Rawalakot: Difference between revisions
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Kh.Zafar Iqbal, leading Journalist, human rights and peace activist, founder of Press for Peace. Currently he is residing in [[England]] where he is involved in Media and Globalization issues at Nottingham [[Trent University]]. |
Kh.Zafar Iqbal, leading Journalist, human rights and peace activist, founder of Press for Peace. Currently he is residing in [[England]] where he is involved in Media and Globalization issues at Nottingham [[Trent University]]. |
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List of [[Rawalakoti]] |
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== Earthquake of 2005 == |
== Earthquake of 2005 == |
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Revision as of 06:05, 22 January 2007
Rawalakot (Urdu: راولا کوٹ) is a city in Azad Kashmir, Rawalakot is the capital of the Poonch District of Azad Kashmir. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at elevation 1615 meters (5300ft). It is 76 kilometers (47 miles) from Kohalla, and is also linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via the neighboring districts of Azad Pattan and Dhalkot,and with Muzaffarabad via Kohalla and sudhangali by asphalt roads.
Location
Rawalakot is the home of the Sudhan tribe. It is one of the most beautiful and charming city of Kashmir. With its breathtaking view and enchanting waterfalls, it is truly a paradise on earth. Surrounding villages include Motialmara, Trar,Trani Dahmni, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek,Dreak, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira, Bhalgran, Rehara,Bagh District north and District Sudhnuti is South of Rawalakot. While towards the West are Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan.
Rawalakot has an airport which has not functioned since 2000 due to lack of demand for air travel by the local population and the indiffernce of the Government of Pakistan. Rawalakot Airport
Construction of Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad pattan has considerably reduced the distance travel time. During summer the place becomes full of green grass and beautiful flowers including many varieties of roses.
Rawalakot-Poonch Trade Route
Before partition of the subcontinent, Poonch –Rawalakot trade route was one and only road link between Poonch and Sudhanoti, now called Rawalakot. Line of Control (LoC) is 15 Kilometers from Hajira and 43 Kilometers from Rawalakot.
After the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir comprising Bagh, Sudhanoti (Rawalakot), Mendhar and Haveli were declared as the State of Poonch and transferred to Raja Moti Singh as his Jagir(Landed Estate). The ethnic diversity of this region offers a unique blend of different tribes and clans.
Tehsil Mendhar in the State of Poonch was the most fertile area in this region. Trade and agricultural links between people of Rawalakot and Poonch were common. Apart from agriculture, sheep and goat farming was the major source of income for the people of Poonch region. Poonch-Rawalakot trade route played an important role in the economy of this area. It was one of the few trade routes in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which remained open throughout the year. Traders and businessmen freely traded fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, wool, tobacco, cereals, rice, spices and many other items. Barter trade system was followed by most of the traders and businessmen.
Though major chunk of the people’s income went to the State rulers through taxes, including Abiana and Maalia, duties, fines, and forced labor. Economic activity was there and the region was considered rich in resources. Much has been conceived and propagated about ethnic and religious divide between the rulers and the ruled in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. But an impartial and unbiased study of the Dogra rule would expose that socio-economic conditions of the population played an important role in the emergence of a conflict between the rulers and the masses.
Religion may be a matter of choice but hunger has no other choice than to eat something. It is on the record that rulers of the state imposed taxes on most of the belongings which one could own in his household e.g. cattle, utensils, hearths, windows, crops, agricultural tools and even wives. There was no other choice for the people to protect their belongings than to defy the authoritarian rule. The most crushed and trodden among the masses turned into the most violent dissidents and liberated their lands and belongings. Bagh, Rawalakot and parts of Haveli were liberated and the area liberated was named as Azad (free) Kashmir. Poonch town, the capital of this tiny state stood isolated and besieged till November, 1948 when Indian forces recaptured this town. As the region was divided, a large number of families got divided on both sides of the Cease Fire Line (later named as LoC) having no contact with each other. This is the most tragic element of the existence of Line of Control .After the emergence of LoC not only the families were divided but their businesses also ruined. Agricultural and grazing lands were bifurcated. Guns replaced the crops and cattle.
Communications
Two privately owned Cable Television systems are available in Rawalakot, which transmits Pakistani and international television programs.
A local FM radio station has been established.
Cell phone service is available through two private cell phone operators Mobilink and Ufone. PTCL Wireless also available.
The local phone company is operated by Pakistan Army.
Construction of Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad pattan has considerably reduced the distance travel time.
During summer the place becomes full of green grass and beautiful flowers including many varieties of roses.
Publications and Literary Activities
Respected local periodical by the name of "Dharti" (Chief Editor Abid Siddique) is published monthly and features interesting articles covering local political and social activities and serves as a literary outlet for local creative writers and poets. This periodical has subscribers from Azad Kashmir to Calgary in Western Canada. Many authors as well as poets have been produced in the Pearl Valley of Rawalakot.
Daily news papers from Pakistan are available in English as well as Urdu. Most read newspaper is the urdu daily jang and the most listened to Radio Statio is BBC London.
Hotels and Rest Houses
Small hotels with living accommodations are available in and around the city. The most notable being the Rawalakot International Hotel and Deira Guest House which provides decent and clean accommodations for a price ranging from Rs. 600 to 1000 per day. It is prudent to negotitiate the price. Government owned cabins are available in Rawalakot and Banjosa. Advance reservations are recommended as most of these accommodations are used by Government Officials on their tours. Privately owned Deira Guest House also accepts reservations.
Climate
Average temperature during the summer varies from 60 degrees F to 75 degrees F. During the winter snow falls start during the month of Decmeber and last through January. Rainy season starts from April through June.
Culture
Rawalakot has no theatres, however the university does have some sorts of cultural events.
Shopping
Rawalakot has a downtown which consists of shops selling everthing from groceries to electronic goods. All essential commodities of life are easily available in the shops.
In Rawalakot, besides Dahra rest house, some good hotels and private guest houses provide comfortable accommodation.
Education and science
Rawalakot has the Agriculture University of Azad Kashmir, a Government College for men and for women, numerous high shools and a number of private schools.
During the earthquake of October 8,2005, boys and girls degree colleges were badly damaged, but these have not yet been rebuilt.
Non Governmental Organizations
Different NGOs are working in Rawalakot. One of the most active NGOs is Press for Peace. The organization was founded by Khawaja Zafar Iqbal, a leading journalist and philanthropist from village Tarar in Rawalakot. Press for peace has been acknowledged for its outstanding work for the promotion of peace, tolerance, protection of human rights and freedom of the press in Pakistani controlled Kashmir.
Press for Peace has expanded its network from Azad Kashmir to Pakistan, Indian Occupied Kashmir, United Arab Emirates, England, Austria and Canada.
Population
Rawalakot has an estimated population of 50,000. Over 80% of the population belongs to the Sudhan tribe, however other tribes are also represented. Pathans may live in Rawalakot but are not citizens of Kashmir.
Leading Personalities from Rawalakot
Sardar Ibrahim Khan the founder and First President of (Free) Azad Kashmir;
Shaikh Ghulam Ahmad, an author, educator and philanthropist.
General (Retd) M. Rahim Khan, the former Chief of Pakistan Army in East Pakistan, former Chairman Pakistan International Airlines, former Chairman Pakistan Chrome Mines Ltd and Secretary General Ministry of Defense.
Justice Sardar Muhammed Nawaz Khan, Current Cheif Justice of High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
M. Rasheed Khan former Chairman Pakistan Banking Council. Financial Consultant.
General Muhammad Aziz Khan Former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pakistan Army.
Major General (Retired) Muhammad Hayyat Khan Former President of Azad Kashmir
Kh.Zafar Iqbal, leading Journalist, human rights and peace activist, founder of Press for Peace. Currently he is residing in England where he is involved in Media and Globalization issues at Nottingham Trent University.
Earthquake of 2005
The town suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buidlings have been reconstructed, though without the help of the Governments of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.
In district Rawalakot the Press for Peace team in the supervision of divisional coordinator, Sardar Abid Siddique started its rescue and relief work soon after the disaster.
Cuba along with other countries provided medical assistance to the population of Rawalakot for which the populace is forever grateful.
Virtual Tour of Rawalakot
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Toli pir 1
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Banjosa
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