Peshawar

Peshawar

Peshawar is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the eighth-most populous city in Pakistan, with a population of over 1.9 million. Located in the north-west of the country, Peshawar lies in the Valley of Peshawar, a broad area east of the Khyber Pass.

The city has a rich and ancient history, dating back to at least the sixth century BC, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in South Asia. It was once the capital of the Kushan Empire and later an important trading center in the Mughal Empire. Peshawar has been ruled by many empires over the centuries, including the Ghaznavids, Durrani Empire, and the Sikh Empire, before becoming part of British Raj and later Pakistan after the Partition of British India in 1947.

Today, Peshawar is a major cultural, political, and economic center for the region. It has changed over time, especially with the arrival of Afghan refugees following the Soviet–Afghan War. While originally a Hindko-speaking city, it is now largely Pashto-speaking, populated mainly by Pashtuns, though the historic Peshoris still live in the central areas of the old Walled City.

Etymology

The name "Peshawar" may come from an old Sanskrit word "Purushapura," which means "City of Men." The city was named this by Mughal Emperor Akbar, who changed its old name, Parashawar, because he did not understand it.

Over time, the city's name changed to the current "Peshawar." Some believe it comes from a Persian word meaning "frontier town" because it was an important city near the Khyber Pass.

History

Main articles: History of Peshawar and Timeline of Peshawar

Peshawar has a long and rich history. Many empires and kingdoms have ruled the city over the centuries. It was first called Puruṣapura in the Valley of Peshawar. The city has always been an important place for trading and culture.

Alexander the Great took control of the city, and later it became part of the Mauryan Empire. In the first century CE, it was the winter capital of the Kushan Empire. Peshawar kept growing under many rulers, including the Ghaznavids, Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, and Durranis.

In the 19th century, the Sikh people ruled Peshawar before the British East India Company took it over. During British times, the city became a place for learning and culture. After the partition of India in 1947, Peshawar became part of Pakistan and grew as an important cultural center in the northwest.

Geography

Peshawar is in the Valley of Peshawar, with mountains on three sides. The city is on flat land called the Gandhara Plains.

Peshawar has a hot semi-arid climate. Summers are very hot, and winters are mild. Summer temperatures can go above 40 °C (104 °F), and winter temperatures can fall to around 4 °C (39 °F). The city gets rain in both winter and summer, but it is not a monsoon region. Peshawar has very poor air quality and is one of the most polluted cities in the world.

The old city of Peshawar has a layout like ancient cities in South Asia, with historic walls, a citadel, and traditional buildings. Many walls have disappeared because of development, but important sites remain, such as the Mohabbat Khan Mosque and the Qissa Khawani Bazaar. Efforts are being made to restore the city's historic gates and protect its remaining architecture.

Main article: Climate of Peshawar

Demographics

Peshawar is the 8th largest city in Pakistan and the largest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has a population of over 1.9 million people.

The city has many different cultures. Many Afghan refugees came to Peshawar during conflicts in Afghanistan. They brought new traditions that helped shape the city. The main language in Peshawar is Pashto, but people also speak Hindko and Urdu. Most people in Peshawar practice Islam. There are also small communities of Christians, Sikhs, and others, adding to the city's diverse culture.

Economy

Peshawar's economy is important because of its location near the Khyber Pass. This pass has been used for trade between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent for a long time. In the middle of the last century, tourism also helped the city's economy. It was part of the famous Hippie trail.

In 2015, the average monthly income in Peshawar was ₨55,246. This is less than in cities like Islamabad and Karachi. The area around Peshawar, called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is also less wealthy than other parts of Pakistan. But Peshawar is trying to create new business chances, especially in technology. Events like the World Bank-supported Digital Youth Summit help young people find jobs in the digital economy.

Transportation

Peshawar is a major transportation hub. It has many roads, railways, and an airport. The historic Grand Trunk Road runs through the city. It links Peshawar to Islamabad, Lahore, and the border with Afghanistan. Motorways like the M-1 Motorway and M-2 Motorway connect Peshawar to other cities.

The city has a major railway station, Peshawar Cantonment railway station. It is the end point of a long railway line reaching to Karachi. There is also Bacha Khan International Airport with flights within Pakistan and to nearby countries. A modern bus service called BRT Peshawar began in 2020. It replaced older bus systems with a more organized network.

Administration

Peshawar is the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and has often been an important political center. The city has had many political parties gain support, including the Awami National Party and the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Over time, Peshawar’s government has changed. After a period of religious-based leadership, the city returned to secular leadership. Elections show that many people in Peshawar take part in politics.

Today, many homes in Peshawar have basic services like piped water, but some still need private water. About half of the homes are connected to sewerage systems, showing work to improve city services.

Culture

Music in Peshawar has faced challenges over the years. After restrictions on public music in 2002, a hidden music scene grew in the city. This caused some dangers for musicians. By 2016, things got better, and the government began helping local musicians.

The Peshawar Museum is a special place to visit. It was founded in 1907 to honor Queen Victoria. The museum shows beautiful artworks from many styles, including British, South Asian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Mughal designs. It holds many items, with famous collections from ancient times, such as the Greco-Buddhist art, Gandharan, Kushan, Parthian, and Indo-Scythian periods.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Peshawar

Peshawar has been home to many famous people over time. These people come from different backgrounds. They have done important work in areas like politics, arts, and sports. The city's rich culture keeps inspiring new generations.

Education

Main article: List of universities in Peshawar

Peshawar has many schools, colleges, and universities. Today, Peshawar offers universities in many fields such as Humanities, General Sciences, Sciences, Engineering, Medical studies, Agriculture, and Management Sciences.

The first public university, University of Peshawar, opened in 1950. Other well-known universities include University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Agriculture University Peshawar, and Khyber Medical College. Many private universities have also been established, such as CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences and Qurtuba University. There are also several colleges, including Edwardes College and Islamia College Peshawar.

Landmarks

Peshawar has many interesting places to visit. Some of these include the Governor's House, the old Kotla Mohsin Khan home of a famous poet, and the busy Qissa Khwani Bazaar. You can also see old forts like the Bala Hisar Fort, and monuments from British times such as the Cunningham clock tower.

There are beautiful parks such as Wazir Bagh and Jinnah Park. Important buildings like the Mohabbat Khan Mosque and the Peshawar Museum are also worth visiting. The city even has its own Peshawar Zoo.

Sports

Peshawar has many places where people can play sports. The most famous is Arbab Niaz Stadium, a big cricket stadium. Cricket is very popular in Peshawar, and there is a cricket academy there. Another cricket ground is Peshawar Gymkhana Ground, close to Arbab Niaz Stadium. The oldest international cricket ground in Peshawar is Peshawar Club Ground.

The city is represented in the Pakistan Super League by the Peshawar Zalmi.

In 1975, Qayyum Stadium was built. It is a multi-sports complex with facilities for many sports, including football, field hockey, squash, and swimming. Another sports complex, Hayatabad Sports Complex, was built in the early 1990s and also offers many different sports.

Twin towns and sister cities

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Pakistan

Peshawar has sister cities in other countries. It is twinned with Makassar in Indonesia and Ürümqi in China. This means these cities work together and share ideas to help each other.