Rawalpindi District
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Rawalpindi District ( Punjabi and ur, ) is a
district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...
located in the northernmost part of the
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
province of Pakistan. Parts of the district form part of the Islamabad Rawalpindi metropolitan area. Rawalpindi city is the district capital. The district has an area of . Originally, its area was until the 1960s when
Islamabad Capital Territory The Islamabad Capital Territory ( ur, , translit=Vafāqī Dār-alhakūmat) is the only federal territory of Pakistan. Located between the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it includes the country's capital city of Islamabad. The terr ...
was carved out of the district, giving away an area of . It is situated on the southern slopes of the north-western extremities of the Himalayas, including large mountain tracts with rich valleys traversed by mountain rivers. The chief rivers are the Indus and the Jhelum, and it is noted for its milder climate and abundant rainfall due to its proximity to the foothills.Rawalpindi - Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition


History


Ancient history

In ancient times the whole or the greater part of the area between the Indus and the Jhelum seems to have belonged to a
Naga Naga or NAGA may refer to: Mythology * Nāga, a serpentine deity or race in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions * Naga Kingdom, in the epic ''Mahabharata'' * Phaya Naga, mythical creatures believed to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong Riv ...
tribe called
Takshak Takshaka (Sanskrit: तक्षक, IAST: Takṣaka) is a Nagaraja in Hinduism and Buddhism. He is mentioned in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is described to be a king of the Nagas. He is one of the sons of Kadru. Takshaka also known in ...
as, who gave their name to the city of Takshasila. Known as Taxila by the Greek historians, the location of the ancient city has been identified to be in the ruins of Shahdheri in the north-west corner of the District. At the time of Alexander's invasion Taxila was described by Arrian as a flourishing city, the greatest indeed between the Indus and the Hydaspes; Strabo adds that the neighbouring country was crowded with inhabitants and very fertile; and Pliny speaks of it as a famous city situated in a district called Amanda. The invasion of
Demetrius Demetrius is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male given name ''Dēmḗtrios'' (), meaning “Demetris” - "devoted to goddess Demeter". Alternate forms include Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dmytro, Dimitri, Dimitrie, Dimitar, Dumi ...
in 195 B.C. brought the Punjab under the Graeco-Bactrian kings. Later they were superseded by the Sakas, who ruled at Taxila with the title of Satrap. At the time of Hiuen Tsiang the country was a dependency of Kashmir.Rawalpindi District - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 264.
/ref>


Mughal era

Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi passed through the District after his defeat of Anand Pal and capture of Ohind. The
Gakhars The Gakhar are a Punjabi clan found predominantly in the Jhelum District and Gujranwala District in Punjab province of Pakistan. The Gakhars now predominantly follow Islam after conversion from Hinduism during the Islamic rule of north India. M ...
, a tribe still of importance within the district trace their origins back to Mahmud of Ghanzi. The first mention of the Gakhars occurs in the memoirs of
Babar Babar ( ur, ), also variously spelled as Baber, Babur, and Babor is a male given name of Pashto, and Persian origin, and a popular male given name in Pakistan. It is generally taken in reference to the Persian ''babr'' (Persian: ببر), meaning ...
, who gives an interesting account of the capture of their capital, Paralah. It was strongly situated in the hills, and was defended with great bravery by its chief
Hati Khan Hati may refer to: *Hati Hróðvitnisson, a wolf in Norse mythology *Hati (moon), one of Saturn's moons *Hati, Iran, a village in Khuzestan Province, Iran *Hati District, an administrative subdivision of Khuzestan Province, Iran *Hati Rural District ...
, who escaped from one gate as the Mughal army marched in at the other. Hati Khan died by poison in 1525 ; his cousin and murderer Sultan Sarang then submitted to Babar, who conferred on him the area of Potwar. From that time on the Gakhar chieftains remained firm allies of the Mughal dynasty, and provided significant aid to the Mughal in their struggle against the house of Sher Shah. Salim Shah attempted in vain to subdue their country. In 1553 Adam Khan, Sarang's successor, surrendered the rebel prince Kamran to Humayun. Adam Khan was subsequently deposed by Akbar, and his principality given over to his nephew Kamal Khan. During the height of the Mughal empire, the family of Sarang retained its territorial possessions. Its last and Gakhars chief, Mukarrab Khan, ruled over a kingdom which extended from the Chenab to the Indus.


British era

In 1849 Rawalpindi passed with the rest of the Sikh dominions under British rule; and though tranquillity was disturbed by an insurrection four years later, led by a Gakhar chief with the object of placing a pretended son of Ranjit Singh on the throne, its administration was generally peaceful until the outbreak of the Mutiny in 1857. The Dhunds and other tribes of the Murree Hills, incited by Hindustani agents, rose in insurrection, and the authorities received information from a faithful native of a projected attack upon the station of Murree in time to organise measures for defence. The women near the station, who were present in large numbers, were placed in safety, while the Europeans and police were drawn up in a cordon round the station. The rebels arrived expecting no resistance, but were met with organised resistance and were repelled. The district of Rawalpindi was created during
British rule The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was hims ...
as part of
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
province. The district obtained its current boundaries in 1904 when Attock District was created as a separate district. According to the 1901 census of India the population in 1901 was 558,699, an increase of 4.7% from 1891. During the period of British rule, Rawalpindi district increased in population and importance.


Demography

In 2017 population of Rawalpindi district was 5,402,380. 2,736,180 were male and 2,665,089 were female. 2,396,672 (44.36%) lived in rural areas and 3,005,708 (55.64%) lived in urban areas. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the population of the district was 3,363,911 of which 53.03% were urban, and is the second-most urbanised district in Punjab. The population was estimated to be 4.5 million in 2010.


Religion

According to the 2017 census Muslims were the overwhelming majority religion with 98.01%, while Christians were 1.90% of the population.


Language

At the time of the 1998 census of Pakistan, the following were the demographics of the Rawalpindi district, by
first language A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tongu ...
: * Punjabi: % *
Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''
Pashto Pashto (,; , ) is an Eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family. It is known in historical Persian literature as Afghani (). Spoken as a native language mostly by ethnic Pashtuns, it is one of the two official langua ...
: 4.3% * Others: approx. 2.2% At the time of the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the distribution of the population of Rawalpindi District by
first language A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tongu ...
was as follows: * 68.7% Punjabi * 10.9%
Pashto Pashto (,; , ) is an Eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family. It is known in historical Persian literature as Afghani (). Spoken as a native language mostly by ethnic Pashtuns, it is one of the two official langua ...
* 10.2%
Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''
Hindko * 1.8%
Kashmiri Kashmiri may refer to: * People or things related to the Kashmir Valley or the broader region of Kashmir * Kashmiris, an ethnic group native to the Kashmir Valley * Kashmiri language, their language People with the name * Kashmiri Saikia Baruah ...
* 1.0% Saraiki * 0.2% Sindhi * 0.1% Brahui * 0.1% Balochi * 4.0% Others


Education

According to the 2015 census, Rawalpindi was ranked number one district of Pakistan in terms of education and school infrastructure facilities. According to official 2014 Public Schools Census data, district Rawalpindi had a total of 1,230 primary, 316 middle, 365 secondary and 40 higher secondary schools. Out of these public sector schools, 911 are male schools while 1,040 are for girls. There were 4,279 teachers teaching at primary level while 3,129, 6,516 and 1,155 teachers are teaching at middle, secondary and higher secondary level, respectively. Out of these teachers, 9,788 are female while 5,291 are male. 24% of the Class 2 students could not read a story in
Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''
North-Western railway, crossing the Indus at Attock and also by a branch towards the Indus at Kushalgarh.


Administrative division

Rawalpindi district is governed by the Rawalpindi District Council, while several regions sub-divided into one Municipal Corporation, two Cantonment Boards and Seven
tehsil A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administ ...
s: *
Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation Metropolitan Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) (Urdu: راولپنڈی میٹروپولیٹن کارپوریشن) is a municipal authority established under the Punjab Local Government Act 2022 in Rawalpindi Pakistan. MCR comprises 46 Union Council ...
* Rawalpindi Cantonment Board * Chaklala Cantonment Board


Notable people

*
Raja Zafar-ul-Haq Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq ( ur, ; born 18 November 1935), is an ex- Pakistan Senator from the Punjab, served from being elected on 12 March 2009. He had been the leader of the opposition in Senate from 2018 to 2021. He is serving as the Ch ...
, Chairman PML N (Political Party), Opposition Leader in Senate, Former Leader of house in Senate, Former Federal Minister, Former Ambassador. *
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ( ur, ; born 27 December 1958) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who served as the 21st prime minister of Pakistan from August 2017 to May 2018. Abbasi is the senior vice president of the Pakiatan Muslim League ...
, ex Prime Minister of Pakistan *
Khaqan Abbasi Khaqan Abbasi was a Pakistani politician who served as Federal Minister for Production in Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo's cabinet until 1988. He was the father of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Sadia Abbasi. ...
, ex. Federal Minister for Production *
Raja Ashfaq Sarwar Raja Ashfaq Sarwar (Urdu: ; 27 October 1954 — 11 April 2020) was a Pakistani politician, Member of Punjab Assembly, former Adviser to Chief Minister of Punjab, and Minister for Labour and Human Resource. He was Secretary General of the cen ...
, ex. Minister Punjab *
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Raja Pervaiz Ashraf ( ur, ; born 26 December 1950) is a Pakistani politician, businessman and agriculturist who is the current Speaker of the National Assembly and a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from NA-58 (Rawalpindi-II). He ...
, ex Prime Minister of Pakistan *Gen.
Ashfaq Pervez Kayani General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (Urdu: ; born 20 April 1952), is a retired four-star general of the Pakistan Army who served as the 8th Chief of Army Staff , being appointed on 29 November 2007 after his predecessor Pervez Musharraf retired fro ...
, ex Chief of the Army Staff (2007–2013) *Gen.
Tikka Khan General Tikka Khan ( ur, ٹکا خان; 10 February 1915 – 28 March 2002) was a Pakistan Army general who was the first chief of army staff from 3 March 1972 until retiring on 1 March 1976. Along with Yahya Khan, he is considered a chief a ...
, ex Chief of the Army Staff (1972–1976), Governor of East Pakistan (1971), Governor of Punjab (1988–1990) * Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, ex Interior minister of Pakistan. *
Sheikh Rashid Ahmad Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad ( ur, ; born 6 November 1950) is a Pakistani politician who served as the 38th Interior Minister of Pakistan from 2020 to 2022. He is famous because of his smoking cigars and Laal Haveli. He is the founder and leader of A ...
, MNA, Former Minister for Interior of Pakistan *
Shoaib Akhtar Shoaib Akhtar (; ; born 13 August 1975) is a Pakistani former cricketer and commentator. Nicknamed the "Rawalpindi Express", he was the first bowler to be recorded bowling at 100 miles per hour, a feat he achieved twice in his career. Ak ...
, former Pakistan Cricket Team player and World's Fastest Bowler *
Wajid Zia Wajid Zia is a Pakistani civil servant and police officer who served as BPS-22 grade as the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency, from November 2019 to June 2021. He has previously served as the Inspector General of Railway Poli ...
,
Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency The Federal Investigation Agency, responsible for border control, criminal investigation, counter-intelligence and security of Pakistan, is headed by a Director General. It is a highly coveted post and is usually occupied by a Grade 22 officer of t ...
*
Sohail Tanvir Sohail Tanvir ( ur, ; born 12 December 1984) is a Pakistani cricketer, who has gained considerable international repute for his unorthodox left arm bowling action and particularly for the success it has gained him in the Twenty20 format of the ...
, Pakistan Cricket Team player *Gen.
Zaheerul Islam Zaheer-ul-Islam HI (M), ( ur, ﻇﻬﻴﺮ ﺍﻹﺳﻼﻡ) is a retired Lieutenant-General who served as the 20th Director General of the ISI. He was appointed to the position on 9 March 2012 and began working a day after his predecessor Ahme ...
, director general of the
Inter-Services Intelligence The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI; ur, , bayn khadamatiy mukhabarati) is the premier intelligence agency of Pakistan. It is responsible for gathering, processing, and analyzing any information from around the world that is deemed relevant ...
of Pakistan *
Muhammad Mahfuz Naik Muhammad Mahfuz (born 25 October 1944) was a Pakistani soldier, who was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award of Pakistan, after he was killed in battle during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Early life Muhammad Mahf ...
,
Nishan-e-Haider Nishan-e-Haider (NH; ), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan. The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded posthumously and only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognises the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of ...
(Highest Military Award) * Bilquis Sheikh, Pakistani author *
Rohail Hyatt Rohail Hyatt (Urdu: روحیل حیات) is a Pakistani record producer, keyboardist, and composer. As record producer, Hyatt is largely credited with pioneering Pakistani pop rock music by incorporating western rock and pop influences. In ...
, Pakistani record producer, keyboardist, and composer. * Swaran Lata (actress), Pakistani film actress *
Azhar Mahmood Azhar Mahmood ( pnb, اظہر محمود ساگر; born 28 February 1975) is a Pakistani cricket coach and former cricketer. He was the bowling coach of the Pakistani national cricket team until 2019. Previously, he played Tests and ODIs for Pa ...
, Cricketer *
Yasir Arafat Satti Yasir Arafat Satti (born 12 March 1982) is a Pakistani first-class cricketer. He bats right-handed and bowls right-arm fast. International career Having previously represented his country at Under-15 level, he made his ODI debut for Pakistan ...
, Cricketer *
Najaf Shah Syed Najaf Hussain Shah (born 17 December 1984) is an international cricketer from Pakistan who now plays for Rawalpindi cricket team, Rawalpindi region and Pakistan International Airlines cricket team, Pakistan International Airlines and various ...
, Cricketer *
Umar Amin Umar Amin (born 16 October 1989) is a Pakistani international cricketer. Amin made his One Day International debut in the opening match of the 2010 Asia Cup against Sri Lanka. Amin was also named in the squad for Pakistan's two-match test se ...
, Cricketer * Raja Muhammad Sarwar,
Nishan-e-Haider Nishan-e-Haider (NH; ), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan. The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded posthumously and only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognises the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of ...
(Highest Military Award) *
Amir Khan (boxer) Amir Iqbal Khan (born 8 December 1986) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2022. He held unified light-welterweight world championships between 2009 and 2012, including the WBA (later Super) and IBF titles. At r ...
, Boxer *
Mohammad Amir Mohammad Amir ( ur, ; born 13 April 1992) is a Pakistani cricketer and bowler for the Pakistan national cricket team. He is playing as a left-arm fast-medium bowler and uses his left hand when batting. Amir made his first-class debut in N ...
, Cricketer *
Sawar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed Sawar Muhammad Hussain (Urdu:سوار محمد حسین جنجوعہ; c. 18 January 1949 – 10 December 1971), was a soldier in the Pakistan Army and was the first to be awarded the Nishan-e-Haider. Early life and career Sawar Hussain was ...
,
Nishan-e-Haider Nishan-e-Haider (NH; ), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan. The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded posthumously and only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognises the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of ...
(Highest Military Award) *
Khan Ghulam Sarwar Khan Mian Ghulam Sarwar Khan (; born 13 October 1955) is a Pakistani politician who is the current Aviation Division (Pakistan), Federal Minister for Aviation, in office since 24 May 2019. Prior to this position, he was appointed as Ministry of Energ ...
, Politician from Taxila, Former Federal Minister * Mohammad Wasim, Cricketer * Mohammad Akram, Cricketer *
Sawar Khan General Sawar Khan سوار خان, NI(M) is an ex-four-star general of the Pakistan Army who was the Governor of the largest province, Punjab and the Vice Chief of Army Staff during the era of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, when Zia was sim ...
, Ex Vice Chief of the Army Staff *
Abdul Aziz Mirza Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza ( ur, ; born 1943) was a Pakistan Navy officer who served as the Chief of Naval Staff from 1999 until retiring in 2002, amid taking over the command of the Navy after the revolt and resignation Admiral Fasih Bokhari ...
, Chief of Naval Staff, ambassador to Saudi Arabia. * Dada Amir Haider Khan - Communist leader of undivided India and later Pakistan *Lt. Col (R) Muhammad Shabbir Awan, ex MPA PP2 Punjab Assembly Col Shabbir Awan joined PTI on 19 December 2013 * Tara Singh, Sikh Activist


References

{{Authority control Districts of Punjab, Pakistan