Chitral District
| Chitral District | |
|---|---|
| District | |
| Chitral fort
Chitral fort
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Capital | Chitral |
| Established | 1970 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14,850 km2 (5,730 sq mi) |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 414,000 |
| • Density | 25/km2 (60/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Number of Tehsils | 6 |
| Website | www.khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk |
Chitral (Urdu: ضلع چترال) is the largest district in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, covering an area of 14,850 km². It is the northernmost district of Pakistan.[1] It shares a border with Gilgit-Baltistan to the east, with Kunar, Badakshan and Nuristan provinces to the north and west, and with Swat and Dir to the south.[2] A narrow strip of Wakhan Corridor separates Chitral from Tajikistan in the north.[3]
Contents
History
Lua error in Module:Details at line 30: attempt to call field '_formatLink' (a nil value). Chitral shares much of its history and culture with the neighboring Hindu-Kush territories of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region sometimes called "Peristan" because of the common belief in fairies (peri) inhabiting the high mountains.
The entire region that now forms the Chitral District was an independent monarchical state until 1895, when the British negotiated a treaty with its hereditary ruler, the Mehtar, under which Chitral became a semi-autonomous princely state within the Indian Empire. Chitral retained this status even after its accession to Pakistan in 1947, only being made an administrative district of Pakistan in 1969.[4]
Topography and access
Chitral is counted amongst the highest regions of the world, sweeping from 1,094 meters at Arandu to 7,726 meters at Tirichmir, and packing over 40 peaks more than 6,100 meters in height. The terrain of Chitral is very mountainous and Tirich Mir (25,289 feet) the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, rises in the north of the district.[5] Around 4.8 per cent of the land is covered by forest and 76 per cent is mountains and glaciers.[6]
Chitral is connected to the rest of Pakistan by two major road routes, the Lowari Pass (el. 10,230 ft.) from Dir and Shandur Top (elevation 12,200 ft.). Both routes are closed in winter. The Lowari Tunnel is being constructed under the Lowari Pass.[7] A number of other high passes, including Darkot Pass, Thoi Pass and Zagaran Pass, provide access on foot to Chitral from Gilgit-Baltistan in Ghizer District.
- Arandu Pass, on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Broghol Pass, on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Dorah Pass, on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Darkot Pass, on the border between Chitral and Ghizer
- Shandur Pass, on the border between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan
- Lowari Pass, on the border between Chitral and upper Dir
- Lowari Tunnel, uncompleted[7]
- Thoi Pass, on the border between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan
- Zagaran Pass, on the border between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan
Demographics
The district has a population of about 414,000.[1] The general population is mainly of the Kho people, who speak the Khowar, which is also spoken in parts of Yasin, Gilgit, Dir and Swat. Chitral is also home to the Kalash tribe, who live in Bumburet and two other remote valleys southwest of Chitral town.
Languages
According to the research of Rehmat Aziz, Director of Kohwari Academy, most of the minority languages are Dardic, including Shina, Kashmiri, Kalasha, Gawar Bati, Dameli, Pashayi, Shina, Kohistani, and Palula.[citation needed]
Iranian languages and Pamir languages spoken by immigrant groups in Chitral include Pushto, Munji, Yidgha, Tajik and Wakhi.[citation needed] The Turkic languages Kyrgyz and Uzbek are also spoken in minority.[citation needed]
The Norwegian linguist Georg Morgenstierne wrote that Chitral is the area of the greatest linguistic diversity in the world. Although the predominant language of Chitral is Khowar, more than ten other languages are spoken here. These include Kalasha-mun, Palula, Dameli, Gawar-Bati, Nuristani, Yidgha, Burushaski, Gujar, Wakhi, Uzbeki, Kyrgyz, Dari and Pashto. Since many of these languages have no written form, letters are usually written in Urdu or Pashto.[citation needed]
Chitral Town
The town of Chitral is the main town in the district and serves as its capital. It is situated on the west bank of the Chitral River (also known as the Kunar River) at the foot of Tirich Mir which at 7,708 m (25,289 ft) is the highest peak of the Hindu Kush. Until 1969, it served as the capital of the princely state of Chitral.
Administration
The district of Chitral is divided into twenty-four union councils and two tehsils:[8][9][10]
The district elects by direct popular vote, one member of the National Assembly (MNA) and two members of the Provincial Assembly.[11][12]
See also
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References
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- ↑ Chitral National Reconstruction Bureau website
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Pakistan topics |
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Administrative divisions of Chitral District
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| Capital |
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| Union councils | ||
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External links
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Zebak Afghanistan |
Wakhan | China China |
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| Kuran wa Munjan Afghanistan |
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Gilgit | ||
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| Kunar | Dir | Kohistan |
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