Abbottabad District
Abbottabad District | |
|---|---|
 Map of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with Abbottabad District highlighted | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | North-West Frontier Province |
| Capital | Abbottabad |
| Government | |
| • District Nazim | Sardar Haider Zaman Tattoo |
| • District Naib Nazim | Muhammad Junaid Tanoli[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,969 km2 (760 sq mi) |
| Population (1998) | |
| • Total | 881,000 |
| • Density | 448/km2 (1,160/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Number of Tehsils | 2 |
| Website | http://www.abbottabad.gov.pk |
Abbottabad (Urdu: ضلع ایبٹ آباد) is a district in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The district covers an area of 1,969 km with the city of Abbottabad being the principal town of this district.[2] Neighbouring districts are Mansehra to the north, Muzaffarabad to the east, Haripur to the west, and Rawalpindi to the south.[3]
History
Origin of name
The district is named after Major James Abbott, the first deputy commissioner of Hazara (1849 - 1853). [3]
Hazara
During British rule Abbottabad became the capital of Hazara District, which was named after and contained the Hazara valley, a small valley in the outermost Himalayas, between the Indus in the west and Kashmir in the east[4].
The current Abbottabad District was originally a tehsil of Hazara, the Imperial Gazetteer of India described it as follows:
Tahsīl of Hazāra District, North-West Frontier Province, lying between 33°49' and 34° 22' N. and 72°55' and 73° 31' E., with an area of 715 square miles (1,850 km2). It is bounded on the east by the Jhelum, which divides it from Pūnch and the Punjab District of Rawalpindi; and it comprises part of the mountain valleys drained by the Dor and Harroh rivers, together with the hill country eastward. The hill-sides to the north and north-east are covered with timber forest. The population in 1901 was 194,632, compared with 175,735 in 1891. It contains the towns of ABBOTTABAD (population, 7,764), the tahsil and District head-quarters, and NAWASHAHR (4,114); and 359 villages. The land revenue and cesses amounted in 1903-4 to Rs. 97,000.[5]
As Hazara District covered a large area, the Government of the NWFP decided for administrative purposes to divide Hazara into Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan, Haripur and Batagram districts. In 1981 Hazara was divided and Abbottabad was formed as a district with two tehsils. In 1981 the total area of District Abbottabad was 3,665 square miles (9,490 km2) with a population of 977,212. Tehsil Abbottabad (a sub division of the district) - had an area of 1,802-square-mile (4,670 km2) and a population of 667,328 including 51% of Circle Bakote. In 1990 the total population of the district was 1,425,032 including Circle Bakote 43%.
Earthquake of 2005
In October 2005, the district was hit by an earthquake, nine Union Councils were badly hit, these were Dalola, Boi, Bakot, Pattan Kalan, Nambal, Berote, Kukmong, Palak and Beerangali located across the two rivers Jehlum and Kunhar.[6]
Demography and Society
According to the 1998 census of Pakistan the population of the district was 0.88 million - and according to an estimate this had risen to 1.05 million in 2008.[7] The main tribes are the Dhund Abbasies, Tanolis, Awans,Rajputs, Jadoons,Kashmiri, ] Maliar,Dhanyal, Sarrara, Qureshis, Karlals, Sheikhs, and the Syeds.[8]
Famous peaks
Miranjani (3,313m) and Mukeshpuri are the highest peaks in Nathia Gali in this district.
Parks and protected areas
Under the NWFP Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act of 1975, two areas have been designated with the district: Ayubia National Park and Qalanderabad game reserve.[9] Both areas cover only 6% of the landed area of the district.[9]
Ayubia National Park
Established in 1984, this park covers an area of over 3,312 ha.[9]
Qalanderabad game reserve
Established in 1980 with an area of 8,940ha.[9]
Minerals
Some of the minerals mined within the district are barite, dolomite, granite, gypsum, limestone, magnesite, marble, phosphate, red ochre and red oxide.
Subdivisions
Abbottabad district is divided into two tehsils, Abbottabad and Havelian as well as one urban administration area - Nawanshehr. There are fifty-one Union Councils in the district, 35 in Abbottabad tehsil and 16 in Havelian. These are:
Abbottabad Tehsil
Havelian Tehsil
Provincial assembly
The district is represented in the provincial assembly by five elected MPAs who represent the following constituencies: [10]
| Constituency | MPA | Party |
|---|---|---|
| PF-44 (Abbottabad-1) | Inayatullah Khan Jadoon | PML N |
| PF-45 (Abbottabad-2) | Sardar Shamun Ahmed Khan | PML N |
| PF-46 (Abbottabad-3) | Haji Qalandar Khan Lodhi | PML Q |
| PF-47 (Abbottabad-4) | Sardar Aurangzeb Khan Nalotha | PML N |
| PF-48 (Abbottabad-5) | Muhammad Javed Abbasi | PML N |
National assembly
The district is represented in the National Assembly by two elected MNAs who represent the following constituencies: [11]
| Constituency | MNA | Party |
|---|---|---|
| NA-17 (Abbottabad-I) | Mehtab Ahmed Khan | PML-N |
| NA-18 (Abbottabad-II) | Murtaza Javed Abbasi | PML-N |
Election 2008
With the announcement by the Election commission of Pakistan that elections would be held on the 8th January, 2008[12] more than a dozen candidates filed their nomination papers in Abbottabad.[13]
Places of interest
Abbottabad
Abbottabad the capital city of the district was founded in 1853 by James Abbott, since then it has been an important military cantonment and sanatorium[14].
Bakote Circle
Bakote Circle or proposed Tehsil is a cluster of Union Councils in the eastern part of Abbottabad District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Bakote Circle is located on the upper and west bank of the Jhelum River at Kohalla Bridge. The region is somewhere between 65 kilometres and 90 kilometres northwest of Islamabad. "Bakote" means the "land of forts". The Kanhar and Jehlum rivers are the two main rivers in Circle Bakote. Famous hill stations in the area are Miran Jani, Mukeshpuri, Thandiani, Pather Gali, Ayubia, Khanas Pur and Nathia Gali. There are an emerging tourist point at near New Kohala Bridge on Karair Pull.
Ayubia Chair Lifts
Ayubia is 38 km east of Abbottabad. A cluster of four small hill stations of Khanspur, Khairagali, Changlagali and Ghora Dhaka, is called Ayubia and was named after former President Ayub Khan. The complex is spread over an area of 26 km. The central place has chair lifts.
Dungagali
Dungagali is a small resort situated on the slopes of the Mukshpuri hill (2,376 m). It commands a view of a series of wooded spurs projecting towards the river Jhelum on the western side. From Dungagali one can climb the 2,813 metres peak of Mukhshpuri, which is the highest point in the range. Natural springs abound on the slopes. It is 34 km from Abbottabad.
Nathiagali
Nathiagali is clad in pine, walnut, oak and maple trees. It can be approached both from Murree and Abbottabad. It is 32 km from Abbottabad as well as from Murree. Nathiagali is 2493 meter above sea level and is surrounded by mountains.
Thandiani
Thandiani meaning “cold” in the local language, It is one of the highest places of district Abbottabad at an altitude of 2,700 m. It is 31 km from Abbottabad City. The drive takes more or less 80 minutes from Abbottabad with lovely views on both sides of the road. The road rises more than 1,219 metres above Abbottabad. En route from Abbottabad (23 km), the main settlement is the village of Kalapani. "Hullah" is about 2 km east of Thandiani where you can view a part of Muzaffarabad, Pattan Kalan, Chamiali, Bandi, Battangi, and Kukmang and other adjioning area. Very beautiful place to visit in the summer time. Thandiani in on the way between Abbottabad and Pattn Kalan. The view of Pattan Kalan and other adjioning area can be seen from "Hullah" and part of Thandiani.
Marhes
Marhes is located some 14 kilometres from Thandiani, a mountain place from where Abbottabad, Mansehra and Muzaffarabad can be seen. Marhes is located in Boi, the border between Muzaffarabad and Abbottabad. The drive takes more than 2 hours from Abbottabad. This is forested area, with some wildlife near the bank of River Kunhar from Balakot to Boi and the 6 kilometres of mountainous areas. PREPARED BY MR. MUHAMMAD ASHRAF QURESHI DISTRICT & TEHSIL ABBOTTABAD, VILLAGE SIALKOT-2, MUHALLAH GALI KOTLA (DAHERY)
External links
References
- ^ Administration Department - NWFP government website
- ^ Geography of District Abbottabad
- ^ a b IUCN Pakistan (2004). Abbottabad - State of the environment and Development. IUCN Pakistan and NWFP: Karachi p. 2.
- ^ Hazara - Nordisk familjebok
- ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 5, p. 1
- ^ [EARTHQUAKE RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION AUTHORITY - ERRA]
- ^ District Profile: Northern NWFP - Abbottabad
- ^ ELECTIONS 2002 (Hazara Division) - Daily times Pakistan
- ^ a b c d IUCN Pakistan (2004). Abbottabad - State of the environment and Development. IUCN Pakistan and NWFP: Karachi p. 50.
- ^ PF-48 (Abbottabad-V) Result: Announced
- ^ 2008 Election Result
- ^ 2008 Elections - ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
- ^ Election campaign starts in Abbottabad - Associated press of Pakistan
- ^ Abbottabad - Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
Template:Administrative divisions of the North-West Frontier Province 34°00′N 73°00′E / 34.000°N 73.000°E
