Chakwal Beautiful rich historic District
Chakwal Beautiful rich historic District is in Rawalpindi Division and it is a part of Punjab Province. The total area of district Chakwal is 6,609 square kilometer, at the beginning of the Potohar plateau and the Salt Range, Chakwal district borders the districts of Rawalpindi and Attock in the north, district Jhelum in the east, district Khushab in the south and district Mianwali in the west Chakwal is a barani district and the terrain is mainly hilly, covered with scrub forest in the southwest, and leveled plains interspaced with dry rocky patches in the north and northeast.
The large part of M2 is passed through Chakwal District. Best Way Cement Factory is the largest factory in asia located in District Chakwal. According to 2007 Chakwal has 74% literacy rate which is equal to Lahore and at 6th among all Pakistan Districts.
Food
The food which the people of Chakwal consume is basically simple too. In the rural areas vegetables, lentils or meat, cooked very simple in butter or ghee is eaten with roti (bread) baked from wheat flour or sometimes with rice. There is a considerable use of milk and its products. In the urban areas the staple food is the same, but continental food has also made a place for itself. Fried and roasted meat, sandwiches, patties, pizza and burgers are well liked. The people of Chakwal, owing to their simple eating habits, hard work and rough terrain, are strong and healthy. However, in the urban white collared classes, diseases, which occur because of sedentary life styles, are prevalent.The most well-known and favourite food product coming from Chakwal is a sweet called Riyori (pronounced ree-o-ree) . it is basically a mixture of desi ghee (clarified butter) and gurr (jaggery) covered with sesame seeds.
Occupation
Farming and farming related activities are the main occupation of the people of Chakwal. A small percentage is employed in the trading sector, a smaller as industrial and mining labour and a very small fraction is employed in technical fields like health, education, banking, engineering etc. New motivation from the success of Information Technology has brought a lot of excellent IT professionals in IT and Telcom industry and the number is growing very fast.
Dress & Footwear
The dress that men, women and children of Chakwal district wear is very simple. Men generally wear shalwarqameez or dhoti kurta, a turban on special occasion, with chappals, khusas, sandals or moccasins. Women almost invariably wear shalwarqameez with dupatta, and a woolen shawl or sweater in the winter. Footwear consists of chappals or sandals. In matters of footwear too, the ‘khussas’ made in chakwal are well known and in great demand all over Pakistan. Khussas are a type of flat heeled shoe made of pure leather. the closest I can come to describing them are moccasins, except that there is no or little covering around the arch of the foot.
Traditional Crafts
Chakwal is famous for making Zari Shoes. Khes weaving is also an important traditional craft of the District.
Natural Resources
Minerals
District Chakwal is quite rich in minerals. Argillaceous Clay, Coal, Dolomite, Gypsum, Limestone and Rock Salt are commercially excavated but no end-user industry exists in the district. However, in adjoining Jhelum district, there are three cement plants and a soda ash unit. In district Chakwal there exists a bright scope for Gypsum processing, Dolomite processing, Cooling /Iodinised /Pharmaceutical Grade Salt units.
Forest
The forest area is around 1, 55,766 acres. There is also linear plantation of 375 Km alongside the roads and canals. The popular trees grown in the area are phalai, kikar and shisham.
Small Dams
The small dams around the city have become picnic spots for their beauty. There are 12 small DAMs in District Chakwal.
KhokherZer, Surlah, DhokeTalian, Kot Raja, DhokeQutab Din, Nikka,Walana, KhaiGurabh, PiraFatehal, Bhagtal, Dhurnal, Mial.
Industry
Though Cotton is not grown in the district Chakwal but there are five textile-spinning units out of which three units also manufacture Polyester/Viscose Yarn. This reflects very good prospects for textile weaving and processing, hosiery, towels, bed sheets and sizing units.
The following projects are identified for investment in district Chakwal:-
The following projects are identified for investment in district Chakwal:-
Bed Sheets, Ceramic Tableware, Cold Storage, Cattle/Sheep/Goats Fattening Farm, Dairy Products, Electrical Accessories, Flour Mills, Gypsum Processing, Hatchery/Breeding Poultry Farms, Leather, Products, Packing Boxes, Plastic Ropes, Plastic Household Products, Peanut Processing/Roasting/Packing, Steel Furniture, Textile Weaving/Processing e.t.c.
Tourism
Chakwal city has been bestowed by rich culture, history, art and extravagant environment. Once been known as a picnic spot for the Mughal dynasty and the British Lords also holds the record for producing fine men like Colonel Muhammad Khan, Tabish Kamal, India’s prime minister Manmohan Sing and many other well reputed people.
Historical Places to visit
Places | Location |
KallarKahar (Takht- e- Babri) | KallarKahar |
Katas Raj ( Hindu Temples) | Katas |
BunAmeerKhatoon | Bun AmeerKhatoon |
UndarwalKabristan | Bun AmeerKhatoon |
Sumerkand Fort | MairaAima |
KasikFort | Vatlee |
BawoliofShair Shah | Katas |
SusithaQalirah | Chinji |
Nandana Fort | Ara |
Malot Fort | Malot |
