Chakwal | FindPK

Chakwal is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Chakwal district was created in 1985, until the year 2000 when divisions were abolished,it was part of Rawalpindi Division.

Topography

Chakwal district borders the districts of Rawalpindi and Attock in the north, Jhelum in the east, Khushab in the south and Mianwali in the west. The total area of Chakwal district is 6,609 square kilometres, which is equivalent to 1,652,443 acres (6,687.20 km2).

The southern portion runs up into the Salt Range, and includes the Chail peak, 3,701 feet (1,128 m) above the sea, the highest point in the District. Between this and the Sohan river, which follows more or less the northern boundary, the country consists of what was once a fairly level plain, sloping down from 2,000 feet (610 m) at the foot of the hills to 1,400 feet (430 m) in the neighbourhood of the Sohan ; but the surface is now much cut up by ravines and is very difficult to travel over

Lying at the beginning of the Potohar plateau and the Salt Range, Chakwal is a barani district and the terrain is mainly hilly, covered with scrub forest in the southwest, and levelled plains interspaced with dry rocky patches in the north and northeast.

Demography

According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the total population is 1,083,725 of which 12.01% only were urban making Chakwal the most rural district in Punjab.

Geography

Chakwal is located in the Dhanni region of the Pothohar Plateau in northern Punjab, Pakistan. The Pothohar Plateau (also spelled Potwar or Potohar) was the homeof the ancient Soan valley civilization, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools,coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites. The Indus Valley civilization flourished in this region between the 23rd and 18th centuries BC. Some of the earliest Stone Age artefacts in the world have been found on the plateau, dating from 500,000 to 100,000 years. The crude stone recovered from the terraces of the Soan testify to human endeavour in this part of the world from the inter-glacial period.The Stone Age people produced their equipment in a sufficiently homogeneous way to justify their grouping. Around 3000 BC, small village communities developed in the Pothohar area, which led to the early roots of civilization.

The people of Pothohar speak Pothohari. However, the people of Chakwal and the Dhanni area (now known as Chakwal Tehsil) in particular do not speak Pothohari and are ethnologically not regarded as Potoharis. They speak a distinctive Chakwali or Dhanni dialect of Punjabi, which is closer to Shahpuri, a dialect spoken in the Shahpur-Salt Range area which also has a slight element of Saraiki.

History

Early History

For much of its early history, Dhanni was an uninhabited part of the Jammu state of the Dogra Rajputs, held as a hunting ground for the Rajas of Jammu.

In the year 1190 CE, Raja Bhagir Dev, a Jamwal prince, while on a hunting expedition fell in love with a Muslim woman belonging to a tribe of wandering Gujjar grazers. In order to marry her, he converted to Islam and consequently was asked by his father to stay away from Jammu and settle in this tract along with his men. Raja Bhagir Dev was named Muhammed Mair after conversion to Islam and his descendants are Mair-Minhas Rajputs. The Mairs preferred pastoral rather than agricultural pursuits for the next few centuries and remained confined to this area.

Mughal Era

When around 1525 C.E, the Mughal King Babur stopped by in this area on his way to Kashmir, his army was ambushed by the hostile tribes from the adjoining areas. However, the herds owned by the Mairs came in their way and Babur's Army was awaken, hence the hostile Rajputs had to flee. The next morning, the Mughal King summoned the chief of the tribe, Raja Sidhar and offered him two thirds of the land of Dhanni, if he provided labour to help the Kassar tribesmen to drain the water from the great lake which then covered all the eastern part of the tehsil, up to the ridge followed by the Bhon-Dhudial road.

Raja Sidhar, chief of the Mair-Minhas Rajputs and Gharka Kassar, chief of the Kassars, a Mughal sub-tribe took up the job along with their respective tribesmen. They drained the lake water by cutting through Ghori- Gala, by which the Bunha torrent now flows. Subsequently, they proceeded to take up the country. The Emperor also awarded them the title of Chaudhry, and administration of the newly formed Taluka, which ever since has been called 'Dhan Chaurasi' or 'Maluki Dhan'.

Chaudhry Sidhar settled villages named after his sons Chaku, Murid and Karhan and as Chaku Khan became the chief, he decided to settle in Chakwal, the village named after him and make it the center of administration of the Taluka. Whereas, Kassar chiefs founded the villages of Bal-Kassar and Dhudial

This story is also confirmed by the Hindu family of Gadihok, who happened to be "Qanoongoes" of the area throughout the Mughal era and carry many pertinent certificates by the Mughal Emperors. The Gadihoks claim that Dhanni was named "Malooki Dhan" after their forefather, Malook Chand who happened to be with Babur during settlement of the area and prepared all the paper work; but they agree that the area was given to Mairs, Kassars and Kahuts; while the Gadihoks received only a certain portion of the revenue as an 'inam'.

However, the Janjua's calim that the area was called "Malooki Dhan" after their ancestor, Raja Mal Khan. The Kassars have a similar claim and they say that the area was actually "Baluki Dhan" named after their ancestor Bal Kassar and it was only due to a lithographic error that was noted as Maluki instead of Baluki in Ain-e-Akbari. In contrast to all the afore mentioned claims, "Ain-e-Akbari" indicates Gakkhars as the rulers of the land.

Sikh Era

Their rule over Dhanni continued during the Sikh era as one of Mair chiefs, Chaudhry Ghulam Mehdi had invited Sardar Mahan Singh to this side of Jhelum River. Also, their Dogra cousins Raja Gulab Singh and Dhian Singh were very powerful in the Lahore Durbar, so the influence of
Chakwal Chaudhrials during the was considerable and hence Chakwal once again became the centre of activity in the area It was during that era that Dhanni breed of horses became very popular and even Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's personal horses were kept in the stables of the 'Chakwal Chaudhials'

British Era

In the Second Anglo-Sikh War at Chaillianwala in 1849, they supported the Sikhs and hence their Jagirs were confiscated by the British and even the lands in their headquarters, Chakwal were distributed among their tenants. Consequently, Chakwal started growing as a city and was declared a tehsil Headquarters in 1881

Recent History

Chakwal's non-Muslim minorities departed during partition of the subcontinent in 1947. In April 2009 a terrorist attack on the Imambargah killed more than 20 people.

Find more about History of Pakistan

Historical Sites

Quite a number of historical sites lie in the undulations of Chakwal, the more important of which are:

Katas Raj

Katas Raj is a medieval town sacred to the Hindus and lies about 5 kilometres west of Choa Saidan Shah on the Choa-Kallar Kahar road. Its
importance is derived from the fact that it contains over a 100 temples built over a period of more than a 1000 years by its Hindu Rajas. Some
of these temples are dilapidated but a large number of them have been well maintained. Hindu pilgrims from all over Pakistan and India
frequently visit this town to worship. Katas Raj at its peak time was the well renowned University, a famous mathematician Alberuni measured
the circumference of the earth while he was studying the Sanskrit in this University.

Dulmial

Dulmialis located just 3 km from Katas Raj, a town which is very famous for the services rendered from its residents to all walks of life for Pakistan and also in British Army. Dulmial is one of the two towns on Earth which was awarded with the Victoria Gun After WWI in 1920. The gun was received by Cap. Ghulam Mohammad Malik and other WWI veterans. Since the creation of Pakistan Dulmial has kept its reputaion in the Pak Army as well, apart from the military services this town is also known for the reputation of its people working in high ranks in almost every important governmental and non governmental organisations.

Economy most population of Chakwal is setteled in foreign, however many people prefer to join armed forces like Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force. Chakwal has the highest proportion of it population serving in the Armed forces of Pakistan.

A small percentage of the population is employed in the trading sector, a smaller portion as industrial and mining labour and a very small fraction is employed in technical fields like health, education, banking and engineering.

Education

Higher / Technical Education

At the government level, University Of Engineering, Taxila established a temporary campus in the
city and work is underway for the construction of a Campus building.

A new Government College for Women is also being established in Balkassar.

In the private sector, a polytechnic college called the Swedish Institute of Technology has been
established by a nationwide educational chain.

Two commerce colleges affiliated with University of The Punjab have also been started in the private sector called CSC College of Commerce and Myer's College of Commerce.

A campus affiliated with a virtual university called the Global Institute has also been established in Chakwal

Allama Iqbal Open University,Islamabad (AIOU) has started its regional campus in Chakwal City in 2007.This campus is situated in the Mohalla Basti Allah Wali, Near Girls College, Chakwal.Since then it has been functioning very efficiently and catering the thousands of distance education student of the district.The students are now facilitated here in this centre and they don't have any need to go to Islamabad.

Dr. Aftab Ahmed Mughal who is a renowned educationist of the district, is presently working as the Regional Director of AIOU Chkawl Region.

Schools

The Arya Samaj founded the first ever school in Chakwal at the start of the 20th Century. It was followed by a Khalsa School. Islamia school was the first school established by a society of Muslims. The Government School for boys was established in 1930's. In the 1960s Yousaf Saigol, a business tycoon and owner of the famous Saigol Group built the first modern school in his native village Saigolabad.

Jinnah Public High School was founded in early 70s. Many old students of Jinnah Public School are in Pakistan Armed Forces, telecom and IT companies. Late Principle Mrs. Akram Sultana dedicated her whole life and effort to make this school an example for all private institutes.

After Chakwal was declared a district by General (Shaheed) Zia Ul Haq) in 1986, a modern District Public School was established in the late 80's by the government. (DPS) District Public Higher Secondary School is one one of the best known schools of Chakwal District. It was founded in the 980s by the district government. It is a semi government school for both boys and girls. Since its foundation this school has produced good results. This school was pioneered by renowned educationist Syed Muhammad Ali Wasti (Late).

One of the leading colleges since 1989 is PAF Inter College Kallar Kahar. It has produced several doctors, engineers, IT professionals.Lately, quite a few good private schools have been established in the private sector. Fauji Foundation, Khursheed International, The Educators,
Bahria Foundation, Noble House School and Nexus School Bhaun are providing decent education in purpose built campuses.

A Cadet College,in private sector, was established in Kallar Kahar by General Nazar Hussain in 1997. The College has produced excellent results and is already in the league of top Cadet Colleges in Pakistan.

Myers College was founded in 1999 by Raja Yassir H. Sarfraz, a grandson of Raja Muhammed Sarfraz Khan(late). The instituition is patterned after English Public Schools and offers Cambridge O/A Level qualifications.In the last few years, Myer's College students have shown some tremendous results at the Cambridge International Examinations.

Newspapers and Magazines

Considering Chakwal's small population, the number of local newspapers being published from here is relatively large. Dhan Kahoon is the oldest and most popular local newspaper. Chakwal Point, Chakwal Nama, Press Forum, Aasar, Dhudial Nama, Bab-e-Chakwal, Total and buttgam news are also published in significant quantities. An English newspaper called, " The Revolution " is
also published in Chakwal. The first online newspaper was established by Riaz Butt named as " Dhudialnews".

Monthly "Aabadiyat" is the first and so far the only Urdu magazine being published from here and covers all spheres of life.

Libraries

Chakwal has only one public and very few private libraries, the largest of these is the Allama Iqbal Library located at the committee park Most of the volumes there are in Urdu. The Government College for boys has a library of reasonable size and is open to the public. In the private sector, Myer's Library located at Myers College, Kot Sarfraz Khan has a large number of both English and Urdu books.
There are no public or private libraries for children in rural areas of Chakwal.

Tourism

Chakwal has landscape features including the canyons in Thirchak-Mahal and the yellow beds of
muster"Surson". There are many man-made and natural lakes around the city in Kallar Kahar, Dhok Talian, Kot Rajgan, Khai, Khokar Zer ,Dharabi and the most beautiful village with all the
modern facilities is called KHAJULA.

The Jhangar valley, Bisharat is situated on the road coming from Choa Saidan Shah facing West to
East about 8 km in length between the villages of Kotli and Ara at 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea
level. The weather during the summer is very pleasant and the hills are full of green bushes and olive trees An interesting place of this valley is the Picnic Point of Chehl Abdalâ€

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