Kohat is a medium sized town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 metres (1607 feet) and is the capital of
Kohat DistrictKohat is a district of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Kohat city is the capital of the district. It is inhabited by various Pashtun tribes such as Afridi,Khattaks, Bangash and the Orakzaies. The main language of the district is Pashto....
. The town centres around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. A British-built narrow gauge railway runs through the town.
Kohat PassKohat Pass is a mountain pass in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, connecting Kohat with Peshawar, crossing the Khigana Mountains.As the road to the pass is steep and too narrow for large vehicles, the Kohat Tunnel was constructed and opened in June, 2003. -External links:*...
is to the north.
Ancient history
The only other remnants of the Buddhist days is a road cut off the mountain side, on the western skirts of the Jawaki hills near Kotal Post which leads by an even gradient towards the crest.
Kohat Bangash attacked by Babur
Kohat has mix population of Pashto and
HindkoHindko , also Hindku, or Hinko, is the sixth main regional language of Pakistan. It forms a subgroup of Indo-Aryan languages spoken by Hindkowans in Pakistan and northern India, some Pashtun tribes in Pakistan, as well as by the Hindki people of Afghanistan...
speakers. There is a partial parda system in Kohat.
Sikh invasion and British rule
In the beginning of 19th century Kohat came under the control of
SikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s,
Ranjit SinghMaharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
first marched to Peshawar was 1819. Kohat was annexed to the
British dominionBritish Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
on 28 March 1849 with the rest of Punjab and an Assistant Commissioner was posted here to run the administration and to look after the British interests. In the initial stages of the British administration, the locals of the area posed considerable problems, although some tribes later joined with the British Government and helped them in running the area. Nevertheless, the British were never at peace in this part of their empire as resistance and opposition always cropped from one quarter or the other. But their tactics of "
Divide and RuleIn politics and sociology, divide and rule is a combination of political, military and economic strategy of gaining and maintaining power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy...
" ultimately strengthened their hold over the region. They pit one tribe against the other by giving preference to one over the other and finally succeeded in administering them. An example of unrest against the British empire are the actions of Afridi Ajab Khan, who forced the entire British administration of the district to surrender to his demands.
Ethnicity and tribes
The Pashtuns constitute major ethnic group in Kohat, and a Hindkowan population also exist that is almost 15 per cent of the total population of the district. The word Kohat is a Hindko word which means the market or bazaar surrounded by mountains. Kohat is also home to a number of Afghan refugees. The Pashtun tribes which inhabit the city include:
- Bangash
Bangash is the name of a Pashtun clan. The Bangash clan inhabit regions within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas , the Kurram Agency, the Miranzai Valley bordering the Samana Range, Naryab, Tirah, Kohat and Peshawar within the Sarhad province...
- Khattak
Khattak or Khatak , is the name of an Afghan tribe. speaking a variant of the Kandahari Pashto. They are accorded the status of being one of the original and true Afghans. The tribe is settled along the western bank of the river Indus from as north upwards as Sammah; modern day Lund Khwar & Sher...
- Orakzai
Orakzai is a Pashtun tribe settled in the Orakzai Agency of Pakistan. It consists of eighteen clans. Most of the members are situated in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.-Location:...
- Afridi
Afridi of rough hilly area in the eastern Safed Koh range, west of the Peshawar Valley and east of Torkham, and Maidan in Tirah, which can be accessed by the Kajurhi plains and the valleys of Bara and Churah in Pakistan...
(not to be confused with the Adamkhel Afridis of FR Kohat or Darra Adamkhel)
- Niazi
The Niazi are a tribe of Ghilzai Pashtun people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey. The name Niazi is derived from Niazai, like the other forms of Pashtun tribes, such as Yusufzai and Orakzai...
- Shinwari
The Shinwari are an ethnic Pashtun tribe of western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.In Pakistan, this tribe is active in trade, commerce, poetry, administrators and politicians within the Pakistani government; the majority are based in the Landi Kotal region of the Federally Administered Tribal...
- Tanoli
The Tanoli are a Hazarewal tribe of the Tanawal valley, Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Although not usually acknowledged as Pashtuns, the Tanoli have to an extent assimilated many Pashtun cultural features and become Pashtunified. Tribally allied with the Pathans,. The...
- Durrani
Durrani or Abdali is the name of a chief Pashtun tribal confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Originally known by their ancient name Abdali later as Durrani they have been called Durrani since the beginning of the Durrani Empire in 1747. The number of Durranis are estimated to be roughly 16%...
The Hindko speaking tribes and clans include:
- Kayani
- Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
- Banuri
Banuri or Banoori is a Pakistani surname, common among the Pashto and Hindko -speaking Syeds of Kohat , Peshawar and Swat especially in Odigram regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.-Origins:...
- Naqvi
The surname "Naqvi" are the descendants of Islamic Prophet Muhammad through the lineage of Ali al-Hadi...
- Awan
Awan , is a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, Pakistan...
- Piracha
Paracha is a family name in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.-Origin:...
- Gilani
Gilani or Jilani or Kilani may refer to:* a gentilic of Gilan, Iran* MV Gilani, an Empire F type coaster which sank at Montreal on 22 April 1972.* Gillani Railway Station, a neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan....
Religion
The population of Kohat district is
MuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, the Sunni predominate and there is also large Shias population settled in the district and they stretch from Chikarkot Bala, Sherkot to Kachai (i.e. southern border of Kohat). Usterzai Payan is the largest village of Shia. According to the Local authorities around 3,300 Shia families live in Kohat district. Chali Bagh, Jauzara, and Kachai(Katsi) are famous for their natural springs. People come here in summer day from far of places. There are some
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
families, which settled during the British colonial rule, Cantonment Board and defence services also reside in Kohat city and Cantonment area. Some scattered families of
HinduHindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s also reside in Kohat, Kachai and Marai while a good numbers of Balmiks are employed in various local bodies. These sects are enjoying full religious freedom..
After completion of religious education from Hazrat Haji Bahdur Sahib (R.A), Pir Abdur Rahim shah Bukhari(Kudus-e-sera)(MIAN GEE GUL BABA) S/O Syed Mehmood Shah (Pir Sabaq) was shiffted from Jengel khel kohat to shawaki sharif(40 km from kohat) nera LACHI shakardara road kohat in 1617. Shawaki sharif was the land of Nawab of Teri and was totaly un cultivated and forest. 8 Killomter area land was doneted by Nawab of Teri to PIR SAHIB .The senni Khattak, Baraq Khattak,Bangi Khel Khattak,Saghari khattak and Wazirs were the followers of PIR SAHIB. One of his sons, Pir Shahbaz Gul Bukhari was shiffted to village kandar dam Nizampur road Kohat.Syed Bukhari familes were setteled in Kohat/Hangu District in different area/villages i.e. shakardarra,Lachi,Khadar khel, mandoori,Banda Fetha khan, Togh, Sayaib,and Kandar Dam.Pir Sahib was died in 1660.Thousands of pilgrims visit his Shrine in year, especilly at the occasion of urs.The annual urs (death anniversary celebratioin) is held on the 17th Shaaban and celebrated every year. pir sahib significantly contributed to preaching of Islam in the area.
(citation is needed) date 13.11.2011
Geography
The total area of the district is 2545 square kilometres.
Topography
The topography of the district is dominated by the mountains and hills. In the northwest of the district the important ranges include lower Miranzai and Bangash, which run in an eastwest direction. Further in the south is Kamar -Tanda. The height of these ranges varies from 650 to 1000 meters above the sea level. In the northeast the Sowaki and Adan Khel hills run in a southwest -northeast direction. These hills gradually rise in the extreme northeastern part of the district. The intervening open valleys between the hills are seldom more than eight kilometres in width. The Kohat valley is most important agriculturally rich area. Generally, the district is elevated and the ranges attain only inconsiderable heights above the plain area. The headquarter town of Kohat is more than 550 meters above the sea level.
Rivers and streams
The river Indus forms the eastern boundary of the district, which separates it from the province of Punjab. Kohat Toi is a principal stream, which enters from Hangu district and flowing to east and southeast, drains into river Indus. The river has a small perennial flow, which disappears before it reaches the town of Kohat, it reappears again at some distance down stream and then flows continuously to the Indus. The Kohat Toi has several small torrents or tributaries, which join it at different places. Another, stream Teri Toi, which flows from west to east, in the southern half of the district, joins the river Indus. The river has little or no perennial flow.
Flora
The common trees are
berSee here for Ber Ber is a tropical fruit growing on the tree Ziziphus mauritiana.BER is the IATA area code for airports in the Berlin region, Germany:* Berlin-Tegel Airport...
,
BlueberryBlueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
, olea 'gavavas etc. All kinds of roses,
bougainvilleaBougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina . Different authors accept between four and 18 species in the genus...
, and other seasonal flowers are planted and sown in the district.
Fauna
Typical wildlife found in the district are hare, jackal, wolf, fox, wild cat, black partridge, grey partridge, urial, chinkara, blue bull, hogdeer, water fowl.
Education
Before the partition only two High School were in Kohat city one Islima High School and 2nd was Barathery High School and now
there are several school and colleges both under private and public sector. Below is the list of most famous educationalinstitutions in Kohat
{| class="wikitable sortable"
| Private Sector || Public Sector
|- Dils School and Collage Kohat
| Iqra Public School Kohat || Govt High School No.1 for Boys
|-Beacon Public School Kohat||Govt primary School PAF base
| Muhammadan Educational Academy Pir khel
| || Govt High School No.2 for Boys
|-
| Indus Public High School || Govt High School No.3 for Boys
|-
| The Knowledge Home || Govt High School No.4 for Boys
|-
| Imran Public High School || Govt High School No.5 for Boys
|-
| Frobel Grammar School || Govt High School No.1 for Girls
|-
| Tarbiat Foundation Academy Kohat || Islamia Higher Secondary School No.2 for Girls
|-
| St. Joseph Covent High School Kohat || Fauji Foundation Model Schools Kohat
|-
| City School, Kohat ||
Cadet College KohatCadet College Kohat is a military high school for boys grades eight through twelve. The high school is located in the outskirts of Kohat, Pakistan.-History:...
|-
| Eductors School Kda Kohat || Fazaia Inter College Kohat
|-
| Preston University, Kohat || F.G Public High School Kohat Cantt
|-
| Al-Asar Academy Usterzai Payan Kohat || Army Public School & College Kohat
|-
| Ali Ali Public School Sherkt
|-
ǀ Ibne Sina Science Academy Kotal Town Kohat
|-
| || Govt Post Graduate College Kohat (Men)
|-
| || Govt Post Graduate College # 2 Kohat (Men)
|-
| || Govt Post Graduate College Kohat (Women)
|-
| || Govt Commerce College Kohat
|-
| || Govt Poly Technic Institute Kohat
|-
| ||
Kohat University of Science & TechnologyKohat University of Science and Technology is a public sector university established in 2001 at Kohat District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan by the governor, Lt. Gen. Syed Iftikhar Hussan Shah. It had four institutes - Institute of Information Technology, Institute of Management...
|-
| ||
Virtual University of PakistanThe Virtual University of Pakistan is the first university in Pakistan based entirely on modern information and communication technologies. It was established by the Government of Pakistan as a public sector, not-for-profit institution, with a mission to provide education to students all over the...
| Garrison Cadet College Kohat
Transport
List of airports in Pakistan,
Kohat AirbaseKohat Airbase is an Air Force base and a Air Force facility that is located in Kohat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.On February 20, 2003, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir and 16 others were killed when their Fokker F27 crashed into the hills near the airbase. The aircraft was inbound to...
Much of the transport is privately operated within the city limits. There are also many buses that pass through the city via the
Indus HighwayThe Indus Highway, also known by its technical designation N-55, is a 1,264 km long four-lane highway that runs along the Indus River in Pakistan connecting the port city of Karachi with the northwestern city of Peshawar...
. Most going to
PeshawarPeshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
and running between
BannuBannu is the principal city of the Bannu District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is an important road junction and market city. Bannu is a very old city, founded in ancient times; however, the present location of the downtown Bannu was founded by Sir Herbert Edwardes in 1848,...
, D.I. Khan,
IslamabadIslamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
and rest of
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The railway line is operated between Kohat and
RawalpindiRawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
only.
There is a total of 372 kilometres of metalled roads in the district.
Indus HighwayThe Indus Highway, also known by its technical designation N-55, is a 1,264 km long four-lane highway that runs along the Indus River in Pakistan connecting the port city of Karachi with the northwestern city of Peshawar...
passes through the district. Some of the main roads include (i) Kohat Khushal Garh road (ii) Kohat Hangu road (iii) Kohat Dhoda Guddi road (iv) Jata Shakardara road (v) Kohat Tunnel Road (All Traffic From Pukhtonkhwa to Sind goes through this road.
Kohat TunnelThe Kohat Tunnel is a long road tunnel located in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Constructed with Japanese assistance, it is also known as the Pak-Japan Friendship Tunnel.Construction on the tunnel began in 1999, and opened to traffic in June 2003...
Due to demand from the people for a tunnel at the Kotal hills, the Government has recently sanctioned a huge amount for this project, benefiting all the southern districts. Tunnel was completed in 2004. The following are some salient features of the project.
- Total project cost: 6626.75 millions
- Total length of approached road: 29.8 kilometres
- Length of north section: 7.7 kilometres
- Length of south section: 22.20 kilometres
- Length of tunnel: 1.89 kilometres
- Width of tunnel: 10.3 meters
- Black topped: 7.3 meters
- Shoulders: 3.0 meters
- Time of completion: 48 months
Utility services
The city is facilitated with two
damA dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s; Tanda Dam and Gandiali Dam kandar dam
External links