Abbottabad

city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan

Abbottabad is a city in Pakistan. It is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is the capital of Abbottabad District. It is also known as the "city of the pines".[3] More that 1.4 million people live in the city. One of the most important places for army training in Pakistan, the Pakistan Military Academy, is in Kakul, near Abbottabad.

Abbottabad
(Urdu: ایبٹ آباد)
Abbottabad
View of Abbottabad from Shimla Hill
View of Abbottabad from Shimla Hill
Abbottabad is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Abbottabad
Abbottabad
Abbottabad is located in Pakistan
Abbottabad
Abbottabad
Coordinates: 34°9′21″N 73°13′10″E / 34.15583°N 73.21944°E / 34.15583; 73.21944
CountryPakistan Pakistan
ProvinceKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
DistrictAbbottabad
Founded1863
Elevation
1,256 m (4,121 ft)
Population
 • Total1,430,238
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Calling code0992
HDI0.70 Increase[1]
HDI CategoryHigh
Number of Union Councils6[2]
Websitehttp://www.abottabad.gov.pk[permanent dead link]
Abbottabad District Government

Location change

Abbottabad is in the Orash valley, between the two parallel mountain ranges of Mount Sarban and Mount Shimla. In addition to being the district capital, it is also the capital of the Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is linked by road to Haripur and Rawalpindi to the South, Mansehra to the North-West and Murree to the East.

History change

The city of Abbottabad is named after Major James Abbott – a British soldier and administrator who founded the city during British rule in 1853.[4] British rule in this area lasted from 1849[5] until Pakistan became independent in 1947. During this time, Abbottabad was an important army garrison or base for the British Indian Army.

Culture and language change

The people of Abbottabad are mostly from the Syed (shahs), Karlal, Dhund Abbasi, Gurjar, Awan, Tanoli and Jadoon tribes. It is a peaceful area with high literacy and low crime rates. The main language, or dialect, spoken here is Hindko dialect of Panjabi. In the rural suburbs of the town people practice some agriculture, whereas the town itself offers many commercial and business opportunities of different types.

The main town and cantonment change

Although the original old town of Abbottabad has expanded a lot, much of its original 1850s town, civil lines and cantonment still survive from the time of the British Raj. Some of its old sights are of special historical interest to tourists, including St Luke's Church, Abbottabad and the Old Christian Cemetery Abbottabad. The fine Lady Garden Park is also a popular place.

Osama bin Laden change

In May 2011, commandos from the US Navy attacked a large house in Kakul area close to Abbottabad and killed five people.[3] The Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been living in the house, and was one of the people who were killed there.[3]

References change

  1. "SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN ANNUAL REVIEW 2014–15" (PDF). SOCIAL POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  2. "URL accessed 5 April 2006". Nrb.gov.pk. 28 October 2005. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "BBC News – Osama Bin Laden's death: How it happened". bbc.co.uk. 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011. Abbottabad
  4. Abbottabad – Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
  5. After the annexation of Punjab in March 1849, the British were based at Haripur town, until the founding of Abbottabad in January 1853. See Hazara District Gazetteer Government of the Punjab, Lahore, 1884, p.34

Other websites change