District Mansehra

 

1.      Introduction:

The name of District ‘Mansehra’ is derived from its headquarters town Mansehra. It is named after Man Singh, the Governor-General under the rule of Ranjit Singh. Mansehra is the North Eastern District of KPK province and at an altitude of 975.36 meters (3200 feet). It was a large district with a total area of 4,579 sq km. According to the1998 Census Report its total population is 1,152,839 with an average annual growth rate of 2.4% with the literacy rate 36.3%. Main languages spoken and understand here are Hindko, Pashto, Gojree and our national language Urdu is very common and understands most. 50%  of people understand the English language. The famous Babusar pass is situated on the north-eastern boundary of the district. The Nanga Parbat Mountain is located about 40 kilometres from the northeastern boundary of the district.

Mansehra is a beautiful area and has very famous areas around it which are always very brilliant and give a nice look to the eyes and are the best example of natural beauty.

There are two cropping seasons in the district. One is called ‘Kharif’ which ranges from April to September. Maize, rice and seasonal vegetables are grown in this season. Second is called ‘Rabi’ which ranges from the month of October to March. Wheat, peas and other seasonal vegetables are grown in this season. Due to favourable climatic conditions, the district is rich in vegetables and fruits. Cabbage, carrot and reddish in vegetables and peaches, plums and pears in fruit are grown in the area. District Mansehra is rich in flora. A variety of herbs is found throughout the district. Many of these herbs are used for medicinal purposes. These include Gulkhaira, Khtmi, Musli Sufead, Kadpai, Thandibotti, Sumal, Kakul, Ispaghol, Patris, Manira, Chora, Banafsha, Bantol, Chau, Kuthi Raisha Khatmi and Nera. A large variety of fauna is also available in the district. This includes leopard, porcupine, black bear, monal, and koklas pheasant, jackal, wild goat, brown bear, wolf and other migratory birds. 

2.      History:

Mansehra (former Pakhli Sarkar) has a very old history in the Sub-Continent. Its geographical boundaries have constantly been changed in the times of various Rajas, Maharajahs and Kings in the past. Alexander the Great after conquering northern India established his rule over a large part of it. Different historians are of the opinion that in the year 327 B.C. Alexander handed over this area to Abisaras, the Raja of Poonch state. During Maurya dynasty, Mansehra remained a part of Taxila. In the second century

A.D. a mythical Hindu king Raja Risalu, son of Raja Salbahan of Sialkot, brought this area under his way. The local people consider him as their hero and even today parents narrate to their children the stories of Raja Risalu and his wife Rani Konklan in the winter nights. It is also said that Turkey Shahi and Hindu Shahi dynasties ruled Pakhli one after another. Again in the 11th century A.D. after the fall of Hindu Shahi dynasty, the Kashmiris occupied this area under the leadership of Kalashan (1063 to 1089 A.D). In the last quarter of the 12th century A.D. Asalat Khan, a General of Mohammad Ghuri captured this area but soon after Mohammad Ghuri's death the Kashmiris once again occupied it. In 1472 A.D. Prince Shahab-ud-Din came from Kabul and established his rule here. He founded the state namely Pakhli Sarkar and chose Village Gulibagh as his capital. The first quarter of the 18th century A.D became miserable for the Turks because their rule came to an end due to the decay of their vitality, and the increasing aggression of the Pukhtoons and their allied forces. The most crucial attack was that of the Swatis under the command of Syed Jalal Baba in 1703 A.D. They ousted the Turks and captured this area.

In 1849 A.D this area came under the direct control of the British. In 1901 when NWFP province was formed, Hazara was separated from Punjab and made a part of NWFP. Today Mansehra is a place of scenic beauty.

The climate is cold in winter and pleasantly warm in summer. The northern part like Kaghan valley is cold in summer and extremely cold in winter and it receives heavy snowfall. The District has two distinct seasons; the summer season which lasts from April to September and winter season which is from October to March. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures during June are about 35° C and 21° C respectively. 

3.      Economic Scenario of the district:

Mansehra foremost economy depends on diverse alternatives such as agriculture, Poultry, mining, tourism and reliance on natural resources. Its population growth rate is higher, but its land fertility offers a great opportunity for the people to earn and fulfil their daily life needs.

Agricultural product of the area includes Wheat, peas and other seasonal vegetables. Due to favourable climatic conditions, the district is rich in vegetables and fruit. Vegetables include Cabbage, carrot and reddish and fruits of this area include peaches, plums and pears. District Mansehra is affluent in flora. A diversity of herbs is found all over the district. Several of these herbs are used for medicinal purposes.

Agriculture land is being intensively cultivated and more fragile land is brought under agriculture through the cultivation of steep slopes and forest encroachments. In this continuation the people of different villages of Hazara Division who either did not have land or having very small landholding started work on some other sources of income for their livelihood and most of them went towards the cottage industry (Crochet, Adda and other Handicrafts).

Livestock and fisheries are the main sources of milk and meat etc. The Profusion of Poultry farms is also found in this district. Bullocks and cows are also used for ploughing. A lot of migrant families keep their sheep and travel remote and ample their cattle. In Mansehra, the production from various fisheries is 9.900 million tons.

District Mansehra is also one of the major mining regions of the NWFP. In terms of infrastructure, the district is relatively well served both by major roads and telecommunications networks.

Mansehra also has very much importance from a tourist point of view. It has famous hill stations, historical lakes, and gorgeous valleys which provides charming scenic and beauty to the eyes. Tourism contributes much to the GDP of Pakistan.

The economy of the area is largely agrarian, with high dependence on natural resources which have already depleted. Due to the high population growth rate, small landholdings and lack of alternative sources of income, the pressure on land and natural resources is continuously increasing.

 4.     Economic Potential

4.1     Agriculture: 

Only one-fourth of the total area of the district is constituted of plains. The plains where irrigation facilities are available and food grain likes wheat and maize are produced in sufficient quantity. The main crop of Rabi is wheat and of Kharif are maize and rice. Others crops being produced are barley, onion, potatoes (Rabi) and sugarcane (Kharif).

The important cash crop is tobacco. Good quality tobacco is grown in Pakhli plains. Apotato Research Center is working at Batakundi near Kaghan and an Agriculture Research Station is established at Dhodial. Prospects of tea cultivation are very favourable according to the experts and a research station for this purpose is working at Baidadi near  Mansehra. The lack of irrigation facilities in the district has affected the productivity of the soil in spite of its fertility. The total area of the district is 10,67,291 acres out of which 2,58,999 acres are cultivated and 8,08,292 acres is uncultivated. Irrigated land is 48,571 acres only. Thus the land proves not much productive. Cultivation mainly depends on seasonal rainfall. The soil of Pakhli plain is very fertile and productive due to irrigation facilities.

Horticulture

The science and art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants is called Horticulture. Agriculture plays an important role in Pakistan's economy contributing 25% to GDP, employs 44% workforce of the country. Within agriculture, the horticulture is an important sector, production of fruits 6.2m tons, vegetables 5.0m tons, citrus 2.0m tons, mangoes 1.0m tons, dates 0.63m tons and apples 0.4m tons. Total exports of fruits and vegetables for 120435000 US$ and quantity 471693tons.Due to favourable climatic conditions, the district is rich in vegetables and fruits. Some of the major vegetables and fruits are cabbage, carrot, reddish, peaches, plums, pears, citrus, loquat, banana, apricot, apple walnut and persimmon.

4.2     Forestry:

Mansehra is one of the richest districts as regards the forest wealth of Pakistan, having many small and large forests scattered throughout the region. Forests of the district are rich in trees as Deodar, Blue pine, Chirr, Popular, Walnut, Cherry, Poplar and Kao (wild olive) etc. A large variety of medicinal plants are also found in the forests. Such plants are also grown especially in the northern forests and a large variety of wildlife is also depending on these forests. 

4.3     Livestock and Fisheries:

     Buffaloes, cows, sheep, goats are the main source of milk and meat etc, but the total milk production is below than that of other areas of Pakistan. Poultry farms are also found in abundance. Bullocks and cows are used for ploughing but mostly these are inefficient. A lot of nomad families keep their sheep and travel far and wide their cattle. Major livestock of the district comprises of animals such as ass, buffalo, camel, cattle, goat, horse, mule, poultry, and sheep. In Mansehra, the production from various fisheries is 9.900 million tons. 

Industry:

 The district, unfortunately, has been and still is very backward in terms of industrialization due to non-availability of basic infrastructure. A small industrial estate had been set up in 1986 on an area of 20 acres with a total cost of Rs. 6.177 million. In the whole district, 25 units are manufacturing soap, furniture, ice, flour, plastic shoes, etc.

4.4     Minerals:

The district has natural resources that are being explored and extracted from the mines. In Kaghan, ores of paradox, whereas in Oghi and Battal ores of graphite have been discovered and are being excavated. Some of the other minerals found in the district are coal, corundum, feldspar, granite, marble, quartz and soap stone.

4.5     Tourism:

 

Tourism is a growing industry in Pakistan, based on its diverse cultures, peoples and landscapes. Tourist of domestic and international territory visited these areas which became earn of living for local people. This area i-e Mansehra is a gateway to tourism. And has played and playing a vital role in the development of tourism and in the growth of GDP of Pakistan. Mansehra itself is a little city but lies in the heart that’s the reason it is very important. Mansehra is a gorgeous, stunning and fine-looking area and delimited by very famous areas around it, which are always very dazzling, glittering and give a nice look to the eyes and are the best example of the natural beauty. Tourism is a growing industry in Pakistan, based on its diverse cultures, traditions, customs and the historical places which faced many historical events and legends. It has many positive aspects but the negative impact of the environment corrosion without proper assistance can also not be neglected. Among the important features of the city, one is its major tourist attraction because of the three granite boulders on which edicts of Ashoka have been inscribed.

 

a)      Baffa

Baffa is a town having some of the richest fields for growing tobacco and rice. It is also an important trade centre.

 b)  Dadar

 It is known for its Tuberculosis Sanitarium, where weather is very pleasant in summers due to thick forests.

c)      Balakot

 Moving almost 30 Kms away from Mansehra City, there's the first special place to see and enjoy and to take the 1st stay of the tour. This is a very beautiful area. The river named KUNHAR plays the most important role in the beauty of this area. This area is full of pine trees. When travelling to Balakot, you will find a lot of beautiful things to see, beautiful things to enjoy. The journey from Mansehra to Balakot is a charming experience. The road passes through beautiful green hills and thick forests. The views are spectacular and are an ideal tourist spot.

d)     Kaghan Valley 

The beautiful valley of Kaghan is about 150 kilometres long. It is famous for its scenery all over the country. It has got thick forests, consisting of fine trees of Deodar and Pine. Kaghan is the biggest valley consisting of Jarid, Balakot, Ghanool and Shogran. This area is also an example of what natural beauty is. It is at the drive of 5 to 6 hours from Shogran. But you don’t get bored while driving to Kaghan because there are a lot of things to enjoy in the way. The river Kunhar moves alongside the road, as you will be moving up it will be going down. When reached Kaghan, you will find a lot of attractive things. This area has special arrangements for the tourists at the cheap rates, Hotels and Restaurants are available. One thing you will obviously enjoy is the TROUT FISH,  which is also available in Balakot and Naran. Well, this place is also as so very much attractive that needs a visit.

e)      Shogran 

At the drive of 2 hours after moving from Balakot, another most attractive and the main point for tourists is Shogran. This area is very brilliant and beautiful, but when you get to Shogran you will not find anything much interesting except hotels and restaurants, but the real beauty is up there on SIRREE PAYE. A jeep track leads to this tranquil summer retreat of super climate and spectacular views. At the top of SIRREE, there are a lot of things to enjoy the main attracting thing is a little lake at the top, which is naturally made with the water of rain and snow. It is one of the most beautiful plateaus in the whole area.

The mighty peaks of Himalayan Ranges such as Musa ka Massalla and Malika Parbat are visible from the valley due to its high altitude.

f)       Naran

This town is situated on the banks of River Kunhar. The river is wider and quieter here. It is a starting point for Lake Saif-ul-Maluk, Battakundi, Lalazar Plateau, Lake Lulusar and Babusar Pass. Outstanding attraction of Naran is its air of peace and serenity. At the drive of 2 hours from Kaghan there lays a place named as Naran, which is the place where the tourists' ratio is very high due to its beautiful and attractive looks. The main thing which people enjoy here is the fish Trout and another thing named as the Lake Saif-ul-Maluk great scene. Between the four mountains this lake lies. Its water is very cold and of the color green and blue that’s why it is unique and very much attractive. People enjoy staying here, due to its natural beauty and weather which is very cold.

g)      Lake Saif-ul-Maluk 

The lake and its surroundings have a touch of illusory about them and are breathtakingly lovely. There is a charming prodigy associated with the lake A fairy tale called Saiful Muluk, written by the famous Sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh is associated with the lake. It is the story of Prince of Persia who fell in love with a fairy princess at the lake. The impact of the lake beauty is of such extent that people believe that fairies come down to the lake in the full moon. Lake Saif- ul-Maluk is at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley near Naran, Pakistan. At an altitude of 3,224 m above sea level, it is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan. The clarity of the water comes from the multiple glaciers around the high basin, which all feed the lake. It is also included in the list 0f 07 wonders of the world.

h)     Ansoo Lake:

 Ansoo Lake is a high-altitude lake (elevation 16,490 feet or 5,027 meters) in the Kaghan Valley in the Mansehra District of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range. It can be reached by a difficult trek from Saiful Muluk Lake. If one chooses to walk it takes more than eight hours for both going and coming back to the lake Saif-ul- Muluk. Horses can also be hired from the Lake Saif ul Muluk along with a guide person who will take you to Ansoo Lake. It costs almost PKR 5000 per horse but one still has to walk more than 50% of the distance himself. Another trek to reach Ansoo Lake is from Mahandri, which is 40 km below Naran, but this is a less trod route and the difficulties are unknown. The name "Ansoo" comes from its tear-like shape (the Urdu word Ansoo means teardrop). The lake is said to have been discovered in 1993 by Pakistan Air Force pilots who were flying low above the area. Earlier, the lake was not even known to the locals.

5.      Trade and trade centres:

 Baffa, Shinkiari, and Mansehra city itself are the main trading centers of the district. Agriculture products like vegetables and fruits are brought from the suburbs to these centers for further transition within and outside the district. Very good quality tobacco is grown in the plains of the district, which is exported to the down districts. The poultry industry of the district is also very prominent. Poultry and its products are also exported in abundance to other parts of the country. Woolen clothes, garments and blankets from upper areas i.e., Kaghan and Balakot are also exported to the down district. 

6.      Small Investment Projects for the District:

·         Trout Farming

·         Embroidery Stitching Unit

·         Poultry Farm

·         Honey Bee Keeping

·         Walk-In Tunnel Vegetables Farm