Introduction;

District Shangla was a part of the dynasty of Wali of Swat till the merger in 1969. Shangla remained the part of Swat district until notification in July 1, 1995 when it was declared as a separate district by the then Chief Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao ofKhyber-Pakhtunkhwa.


History;


》It is said that the region known as Ghorband in the north west of Shangla was visited by Alexander the Great's Army in 326 B.C. where it fought a battle with the locals at the mount "Pir Sar". 

》Shangla is also a historical place in South Asia: home to

several Buddhist hermits,as well as a small but thriving Hindu community in the Chakesar region of Shangla


》Later on in the15th century Shangla witnessed a population shift from neighbouring Afghanistan (Pakhtun tribe Yousafzais) with locals migrating into Hazara.


Location;

The District lies from 34­­0–31/ 

to 330–08/NorthLatitude and 

72­­0–33/to 730–01/East Longitude

District Shangla, is surrounded by District Battagram in the east, District Swat in the west, District Kohistan in the north and District Buner in the south. It is spread over an area of 1586 sq km with 36% of cultivatedand 64% of non-cultivated area including 32% of forest area.The topography of the district is dominated by high mountains and narrow valleys in western extremities of Himalaya. The general elevation of the district is 2000 to 3500 meter above the sea level. The highest point in the district is "Kuz Ganshal" which is 3440 meter above the sea level.The climate here in winter season remains extremely cold in upper part of Shangla and moderate in lower part. Similarly in summer, the lower part remains hot while upper part of Shangla remains moderate. The temperature in summer remains between 170c to 300c while in winter the temperatureranges from 00c to 200c. 


c) Peoples of Shangla:


Shangla is ethnically composed of 

many prominent tribes which include Afghan, G Syed, Qureshi and Mian. NWFP is also known as the ‘land of hospitality’ and the people of District Shangla seem to be the true picture of this title. They are famous for their great hospitality.One of the most important but negligible sectors of the society is social protection. The ratio of vulnerable people is very high in district Shangla. The ratio of disabled population (one of the vulnerable groups) is very high in this region. The 1998 census shows that 1.9% of the total population of Shangla is disabled, out of which 60% are male and 40% are female.

36% of the total disabled population is affected by multiple disabilities, deaf/mute, mentally retarded, blind and insane representing 10.9%, 8.2%, 7.7%, and 6.5% respectively.Shangla district is among the most deprived districts of KPK province. Shangla district was badly hit by the 2005 earthquake and 2010 flash floods and claimed many human lives and destruction to the livelihoods. The vulnerable segment of the communities within the district especially women, children, and people with different abilities are living in an environment where “access to》improved drinking water is 36%, 

GPI at high school level is 0.11,

 48% children are underweight, and anti-natal coverage is only 22%. 

The primary completion rate for women in Shangla is 8%, while the area is topping the list of districts with highest incidence of food insecurity

. The District-Ranking in education released by "Alif Ailan" places Shangla at 23rdnumber on the provincial list of 24 districts, and at 111thnumber on the national list of 140 districts. 

22.4% of children aged between 6 and 16 areout of school in the district, of which 69% are girls.


1) Sources of Income:


a) Agriculture

Farming is major income generating activity which largely depends upon rain water and only 2% of the cultivated area depends on irrigation channels. 

Most of the local inhabitants are agriculturists of Pashtun (Yousafzai) origin, while most of the population of the district speaks Pashto. Though the agricultural area of the district is fertile but the agricultural holdings are very small as compared to the number of owners. 

The total cultivated area of the district is 423.6 square kilometres (104,700 acres) out of which only 30.75 square kilometres (7,600 acres) is irrigated and the remaining 392.85 square kilometres (97,080 acres) is non-irrigated. 

Popular crops are wheat, maize, and vegetables which are mostly consumed within the district.There is a beautiful river that comes from glaciers dividing Shangla into two parts and falls into the Indus River at Besham. 

Most of the people of the district depend upon agriculture sector. In spite of a high fertile land, the size of the land holdings is very small. Desi Ghee (animal fat) and honey are also the major products. The main fruits in the district are apple, walnut, plum, pear, Amlook, mango, guava and apricot. Mushrooms of export quality are also cultivated. The wool from sheep is consumedlocally in manufacturing of blankets and other woolen items.



b)Flora & Fauna 

These also contribute alot to the economy of Shangla and some people's livelihood are dependent over these.

i) Flora ; 

A number of medicinal plants are found in the area including the following:

*.Tarkha (Artemizia species)

*.Unab (Zizyphus Sativa)*

.Althea (Althaca Officinalis)

*.Banafsha (Viola serpens)

*.Mushki Bala (Valeriana species)*

.Musli Sufed (Aspargus species)


ii)FAUNA....;

The district is home to a variety of Fauna including deer, bears, pheasants and leopards.*.Markhur*.Himalayan ibex*.Urial*.Himalyan black bear*.Brown bear*.Bear Leopard*.Snow leopard*.Wolf*.Rhesus Monkey*.Blue rock pigeon*.Spotted dove*.Little brown dove*.Chakor*.Himalayan snow cock*.Red jungle fowl*.Monal pheasant*.Koklas pheasant*.Satyr tragopan*.Hoopoe*.White breasted kingfisher*.Indian robin



c)Natural Resources 


Shangla is enriched with natural resources and beauty.

Natural resources like precious gem stones, coal and forest play an important role in income generating activities for the local population. Shangla also have large nunber of chromites and other natural resources,

Unfortunately,the people of Shangla could not be benefited of the hidden potentialities or turning their lives from misery in to prosperity

One of the major segment of the society(80 %) is engaged in the coal mines industry where hundred of people lost their lives and leaving their children orphans forever.

Just imagine more than 213 people have been lost their lives in the past three years.Thats why the economical, social and political condition of such families is worst in Shangla.


d)Forests:

The district being situated on much height above sea level has thick forests comprising of fir, Spruce, Kail, Blue Pine, Chir and deodar trees. These forests are a great source of income of the district.


e)Peoples in Foreign Countries

Due to lack of oppurchunities and education a large number of  peoples are in foreign countries of central Asia and Gulf state They generate a good revenue from those countries and contribute a large to the area

In some villages almost eighty percent (80% ) of young and middle age people(manpower)  are in Countries like Saudi Arabia,United Arab Emirates who earn a considerable amount  from those countries and the economy of Shangla is moving toward good position


f) Hydel power Units;

Small hydel power units also contributr alot to the economy, small rivers and lake have the capability to produce electricity in District

Currently Khan Khwarh Dam having capisity of 72 MW electricity is functional and contribute 72 MW to National Grade 

Simailarly other small projects on Hydel power are in progress at Shangla which will produce a considerable amount of Electricity

Furthermore the local people have their small Hydel power generator which supply electricity to most of areas of Shangla, as a result not only their power need is fulfill but the financial condition of supplier also Enhance


g) Othet Sources

Other recourses of the district are tourism, , fish forming, fruit and vegetables and furniture.


 Human devolopment Rate;


 According to theNational Human Development (NHD) Report,

Shangla district ranks second lowest in Human Development Index (0.332) amongst the districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.


Refrences-

1)interviewed Sardar Wajid Social mobilization officer IMC (International Medical Core) Shangla 

2) Interviewed Dr Aziz Ur Rahman

Polio Eradication Officer Shangla WHO

3)Research and meet with different people from different walk of life.


History and Economy of Shangla

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