Mirpur District facts for kids
Mirpur District is a region in Azad Kashmir, which is a territory in Pakistan. It's named after its main city, Mirpur. This district has mostly flat lands and some hills. The weather here is hot and dry, much like the nearby areas of Jhelum and Gujrat in Pakistan.
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How Mirpur District is Governed
Mirpur District is located in the southwest part of the Kashmir region. Azad Kashmir is managed by Pakistan from Islamabad. Azad Kashmir is seen as part of a separate state called Jammu and Kashmir. This area has been a disputed territory, meaning both Pakistan and India have controlled parts of it since they became independent in 1947.
Azad Kashmir has its own government, including a President, Prime Minister, and a legislative assembly. However, Pakistan is in charge of its defense, foreign policy, and currency. This means that while Azad Kashmir has its own leaders, some big decisions are made by Pakistan.
People and Moving Abroad
People from Mirpur District are called Pahari. For a long time, many have looked for jobs outside their home region. In the past, many Mirpuris worked on ships. During the two World Wars, many joined the merchant navy or armed forces.
In recent decades, many people from Mirpur have moved abroad, especially to the United Kingdom, to find work. A big reason for this was the Mangla Dam project in the 1960s. This project caused many people to lose their homes. Because of an agreement between the Pakistani and British governments, many of these people were allowed to move to the UK. Today, Mirpuris play an important role in British society, economy, and politics. They also send money back home, which helps Pakistan's economy.
Areas within Mirpur District
Mirpur District is divided into smaller administrative areas called tehsils. These include:
Interesting Places to Visit
Mirpur District has several notable places:
- Baghsar - A well-known lake.
- Bandala valley - A beautiful valley.
- Khari Sharif - Located about 8 kilometers from Mirpur, this place is famous for a Sufi shrine, which is a special religious site.
- Mangla - A town about 16 kilometers from Mirpur. It's famous for being at the start of the Mangla Dam.
- Rajoa - Another interesting location.
- The Samahni valley - A scenic valley.
- Harchial - A small village in Mirpur Tehsil. In 1998, about 533 people lived there.
Communities in Mirpur
Mirpur became part of Kashmir in 1846 through a treaty between the British and Maharaja Gulab Singh. Before this, Mirpur was part of the Punjab region. Even though they are citizens of Kashmir, the people of Mirpur are ethnically Pahari.
Different communities live in Mirpur, and they play various roles in the region's life:
- Jatt - This group makes up a large part of Mirpur's population. Many live in Dadyal, the main city, and Khari Sharif. Jatts are very active in the politics of Mirpur.
- Rajputs - They are the second largest group and are active in politics and government jobs. Many live in the main city and the Khari Sharif area. Famous sub-groups of Rajputs include Chibs, Punwar Sohlan, and Minhas.
- Gujjars - Although smaller in number compared to Jatts and Rajputs, Gujjars in Mirpur are very united. They are active in the economy and politics. Many Mirpuris living in the UK belong to this group.
- Sadat - This group is very active. Even though they are not large in number, they hold important positions in many different areas.
- Mughals - Mughals are not usually involved in active politics, but they are very active in the education sector.
- Arain - This group is smaller in number, but they are often wealthy and tend to be involved in business.
