Athmuqam Tehsil

Athmuqam or Athmakam is a small city about 84 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Neelum District. Its population is about 8,000.

The name Athmuqam means 8th station, derived from the number of stages from both Muzaffarabad and Kel to Athmuqam. A "nullah" divides Athmuqam into two parts Athai and Athmuqam.

Athmuqam is in a cup like valley surrounded by mountains on all sides, full of greenery and forests with deodar, pine, cheer and fir trees. For tourist interest there are two hiking tracks: one from Rawta leads to Guther and the second toward Dogga top. There are many hotels and also a resthouse managed by the Public Works Department. A project to construct a guest house and a park in the middle of the Neelum River is in progress.

Athmuqam had the status of tehsil before Partition. Its official name was formerly Karna. Folk stories tell of a very advanced and congested city which was ruined by a flood, and this is supported by some archaeological evidence.

Public transport like buses, wagons and jeeps are available from Muzaffarabad to Athmuqam every 15 minutes.

Agricultural production

Athmuqam is famous for its production of nuts and apples which are supplied to other parts of Kashmir and Pakistan. Maize is the major crop of this area and vegetables are also cultivated in a limited way for personal usage. The whole town is surrounded and covered in trees. Natural springs are founded frequently, which provide the water requirements. Water from these springs is supplied to all houses through pipe lines. The government and different NGOs haver done a lot of work on supply of drinking water.

Education

For this city of about 8,000 population there are two post graduate colleges, two high schools and many primary schools. To meet the needs of modern education a private College namely Greater Shaheen Model College was established in 2007. The college offers all the possible courses. More than 70% of the people are literate and working in all fields of life, both in state and out of state.