Tuesday, 28 March 2017

Pakistani administered Azad Kashmir

Posted by Saleem Raza




Kashmir is One of The Most Attractive and beautiful Area of Subcontinent 


Azad Jammu and Kashmir, often called paradise on earth, has a lush green mountain region North of Pakistan. At the time of independence of Pakistan, all Muslim majority areas wanted to be part of Pakistan. Kashmir, an 80% Muslim majority region did not become part of Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan administered 1/3rd of Kashmiri area, also known as, Azad Kashmir. Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of South Asia. Until the mid 19th century, the term, Kashmir, denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. At the time of the Partition of India, in 1947, the British abandoned their suzerainty over the princely states, which were left with the options of joining India or Pakistan or remaining independent. Hari Singh, the maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, wanted his state to remain neutral. Muslims in Western Jammu province, current day Azad Kashmir, and the Frontier Districts Province, current day Gilgit Baltistan, had wanted to join Pakistan. Today, it denotes a larger area that includes the Indian-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir, subdivided into Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh divisions, the Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Azad Jammu and Kashmir abbreviated as AJK and commonly known as Azad Kashmir, is a self-governing administrative division of Pakistan. The territory lies west of the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, and was previously part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which ceased to live as a result of the first Kashmir war fought between India and Pakistan in 1947.

Azad Kashmir is part of the greater Kashmir region, which is the subject of a long-running conflict between India and Pakistan. The territory shares a border with Gilgit Baltistan, together with which it is mentioned by the United Nations and other international organisations as, Pakistan-administered Kashmir.The territory also borders Pakistan's Punjab province to the south and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to the west. To the east, Azad Kashmir is kept separate from the Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir by the Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan. Azad Kashmir has a total area of 13,297 square km, with an estimated population of around 4.6 million people. The territory is under a parliamentary form of government modeled after the Westminster system, with its capital located at Muzaffarabad. The President of Azad Kashmir is the constitutional head of the state, while the prime minister, supported by a Council of Ministers, is the chief executive. The unicameral Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly elects both the prime minister and president. The state has its Supreme Court and a High Court, while the Government of Pakistan's Ministry of Kashmir Affairs serves as a link between it and Azad Kashmir's government. Neither Azad Kashmir nor Gilgit Baltistan elects members to Pakistan's National Assembly.

The 2005 earthquake killed 100,000 people and left another three million people displaced, with widespread devastation. Since then, with help from the Government of Pakistan and foreign donors, reconstruction of infrastructure is in progress. Azad  Kashmir has been agriculture which meant that land was the main source or mean of production. This means that all food for immediate and long term consumption was produced from the land. The production included various crops, fruits, vegetables etc. Land was also the source of other livelihood necessities such as wood, fuel, grazing for animals which then turned into dairy products. Because of this land was likewise the main source of revenue for the governments whose primary purpose for centuries was to accumulate revenue. Agriculture is an important part of Azad Kashmir's economy. Low-lying areas that have high populations grow crops like barley, mangoes, millet, corn, maize, and wheat, and also raise cattle. In the elevated areas that are less populated and more spread-out, forestry, corn, and livestock are the main sources of income. There are mineral and marble resources in Azad Kashmir close to Mirpur and Muzaffarabad. There are also graphite deposits at Mohriwali. There are further reservoirs of low-grade coal, chalk, bauxite, and zircon. Local household industries produce carved wooden objects, textiles, and dhurrie carpets. There is also an art and crafts industry that produces such cultural goods as namdas, shawls, pashmina, pherans, Papier-mâché, basketry copper, rugs, wood carving, silk and woolen clothing, patto, carpets, namda gubba, and silverware. Agricultural goods produced in the region include mushrooms, honey, walnuts, apples, cherries, medicinal herbs and plants, resin, deodar, kail, chir, fir, maple, and ash timber. Nearly, 87% of households own farms in Azad Kashmir, while the region has a literacy rate of approximately 72% and has the highest school enrollment in Pakistan. 

The northern part of Azad Jammu and Kashmir encompasses the lower part of the Himalayas, including Jamgarh Peak 4,734m. However, Sarwali peak in the Neelum Valley is the highest peak in the state. Fertile, green, mountainous valleys are characteristic of Azad Kashmir's geography, making it one of the most beautiful regions of the subcontinent. The southern parts of Azad Kashmir including Bhimber, Mirpur and Kotli districts have extremely hot weather in summers and moderate cold weather in winters. It receives rains mostly in monsoon weather. Paddy field in Leepa valley. In the central and northern parts of state weather remains moderate hot in summers and very cold and chilly in winter. Snowfall also occurs there in December and January. This region receives rainfall in both winters and summers. Muzaffarabad and Pattan are among the wettest areas of the state. Throughout most of the region, the average rainfall exceeds 1400mm, with the highest average rainfall occurring near Muzaffarabad, around 1800mm. During summer, monsoon floods of the Jhelum and Leepa rivers are common, due to high rainfall and melting snow.  Azad Jammu & Kashmir is a fascinating land of people, languages & culture. The texture of the present population is composed of races claiming their descent from Semitic, Mongoloid, Aryans, Persians, Turks & Arabs. The people of districts in Kotli, Mirpur & Bhimber, are sturdy, simple, truthful and deeply attached to their land. The Kashmiri culture looks like that of the adjoining area of Punjab. The people of districts of Poonch, Bagh & Sudhanoti are brave and there are numerous anecdotes of their matchless valour as well as inspiring sacrifices for freedom. While district Muzaffarabad has its own distinctive culture. The people of the State are intelligent, ingenious, hard working & skillful.

The culture of Azad Kashmir has many similarities to that of northern Punjabi, Potohar, culture in Punjab province. The natives of Azad Kashmir speak Urdu, Potwari, and the Pahari languages. The Kashmiri language is spoken by hardly 5% of Azad Kashmir's population according to Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari. Professor Khawaja Abdul Rehman states that the Kashmiri language is on the verge of dying out in the Neelam Valley. The traditional dress of the women is the shalwar kameez in Pahari style. The shalwar kameez is commonly worn by both men and women. Women use shawl to cover their head and upper body.
Azad Jammu & Kashmir is very rich in natural beauty. Its snow-covered peaks, dense forests, winding rivers, turbulent foaming streams, sweet-scented valleys, velvet green plateaus and climate varying from arctic to tropical, all work together to make it an excellent tourist resort. Valleys like Neelum, Jhelum, Leepa, Rawalakot, Banjosa, Samahni & Baghser unfold delightful scenic beauty and provide a feast of pleasure to a discerning tourist's eyes. Azad Kashmir is also blessed with a varied mountainous landscape ranging from low hills to high mountains 2000m to 6000m most suitable for soft to medium adventure tourism. The area provides excellent opportunities for rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering, summer camping and hikes. Moreover, blessed with a large number of river & streams Azad Kashmir offers great potential for white water sports, especially rafting, canoeing and kayaking.

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