Zakhi

Zakhi'litrally meaning "small mud hill-top"" is a group of four small villages (Zakhi-Miana, Zakhi-Kohna or Zakhi Qadeem, Zakhi-Charbagh, and Zahi-Qabristan) in the Nowshera district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The population is around 15000; the majority of them work in agriculture, a small number are involved in government jobs, and some work outside the country. The villagers are ethnic Pashtun tribes.

Location

Zakhi's is located near Akbarpura (34° 3' 25" North, 71° 43' 18" East) on Peshwar-Islamabad Motorway in Nowshera District. it is nearly 15 km from Peshawar on Grand Trunk Road 45 km from Nowshera. Across the Kabul River on the north about 25 KM, Charsadda city is located.

History

Mostly Afghan Pashtun came to this area around 1557 with Bairam Khan who ruled on behalf of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. The village Akbarpura, the village closest to Zakhi, was named after the great Mughal King Akbar the Great who camped here while traveling between Kabul and Delhi. In around 1834 this was ruled by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Due its geographical location near the coast of River Kabul, the area and especially the village of Zakhi the risk of flooding; a 19th century flood destroyed the entire village. After the catastrophe, Zakhi was sub-divided into four new villages, Zakhi-Miana, Zakhi-Qabristan, Zakhi-Kona and Zakhi-Charbagh.

Akbarpura and the surrounding area was home to Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians, living peacefully until the Partition of India. The people of Zakhi supported Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan during the struggle for India's independence, and Gandal Khan baba was appointed the first Jarnails (General) of Khudai Khidmatgar movement from Zakhi-miana in 1930. in 1947 after the partition of india this area fall in the hands of Pakistani administration.

Under the British Administration, a school, road and irrigation system were build to develop the people of this area.

Literacy

The literacy rate is 15% for men and 2% for women (this percentage includes people able to write their name only). Professionals 1%; Technicians 2%; Agriculture workers 85%; Elementary occupations 3.6%; Service and shop workers 2%; Armed forces 1%; Craft and related trade workers 2%; Clerks 2% and other 2.4%. Each village has a primary school for boys and girls except Zakhi Kohna where no school for girls is available.There are two mosques in Zakhi Kohna and its people are very noble as well as more educated compared to other three villages (Zakhi's).some of well known people include Engr.Muhammad Riaz who is an electrical engineer by profession and working in Peshawar electric supply company (PESCO) and Dr.Muhammad Irshad who is a PHD Scholar in Holland.Also Mr.Shah Fahad Advocate is a well known lawyer from this village.

Politics

Political situation in Zakhi is very flictual, People rejects those politicians who done nothing to improves the basic need of these villages. Due to unknown reason women’s are not permitted to vote or take any contribution in the politics. This area used to be the stronghold of Awami National Party. Currently Parveez Khan Kattak PF13 and Eng:Muhammad Tariq Khattak of Pakistan Peoples Party are elected Parliamentarians.Ms shagufa malik is selected Parliamentain for women reserved sets , she belongs to zakhi kohna.

Agriculture

The area being located on the bank of river Kabul in the north and River Bara in the east, has fertile lands where vegetables and fruits are produced. Tomatoes are produced in abundance and exported to all parts of the country especially Karachi. Pear,Peach and Aalu Bukhara are the famous fruits of the area which is also exported to remote parts of the country (Pakistan).among the cash crops is sugarcane,wheat etc.

References

• http://www.maplandia.com/pakistan/n-w-f-p/peshawar/akbarpura/
• http://www.panwfp.gov.pk/index.php/members/profile/en/19/286
• http://themoderatevoice.com/23121/remembering-mahatma-gandhi-pashtun-gandhi/
• http://www.britannica.com Red Shirt Movement.(2008) Encyclopædia Britannica
• http://nowshera.com/about.htm
• http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200401/journeys.of.faith.roads.of.civilization.htm