Rawalakot

Rawalakot
Rawalakot; راولا کوٹ
	; Rawalakot
	Coordinates: 33°48′N 73°27′E / 33.8°N 73.45°E
Country	Pakistan
State	Azad Kashmir
District	Poonch District
	Area
- Total	1,010 km2 (390 sq mi)
Elevation	459 m (1,506 ft)
	Population (1998)
- Total	371,000
- Estimate (2006)	402,535
- Density	375/km2 (971.2/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Calling code	05824
Number of towns	3
Number of Union councils	21
Website	www.myrawalakot.com

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Rawalakot (Urdu: راولا کوٹ, Hindi: रावला कोट) is a city in Azad Kashmir, and is the capital of Poonch District. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at an elevation of 1615 metres (5300 ft).

Rawalkot is situated 76 kilometres (47 miles) from the city of Kohala, Pakistan. It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via the neighbouring districts of Azad Pattan and Tain Dhalkot, and with Muzaffarabad via Kohala and Sudhangali. The main tribes of Rawalakot are the Awan, Shah, Mughal, Kayani, and Sudhan tribes.

Rawalakot is the stronghold of the Awan & Sudhan tribe of Azad Kashmir.

Rawalakot is one of the many beautiful valleys of Kashmir, located approximately 80 kilometers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Islamabad to Rawalakot, as the roads are narrow, mostly single-lane, and always under some type of construction. Rawalakot is also known locally as the "Pearl Valley".

Location

Surrounding villages include: Singola, Khaigala, Rairbun, Topa Soon (aka Soon Topa or just Topa), Kaimon, Thithrot, Motialmara, Trar Dewan, Chare, Chuck, Tranni, Dahmni, Parat, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek, Pakgali, Khayt Chrian, Mohri Furman Shah, Dreak, Banjosa, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira, Thorar, Rehara, Bangoin, Jandala, Timrota, Thala Tain and Pachiot. Bagh District lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south. The road passing through (Jalooth) Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh and Muzaffarabad. Toward the west are Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan. Rawalakot is linked with Kotli.

Climate

Average temperature during the summer varies from 60 °F (16 °C) to 75 °F (24 °C). During the winter snowfall starts during the month of December and lasts through January. The rainy season lasts from April through June.¹

Demographics

Rawalakot has an estimated population of 50,000. Over 70% of the population belongs to the Awan and Sudhan tribes. The remainder of the population includes Kianis, Syeds, Douli Mughals and many others.

Rawalakot-Poonch trade route

Rawalakot map

Before the partition of the subcontinent, the Rawalakot trade route was the only road link between Poonch and Sudhnati, now called Rawalakot. The Line of Control (LoC) is 15 kilometres from Hajira and 43 kilometres from Rawalakot.

After the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir comprising Bagh, Sudhanoti (Rawalakot), Mendhar and Haveli were declared as the State of Poonch and transferred to Raja Moti Singh as his Jagir (landed estate). The ethnic diversity of this region offers a unique blend of different tribes and clans.² Tehsil Mendhar in the State of Poonch was the most fertile area in this region. Trade and agricultural links between the people of Rawalakot and Poonch were common. Apart from agriculture, sheep and goat farming was the major source of income for the people of Poonch region. The Poonch-Rawalakot trade route played an important role in the economy of this area. It was one of the few trade routes in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which remained open throughout the year. Traders and businessmen freely traded fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, wool, tobacco, cereals, rice, spices and many other items. A barter trade system was followed by most of the traders and businessmen.

Although a major chunk of the people’s income went to the State rulers through taxes, including Abiana and Maalia, duties, fines, and forced labour, there was economic activity and the region was considered rich in resources. Much has been conceived and propagated about ethnic and religious divide between the rulers and the ruled in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. But an impartial and unbiased study of the Dogra rule would expose that the socio-economic conditions of the population played an important role in the emergence of a conflict between the rulers and the masses.^{citation needed}

It is on the record that rulers of the state imposed taxes on most of the belongings which one could own in his household, e.g., cattle, utensils, hearths, windows, crops, agricultural tools and even wives. There was no other choice for the people to protect their belongings than to defy the authoritarian rule. The most crushed and trodden among the masses turned into the most violent dissidents and liberated their lands and belongings. Bagh, Rawalakot and parts of Haveli were liberated and the area liberated was named as Azad ("Free") Kashmir. Poonch town, the capital of this tiny state, stood isolated and besieged till November 1948, when Indian forces recaptured the town. As the region was divided, a large number of families were divided on both sides of the Cease Fire Line (later renamed the Line of Control), having no contact with each other. After the emergence of the LoC, not only the families were divided but their businesses were also ruined. Agricultural and grazing lands were bifurcated. Guns replaced the crops and cattle.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Construction of the Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad Pattan has considerably reduced travel times.

Rawalakot Airport is non-operational, as there is no demand for the air service provided by Pakistan International Airlines. The airport has been closed since 1998.

Communications

Two privately owned cable television systems are available in Rawalakot, which transmit Pakistani and international television programs.

A local FM radio station has been established and broadcasts at FM 105.2.³

Cell phone service is available through five private cell phone operators: Zong, Mobilink, Ufone, Warid, Telenor and SCOM. PTCL Wireless is also available.

The local phone company is operated by the Pakistan Army.⁴

The SCO provides the main landline telephone network with minority shares of other operators. All major mobile phone companies operating in Pakistan provide service in Rawalakot. Broadband internet access is available from DSL, and WiFi hotspots, available in Rawalakot Dehra Khrike.

Earthquake of 2005

2005 Earthquake Relief Rawalakot. Cuban Field Hospital

2005 Earthquake Damage Rawalakot

On Saturday, October 8, 2005 a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed more than 30,000 people and left up to three million homeless in Azad Kashmir alone. The city of Rawalakot, the capital of the Sudhan tribe, suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buildings have been reconstructed, though without the help of the governments of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.

Education

In addition to the Agriculture University of Azad Kashmir, Rawalakot has a Government College for men and women, numerous higher secondary schools/high schools, and a number of private schools.

During the earthquake of October 8, 2005, many degree colleges were badly damaged, but these have not yet been rebuilt.⁵

Rawalakot Turkey College for Girls

The Rawalakot Turkey College for Girls has been established in Rawalakot to replace the Post-Graduate College for Girls, located at Kharick, which faced severe destruction in the October 2005 earthquake.

Through a joint organization of IHLAS Media Holding of Germany and DITIB (Religious Affairs of Turkish Islamic Union Germany), the Government of Turkey took on the task for the construction of Rawalakot Post-Graduate Girls College with the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority. The reconstruction effort was later joined by the Turkish Islamic Union of Netherlands, which participated through donations of Basic Health Unit facilities to the said school.

The design, construction, decoration and landscaping of the school have been carried out by Turcon Private Limited. A geological survey of the land led to the decision of construction limited to two floors. In a campus-wise set-up, all the buildings have been scattered in a 240,000-square-foot (22,000 m²) area. The educational facilities include 30 classrooms, five laboratories, a gymnasium, hostel, lodging for teachers, principal’s house, BHU, mosque, multipurpose hall, and an administration block. A total of 14 buildings exceeding a covered area of 60,000 square feet (5,600 m²) have been built for the school. Basic amenities such as computers, television sets, music system, sofa sets, beds, mattresses and blankets for teachers and students have been arranged for with the help of donors. Thousands of trees and flowers have also been planted for landscaping.

Construction was done using conventional methods. Both ends of the buildings have been strengthened through shear walls, providing an earthquake-proof structure to ensure safety of the children. The materials used in construction are the same as in the developed countries.

Lightweight insulated shingle roof material has been imported and used for the first time in Pakistan for added comfort. Well-insulated U-PVC type windows have also been used.

Culture

Rawalakot has no theatres; however, the university does have some cultural events.

Publications and literary activities

A local periodical by the name of Dharti (edited by Abid Siddique) is published monthly. Many authors and poets have been produced in the valley of Rawalakot. The internationally recognized magazine Mearaj International is circulated in Rawalakot, published from Kashmir, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Daily newspapers from Pakistan are available in English as well as Urdu. The most read newspaper is the Urdu-language Daily Jang; the most listened-to radio stations are BBC London and Voice of Kashmir FM 105 Rawalakot.^{citation needed} Famous Parhari writers include Dr. Muhammad Sagheer Khan, Liaqet Laiq and Hameed Kamran.

Toli Pir parking area

Tourism

Lodges, government-owned and private guest houses, and hotels are available in different parts of Rawalakot. Attractions include: mountain-based adventure tourism, rock climbing, mountaineering, trekking, summer camping and hiking, water-based adventure tourism, and paragliding.

Deira House

Hotels and rest houses

Small hotels with living accommodations are available in and around the city. Government-owned cabins are available in Rawalakot and Banjosa. Advance reservations are recommended as most of these accommodations are used by government officials on their tours.

Shopping

Rawalakot Bazaar

Rawalakot has a downtown area, which consists of shops selling everything from groceries to electronic goods.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

There are very few active non-governmental organizations working in Rawalakot. Press for Peace (PFP) is a very active local NGO. PFP was established by Khawaja Zafar Iqbal, a journalist and peace activist from Trar village of Rawalakot. However, PFP's headquarters are based in Muzaffarabad, while it has extended its network across Kashmir and abroad. Its international office has moved to the UK.

Naya Ouffaq (War Against Drugs) [1] is a Jammu and Kashmir based non-profit organization that was founded by the sociologist Dr. Nighat Younas (PhD) from the village of Pothi Bala, Tehsil Rawalakot. Naya Ouffaq is the leading national organisation working with and for families affected by drugs. The purpose of the organization is to create awareness against drug use, and to combat drugs through sports—to get young people involved in sports and activities in an effort to keep them from negative thinking. Naya Ouffaq plays a key role as a community voice providing drug information and promoting effective responses to drug abuse.

Famous personalities from Rawalakot

Sardar Ibrahim Khan, first President of Azad Kashmir
Sardar Yaqoob Khan, former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir
Major General (Retired) Muhammad Hayyat Khan, former President of Azad Kashmir
Sardar Muhammad Sayyab Khalid, Minister for Government of AJK, ex-Speaker AJK Assembly
Saira Khan, international (BBC) TV presenter, entrepreneur
Major General (Rtd) Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, former President of Azad Kashmir
Justice Sardar Muhammed Nawaz Khan, former Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir High Court
Sardar Masood Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the People's Republic of China
Tasnim Aslam, Pakistan's ambassador to Italy
Sardar Muhammad Hafeez Khan, former Head of Transmission and Distribution, Ministry of Electricity, Government of Oman. Currently Middle East Business Director with Siemens.
Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan, current member Legislative Assembly of Azad Kashmir and President of Jammu Kashmir People Party
General (Retd) Muhammad Rahim Khan, former Chief of Pakistan Army in East Pakistan, former Chairman Pakistan International Airlines, former Chairman Pakistan Chrome Mines Ltd and Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense of Pakistan
Sardar Ejaz Afzal Khan, former Ameer Jamat-i-Islami Azad Kashmir, President Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Azad Kashmir
Shaikh Ghulam Ahmad, author, educator, philanthropist and fighter pilot for the Royal Indian Air Force
M. Rasheed Khan, former chairman, Pakistan Banking Council; financial consultant
Sabir Hussain Sabir, international award-winning author, English/Urdu poet and writer, author of Dasht-e-Tanhai, Hajir Kay Baad, Look Out and Ganjeen-e-Afkaar
Khawaja Zafar Iqbal, journalist, peace activist, founder of Press for Peace (PFP); currently residing in the UK, where he is associated with research about the media and globalisation
Sardar Sagheer Ahmed Khan, Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
Justice Sardar Mohammad Sharif Khan, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir
Dr. Akhlaq Ahmad Shamsi, first PhD in Mathematics from Rawalakot
Justice Sardar Said Muhammad Khan, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir
Justice Raja Mohammad Khurshid Khan, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir
Raja Muhammad Altaf Kayani, former secretary and member of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission
Dr. Nighat Younas, founder and executive director of Naya Ouffaq ("War Against Drugs")