Swabi District

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Swabi District
Location of Swabi District (highlighted in yellow) within the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan.
Area	1,543 km²
Population (1998) • Density	1.026 • /km²
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Established • District Nazim • District Naib Nazim • District Council • Number of Tehsils	• • • seats •
Main language(s)
Website	[1]

Swabi District (Urdu: صوابی) lies between the Indus and Kabul rivers, in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Its residents are referred to as 'Swabiwaals'. Swabi is the fourth most populous district of the NWFP with the Yousafzai clan of Pukhtoons being the predominant clan of this district.

1 Overview
2 Archaeological Sites
3 Administration
4 People
- 4.1 Partition
- 4.2 After Partition
5 Tourism
6 Villages
7 Afghan Refuges Camp
8 Games
9 The Hub of Streams and Rivers
10 Gadoon Amazai
11 References

[edit] Overview

The history and culture of Swabi is very rich. The late historian Roshan Khan Baba from this region wrote about the history of this great tribe in his book 'History of the Yousafzai Tribe'. A drive to Swabi from Jehangira or Mardan is scenic and a beautiful experience. Lush green fields and shady trees line the road on either side.

Swabi is proud of its illustrious sons like Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum founder of Islamia College, Peshawar and the brave martyr of the Kargil war Captain Karnal Sher Khan recipient of the highest military award of Pakistan Nishan-e-Haider. The people of Swabi are well educated, skilled, hard working and enterprising. Many of them are expatriates working all over the globe for their living. Many Swabiwals are liberal in their outlook yet devout Muslims. They are well known for their hospitality.

Tobacco is a popular cash crop of Swabi along with vegetables, wheat, sugar cane and maize.Its climate is ideally suited for citrus in particular while many other fruits like watermelon, peaches and apricots are also grown there. Swabi is also rich with mineral resources founded in the Maneri village and its white marble is very popular throughout the country.

Swabi is home to the largest earth filled dam of the world, the Tarbela Dam. It also boasts one of the most prestigious institution of Pakistan, the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology located in village Topi.

A six lane motorway connecting Islamabad with Peshawar passes through Swabi District with an access interchange at Lahor.

[edit] Archaeological Sites

Swabi contains many important archaeological sites, it was part of the Gandhara civilization. Alexander the Great crossed river Indus where the village of Hund now lies on its right bank. Hund is an archaeological treasure and been the capital of the Hindu and Turk Shahi for nearly three hundred years. Archaeological sites are found peppered all over Swabi and they are great tourist attractions.^[1]

Rani Ghat is another start of the Gandhara archaeological site located further deep in the mountainous area. Rani Ghat is the famous historical palace on the top of mountain used by the that time Rani (queen). She was famous for buying the fresh air coming from Swabi side. She paid to the villagers for clean air -- they were not allowed to pollute it by blowing the crops in the air for cleaning purpose. The ruins are still a famous place for visitors. Being as a part of origin of Buddhist Gandhara Civilisation it has also attracted re-construction funds from Japanese research institutes. This area attracted many tourists including Japanese, who came here for studies in the ancient times to learn Buddhism.
Similarly the ruins of Darsan are also present. Although enough Archeological work has not been done on this area and needs attention from the Archeologists. Molana abdul qadir was a great scholar resident of village pabaini the founder of pushto accadmy and pushto department,the 1st pushto dictionary was written by him.

[edit] Administration

The district is administratively subdivided into three tehsils Swabi, Lahor and Topi which contain a total of 56 Union Councils:^[2]

Tehsil	No of Unions
Lahor	17
Swabi	20
Topi	19
Total	56

It comprises an area of 1,543 square kilometres, population 1.026 million (1998 census), 137,988 children under five years of age and major occupations include agriculture, business, government employment and tobacco cultivation.

The sole industrial estate of Gadoon is now a graveyard of industrial units. Out of 450 units, only 20 are functioning.

The district is represented in the provincial assembly by six elected MPAs who represent the following constituencies: ^[3]

Constituency	MPA	Party
PF-31 (Swabi-1) ^[4]	Muhammad Zarshid	Awami National Party
PF-32 (Swabi-2)	Javaid Iqbal Tarkai	Independent
PF-33 (Swabi-3)	Mukhtiar Ali Advocate	Awami National Party
PF-34 (Swabi-4)	Sardar Ali	Independent
PF-35 (Swabi-5)	Sikandar Irfan	Awami National Party
PF-36 (Swabi-6)	Sarfaz Khan	Awami National Party

[edit] People

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[edit] Partition

Before partition, Hindus also lived here and most of the businesses were owned by them, both Muslims and Hindus lived peacefully. Majority of Hindu population was present in Bamkhel and Naranji village before partition. After partition, the vast majority of Hindus left for India.

[edit] After Partition

Today almost the whole population is Pakhtun of the Yousafzai tribe, however even today Hindus and Sikhs are found in some areas of Swabi.

Thand Koi is one of the most famous villages of Swabi, the people are famous for their hospitality. It is a great support to Islamic Ishat and tableegh, the great sunna of the prophet of Muslims. The well-known Islamic scholars of this village are mufti Gulzar Khan Babakhel, Maulana bin Amin and Maulana Shamsul Nawaz. It is the village having the most huffaz, who are having the whole Quran in the memory.

The madrassa darul uloom taleem ul Quran is one of the most prominent madrassas of Swabi. It is greatly supported by the villagers of Thand Koi and the basic contribution is that of, Muhammad Zahid, Maula Shamsul Haq, Qari Amin ul Haq and Hafiz Qari Abdul Waheed.

Maini is the most popular village of Swabi. It is a beautiful valley. It contains beautiful springs. People of Maini are well educated, hard working and beautiful. Many of people are working abroad especially in Dubai.

Archaeologically, Lahor was the original Lahor and the Lahore city of Panjab was raised after this one. Hund was called Hind and Lahor was the capital of Hind.

The museum of Peshawar is decorated with the historical utensils and ornaments of Lahor. The famous poets of Pashtu Mir Nawas Khan, Bakhshir, Norbaz Haji, belonged to this locality.

The traditional local play "tatti" is only played in Lahor at the arrival of spring. The people of Lahor are historically very rich, belong to the famous tribes of Afghan Yousafzai, they are well educated, patriotic and nationalistic as well.

Village Beka is at the edge of River indus. People are very hospital caring and famous for their rich culture. Historically Village Beka was replace by river indus. It was the famous village during Akbar (empror). Akbar sent his faithful soldiers to live in this area. After flood on old Beka people move parallel to river on other side e.g existing Beka, Nabi, Sala, and Haryan till Zida. in new Beka village , Yusuf zai clan, Khattak clan, Shahib zadgan( bacha sahib) and Blar khel are living. Famous People are Fazal Akbar Khan late ( Deputy commissioner), Nero Surgeon General Dr Nasar Khan, Aurnagzeb Khan( Zeb Construction, Abdull Wahab Khan (writer) and Fayaaz Ali Khan.Army Colnel Shukat Ali Khan, political Agent Mohd Tahir khan, Ameen Khan Aeronautical Engg In US. literacy rate is high compare to other villages. Haji Mohabat Khan late was social walfare activist. He aimed to bring literacy in female as equal to man. Haji Mohbat khan devoted his life for the welfare of people. He donated his land for girls Primary school, Girls High school and also land for grave yard and hospital. Bacha sahib family serving from long time.Their fore parent are scholar from bukhara ( Central Asia). They are famous in Tib ( Health). Allah give them shafa in their hand.Every year come from miles and miles and from abroad to celeberate ors ( celeberation).

Famous educated women are, Rubi Gul currently doing PhD in States (United States of America). Parveen Shamsahad lecture in Mathematics, Uzma farooq (MCS), Rabia Tariq, Sabia Khanum, Salma Niggar, Zobida Akbar are educated women.

[edit] Tourism

Swabi is notable for being the setting for the Yusuf Khan and Sherbano folktale, a famous Pashtun love story, visitors come to Shera Ghund (the village) and climb the mountain to visit the tomb of Yousaf Khan.

Another area is Kund park - which lies on the bank of the rivers Indus and Kabal it is located in Tordher, and attracts visitors from across the N.W.F.P and Punjab. Another tourist area is Ghazi-Bharota dam, which lies near Topi and Tarbela. Mahaban Hill in Gadoon has a scenic beauty like Swat and other hilly areas. Here exist a resort, naming as Pir Galai, which is 6000 feet above the sea level and from here one can have glance at Mansehra, Buner and Kaghan Hills. The Tomb of Yousaf Khan in village Shera Ghund, near Shewa Adda.

[edit] Villages

Swabi has many important villages. Among them are Topi, Kotha, Maini, Batakara (Uthman area), Swabi, Maneri, Baja, Bam Khel, Marghuz, Zaida, Ismailla, Lahor and Kernal Sher Kalay (formerly known as Nawankalli, Mangal Chai,Garhi, ːpabaini,Salim Khan, Kalabat, Hund, Shewa, Tordher, Jalbai,parmoli, Panjpir, Yar Hussain, Dagai and Zarobi. The people of Swabi have their own name in hospitality. Many people of Swabi work abroad especially UAE and throughout the Middle east. Most of the people from Zarobi and Marghuz have settled in the United Kingdom.

There are many religious scholars in Swabi. Molana Bacha Gul Sahib and Molana Gulfam Shah Sahib are popular for their knowledge and reconciliatory role in this region.

Topi is a town located in the Swabi District of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is the birthplace of Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, who was a pioneer of modern education in the Province. He founded Islamia College, Peshawar in 1913 and Government High School, Topi in 1935. World's largest earth filled dam, Tarbela Dam is located near the historic town of topi. Tarbela Dam is also the largest hydroelectric generation project in Pakistan.

Topi is one of the four villages/towns, the other three being Kotha, Mainai and Batakara which constitute an area within Swabi known as "Uthman". Uthman is the branch of the famous Yousafzai tribe. The town of Topi became well known after the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), named after (Ghulam Ishaq Khan), an ex-President of Pakistan, was established here. The traditional source of income is farming but now a large number people are also working abroad. Most the people are having their own business whereas educated community are doing jobs in public as well as private sectors. In the year 2006, Topi became a Tehsil - which is an administrative subdivision of a district.

People of Topi are very peaceful and hospitable. Topi is business center for the nearby villages including even Swabi, Zaida, Gadoon and Amazai. Topi is the biggest business center of District Swabi. About 30 percent of its population are comprising of the people who migrated from various parts of the district in search of livelihood.

Most of the land of the people of Topi have been used in the construction of Tarbela Dam, Ghazi Bharotha Hydro Power, GIK Institute, Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate and STFA irrigation canal project.

In the social sector, Topi is proud of the late Mr. Muhammad Rafiq Akhundzada who was born in 1945. Mr. Muhammad Rafiq contributed for the establishment of Civil Hospital, GIK Institute Topi, Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate, STFA Irrigation Scheme and the road between Topi and Ghazi by writing various articles at various national and local newspapers and approaching the high ups. These projects indeed made Topi very prosperous and also paved the way for job creation. As he was the General Manager in Muhammad Ali Industries at Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate, he used his personal efforts to give employment to the unemployed people of his locality. According to the former MNA late Yaqoob Khan Jadoon of Gandaf, Mr. Muhammad Rafiq inducted hundreds of people as employees in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate. At the outset i.e. in 1988 the Gadoon Azazai Industrial Estate was in full swing as 400 units were running. Now only 20 of its units are functional.

Link Road in Swabi is a popular bazaar for buying clothes, cosmetics, furniture, etc. Yar Hussain (including surrounding villages of Dagi and Dobian etc) is the biggest market of tobacco in the Asia.

The richest town of Swabi is Nawankilli (now called Karnel Sher Killi), the town has the highest incomes and the most developed infrastructure. The people here live like people in cities. One of the oldest and most historical village of tehsil Swabi is Naranji. This village is located at the bottom of highest mountains towards the extreme North east of district swabi. Towards the north of Naranji behind the mountains district Bunir is located. Naranji is rich in archaeological remains. The archaeological remains date backs to the era of Gandhara civilization. People of village Naranji are mostly uneducated and agricultural. Two important families of the village which are most educated and famous are KakaKhel and Jang. The Kakakhel family of Naranji are the desendents of Kaka saheb from Nowshera.The inhabitants of Naranji are known for their warior nature and bravery in the Mughul history. Dagi, also called Yarhussain Dagi, has the most educated people of the district and has produced top class engineers and doctors of the area. Tordher is the biggest Town of District Swabi. It is the biggest market of vegetables and fruits. Most of the people of Tordher are well educated. It is also popular for the Shrines of great Muslim Saints like Mian Gul Baba, Shiek Shoaib Baba etc. Most of the people of Tordher are in Gulf and Itaely.

One of the most important and well known village of Disstrict swabi is Panj Pir.Panj Pir is famous for many reasons which are ;

Panjpir Maddrassa( religious school ) run by Moulana Moh Tayyeb, students come to study here from almost every part of the country.

Panjpir is well know because of its share in politics we had some great leaders (e.g Saleem Khan Advocate (ex- MPA) and Mod Usman (ex-MNA)) but above all our respected and beloved Major Amir who brought unity and prosperity to the whole region.

the most historical place in district swabi is Haryan, named after the Arians civilization. Haryan is located 3 km from the main swabi-jahangira road from lahor tehsil and on the bank of river indus. in old period, Haryan was well developed and speread from Hund to Attock fort of Mughal King Akber. The proverb is famous amongst old people that "if the goat climb to the roof of one house in haryan, then she could visit entire area from Hund to Attock", because of the densely populated area. Most of the people are formers and govt. servants. Educated people are also found in this village and maximum young peoples are gratuated. few are masters. One of them Said Nadeem is currently doing PhD in supramolecular synthesis (organic chemistry) from HEJ research institute for chemistry, Karachi university. This village is a good place for picnic and outdoor tours. Salah is another village of district swabi in tehsil lahor. it is the most peaceful village of the district and in my memories, never people quarreled in between. one the most educated and nice person is Khalid anwar s/o Gulmast, did masters and currently doing some job. Ashfaq Jadoon belong to the village of Mangal Chai he is doing his Msc from Hazara University Mansehra

[edit] Afghan Refuges Camp

The Afghan Refugee Camp was established more than 20 years ago when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and five million Afghanis fled to Pakistan for shelter. This was the biggest camp in the country. Most of the refugees speaking the same language and culture had little problem settling down. But the huge flow of arms (confiscated from Soviet soldiers during the war), together with the rise in drug smuggling from Afghanistan and theft had became great challenges for the local population. The local people wished to have peace in Afghanistan so that refugees could leave as soon as possible. This camp is also called Sawabi Camp. The very hospitable people of Sawabi have graciously accepted this camp's presence for more than two decades.

[edit] Games

A View of Cock Fighting.

In the category of games, two types of games are played in Swabi. Local and ancient games include Maily MAKHA, Kabaddi, Cock Fighting, and Dog Fighting, Horse racing, and Asses, Akor, Gulu Dandai, Bilorai and Pat patonay Ets. The popular games of modern times are: cricket and football. Swabi is regarded as one of the few best volleyball nurseries in the country. Many of the national team players are from this district, including former national volleyball team captain Raheem, originally from village Zaida.

Makha (Shooting) is the traditional game of Swabi, in which different villages take part. Makha is kind of shooting using a bow and arrow with a relatively large stick and instead of a tip, it has a flat dish-shaped head called Tobray, The target is hit by arrow with the help of bow. Kabadi is also a famous game in Swabi.

Kabbadi is one of the most famous sport of the area.Panj pir is the current champion of the game. The Makha game is very femou between the two villages Mangal Chai and Channi of the Gadoon. People come from all over the Swabi to enjoy this game.

[edit] The Hub of Streams and Rivers

Swabi is home to dozens of streams and two great rivers, the Indus and the Kabul River. Both the rivers meet at a place called Kund, another major tourist attraction. The Indus river with its spectacular blue colour and the Kabul river's muddy brown water go side by side without blending. It is a treat to watch these two rivers hug each other quietly for thousands of years in its own special way. Also there are several small streams in different locations of the swabi. A unique stream is in village Maini. The water of the stream comes out in the centre of the village. its speciality is that in the winter the water of the stream is so hot. and in the summer water becoms cold. this water is used for irrigation purpose in village. This stream is called CHINA which means a spring. The three villages named KOTHA, TOPI and Maini are collectively called UTMAN has this peculiar aspect that all of them has natural springs called CNINA in Maini, CHINO in Kotha and Bayin in Topi.

[edit] Gadoon Amazai

Gadoon Amazai is one of the biggest Industrial estate of NWFP. Here once situated 580 industries and mills but due to no proper planning it is losing its charm. There are more reasons the biggest one is that the owners were not giving to workers their rights. 12 hour working, no weekend leave, no cadual leave, no medical leave were allowed to workers. Labour law of Pakistan was nothing in front of industrialist because many of them were ministers and members assemblies. Often workers did demonstration and government withdrawal incentive because the industrialist were making money only and were sending their products to others parts of Pakistan in low rates while others industrialist from different parts of Pakistan were also against them and so on many more reasons. One reason was that also the people of Gadoon were not happy of industrial estate because the industrialist were not giving rights to workers and even not giving jobs to them while often labours leaders if do something for labours they always charged in falls cases and often put in jails. Most of them are still wanted in many falls charges and they live hide of government eyes so when incentive were withdrawal local people and labour leaders not take any action and so government withdrawal incentive. And it's also cause of disturbance of Gadoon Amazai industrial estate.

Maneri is the most popular village of Swabi by all means.it is a big village with hug population.most people are in Guld and Europe.most educated people of the distric.they are famous for hospatility and bravery

[edit] References

Administrative Divisions of North-West Frontier Province
Capital	Peshawar
Districts	Abbottabad \| Bannu \| Batagram \| Buner \| Charsadda \| Chitral \| Dera Ismail Khan \| Hangu \| Haripur \| Karak \| Kohat \| Kohistan \| Lakki Marwat \| Lower Dir \| Malakand \| Mansehra \| Mardan \| Nowshera \| Peshawar \| Shangla District \| Swabi \| Swat \| Tank \| Upper Dir