Ghizer District

Ghizer District (Urdu: ضلع غذر‎) is the westernmost part of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Its capital is Gahkuch. Ghizer is a crossroads between Gilgit and Chitral via Shandur Pass, and also to China and Tajikistan via the Broghil Pass through Ishkomen Valley . Ghizer is a multi-ethnic district and three major languages are spoken: Shina, Khowar, and Burushaski. There are also Wakhi speakers in Ishkoman and some Tajiks.

Ghizer District
ضلع غذر
District
Ghizer is home to the dramatic landscapes of the Phander Valley
Map of Ghizer’s location
Country Pakistan
Province Gilgit-Baltistan
CapitalGahkuch
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
District Councilseats

The word Ghizer came from the name "Gherz" which means "refugees" in Khowar. "Gherz" is a village in Golaghmuli Valley, which is now known as Golaghmuli. The Chitral in the Suzerainty of the British Raj forced some people to migrate towards Gupis, Yasin, Phander Ishkomen and also to Punial. They were settled in the area between Chitral and Gupis and the area called Gherz and the people were called Gherzic. When Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the President of Pakistan abolished the FCR system and gave another administrative district comprising the Tehsils (Political districts) the name Ghizer was given and agreed on unanimously.The then Resident and Commissioner for Gilgit and Baltistan, Ijlal Husain [ An Officer of the now defunct Civil Service of Pakistan- CSP] played an important role in creating this administrative division in 1974-75.[1]

Ghizer District comprises Punial, Gupis, Yasen, Phander and Ishkoman Valleys. The major portion of its area was ruled over by Brooshay Rajas known as Raja Sha Burush, Khan Bahadur Issa Bahadur Akber Khan, Raja Anwar Khan, Raja Mirbaz Khan and last Broosh families Raja Jan Alam and Raja Muzafer (who was living in Golodass, also known as Anwerabad as its second name). Currently the living Raja families in the District have no administrative function but act as a leading role in the development of society. Their linkage goes back to Sha Burush. Sha Burush, Sha Katur, and Sha Khushwaqt are three brothers.

Historically two main characteristics of the folk dress of Ghizer is the Khoi and the Shokah. The khoi is headgear made of homespun woolen cloths, while the shokah is a homespun woolen cloak reaching to the ankle with long sleeves.

History
Bridge over the Ghizer River

Historically the region has been ruled by ethnic Kho Rajas (Katoor, Brushay, Shins) indigenous to the region. They all lead tribes which were considered brothers but some Balti mehtars had also governed for some period in Mehraja's period.The yashkun(Hakim) tribe also ruled for the long period which first led by Mehrban Shah up to 7th sterns. The longest period of rule was by Katur Dynasty and later it was divided between the Mehtar of Chitral and the Maharaja of Kashmir. After 1895 all of Ghizer was annexed to Gilgit Agency, which was directly ruled by the British Government and not by the Kashmiri people.

Tehsil Gupis is the central part of Ghizer district. There are many villages and lush green places, such as Shandur, Phunder Lake, Khalti Lake. The largest lake, Khalti, is famous for its trout. There are PTDC hotels available and also some private hotels in Ghahkuch.

The Seling Valley

Geography

Ghizer district is the northernmost part of the Northern Areas and hence the extreme north of the country. It borders the Wakhan strip on its north-west, and China on its northern borders. On its west, there is Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and on its east is situated Gilgit. Diamer District is on its south, which is again a part of the northern areas. Gakuch is the capital of Ghizer District.

Gupis has been serving as a junction between Yasin and Phander valley. It is the central place from all valleys like Phandar, Yasin, Poniyal, etc. The valley is located between the world's greatest mountain ranges, namely the Hindu Kush and Karakarum.

The highest peak Ghizer District is Koyo Zom (6,871 m) (Hindu Kush Range), which lies on the boundary between Ghizer District and Chitral.

Some of the main places in the district are Koh-i-Ghizer, Golaghmuli Valley, Ishkoman and Yasin valleys. Other places include Gupis, Chatorkhand, Imit, Pingal, Shahmaran and Utz.

Phander Lake
Gahkuch near Khalti Lake
Darkot Pass

Passes
Phander Valley

Some of the passes in the district are:

Rivers

The main river in the district is the Ghizer River, which is formed from the Gupis and Ishkoman Rivers; both meet at Hatoon valley with Hayim as the point of confluence. The other tributaries include the Qurumbar River, Phakora River, Hayal River, Singul River and Yasin River, Phander river tributary which also join the main stream at different points.

Waterfall in the Hoper Tourist Garden in the Ghizer District
View of Gulmuti from Domorah

Lakes
Khalti Lake in the Ghizer District, Gilgit

Tehsils
Bubur Bridge connects Gulmuti to Bubur Valley.
Statue of horse at Gahkuch
Hatun Valley

Colleges and schools
  • Karakorum International University sub campus Ghizer
  • Government Boys High school Gupis
  • Professional Science & Arts Academic school Gupis
  • Government High School Golaghmuli Phander
  • Government high school Gullapur.
  • Aga Khan Higher Secondary School Gahkuch, Ghizer
  • Elysian Higher Secondary Scool Gahkuch Ghizer.
  • Aga Khan Schools
  • Aga Khan Higher Secondary School Sherqilla, Ghizer
  • Hatun Degree College
  • LRS Thingai Ghizer
  • MIED College Phander
  • World Roof Public School And College Hundur Yasin
  • Inter College Gupis
  • FG Boys High School Phander
  • Govt Degree College Tause Yasin
  • LRS Phander Ghizer
  • Ghizer Public School Gahkuch
  • Diamond Jubilee High School Gupis, Ghizer
  • Lalik Jan Shaheed (NH) Army Public School and College Hundur Yasin
  • Diamond Jubilee Learning Resource High School Sandi Yasin
  • Begal Academy Thoi Yasin
  • Diamond Jubilee High School Thoi Yasin

Education

According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, Ghizer is ranked 10 out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 17 out of 148.[2]

See also

References
  1. https://www.myghizer.com Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Individual district profile link, 2015". Alif Ailaan. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-05-07.

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