Swabi

Swabai (Urdu: صوابی) lies between the Indus and Kabul rivers, in the NWFP of Pakistan. Its residents are referred to as 'swabwaals'. Swabai is the fourth most populous district of NWFP with Esapzay clan of Pukhtoons as the predominant clan of this district.

The history and culture of Swabai is very rich. The late historian Roshan Khan Baba from this region wrote about the history of this great tribe in his book 'History of Yousafzai tribe'. A drive to Swabai from Jehangiray or Mardan is scenic and a beautiful experience. Lush green fields and shady trees line the road on either side.

Swabai is proud of its illustrious sons like Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum khan founder of Islamia College Peshawar and the brave martyr of Kargil war Captain Karnal Sher Khan recipient of the highest military award Nishan-e-Haider. People of Swabai are well educated, skilled, hard working and enterprising. Many of them are expatriates working all over the globe for their living.

Swabwals are modern and liberal in their outlook to life yet devout |Muslims. They are well known for their hospitality, are polite and good looking in appearance.

Tobacco is a popular cash crop of Swabai along with vegetables, wheat, sugar cane and maize. It's climate is ideally suited for citrus in particular while many other fruits like water melon, peach and apricot are also grown there. Swabi is also rich with mineral resources and its white marble is very popular throughout the country.

Swabai is home to the largest earth filled dam of the world, the Tarbela Dam. It also boasts of one of the most prestigious institution of the country, The GIK institute of Engineering Sciences and technology located in village Topai.

A six lane Motorway connecting Islamabad with Peshawar passes through Swabai District with an access interchange at Lahor.

Swabi is important from the archeological point of view. It was the part of Gandhara civilization. Alexander The Great crossed river Indus at a point on the right bank where now lies village Hund. Hund is an archeological treasure and has remained capital of Hindu Shahi and Turk Shahi for nearly three hundred years. Archeological sites are found peppered all over swabai and is a great tourist attraction.

People

Before partition, Hindus also lived here and most of the businesses were owned by them. Both Muslims and Hindus lived peacefully. After partition, the Hindus left for India and now the whole population is Pakhtun and belongs to the Yousafzai tribe of pakhtuns. The area from swat in the north to the banks of river Kabul in Nowshera District is inhabited by the Yousafzais. They originally came from Afghanistan and settled here. Even today Hindus are found in some areas of Swabi. Tehsils of district Swabi are Swabai and Lahor. Topai