Panj Pir (Swabi)

Panjpir, Pakistan, is a town and union council in district Swabi that is surrounded by Shahmansoor, Kaddi, Thand Kohi, Bam Khel, Dara and Ismailabad.
It is located approximately at a distance of 100 Kilometers both from Peshawar and Islamabad through recently constructed Peshawar Islamabad Motorway (M-I) with nearest approach at Swabi Interchange near Ambar village on the right bank of Indus River.Panj Pir Ghar (Panj Pir Mountain) with its sharpest ridge rises to the height of 2,130 feet above sea level or 940 feet above the Yousafzai plain, (Source Gazetteer of Peshawar District 1897-98) while highest peak of the Panj Pir hills is at 2,053 feet altitude from the sea level according to a recent Topo-Sheet issued by the Survey of Pakistan.
The residential area is bounded by the mighty mountain "Panjpir Ghar" to its north, the famous "Badrai Khwar" to its west, the Pehur Lift Canal to its east, and series of the beautiful hillocks also an official Community Game Reserve locally called "Dherai" standing to its south.
Panj Pir being a small village was rich enough for its old archaeological sites and remains but unfortunately all of them deteriorated and disappeared with passage of time. In addition to natural forces, the illiterate people of the village in the past are also equally responsible for this great loss. The main reason of this neglect was lack of awareness in the village people along with some economic reasons. These sites had a rich legacy of Gandhara or Hindu Shahi dynasties representing the glory and grace of the people living here in the ancient times.

Most prominent of these sites were Zghano Dheray in the west while Turgelai and Najima Dherai in the east, which we could not preserve and protect. The department concerned is also equally responsible for this irreparable loss who applied no effort for awareness of the people and preservation of these sites, which very much existed till the middle of the last century because common village people remained unaware of the importance and benefits of these resources and intelligentsia was a quiet rather passive spectator. The stones excavated were utilised for building purpose while the centuries' old soil was extensively used for manuring purpose of farming fields especially maize and tobacco. Therefore, these important sites were damaged by human activities without any regret and the village got deprived of its past ancient links.
A very good look of Panj Pir can be obtained by a bird’s eye view from the mountain which stands to the north of the village. Muhallah Barloray - which touches the mountain in north is almost in the center of the old village surrounded by Garhi Khan Khel in northwest corner, Ghale Khel, Khadre Khel, Mansoor Khel and Babu Khel in the west on the left bank of Badrai Khwar (Badrai Stream). Aso Khel is in the southwest corner, while Hassan Khel is in the immediate neighbour of Barloray in south and Kamal Khel there after. Miangan are in southeast corner, village graveyard in the east while Bara Cham lies in the northeast corner parallel with the mountain touching the village graveyard.
Total population of the village was 1,065 - Muslims were 1,054 with 542 males & 512 females while Hindus were 11 with 8 males and 3 female total 1,065 persons in 1869. (Source: Tareekh-e-Peshawar). Total population of the village was 3,175 in 1951, 8,227 in 1981 and 13,936 (Males 6,854 and Females 7,082) according to Census of 1998 conducted by the Government of Pakistan. Literacy rate in the same year was 49.30 % of the total population.
Total area of Panj Pir is 3,205 Acres or 25,640 Kanals including streams, mountain, hillocks, ravines and a large cemetery.


The very beauty of the village lies in its surroundings as it is nestled in a stunning landscape with mountain on the north, Badrai Khwar (Badrai Stream) on the west, more than 320 Kanals old village cemetery and Pehur Canal on the east and productive farming fields on the south also across the stream and canal on both sides.
Across the Badrai Khwar there is also a beautiful range of hillocks called “Dheray”, which separates the territory of Shah Mansoor and Zaida villages from Panj Pir. This range on the west starts from Swabi-Jehangira Road and touches Badrai Khwar on its west facing Kaddi village. Total length of the range would be little less than two kilometers approximately. The range because of its isolated location was a good habitat for wildlife like jackals, foxes, hares, porcupines and wild birds till recent past. Despite recent ever-expanding population in its close proximity still it is believed to be a safe spot for some wildlife, of course, with much reduced population. The range is partly green and gives a good look most of the times. The grand building of Government Polytechnic Institute, Swabi on the west end has further added to the beauty of the hillocks range. This range is also used as grazing area for the village cattle.
Indeed, few, if any, places in the neighbourhood can compare with its range of scenery or shown an equality because of unique cheerful and unique God-gifted landscape.

Both the mountain and stream have added a lot to the beauty and economic benefits of the village. They played strategic role in tribal wars between local sub-tribes and nearby villages in the past. In the shape of these two natural resources the village has plenty of natural blessings since its establishment. Mountain and stream both being integral parts of the village require a detailed separate commentary. We are proud that our village has special features and leisure facilities in the neighbourhood. Mostly borrowed from a book (total pages 594 pages) on the same village titled "Panj Pir (A small peep into Village Life!!) History, People, Places & Culture)" authored by Amir Haider - a resident of the same village and published in May, 2011.