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INTRODUCTION
Kurram Agency takes its name from the river Kurram which passes through it. The
headquarters of the agency is located at Parachinar. The agency lies between
330-20˘ to 340-03˘ north latitudes and 690-50˘ to 700-45˘ east longitudes. The
Agency is bounded on the north and west by Afghanistan (the provinces of
Ningarhar and Pukthia respectively), on the east by Orakzai and Khyber Agencies,
on the southeast by Hangu and on the south by North Waziristan Agency. The
agency is 115 kilometers long with a total area of 3.380 square kilometers.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
The principal mountain range in the agency is the Koh-e-Safaid or Spinghar with
highest peak of
Sikaram Sar
4,728 meters height which forms a natural boundary and water shed with
Afghanistan. It remains covered with snow through out the years. South of the
Peiwar Kotal the hills of the Mandher range rise gradually till they drop the
south–west corner of the plateau at Kharlachi, the point where Kurram River
enters the valley.
A part
from the high mountains, the other important feature is the Kurram valley. The
valley starts from Thall in Hangu district towards northwest upto Peiwar Kotal
on Pak Afghan border. It can be divided into two parts i.e. the Lower Kurram and
the Upper Kurram. The
Lower Kurram extends from
Thall in Hangu district to Sadda. It is narrow and hedged by low hills on either
side of the Kurram River. After that the valley opens up into the Parachinar
plateau which is a large oval shape plain sloping towards southeast. The
Upper Kurram valley from Sadda to Peiwar Kotal is bounded by high
mountain on all side. The
Kurram River enters the
agency in the west near Kharlachi from Afghanistan and runs in northwest to
southeast direction and leaves the agency at Thall in the southeastern corner of
the agency. Several hill torrents and Nullahs join Kurram River.
MINING
The most economic mineral in the agency is soapstone. The area of mineralization
of soapstone lies in the eastern extreme of Koh-e-Safaid and makes the upper
parts of Daradar valley. The soapstone associated with the dolomite is an
important mineral commodity of the area. It may also be pointed that the
dolomitic limestone formation is recrystallized and also embodies lithological
variation; there is every chance of having marble and industrially feasible
dolomitic deposite. Some marbalized horizone have been noted around Zuhra and
Gandao area.
CLIMATE
The climate conditions everywhere are generally favourable. In January and
February discomfort is experienced from snow, rain and chilli weather and
sometime fogy, while from the middle of June to the middle of August, the
temperature is moderate. For the rest of the year the climate is in every way
excellent, and indeed its admirers call it ideal.
HISTORY
The area, which forms the present day Kurram Agency, was a part of Afghanistan
before the second Afghan War, 1878-79. The local Turi population continuously
resisted and resented the Afghan domination.
During the second Afghan war
they assisted Lord Roberts and were thus liberated from the Afghan control. Due
to internal strifs, intrigue and also British manipulation, they failed to
establish satisfactory self-government. In 1892, British intervened on the
request of the Turi tribes and brought the area under British rules. Later on
the people of Kurram valley took part in the liberation movement of
India
so when India was liberated from British rule this area became a part of
Pakistan.
RACE AND TRIBES
The population of Kurram valley consists of a number of tribes namely Turi,
Bangash, Parachamkani, Massozai, Alisherzai, Zaimusht, Mangal, Kharotai, Ghalgi,
Hazara. Turi are in majority followed by Bangash and others.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
The Kurram River takes its origin in the junction of a number of small streams
at no great distance above Kharlachi. From Kharlachi its junction with Kirman 19
kilometers down stream, it receives no further supply except from occasional
float torents from Koh-e-Safaid, though an innumberalbe series of ravines cut
into the plateau. For another 26 kilometers the only contribution to the river
is rain drainage from the hills, but at Sadda it receives Khurmana. Beyond
village Tangi (Lower Kurram) it receives no further supply within the agency and
crosses over to Thall from where it enters into North Waziristan.
DRESS AND ORNAMENTS
People wear traditional Pakhtoon dress of Shalwar, Kamees, Turban and Chadder.
The women wear Shalwar, Kamees and Chadder designed for them. In the past due to
inaccessibility to the area and the poverty of people, local woolen cloths were
prepared to suit the cold winters. With time and prosperity, traditions have
changed and people mostly wear Swati and Direy (Dirorigion) caps instead of
turbans, and fine factory cloth is used for dresses.
DWELLINGS
Most of the houses are made of clay and are clustered in villages as well as
towns. A house generally consists of two or three rooms with a verandah. People
usually live in joint family
system. The quality and
construction of the houses have improved with the prosperity brought in the
people working mostly in the Middle East countries.
OCCUPATIONS
Generally, people are not literate and earn living by farming as tenants on land
owned by others. However, surprisingly a significant number of locals are
residing and working abroad and have brought prosperity to the area.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Parachinar
Parachinar is the headquarter of the agency. It is a big market for the people
of surrounding area. It is also famous for timber and dry fruits.
Sadda
Sadda has grown enormously during the past ten years due to the concentration of
refugees in its neighborhood. It is big trade market for the people of Lower
Kurram and Central Kurram.
Dogar
Dogar is a big village in the
Central Kurram. It is an important market for local made arms.
Political Agents as the head, the agency is divided into three sub-divisions
i.e. Upper Kurram, Lower Kurram and Central Kurram each headed by an Assistant
Political Agent. The former two sub-divisions have long been administrated and
record exist for most of the farmed area in these two sub-divisions, although
settlement has not been carried out since the 1940s Central Kurram, however,
remained inaccessible terrain till today. It remains the least tractable of the
three sub-divisions. Its level of development lags substantially behind that of
the other two sub-divisions but efforts are being made to bring it at par with
the other area. Upper and Lower Kurram, being administered areas, are controlled
directly by taking cognizance of all offence which are dealt with under the
Frontier Crimes Regulation, Kohat pact and customary law (Turizuna). The
Administration in the Central however, is indirect, through the tribal elders.
ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP
Executive
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Political Agent
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Assistant Political Agent
Upper Kurram
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Assistant Political Agent
Lower Kurram
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Assistant Political Agent,
Central Kurram
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Tehsildar Mahal Parachinar
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Tehsildar Alizai
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Political Naib Tehsildar FR
Kurram
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Political Naib Tehsildar –
I
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Political Naib Tehsildar -
II
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