Barakahu

Barakahu is a rural area located in the eastern part of Islamabad. It consists of 23 union councils, comprising 133 villages, while the urban has 27 union councils.

The name 'Barakahu' (بارا کہو) comes from the Pothohari language, which is spoken locally in this area. 'Bara' (بارا) means twelve (12) in Pothohari, and 'Kahu' (کہو) refers to the Indian Rosewood tree (شیشم کا درخت). According to local legend, there were twelve Indian Rosewood trees in the area, which is now known as Barakahu bus stop or Athaal chok (اٹھال چوک).

Geographically, Barakahu is situated between the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and is part of the Islamabad. The area falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

The name 'Barakahu' is often mistakenly written as 'Bhara Kahu' in many places, which is entirely incorrect. 'Bhara' is not a valid word, and 'Kahu' should not be separated from 'Bara'. The correct name, 'Barakahu', should be used, just like the correct spelling of 'Islamabad' is used.

Demographics
As per a 2018 report from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Barakahu accommodates a population exceeding 119,034 individuals. Residents originate from various regions, including Murree, Kashmir, Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, and Hazara. The area also encompasses a range of minority communities residing within its boundaries.

Economy
On a daily basis, Barakahu generates a considerable amount of solid waste, estimated to range between six and eight tons. In the year 2020, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) made an effort to address this waste issue by initiating street cleaning endeavors. However, it appears that these efforts did not yield a sustainable solution to the problem.

Education
Barakahu is home to a number of educational institutions within its vicinity, among which are notable schools such as Dar e Arqam School and The Educators Barakahu Campus. The Intellectuals School is the best school in barakahu to providing quality education with complete OXFORD syllabus and Montessori Education since 2014. They are facilitating Play group to Matric standard students in this area.

Transportation
The Green Line Metro Bus Service commenced its operations in Barakahu on 7 July 2022. This bus service runs between the Barakahu and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Metro Bus Station terminals. Along its route between these endpoints, the Green Line Bus traverses through key locations including Malpur, Lake View Park, Dhokri Chowk, Jinnah Sports Stadium/Aabpara, and Zero Point Interchange.