Neelum Valley Kashmir

Neelum Valley Kashmir Backdrop On the termination of British rule over the Sub-Continent two independent States, Pakistan and India emerged in August 1947, in view of geographical, religious and historical links the people of Jammu & Kashmir State demanded freedom from the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh and the accession of the State to Pakistan. The Maharaja, ignoring the wishes of the Muslim majority, instead, entered into an unfortunate conspiracy with the Hindu leadership and acceded to India. This sparked the liberation movement of the Muslim population of the State against the Dogra and Indian forces in Kashmir. As a result of this, a part of the State was liberated from the Dogra cum Indian domination in October 1947, and named Azad State of Jammu & Kashmir

General Information The state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir lies between longitude 73º - 75º and latitude 33º - 36º and comprises of 5,134 square miles or 13,297 square kilometers of area. The topography is mainly hilly and mountainous with valleys and stretches of plains. The area is full of natural beauty with thick forest, fast flowing rivers and winding streams. The main rivers are Jehlum, Neelum and Poonch. The climate is sub-tropical highland type with an average yearly rainfall of 1300 mm. The elevation ranges from 360 meters in the south to 6325 meters in the north. The snowline is in winter is around 1200 meters above sea level while in the summer it rises to 3,300 meters. The total population of 2.973 million according to the Population Census of 1998 is estimated to be 3.271 million in 2002. Almost 100% population is Muslim. Out of the total population, 87.5% are living in rural areas while 12.5% are urban residents. The population density is 246 persons per square kilometer. The literacy rate was reported as 55% in the 1998 census, is estimated to be 60% in 2002. According to the most recent available survey by the Northern Resources Management Program with the assistance of Overseas Economic Research Institute, the average household income is around Rs. 101,900. Of the total Rs. 60,834 (59.7%) is income from the off-farm and other activities while Rs. 41,065 (40.3%) is termed as the farm income, which implies that Rs. 14,557 per capita is the total family income. The area under cultivation is around 170,787 hectares which is about 12.8% of the total area of AJK. According to the agricultural census of 1990, the average farm size is only 1.2 hectares, half of which is cultivated. A large proportion of farm land is uncultivable waste, including forest. Per Capita land holding is 0.159 hectares. The major crops are Maize followed by Wheat and Rice while the minor crops include Grams, Pulses, Oil-Seeds and Vegetables.

The area under fruit cultivation is about 14,460 hectares. The most important fruits are Apples, Pears, Apricots, Walnuts and Plums. The area controlled by the Forest Department is about 5100%,969 hectares, which is 42.6% of the total geographical area. Deodar, Kail, Fur, Spruce and Cheer are some of the most important species of trees under forests.

People and Culture Azad Jammu & Kashmir is fascinating land of people, languages & culture. The texture of present population is composed of races claming their descent from Semitic, Mongoloid, Aryans, Persians, Turks & Arabs. The people of districts Kotli, Mirpur & Bhimber, are sturdy, simple, truthful and deeply attached to their land. The culture of this area resembles to that of the adjoining area of Punjab. While district Muzaffarabad has its own distinctive culture. The people of the State are intelligent, ingenious, hard working, mobile & skillful.

Azad Jammu & Kashmir at a Glance Area of Districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir District Name

Area (Sq. Km)

Area (%)

Neelum

3621 Sq. Km

(27 %)

Muzaffarabad

2496 Sq. Km

(19 %)

Bagh

1368 Sq. Km

(10 %)

Poonch

855 Sq. Km

(7 %)

Sudhanoti

569 Sq. Km

(4 %)

Kotli

1862 Sq. Km

(14 %)

Mirpur

1010 Sq. Km

(8 %)

Bhimber

1516 Sq. Km

(11 %)

Total Area

13297 Sq. Km

(100 %)

Population of Districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir District Name

Population (2003)

Growth Rate

Percentage (%)

Neelum

0.143 Million

2.80 %

4.27 %

Muzaffarabad

0.713 Million

2.80 %

21.28 %

Bagh

0.434 Million

2.00 %

12.96 %

Poonch

0.459 Million

2.24 %

13.70 %

Sudhanoti

0.247 Million

1.99 %

7.38 %

Kotli

0.640 Million

2.59 %

19.10 %

Mirpur

0.371 Million

2.09 %

11.07 %

Bhimber

0.343 Million

2.60 %

10.24 %

Total

3.350 Million

2.41 %

100 %

Population Figures Male Population

1.685 Million

Female Population

1.665 Million

Sex Ratio (Number of males per 100 101 females) Average Family

Size 7.2 Members

Urban-Rural

Ratio 12.5: 87.5

Growth Rate

2.41 %

Population Density

246 Persons per Square Kilometer

Literacy Rate

60 %

Religion

99 % Muslims

Administrative Setup Divisions

2

Districts

8

Sub-Divisions

20

Union Councils

202

Villages

1,646

Town Committees

10

Development Authorities

5

Municipal Committees

11

Municipal Corporations

2

Markaz Councils

30

Working Police Stations

42

Divisions

Districts

Tehsil

Muzaffarabad

Mirpur

Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad, Hattian

Bagh

Bagh, Dheerkot, Havaily

Poonch

Rawalakot, Hajeera, Abbaspur

Sudhanoti

Pullandri, Trarkhal, Balouch

Neelum

Athmaqam

Kotli

Kotli, Nakiyal, Sehnsa

Mirpur

Mirpur, Akalgarh, Dudyal

Bhimber

Bhimber, Samahni, Burnala

Geographical Features Longitude 73º - 75º Latitude 33º - 36º

Topography: Mainly hilly and mountainous with valleys and plains at some places. Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Bagh, Sudhanoti and Kotli districts fall into mountainous zone while Mirpur and Bhimber districts generally lie in foot hills. Climate:Sub tropical type Rain: 150 cm. (Average) Elevation from Sea: Range from South: Range from north: 325 meters. Snowline: In Winter-around 1200 meters. In Summer - around 3300 meters.

Language: Official: URDU Local: Kashmiri, Pahari(or hindko), Gojri, Punjabi and Pushto

Handicrafts: Carpet, Namda, Gubba, Silk Woolen Clothing, Woolen Shawls, Wood Carving, Paper Mashie, Rugs. Important Products: Mushroom, Honey, Walnut, Apple, Cherry, Medicinal herbs & plants, Resin, Deodar, Kail, Chir, Fir, Maple and Ash Timbers.

Minerals: Gypsum, Limonite, Mica, Soapstone, Marble, Sand, Ruby, Tourmaline, Bentonite, Yellow ocher, Phrities, Limestone and Dolomite. Wildlife: Snow Leopard, Common Leopard, Brown Bear, Black Bear, Ibex (Kel), Grey Goral (Mountain Goat), Musk Deer, Kashmiri Stag, Monal pheasant, Western Tragopan, Snow Pheasant, Red-led Partridge (Chakor), Black Koklas Pheasant, Peacock, Eagle, Duck markhor (Wild Goat).

Important Fishes: Snow Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Gulfam, Mahasher, Rahou. Lakes:

1. Distt. Neelum Valley - Rati Gali, (Neelum Valley), Jubsar Makra (Bheri) 2. Distt. Neelum Valley- Chitta Kattha Lake, Shonther. 3. Distt. Poonch - Benjosa, (Chottagala) 4. Distt. Mirpur- Mangla

Main Rivers: Jehlum, Neelum and Poonch. Local Dishes: Rice, Aab-Gosht, Tabak Maaz, Ristay, Gushtaba, Hareesa, Saag (vegetable Dish).

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: Neelum: Red Fort Neelum Valley, Sharda Ruins (Old Buddhist Sharda University Ruins), Sharda Fort Bagh: Bagh Fort Mirpur:

1)

Mangla

Fort,

2)

Ramkot

Fort,

Kotli:1. Throchi Fort

Ref: http://www.pmajk.gov.pk/history.asp#features

3)

Baghsar

Fort

(Bhimber)