Hattian Bala District

Hattian Bala District is a district of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. The town of Hattian Bala is where the district headquarters are located. The Hattian Bala District was a part of the Muzaffarabad District until 2009 when it was made a separate district.



History
The Hattian Bala District was a part of the Uri Tehsil of the Baramulla District in Jammu and Kashmir, following the end of the first conflict between India and Pakistan. The initial clash between India and Pakistan ended with a truce, and Hattian Bala was incorporated into the Muzaffarabad District. The district of Hattian Bala was created in July 2009 under Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan's coalition government in Azad Kashmir.

Geography
There are two districts of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir bordering it on the north and east, and Bagh District and Muzaffarabad on the south. It has a population of 230,529 people.

Economy
The rural urban ratio is 90:10. The majority of the rural population depend on agriculture, livestock, and forestry for subsistence. Many people work or are settled abroad in the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and they support their families who they have left behind. The Hattian Bala District is primarily a hilly and mountainous region with stretches of plains along the Jehlum River, which enters the district at the LOC point at Chakothi and continues northwest through the Jehlum Valley. Due to its fast-flowing rivers, the Hattian Bala District has great hydroelectric potential. Hydroelectric power stations are located at Kathai, Leepa, and Sharian. The district's natural environment includes the valleys of Leepa, Khalana Chham, Ghail, Saina Daman Chamm, Dhani Shahdarrah, Charoi, Chinari, Jaskool, Chonoian, Bharyan (Lower Chonoian), and Chakar Salmia.

Languages
The main languages of the district are Pahari (native to about half of the population), Gujari (spoken by about a third), and Kashmiri (native to one out of six inhabitants).

Administrative divisions
The Hattian Bala District consists of three tehsils:


 * Chikkar Tehsil
 * Hattian Bala Tehsil
 * Leepa Tehsil

The district council of Hattian Bala has 12 union councils (consisting of eight UCs from Constituency No. 5 and four UCs from Constituency No. 6), one municipal committee at Hattian, and one town committee at Chikar. The rural development department has three centers: Hattian, Leepa, and Chikar. The Assistant Director of LG&RDD Hattian is the administrative officer for rural development, with two project managers at each center.

Education
According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, the Hattian Bala District is ranked 28 out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 112 out of 148. The district has few colleges, so many people in the district attend the Allama Iqbal Open University or the AJK University at its main Muzaffarabad campus, at its Neelum campus, or at the recently inaugurated Hattian Bala campus, which has faculties for the teaching of the English Language, computer science, and business administration. Two areas in the district are renowned for education, having high literacy rates: Leepa Valley and the village of Pahal, located near the LOC. The district also has some private institutions, such as the READ Foundation Science College Hattian Bala, the READ Foundation Science College Chenari, and the Smart School Hattian Bala.

Notable people
Raja Farooq Haider Khan belongs from Salmia Hattian bala. He remained PM of AJK from 2016 to 2021. His father Raja Haider khan was also a Nobel man of Chikar Hattian bala.Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq Khan has been elected Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Jammu and Kashmir for the term 2023 to 2026. Dr. Khan's educational journey began at Saran High School in Jhelum Valley. He completed his FSC at Government University College in Muzaffarabad and earned his MBBS from Nishtar Medical College in Multan. He further pursued an MPH at Health Services Academy, University of Peshawar, an Executive MBA in Human Resource Management from Preston University Peshawar Campus, and a PhD in Public Health from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.Dr. Khan has held various medical positions, including Medical Officer at CMH Rawalakot, RHC Lipa, RHC Chikar, and BHU Chhatra Class in Muzaffarabad. He also served as Medical Superintendent at Kashmir Surgical Hospital in Muzaffarabad. Additionally, he was a Member of the Public Service Commission for the Azad Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Head of the Public Health Department at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Muzaffarabad, and a Public Health Specialist for the Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Sahibzada Muhammad Ishaq Zaffar former PPP president AJK also belonged from Bani Hafiz a village of Hattian Bala.The mausoleum of Sikandar Shah kazmi is located in Hattian bala who was a spiritual person his urs is held every year in Hattian Bala.Diwan Ali Khan chughtai is minister of education Schools AJK, he belongs from Hattian Bala. His father Ali Khan Chughtai was also politician and remained minister.