Pind Dadan Khan (P.D. Khan), a city in

Jhelum District Jhelum District (Urdu and pnb, ), is partially in Pothohar Plateau, and partially in Punjab Plain of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Jhelum is one of the oldest districts of Punjab. It was established on 23 March 1849. According to the 199 ...

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi Language, Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also Romanization, romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the I ...

, Pakistan, is the capital of

Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil ( Urdu/Punjabi: پنڈ دادن خان) is a subdivision of Jhelum District, Punjab, Pakistan.River Jhelum, about 24 kilometres east from the M2 motorway and 85 kilometres from

jhelum Jhelum (Punjabi and ur, ) is a city on the east bank of the Jhelum River, which is located in the district of Jhelum in the north of Punjab province, Pakistan. It is the 44th largest city of Pakistan by population. Jhelum is known for p ...

. Pind Dadan Khan lies 6 km south of Khewra Salt Mine (or Mayo Salt Mine), 24 km east of the Lillah-Toba interchange of M2 motorway and 8 km east north of Pither Nadi. It borders with Khushab, Chakwal, Sargodha and Mandibahudin.

History

The history of the region dates to 326 BC, when Alexandar the Great and his troops camped in the area of Jalalpur Sharif prior to their battle with Raja Pourus. During the regime of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Pind Dadan Khan was the second most important town after Amritsar and was the largest grain market in the Western Punjab. Prior to Jhelum, Pind Dadan Khan was the District head quarter , however, gradually this magnificent town lost its past glory due to continued neglect and other natural calamities which hit the region form time to time. During British rule, it became the headquarters of the subdivision and tehsil of the same name in the Jhelum District of the British Punjab. It was on the Sind-Sagar branch of the North-Western Railway. The municipality was created in 1867Pind Dādān Khān - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 20, p. 146
/ref> and most of the income collected by the British authorities was by octroi. The population according to the 1901 census was 13,770. It was formerly the dépot to which salt was brought from the Mayo Mine, from which it was carried across the river to the railway; but the bridging of the Jhelum at Haranpur and the extension of the railway to Khewra have by-passed. In earlier days, brass vessels were made in the town and there was a considerable weaving industry. Embroidered lungis were often sold at high prices. Boat-building was a source of skilled employment, and river boats of Pind Dadan Khan make were in request throughout the whole course of the Jhelum. However, after the construction of

Mangla Dam The Mangla Dam ( ur, ) is a multipurpose dam situated on the Jhelum River in the Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir. It is the sixth-largest dam in the world. The village of Mangla, which sits at the mouth of the dam, serves as its namesake. In ...

to strengthen the irrigation system of the country as part of the

Indus Basin Project The Indus Basin Project is a water control project that resulted from a treaty, Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 that guaranteed that Pakistan would receive water from the Indus River independent from upstream control ...

, there is now diminished water flow in the river Jhelum except during the flooded season. Manufactured products included glazed pottery of a deep red color, ornamented with black patterns and remarkably strong and of good quality was a speciality of the town, as well as stout leather riding-whips made after English patterns. Nandana, a village near Pind Dadan Khan, is the place where Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad Al-Biruni came and he established a laboratory there which is still present. Alberuni calculated the diameter of earth in that laboratory during his lifetime; now the laboratory needs some interest by the government of Pakistan as it is not looked after and the building is vanishing day by day. If necessary care will not be given soon, there will be no sign of the great work by Alberuni. However, skilled artisans have left the area.

Education

During the colonial era the town had a high school. Within the city limits of Pind Dadan Khan, there are one government degree college for boys and one government degree college for girls already established and running. There is also one College of Technology in the government sector and has stated admission for three years Diploma course. Classes are started in this college. Many other private colleges are also there. A number of private schools are there to provide quality education to the residents of the area. Almost 80% of the people are educated.

Health care

A Tehsil Headquarter Hospital is maintained by the Ministry of Health. There are many private hospitals with almost all the required facilities.

Dominant source of income

Agriculture and salt are the usual source of income. In addition, two cement factories are a major source of income for the locals.

Languages

The language spoken in Pind Dadan Khan tehsil is Lahnda based Punjabi with blend of many dialects such as Saraiki, Wanhari, Pothohari and Lunhari.

Railway Station

There is a railway station, which facilitates inexpensive travel. The train passes over a bridge known as Victoria Bridge; the train passes through three districts in one to two minutes.

References

{{Neighbourhoods of Jhelum Pind Dadan Khan Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil Populated places in Pind Dadan Khan Tehsil