Parachinar

Parachinar Parachiner, Pārachinār
—  City  —
Parachinar
Coordinates: 33°53′57″N 70°6′3″E / 33.89917°N 70.10083°E / 33.89917; 70.10083Coordinates: 33°53′57″N 70°6′3″E / 33.89917°N 70.10083°E / 33.89917; 70.10083
Country	Pakistan
Extra Provincial Subdivision	FATA
Tribal Agency	Kurram Valley
Elevation	1,705 m (5,597 ft)
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
• Summer (DST)	PST (DST) (UTC+6)
[1]

Parachinar (Urdu: پاڑاچنار, Pashto: پاړاچنار) is the capital of Kurram Agency, FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) of Pakistan. It is about 290 km west of the capital, Islamabad. It is situated on a neck of Pakistani territory south of Peshawar, that juts into Paktia Province in Afghanistan and is the closest point in Pakistan to Kabul and borders on the Tora Bora region in Afghanistan.

History

The name Parachinar comes from a big Chinar tree (Maple tree) at a place now encompassed by the headquarter offices of Kurram Agency. Also at the Kurram Agency, there is a tribe known as the Para Chamkani, which used to convene their meetings under this Chinar tree to resolve their social matters. So that's how this city named as Parachinar.^[2] The old name of Parachinar is Tutki, when Kurram was a part of Afghanistan. The inhabitants of Tutki are called Tutkiwal, the Afghan people call it Tutki.

Parachinar originated as a summer residence for nomadic tribes who wintered their livestock at lower altitudes, and the district had originally been a summer residence for Moghul emperors from Delhi. The Parachinar region was part of Afghanistan before the Second Afghan War of 1878-79, but was not firmly annexed by the British due to resistance from local tribes until 1892. During the colonial era and 1947, Parachinar became a hill station for people from Peshawar; as it is relatively cool in the summer and very easy to reach from the plains despite its high altitude since there are no steep ascents on the route from Peshawar.

Because of its proximity to the border of Afghanistan, in recent years, the economy of Parachinar has been adversely affected, with tourism in steep decline.

Climate

Parachinar has a moderate humid subtropical climate with much higher rainfall than most areas of Pakistan adjacent to Afghanistan. Although the city’s southeasterly aspect relative to the valley in which it is situated allows it to receive on occasions significant monsoonal rainfall, the most frequent source of rain is western depressions and related thunderstorms. During the winter, snow may fall but seldom lies on the ground, but frosts occur on most mornings and snow does close the Khyber Pass near the town for up to five months per year.

Durand Line Agreement at Parachinar

In 1893, during the rule of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan, a Royal Commission for demarcating a Boundary between Afghanistan and the territory of British governed India negotiated terms, agreeing to the Durand line. Two parties camped at Parachinar, now part of FATA Pakistan, which is near Khost Afghanistan.

From the British side the camp was attended by Sir Mortimer Durand and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, Political Agent Khyber. The Afghanistan interest was represented by Sahibzada Abdul Latif and the Governor Khost Sardar Shireendil Khan, representing King Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.^[5]

Demography

The population consisted of largely Syed, Turi, Bangash, Mangal, Para Chamkani, Jaji, Malekhel, Khilji, Muqbal, Hazara, Khoshi and as well as a Sikh community.^[6]

Health Department

Agency surgeon is the head of local health department, which is also an 18 grade officer. Medical superintendent is the head of Agency head quarter hospital, who is a 19 grade officer.

Education

Notable public schools in Parachinar are Chinar Public High school, pilot model high school, Kurram public high school, Oxford public school, Islamia public school, Kohisar Public School, Allama Iqbal Public High School, Uswa Public High School, Alamdar Public School Situated at Mahora in Lower Kurram and two government high schools, Government High School No. 1 and Government High School No 2.

There are three government colleges: Government Post Graduate College Parachinar, Government College of Management Sciences Parachinar, and Benezir College for Girls Parachinar.^{[citation needed]}

Rest Houses in Parachinar

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• Circuit House
• Chapri Rest House (Approx 9,941 feet High)
• Malana dam rest house

See also

• Parachinar Airport
• List of airports in Pakistan
• Battle of Tora Bora
• Kurram Agency War April 2007

References