Bewal
| Bewal | |
|---|---|
| Union Council | |
 | |
| Country |
 Pakistan |
| Province | Northern Punjab |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Tehsil | Gujar Khan |
| Government | |
| • Nazim | Ch Iftikhar Ahmed Warsi |
| • Naib Nazim | Ch Qadeer Ahmed |
Bewal (Urdu: ﯧﺑﻭﻞ) is a town and Union Council in the eastern part of Gujar Khan Tehsil and to south east from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Bewal along with Sui Cheemian is today probably the most wealthy place anywhere in rural Pakistan, with a large proportion of its population being settled in Europe, particularly the UK. In several villages of Union Council Bewal, virtually every family has at least one member living and working in England. Unlike other rural areas in Pakistan, Bewal is reasonably well developed. A new state of the art hospital, Bewal International Hospital, is now opened and is providing healthcare to surrounding and distant patients. The hospital is founded as a charity hospital and poor deserving patients are treated free of charge.
Despite boasting a very low crime rate in the past, there has been a significant increase in looting, murders and house break-ins in recent years. The literacy rate in the area is estimated to be about 70 percent for men and somewhat lower for women.Bank Alfalah Limited has started its Islamic Banking branch in Bewal in December 24, 2009. It in pioneer in providing ATM service at Bewal.
Politics and agriculture
Traditionally, Bewal was a stronghold of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)and has elected PPP candidates to both the Provincial and National Assemblies during 2008 General Elections.PTI had been a stronghold in bewal During general election 2013 although both National and provincial assembly seats won by PMLN. Local politician from bewal are totally stupid minded they believes in old politics style. Muhammad arslan a new face among the peoples of bewal who thing's that the welfare is the real politics.
Rawalpindi is the city which is a main shopping centre for the people. The countryside surrounding the town consists of typical Pothohar Plateau landscape. Surrounded by several smaller towns, Bewal is a hub for other areas around it. Other main towns include Kallar Syedan, Choha Khalsa, Jabber Islampura jabbar,Goleen and Smot. The fertile land of the Bewal region grows crops such as wheat, corn and peanuts.
History
There are many versions of stories about its history and name. Some believe it was named after Alexander The Great's horse which was killed during a furious fight. Others would claim that it was named after a Hindu Raja's daughter nicknamed Baby which was suffixed with a Hindi word "Waala" (which is a common practice throughout the subcontinent), and together it was "Babywaal", which ended up as a Bewal over time. There are no historical proofs for these claims. though.
Up until the spring of 1947, Bewal had a sizable non-Muslim population, most of which consisted of Sikhs with a small number of Hindus. Bewal suffered from communal riots in which local Muslims besieged the town for over a week. The stalemate resulted in the rioters setting fire to the homes of the Sikhs and Hindus living in the centre of Bewal. Virtually the entire population of Sikhs and Hindus in Bewal was burnt alive in the ensuing fires.
A Hindu temple stills stands in Bewal although the two Gurudawaras did not survive the fire of 1947. Many former Sikh and Hindu residents and their descendants have visited Bewal in the 1980s and 1990s. Before partition Sikhs and Hindus dominated the local business scene of Bewal, while local Muslims hardly had any kind of business at all. Muslims were mostly farmers in poor conditions. It was an area governed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Kashmir and in the past it was a part of Kashmir. Qilla Sanghani (a fortress built during British Raj), Pakka Khu (a well, said to be built by some Mughul king) and Pakki Masjid (a mosque also said to be built by Mughul King) are the main historical sites in the area. There is a village in Bewal called Dheri that is the most beautiful village there, and while there are many bungalows, no one lives there, they all live in the UK. Telecommunication The PTCL provides the main network of landline telephone with minority shares of other operators. All major mobile phone companies operating in Pakistan provide service in Bewal. Pakistan's Broadband revolution has had a significant impact on telecommunications in Bewal. DSL internet also has a major coverage in the city with PTCL the main stakeholders. Recently a high speed 3G Network, EVO Nitro, was also set up by PTCL with maximum speeds of 9.3 Mbit/s to add up to the already established EVO 3G Network. Though localized, it is the first instance in the history of telecommunication that EVDO RevB technology was commercially launched.
People
The principal clans of Bewal are the Qureshis, Awan, Gakhar,Gujar, Mughals, Sayyid, Rajputs (jasyal Kanyals,[ chouhan rajpoots,majority live in mohra kanyal and dhera kanyal].Bangial, Bhattis, Minhas, Jat rajputs ( injrahal rajputs,Cheema, Chhina, Dhamial, Kalyals and Sandhu). and Butts also known kashmiries Inhabitants in this region are modest and polite.Majority own various shops in main bazaar while other are farmers and stick to their lands, rest of the people are abroad for a living especially in United Kingdom.
A large number of people went to live and work in United Kingdom since 1970. In daily life people indulge themselves in simple activities like sports which include, Kabaddi, Volleyball, Bull Racing, Dog Fighting.
In recent elections held in United Kingdom Sayeeda Warsi ak Baroness Warsi a British lawyer from Dewsbury Yorkshire and member of Conservative Party, became a cabinet minister who is also from Bewal.
Government Boys High School Bewal
Government Boys High School Bewal has been an emotional mark to many for many years as it's been a center of educational and sporting activities. From late eighties to late nineties it was a center for annual sports event. Also the school has a reputation of being one of the best schools in district Rawalpindi in terms of quality education and disciplines and a major competitor for other government or private educational institute within area.
Sports like Kabbadi, Cricket, Racing were a major go then. Usually it halted many other activities as people tended to come and watched these exciting events.another school which was founded by Mr Muhammad Ramzan(late) in 1989 as named New Age elmentory academy, Late Muhammad Ramzan was a well known personality in Bewal and he made lot of efforts to increase the literacy rate in Bewal, due to his hectic efforts the new age acamy produce an excellent stuff for the country many number of students now serving in national and multinational system.
Education
Bewal is also a centre of quality education. Many Institutes are providing the best in education.Educational Institutes providing the education are
- Hira Public School
- Al Sufa Model School ( Bewal Branch)
- Grammar Public Secondary School bewal
Bewal International Hospital
Bewal International Hospital is built in the heart of Bewal town. The hospital is run by a charitable organization under the name Abdul Rehman Memorial Trust. The project started in 2005 and the money was raised mainly from the UK where most of the residents of Bewal live. The aim of the trust and the hospital is to provide first class health services for the people in need. Over 1.5 million pounds have been raised so far to build a state of the art hospital in a remote village.
The facilities provided by the hospital are second to none. Those people who are unable to pay for their treatment are treated free of charge and others are charged a nominal fee to cover the costs.
The hospital employs many professionals. These include 2 consultant gynecologists, 2 medical specialist, Surgical specialist, 2 anaesthetists, an ophthalmologist, a paediatrician, medical officers, midwives, theatre assistance, nurses, pharmacist, lab technician and many other support staff. An administrator overseas the day to day running of the hospital.
The hospital provided services ranging from outpatient consultations to operative procedures such as C-sections, general surgical procedures and emergency fracture cases. There are also facilities to manage acute surgical and medical emergencies and those patient requiring transferral for further management into the city are transported there using the hospital ambulance.