History and Heritage of Mianwali District
Formation and Administrative Evolution
The present-day Mianwali District was officially created in November 1901 when the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) was carved out of Punjab. The towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District, forming the new Mianwali District with its headquarters in Mianwali city. Initially, it included four tehsils: Mianwali, Isa Khel, Bhakkar, and Layyah.
- 1909: Layyah was transferred to Muzaffargarh District.
- 1961: The district was made part of Sargodha Division.
- 1982: Bhakkar was declared a separate district under Sargodha Division.
Etymology and Early Settlements
Mianwali is named after a saint, Mian Ali, who settled on the eastern bank of the Indus River in the 16th century. The area was previously known as Kachachi.
Ancient History
Historically, Mianwali was a part of the Greco-Bactrian Empire and known as Hindu Shahiya during Alexander the Great’s invasion in 325 BC. Later, Mahmud Ghaznavi and Muhammad Ghori incorporated it into the Ghaznavid Empire.
Ruins in the eastern and northern parts indicate the presence of ancient civilizations. However, the southern Thal region remained uninhabited until the 14th century due to the lack of water and resources.
Tribal Migrations and Settlements
- Awans migrated from the north-east
- Jats and Baloch moved from the Indus valley
- Pashtun tribes, especially the Niazis, descended from the north-west
The Indus Valley was once dense jungle filled with wildlife. Before the 15th century, only scattered Jat tribes lived in the lower portions of the district. With the Lodhi dynasty, the Niazi Pathans gained a foothold on both sides of the Indus.
The Awans settled beyond the Salt Range, while Ghakkars, who rose during the Mughal period, were ousted by Niazis during the decline of Mughal rule and Nadir Shah’s invasion.
British Colonial Rule
Mianwali and Isa Khel were once tehsil HQs in Bannu District, Punjab Province. When NWFP was created in 1901, these towns were retained in Punjab and became part of the newly formed Mianwali District. Initially under Rawalpindi Division, the district was later shifted to Sargodha Division.
Socioeconomic and Household Structure
- Average household size: 7.1 persons
- Urban households: 7.3, higher than rural
- 26% of households have 4 or fewer members
- 38% have 8 or more members
Housing:
- 22% live in one-room houses
- Average rooms per house: 2.7
- Urban RCC roofs: 15%, rural: 8%
- Baked brick walls in 67.2% of rural homes
Water and Utilities:
- 50% rural: use hand pump; 19% have tap water
- Urban: 40% tap water, 50% hand pump
- Electricity: 90% urban, 59% rural
- Gas: Only 2.3% rural, 10% urban use gas
Sanitation and Media:
- 78% rural homes lack latrines
- TV Access: 20% rural, 40.2% urban
Key Figures and Events
Lieutenant-Colonel A.J. O’Brien
- First Deputy Commissioner of Mianwali
- Served three times (1901, 1906, 1914)
- CBE (1919), CIE (1906)
- Buried in Brompton Cemetery, London
Military Significance: PAF Base Mianwali
Originally a WWII airstrip, it became a satellite of PAF Base Sargodha in 1965 and became operational in October 1971. Key moments:
- 1971 Indo-Pak war: 5 enemy aircraft downed
- 1975: No. 1 Fighter Conversion Unit relocated to Mianwali
Central Jail Mianwali
Built in 1904, declared district jail in 1913, and later central jail in 1960. Notable prisoners:
- Ghazi Ilm-ud-Din Shaheed (executed in 1929)
- Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
- Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
- Bhagat Singh
The jail also had:
- School, hospital, mosque, library
- Workshops where prisoners made items for sale
Ghazi Ilm-ud-Din Shaheed
- Executed for killing Rajpal, publisher of a blasphemous book
Buried in Lahore’s Miani Sahib Graveyard after body was exhumed with intervention of Allama Iqbal
- A mosque in Mianwali Jail is named in his honor
Municipal Library Mianwali
Established in 1946, this library remains a cultural institution in the district.
BHAGAT SINGH
Bhagat singh (27 september 1907 – 23 march 1931) was an indian freedom fighter, considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the indian independence movement. He is often referred to as shaheed bhagat singh (the word shaheed means “martyr”).he was also kept in mianwali jail.
MIANWALI CULTURE
HABIB ULLAH
QAISER IQBAL THETHIA
LIVING -MIANWALI CULTURE
CLOTHS ( ATTIRE)
MERA MIANWALI JUN 2019
MERA MIANWALI JULY 2019
MERA MIANWALI AUGUST 2019
THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF MIANWALI
Mianwali Da Culture
MY TRIBUTES TO MY MOTHER
Mianwali Language – Muhammad Saleem Ahsan
Mianwali ki zubanain -Prof Munawar Ali Malik
AOA
i want to share some information regarding my district plz tell me procedure…..
isa khelvi
VERY NICE COLECTION AND SO INTRESTED
its really pride for me to see a site here of mi hometown.
really nice and appreciable
Thanks
soo sweet jis ne b kia ha ya kam
I AM BILAL FROM SAMANDWALA
i would like to request young n energetic mianwalians living in Pakistan elsewhere to capture a rare collection of mianwali images from around all mianwali places.our distt. is very very beautiful but we ve not yet been able to present its fascination before the world.please give attention n time to our beloved distt.
thanks
GOOD WORK THANKS FOR POSTING MY PHOTO DR ABID
it is a very nice site but there r some missing places in this site . i request u to aad these places . like tomb of mian shahbin kundle. beatifullview of metha khatak. beatifull view of makarwall .
thats treat? Shala wasey tedi Mianwali? cary on dear sir
nice job man.keep it up
mianwali zindabad
geo mianwali
very nice i love my mianwali
verry nice i love Mianawali Isa Khel
Hi there, I found your blog via Google while searching for first aid for a heart attack and your post
looks very interesting for me.
COME ON MIANWALIN IF YOU ARE HAVING RARE PHOTOS RELATED TO MIANWALI SEND TO WEB ADMINISTRATOR TO MAKE IT MORE LOVELY i love mianwali
good work but more effort about geographe
kamer mushani ko highlight kia jay
Can anyone supply the e/m addresses of Hospitals or Clinics based in Mianwali – I need to source an Institute that will complete Offshore Medical testing for Pakistani based contractors
Help
Bhai jan ap ny bhot achi koshish ki ye web site lounch kr k ap jaisay logon per hamin fakhar hy thanks bhai.
“i love mian wali esa khel and my villag Maseet wala”
Malik Abid Aziz petroling police dara tang esa khel.
03013951420
THANKS FOR CREATING SUCH VALUABLE SITE ABOUT MIANWALI AND MIANWALIANS
Hy its very gd and informative!!
because now i am going to take project in Mianwali Rural Areas!!
Gudluck!!
cha gy o mianwalians
WAH JE WAH KA BAAT HAA AUR MEHNAT KARO
GOOD DAY 🙂
i love mianwali,bcoz i m belong to mianwli..mianwali people great people of pakistan…
Yar dil Khush kar dia aap logon ny, Khush rahoo, Jitni muhabat ham loog Apny Mianwali sy karty haen agar es k ley ham thora thora kam bhi shoro kar deen to esy dunia ka aik Model District bana sakty haen.
Azhar
i am arif aajiz from rawalpindi
ye ak bohat achi side ha
isa khail my city.kala baag is very beautiful
AOA!
GOOD MORNING
HAVE A NICE DAY
Your site is very
nice.
I LOVE MIANWALI
I LOVE PAKISTAN
wowwwwwwwww,,,,a lot of colorful,creative and cultural content added to our favourite site now,,,,the master mind of 786isakhel.com has created a new history,,,,trend setter,,a genius and loyal son of the land,,,,hats off to the author,,,,,
Thank u very much dear for creating such a wonderful website.
great work for the isakel and mianwali
Very good effort.Please add more if possible.Good job indeed.
both acha keya jis nay keya ab hamaray zila k logoo ko jo kafi arsa say as zila say bahir hain un ko apnay zila ki khobsorat pic daknay ko milay ge aur shaid ani pic ki waja say woh apnay zila ko daknay k leya batab hoo aur yaha ayin too ya as web site ki kamyabi hay..
i like mianwali
I , lives mianwali. I like mianwali
Zabardast site banai hy ALLH AP ko mazeed Himat dy MIANWALI ZINDA BAD
i have some pics of historic place of mianwali…. old jail in ballo khel, wana share here…
Web should explain itself rather then viewer searching it for its content. It should tell at the very first page what all it contain scrolling up and down makes it cumbersome and difficult and viewer looses interest. With due respect it is lacking professional touch.
All these information is good, but does not u think it is adiquit for any the person who know mianwali or ever visited the mianwali. please add some information in shape of pictures which show its culture its life style, profesion of people, main enterance from all sides.
if it is already added then may be i could not visited it properly,
i would be ashamed.
any how wonderful, but can be more wonderful if u make it more informatic.
thanks a lot . Allah Make you successful.
Ilove iskanderabad
bhai g a peelay tillay aali kherr kitho milni hay??
sir,
i want to know about the original aseel condition and look of your mianwali aseel , how you will get perfect result
regards,
venkat.s
9884837347
Meda mianwali baon sonra ae
I LOVE MAINWALI AND MAINWALI
i love too000 Much my hometown Mianwali…!! Bro plz also uplod the pix of chashma Barrage.. My Village is 0.5 kM away Frm ChashMa Barrage…!!!
DEAR GOOD JOB…..
very good mianwali city nice
very good website.i love MIANWALI @Proud to be a Mianwalion @PROUD TO BE A SAWANSI
mianwali hemsha abad rhy aur kushiyan us ke basiyon ppr barasti rahy
i like MIANWALI very much and I can not expresses my expression about in words I like it heartedly
I LOVE MIANWALI MUSA KHAIL
nice sharing….!!
V.nice good effort
i love mianwali isakhel
Minwali sada sheher.I like it
WELL DONE THIS IS VERY NICE OF YOU ,
I proud feel bcz my home town is chashma.my home town is beautifull place in miamwali.our union concial uc 47 khan qah sirajia.my Dittc mianwali
I LOve Mianwali
kya koi sufi shabbir ko janta hai jo mianwali main hoty hain
A one City
Ye information jis ny bhe yahan rakhi hai main ussy apni taraf sy thnx kehta hun k os hmari city ki achi tarah sy tarif ki
I am very happy and well contented after seeing such effort. Although, the website is much informative, illuminating and enlightening the city ‘Mianwali’, but still the it is not appealing in terms of its less user friendly interface. It is to be advised to attract and grab viewership and make the website more appropriate, convenient and informative for the new users as well as the older ones, by transforming and modifying all the pages in compact view, also navigation between pages requires more attention.
Thanks and Regards,
Sadia
Aoa,mujay apnay dissitt pay fakher hay.lakin meri siasi leaderon say apeal hay k wo Mianwali main aisay kaam keren jis say hamaray is dissitt ka naam puray punjab k azlaa say munfarid ho.misal k toar pay kalabagh dem bananay k liay koshish kere,roadon ki halat behter say behter kerwaen.bemaroon k liay hospital honay zaroori hain.kaafi saray kaam honay baaqi hain.Allah pak hamaray dissitt ko 4 chand laga day.Aameen.
http://rawalpindi.locanto.com.pk/ID_647513735/safety-course-in-mianwali-03324435621-nebosh-igc-best-institute.html
Thanks sir, please add more pictures
incomplete information hy ku k mianwali k bani ka zikar tak nhn kia
LOVE Mianwali, I grew up in a small village about twenty miles from Mianwali, though I left Pakistan thirty two years ago, but as they say you can take a person out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the person. Same is the case here, you can’t take Mianwali out of me.