Swabi History Profile
District Swabi was given the status of District in July 1988. Previously it was part of Peshawar District and then a Sub-Division of Mardan District. It consists of Four Tehsils, namely Swabi, Lahor, Topi and Razar. Swabi has 56 Wards / Union Councils which have been subdivided further into 160 Neighbourhood / Village Councils. As per census 2017 it has a population of 1.6 Million with a growth rate of 2.00 % (Rounded). Total Area of the district is 1543 Square Kilometers.
The district may be divided into two parts, the northern hilly areas and the southern plain area. The major parts of these hills are in Gadoon area in the north-east. These are the continuation of the Mahaban hills. The other important hills are situated in north-western corner of the district. These are locally called as the Narranji hills. The height of these hills varies between 750 to 1400 meters above sea level. There are also a few other small isolated hills, the most important of which is located south of Swabi town. Other hills are in the south along the border with Nowshera district, which are the part of Khattak hills, north of the Kabul River. From the foot of the hills, the plain runs down, at first with a steep slope, and then gently to the lower levels, towards the Kabul River.
The plain area of the district is intersected by numerous streams and many smaller ravines. The important stream is the Narranji Khowar, which flows from Narranji hills in a South – Western direction joining the Kalapani stream in Mardan district. Another important stream is Badri Khowar which flows from the South close to Swabi town and joins the river Indus near village Hund. The Indus River flows along the Southern boundary of the District.
BOUNDARIES
It is bounded on the north by Buner District, on the east by Haripur District, on the South by Attock District of the Punjab Province and on the West by Nowshera and Mardan Districts.
Swabi is at a distance of 132 Kilometers from Islamabad towards west and 100 Kilometers from the Provincial Headquarter Peshawar towards east.
PHYSICAL FEATURES AND TOPOGRAPHY
The arable soil of Swabi District has developed either from River alluvium or loess plains. Texture of river alluvium ranges from sandy loam to loamy sand, loam approaching clay loam. The soil of loess plains ranges in texture from silt loam to silty clay loam or silty clay.
The soil is irrigated for general cropping with canals supplemented by well – irrigation. Some parts were irrigation is not feasible, are used for dry-farming of wheat, gram and groundnuts.
GEOLOGY
The Swabi District exhibits the following rock units, Salkhala Formation, Manki Formation, Sobra Formation, Tanawal Formation, Ambar Formation, Misri Banda Formation, Panjpir Formation, Granite and Sills / Dykes.
CLIMATE CONDITION
The District has extremes of climate. The summer season is extremely hot. A steep rise of temperature is observed from May to June and even in July, August and September record quite high temperatures. During May and June dust storms are frequent at night. The temperature reaches to its maximum in the month of June. Due to intensive cultivation and irrigation the tract is humid and the heat is oppressive. A rapid fall of temperature is recorded from October onwards. The coldest month is January. Towards the end of the cold weather there are occasional thunder storms and hail storms.
The maximum rainfall is received in July and August during which the weather becomes hot and humid. The relative humidity is quite high throughout the year, while maximum humidity recorded in December.
MONTHWISE MEAN TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION AND HUMIDITY 2012 – 2018
|
Month
|
Mean Temperature (oC)
|
Precipitation (Millimeters)
|
Humidity (% age)
|
|
Maximum
|
Minimum
|
|
January
|
20.8
|
1.1
|
31.8
|
70
|
|
February
|
21.3
|
3.4
|
47.2
|
71.8
|
|
March
|
23.5
|
8.5
|
77.1
|
77.8
|
|
April
|
32.2
|
12.8
|
31.9
|
51.1
|
|
May
|
40.00
|
18.9
|
25.8
|
34.1
|
|
June
|
44.00
|
23.4
|
15.9
|
32.5
|
|
July
|
42.8
|
28.6
|
97.3
|
67.9
|
|
August
|
39.9
|
21.9
|
98.8
|
65.3
|
|
September
|
36.4
|
20.6
|
41.2
|
61.4
|
|
October
|
31.9
|
12.6
|
10.3
|
63.7
|
|
November
|
27.1
|
4.6
|
13.8
|
72.1
|
|
December
|
21.4
|
1.2
|
22.6
|
75.2
|
GENERAL ASPECT
Yousafzai is the dominating tribe of the District whose ancestors came from Ghowra Marghai. The place is somewhere in Western Afghanistan. Yousafzai first occupied Peshawar and gradually they occupied the present territories. Yousafzai generally have robust built stature with fair complexion. They are well known for their hospitality.
A six lane motorway connecting Islamabad with Peshawar passes through Swabi District with an access interchange at village Ambar. Swabi, also commonly known as the "Land of Yousafzai Eagles", has produced a number of great personalities, which has influenced various aspects of Pakistan, like Politics, Literature, Sports, Defense, Education and much more. Great personalities, like Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) who got martyrdom during Kargil War born here. Similarly Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayum Khan (the founder of Islamia College Peshawar) Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar (the founder of Caliphate Movement in British era) VP Singh (The Seventh Prime Minister of India) Abdul Qadir (former test cricketer and Gogli Bowler), Junaid Khan (Fast Bowler), Yasir Shah (Leg Spinner) and Moin Akhtar (great comedian and compare) were the prominent Pakistanis born at Swabi.
All people belong to Muslim Sunni school of thought. The Muslims are staunch followers of the religion.
LANGUAGE AND DIALECTS
Pushto is the main speaking language of the district. However Hindko is also spoken in few villages i.e. Jehangira, Tordher, Manki and Jangidher etc.
DRESS CLOTHING
People wear the traditional Pakhtoon dress of Shalwar Qameez, turban and Chaddar while Peshawari and Charsadwal Chappal as footwear. The women wear Shalwar Qameez and Dopatta in their houses while outside their homes, they use Chaddar for “Pardah”. In upper class, women, the use of golden ornaments is popular. Ornaments made of silver (Chandi) are used by the women folk of lower class.
FOOD
Since wheat and maize are mostly cultivated in the area, hence people are very fond of eating the same. Rice and Chapli Kabab are also presented to the guests as sign of hospitality.
