ABBOTTABAD PROFILE:

HISTORY
Abbottabad was founded in 1853 by Maj. James Abbott, the British Deputy Commissioner of Hazara (1849 to 1853 A.C.) during British rule in the subcontinent. Major Abbott is credited with making major changes in the administrative setup in the region, so that after his departure, the city was named after him. Abbottabad has a natural beauty endowed by its location amid surrounding mountains and high altitude. (Khan, 1982-84)

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA:

Located North of Islamabad, Abbottabad is a town surrounded by lofty peaks and pine scented air. Among Pakistan's towns and cities, Abbottabad small, neat and clean in spacious valley is a rarity. Apart from being famous for its educational institutions and Pakistan Military Academy, Abbottabad also serves as the gateway to some most stunning sites in Pakistan. While other hill stations are deserted during winter this place has visitors due to its bracing weather all year around. The town has beautiful gardens and tall tree lined roads: splendid stretches of turf with plenty of room for polo, football, hockey and golf. (Shirazi, 2008)

LOCATION
Abbottabad, the headquarters of Hazara Division, situated at an altitude of 1,225 m and lies between 33 50' and 34 23' North latitude, and 73 35' and 73 31' East Longitude.
(Khan, 1982-84)

AREA
Abbottabad District, NWFP, with an area of 1967 Sq.Km. (Population Census Abbottabad, 1998)

POPULATION AND DENSITY

The population in 1901 was 194,632, compared with 175,735 in 1891. It contains the towns of Abbottabad (population, 7,764), the tehsil and District head-quarters, and Nawasher (4,114); and 359 villages. The population of Abbottabad was

319 thousand in 1951 354 thousand in 1961 525 thousand in 1972 648 thousand in 1981 881 thousand in 1998 The population of Abbottabad district has increased about a little less than three times since 1951. it is 881 thousand in 1998 as compared to 319 thousand in 1951, resulting an overall increase of 176.18 % during 1981-1998 inter-censal period (17 year) at an average annual growth rate of 1.82 persons. This increase was 23.43% and the rate was 2.52 persons during 1972-81. During 1961-72 the increase was 48.31% and rate of growth was 3.43 persons. The population density of 447.7 persons per Sq. Km in March, 1998 which has increased from 377 persons per Sq. Km (Population Census Abbottabad, 1998)

TOPOGRAPHY
The topography of the district is dominated by the mountains and hills. The mountains of Abbottabad district are part of lesser Himalyas. One of its range flanks the right bank of kunhar and jhelum rivers and enters Abbottabad district form North. It occupies the district as Dunga gali range and its off shoots, which vary in elevation from about 2500 to 2700m, form this range many spurs project on either side. The spurs projected towards the West are longer with valleys lying in between. However, the height of country in the West is longer with valleys lying in between. However, the height of country in the West varies between 600 to 1500m. (Population Census Abbottabad, 1998)

GEOLOGY
The Western most parts of the Himalayas lie within Pakistan to the East of the Indus River. The Sub-Himalayas or Siwaliks are the Southern most Range. This Range does not rise to the heights of the Main Himalays as peaks range from 600 to 1,200 m (2,000 to 4,000 ft). The rocks within this range are folded, faulted and deeply gullied by the action of streams. The Lesser Himalayas lie to the North of this Range. A part of this Range also falls within Abbottabad District. The peaks of this Range vary from 1,800 to 4,600 meters (6,000 to 15,000 feet). They too are folded, faulted and over thrust. These are described as arc, lobe,

orocline, re-entrant, hair pin bend or syntaxis. Hazara Division lies within what is known as the Internal or Abbottabad Zone (hinterland), as opposed to the External or Kala Chita Zone (foreland) of the Indian Plate, in what is essentially the result of Plate Tectonics. Scientific evidence has shown that three Plates, namely the Karakorum, the Kohistan and the Indian Plate collided during the Cretaceous and early Tertiary Periods. The Abbottabad Zone comprises un-metamorphosed fussilyferrous rocks of early Palaeozoic age which overlies a sequence of variable metamorphosed rocks of imprecisely defined Late Proterozoic age. Extensive deposits of gravel in the North-East are probably mainly outwashes from glaciers and streams in the lower Himalayas. Some conglomerates of greater age occur in the same area. Two distinct loess deposits have been identified. (Khan, 1982-84)

HYDROLOGY:
The Abbottabad District forms important watersheds for both Tarbela Dam in the West and Mangla Dam in the East. The rivers Jhelum, Kanshi, Haro and Dor mainly effect drainage of the District. The latter two, flowing mainly in South-Westerly direction, join the River Indus outside the District. The River Kanshi flows first in a Southerly and then in an Easterly direction to join the River Jhelum about 15 miles east from the District. The maximum discharge occurs in July, August and September, with a subsidiary peak early in the year as a result of winter rains. The flow of all the main rivers is perennial. The Kunar, Jhelum, Dor and Haro Rivers flow through the Eastern Hazara and AJK regions. These rivers are the major watersheds and have steep gradients with frequent cataracts. They flow through deep defiles and narrow valleys In the river plains the depth of groundwater is about 30 to 50 feet. The quality is usually suitable for irrigation. A high percentage of successful wells are possible in these plains. The number of successful wells is low in the upland areas and water supply is very small, rendering irrigation schemes largely impracticable. (Population Census Abbottabad, 1998)

LANDFORMS:
The loess plain (Rash Plain) consists of deep deposits of wind laid material (loess). These aeolian deposits are probably of Pleistocene age. The surface of the plain is mainly level to

nearly level or gently undulating. In view of the age of the deposits, any relief has to be attributed to erosion rather than to deposition. In most of the area, recognized as loess plain, there is no serious gully erosion. Soil texture in the landform is very uniform locally but ranges from silt loam to silt clay over greater distances. This unit is referred to as Basin Plain in the Colombo Plan Report. (Khan, 1982-84)

CLIMATE
Abbottabad is famous for its extreme cold temperature, heavy rainfall and heavy snow fall. Before sixtys the business was closed in winter due to heavy snow fall and cold weather in the city of Abbottabad but the situation is changed now as we observed.

TEMPERATURE
The summers season starts a little late and is comparatively less severe. The temperature begins to show higher record from May and it lasts till June. In June the mean maximum and minimum temperature has been recorded as 32.41OC and 19.67OC respectively. Winter season is severe and heavy snow-fall takes place. The months of December, January and February are extremely cold. In January, the coldest month, mean maximum and minimum temperatures has been recorded as 12.52OC and 1.77OC respectively. (Population Census
Abbottabad, 1998)

RAINFALL
The average annual rainfall in the Abbottabad District is 1366.16 mm. The maximum rainfall is received in the mother of August (261.17mm). Moreover the rainfall received during the months of February. March and April also show a high amount. October and November are the driest months with less than 30 mm rainfall. (Population Census Abbottabad,
1998)

HUMIDITY
Humidity in July and August is greater than 70 %. It ranges between 40 to 70 % during the rest of the year, at no time does the humidity fall below 40 %. Thus there is no great stress upon humans or plants. Relative humidity below 40 % causes parching of human skin, and plants foliage due to increased evapo-transpiration. (Population Census Abbottabad, 1998)

FLORA AND FAUNA FLORA

Abbottabad is merry land. The nature has bestowed the flora in abundance to this beautiful area. Every kind of herb, weeds, flower and is available in the district. Dhaman, Persian lilac, hilltoon, holly, spindle wood, jujube, maple, Indian house chestnut, sumach, pistachio, shisham, siris, peach, aprcot, bird cherry, wild pear, wayfaring tree, rhododendron, European date palm, ash, wild olive, box tallo tree, jarge leaved elm, nethla tree, mulberry, fig, chinar walnut, oak, hazal, willow, poplar, yew, pine, deodar, Himalayan spruce, Himalayan silver and fir are found in the district. (Population Census
Abbottabad, 1998)

FAUNA
Abbottabad is mountainous area. Reasonable parts of mountains are under forest which is the best shelter for wild animals. Beast lion, leopard, bear, wolf, monkey, chimpanzee, fox, jackal, hare, mule, rabbit as well as domestic animals, horse, donkey, buffalo, cow, bull, goat, sheep, camel, and cat are found in Abbottabad district. (Population Census Abbottabad,
1998)

AGRICULTURE
Agriculture land is very small and limited to short pieces, per head holding is very small, in spite of that land is fertile and enriched by natural major/minor elements. Abbottabad are cover total area of 178401 Acres in which cultivated area covered 63372 Acres, cropped area covered 61396 Acres and area of habitation is 10678 Acres and waste and forest area is about 12586 and 83201 Acres respectively. (Population Census Abbottabad, 1998)

RANGELAND
The grassland in the region is divided into three categories i.e. Alpine, Temperate range (24234 Acres) and Foothill range (52393 Acres). (Khan, 1982-84)

LIVESTOCK
Abbottabad Tehsil is consisting of 104623 animal units in which 35438 oxen, 20252 buffalos, 27324 goats, 15958 sheep and 5651 horses and donkeys. (Khan, 1982-84)

FOREST
Forest is our greatest renewable resources unlike minerals, the forests, if properly managed, are self-perpetuating. In addition to this, their importance as a source of wood products, the forests have for reaching public benefits. Forest protects from erosion, regulate stream flow, provide place for recreation and afford suitable environment for wildlife. Forest promotes health and spiritual well being of the local people. Abbottabad covered 5291 ha of reserve forest and 2546 ha of guzara forest. (Khan, 1982-84)