GOVERNMENT OF THE KPK

It was once a celebrated tradition and cherished legacy of the Deputy Commissioners in the pre-partition era to document the details of their districts by compiling District Gazetteers. They used to undertake such an arduous task without any computers or means of technology to facilitate them. A gazetteer was considered the most authentic document of a district containing information about its history, people, culture, geography, revenue collection, and issues. These gazetteers compiled during the British era hold great value even today for historians, civil servants and members of the academia. The practice of writing gazetteers continued for some years after partition but gradually withered away over time. Now-a-days, when the office of the Deputy Commissioner has been entrusted with a multitude of responsibilities and workload, the demanding task of writing a comprehensive gazetteer has naturally taken a back seat. As a result, this novel tradition has been lost in the sands of time.

The District Administration Bannu has tried to redeem this lost tradition in the province of KPK. This is the second gazetteer produced by a Deputy Commissioner of Bannu since the district was founded in 1848. It is after 138 years that an effort has been made to update the gazetteer of Bannu (the previous gazetteer was published in 1883). The task of collecting the necessary details for this endeavor has been an exceedingly difficult and laborious one. All the three Settlement Reports of Bannu (published in 1872, 1907 and 1991) were consulted while the statistical data on various subjects was supplied by the District and Provincial Offices of different line departments, and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Various research papers, books and verbal accounts of reputed locals have also made a valuable contribution in the compilation of this gazetteer. This text has been profoundly illustrated, where possible or necessary, by means of Maps and Plans generated using geo-referencing and geo-tagging – an instructive addition to the work of this nature.

In addition to reviving the work done by our predecessors, we aim to set a new precedent by launching a digital version of this gazetteer for easy circulation and accessibility. In today's globalized world when human civilization is more interconnected and technologically empowered than ever before, the conception of an online gazetteer is a noteworthy step in our continuous endeavor of marching towards a citizen-friendly, transparent and sustainable governance. It is our foremost desire to constructively and consistently engage with the citizens of Bannu so as to achieve greater levels of success and proficiency in our common goals and aspirations.

The online version of the gazetteer embodies information not only about the important district departments and services but also about the history, geography, people and culture of the district. The citizens all across Pakistan would have an opportunity to access the gazetteer without having to purchase a printed version. Furthermore, it would also make it convenient for the subsequent Deputy Commissioners to maintain and update this historical record. We hope this information will prove to be of real value for the readers by affording them an insight into the life and condition of this historical district.

The preparation of this gazetteer could not have been possible without the support of the people who put in their time and effort. I would like to extend special thanks to my junior colleague Muhammad Daud Saleemi (Assistant Commissioner Under-Training, Bannu) who worked with dedication and personal interest on this project...

Chapter 1: The District

• Section A – General Description
• 1. Topography: Location and Boundaries ..................................................19
• 2. Longitude and Latitude ........................................................................21
• 3. Administrative Sub-divisions and Tehsils................................................21
• • Map of Old Bannu District ..................................................................20
• • Updated Map of Bannu District ..........................................................22

• Section B – Physical Features
• 1. Kurram River and its Bed ....................................................................23
• • Baran Dam and Kurram Garhi Head ..................................................24
• 2. Tochi or Gambila River ........................................................................25
• 3. The Nar ..................................................................................................26
• 4. Western Valley of Bannu formerly a Lake ..............................................26
• 5. Sceneries ..............................................................................................27

Chapter 2: Geology and Climate

• Section A – Geology
• 1. Early Geological Observations ..............................................................28
• 2. Geological Survey of Pakistan's Report ................................................28
• • Composition of Rocks
• • Seismic Activity
• 3. Production of Minerals ........................................................................29
• 4. Composition of the Soil ........................................................................29

• Section B – Climate
• 1. Temperature ..........................................................................................30
• 2. Rainfall ..................................................................................................30