Allai District
Allai District | |
|---|---|
District | |
 | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Division | Hazara Division |
| Tehsils | 01 |
| Established | 23 January 2023 |
| Founded by | Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Area | |
• Total | 804 km2 (310 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 census) | |
• Total | 218,149 |
| • Density | 271/km2 (703/sq mi) |
| Literacy | |
| • Literacy rate |
|
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PKT) |
Allai District is a district of Hazara Division in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The district was created on 22 January 2023 when the government announced its establishment after being separated from Battagram District.
Formation
The Allai district covers an area of 521 sq km and has a population of 180,414 according to the 2017 census. It consists of eight union councils including Banna, Batila, Batkul, Biari, Jumbera, Pashto, Rushing and Shakargah. Allai was previously a tehsil within the Battagram District of the Hazara division.[2][3][4]
History
Allai tribal State (1595–1971)
Allai was formerly a state ruled by Nawabs of Allai. Nawab Muhammad Ayub Khan was the last Nawab of Allai State until 1970. This state had its own currency. Arsala Khan Swati was the most powerful ruler among the Nawabs of Allai as he is famous for his great resistance against British rule. Arsala Khan was also the Chief of Independent Swatis who defended Yaghistan with the support of Panjghol Swatis, Panjmeral Swatis, Arghushal Swati Khans of Thakot and Khankhail Swatis of Hill and Banser.[5] Nawabs of Allai belong to the Bebal subsection of Gabri Swatis. Pokal was the capital of state.
Arsala Khan was not ambitions to have more land or to torment British rule but wanted to creat a buffer State between Britisher and Allai Valley. Arsala Khan attacked Battle in Mansehra the zero point of Brititish rule and captured 200 Hindu as captio. The Hindu of Battle village near Chattar plain were made captives not for ransom but a challenge to Samandar Khan ( of Garihabibullah) the British Magistrate who expanding his boundary toward Battagram. Arsala Khan, the Chief of Swati Tribe halted the expansion by challenging the British rule at Battle, Mansehra. Arsala Khan was fined Rs.10,000 by the British governament. Arsala Khan Allai protected Muzafar Khan of Battagram from the Samandar Khan of Garihabibullah and defended Battagram territorial integrity against British rule. Muzafar Khan of Battagram was the main target of Samandar Khan who had ambitions of making Battagram to be the part of his Property. It is worth to mention that after the death of Arsala Khan Samandar Khan expanded his territorial limits to Nelishang. British governament sent troops to Pokal Allai for capturing Arsala Khan but he climbedup to Dumrai mountain . British torched a portion of Pokal village and then returned back to Mansehra without capturing Arsala Khan. The British left behind , telescope and begal ( an instrument for calling at military parade) at Pokal. Begal was sold by Nawaz khan Pokal and telescope is still with Hustam khan lalajee of Pokal.[6]
Arsala Khan died in 1907 leaving behind son namely Ghazi Khan. He was buried at main Pokal graveyard under the poplar tree. His grave is having precious soapstone minarets with beautiful curving.
| From | To | Nawab |
|---|---|---|
| 1595 | 1623 | Ahmed Ali Khan Swati (Founder of the state) |
| 1623 | 1645 | Khan Raja Khan Swati |
| 1645 | 1664 | Khan Muhammad Khan Swati |
| 1664 | 1685 | Khan Nabi Khan Swati |
| 1685 | 1714 | Khan Khawaja Muhammad Khan Swati |
| 1714 | 1746 | Khan Gul Muhammad Khan Swati |
| 1746 | 1772 | Khan Rustam Khan Swati |
| 1772 | 1805 | Khan Hakim Khan Swati |
| 1805 | 1835 | Khan Jamal Khan Swati |
| 1835 | 1890 | Khan Arsala Khan Swati |
| 1890 | 1923 | Nawab Ghazi Khan Swati |
| 1923 | 1952 | Nawab Roshan Khan Swati |
| 1952 | 1989 | Nawab Ayub Khan Swati |
| 1989 | 2024 | Akbar Namoos Khan Swati[7] |
| 2024 | Prince Nawaz Khan Swati |
Current chieftainship
However the status of state has been abolished. Akbar Namoos Khan, elder son of Nawab Ayub Khan Swati was the Chief of Allai Valley till 30 November, 2024, succeeded by his younger brother Prince Nawaz Khan Swati on 1 December, 2024.[8]
Administration
In 2022, Allai Tehsil was separated and upgraded to District status.
| Tehsil | Urdu name | Pashto name | Area
(km²)[9] |
Pop.
(2023) |
Density
(ppl/km²) (2023) |
Literacy rate
(2023)[10] |
No. of Unions | Name of Unions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allai Tehsil | تحصیل آلائی | الائي تحصیل | 804 | 218,149 | 271.33 | 35.71% | 8 | Banna, Bateela, Batkul‚ Biari, Jambera, Pashto, Rashang and Sakargah |
Demographics
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | ... | — |
| 1961 | 21,963 | — |
| 1972 | 56,100 | +8.90% |
| 1981 | 134,955 | +10.24% |
| 1998 | 121,652 | −0.61% |
| 2017 | 180,502 | +2.10% |
| 2023 | 218,149 | +3.21% |
| Sources:[11] | ||
As of the 2023 census, Allai district had a population of 218,149.[12]
Language
The main language spoken in the district is Pashto.
References
- ↑ "Literacy rate, enrolments, and out-of-school population by sex and rural/urban, CENSUS-2023, KPK" (PDF).
- ↑ "KP govt upgrades status of tehsil Allai to new district". The Nation. 22 January 2023.
- ↑ "Govt to award district status to Allai tehsil, says KP CM". 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "Allai tehsil of Battagram given district status". 22 January 2023.
- ↑ "Allaiwal complications on the Hazara frontier". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ Khan, Saleem. Allai.
- ↑ "Govt to award district status to Allai tehsil, says KP CM". Dawn. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
MNA Mohammad Nawaz, MPA Zubair Khan, Chief of Allai Nawabzada Akbar Namoos and others also addressed the public gathering.
- ↑ "Veteran Political Figure of Allai Battagram "Aka Jan" Passes Away". The Northern Post. 2024-11-30. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
According to his family members, Chief of Allai Akbar Namoos Khan, known as "Aka Jan", Nawab of Allai" breathed his last on Saturday as he had been suffering from cardiac arrest and undergoing treatment. His sudden demise has sent shockwaves throughout the community, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable achievements and a void that can never be filled.
- ↑ "TABLE 1 : AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, CENSUS-2023, KPK" (PDF).
- ↑ "LITERACY RATE, ENROLMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN, CENSUS-2023, KPK" (PDF).
- ↑ "Population by administrative units 1951-1998" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
- ↑ "AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, CENSUS-2023, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA" (PDF).
