Gumbat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seni Gumbat, also known as Gumbat, is one of the largest towns in Kohat District, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. It is situated in a valley on both sides of Kohat to Rawalpindi Road at a distance of approximately 25 km from Kohat. Its population is approximately 30,000.

There are four major areas of Seni Gumbat called "mohallahs": Bazaar; Dartapi; Awan; and Khader Khel. Bazaar and Khader Khel are the largest "mohallahs" in terms of area and population. The pioneers of Seni Gumbat are Hassan Khels currently limited to a little area (mohallah) within Dartapi Mohallah. The main bazaar of Gumbat is called "Adda" (Station). Gumbat possess the largest Police station in the province (NWFP). Gumbat has a hospital, a Higher Secondary School for Boys, a Higher Secondary School for Girls, 5 Private Schools and also a Post Office. Pashto and Hindko are the major languages spoken in Seni Gumbat.

The current nazim (mayor) of Gumbat is Shakeel Haider who is also the nephew of the late Lt. Col Sikandar Khan. He started his carrier in British Army (before independence) serving in India and pre-partition Pakistan. He went on to serve as the first Commandant in Murree, as the Commandant in charge of famous Karnafuli Paper Mills in East Pakistan and then as the administrator of Paper Mills in Charsadda, Pakistan. In Gumbat Col. Sikandar became famous for his social work for the people of this city including striving for the first grid (power) station, first high school (where he also served as Head Master), post office, telephone exchange and the list goes on and on. He was one of the pioneers in the efforts for the now completed Kohat Tunnel which provides much required relief to commuters on Kohat Peshawar highway. Although Col. Sikandar died in 1987, his memory and the respect for his name still exists. One of well know nephews of Col. sikandar are Shakeel haider and Abdul Qadir khan. In the grand childern of the family the prominent names are Kashif Adnan (recieved honor of achivement from oxfam chairty for voluntarly raising over 1 million british pounds during kashmir earthquake with the help of muslim council of UK and former prime minister of Pakistan Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. He traveled over 1,00,000 miles all over UK to achive the target, British royal council have decided to give him honrary dinner with Queen of England by the end of year. He will be a candidate for coming elections of Muslim league UK to be a president. During the work for oxfam a number of celebrities including David Backham, victoria Backham, Goeorge Michale, Madona, tom cruise, Brad pit and number of bollywood celebrities like Shahrukh khan, Ashwarya Rai, Sanjjay Dutt, and shalpa shetty helped him for the cause.)

Gumbat is currently covered by two cell phone carriers including Mobilink and Telenor. Ufone and Warid are shortly expected to follow suit.