Layyah

This article is about the city in Pakistan. For the settlement in Sharjah, see Layyah, Sharjah.

Layyah لیہ, Pakistan پاکستان
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Elevation	143 m (469 ft)
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Number of towns	1
Number of Union councils	3

Layyah (Urdu: ليّہ), (Punjabi, Saraiki), also spelt Leiah is the most revolutionary and developing city and capital of Layyah District in Southern Punjab, Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'0N 70°56'0E with an altitude of 143 metres (472 feet). The district name is derived from a commonly grown shrub, ‘Layyan’ (Tamarisk dieica) used as fuel wood which covered the area at one time.

Modern history

The modern day town was founded around 1550 by Kamal Khan, a Mirani Baloch. Around 1610, the town was taken from the Mirani rulers by the Jaskani Baloch, who held it until 1787. Abdun Nabi Sarai was appointed governor by Timur Shah Durrani, but three years later it was included in the governorship of Muhammad Khan Sadozai, who transferred his seat of government to Mankera.

In 1794, Humayun Shah, the rival claimant to the throne of Kabul, was captured near Layyah and brought into the town, where his eyes were put out by order of Zaman Shah. Under the Sikh government, the town once more became the centre of administration for the neighbouring area, and after the British occupation in 1849, was for a time the headquarters of the District. In 1861 however, the District was broken up, and Layyah became a part of Dera Ismail Khan. In 1901 it was transferred to the new District of Mianwali.

In 1875, Layyah became a municipality, with income acquired through octroi, cross-municipality customs barriers. This income in the ten years up to 1902-3 averaged Rs. 9,900 with an expenditure of Rs. 10,100. By 1903-4 income was Rs. 10,000, and expenditure Rs. 10,600. The chief industry of Layyah at that time was the manufacture of blankets. The town contained a dispensary and a municipal Anglo-vernacular middle school. At the 1901 census, Layyah's population was 7,546. Previously few years before, Layyah was the tehsil of District MuzzaffrGarh, gained the status of being a district in 1982.

Language

• saraiki 95%
• Other: 5%

dialects, although few of these dialects are called as a

• Thlochi (Mainly)
• Majhi or standard (Sizeable population in cities also in newly cultivated areas)
• Derawali (Western border area with Dera ismail khan district)
• Chenavari (South Eastern border area near Jhang district)
• Jhangvi (North Eastern border area near Jhang district)

Other Languages include:

• Urdu is mother tongue of few people but being national language is spoken and understood by the sizeable population.

• English is also understood and spoken by few, mainly educated elite.

• Pashto which is spoken by minority population in the KPK province border areas and in the cities.

Area

The Layyah District has an area of 6291 square kilometers.

Main towns

Layyah, Chowk Azam, Fatehpur, Choubara, Karor Lal Eisan, Kot Sultan,langer achlana Tibbi Khurd,Darbar hazrat peer Inayat Shah bukhari, Ladhana, Siwag Sharif, Tail Indus, Dhori Adda, Qasba Balochan, Pahar Pur Thal, Basti kharani, kharal azeem, Jamman Shah, Noshara Nashaib, Basti Mirani Kacha & Basti Mirani Pakka {Chah Khan Chand Wala, Nawan Kot}[ladhna]Eid Gah(Basti Jootah) Basti Mattawa,Basti Sebbani Chak No.108/TDA

Revolutionary educational society

Professional Layyans Society, (PLS) . Head office = Main market Housing Colony Layyah, ph.0606315806
Sub Office Karor. Fatehpur road near telenor frenchise Karor
Sub Office Fatehpur website = http://www.pls.org.pk

Climate and soil

The Layyah district has an extremely hot climate. Maximum temperature in the summer goes up to 53 degree Celsius. The temperature in winter is low due to the area's nearness to Koh-Suleman range of mountains. The Chaubara tehsil is almost barren and consists of forest and sand dunes. It is a ‘Rakh’ under the control of the Forest Department. The tehsils of Layyah and Karor Lal Eisan are developed agriculturally compared to other tehsils of the distract but still have are large tracks of sand dunes and uncultivated land.

District at a glance

Education: 61%, 29% male and 32% female. Literacy in Urban and rural areas is 70% and 30% respectively. Safe Drinking Water Access: 95.96%. Electricity availability: 80.96%. Tail Indus, Dohri Adda, Pahar Pur and Kot Sultan Main Crops: Sugarcane, Wheat, Cotton, Gram and Guar Seed. Main Fruits: Mango, Watermelon, Melon, Citrus and Dates. Main Vegetables: Onion, Green Chili (70% of the whole production in Pakistan) and potatoes. Forest: 34,338 acres (139 km²) Total Metalled Roads: 869 km No. of Grid Stations: 7 No. of Telephone Exchanges: 18 Number of Industrial Units: 365 Major Industries: Sugar Mill, Cotton Ginning & Pressing, Flour Mills and Oil Mills Total Population apprx. 13,00,000

Social groups and divisions

Qoums/tribes, Zaats/castes, Biraderis and Classes:

The major ‘social groups’ of real or fictive unilineal descent may be identified as Qoum or tribe and/or Zaat also known as caste (similar to Jati among the Hindus) or Biraderi. However, it is difficult to distinguish the tribe and caste since the people use the terms ‘Qoum’ and ‘Zaat’ interchangeably (e.g. the ‘Jats’ may identify themselves as ‘Qoum’ as well as ‘Zaat’ or yet as ‘Biraderi’) . Some Qoums and Zats many claim themselves to be of superior descent compared to some others, these are not always and not as clearly classifiable as the castes and ‘Vernas’ of the caste system among the Hindus.

In the district of Layyah, the most numerous and widely spread social group is that of the Jats. They are mainly landowners and mostly cultivators, although some of them are also large landowners. They tend to be Qoum endogamous but are ideally clan exogamous. In reality, they intermarry in other ‘Qoums’ especially among the ‘Baloch’. With the increasing influence of ‘Islamization’ and due to pressure on the lands owned by a clan, the clan exogamy seems to be disappearing as such resulting in marriages within close relatives. Some of the Jat sub-groups in the district have important landholdings. Jats are specifically important in respect of the political hold that they enjoy in the district. For instance, Jhakkars and Thinds (sub-groups of Jats) have been elected MNAs in almost all the national elections held in the country.

The Jats are followed by the Baloch (in numerical terms). They are mostly land owners and self cultivators. They are usually found in the Nasheb and Karor sub-divisions. The Baloch sub-group of Jaskani in the district is known for their role during the War of Independence against the British rule in 1857 as they served the interests of foreign rulers and remained loyal to them during this period. They were rewarded by the rulers with fertile tracts of land and titles for their loyalty. Jaskanis are now in Khokhar Isra in Karor and in Basti Shadu Khan in Layyah sub-divisions. Similarly, the Miranis are concentrated in Lohanch Nasheb and Layyah Thab Jandi area. Some of them are highly educated and enjoy senior positions in Government institutions.

The Syeds, who claim to be direct descents of the Prophet Mohammad, are another important group in the district in terms of socio-economic and political influence. They are generally rich, large and usually absentee landlords and ‘spiritual-feudals’ . The Syeds of Shahpur (Karor sub-division) have been traditionally the ‘Peer’ (spiritual leaders) of a large number of the Balochs in the district. According to the District Census 1998 (opp-cit), the Syeds in the District of Layyah are “Care-takers of shrines and tombs which provide springboard to them in politics and social upkeep”. The Pathans, like the Syeds, are few in number but influential in socio-economic, historic and political context of the district. The Nasirs, among this group performed as Qazis or judges during the era of the Mughals. They are known for their achievements in the spheres of agriculture, higher education and medicine in the district of Layyah. Among the Pathans, Popalzais are important in the rural areas and are Nasirs in towns of the district. The Pathans are also, like the Syeds absentee landlords.

The Sheikhs form an important business and trading community in the urban areas of the District of Layyah and Karor sub-divisions. They are non-agriculturists and enjoy sufficient hold on the local business. Arhtis and money lenders are described as the “successors of Hindus” in this field (District Census 1998). The Qureshis are mostly known as keepers of shrines in the district.

Another important group, which is large in number but is considered the lowest in the social caste and class hierarchies and thus, pejoratively regrouped together among ‘others’ in the district Census Report (1998, opp.cit). This is a large landless group which includes the most indigenous of all groups including the Jhabels, Kutanas, Kilhals and Mores.

Jhabels are probably one of the oldest inhabitants of the Southern Punjab, the Bheels or the fishing group, known to have come from Sindh, traveling along the Indus belt in the old times speaks Sindhi mixed with Saraiki. Besides fishing, they also make baskets from the reeds growing on the banks of Indus but have recently been able to shift to agriculture. The latter sub-group i.e. those among the Jhabels who have managed to achieve an upward socio-economic mobility by shifting to agriculture like many other ‘nouveau converts’ tends to be more religious minded.

Kutanas are the former ‘Churhas’ or ‘Shudras’ who have converted to Islam, similar to ‘Mussalli’ or ‘Muslim Sheikh’ as known in the central Punjab. Despite converting to Islam, their low social status remains the same as before. They engage mainly in sewerage, drainage and solid waste removal both in the rural and urban areas of the district. Another source of income for them is the cutting of reeds and grass, making thatched roofs, ropes and huts etc.

According to the Distrct Census (1998), Kihals and Mores belong to one tribe of untouchables with whom the Muslims do not associate with. They are primarily semi-nomadic fishing groups who eat crocodiles, tortoise and even wild boars (ibid).

Roads and transport

District Layyah is linked to all the major cities and towns through roads and railways. Layyah city and the district head quarter is connected through metalled roads and most of the tehsil head quarters and major towns/Union Councils are linked with a network of roads. However most of the villages in the district are not able to enjoy this basic facility. Total length of metalled roads in the district of Layyah is 870 km. Most of the development in this respect is concentrated around the villages of influential and large Zamindars. The latter often have canal irrigation available for cultivation and benefit from ‘farm to market’ roads e.g. ‘Sugarcane Roads’ (See Table below). Villages inhabited by more marginal groups i.e. the landless tenants and laborers, minority groups, especially in the ‘Barani’ and desert areas and at the canals’ tail ends, are usually isolated. Chaubara Tehsil only has a few roads and its villages are mostly not connected to the outside world.

Educational Institutions

• Agriculture college Bahadur Campus Layyah
• veternary college Bahadur Campus Layyah
• GC University Faisalabad Layyah Campus
• Govt. College of Technology Layyah
• Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Layyah (BZU Bahadur Sub-Campus,)
• Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Layyah sub-campus.
• Layyah Public School Layyah (Now District Public School)
• Jinnah Vision School Layyah
• Govt. Model High School Layyah
• Govt MC High school Layyah

Legends Of Layyah

1- Dr Khayal Amrohvi (Poetic Obituaries: Dr. Khayal Amrohi was author of 25 books on different topics including four masterpieces on poetry. He born at district Berrin Haiderabad Deccan on December 10, 1930. He did Urdu (Fazil) in 1944 and master degree in Persian)

2- Prof. Ghulam Muhammad (Ex Principal, Govt College Layyah), a legend in Educational progress of Layyah.

3- Dr. Naveed ul Hassan Alvi (Dr. N. H. Alvi), was born at Jaman shah, district Layyah on June 15, 1982. He is well known scientist in Nanotechnology. He did PhD in Nanotechnology from linkὃping university Sweden and post-doctorate from Technical University of Madrid, Spain. He is author of more than 30 international journal publications. (For information his personal website is www.nhalvi.com).

4- Dr. Tariq Iqbal, PhD in Physics, Serving in Canada.

5- Dr. Azhar Iqbal, PhD in Laser Technology, Serving in U.K.

6- Dr. Mujhaid Alam, PhD in Informatics, Serving in Islamabad.

7- Dr. Zafar Alam Zafari, PhD in Urdu, Serving in Layyah.

8- Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, PhD in Plant Engineering and Genetics,

9- Maj Gen Abdul Aziz Tariq, 32 years ago, Aziz Tariq got commissioned in the Pakistan Military Academy.

Main Crops

Average Percentage

Cotton 10%

wheat 45%

Sugarcane 05%

Gram 25%

Oil Seed, Pulses etc. 15%

Industry units

Cotton Ginning & Pressing (8 units),

Flour Mills (4 units)

Oil Mills (20 units)

Sugar Mills (1unit)

Population

According to 1998 Population and Housing Census, total population of Layyah district is 1121 thousands persons out of which 579 thousands are males and 542 thousands are females. Density of population in the district is 178 persons per square Kilometre. Percentage break-up of the Rural and Urban population is 87.2 and 12.8 respectively.

Language & Demography

Dialects of Punjabi

Following are the demographics of the Layyah district, by spoken language:

• Punjab local people different dialects: 95%
• Other: 5%

Inhabitants of Layyah district speak a great variety of Punjabi dialects, although few of these dialects are called as a separate language “Saraiki”, but because of good and loving nature of people there is no distinction or hate among different dialects and have a mix culture of Great (North and South) Punjab.

• Thalochi (Mainly)
• Majhi or standard (Sizeable population in cities also in newly cultivated areas)
• Derawali (Western border area with Dera ismail khan district)
• Chenavari (South Eastern border area near Jhang district)
• Jhangvi (North Eastern border area near Jhang district)

Other Languages include:

• Urdu is mother tongue of few people but being national language is spoken and understood by the sizeable population.

• English is also understood and spoken by few, mainly educated elite.

• Pashto which is spoken by minority population in the KPK province border areas and in the cities.

In Layyah, the Arain,Mirani ,Chandia Balouch And Syed And baloch tribes are in majority. The other main tribes of Layyah are Jutt,Kalroo, Sipple, Gujjar, Qureshi, Bhatti and Balouch.

External links

• Layyah, Pakistan: Radical Islam Fills Void - video report by Global Post
• http://www.layyah.info
• http://www.layyahonline.com
• http://www.layyahonline.net
• Layyah.pk