|
|
Information Cell |
|
Azad Kashmir
Heaven on Earth
|
 |
|
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 Name |
Area (Sq. Km) |
|
Muzaffarabad |
6117 Sq. Km |
|
Bagh |
1368 Sq. Km |
|
Poonch & Sudhanoti |
1424 Sq. Km |
|
Kotli
|
1862 Sq. Km |
|
Mirpur & Bhimber |
2526 Sq. Km |
|
Total Area |
13297 Sq.
Km |
|
|
|
|
Population |
Figures
|
|
Muzaffarabad |
0.742 Million |
|
Bagh |
0.395 Million |
|
Poonch & Sudhanoti |
0.403 Million |
|
Sudhanoti |
0.214 Million |
|
Kotli
|
0.558 Million |
|
Mirpur |
0.323 Million |
|
Bhimber |
0.297 Million
|
|
Total
Population |
2.932
Million |
|
|
|
|
Population Figures
|
|
|
|
|
Male Population |
1.645 Million |
|
Female Population |
1.626 Million |
|
Sex Ratio (Number of
males per 100 females) |
101 |
|
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 |
Muzaffarabad |
Muzaffarabad,
Hattian |
|
Bagh |
Bagh,
Dheerkot,
Havaily |
|
Poonch |
Rawalakot,
Hajeera,
Abbaspur |
|
Sudhanoti |
Pullandri,
Trarkhal,
Balouch |
|
Neelum |
Athmaqam |
|
Mirpur |
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.
Climate:
Sub-tropical highland type.
Topography:
Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Bagh, Sudhanoti and Kotli districts
fall into mountainous zone while Mirpur and Bhimber
districts generally lie in foot hills.
Language:
Official: URDU
Local: Kashmiri, Pahari, Gojri, Punjabi and Pushto
|
 |
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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 Fish:
Snow Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Gulfam, Mahasher,
Rahou.
Lakes:
-
Distt. Muzaffarabad - Rati Gali, (Neelum Valley), Jubsar
Makra (Bheri)
-
Distt. Poonch - Benjosa, (Chottagala)
-
Distt. Mirpur- Mangla
Main Rivers:
Jehlum, Neelum and Poonch.
Local Dishes:
Rice, Aab-Gosht, Tabak Maaz, Ristay, Gushtaba, Hareesa,
Saag (vegetable Dish). |
|
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES:
Muzaffarabad City:
Red Fort Neelum Valley, Sharda Ruins (Old Buddhist Sharda
University Ruins), Sharda Fort
Bagh:
Bagh Fort
Mirpur:
1) Mangla Fort, 2) Ramkot Fort, 3) Baghsar Fort (Bhimber)
Kotli:
Throchi
Fort |
 |
" This information is brought to you by the Mangla Vision.com
information team, and exclusively available at ManglaVision.com.
If you wish to know more about Azad Kashmir or want to arrange a tour to
Azad Kashmir, then feel free to contact us."
|
|
|
|
|
|
