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Chakwal - Wikipedia Jump to content

Chakwal

Coordinates: 32°55′49″N 72°51′20″E / 32.93028°N 72.85556°E / 32.93028; 72.85556
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the district, see Chakwal District. For other uses, see Chakwal (disambiguation).

Chakwal
چکوال
Cakvāl
City
Map of Chakwal city
Map of Chakwal city
Chakwal is located in Punjab, Pakistan
Chakwal
Chakwal
Location of Chakwal
Chakwal is located in Pakistan
Chakwal
Chakwal
Chakwal (Pakistan)
Coordinates: 32°55′49″N 72°51′20″E / 32.93028°N 72.85556°E / 32.93028; 72.85556
Country Pakistan
ProvincePunjab, Pakistan Punjab
DivisionRawalpindi
DistrictChakwal
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • Mayor of ChakwalNone (Vacant)
 • Deputy CommissionerQurat-ul-Ain Malik (BPS-18 PAS)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • City
138,214
 • Rank63rd, Pakistan
Time zoneUTC+5 (PKT)
Postal code
48800
Dialling code0543
Number of Union councils5

Chakwal (Punjabi and Urdu: چکوال) is a city in Chakwal District in the Potohar region of Punjab, Pakistan.[1]

It is the 48th most populous city of Pakistan.[2] Chakwal is located 90 kilometres south-west of the federal capital, Islamabad and 270 kilometres from the provincial capital, Lahore. It is accessible by both the Islamabad International Airport and the Lahore International Airport.[3]

Geography

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Chakwal is part of the Pothohar Plateau region, with flat to gently undulating land broken up by gullies and low hill ranges.[4] Chakwal's landscape features the canyons in Thirchak-Mahal. There are man-made and natural lakes around the city in neighbouring communities.[5] The climate is semi-arid to sub-humid, with highly erratic rainfall patterns that occur during the monsoon season, ranging from 250 mm to 1500 mm annually. These variations often cause soil erosion and occasional flooding.[4]

Administration

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Chakwal was created as an independent district of Rawalpindi in 1985 by combining sub division Chakwal of district Jhelum, sub division Talagang of district Attock and the police station Choa Saidan Shah, carved out of sub division Pind Dadan Khan of district Jhelum.[6]

In addition to being the district headquarters, Chakwal city is also the administrative centre of Chakwal tehsil (a subdivision of the district). The Chakwal District is divided into three Tehsils, namely, Kalar-Kahar, Choa Saidan Shah and Chakwal itself. The city of Chakwal itself is divided into five Union councils,[7] and Chakwal district is divided into 68 union councils.

Demographics

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Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
195113,310—    
196116,843+2.38%
197229,143+5.11%
198143,670+4.60%
199880,508+3.66%
2017138,146+2.88%
2023218,356+7.93%
Sources:[8]

According to 2023 census, Chakwal had a population of 218,356.

Religion

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Religious groups in Chakwal City (1881−2017)[a]
Religious
group 		1881[10][11]: 520  1901[12]: 44 [13]: 26  1911[14]: 23 [15]: 19  1921[16]: 25 [17]: 21  1931[18]: 26  1941[9]: 32  2017[19]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam 3,279 57.36% 3,853 59.1% 3,834 59.91% 4,442 59.82% 5,585 58.53% 6,684 56.48% 136,235 98.57%
Hinduism 2,045 35.77% 1,946 29.85% 1,310 20.47% 1,878 25.29% 2,461[b] 25.79% 2,718[b] 22.97% 19 0.01%
Sikhism 393 6.87% 717 11% 1,253 19.58% 1,103 14.86% 1,466 15.36% 2,388 20.18% — —
Christianity — — 4 0.06% 3 0.05% 2 0.03% 30 0.31% 40 0.34% 1,935 1.4%
Ahmadiyya — — — — — — — — — — — — 25 0.02%
Others 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 5 0.04% 0 0%
Total population 5,717 100% 6,520 100% 6,400 100% 7,425 100% 9,542 100% 11,835 100% 138,214 100%

Economy

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Much like the other semi-rural areas within Punjab, Chakwal has a predominantly agricultural economy, which includes a mix of livestock, wheat, crops, and groundnuts.[4] Groundnuts are particularly important for Pakistan’s economy, as the country is the 7th largest producer of groundnuts in the world.[20] Chakwal relies heavily on groundnut production because dryland crops serve as a key source of food security in semi-arid regions like this. However, the district’s agricultural production suffers from a lack of modern farming practices and outdated technology, which leads to inefficient yields; farmers mainly rely on hand-sowing methods with little to no mechanization.[21]

This agricultural economy, which is vital for both Chakwal and Pakistan as a whole, faces several natural, structural, and fiscal challenges. Farmers are highly dependent on irregular rainfall, which can cause significant crop and soil damage during periods of heavy precipitation. The region also experiences low levels of formal education, limiting the availability of skilled labor necessary for improved farming methods and mechanization.[20] Poverty and socioeconomic inequality, caused by high population growth and unemployment, further contribute to the area’s challenges. Women play an active role in agricultural labor but often have limited access to formal employment opportunities.[21]

Chakwal’s agricultural sector is also influenced by external factors, such as Pakistan’s reliance on imported groundnuts from foreign producers like India. This influx of cheaper imported groundnuts lowers local market prices and discourages domestic production.[22] Farmers and local organizations have called for government interventions to address these challenges and enhance agricultural productivity. One such proposed intervention involves expanding the value of groundnuts beyond their edible use by establishing oil extraction plants in Chakwal.[20]

Culture

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Chakwal has a longstanding military tradition that predates the establishment of Pakistan. Economic hardship in the region led the British Army to recruit physically capable but unemployed workers; 460 residents were enlisted during World War I, and more followed in World War II. [23] Several soldiers from Chakwal lost their lives during these conflicts and were awarded British honors, including the Victoria Cross. The area is marked by cannons, monuments, and memorials that commemorate these contributions.[24] Some community members have expressed a desire for greater recognition of these sacrifices from Britain.[23]

After the partition of the Indian subcontinent, Chakwal remained one of the key recruitment areas and continued to produce military personnel who served in the Pakistan Armed Forces. The region has become known for its military heritage, and several individuals from Chakwal have attained high-ranking positions, including generals such as Abdul Majeed Malik. Due to Pakistan’s broader military culture, some soldiers from Chakwal, including Malik, have also held positions in political office.[24]

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 1881-1941: Data for the entirety of the town of Chakwal, which included Chakwal Municipality.[9]: 32 
  2. ^ a b 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis

References

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  1. ^ a b "PAKISTAN: Provinces and Major Cities (Chakwal city)". citypopulation.de website. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  2. ^ Chakwal is the 66th largest city per population in Pakistan Tageo.com website, Retrieved 15 October 2021
  3. ^ Tayeba Batool (23 February 2019). "A walk through the historic streets of Chakwal". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "SA-AS009 - Chakwal (Pakistan)". mel.cgiar.org. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ^ Adamson, Hilary; Shaw, Isobel (1981). A traveller's guide to Pakistan. Asian Study Group.
  6. ^ "Chakwal | Punjab Portal". www.punjab.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Tehsils & Unions in the District of Chakwal". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan website. 2 December 2007. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Population by administrative units 1951-1998" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
  9. ^ a b "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI PUNJAB". Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I." 1881. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057656. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057657. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Census of India 1901. Vol. 1A, India. Pt. 2, Tables". 1901. JSTOR saoa.crl.25352838. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Census of India, 1911. Vol. 1., Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393779. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393788. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 1, India. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. JSTOR saoa.crl.25394121. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430165. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  18. ^ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1931 VOLUME XVII PUNJAB PART II TABLES". Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Final Results (Census-2017)". Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b c Dhakku, Nabeel Anwar (20 December 2015). "Groundnut farmers lament low production, lack of govt attention". Dawn. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  21. ^ a b Rasheed, Muhammad Taseer; Hussain, Safdar; Saboor, Abdul (30 June 2023). "Assessing Technical Efficiency and Resource Utilization in Dryland Groundnut Farming: A Case Study of Tehsil Chakwal". Global Economics Review. 8 (2): 268–276. doi:10.31703/ger.2023(VIII-II).20. ISSN 2707-0093.
  22. ^ "Pakistan's groundnut farmers thrive amid India trade ban". Arab News PK. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  23. ^ a b Dhakku, Nabeel Anwar (10 August 2014). "A village of forgotten heroes". Dawn. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  24. ^ a b Dhakku, Nabeel Anwar (25 January 2024). "Which way will 'martial' Chakwal vote". Dawn. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
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