Hayatabad

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Hayatabad is a modern and first planned suburb at south-eastern fringe of Peshawar (the capital of the North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan). It was named after Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao, the first PPP Governor of NWFP and who was killed in a bomb blast in 1974-75. It is close to the Khyber Agency which leads to Khyber Pass, a prominent route through the Hindu Kush mountains to Landi Kotal, the highest point of the pass, and the Afghan border.

Hayatabad developed as a residential area in Peshawar in the late 1970s. It is divided into seven phases (or zones) for residential and commercial purposes, and also includes a suitable industrial area. Out of the seven phases, six are fully developed, while the seventh is reserved for future needs. There are several different schools, colleges, a national University, hospital, private clinics, parks, shopping malls, and offices to facilitate the residents.

[edit] People and culture

Hayatabad primarily contains Pashtuns of Pakistani origin, although a good number of them are Afghans.

Following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, approximately 1 million Afghan refugees arrived in Pakistan, many of these settling in Hayatabad. There were five refugee camps surrounding Hayatabad immediately following the invasion.

Hayatabad shares most aspects of the culture of the North-West Frontier Province and northern Pakistan.

A popular dish in NWFP is "chappal kebab", a beef kebab shaped like the sole of a sandal.