Shangla District ( ضلع شانگه ) is located in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The district headquarters are located at Alpuri.[1] It was previously a subdivision of Swat District, but was upgraded to the status of a district on July 10, 1995[2] by the then Chief Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao. The total area of the district is 1,586 square kilometres.[2] Pashto is spoken by most of the population. Shangla comprises two sub division, Alpuri and Puran Tehsil.[1] There are four (4) sub tehsils i.e. Besham, Chakesar, Martung and Makhuzai. Shangla has the lowest Human Development Index in the province and second lowest in the country.[3][4]Contents [hide]
Location
The district is bounded in the north by Kohistan District, in the east by Battagram District and the tribal area of Kala Dhaka (Black Mountain of Hazara), in the west by Swat District and in the south by Buner District.[2]
History
There are relics of the ancient Greek period at Pirsar, Chakesar and Daut. it is believed that Alexander the Great camped at Pirsar for a few days. There are also relics of the Hindu Shahi in Qlandar-Ajmair[5]
A view of Shangla
Alexander the great visied Persar Dandai and then went back from the place without further conquering[citation needed].
Geography
the north of shangla is kalam in west hazara in east kohistan and in the west is swat.
The communications with Swat, are Shangla pass (Shangla top)[2]
Shangla district, consists of small valleys, is situated between the hillocks and surrounded by high mountains full of forests comprising Pindrow Fir, Morinda Spruce, Blue Pine (Kail), Chir Pine and Deodar Cedar trees. The average elevation of the district is 2000 to 3000 meters above sea level.[2] The highest point (3,440 m) is near Kuz Ganrshal in the north of the district.[2] There are beautiful isolated valleys most suitable for seed production of highly demanded cross pollinated vegetable crops. Moreover Shangla has got pretty enough potential for hydel power generation, one such project underway is at Khan Khwar.[6]
Administrative divisions
Under the devolved local government system Shangla is divided into two Sub-Divivisions/Tehsils namely:-
Alpuri and
Puran Tehsil
andfour (4) Sub-Tehsils, namely
Besham
Chakesar
Martung
Makhuzai
There are 28 Union Councils. Alpuri Tehsil (Sub division) consists of 19 Union Councils and Puran Tehsil (Sub-division) consists of 9 Union Councils.
A view of Shangla Road
Population
According to the 1998 census, the district had a population of 435,563 with an average annual growth rate of 3.3% and population density of 274 persons per square kilometre.[7] The total number of households is 64,391 with an average household size of 8.1. Almost the entire population of Shangla belongs to the Pathan tribe Yousafzai. Major subtribes of Yousafzai living in Shangla are Akhun Khail living In Besham Tehsil and in Shahpur and Kabal Gram Moreover Mian Khail linving in Lilownai,Azikhel and Babozai. Azikhel live mainly in Ghwarband, Chakesar, Martung and Shahpur while Babozai live in Puran. The People of Shangla are known for their hospitality[citation needed]. Almost the entire population is Muslim (99.8%) with very small numbers of Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis.[7]
ographics
Most of the local inhabitants are agriculturists. Though the agricultural area of the district is fertile but the agricultural holdings are very small as compared to the number of owners. The total cultivated area of the district is 423.6 square kilometres (104,700 acres) out of which only 30.75 square kilometres (7,600 acres) is irrigated and the remaining 392.85 square kilometres (97,080 acres) is non-irrigated. Shangla District is full of natural resources, having a vast scope for investment and development.
It was severely hit during the October 8, 2005 earthquake and many people were left homeless.
Location
The district is bounded in the north by Kohistan District, in the east by Battagram District and the tribal area of Kala Dhaka (Black Mountain of Hazara), in the west by Swat District and in the south by Buner District.[2]
History
There are relics of the ancient Greek period at Pirsar, Chakesar and Daut. it is believed that Alexander the Great camped at Pirsar for a few days. There are also relics of the Hindu Shahi in Qlandar-Ajmair[5]
A view of Shangla
Alexander the great visied Persar Dandai and then went back from the place without further conquering[citation needed].
Geography
the north of shangla is kalam in west hazara in east kohistan and in the west is swat.
The communications with Swat, are Shangla pass (Shangla top)[2]
Shangla district, consists of small valleys, is situated between the hillocks and surrounded by high mountains full of forests comprising Pindrow Fir, Morinda Spruce, Blue Pine (Kail), Chir Pine and Deodar Cedar trees. The average elevation of the district is 2000 to 3000 meters above sea level.[2] The highest point (3,440 m) is near Kuz Ganrshal in the north of the district.[2] There are beautiful isolated valleys most suitable for seed production of highly demanded cross pollinated vegetable crops. Moreover Shangla has got pretty enough potential for hydel power generation, one such project underway is at Khan Khwar.[6]
Administrative divisions
Under the devolved local government system Shangla is divided into two Sub-Divivisions/Tehsils namely:-
Alpuri and
Puran Tehsil
andfour (4) Sub-Tehsils, namely
Besham
Chakesar
Martung
Makhuzai
There are 28 Union Councils. Alpuri Tehsil (Sub division) consists of 19 Union Councils and Puran Tehsil (Sub-division) consists of 9 Union Councils.
A view of Shangla Road
Population
According to the 1998 census, the district had a population of 435,563 with an average annual growth rate of 3.3% and population density of 274 persons per square kilometre.[7] The total number of households is 64,391 with an average household size of 8.1. Almost the entire population of Shangla belongs to the Pathan tribe Yousafzai. Major subtribes of Yousafzai living in Shangla are Akhun Khail living In Besham Tehsil and in Shahpur and Kabal Gram Moreover Mian Khail linving in Lilownai,Azikhel and Babozai. Azikhel live mainly in Ghwarband, Chakesar, Martung and Shahpur while Babozai live in Puran. The People of Shangla are known for their hospitality[citation needed]. Almost the entire population is Muslim (99.8%) with very small numbers of Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis.[7]
ographics
Most of the local inhabitants are agriculturists. Though the agricultural area of the district is fertile but the agricultural holdings are very small as compared to the number of owners. The total cultivated area of the district is 423.6 square kilometres (104,700 acres) out of which only 30.75 square kilometres (7,600 acres) is irrigated and the remaining 392.85 square kilometres (97,080 acres) is non-irrigated. Shangla District is full of natural resources, having a vast scope for investment and development.
It was severely hit during the October 8, 2005 earthquake and many people were left homeless.
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