Kohat District

Kohat is a district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Kohat city is the capital of the district. It is inhabited by various Pashtun tribes such as Afridi, Khattak, Bangash and the Orakzai.

Languages

Kohat region has undergone a chequred history and has been the melting pot for various communities as far as the Qandhar and Mazar Shrif in the North and those from the Peshawar region and Bannu region, it remained the integral part of Afghanistan only. As such only Pashto and Persian languages were spoken among its indigenous people of Afghan origin, the sayyeds and the non-sayyesds from a number of tribes including the Afridis and the Orakzais, the Shinwaris as well as the Bangash besides the aristocrats and the nobility of Afghanistan. It became the home for immigrants after the colonialist intrusion into the plains of Afghanistan beyond the protracted mountain range, which the British Gevernmet encouraged and dialects suchh as Hindko or Kohati( a mix of Hindi and Urdu, the so-called Kohati own dialect was born. Kohat town itself and its suburbs became the home of famous Pirs and Sayyeds as well as holy people whose shrines have become historical monuments. After the demographic changes in recent decades and after the region was more or less integrated unto independent Pakistan followed by the arrival of tribesmen from the neighbouring tribal region(so called Afghan Refugees) the Pashto language speakers are in majority today. Urdu language remaining the Pakistan language which is also spoken.

Tribes

The main tribes of Kohat are Khattack, Bangash, Banoori, Kohati Hinkown, Orakzai, Khattak, Shenwari, Afridi, Niazai and Qureshi.

Mughal era

From the early sixteenth century the history of Kohat revolves around three major tribes namely Bangash, Afridi and Khattak.^[1] These people appear to have settled in the district, during 14th and 15th centuries. From 16th to 18th centuries, Kohat remained a part of Afghanistan, administered by the Chiefs of two afore mentioned tribes. In the beginning of 19th century Kohat came under the control of Sikhs who ultimately withdrew leaving to the administrative control of Khan of Teri in 1836.

Bangash era

About 16th century, the Bangash tribe elder who named Khalid Khan Afghani, who came from Gardez, the main City of Afghanistan, and attacked the Kohat during the last Afghan King Babar and occupied the Kohat.

British era

Kohat was annexed to the British dominion on 28 March 1849 with the rest of Punjab and an Assistant Commissioner was posted there to run the administration and to look after the British interests. In the initial stages of the British administration, the locals of the area posed considerable problems. Later on, some of the tribe joined with the British government and helped them in running the area. Nevertheless, the Britishers were never at peace in this part of their kingdom as resistance and opposition always cropped from one quarter or the other. But their tactics of "Divide and Rule" ultimately strengthened their hold over the region. They put one tribe against the other by giving preference to one against the other and finally succeeded in administering them. An example of unrest against the British in this area is the event of the brave Afridi Ajab Khan, who forced the entire British administration of the district to surrender to his demands.

Geography

District Kohat shares border with Peshawar to the North. To the East is the Indus river and the districts Attock and Punjab. To the south are Karak and Hangu districts. It remains surrounded though by the semi-autonomous territories of Darra Adam Khel and the Tirah territory.

Famous places

Tanda Lake

• Khushal Garh Bridge, built by the British before 1900.
• Tanda lake
• Friendship Tunnel, built with Japanese help. The leading Japanese firm M/S Taisie Corp designed and executed the tunnel and its total length is about 1.9 kilometers.

Defence installation

• ISSB Inter Services Selection Board.
• Army Signal Center.
• PAF Air Base. (British era small runway).

Education

• Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Kohat
• Kohat University of Science and Technology
• Khyber University of Medical Sciences
• Post Graduate College Kohat
• Cadet College Kohat
• Government College Of Technology, Kohat
• Government Commerce College

Health

• Liaqat Memorial Hospital
• Shifa Eye Hospital
• District Headquarters Teaching Hospital

Irrigation

• The Tanda Dam in the west of Kohat city.

Tanda Lake in monsoon

Administration

Kohat district is divided into two Tehsils:

• Kohat
• Lachi (Lachi is one of the largest village of Kohat. Situated on the southern border with Karak district)

The district is represented in the provincial assembly by three elected MPAs who represent the following constituencies:^[2]

• PF-37 (Kohat-1)
• PF-38 (Kohat-2)
• PF-39 (Kohat-3)
• NA-14 (Kohat)

References

Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abbottabad Bannu Battagram Buner Charsadda Chitral Dera Ismail Khan Hangu Haripur Kala Dhaka Karak Kohat Kohistan Lakki Marwat Lower Dir Malakand Mansehra Mardan Nowshera Peshawar Shangla Swabi Swat Tank Tor Ghar Upper Dir

Administrative divisions of Kohat District Capital Tehsils Kohat Lachi Union councils Bahadar Kot Bilitang chorlaki Dhoda Gumbat Jarma Kharmatoo Khushalgarh, Kohat Kohat (Urban-I) Kohat (Urban-II) Kohat (Urban-III) Kohat (Urban-IV) Kohat (Urban-V) Kohat (Urban-VI) Lachi (Rural) Lachi (Urban) Mandoori Muhammadzai, Kohat Nusrat Khel Shah Pur Shakardara Shakardara (Urban) Sher Kot Sudal Surgul Togh Bala Usterzai

Coordinates: 33°20′N 71°10′E / 33.333°N 71.167°E / 33.333; 71.167