Chakwal (Urdu: چکوال‎), (Punjabi: چکوال) is the headquarter and main city of Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located 90 km south-east of the federal capital, Islamabad[1] and is named after Chaudhry Chaku Khan,[citation needed] chief of the Mair Minhas tribe from Jammu, who founded it in 1525 CE during the era of the Mughal Emperor, Zaheerudun Babur. It remained a small but central town of the Dhan Chaurasi Taluka for many centuries. In 1881, during the British era, it was declared the Tehsil Headquarters. It was finally upgraded to district status in 1985. The area of Chakwal city is about 10 square kilometres.[citation needed]

Contents  [hide] 
1	Languages
2	History
3	Geography
4	Administration
4.1	Education
5	Media
6	Notable residents
7	See also
8	References
Languages[edit]
Inhabitants of Chakwal speak Dhani, Majhi, and Potohari dialects of Punjabi Language.

History[edit]
Chakwal is located in the Dhanni region of the Potohar in northern Punjab, Pakistan. During the Independence War of 1857 Chaudharials of Chakwal strengthened the hand of the British Raj by escorting the treasury from Chakwal to Rawalpindi and got the khilats and Jagirs.[2]

Chakwal's non-Muslim minorities departed during the independence of Pakistan in 1947 but the city is still in their heart and mind and had never forgotten it.[3]

In April 2009 a terrorist attack on the mosque killed more than 30 people.[4][5]

Geography[edit]

A view of Dhani Plains

Sunset at a Lake on River Dharabi

Canyons near Thirchak Mahal

Gambhir Stream
Chakwal's landscape features the canyons in Thirchak-Mahal. There are man-made and natural lakes around the city in neighbouring communities.[6]

On the top of this hill is a shrine of Chehl Abdal”[citation needed] hill top which is at 3,500 feet (1,100 m) above sea level. Another well-known tourist place in the area is Kalar Kahar, 2,500 feet (760 m) above sea level. The famous temple-fort of Katas Raj is nearby. Chakwal is connected by road to Jhelum and Lahore via the Sohawa road.[citation needed]

Chakwal is a semi-arid area with a shortage of irrigation systems and water sources for agriculture. Over 70% of the population engages in agriculture, mostly subsistence agriculture dependent on rainfall. Most villages have no irrigation system.