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INTRODUCTION
Mohmand agency takes its name from the Mohmand tribe which lives in the area.
The agency was established in 1951. Earlier this area was under the
administrative control of political agent Khyber. The agency headquarter is
located in Ghalanai. It lies between 34° 10' to 34° 43' north latitudes and 70°
58' to 71° 42' east longitudes. It is bounded on the north by the Bajaur agency,
on the east by Malakand protected area and Charsadda district, on the sough-east
by Peshawar district, on the south by Khyber agency and on the west by
Afghanistan. The total area of the agency is 2296 square kilometres.
PHYSICAL
FEATURES
Mohmand agency is an area of rugged mountains with barren slopes. General slope
of the area is from north-east with an average height over 1450 meters. Ilazai
(2716) is the highest peak near the pak afghan border. Other important peaks are
Yari sar (1929 meters) and Silai of Mohmand agency. The most extensive part of
the territory included in Mohmand agency lies in the glens and valley that start
from the mountains of Tartarra, south of the Kabul river; and Ilazai, north of
this river, and chief among these settlements are the valleys of Shilman, Gandab,
Pindiali and the banks of the Kabul river. The Mohmand settlements are generally
dry and arid, water-courses, raging torrents during heavy rains, usually
presenting a stony and shingle bed, from which slopes of barren ground lead to
the rocky spurs and ranges that flanks them. Running water is hard to find in
most of these valleys except Gandab and Shilman valleys. In the Mohmand hill
there are dry ravines between long rows of rocky hills and crugs, scantly
clothed with course grass, scrub wood, and dwarf palm (mizri) leading upto the
higher peaks of Ilazai and Tartarra.
Mohmand
agency is geographically sub divided for administrative convenience into Upper
and Lower Mohmand areas. Lower Mohmand area is rather fertile whereas
Upper Mohmand area is comparatively less productive.
CLIMATE
The climate in Mohmand agency is hot in summer season while cool in winter. The
summer season commences from May and continues for 4 months till 31st August.
The winter season starts from November and continue till February. The rainfall
is scanty. Most of the rainfall is during winter season.
HISTORY
Mohmand is an ancient tribe. It is a branch of Ghani Khel Afghan, and for
centuries before their migration to their present settlements lived near the
Tarmak and Oxus river in central Afghanistan. According to the historians they
moved to the present areas of occupation between 13th and 15th centuries,
expelling and subduing the original native Hindus and other non-Afghan race.
When Peshawar was
annexed formally by the Britishers, the area that comprises the present Mohmand
agency was ruled by the local tribesmen and was under the influence of Khan of
Lalpura. Safis were under the control of Khans of Bajaur and Utmankhels were
independent of any
Khanate.
RACE AND
TRIBES
The major tribes in Mohmand agency are as under:-
|
S.No |
Tribe |
Sub tribe |
|
1 |
Mohmand |
1.
Tarak zai
2.
Halim zai
3.
Khwae zai
4.
Bai zai |
|
2 |
Safi |
1.
Qandhari
2.
Gur baz
3.
Masood
4.
Shinwari |
|
3 |
Utman Khel |
1.
Ambar Utman Khel
2.
Laman Utman khe |
RIVERS
The following two rivers pass through the area of the Lower Mohmand:-
Kabul
River
Kabul River forms the
boundary between the Khyber and Mohmand agencies after entry into Pakistan
territory. The flow of the water is from the west towards the east. On entry
into Pakistan territory, the course of the Kabul River is through high mountains
gorges till after it passes through the Warsak Dam, where after it starts
running through the
Peshawar
valley area.
Swat
River
Swat river flows from the north towards south after entering the agency limits
from the Malakand and passes through the area of Prang Ghar/Pindiali Tehsil.
The course of this river is also through mountainous territory till it reaches
the Munda Headworks wherefrom it starts running through the plains.
DRESS
AND ORNAMENTS
The tribal communities of Mohmand agency normally wear Shalwar and Kameez with a
turban around a golden Kulla as head wear. In case of females, the dress is a
loose shirt and Shalwar with a Dupatta on it.
The
chaddar is an essential item of male dress. The common footwear is Chappli,
whereas in case of female it is chappal. The putting on of a rifle, pistol or
revolver in deemed to be a sign of respectability and importance.
FOOD
The food of an average person is simple. During summer it consists of barley or
wheat bread, vegetables, occasionally meat, milk and its products. In winter
maize is the staple diet as it is said to be more invigorating. They take three
meals a day. Their traditional dish is roasted meat. The richer class add some
delicacies like fowls, fish and rice to their menu.
DWELLING
A Mohmand village is a single large fort with mud walls and one or more flanking
towers.
Sometimes each sub section of a village has its own fort, among its own fields.
The fort is known by the name of the owner. Their houses, enclosed within this
fort, are usually made of stones and mud. In construction of their houses, the
rich people, use better material like bricks, dressed stones, cement or lime
mortar and iron bars.
OCCUPATIONS
The sources of income are very limited in general except agriculture and some
trade/business. Most of the locals are earning their livelihood in the Gulf
States.
PLACES
OF INTEREST
Warsak Dam
Warsak Hydel Power station is situated on the river Kabul about 32.2 km from
Peshawar. The construction of the project was started in 1955 and the power
station was commissioned in 1960. Before commissioning of Mangla Power station,
it was one of the major sources of power.
Munda
Dam
Munda dam is being constructed on Swat River to the east of the agency which is
an ideal site for a hydro power station.
Gandab
valley
This historic valley is situated in the Mohmand agency and shoots forth in the
north- west direction from Pir Killa, a village on the main Michni Shabqadar
road, and 32 km to the north of Peshawar. It runs parallel to a dry bed of a
nullah; it is inhabited by the Halim zai section of the Mohmand tribe.
ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP
The Political Agent is the over all in charge for the agency administration,
assisted by Assistant Political Agents. The agency headquarter is located at
Ghalanai. The agency is divided in two sub division and seven tehsils. The
Political Tehsildar is the in-charge of each Tehsil.
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