Peshawar

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Peshawar پېښور پشاور
Islamia College at the University of Peshawar
Peshawar Location within Pakistan
Coordinates: 34°00′N 71°30′E / 34°N 71.5°E / 34; 71.5
Country	Pakistan
Province	North-West Frontier Province
Union Councils	25
Government
- Nazim (Mayor)	Haji Ghulam Ali
Area
- Total	2,257 km2 (871.4 sq mi)
Elevation	510 m (1,673 ft)
Population (2006)
- Total	2,955,254
- Density	1,309.4/km2 (3,391.3/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Area code(s)	091
Website	Peshawar Local Government

Peshāwar (help·info) (Pashto: پېښور; Urdu: پشاور; is the capital of the North-West Frontier Province^[1] and the administrative centre for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan,^[2] founded by the Kushan king Kanishka in the 2nd century AD. The name "Peshawar" derives from Sanskrit Purushapura (meaning "city of men") and is known as Pekhawar or Peshawar in Pashto or Pukhto depending on the dialect and Pishor in the native Hindko language. The area of the city has been ruled by numerous empires including the Afghan, Persian, Shahi, Greek, Maurya, Scythian, Arab, Turk, Mongol, Mughal, Sikh and the British.

In ancient times, a major settlement called Purushpur was established by Kanishka, the king of the Central Asian Kushans, in the general area of modern Peshawar. Purushpur emerged as a major center of Buddhist learning until the 10th century, and was the capital of the ancient Indo-Greek kingdom of Gandhara. During that time, the Kanishka stupa on the outskirts of Peshawar, was the tallest building in the world - rising to almost 700 feet.^[3]

The current city was established during the Mughal period in the 16th century by Akbar during which it received the name Peshawar. During much of its history, the city was one of the main trading centres on the ancient Silk Road and was a major crossroads for various cultures between South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Located on the edge of the Khyber Pass near the Afghan border, Peshawar is the commercial, economic, political and cultural capital of the Pashtuns in Pakistan. It is as a geographical and cultural frontline between extremist, moderate, and liberal Islam.

Contents 1 History of Peshawar 1.1 Ancient Peshawar 1.2 Indo-Greek Peshawar 1.3 Kanishka's Rule 1.4 Arrival of Islam 1.5 Reigns of the Pashtun Kings 1.6 Decline Under Sikh Rule 1.7 Colonial Peshawar 1.8 Independence and Afghan Instability 2 Geography and climate 3 Demographics 4 Culture 5 Transport 5.1 Airport 5.2 Public transport 5.3 Trains 6 Government 6.1 Key Villages 6.2 City Development & Municipal Department (CD&MD) 7 Old City of Peshawar 8 Educational institutions 9 Organizations 10 Tourist information 11 Notable people 12 Sister cities 13 Footnotes 14 Further reading 15 External links

[edit] History of Peshawar

Being among the most ancient cities of the region between Central, South, and West Asia, Peshawar has for centuries been a centre of trade between Afghanistan, South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. As an ancient center of learning, the 2nd century B.C.E. Bakhshali Manuscript used in the Bakhshali approximation was found nearby^[4]. Peshawar is also the setting of the famous story Peshawar Nights, which was an exchange between a Shia scholar and a Sunni audience over the course of eleven nights, which presumably resulted in their acceptance of Shi'ism.

Peshawar was a major center of Buddhist learning until the 10th century. ^[5] As an indication of its importance, Peshawar was also the site of Kanishka's Great Stupa which housed relics of Gautama Buddha, and was widely considered to be the tallest building in the world at the time of its construction.^[6] Ancient Chinese manuscripts tell of Buddhist pilgrims such as Faxian, Sung Yun, and Xuanzang reporting that the 7th century stupa, which was rediscovered in 1908, had a height of 591–689 feet.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Peshawar emerged as a centre of both Hindko and Pashtun intellectuals. Its dominant culture for much of British rule was that of the Hindko speakers, also referred to as "Khaarian" ('city dwellers' in Pashto).^[12] Its unique culture, distinct from the surrounding Pashtun areas, led to the city being romanticized by Pashto singers, with songs like larsha Pekhwar tha (let us go to Peshawar) and more recently Pekhawar kho pekhawar dhay kana. This unique culture has gradually disappeared with the massive influx of Afghan refugees and the increasing migration of Pashtuns into the city. The demographics has changed quite dramatically and Pashto is now the dominant language of the city.

[edit] Ancient Peshawar

Peshawar is located in an area that was dominated by various tribes of Indo-Iranian origin. The region was affiliated with the ancient kingdom of Gandhara and had links to the Harappan civilization of the Indus River Valley and to Bactria and other ancient kingdoms based in Afghanistan. According to the historian Tertius Chandler, Peshawar had a population of 120,000 in the year 100 BCE, making it the seventh most populous city in the world.^[13]

Vedic mythology refers to an ancient settlement called Pushkalavati in the area, after Pushkal, the son of King Bharata in the epic Ramayana.^[14], but this settlement's existence remains speculative and unverifiable.^[15] In recorded history, the earliest major city established in the general area of Peshawar was called Purushapura (Sanskrit for City of Men) and was founded by the Kushans, a Central Asian tribe of Tocharian origin, over 2,000 years ago.^[16] Prior to this period the region was affiliated with Gandhara, an ancient Indo-Iranian kingdom, and was annexed first by the Persian Achaemenid empire and then by the Hellenic empire of Alexander the Great. The city passed into the rule of Alexander's successor, Seleucus I Nicator who ceded it to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire in 305 BCE. Buddhism was introduced into the region at this time and may have claimed the majority of Peshawar's inhabitants before the coming of Islam.^[17]

[edit] Indo-Greek Peshawar

The area that Peshawar occupies was then seized by the Greco-Bactrian king, Eucratides (170 - 159 BCE), and was controlled by a series of Greco-Bactrian and later Indo-Greek kings who ruled an empire that spanned from present day Pakistan to North India. Later, the city came under the rule of several Parthian and Indo-Parthian kings, another group of Iranic invaders from Central Asia, the most famous of whom, Gondophares, ruled the city and its environs starting in circa 46 CE, and was briefly followed by two or three of his descendants before they were displaced by the first of the "Great Kushans", Kujula Kadphises, around the middle of the 1st century CE.

[edit] Kanishka's Rule

Peshawar formed the eastern capital of the empire of Gandhara under the Kushan king Kanishka, who reigned from at least 127 CE. Peshawar became a great centre of Buddhist learning. Kanishka built what may have been the tallest building in the world at the time, a giant stupa, to house the Buddha's relics, just outside the Ganj Gate of the old city of Peshawar.

The Kanishka stupa was said to be an imposing structure as one travelled down from the mountains of Afghanistan onto the Gandharan plains. The earliest account of the famous building is by the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim monk, Faxian, who visited it in 400 and described it as being over 40 chang in height (probably about 120 m or 394 ft) and adorned "with all precious substances". "Of all the stûpas and temples seen by the travellers, none can compare with this for beauty of form and strength." It was destroyed by lightning and repaired several times. It was still in existence at the time of Xuanzang's visit in 634. From the ruined base of this giant stupa there existed a jewelled casket containing relics of the Buddha, and an inscription identifying Kanishka as the donor, and was excavated from a chamber under the very centre of the stupa's base, by a team under Dr. D.B. Spooner in 1909. The stupa was roughly cruciform in shape with a diameter of 286 feet (87 meters) and heavily decorated around the sides with stucco scenes.

Sometime in the 1st millennium BCE, the group that now dominates Peshawar began to arrive from the Suleiman Mountains of southern Afghanistan to the southwest, the Pashtuns. Whether or not the Pashtuns existed in the region even earlier is debatable, as evidence is difficult to attain. Some writers such as Sir Olaf Caroe write that a group that may have been the Pashtuns existed in the area and were called the Pactycians by Herodotus and the Greeks, which would place the Pashtuns (or Pakhtuns) in the area of Peshawar much earlier along with other Aryan tribes. Ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Rig-Veda, speak of an Aryan tribe called the Pakht, living in the region.

“

In the Vedic literature however we come across the name of a tribe called Pakta.[18]

”

Regardless, over the centuries the Pashtuns would come to dominate the region and Peshawar has emerged as an important center of Pashtun culture along with Kandahar and Kabul as well as Quetta in more recent times. Muslim Arab and Turkic arrived and annexed the region before the beginning of the 2nd millennium.

[edit] Arrival of Islam

The Pashtuns began to convert to Islam following early annexation by the Arab Empire from Khurasan (in what is today western Afghanistan and northeastern Iran).^[19]

“

Sebuktagin dying in 997 was succeeded as governor of Khorasan by his son Mahmud, who throwing of all dependence on the Samani princes, assumed the title of Sultan in 999, and from this reign the Hindu religion in these parts may be said to have received a death blow. In the early reign of this celebrated invader of India the plains of Peshawar were again the scene of some great battles, the first of which was fought on the maira between Nowshera and the Indus, in the year 1001. Mahmud was opposed by Jaipal, who had been constantly endevouring to recover the country wrested from him by Sebuktagin, still aided by some Pathans whose allegiance to the Muslim governor of Peshawar was not of long continuance. The battle took place on November 27 and the Hindus were one again routed, Jaipal himself being taken prisoner, who upon his subsequent release resigned the crown to his son Anandpal. On this occasion Mahmud punished the Pathans who had sided with the enemy, and as they were now converted entirely to the Islam, they stayed true to their new allegiance, and joined the Sultan in his wars against the infidels.[20]

”

Peshawar was taken by Turkic Muslims in 988 and was incorporated into the larger Pashtun domains by the 16th century. The founder of the Mughul dynasty that would conquer South Asia, Babur, who hailed from current Uzbekistan, came to Peshawar and founded a city called Bagram where he rebuilt the fort in 1530. His grandson, Akbar, formally named the city Peshawar, meaning "The Place at the Frontier" in Persian and expanded the bazaars and fortifications. The Muslim technocrats, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, scientists, architects, teachers, theologians and Sufis flocked from the rest of the Muslim world to Islamic Sultanate in South Asia and many settled in the Peshawar region.^[15]

[edit] Reigns of the Pashtun Kings

The Pashtun conqueror Sher Shah Suri, turned Peshawar's renaissance into a boom when he ran his Delhi-to-Kabul Shahi Road through the Khyber Pass and Peshawar. Thus the Mughals turned Peshawar into a "City of Flowers" by planting trees and laying out gardens similar to those found to the west in Persia. Khushal Khan Khattak, the Pashtun/Afghan warrior poet, was born near Peshawar and his life was intimately tied to the city. Khattak was an early Pashtun nationalist, who agitated for an independent Afghanistan including Peshawar. As such, he was an implacable foe of the Mughal rulers, especially Aurangzeb.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, by the 18th century the city came under Persian control during the reign of Nadir Shah. In 1747, following a loya jirga, Peshawar would join the Afghan/Pashtun empire of Ahmad Shah Durrani as a Pakthun region. Pashtuns from Peshawar took part in the incursions of South Asia during the rule of Ahmad Shah Durrani and his successors.

[edit] Decline Under Sikh Rule

Ranjit Singh lead the Sikh army and invaded Peshawar in 1818 after wresting it from Afghanistan - resulting in Peshawar's darkest times as a part of The Sikh Kingdom of Punjab. In the wars between to two nations, the city's population was decimated as up to half of its inhabitants were killed or expelled under the Sikh reign.^[21][22] The famous mosque at Ghor Khatri which was built by Jahan Ara Begum, daughter of Emperor Shahjahan, was destroyed by the Sikhs around 1823 and replaced with a temple to Gorakhnath, which remains until the present day. ^[23][24]

All but one of Peshawar's grand Mughal mosques were destroyed under Sikh rule^[25]. In contradiction to some Sikh sources, which continue to insist that no Sikh ever desecrated a mosque,^[26] of the many Mughal mosques that existed prior to the Sikh invasion, only the Mohabbat Khan Mosque survived Sikh depredations as it was used as an execution ground. Even there, the Sikhs destroyed the crowns of the minarets which had to be rebuilt later by the British^[27].

Sikh rule of the city from 1834 to 1843 was administered under an Italian general named Paolo Di Avitabile, whose reign was described as one of "gallows and gibbets".^[28] British Gazetteers noted that General Avitable used the minarets of the famed Mohabbat Khan Mosque as gallows.^[29][30][31] Despite claims that no Sikh desecrated a mosque,^[32][33] the desecration of Peshawar's mosques by their appointed administrator is well documented.

In regards to Sikh rule in Peshawar, the British noted:

“

Of the monuments of the Muslim period, too very few have survived our own times, not because the Muslim kings were not endowed with architectural tastes and talents or that they did not construct any attractive edifices, but because everything of architectural value that existed here was destroyed by the Sikhs, especially during Avitabile’s reign as the Governor of Peshawar. The only buildings of any antiquity and historical interest are the Gor Khatri, also called Serai Jahanabad, and the Mosque of Mahabat Khan. Even these did not escape the tyrant’s hand, while the mosque was desecrated and its lofty minars were used as gallows, the Serai was converted into the residence of the governor, and the mosque of Jahan Ara Begum built inside was replaced by a temple, which still stands there.[34]

”

The Sikhs also proceeded to destroy Peshawar's own Shalimar Gardens, as well as burn a large portion of the city. They felled many trees in the city gardens for use as firewood^[35]. The Sikhs also destroyed much of the Bala Hisar Fort during their reign, but rebuilt it in its current form under the governance of Hari Singh Nalwa, briefly renaming it Samir Garh^[36].

[edit] Colonial Peshawar

With the collapse of the Sikh Empire, following the passing by of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Sikh defeat in the second Anglo-Sikh War, the British occupied Peshawar, much to the relief of its citizens who had endured the brutal conditions of Sikh occupation.

The mountainous areas outside of the city were mapped out in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand, then foreign secretary of the British Indian government, who demarcated the boundary of his colony with the Afghan ruler at the time, Abdur Rahman Khan. It is now known as the Durand Line. The Kabul government has argued that the pact expired when British colonialists left the region - although claims to the region have not been a part of official Afghan policy.

[edit] Independence and Afghan Instability

In 1947, Peshawar became part of the newly independent state of Pakistan after politicians from the Frontier approved merger into the state that had just been carved from British India. While a large majority of people approved of this action, others believed in the unity of India, such as Abdul Ghaffar Khan. Still others believed that the province should have ascended to Afghanistan - a position which later evolved into a call for a state independent of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Until the mid-1950s, Peshawar was enclosed within a city wall and sixteen gates. Of the old city gates, the most famous was the Kabuli Gate but only the name remains to this date. Peshawar has not grown as much in size or capacity as the population has. As a result it has become a polluted and overcrowded city^[37].

After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Peshawar served as a political centre for the anti-Soviet Mujahideen, and was surrounded by huge camps of Afghan refugees. Many of the refugees remained through the Afghan civil war, which broke out after the Soviets withdrew in 1989, antecedent to the rule of the Taliban, and the invasion by American and allied forces in late 2001. Peshawar would replace Kabul and Kandahar as the centre of Pashtun cultural development during this tumultuous period. Peshawar managed to assimilate many of the Pashtun Afghan refugees with relative ease, while other Afghan refugees have remained in camps awaiting a possible return to Afghanistan.

Peshawar continues to be a city that links Pakistan to Afghanistan as well as Central Asia and has emerged as an important regional city in Pakistan. It remains a focal point for Pashtun culture. Today, like the surrounding region, it is at the crossroads of the struggle between the extremist Taliban and moderates, liberals and Pashtun nationalists. As a demonstration of their determination to destroy Pashtun icons, the Taliban bombed the shrine of the most beloved Pashtun poet, Rahman Baba, in 2009.

[edit] Geography and climate

Climate chart for Peshawar
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
26   18 4	43   20 6	78   24 11	49   30 16	27   36 21	8   40 26	42   38 27	68   36 26	18   35 23	10   31 16	12   26 10	23   20 5
average temperatures in °C precipitation totals in mm source: World Weather Information Service
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1   65 39     1.7   67 43     3.1   75 52     1.9   86 62     1.1   97 70     0.3   105 78     1.7   100 80     2.7   96 78     0.7   95 73     0.4   88 61     0.5   78 49     0.9   68 41 average temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches

Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass and sits mainly on the Iranian plateau along with the rest of the NWFP. Peshawar is literally a frontier city of South-Central Asia and was historically part of the Silk Road.

The Peshawar valley is covered with consolidated deposits of silt, sands and gravel of recent geological times. The flood Plains/Zones are the areas between Kabul River and Budni Nala. The meander flood plain extends from Warsak in the Northwest towards Southeast in the upper Northern half of the district. The Kabul river enters the district in the Northwest. On entering the Peshawar Plain, the Kabul River is divided into several channels. Its two main channels are the Adizai River Eastward flows along the boundary with Charsadda District. Another channel branching from the right bank of the Naguman River is the Shah Alam, which again merges with Naguman River further in the East. In general the sub-soil strata is composed of gravels, boulders, and sands overlain by silts and clays. Sand, gravel and boulders are important aquifer extends to a depth of about 200 feet (61 m). As further confined water bearing aquifer occurs at depths greater than 400 feet (120 m).

Winter in Peshawar starts from mid November to the end of March. Summer months are May to September. The mean maximum temperature in summer is over 40 °C (104 °F) and the mean minimum temperature is 25 °C (77 °F). The mean minimum temperature during winter is 4 °C (39 °F) and maximum is 18.35 °C (65.03 °F).

Rainfall is received both in winter and in the summer. The winter rainfall due to western disturbances shows a higher record during the months of February and April. The highest winter rainfall has been recorded in March, while the highest summer rainfall in the month of August. The average winter rainfall is higher than that of the summer. Based on a 30-year record, the average 30-year annual precipitation has been recorded as 400 millimetres (16 in). Wind speeds vary during the year from 5 knots (5.8 mph; 9.3 km/h) in December to 24 knots (28 mph; 44 km/h) in June. The relative humidity varies from 46% in June to 76% in August.

Peshawar’s environment has suffered tremendously due to an ever increasing population, Afghan influx, unplanned growth and a poor regulatory framework. Air and noise pollution is a significant issue in several parts of the city, and the water quality, once considered to be exceptionally good, is also fast deteriorating.^[38]

In addition the city has lost 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) of agriculture land during the two decades (1965-85). This in the addition to 400 acres (160 ha) of vacant land that has been also eaten up by expending urban functions. In the same period, the land under parks and green space has shrunk from 163 to 75 acres (66–30 ha).^[39]

[edit] Demographics

Peshawar is a rapidly growing city with a population of 2,982,816 in 1998. The current population growth rate is 3.29% per year, which is higher than the average of many other Pakistani cities.

Peshawar's inhabitants consist mainly of two groups, namely; the majority Pashtuns and Peshawaris (Hindkowans who are also referred to as "Khaarian" or 'city dwellers'). In addition, thousands of Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Persians, Panjabis, Chitralis and Gypsies can be found in the city.

• Urban Population: 48.68% (983,000 persons)
• Rural Population: 51.32% (1,036,000 persons)
• Male/Female ratio: 1.1:1
• Average annual growth rate 3.56%

In 2002, on the growth rate of 3.56% population doubled in 20 years from 1.1 million in 1981 to 2.242 million in 2002. Peshawar District covers a large area extending over 50 kilometres (31 mi) from north to south and over 30 kilometres (19 mi) from east to west. It is situated at an altitude of 347 m (1,138 ft) above sea level. The Peshawar valley is nearly circular, extending from the Indus to the Khyber Hills. It is bounded on the North and North East by hills, which separate it from the Swat Valley. In the Northwest are the rugged mountains of Khyber and to the South is the continuation of spur which branches off from Safed Koh (the famous white mountain on the Afghan border) and runs to Indus. The lower portion of this branch separates the district of Peshawar and Kohat.

Over 99% of the Peshawar population is Muslim (Shia & Sunni). Despite the overwhelmingly Islamic nature of modern Peshawar, the city was previously home to other smaller communities such as Bukharan Jews, Zorastrians, Bahá'ís, Hindus and Sikhs. The Partition of British India and the creation of Israel resulted in the virtual elimination of some of these groups, particularly Hindus from Peshawar, but there are still small Christian, Zorastrian, Sikh, and Bahá'í communities that remain in the city^[40].

[edit] Culture

Peshawar is the centre of Pashtun culture and arts as well as a major centre of Hindko culture. With the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the influx of millions of Afghan Refugees into Pakistan, Peshawar became the home for Afghan musicians and artists as well. The city has become the centre for Pashto music and cinema as well Dari music from Afghan Tajiks.

However, the election of the MMA Islamic coalition in 2002 resulted in restrictions on public musical performances, as well as a ban on playing recorded music on public transports. Peshawar has become host to a thriving underground scene^[41]. In 2008, the secular ANP swept elections and won power from the Islamic coalition. Since then, some restrictions have been lifted, but there has not been a full restoration of the liberties guaranteed before the MMA victory in 2002.

There is a thriving book publishing activity in the Persian language in Peshawar, concentrated primarily on Islamic Shia literature and located in the Qissa Khawani Bazaar where it is operated by Shia Pashtuns.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Airport

The Peshawar International Airport serves the city and the province of the North-West Frontier as the main international airport in the region. It is served by all airlines of Pakistan as well as many major airlines including Emirates and Qatar Airways who have regular flights to the Gulf and forward connections to Europe.

[edit] Public transport

The city is linked to the main motorway as well as the Karakorum Highway from which it is connected to all of the major cities of Pakistan including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan. The roads are also linked to Afghanistan and China. Afghanistan is linked through the Khyber Pass, which is the main gateway for both cargo and passenger travel. In the city, there are all sorts of methods to travel around, from coaches, buses, rickshaws, auto rickshaws, yellow and black taxis, to traditional methods such as horse and carts.

[edit] Trains

Peshawar Railway Station is run by Pakistan Railways, the largest operator of rail companies in Pakistan, with connections to all parts of Pakistan as well as Afghanistan.

[edit] Government

This section requires expansion.

Peshawar's local government consists of 25 Union Councils.

[edit] Key Villages

• Mattani
• Adezai
• Badaber
• Mathra
• Sardaryab
• Gulbela
• Tekhal
• PAWAKKA

[edit] City Development & Municipal Department (CD&MD)

City Development & Municipal Department (CD&MD) previously known as Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) is the department in charge of construction in Peshawar. This includes roads, parks, and plant life.

The department (CD&MD) was renewed because of the immense corruption which had taken place before.Its first Director General was Malik Saad.The then governor Lt. Gen Iftikhar Hussain Shah specifically requested Malik Saad to help tackle the corruption and bring the department back up to its former success again.This decision proved successful, because not only was the corruption tackled, but also the city`s development was in full gear and the city`s only fully functional flyover,also named after Malik Saad, was built along with many other projects and developments in the city.

[edit] Old City of Peshawar

The historic old city of Peshawar was once a heavily guarded citadel with high walls. Today, not much remains of the walls, but the houses and havelis have an essence of days gone by. Most of the houses are made of unbaked bricks with wooden structures for protection against earthquakes. Many of them have beautifully carved wooden doors and latticed wooden balconies. Areas such as Sethi Mohallah still contain many fine examples of the old architecture of Peshawar. There are many historic monuments and bazaars in the Old city, including the Mohabbat Khan Mosque and Kotla Mohsin Khan, Chowk Yadgar and the Qissa Khawani Bazaar.

The walled city was surrounded by several main gates which severed as the main entry points into the city, some of which still survive today. They include:

• Lahori Gate
• Sarasia Gate
• Ganj Gate
• Sirki Gate
• Sard Chah Gate
• Kohati Gate

Forner Gates (now demolished):

• Kabuli Gate
• Berikian Gate
• Bajori Gate
• Yakatut Gate
• Dabgari Gate
• Kachahri Gate
• Hasht Nagri Gate

[edit] Educational institutions

With the level of higher education on the rise, there has been a surge of prestigious educational institutions in Peshawar.

• Abasyn University
• Khyber Medical University
• Institute of Management Sciences
• Agriculture University of Peshawar
• University of Engineering & Technology (U.E.T.)
• National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU), (Peshawar Campus)
• Islamia College Peshawar (1913)
• Gandhara University
• Iqra University
• Institute of Management Studies
• ICMS
• Oxfords College University Town Peshawar
• City University Of Science & Technology
• Institute of Business & Management Sciences
• CECOS
• Gandhara Medical College
• Sarhad University
• Ghulam IOshaq Khan Institute of Science & Technology, Topi, NWFP
• College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE, NUST), Risalpur, NWFP
• Peshawar Medical College
• University of Peshawar
• Preston University
• Greenwich University
• PAC
• Government Frontier College Peshawar
• Jinnah College for Women
• Edwardes College Peshawar
• Government College Peshawar
• Superior Science College Wazirbagh Peshawar.
• Fazaia Degree College (PAF Degree College)
• St. Francis' High School
• University Public School (1964)
• University Model School
• Peshawar Model School
• Collegiate School Islamia College
• Oxfords College School University Town Peshawar
• Peshawar Public School and College
• The Convent High School
• Army Public School
• BeaconHouse School System
• The City School
• The Educators
• The Roots School
• American International School
• I.L.M
• The Smart School
• Qadeems Educational System
• Iqra School
• daffodils Kindergarten (Hayatabad Town)
• Frontier Model School
• Peshawar Grammar School
• Lahore Grammar School (Peshawar Campus)
• Saint Mary's High School
• Forward Model School
• Forward Public School
• Muslim Public School
• Quaid Public School
• Shaheen Public School
• New Cambridge School
• comprehensive
• Elizabeth School for girls

[edit] Organizations

• Oxfords Foundation

[edit] Tourist information

Peshawar is one of the oldest cities of the world^{[citation needed]}. It is a conservative Islamic city with a rich history. It offers everything from goldsmiths and silversmiths, traditional carpets (one of the big exports of Pakistan today), pottery, and clothing to artwork in wood, brass or semi-precious stones. The old walled city, was known for its 16 gates — Bijouri, Kabuli, Aasamai, Kutcheri, Rampura, Hasht Nagri, Toot, Kohati, Sirki, Thandi Khoi, Barzaqan, Ganj, Ramdas, Dabgari and Lahore Gate. The names given to these gates are significant. It was Sikh General Avitabile, who built a mud wall surrounding the city.^[42] Under the British nearly the whole of the enclosure wall had been built of pucca brick.^[43]

There are many bazaars with different goods and souvenirs for travellers. The main ones include the historic Qissa Khawani Bazaar, the Copper market, Chowk Yadgar and Andarsheher Bazaar. In addition because of its access to the Khyber pass, the Khyber train safari starts from here.

Due to the resurgence of extremists such as the Taliban, the city is off limits to all but the most intrepid Western travelers.

• General
  • Governor's House
  • Mattani
  • Deans Trade Center
  • Peshawar Garrison Club
  • Aviator's Station - The site where freedom fighters of the 1857 independence movement were blown from guns.
  • Danish Abad and Board Bazaar
  • Hayatabad
  • Kotla Mohsin Khan - The residence of Mazullah Khan, seventeenth century Pashtu poet.
  • Durrani Graveyard
  • Sethi Mohallah
  • Garhi Qamardin
  • Palosi - A famous village situated on the back of Agricultural University Peshawar. It is subdivided into four parts called as Piran, Attozai, Maghdarzai and turlazai.

• Forts
  • Bala Hisar Fort
  • Burj Hari Singh - Sikh fort founded by Sikh General Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa (no longer exists)

• Colonial Monuments
  • Bara Bridge built by Mughal rulers in 1629.
  • Chowk Yadgar - Formerly Hastings memorial
  • Cunningham clock tower built in 1900. Called Ghanta Ghar
  • Avitabile's Pavilion
  • Edwardes School - The residence of Yar Mohammad Khan, the last Durrani Governor of Peshawar

• Buddhist
  • Gor Khuttree - An ancient site of Buddha's alms or begging bowl. Headquarter of Syed Ahmad Shaheed, Governor Avitabile
  • Pashto Academy - The site of an ancient Buddhist University
  • Shah Ji Ki Dheri - The site of Kanishka's famous Buddhist monastery.

• Hindu
  • Panch Tirath - An ancient Hindu site now converted into a park

• Sikh
  • Sikh Gurudwara at Jogan Shah

• Mausoleums
  • Tomb of Sheikh Imamuddin (d.1650) at Palosi Piran.
  • Tomb of Rahman Baba (d.1706)
  • Tomb of Akhund Darweza (d.1638)
  • Tomb of Sheikh Sultan Baba
  • Mausoleum of Nawab Sayed Khan
  • Ziarat of Ashab Baba
  • Burj-e-Roshnai

• Parks
  • Army Stadium - Amusement Park for children and families with restaurants, banks, play pans and shopping arcade.
  • Cunningham Park/Jinnah Park- Situated opposite Historic Bala Hisar Fort, close to Asamai Gate and Lady Reading Hospital.
  • Wazir Bagh - Laid in 1802, by Fatteh Khan, Prime Minister of Shah Mahmud Khan.
  • Ali Mardan Khan Gardens - Formerly Company Bagh now Khalid bin Waleed Park.
  • Shahi Bagh - A small portion of which constitutes the current site of Arbab Niaz Stadium.
  • Garrison Park - Located at Prime Location of Shami Road under Army Control.
  • Tatara Park - Located in Hayatabad for children and families.

• Mosques
  • Mohabbat Khan Mosque
  • Ganj Ali Khan Mosque
  • Qasim Ali Khan Mosque
  • Sonehri Masjid
  • Zarghooni MOsque
  • Bilal Masjid Shami Road

• Museums
  • Peshawar Museum (Victoria Memorial Hall)^[44]
  • Agha Khan Museum, Peshawar University

• Shopping
  • Gul Haji Plaza
  • Qissa Khawani Bazaar
  • Karkhano Market
  • Deans Trade Centre
  • Jans Arcade
  • Imperial Stores
  • City Towers
  • Jawad Towers
  • Town Towers
  • Saddar Bazar
  • Mall Towers
  • University road

• Hotels
  • Pearl Continental
  • Khan Klub
  • Grand Hotel
  • Marhaba Hotel
  • Hidayat Hotel
  • North West Heritage Hotel

• Coffee Bars, Cafe's And Restaurants
  • Masooms Cafe
  • Cafe De'Viento
  • Cafe De'Milan
  • Namak Mandi
  • Charsi Tikka Shop
  • Potato Plus
  • SS Club
  • Chief Pizzas and Burgers
  • KFC
  • Pizza Hut
  • Four Seasons
  • Shiraz Restaurants

[edit] Notable people

• Abdul Wahid Yousafi - Journalist Pride of Performance
• Abdur Rab Nishtar - Muslim religious leader
• A. K. Hangal - Indian film actor
• Badshah Munir Bukhari - Linguist
• DIG Malik Saad - Highly decorated senior police officer. Former Chief Capital City police officer; martyred in suicide bombing on January 27th 2007. Recipient of Nishan-i-Shujaat; highest civilian award for bravery.
• Dilip Kumar - Indian film actor
• Ghulam Ishaq Khan - Former President of Pakistan
• Ismail Gulgee - Pakistani artist
• Jansher Khan - Squash player and several times world champion
• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan - Pakistani politician/political leader
• Khan Abdul Ghani Khan - Pakistani poet & philosopher
• Khushal Khan Khattak - Pushto poet
• Mulk Raj Anand - Writer in English.
• Patras Bokhari, humorist, educator, essayist, broadcaster and diplomats
• Raheem Shah - Pakistani singer
• Rahimullah Yousufzai- Journalist
• Rahman Baba - Pushto poet
• Sain Ahmad Ali-Hindko mytic poet
• Raj Kapoor - Indian film actor
• Rangeela - Pakistani film actor
• Syed Ahmed Shah Patras Bokhari - Urdu scholar
• Umer Gul - Cricket player
• Yasir Hamid - Cricket player

[edit] Sister cities

• Ürümqi, People's Republic of China

v • d • e Million-plus cities in Pakistan Faisalabad · Gujranwala · Hyderabad · Karachi · Lahore · Multan · Peshawar · Rawalpindi ·

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Peshawar

• Peshawar Official Portal
• Peshawar travel guide from Wikitravel
• Sarhad Tourism Corporation, Govt. of NWFP
• Peshawar, an external wiki
• Peshawar at the Open Directory Project

v • d • e Provincial and territorial capitals in Pakistan Gilgit (Northern Areas) · Islamabad (Federal Capital) · Karachi (Sindh) · Lahore (Punjab) · Muzaffarabad (Azad Kashmir) · Peshawar (NWFP and FATA) · Quetta (Balochistan)

v • d • e Administrative divisions of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) Provincial capital Peshawar Districts Abbottabad · Bannu · Battagram · Buner · Charsadda · Chitral · Dera Ismail Khan · Hangu · Haripur · Karak · Kohat · Kohistan · Lakki Marwat · Lower Dir · Malakand · Mansehra · Mardan · Nowshera · Peshawar · Shangla District · Swabi · Swat · Tank · Upper Dir Disputed Nangarhar · Kunar · Wakhan

v • d • e Administrative divisions of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Divisions of Pakistan Bajaur · Khyber · Kurram · Mohmand · North Waziristan · Orakzai · South Waziristan Disputed Nangarhar · Paktia · Paktika

v • d • e Peshawar related topics History History of Peshawar, History of Afghanistan, Indo-Greek Kingdom, Kushan Empire, Grand Trunk Road, Mughal Empire, Ahmed Shah Durrani, British Raj, North West Frontier Province, Khudai Khidmatgar, Indian independence movement, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Pashtunistan, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan City Mayors of Peshawar, The City District Government, Towns, Nazim, Peshawar Valley Education University of Peshawar, NWFP Agricultural University, Institute of Management Studies, University of Engineering and Technology (NWFP), Islamia College, Khyber Medical College, Edwardes College, Home Economics College for Women, Government College, NWFP Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Jinnah College for Women, Khyber College of Dentistry Transport Grand Trunk Road, Peshawar International Airport, Khyber Pass, Karakoram Highway Economy and Culture Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar Stock Exchange, Qissa Khawani Bazaar Other topics List of Peshawari people, List of cities in Pakistan, List of educational institutions in Peshawar

v • d • e Major cities in Pakistan Capital Territory Islamabad** Sindh Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Karachi*, Khairpur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Thatta, Moenjodaro, Badin Punjab Attock, Bahawalpur, Chakwal, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Gujar Khan, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhang, Jhelum, Kasur, Lahore*, Mianwali, Multan, Murree, Rahimyar Khan, Rawalpindi, Renala Khurd, Sadiqabad, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Taxila NWFP Abbottabad, Chitral, Haripur, Kohat, Kohistan, Peshawar*, Mansehra, Mardan, Nowshera, Swat Balochistan Gwadar, Quetta*, Ziarat, Chaman Azad Kashmir Mirpur, Muzaffarabad*, Rawalakot Northern Areas Gilgit*, Skardu * Indicates Regional Capitals ** Indicates Federal Capital

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