Mianwali is a District in the north-west of Punjab, Pakistan. It borders Lakki Marwat district in the west, Kohat and Kark districts in the North west and D.I Khan in the southwest. Attok lies in the north, Chakwal in the north east, Khushab in the east and Bhakkar in the south. In November 1901, the NWFP was carved out of Punjab and present day towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (NWFP) and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab.
Demography
The majority of the population is of Hindko origin similar to the people of Attock.Niazi Tribe is The Most Famouse Tribe of this District. Niazi Tribe is Mostly Living in The Mianwali City, Shahbaz Khel, Mosa Khel, Mochh,Utra Kalaan, Sawans. The Tribes who known as Jats are living in the Kacha and Thal speak a Hindko Seraiki, lived in all parts of the district but mostly in Waan Bacharaan, Kundian, Ding Khola, Khanqah Sirrajia, Saeed Abad, Bakharra/Kacha Kalo, Kacha paar,khita-e-Atlas, Kacha Gujrat, Kacha Shahnawaz Wala, Phaati, Hurnoli, Alluwali, Duaba, Jaal, Piplan, Wichveen Bala, Moosa Khel, Shadia and many others villages which are parts of the district. There are small minority of Pashtuns and Punajbis. Mostly people speak a unique dialect of Seraiki which borrows many words from Hindko and Pashto. However the Khattak tribes living in the suburbs of Isakhel, Chapri, Bhangi Khel, Sultan Khel, Makarwal and Bani Afghan are bilingual, Pashto being their primary language but can fairly communicate in Seraiki as well. Awans living in the Salt range of Mianwali speak a dialect of Potohari which is called "Uttraadi"(pertaining to the highlanders).
According to the 1998 census of Pakistan the district had a population of 1,056,620 of which 20.39%2 of which 85,000 inhabit the district capital.
Administration
Mianwali used to be the part of Bannu district but on November the 9th,1901 a new district was made with headquarters at Mianwali city.Deputy commissioner used to be the head of the district.The first deputy commissioner was Captain A.J.OBrainThe first district judge was Sardar Balwant Singh.It is worth mentioning that Capt.O'Brian served Mianwali not once but thrice.He was again given the charge of D.C.Mianwali in 1906 and then in 1914. This time he was promoted to the rank of Major.
The system continued even after the creation of Pakistan as a sovereign nation.It was not until year 2000 when the new local government system was introduced by the President of Pakistan Perves Musharaf.Three basic changes were made
Divisions which used to be third tier of the government were abolished and more autonomy was given to the districts under the motive of devolution of power.
With this new status of the districts Nazims were to become the administrators of the district with more authoritative powers.
The post of D.C. was abolished with the aim to put an end to the bureaucratic rule however the bureaucracy was offered an olive branch by creating a new post of District Co-ordinating Officer.However the Nazim remains the main elected representative and administrator while the D.C.Os serve as representatives of the government.
The district is administratively divided into three Tehsils and 56 Union Counsils
Name of Tehsil No of Unions
Isa khel tehsil
Isakhel Tehsil is an administrative subdivision Tehsil of Mianwali District in the Punjab province of Pakistan The city of Isakhel is the headquarters of the tehsil which is administratively subdivided into 14 Union Council It is located between 32° 30′ and 33° 14′ N. and 71° 7′ and 71° 44′ E., with an area of 678 square miles (1,760 km2) and contains the towns of Isakhel, Kammar Mushani and Kalabagh
14
Mianwali Tehsil
28
Mianwali Tehsil is an administrative subdivision (tehsill) of Mianwali District in the Punjab province of Pakistan The tehsil is subdivided into 28 Union Councils - four of which form the capital Mianwali
History
According to the 1901 census, compiled during Brithish rule the population of the tehsil was 111,883 and contained 69 villages.
References
^Tehsils & Unions in the District of Mianwali - Government of Pakistan
^Miānwāli Tahsīl - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 17, p. 326.
Piplan Tehsil
14
Piplan Tehsil is an administrative subdivision Tehsil of Mianwali in the Punjab province of Pakistan The tehsil is subdivided into 14 Union Councils - one of which forms the capital Piplan
Geography
Mianwali district covers an area of 5,840 square kilometres. The area in north is a continuation of the Pothar plateou and the Kohistan Namak. The district consists of various towns, including Kalabagh Isa khel,Ding Khola (Khanqah Sirrajia), Kundian Pai Khel Piplan Kamar mushani Mouch Rokhri Harnoli Musa Khel Gul Miri Wan Bhachran Daud Khel and the district capital - Mianwali city.
Kalabagh is famous for the Kalabagh Dam and the Nawab Of Kalabaghand for the red hills of the salt range and scenic view of mighty Indus River.
Kundian is the second largest town at a distance of 15 km from the city of Mianwali.There is a Chashma Nuclear power plant(Chashnupp)Ding Khola (PAEC),Kundian(Chashma)Barrage,K.J(Kundian Jehlum)Chashma Jehlum)Link Canal
Thal is a large area which is mostly desert and semi-arid. It is located between Jhelum and Indus river (The Sindh-Saagar Doab). The boundaries of the old district established in 1901 included almost 70 % of this great area, but after the separation of Layyah and then Bhakkar Tehsils, only about
20% remains in this district. First deputy commissioner Mr. A J O'Brian wrote in his memoirs
" In 1901 the District of Mianwali was formed out of the two Punjab halves of two older districts, and I had the good fortune to be put in charge. It was a lonely District with, as my Assistant Mr. Bolster called it, 'three white men in a wilderness of sand.'"
Nammal (Namal) Lake is a place of interest for the hikers and holiday-makers in Chakrala.
Amongst fine views should be included that of the Indus and the eastern valley from a little conical hill at Mari, where the "Kalabagh diamonds" (quartz crystals) are found and which is crowned by an old Hindu ruin. Amongst picturesque spots may be mentioned Nammal, just beyond the Dhak Pass in Mianwali, also Kalabagh and Mari on the Indus, and Kotki in the throat of Chichali Pass. The average rainfall in the district is about 250 mm.
Isa Khel is another important town located in the west of Mianwali. It is a historical town named after Isa Khan a famous Niazi chief.
Kamar Mushani is famous for its trade and minerals.
Education
The city is an economic and commercial hub in the district. There are several educational institutions up to post-graduate level, affiliated with the
University of Punjab Whole of the district has extreme weather, summer last from May to September, June is the hottest month average temperature
of month rise up to 42°C and maximum could go to 50°C whereas in winter, December and January temperature is as low as 3 to 4°C average per month
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Avg high °C 19 21 26 33 38 42 39 37 37 33 28 21 31
Avg low temperature °C 3 6 12 17 22 27 27 26 23 16 9 4 16
Rainfall in. (Cm) 1.6 2.1 4.1 2.4 1.9 1.8 7.6 11 4.5 0.7 0.1 0.9 38.5
Source: Weatherbase
History
Brief Overview
Traditionally all major rulers of South Asia governed this area in their turn. Mughal emperor Baburmentions Essa Khail (Isakhel) whilst he was fighting against the Pakistan as part of his campaign to conquer the Punjab during the 1520s (ref. Baburnama). Then came the Sikhs, that era was famous for lawlessness, and barbarism, they ruled until the annexation of Punjab in 1849 by the British. During British Rule, the Indian empire was subdivided into province, divisions and districts, (after the independence of Pakistan Divisions remained the third tier of government until 2000). The British had made the towns of Mianwali and Isa Khel tehsil headquarters of Bannu District then part of D.I.Khan of Punjab Province
The district of Mianwali was created in November 1901, when the N.W.F.P was carved out of Punjab and the towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel Kalabagh and Kundian were separated from Bannu District which became part of the NWFP. A new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab, the district became a part ofMultan Division Mianwali originally contained four Tehsils namely Mianwali, Isa Khel,Bhakkar, and Layyah, in 1909 Layyah was transferred to Muzaffargarh District. The district became a part of Sargodha Division in 1961, in 1982 Bhakkar tehsil was removed from Mianwali an
d became a separate district of Sargodha Division
