Khalabat Township

Khalabat, Khalabut or Khalabat Township (KTS), Tarbela Township, sometimes also called by its residents Tarbela Colony,is one of the 30 union councils, administrative subdivisions, of Haripur District in the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwaof Pakistan, some 65 km (40 mi) north of Islamabad and 35 km (22 mi) south of Abbottabad, in a hilly plain area,Township comprises four sectors and two Union Councils: Tarbela Union Council comprises sector 1 and sector 2, and Khalabat Union council comprises sector 3 and sector 4.

Location

Latitude 34.0500 Longitude 72.8833 Altitude 1,440 feet (440 m) Lat (DMS) 34° 2' 60N Long (DMS) 72° 52' 60E Altitude 438 meters, Khalabat township is located on the way from Haripur to Tarbela Lake.

Overview

Khalabat Township was established in the north-east of the district Haripur between Haripur city and Tarbella Lake when over 135 villages with 96,000 peoples came underwater due to the construction of Tarbela dam. Residential construction started in 1974 although the township was constructed according to an urban plan prepared by WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan); actually layout design of Khalabat township is similar to sectors of Islamabad. Township has lot of Chowks and speed humps, In all together there are almost 168 speed humps in KTS. On entering Khalabat Township there is Chunge (Toll Plaza) after passing through the Toll Plaza the first Chowk is known as Babu chowk, the most famous chowk of KTS is Chandni Chowk.

Main locations points are Chandni Chowk, Diggi Chowk, Babu Chowk, Main Chowk, Chok Saydan, Azam chok, Pakhral Chowk, Hussaini Chowk, Mumaya Chowk, Darri Chowk, Qabrastan Chowk, Utman Chowk,Darband Chowk, Tanoli Chowk and Anora Moorr. Main Chowk is the most busiest in town for shopping as shops which sell clothes, shoes, jewellery, hardware, furniture, fast food,cold spots etc.

A large Government graveyard is situated in Sector 3 that is known as Sarkari Qabrastan. A Public Library has been established inside Town Committee building. It was the efforts of ex-Tehsil Nazim Iftikhar Ahmed Khan to establish the Public library. A Civil Hospital has also been established in KTS. Credit goes to Late Akhtar Nawaz Khan for establishment of colleges in KTS.

There are number of villages around Khalabat Township, some of them are Qazian, Jaamah, Padhana, Basira, Karpehan, Dobandi, Nakka, Malikyar, Chohar, Momiya, Khewa, jagul etc.

History

Residential construction started in 1974, inhabitants of KTS are affectee of Tarbela Dam, about 82,000 acres (330 km²) land was acquired for its construction. The large reservoir of the dam submerged 135 villages, which resulted in displacement of a population of about 96,000 people from the richest green valley of the area, Effectees of Tarbella Dam resides in Khalabat Township, Kangra Colony (in Haripur on Hattar Road), Punjab and Sindh provinces.

The town was named after the village Khalabat which had submerged in the Tarbela lake. Majority of the people in Khalabat village were Pathans, It was famous for citrus fruit gardens. A village by the same name inhabited by the same people also exist in Swabi District. The name Khalabat is a combination of two words 'Khala' and 'Bat'. Khala means upright and bat means stone. There was a ten feet high stone column erected in the ground of Khalabat. Famous villages that got submerged were, Tarbela, Dheeri, Khalabat, Jahar, Luqmania, Jathoo, Dari, Anorra, Laloo Gali, Thapla, Kundreala, Kiya, Khabal, Mumaiya, Pakkah Panialah, Darband, Amb, Ashra, Dokani etc.

The affectees were adjusted in present KTS and Kangra Colony Haripur and District Swabi. Some people were alloted land in southern Punjab and Sindh; however, only the influentials were able to take possessions and the entitlement. The main issue which is the allotment of the land is still exists. Also, the reality fund of the tarbela power dam has not been awarded to the affectees of the project.

Society of KTS

Society of Khalabat is very rich in culture and establishment of traditions.The Hujra and Jirga still exists in the town. In their daily life the Pathan of Khalabat still follows Pathanwali tradition. People of Khalabat are sports loving and they enjoying playing VolleyBall, Football, Field Hockey, Cricket, Kabaddi, and Snooker.

Industry

When Khalabat township was under construction in early 70's. Government announced tax free industrial zone, and this announcement attracted lots of industrialists. In this industrial zone companies like Kawasaki motorcycles, Rehana woolen mills, Orion television, Ashi marbel, Jhon steel mills, Shafi woolen mill, Tarbela Cotton and Spinning mills were set up. Except Tarbela Cotton and Spinning mill which is still running rest has closed down there business and have moved out. Steel Mill have dissolve and on that place MERIT SCHOOLING SYSTEM is exist there.

Education

There are a number of Government boys and girls school, with a good number of private schools. In recent years a number of higher education institutes has been set up by the government and one Degree college for boys in sector 1. There is, Government Technical College in sector 4, Women Degree College in sector 3 and Degree college for Boys in sector 1. Some of the famous private schools are Quaid-e-Azam Public School, Universal Public School(Darband Chowk,Sector 4), Rising Stars Public School,Sector 3, Pakistan Public School and Montessori, Model Public School, Dawn Public School, Faizan Public High school,Sector no 3, Iqra Academy School,Sector no 2, Iqra Public High school,sector no 4, Progressive International Academy, Sector no 4.

Tribes

Majority of the tribes dwelling in Khalabat Township are of Pakhtoon background irrespective of their language. Dilaazak Utmanzai,Shakhmalikheil ( Peerakzai ), Akhunkhel, Akazai,Bakshikhail, Jadoon/Gadoon, Lala Khel,Tanoli/Taniwal, Tareen, and Shilmani/Sulamani are the Pakhtoon tribes who either speak hindko or Pashto and follow the Pashtunwali, and non-Pakhtoon tribes are Syeds, Gujjars, Quraishi, Abbasi, Awans, Shiekh.

Languages spoken

The major languages spoken in Khalabat Township are Hindko, Urdu, & Pashto.

Famous places

Chaman Park, Akhtar Nawaz Khan Stadium and Tarbela Lake are the famous places of Khalabat Township. Lake is a picnic spot and boats can be hired by the visitors to have a tour of the Tarbela Lake. Also local people use them to get to the villages at the mountains for fishing and hunting.

Climate

Khalabat has all four seasons of the year;i.e. summer, winter, autumn and spring. Summers are hot but pleasant and winters are too cold. Lively weather prevails in spring and autumn.