# Dhrabi

'Dharabi'& Dhari Anwal is a village in Chakwal District Punjab province of Pakistan. A small river name "Dharab" passes by and named after the village. It is a tributary of Soan River out fall in Indus River at a distance of about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from village Balkasar Motorway interchange. M2 motorway between Lahore and Islamabad pass over this river.
A water reservoir was constructed on this river. Dharabi Dam which is supposed to be the largest water reservoir in the district has the capacity of storing 37,000 acre feet of water but it may not serve the purpose as lands it was supposed to irrigate lie at a higher altitude. The technical issues was raised in the nascence of the project but it was not attended to and the project was completed in 2009. The project once fully operational will bring about 6400 Acres of land water under irrigation out of which 6000 Acres through gravity flow and 400 Acres through lift (Small Dam Organization, 2007).

## Introduction

Dharabi is a village located in the midst of cities of Chakwal and Talagang, in Punjab, Pakistan. The village Dharabi is named after the river Dharab passing through this village, which stretches to Kallar Kahar. Its total area is 1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi) and it is elevated at 408 m (1,339 ft).

### Etymology

Dharabi(‘Dhar’-‘aabi’) is an amalgam of two words ‘Dhar’ and ‘Aab’ which means ‘located in the middle of water. Dharabi literally means a place located in the middle of water.

### Historical background

As told by the natives of Dharabi, this village was first inhabited by Raja Hakim Khan Janjua Rajput. Hindus and sikhs also lived here before partition. The schools where the Hindu and Sikh teachers taught are still exist in Dharabi.

### Neighboring areas

The adjoining areas include Dhari Anwal, Naka Kahoot, Bikhari Kalan, Balkasar, Bharpur, Thoa Bahadar, Mengen, Bhoun, Jhamrah, Dharokna, Kadhar, Kalar Kahar, pindi Gheb, Dudhial, Lilla, Bhera, Alipur Syedan, Karsal, Tuti bann, Nakka kahoot and Bhagwal.

### Present inhabitants

Presently the Malik family, Rajgaan and Arain family and other casts are living in Dharabi. Malik family in this region stands out with their exceptional professional growth, most of them serve in the Armed forces.

### Language

The inhabitants of Dharabi speak ‘Punjab’ primarily for the purpose of communicating.

### Population

Dharabi is a moderate sized village where thousands of people live.

### Sources of earning

About 70 per cent of the population of Dharabi relies on agriculture, natural resources and livestock as their major sources of earning livelihood. Though many villagers lack sufficient crops production, they fulfill their insufficiency by rearing livestock.

### Residence of the inhabitants

Primitively the people of Dharabi used to live in cob houses but recently the trend has shifted. People now make well insulated-cemented houses. Other sources of income include selling firewood, grass and fodder, medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables grown by the people themselves.

### Domestic Farming

This domestic farming in the village of Dharabi includes the breeding, raising, gathering, and caring for poultry, domestic animals and domesticated wild animals, such as cattle, sheep, dogs, buffalo, and collecting their products, such as milk, wool, and eggs. People either sell these products or the off-springs produced by them.

### Migration to other countries

According to the recent reports, many from Dharabi have shifted to Dubai and Saudi Arab in order to get jobs in Security Companies, Hotel Services, Hospitals, personal business and in the Restaurants.