kingri. The
Head Quarter of Assistant Political Agent at Duki was also changed to
Loralai. In Nov 1887 Duki and Thal Chotiali (Sibi) were declared parts of
British India and for the purpose of administration, the designation of the
Political Agent was changed to that of Deputy Commissioner. In 1888 Sir
Robert Sandeman proceeded with a small force through Musa Khel to Southern
Zhob. Ultimately this led to the occupation of the Zhob valley in 1889.
Loralai town and cantt remained under the Thal Chotiali Dist until 1894 when
it was made over to the Zhob Agency. Famous People: Haji Soba kHan, Malak
Jalat Khan, Dr.noor ullah Khan, yaqub Nasar, Gul Muhammad khan Jogezai,
Saradr Asmat Ullah Musakhail, Dr. Atta Gul Hmzazai.
Boundary
The present boundaries of Loralai district contain two sub-divisions namely
sub-division Duki and sub-division Bori. Duki sub-division is further
divided into Tehsil Duki and Sub-Tehsil Sinjavi. Sub-division Bori consists
of tehsil Bori and sub-tehsil Makhter.
Politics
In Oct 1903 the Thal Chotali and Zhob Agencies were remodeled and the name
of former was changed to Sibi District and thus a new District, Loralai was
created. To this were the Musa Khel and Bori Tehsils from Zhob and Duki,
Sanjavi and Barkhan Tehsils from the Thal Chotiali Distt.
In 1936 of Zangiwal killi started a democratic movement against British
Empire by the name of "Anjuman-i-Watan". The founder of this movement was
**Khan Shaheed Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai** in Southern areas of
Pashtunkhuwa(NWFP). This was first well oraganized democratic movement in
the history of Loralai as well as in the history of Zhob division. Baran
Khan Kudezai established an office in Loralai city near Paharhi Muhallah
(Mountainous part in city). In 1937 the Tehreek was in more spirit and
succeeded, a huge number of people joined the Tehreek and they demanded a
separate homeland for Pashtoons in Southern and western areas of NWFP. In
western areas the Khudai Khidmat Gar tehreek was on peak for independence
from British emperor. Baran Khan invited the Khan Abdul Ghaffar khan in
Loralai in 1938 and there held a huge public meeting in city with the help
of Anjuman-i-Watan. Abudul Samad Khan Achakzai the chairman of
Anjuman-i-Watan also participated in that meeting. At night Abdul Ghaffar
Khan and Abdul Samad Khan took dinner in Zangiwal village at Baran Khan's
hujra(Guestroom). In 1939, the Commissionar of Loralai District started a
crakdown against all the political leaders of Tehreek and arrested more than
hundreds of the leaders. was also arrested and was confined for 6 months
Judicial remands in central Jail Quetta. At the time of imprisoning at the
Central Jail Quetta, Allah has given son to Baran Khan. Baran Khan named his
new born baby as Anjuman. He wanted to leave alive this name for always. The
Jail Superintendent offered three shops in Jinnah road and asked Baran Khan
Kudezai to take aside from the movement and stay in Quetta. Baran Khan
rejected those offers and submitted his life to the his own homeland by the
name of Pashtunistan or Pashtunkhuwa.
Demography
The population of Loralai district was estimated to be over 700,000 in 2005.
The vast majority of the population of Loralai district are Pashtun with
Kakar and nasar as majority tribes. The district offers a great blend of
mixed tribes from all parts of Pakistan. Some major tribes of Loralai have
migrated from the parts of Zhob like Batozai, Jogezai, Jalalzai and Musazai
& Some from Afghanistan i.e Nasar,Sulemankhail,Tarakai,Tokhai,Andar etc..
Main Tribes of Loralai
District Loralai is inhabited by pre dominately Pathan tribes. Maj tribes
are
-
Nasar
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Tareen
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Durrani
-
Luni
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Hamzazai
-
Musa khail
-
Khilji or Ghilzai
(including, Sulaimankhel,Tarakai,Hottak,Tokhai,Andar etc)
-
Syed (peachi)
-
Jogazia (sub branch of
Kakar)
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Marmakhail (
malazai,kudizai,shabozai,etc)
Duki
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Tareen
-
Nasar
-
Luni
-
Zarkoon
-
Sargarai
-
Khajjak (Hamzazai)
-
Shadozai (kakar)
-
Seemab malghani
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Syed (peachi)
Musa Khel
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Zimri
-
Belkhel
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Laharzai
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Syed (Ghar Sheen)
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Gaffer
-
Hamzazai
Development
Loralai city has its own radio broadcasting station and mobile coverage of
three operators. With the completion of the Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan road,
many people see a much more brighter and prosperous future for the district
since the travel to DG Khan is important in many ways like the
transportation of cash crops and food crops and coal loaded trucks from
Chamalang coal mines. The road in under construction between Wagum Rud and
khajuri since long. Now the fresh contact has been awarded to FWO and fresh
date for its completion is December 2008. All coal loaded trucks heading to
Punjab and other areas travel on this road.
NGOs
Many NGOs are working in Loralai district initially for the Afghan refugees
and host communities and now for the whole resident communities. Mercy
Corps, an International humanitarian organisation has recently started its
ECTB program in Loralai along with five other districts i.e. Barkhan, Kohlu,
Musakhel and Ziarat. ECTB program is intended to provide free test and
diagnosis for the patients of killer disease Tuberculosis. Mercy Corps will
also start many other projects from reproductive health to HIV & AIDS
control program in its future plans for the district of Loralai. This
project of ECTB is funded by the European Union and implemented by Mercy
Corps. Some other local NGOs are also working in the region like
LAFAM,Association For Heath Development(A H D)which is working on malaria
and has started its free medical camp in D H Q hospital Duki in
collaboration with directorate of malaria control program and remained its
camp open as long as malari being controlled in the area. WRANGA and many
more. Wrang is a pashto language word which means 'beam of light'.
Resources
All kinds of fruits and vegetables are cultivated in this district. Loralai
is especially famous for its almond and apple production. Loralai is also
rich in marble and its marble tiles are gaining popularity throughout the
country. A lot of marble trimming factories have been established in the
district and it now provides marble tiles to various parts of the country.
The major source of income for the common inhabitants is agriculture and
farming.and also for marble industries . nasrullah marble and mining co one
of the company from area it is working since 1998 .
The town, which is situated 4,700 ft (1,400 m) above the sea level in which
the wealth of the inhabitants is derived from their herds of cattle and
other animals also. The district is also popular in the business of items
especially vehicles smuggled here through Afghan Transit Trade. All types of
vehicles are smuggled to Loralai and then to the other parts of the country
after being customed or duplicated in papers here. |
