DIR (PRINCELY STATE)

(Redirected from State of Dir)



:''This article details the historical ''State of Dir''. For other uses of ''Dir'', see Dir''
The 'State of Dir' was a small former princely state located in the modern North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan. The state ceased to exist in 1969 when it was incorporated into Pakistan. The area once occupied by the state (5,282 km²) now forms two districts of Pakistan - Upper Dir and Lower Dir. The two districts were part of Malakand Division until divisions were abolished as an administrative tier.

Contents
Geography
History
Demographics
Government
See also
External links

Geography


Most of the state lay in the valley of the Panjkora river which rises in the Hindu Kush mountains and joins the Swat River near Chakdara. Apart from small areas in the south-west, Dir is a rugged mountainous country with peaks rising to 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) in the north-east and to 3,000 metres (10,000 ft) along the watersheds with Swat to the east and Afghanistan to the west.

History


The Partition of India in 1947 led to the mountain states of the Frontier becoming part of Pakistan, although they retained considerable autonomy until their abolition in 1969. The State of Dir was incorporated into the North-West Frontier Province.

Demographics


At Partition there was a Muslim majority in Dir with small minorities of Hindus and Sikhs who left for India during partition.
The main language of the State of Dir was Pashto.
The population of Lower Dir district total 37 Union Councils is 797852 according to the 1998 census report, the projected population of the Dir Lower is 1037091 in 2005 with the same growth between 1981 &1998 census i.e. 3.42% per annum. The projected male population of Dir lower in 2005 is 514072 and the female is 523020.

Government


The rulers of Dir originally held the title of Khan but from June 1897 onwards were styled Nawab Khan Bahadur. The royal status of the rulers was abolished in 1972 at the same time as most other princes of Pakistan.
TenureRulers of Dir
Unknown datesGhulam Khan Baba
Unknown datesZafar Khan
Unknown datesQasim Khan
1863 - 1874Ghazzan Khan
1874 - 1884Rahmatullah Khan
1884 - 1890Muhammad Sharif Khan (1st time)
1890 - 1896Muhammad Umara Khan
1896 - December 1904Muhammad Sharif Khan (2nd time)
December 1904 - February 1925Muhammad Aurangzeb Badshah Khan
February 1925 - 9th November 1960Muhammad Shahjahan Khan
9th November 1960 - 28th July 1969Muhammad Shah Khosru Khan
28th July 1969State of Dir dissolved

See also



North-West Frontier Province

Historical regions of Pakistan

Afghanistan

Pakistan

External links



Government of NWFP

Government of Pakistan

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