Chakwal

Chakwal (Urdu: چکوال‎), (Punjabi: چکوال) is the capital of Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located 90 km south-east of the federal capital, Islamabad[1] and is named after Chaudhry Chaku Khan,[citation needed] chief of the Mair Minhas tribe from Jammu, who founded it in 1525 CE during the era of the Mughal Emperor, Zaheerudun Babur. It remained a small but central town of the Dhan Chaurasi Taluka for many centuries. In 1881, during the British era, it was declared the Tehsil Headquarters. It was finally upgraded to district status in 1985. The area of Chakwal city is about 10 square kilometres.

History

Chakwal is located in the Dhanni region of the Potohar in northern Punjab, Pakistan. The Potohar Plateau (Urdu: سطح مُرتفع پوٹھوہار), (also spelled Pothohar or Potwar) was the home of the ancient Soan valley civilization, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites. The Indus Valley civilization flourished in this region between the 23rd and 18th centuries BC. Some of the earliest Stone Age artefacts in the world have been found on the plateau, dating from 500,000 to 100,000 years ago. The crude stone recovered from the terraces of the Soan testify to human endeavour in this part of the world from the inter-glacial period.
The Stone Age people produced their equipment in a sufficiently homogeneous way to justify grouping the inhabitants of this area into one. Around 3000 BC, small village communities developed in the Pothohar area.
For much of its early history, Dhanni was an uninhabited part of the Jammu state of the Dogra Rajputs, and Khokhar Rajputs, held as a hunting ground for the Rajas of Jammu.
Chaudhary Sidhar settled villages named after his sons Chaku, Murid and Karhan and as Chaku Khan became the chief, he decided to settle in Chakwal, the village named after him and make it the center of administration of the Taluka. Kassar chiefs founded the villages of Bal-Kassar and Dhudial.
Their rule over Dhanni continued during the Sikh era; Chaudhry Ghulam Mehdi had invited Sardar Mahan Singh to this side of Jhelum River. It was during that era that the Dhanni breed of horses became popular; even Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's personal horses were kept in the stables of the 'Chakwal Chaudhrials'. In 1801 Ranjit Singh visited the Dhanni, which had been in a very disturbed state, subduded it without resistance,and returned to Lahore with 400 fine horses.Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was very kind to Chaudharials of Chakwal due to their obedient services.[citation needed]During the Independence War of 1857 Chaudharials of Chakwal strengthened the hand of the British Raj by escorting the treasury from Chakwal to Rawalpindi and got the khilats and Jagirs.
Chakwal's non-Muslim minorities departed during partition of the subcontinent in 1947 but the city is still in their heart and mind and had never forgotten it. In April 2009 a terrorist attack on the mosque killed more than 30 people.

Geography

Chakwal's landscape features the canyons in Thirchak-Mahal. There are man-made and natural lakes around the city in neighbouring communities.
On the top of this hill is a shrine called Chehl-Abdal of Chehl Abdal”[citation needed] hill top which is at 3,500 feet (1,100 m) above sea level. Another well-known tourist place in the area is Kalar Kahar, 2,500 feet (760 m) above sea level. The famous temple-fort of Katas Raj is nearby. Chakwal is connected by road to Jhelum and Lahore via the Sohawa road.
Chakwal is a semi-arid area with a shortage of irrigation systems and water sources for agriculture. Over 70% of the population engages in agriculture, mostly subsistence agriculture dependent on rainfall. Most villages have no irrigation system.

Administration

In addition to being the district capital, Chakwal city is also the administrative centre of Chakwal tehsil (a subdivision of the district). The Chakwal District is divided into four Tehsils, namely, Kalarkahar, Chohsaidan Shah, Talagang and Chakwal. The city of Chakwal itself is divided into five Union councils: and Chakwal district is divided into 68 union councils. Jamalwal Village is 19 kilometre from Chakwal City in Union Council Mangwal, In this Village Bhatti Rajput & Mughal Kassar two big families.

Education

There are a number of educational institutions being developed in the city, such as Govt. High School No. 1, Chakwal,and (Govt High School Balkassar) One of the best Schools in Pakistan Virtual University of Pakistan, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila Chakwal Campus, the Swedish Institute of Technology, Govt Post Graduate College Chakwal, Myers, Horizon, VTI, CSC and others.
The Arya Samaj founded the first school in Chakwal at the start of the 20th century, and others, both religious and secular, followed. More information on basic child education can be found on the district government webpage

Media

An English newspaper called, " The Revolution " is also published in Chakwal. Many Urdu newspapers are published and are also found online.

Notable residents

Prime Minister of India, Shri Manmohan Singh was born in Gah village.
Secretary to the Government of the Punjab, Dr. Allah Bakhsh Malik PhD, PAS, UN-UNESCO Confucius Laureate was born in village Khara Tehsil & District Chakwal.