Sohawa Tehsil

Sohawa is an administrative sub-division (tehsil) of Jhelum District, situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan.^[1] It is located in north-western part of the district. One sign of Sohawa is the toll plaza by the name of 'Tarakki' on the Grand Trunk Road. The main bazaar of Sohawa attracts people from nearby villages.

History

The etymology of the name Sohawa has not been proven, but according to folk etymology the original name was Soo Awa which means "100 fences of potters". Sohawa was originally a small village near to Khoraka, after several years of human settlement in these two villages, the original village of Soahwa and Khoraka merged with each other and the present town of Sohawa was formed that contained market of all types. The original village is part of the main town(khoraka) and called "Ward #1" or Purana Sohawa (literally "old Sohawa")

Demographics

The most famous village is Kot Dhamiak. Which was a fort at the time when ShahabuDin conqured this area in 16th century. Now a days there is a big market in this village where most people and do shopping. The village of Bishindaur (new name Dewan-e-Hazoori) near Sohawa was named after Bishan Singh who ruled the area. Raja Bishan Singh was the grandson of Raja Ram Singh I and was ruler of Amber, and head of the Kachwaha Rajput clan, from 1688 to 1699.

Dewan e Hazoori was the biggest food market of Sohawa before partition. Dewan e Hazoori has an annual religious event for the birth of the Wali Haji Hafiz Syed Muhammed Abdullah RA, commonly known as Dewan E Hazoori. There is a darbaar and mosque at the heart of the village, where people flock to every Thursday to visit and pay their respects.

Health Facilities

A Tehsil Headquarter Hospital (THQs) Sohawa for the people of Sohawa and surrounding rural areas has been developed by the Government of Pakistan that provides only basic health facilities. For critical health problems peoples have to move to more advanced hospitals. this hospital is currently 40 bedded 20 for female & 20 for male patients followings facilities are available emergency services 4 bedded, labour room services, Operation theater facilities, dental surgery, ambulance services, indoor services lab, X-Rays, Ultra sonography facilities, ECG facilities,Blood Bank (Under Construction) 24 huors round the clock & OPD curative, preventive, promotive & rehabilitative services. Following Post of Specialists are still vacant Medical Splt, child splt, Gynaecologist, Eye, ENT Splt, pathologist, Radilogist. this hospital offers free facilities for MCH, Deliveiris. presently there are three lady doctors to provide round the clock 24 Hrs. labour room cover. Further one Rural health center Domeli, 12 basic health units (Adrana, jandala, nagial, gurah uttam singh, kohali,Phulray syedan,surgdhan,dewan e hazoori, pail mirza,karounta,panchor & Banth)3 Government rural dispensaries (Lehri, Gaddar, Baragawah)4 Rural dispensaries (dial, Hayal,Pari derwaiza & Dhairy bakrala)are also providing health services.

Major tribes and clans

The major tribes and clans of the district are the following:

• Chaudry - (Dhamial Jats, Dhudhi, Gangial, Gondal Jat, Gujjral, Hariar, Jandrial, Jangyal, Kalyals, Kanyals, Khanda, Khengar, Khatarmal, Mathyals, Moghyal, Tarar, Thathal,Jatt Chadi, Raya and Jatt khtreel , Gujar
• Rajputs - (Panwar)(BANGIAL, Akra, Bhatti, Chauhan, Janjua Rajput, Budhal Rajput and Manhas)
• Awan Malik
• Gakhars Kayani
• Sayyid (Bukhari, Kazmi)
• Kashmiri
• Kassar
• Mughals
• Sheikhs
• Kassab
• Gill (Mostly Belongs to Minorites)

References

Footnotes

Notations

• http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=12&dn=Jhelum
• http://harrysworldatlas.blogspot.com/2008/03/pakistan-pk-punjab-province-rawalpindi.html

External links

• Sohawa website
• Government of Punjab