MIRP,AZADKASHMIR

MIRPUR AZAD KASHMIR

Mirpur (Urdu: میر پور) is the capital and largest city of Mirpur district and one of the largest cities in the part of the state of Jammu Kashmir administered by Pakistan, . Since Mirpur adjoins the northern plains of the Punjab, the climate is quite hot during the summer times. The city itself has gone through a process of modernization while most of the surrounding area remains agricultural. Mirpur is known for its grand buildings and large bungalow-houses primarily funded through its ex-pat community mainly which is resident in the United Kingdom. The main crop cultivated during spring is millet. However, there are places where other crops such as wheat, maize and vegetables are also grown. The production of electricity, through Mangla Dam makes this district somewhat unique in the entire region which provides energy needs for Azad Kashmir and Northern Punjab province much to the consternation of the locals which typically leads to unannounced energy blackouts.



A significant portion of the population is settled in England (UK) – mostly in the Midlands and north. For this reason Mirpur is sometimes known as "Little England". Many products from the UK are found in this city.[1]Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Early Mirpur
1.2 British rule
1.3 Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48
1.4 Post war
2 Mirpur City
3 Industry
4 Education
5 Transport
6 Shopping
7 Food
8 Language and demographics
9 Culture
9.1 Cultural events
9.1.1 Saif Ul Malook Festival
9.1.2 Retowa Mehla
9.1.3 Pahari Mushahira
10 Ethnic groups in Mirpur
11 Development
12 Tourism
13 Geography and climate
14 Surroundings
15 Notable people of Old Mirpur
16 Friendship cities
17 Gallery
18 See also
19 References
20 External links

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History

Bawli, Old Mirpur

The area that is now Mirpur has always been a crossroad for major invasions of the subcontinent and has formed part of various empires over time including Achaemenid empire of Persia, an outlying region of the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Kingdom of Gandhara, the Mauryan empire, the Kushan empire, the Sultanate of Ghazni, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal empire amongst others.

The city of Mirpur itself was founded in around 1642 AD or 1052 AH by the Ghakhar chief Miran Shah Ghazi. The Imperial Gazetteer of India Provincial Series Kashmir and Jammu (1909) provides this information about Mirpur history as "it is said to have been founded by Miran Shah Ghazi and Sultan Fateh Khan".

The area now comprising Mirpur has been historically associated with Pothohar. Though modern demarcation of Potohar devised by British excludes Mirpur by using Jhelum river as the eastern boundary. By the end of 18th century, Gakhar power in Pothohar had declined. Mirpur had become part of Chibb ruled state of Khari Khariyali with capital at Mangla Fort. With the rise of Sikh power in Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh established his supremacy and set his eyes on the Chibh states of Bhimber and Khari Khariyali. In 1810, a force was sent against Raja Sultan Khan of Bhimber and was met with fierce resistance. However, in 1812 another Sikh army under prince Kharak Singh defeated Sultan Khan and the Bhimber state was annexed as Jagir of Kharak Singh. Around the same time, Ranjit Singh acquired Gujrat and invaded Khari Khariyali ruled by Raja Umar Khan. Raja Umar Khan made peace with Ranjit Singh. But before a settlement could be made, he died and the state and Mirpur became part of Ranjit Singh's territories.

In 1816, Ranjit Singh annexed Jammu state and in 1820 awarded Jammu to his commander Gulab Singh who hailed from Jammu and was under the service of Ranjit Singh for the past eight years. Between 1831–39 Ranjit Singh bestowed on Gulab Singh the royalty of the salt mines in northern Punjab, and the northern Punjab towns including Bhera, Jhelum, Rohtas, Mirpur and Gujrat. Gulab Singh kept on expanding his kingdom and in 1840 Baltistan was made subject to Jammu and Gilgit fell to a Sikh force from Kashmir in 1842. The state of Kashmir was annexed by Ranjit Singh in 1819. However the rebellion in Hazara in the beginning of 1846, compelled the country to be transferred to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu as well.

Shrine of Meeran Shah

As an aftermath of the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Treaty of Lahore, The Treaty of Amritsar was signed between the British Government and Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu on March 16, 1846. This treaty transferred him all the hill states between Ravi and Indus. The transfer included Kashmir, Hazara and the southern hill states (including former Khari Khariyali). Thus sealing the fate of Mirpur with the new state of Jammu and Kashmir.[2]
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Early Mirpur

Since Mirpur lies at the point where the Jhelum River breaks out of the heavily forested foothills of the Pir Panjal mountains into the plains of the largely treeless Punjab. It was an ideal spot for the construction of the boats used to carry goods down the five rivers of the Punjab to the Indus River and onto the seaports in the Indus delta. Traders have been operating from there across the Indian Ocean for over three thousand years. Most of the crew on the boats trading up and down the Punjab and Indus River system were drawn from Mirpur, as training as a boat-builder was a necessary prerequisite for becoming a boatman.
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British rule

With the arrival of British rule however, the thriving river trade was decimated due to the construction of railway lines from Bombay and Karachi into the interior of the Punjab. Moving goods by rail was both cheaper and quicker, and hundreds of Mirpuri boatmen found themselves out of a job.

At the same time long-distance ocean trade was shifting from sail to steam. There was a huge demand for men who were prepared to work in the hot, dirty and dangerous stokeholds of the new coal-fired steamers. European seamen avoided such jobs whenever they possibly could. They preferred to work on deck. But in the 1870s Mirpuri ex-river boatmen were desperately searching for a new source of income. Although unfamiliar with stoking coal-fired boilers, they were prepared to learn and quickly gained a virtual monopoly of jobs as engine-room stokers on new steamships sailing out of Karachi and Bombay, a position they retained until coal-fired ships were finally phased out of service at the end of the Second World War.
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Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48

On 14 August 1947, Mirpur was part of the princely state of Kashmir under the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh. A revolt against his rule erupted with the advent of Pakistan. This gained momentum by the invasion of Pushtun tribesmen from FATA. Most of Kashmir's state forces had barricaded themselves in Mirpur after having retreated from the surrounding posts in particular from Mangla Fort. On the outskirts of the city, the Pakistani military attacked the Maharaja's forces on the 4th November 1947. Between 6th and 11 November, heavy battles between Pakistani and Indian forces took place within the city. Mirpur city was captured by the Pakistani military on 11 November and the rest of Mirpur district was captured by 25 November 1947.
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Post war

After World War II a new set of opportunities opened up. Britain's economy was just setting off on what proved to be a long post-war boom, and there was an acute short of labour in the foundries of the Midlands, and the textile mills of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Now it was the turn of ex-seamen to become industrial workers in Britain. So when the Mangla Dam was about to be contructed in 1960, the affectees of the dam who were going to be deprived of their agricultural land were afforded the opportunity to migrate to the United Kingdom and to join those of their kinsfolk who long before had established themselves in Britain.

As a result, Mirpur is one of the principal sources of migration from the State of Jammu Kashmir to Europe, and especially to Britain, so much so that out of a million migrants from the state of Jammu Kashmir and Pakistan, most of them i.e. 88% are Kashmiris. Although it is widely believed that the principal reason for this outflow was the construction of the Mangla Dam, which in doubt is true. But the fact is that long before construction of dam, a sizable Kashmiri community existed in the UK.
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Mirpur City

Regency Hotel, Bank Square

Mirpur city is situated at 459 meters above sea-level and is linked with the main Peshawar-Lahore Grand Trunk road at Dina Tehsil. It is the headquarters of Mirpur District, which comprises three sub-divisions, Mirpur, Chaksawari and Dadyal.[3] The building of the new city in late Sixties paved the way for New Mirpur situated on the banks of Mangla lake. In fact the remains of the old city (old Mirpur) are underneath the waters of the Mangla Lake, during colder months the water level decreases such that you can see the tops of minarets from the first mosques, and also the remnants of a Sikh gurdwara as well as a Hindu mandir possibly dedicated to the "mangla mata" (mangla mother goddess). This is a glimpse of pre-independence times when there were many faiths co-existing in Kashmir as a whole, but however after partition the Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs fled to India. Mirpur was well planned and the buildings are mostly of modern design, in addition there is significant inward investment from expatriates now living in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and the Middle East. The city has a number of hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and other urban facilities.
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Industry

As Mirpur adjoins the industrial cities of Pakistan, the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has successfully endeavoured to develop it as an industrial place and promote private investment for establishing, foam, polypropylene, synthetic yarn, motorbikes, textile, vegetable ghee, logging and sawmills, soap, cosmetics, marble, ready-made garments, matches, rosin, turpentine and scooter industrial units in the area. However, much of the infrastructure still needs further development in order to compete on a national level.

As part of the relief/compensation package in the wake of Mangla Dam Raising Project, a New City is being developed along the southeastern outskirts of Mirpur. Civil works at huge scale are going on around the whole district, by the Pakistani & Chinese contractors for raising the dam. Four towns in the district have been planned besides the new city, to resettle the population affected by the project.
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Education

The literacy rate in Mirpur is quite high. It is affected by the emigrating tendency in the youngsters to UK. English language is common in educational institutes. Previously the University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir was the only institution for higher studies but in the last decade there are significant changes in the educational infrastructure. The formation of Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) and recently Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College are extraordinary achievements. AJK Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Mirpur is responsible for the studies at lower levels. In addition to the state-run schools and colleges, Mirpur has a well-developed private sector providing the education to all sects of the society. Some of these include:
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College Mirpur, Azad Kashmir
Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College
Mohi ud Din Islamic Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mirpur AJK
Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST)
Kashmir Model College Mirpur (KMC)
Crescent Model College Mirpur
Kalri Computers (KC)
Pak Kashmir Institute of Computer Sciences
Kashmir Institute for Advanced Studies (KIAS)
Mirpur Public School
Akson College of Health Sciences
ITech Academy (ITA)
Kashmir Language Institute (KLI)
Abdul Razzaq Institute
Sanwala Institute of Computer Sciences
Roots School System
The Guidance House School System
The City School
MIRPUR College Of English Language UK (M Cel)Since 2005
Superior Science College
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Transport

CNG auto rickshaws are very popular mode of transport for short routes within the city. The city's transport system links it to a number of destinations in Azad Kashmir notably Bhimber, Dadyal, Kotli and Khoi Ratta and to major cities in Pakistan as well included services to Gujrat, Jhelum, Kharian, Gujranwala, Lahore and Rawalpindi. There is no railway station in Mirpur. The closest station is in Jhelum City, Punjab. The promise of a rail extension to Mirpur has not yet been fulfilled. Islamabad Airport services the Mipur region and is approximately 100 miles away. Biggest city of azad Kashmir is waiting for the airport to be build so people can escape from many stations of bribery and toles set by police local governments And Evan cor commonder Mangla is also involve in snatching money from every vehicle coming to mirpur,people are facing hell soon after they cross the mangla bridge and there soul return as soon as they enter in Kashmir
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Shopping

Known as the shopping capital of Azad Kashmir, Mirpur has a large and diverse shopping area, centred around Chowk Shaheeda and Mian Mohammed Road. There are many stores, plazas, shopping malls and markets in these thoroughfares, selling everything from hand made pottery to international brands. The currently under construction Nosha Shopping Centre will be one of the largest shopping centres of the city when completed. Azad Mega Mart is the well known shopping plaza of the city. There is shareef market situated near the police lines, Puranian Hatyan which is famed for its high and top class varieties of ready made and unstitched clothing.
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Food

Mirpur is well known for its food centres and restaurants. Samosa is a speciality.
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Language and demographics

Mirpuri Potohari, Majhi and Gojri dialects of Punjabi Language and Kashmiri language are the predominant languages of the City. Other languages spoken include Urdu and english.

According to the 1998 census Mirpur had a population of approximately over 100,000. This does not include those who emigrated to the Middle East, Western Europe and North America. Mirpur's original population is mostly ethnic Potoharis. However since 1947, Kashmiri emigrated from the neighbouring Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pathans as well as Afghan refugees also have become a part of the local population. A majority of Mirpuris living abroad reside in England.[4]
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Culture

Mirpur (to the west and south) borders the Potohar plateau of Pakistan and the ethnicity, language and culture of both Potohar and the Mirpur district are virtually the same.
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Cultural events
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Saif Ul Malook Festival

The Saif Ul Malook Festival takes place annually in April, usually in the city centre. It is an important event celebrating the anniversary of Baba Pir-e-Shah Ghazi Qalandar (Damrian Wali Sarkar) who was the spiritual guide/teacher of Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, the Sufi saint & Potwari poet famous for his poetic piece Saif ul Malook.
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Retowa Mehla

The Retowa Mehla takes place annually in Summer, in the Retowa District near the Dam front. It is an important event celebrating culture value peace and tolerance. Other notable events that take place in Retowa vary from year to year and are mostly religious events.
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Pahari Mushahira

Pahari Mushahira is a literary event in which poets from all over Azad Kashmir present their poems to general audience. Pahari Mushahira are celebrated regularly in Mirpur city as part of the campaign of Alami Pahari Adabi Sangat for the preservation and rehabilitation of the Pahari language and the Culture of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Ethnic groups in Mirpur
See also: Ethnic Groups of Azad Kashmir

The people of Mirpur are of three main ethnic groups.
Arain – A well known ethnic group of mirpur.They play an important role in mirpur's business, mostly engaged in commercial businesses. Migrated to Mirpur from Punjab.
Awan – Especially in Sungot, Khari sharif, Andrah & Islamgarh.
Gakhar – They are a Persian tribe which reside mainly in Mirpur city, Dadyal and adjacent areas in sizeable numbers.
Gujjar – One of the three major ethnic groups in Mirpur. Most reside in Mirpur, Islam Gar, Dadyal and New Mirpur.
Jarral – Jarrals are found in size able numbers in New Mirpur.
Jatt – Represent biggest of the three majority ethnic groups of Mirpur. Most reside in the Jatt heartlands of Chaksawri, Dadyal, New city of Mirpur and the countryside surrounding Mirpur.
Ansari – Most Populated Ethnic group of Mirpur. Lived especially in Central City, Dadyal and adjacent areas. Most families are lived in United Kingdom after The Dam Raising.
Kakazai – A well educated ethnic group mostly settled in Mirpur city, linked to business.
Kashmiri – Minority clans in Mirpur are Butt, Lone, and Dar. They are the descendants of Kashmiri pundits, who belonged to the priestly caste of Brahmins and migrated from Kashmir Valley, while Mirs and Khawajas are migrants from Arab.
Mughals – Mughals are scattered all over the Mirpur District. Notable for being highly active in the education sector.
Rajputs – Third of the three major ethnic groups in number, they play an active role in politics and bureaucracy. Rajputs are scattered all over the Mirpur District and comprise of many clans.
Sheikh – Most people who classify themselves as Sheikhs in Mirpur are descendants of Brahmin, Khatri or Rajput Hindus who converted to Islam. Most reside in Mirpur city.
Sayyids – Though a minority group they are a very active people and occupy important positions in all sectors.
Pashtun - Sizeable communities of Pashtun can be found due to recent migration.
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Development

In recent times Mirpur city has seen many new developments. Some of the schemes approved and under construction include:
New Mirpur City
Retowa Main road and Bridge
Abbas Towre Apartments
Export Promotion Zone
Jinnah Model Town
Mangla Dam upraising
Mirpur Dry Port
Mirpur Grand Rest House
Moori Industrial Zone
New Industrial Area
Quid-e-Azam Stadium
Sultan Town
Valley Homes Mirpur
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Tourism

Mangla Dam

The government of Azad Kashmir is paying special attention to tourism in AJK and Mirpur, building new theme parks, rest houses, hotels and renovating old forts to attract tourists to the region. Places of interest in Mirpur are:
Basharat Shaheed Monument
Jari Kas
Khari Sharif
Mangla Dam
Mangla Fort & Museum
Ragu Nath Temple
Ramkot Fort
Shivala Temple
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Geography and climate

Mirpur is bounded on the north and east by Kotli District, on the west by Pothohar and on the south by Bhimber.

Mirpur is the breadbasket of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and has a climate similar to that of the neighbouring Potohar region. The Town and district is primarily agriculturally based and is presently a tourist hotspot and a home from home for many emigrants, which can be seen by the vast amounts of villas and mansions built in the region.

Since it is located at the extreme south of the state Jammu & Kashmir, the climate is extremely hot and dry during summer – making it very similar to the Pakistani areas of Jehlum and Gujar Khan. Most of its bushy landscapes, stretching from Bhimber to Dadyal, are barren – leaving only a small stretch of fertile land but highly productive land in the surrounding of Mangla water. The only crop cultivated during the spring/summer season is millet. However, there are a few farms that grow vegetables and wheat, especially when the dam water subsides during the winter season. The hydroelectric power from the dam makes this district somewhat unique among others. However, the annoyance caused by unannounced hours-long daily blackout makes many Kashmiris resentful over unfair energy supply.
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Surroundings
Dadyal is 65 km from Mirpur at north, the 2nd largest city after Mirpur in AJK.
Bhimber is 50 km from Mirpur, the area is very rich in archaeological remains.
Kotli is 101 km. from Mirpur, the area is hilly and beautiful views of valleys.
Chakswari is a Tehsil of the Mirpur District. Approximately 40 km from Mirpur city, it is fast becoming a commercial area of the district.
Kakra Town: Kakra Town is 12–15 KM from Mirpur, the area is beautiful and creates nice views to mangladam.
Islamgarh Islamgarh is situated in North East of Mirpur city. Travel distance is 30 km.
Jandi Chontra a popular scenic spot 67 km from Mirpur in Bhimber District, the Shrine of the Sufi Saint Hazrat Sheikh Baba Shadi Shaheed is also located here.
Sahalia 70 km from Mirpur city.
Khari Sharif located 8 km from Mirpur, it is famous for its Sufi shrines.
Mangla town is located 16 km from Mirpur, it is situated at the mouth of the Mangla Dam for which it is famous.
Khaliqabad is 6 km from Mirpur its an intersection for the main road leaving mirpur city, this area is home to large Bainse and Jat population
Football Chowk, in sector D4, is situated on the outskirts of Mirpur city. This area is home to a large number of wealthy expatriates, local business men, government and ISI officials.
Bhalot, is amongst Mirpur's one of most populous villages.
Mehmunpur Rajgan, Situated 15 km from Mirpur city near Pul Manda.
Jangian Kotla is located near river Jehlum and situated approximately 20 km south of Mirpur.

==Notable people of Old Mirpur Mian Mohammad buksh(undisputed no1 poet of Punjabi and writer of the Seifalmalook Late col syad Ali ahmmad shah presidan of azad Kashmir Late Ghazi elahi buksh(freedom fighter,leader)father of arshad Mahmoud ghazi mla and minister 1988-1993 Ch noor Hussain,(freedom movement leader)mla and minister and father of ex prime minister ch sultan Mahmoud brother of ch khadam Hussain mla from khari And uncle of ch arshad Hussain mla and minister from khari Late Nazeer Hussain jarral D.C s/o Mohammad Hussain jarral, zaildar,minister all jummu&kashmir assembly
Raja Sajjawal Khan – Zaildar and Assessor[disambiguation needed] of Khari Sharif in pre-partition era
Krishan Dev Sethi – General secretary of Democratic Conference Jammu and Kashmir[5]

Late Mohammad din pehlwan Late major Mohammad khan jarral(the tiger of Gilgit,conqueror of Zojila fort 1948,founder of A.k regiment,founder of Janbazz force Late hakeem ch fazal ellahi
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Notable people of Old Mirpur

Mian Mohammad Buksh, a poet of Punjabi and writer of the Seifalmalook Late col syad Ali ahmmad shah presidan of azad Kashmir Late Ghazi elahi buksh(freedom fighter,leader)father of arshad Mahmoud ghazi mla and minister 1988-1993 Ch noor Hussain,(freedom movement leader)mla and minister and father of ex prime minister ch sultan Mahmoud brother of ch khadam Hussain mla from khari And uncle of ch arshad Hussain mla and minister from khari Late Nazeer Hussain jarral D.C s/o Mohammad Hussain jarral, zaildar,minister all jummu&kashmir assembly
Raja Sajjawal Khan – Zaildar and Assessor[disambiguation needed] of Khari Sharif in pre-partition era
Krishan Dev Sethi – General secretary of Democratic Conference Jammu and Kashmir[5]

Late Mohammad din pehlwan Late major Mohammad khan jarral(the tiger of Gilgit,conqueror of Zojila fort 1948,founder of A.k regiment,founder of Janbazz force Late hakeem ch fazal ellahi Anuvind Kanwal, A noble scholar from Mirpur. Now in New Delhi.
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Friendship cities
Nottingham, England
Birmingham, England[6]
Bradford, England[7]
London Borough of Waltham Forest, England[8]
Brussels, Belgium
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Gallery

Holiday Inn, Mirpur

Masjid Noor

Mirpur Bazaar

Chowk Shaheedan

Ragu Nath Temple, Old Mirpur

Shivala Temple, Old Mirpur


Quaid-e-Azam Stadium
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See also
Baba Shadi Shaheed
British Pakistani
Chowk Shaheedan
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
Khari Sharif
Maqbool Bhat
Mirpur Development Authority
Mirpur Punjabi
Pahari
Prince Saiful Malook and Badri Jamala
Quaid-e-Azam Stadium