POINT OF FOCUS

POINT OF FOCUS 

The recent fast pace of economic development in Pakistan has opened up new avenues for trade and development in which the network of motorways and roads will play a very important part in the future development and economic prosperity.

C.P.E.C (China Pak Economic Corridor) on which work has begun on a fast pace will revolutionize the lives of average Pakistani’s and will be a game changer in the region.

If you study the route map of C.P.E.C which are 1700 km long starts from KHUNJRAB pass on the Pak China Border and ends up at GWADAR the sea port on the Arabian sea.

The aim and purpose of this article is not to emphasize on the merits of CPEC but to bring to the attention of the readers to a very important point of focus on this route which is DERA ISMAIL KHAN.

This neglected, backward and isolated city is going to be the future hub of economic activity in Pakistan as it lies more or less on the mid way point of C.P.E.C.

The road from GOWADAR, KALAT, ZHOB, LORALAI, QILLA SAIFULLAH will pass through D.I Khan on the left and right bank of Indus via main route and the loop lines.

The importance of D I Khan cannot be over looked at any cost because this unique city has 4 to 5 access points and can become a very attractive and prosperous centre of industrial and economic activity.

Apart from the above midway point the city of D.I Khan is connected to BANNU via the Indus highway, which further connects it to the provincial capital of PESHAWAR via KOHAT and DARRA ADAM KHEL. Another road connects D. I. Khan to MIANWALI through CHASHMA BARRAGE. The third major road connects it to BHAKKAR in Punjab, situated on the eastern bank of the River Indus. The fourth major access route is from SOUTH WAZIRISTAN to TANK to KOLACHI and D.I KHAN can also be accessed from D.G KHAN.

This time my training schedule took me to D. I KHAN a place which has always intrigued me and here I found answers to my many queries about which I wrote an article in the Heritage Magazine few months back captioned “  THE JIGS SAW PUZZLE”

The word "DERA" is derived from the BALOCHI word Derā which means "encampment". DERA ISMAIL KHAN thus means the residential town of Sardar Ismail Khan Baloch. 

People of DERA ISMAIL KHAN as well as DERA GHAZI KHAN are also known as DERAWAL or DERVI. Historically the DERAJAT were established at the time when in the 15^th century, BALOCH tribal immigration took place from MAKRAN, QALAT, CHAGI and SIBI BALOCHISTAN, to Indus Valley.

The Delhi Sultanate and later MUGHAL EMPIRE ruled the region. The Multan region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose DARGAHS (SHRINES) dot the landscape of KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA. DERA ISMAIL KHAN was founded towards the end of the fifteenth century by SARDAR ISMAIL KHAN BALOCH, son of SARDAR MALIK SOHRAB KHAN DODAI BALOCH, who named the town after himself. 

The original town was swept away by floods in 1823, and the existing buildings are all of relatively modern construction. The present town stands four miles away from the permanent channel of the river.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN town stands on a flat stretch of land with a slight slope towards the river, but it is badly drained. It is surrounded by a thin mud walls with nine gates, enclosing an area of about 500 acres. The cantonment, which lies southeast of the town, has an area of 44 square miles, excluding the portion known as Fort AKALGARH on the northwest side. 

The local trade of DERA ISMAIL KHAN was of little importance in the past, but some foreign traffic with KHORASAN passed through it. POWINDAH (nomadic) caravans of Afghan merchants traversed the town twice a year on this road from India, with the increasing security of the GOMAL route, these caravans started increasing in numbers. 

D.I. KHAN was once famous for its lacquered woodwork, glass and ivory ware, mats and sarongs but this time I could not find any local made handicrafts in the bazaar.

CHASMA RIGHT BANK CANAL (CRBC) is the major canal that provides water for irrigation.

D. I KHAN proudly boasts of a multi lingual society where SARAIKI, is official and spoken language of DERA ISMAIL KHAN along with PUSHTO, BALOCHI and PUNJABI.

Although the city is relatively new, rebuilt following the 1823 floods, many of its original structures remain, the original wall is still visible around the old city. A popular tourist destination is a pre-Islamic fort called BILOT, 30 miles (48 km) from the DERA ISMAIL KHAN towards CHASHMA highway and the dilapidated ruins still can be seen on the hill.

A sacred Sikh shrine is located in D.I. KHAN and GURU BABA NANAK visited this place during his fourth itinerary. At the site where he stayed a DHARAMSALA was built by his devotees. It is a large building whose main gate opens in to the CHOTA BAZAAR. Inside this door there is a double-storey square building, where PRAKASH (Bright Light) used to take place.

There are residential rooms around this building for pilgrims. Inside the DARBAR there is a THARA SAHIB (pious seat) where GURU NANAK DEV JI once sat. 

The Government Higher Secondary School No. 3 is now currently housed in this building. This DHARAMSALA was maintained by SHIROMANI GURDWARA PARBANDHAK COMMITTEE (SGPC) before 1947 and presently it is in the hands of the AUQAF department. 

The banks of the Indus River are an attractive place for tourists. On the right side of REHMANIA Street, the house of a HINDU ZAMINDAR – BAKAAI MAHAL is a very old building of D. I. KHAN containing more than 80 rooms. I tried to visit this building but the main entrances were locked.

One of the most famous products of the district is the "DHAKKI DATE", which is exported to the Middle East, United States, and Europe.

Nowadays D. I. KHAN is increasingly exporting another type of dried date called CHOOARA. The majority of CHOOARA are produced in DHAKKI, MITRAH ABAD, KATHGARH and SAIDU WALI. KATHGARH is a village situated in Tehsil PAHAR PUR, about 43 km from D. I. KHAN near PAHAR PUR.  There are also coal mines in the village of KATHGARH, on the edge of CRBC Canal.

The main bazaars of the city all converge in one area, called CHOWGALLA Bazar (literally meaning "4 intersections"). Major bazaars include TOPANWALA BAZAAR, BHATIYA BAZAAR, MUSLIM BAZAAR, COMMISSIONERI BAZAAR, KALAN BAZAAR and BAKHIRI BAZAAR.

Like other cities and towns of the SARAIKI-speaking belt, DERA ISMAIL KHAN is famous for a dessert delicacy called Sohan (HALWA). Shops selling this sweet are primarily situated in TOPAWAALA Bazaar, the old and the best HALWA is produced and sold by three shops which are situated in the main bazaar. The city is also known for a traditional dish called SOHBAT.

There is virgin and barren land in abundance in an around D.I KHAN which at this time may be purchased at a throw away price but with the passage of time when CPEC comes of age and economic zones are made along CPEC the land price of D.I KHAN region will shoot up like a mercury thermometer in summers.

It is about time that after you have read this article you must make up your mind fast and rush to D. I KHAN for purchasing land there before it is too late.

DR. BABUR ZAHIRUDDIN