Allai Tehsil
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Allai Tehsil | |
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| District | Batagram District |
| Headquarters | Allai |
| Population | |
• Total | 180,414 |
Allai is a tehsil of Batagram District in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. It is home to the Allai Valley.
History
The valley was ruled by the BEEBAL KHANS Khans (tribal rulers) until 1949, when they signed the Instrument of Accession with Pakistan. In 1971, Allai merged into Pakistan as an administrative part of the Battagram subdivision. In 1993, Battagram was upgraded to the status of a district, and Allai become one of its sub-divisions.
2005 earthquake
The Allai valley was affected by the Kashmir earthquake on October 8, 2005. The earthquake destroyed the cableway that allowed residents to cross the Indus River.[2]
Administration
Allai is one of the two Tehsils, or subdivisions, of the Battagram District. Allai contains eight Union Councils:[3]
| Union Councils | Union Councils |
|---|---|
| Banna | Bateela |
| Batkul | Biari |
| Jambera | Pashto |
| Rashang | Sakargah |
'Khan culture,' characterized by strong tribal/feudal chiefs, is still dominant in the Allai Valley.
Geography
The Allai Valley is bounded by Kohistan on the north and east by the Kaghan valley, Nandhiarh and Deshi of Deshiwals on the south, and by the Indus river on the west. The valley is divided from Kohistan on the north by a range of mountains rising over 15,000 feet (4,600 m) and from Nandhiar and Deshi by another range running from the Afghanistan border to the Indus above Thakot. The average breadth of the Allai Valley is about 12–15 miles (19–24 km) and the total area 200 square miles (520 km2). Forests cover the mountain slopes at the eastern end.[4]
Economy
Wheat, barley, corn, and rice are the primary crops.
Demographics
The area is mainly inhabited by Pashto-speaking tribes,[5] Allai is populated mainly by Swati Pashtuns and some yusafzais also. The major subtribe in Swati pashtun is Beebal tribe.The Pashtun (Pathans) tribes are divided into many khels or sub-sections, such as the Ashrals, Akhun Khel, Tor, Samkori, Mada Khel, Mahabat Khel, Musa Khel, Mulla Khel, Raja Khel and Jalungyaal.
Other non-Pashto speaking tribes in the valley are Gujjars and Kohistani .
See also
References
- ^ "DISTRICT AND TEHSIL LEVEL POPULATION SUMMARY WITH REGION BREAKUP: KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 2018-01-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
- ^ Restoring the "high way" home to the Allai Valley, northern Pakistan - UNHCR
- ^ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Battagram - Government of Pakistan Archived February 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Wylly, Harold Carmichael (1912). From the Black Mountain to Waziristan: Being an Account of the Border Countries and the More Turbulent of the Tribes Controlled by the North-west Frontier Province, and of Our Military Relations with Them in the Past. Macmillan. p. 24.
- ^ Some of whom are Pashtuns and some allied tribes