Swabi District
| Swabi District | |
|---|---|
| District | |
 | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Capital | Swabi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,543 km2 (596 sq mi) |
| Population (1998) | |
| • Total | 1,026,804 |
| • Density | 665/km2 (1,720/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Number of Tehsils | 5 |
| Website | www.swabipukhtoon.webnode.com |
Swabi District (Pashto: سوابۍ,Urdu: صوابی) is the fourth most populous district of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. It lies between the Indus and Kabul Rivers.
Languages and People
Pashto is main language spoken in a specific dialect. Gujri and Punjabi Language (in Hindko dialect) are spoken by few. Urdu being National language is also spoken and understood.
The residents are referred to as Swabiwal. The Mandanr Yusufzai subsection of the Yusufzai clan, Awankhel tribe, and the Jadoon tribe, which are Pashtuns, form a majority of the population.[citation needed]
Overview
Swabi is the district capital and big city of the area. Shewa Adda is the largest city of the district. Tordher and Topi are also big trading points in the district.
Tobacco is a cash crop of Swabi, along with vegetables, wheat, sugar cane and maize. Its climate is well suited for citrus fruits in particular, but many other fruits like watermelon, peaches and apricots are also grown there.
A six lane motorway connecting Islamabad with Peshawar passes through Swabi District, with an access interchange at the village of Ambar.
Karnal Sher Khan Interchange has been constructed to connect the area of Tehsil Razar to Motorway. An access road from Shewa Adda to Motorway is under construction to connect Shewa Adda city to Motorway.
Buddhist archaeological sites
Once part of the Gandhara civilization, Swabi contains many important archaeological sites, which are tourist attractions.[1] Alexander the Great crossed the Indus River where the village of Hund now lies on its right bank. Hund is an archaeological treasure; it was the capital of the Hindu Shahi for nearly three hundred years.
Rani Ghat is another Gandhara archaeological site, containing the ruins of a famous palace belonging to the queen of that era. She was famous for paying Swabi villagers for clean air—they were not allowed to pollute it by winnowing their crops. The ruins on the top of a mountain still attract visitors. As a part of the origin of the Buddhist Gandhara civilisation, it has also garnered re-construction funds from Japanese research institutes. With the help of this money, the local non-governmental organization Shewa Educated Social Workers Association built a walkway to the historical sites, as well as fences to protect the area. It also built a rest house on Baga Mountain. This area attracts many tourists, including Japanese who come here to learn about Buddhism in ancient times.
Aurel Stein recorded in his survey of the Mahaban range "it remains for me to explain the opinion to which I have been led as regards the character and identity of this remarkable site. The nature of the ruins described and the remains they have furnished, makes it clear beyond all doubt; that they mark the position of a Buddhist sanctuary possessed of shrines and monastic establishments.[2]
Streams and rivers
Swabi is home to several great rivers, the Indus, the Kabul Rivers. There are also several smaller streams. For example Badrai, originating from Buner crossing Salim Khan, Manerai, Swabi, Kala, Darra, Panjpir and so on until it meets the Indus river near Ambar. Maini has a stream; the water emerges from the centre of the village. It is used for irrigation. This stream is called china in the local language, meaning "spring". They all have natural springs called china in Maini, chino in Kotha and bayin in Topi.
Tourism
Swabi is famous for the famous Pashtun folk love story of Yusuf Khan and Sherbano. Visitors come to the village of Shera Ghund (situated along with Shewa Adda) and climb Karamar Mountain in the town of Kalu Khan to visit the tomb of Yousaf Khan.
The Indus and Kabul Rivers meet at a place called Kund, a major tourist attraction. The Indus River with its blue colour and the Kabul River's muddy brown waters flow side by side without blending. Another tourist attraction is the Ghazi-Barotha Dam, which is near the town of Topi and the Tarbela Dam.
Mahaban Hill in Gadoon has a scenic beauty. The Pir Galai resort is located here, 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above sea level. From here, one can see Mansehra, Buner and Kaghan Hills.
Sports and games
The people of Swabi district also take keen interest in modern and convintional games. Left Handed Fast Medium Bowler Junaid Khan, who plays for the Pakistan national cricket team, also belongs to Mathra village near Dagai. Abdul Qadir a well know spinner belongs from Marghuz. Swabi is considered as one of the best volleyball nurseries in the country. Many of the national team players are from this district, such as former national team captain Raheem, from the village of Zaida,khurram shahzad former boxer in provincial & national team of Pakistan is also from Zaida .
Local and ancient games include Maily, Makha, Kabaddi, horse racing, Akor, Gulu Dandai, Bilori, chindro, and Pat-Patonay.
Makha, a type of archery, is the traditional game of Swabi. A long bow and arrows made from bamboo sticks are used. Instead of a tip, the arrow has a saucer-shaped distal end called the Tubray. Villages Mangal Chai of and Channi of the Gadoon (Jadoon) have a famous Makha rivalry.
Kabbadi is one of the most popular team sports of the area.
Koda, played with small round shaoe stones, was a favorite game of Swabiwal in ancient times. It is still played in Maneri Bala and Payan. The games attract sizable crowds, and traditional Pushto music dulkay is played during tournaments.
Education
The Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology is located in the village of Topi and University of SWABI is located in village Anbar Karnal Sher Khan Cadet College Swabi is located in the village of Ismaila.Women university Swabi Branch.
Afghan refugee camps
Two Afghan refugees camps, Bharakay Camp and Fazal Camp, were established more than 20 years ago when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and five million Afghans fled to Pakistan. Bharakay is the largest camp in the country; most of the refugees spoke the same language and had little trouble settling down.[citation needed]
Notable residents
- Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, the founder of Islamia College University, was raised in Topi
- Karnal Sher Khan, an army officer and receiver of the Nishan-e-Haider, was born in Karnal Sher Killi (Shewa Adda)
- Khan Roshan Khan, an historian who wrote many books on Pashtun tribes, including the Shilmani, Kakazai, and Salarzai, was born in Karnal Sher Killi
- Muhammad Arshad Khan an artist raised in topi and Distt. Sawabai.
References
- ↑ Archaeological Sites Being Neglected - The Dawn, Pakistan.
- ↑ Report of archaeological survey work in the North-West Frontier Province By Sir Aurel Stein Page 38
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Coordinates: 34°07′N 72°28′E / 34.117°N 72.467°E