Largest District Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwan

Chitral is the largest district of Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwan with total land area of 14850 square km. Almost all the land area of this district is covered with mountains which makes its population density very low i.e. only 21 people per square km. Chitral also has distinction of being Northernmost district of Pakistan. It has total population of 318689 according to 1998 census. Strategically Chitral is also very important because it shares border with three provinces of Afghanistan. The narrow strip of Wakhan Corridor separates Chitral form Tajikstan in the North.

Largest District of Sindh

Tharparkar District is considered as the largest district of Sindh with total area of 19638 square km. Thatta District has almost same land area as of Tharparkar but its large part consist of sea bed and river delta which makes its land area less than Tharparkar. District headquarters of Tharparkar is city of Mithi. Another important thing to note about Tharparkar is that it has the lowest Human Development Index of all districts of Sindh. Tharparkar has huge tract of land but most of it is unpopulated which makes it population density only 49 people per square km.

Largest District of Azad Kashmir

Neelam District is the largest district of Pakistan controlled Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Neelam has the 200 kilometers long valley along Neelum River which makes it largest district by area of Azad Kashmir. District Neelum has total population of 171000 (according to 1998 census) and population density of 47 people per square kilometer. Headquarters of Neelum District is town of “Athmuqam or Athmakam” with population of around 20000 people. Previously Neelum was part of Muzaffarabad but it was made a separate district in recent past.

Largest Tehsil in Pakistan

Depalpur Tehsil of District Okara is the largest Tehsil of Pakistan. The Okara District is situated in Punjab Province and in Sahiwal Division. Depalpur Tehsil has total 55 Union Councils. Headquarter of this largest Tehsil of Pakistan is town of Depalpur which is 25 km away from the Okara City. The land of Depalpur is fertile as is on the bank of Beas River and in the Bari Doab region.

Largest District of Punjab

Bahawalpur District is the largest District of Punjab Province. Total land area of District Bahawalpur is 24830 square km which makes is the largest District of Punjab. According to 1998 census total population of Bahawalpur District is 2,433,091. It has low population density due to its large unpopulated tracts of land i.e. 98 people per square km. The large swathe of this district is covered by Cholistan Desert (almost two-third area of this district consists of Desert).

Carpet Weaving in Pakistan

Alongside Iran, Pakistan is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of Persian rugs, or, more inclusively, “Oriental” carpets. The tradition of weaving textiles is important to many cultures, ancient and modern, and today unique Pakistani rugs are sought after from every corner of the globe.

The first Pakistani rugs were woven using spindles, as evidenced by excavations of ancient sites such as Moenjodaro and Harappa, which thrived a part of the Indus Valley Civilization (3300-41300 BCE), one of the world’s oldest urban societies, similar to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia with regards to culture, technology and language.

Carpets have a special place in Islamic religion and culture, because they adorn the floor of houses, mosques and even walls as tapestries for artistic and insulation purposes. Rug production quickened after Muslim conquerors, the Ghauris and the Ghaznavids, introduced the need for “Islamic carpets” in the 11^th century. Between the 11^th and 16^th centuries, Pakistani carpet weaving was refined using the new techniques. Their popularity increased when European crusaders sacked Constantinople and discovered lovely “Islam carpets” in their loot.

By the early 16^th century, the role of these carpets expended. Instead of being used primarily as carpets, wealthy owners made them the center of their rooms hung them as tapestries alongside the Flemish ones of the late 15^th century and even made them focal points of Renaissance paintings.

Under the Mughal Empire, the rugs reached their peak. The ‘Golden Age’ or ‘Classic’ period of Pakistani carpet weaving took place during the first half of the 16^th century.

It was during this time that rugs produced in Iran, Pakistan and Turkey became widely recognized as “Islamic carpets”, thereby ensuring their fame for centuries to come. They were so popular that they became symbols of cultured taste, class, sophistication and worldliness, especially because Pakistani – and other “Oriental” – carpets were so scarce. Any social climbing merchant in Venice felt obliged to own one area rug.Pakistani rugs continue in their appeal today. With the creation of Pakistan in 1947, many Muslim carpet weavers migrated there and settled in two primary places that now serve as the home to carpet weaving today, Karachi and Lahore.

Therefore, the tradition of sumptuous textiles flourished with geometric designs, paisleys, center medallions and gulls continues in Pakistan, one of the greatest producers and exporters of area rugs today. Ninety-five percent of the carpets are produced for export and Turkoman, Persian and Caucasian designs are crafted since they meet the popular taste abroad.

Balochistan and NWFP excel in tribal Turkoman patterns and color combinations, while Lahore and Karachi are famous for single-wafted designs in Turkoman and Caucasian style, and double-wafted Mughal types.

Almost 95% of the carpets produced in Pakistan are imported to USA, European markets and Middle-East, where they are in great demand.