# Chakwal

Chakwal (Punjabi and Urdu: چکوال) is a city in Chakwal District in the Potohar region of Punjab, Pakistan.
It is the 48th largest city of Pakistan by population. Chakwal is located 90 kilometres south-west of the federal capital, Islamabad and 270 kilometres from the provincial capital, Lahore. It is accessible by both the Islamabad International Airport as well as the Lahore International Airport.

## Geography

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

## Administration

Chakwal was created as an independent district of Rawalpindi in 1985 by combining sub division Chakwal of district Jhelum, sub division Talagang of district Attock and the police station Choa Saidan Shah, carved out of sub division Pind Dadan Khan of district Jhelum.
In addition to being the district headquarters, Chakwal city is also the administrative centre of Chakwal tehsil (a subdivision of the district). The Chakwal District is divided into three Tehsils, namely, Kalar-Kahar, Choa Saidan Shah and Chakwal itself. The city of Chakwal itself is divided into five Union councils, and Chakwal district is divided into 68 union councils.

## Demographics

Religious groups in Chakwal City (1881−2017) :
| Religious group | 1881$^{:520}$ | 1881$^{:520}$ | 1901$^{:44}$$^{:26}$ | 1901$^{:44}$$^{:26}$ | 1911$^{:23}$$^{:19}$ | 1911$^{:23}$$^{:19}$ | 1921$^{:25}$$^{:21}$ | 1921$^{:25}$$^{:21}$ | 1931$^{:26}$ | 1931$^{:26}$ | 1941$^{:32}$ | 1941$^{:32}$ | 2017 | 2017 |
| Religious group | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Islam | 3,279 | 57.36% | 3,853 | 59.1% | 3,834 | 59.91% | 4,442 | 59.82% | 5,585 | 58.53% | 6,684 | 56.48% | 136,235 | 98.57% |
| Hinduism | 2,045 | 35.77% | 1,946 | 29.85% | 1,310 | 20.47% | 1,878 | 25.29% | 2,461 | 25.79% | 2,718 | 22.97% | 19 | 0.01% |
| Sikhism | 393 | 6.87% | 717 | 11% | 1,253 | 19.58% | 1,103 | 14.86% | 1,466 | 15.36% | 2,388 | 20.18% | — | — |
| Christianity | — | — | 4 | 0.06% | 3 | 0.05% | 2 | 0.03% | 30 | 0.31% | 40 | 0.34% | 1,935 | 1.4% |
| Ahmadiyya | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 0.02% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 5 | 0.04% | 0 | 0% |
| Total population | 5,717 | 100% | 6,520 | 100% | 6,400 | 100% | 7,425 | 100% | 9,542 | 100% | 11,835 | 100% | 138,214 | 100% |

## Notable people

* Sub. Abdul Khaliq (23 March 1933 – 10 March 1988), Fastest Man of Asia, Flying Bird of Asia, Olympian, Pride of Performance (Presidential Award) holder
* Sukh Dev, Indian Organic Chemist
* Amir Gulistan Janjua, Governor of North West Frontier Province, Ambassador to Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
* Ayaz Amir, journalist, columnist, and a senior politician
* Fozia Behram, politician
* Talib Chakwali (1900–1988), Indian Urdu poet
* Sadaf Hussain, cricketer
* Colonel Imam (died January 2011), member of Special Service Group (SSG) and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan Army
* Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Dullah, politician
* Iftikhar Khan (10 January 1907 – 13 December 1949), designated to become the first Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army, died in air crash.
* Khudadad Khan (20 October 1888 – 8 March 1971), was the first South Asian recipient of the Victoria Cross.
* Muhammad Khan (1910 – 23 October 1999), veteran of World War II
* Yahya Khan (4 February 1917 – 10 August 1980), third President of Pakistan
* Allah Bakhsh Malik, academic, researcher, development economist, social scientist, management and institutional development specialist
* Lt.(R) General Faiz Hameed, Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence
* Madan Mohan, music director of India
* Malik Munawar Khan Awan, Major rank officer in the Pakistan Army
* Lt. General Abdul Qayyum, retired three-star General
* Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India
* Awais Zia, cricketer
* Mudassar Ali Khan, former Field Hockey Player of Pakistan and Olympian