Socio-economic Profile of SDGP-SAP-PK Programme District
Mianwali-Punjab
Submitted by: Naghma Imdad
For:
SOUTH ASIA PARTNERSHIP-PAKISTAN December 2006
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CHAPTER ONE
1. Introduction and Background
South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK), has initiated a national project: ‘Supporting Democratic Governance in Programme’ (SDGP; 2005-09), jointly funded by CIDA and SDC. The project plans to cover 400 union councils (Ucs) in 40 districts of Pakistan or, ten districts in each of the four provinces of the country. The SDGP aims to promote and strengthen citizens’ role, especially the role of the poor peasants and rural workers in district-level governance systems and processes, to participate in the policy formulation and actions that directly affect their lives. In this pursuit, the programme works closely with peasants and rural workers as its direct ‘target and beneficiary population’, other major actors in the local governance system i.e., the Nazims and local government bodies, other government functionaries, CCBs, CSDs, representatives of political parties, social-political activists and workers groups.
The programme aims to achieve the following main objective through a number of interventions:
‘To contribute to an enabling environment for democratic governance and citizen’s participation, especially the vulnerable, in political decision-making and other processes.’
To date, the programme has focused on formation of landless and marginal peasants and workers groups (PWGs), setting up of district resource centres, formation of district focal groups (DFGs), training and orientation of PWGs and DFGs, support material production and dissemination, community mobilization (meetings/forums) and compilation of community profiles. This was the preparatory or ground work phase, aimed at laying foundations for the programme’s next phase that has now started since April 2006 and will end in March 2007.
In the current period (2006-07), 20 districts have been chosen as SDC’s ‘focus districts’ out of the total 40 programme districts (5 districts in each of the four provinces). Roughly, this implies working in 200 union councils or 10 UCs in each district. The focus of interventions, during this one-year phase is upon:
i. Support the organization of peasants and rural workers:
Develop their capacities Help setting-up alternate institutions and support mechanisms, and Enable adequate and meaningful presence of these marginal groups in policy and decision-making processes
2 ii. Increase representation and participation of the rural poor in the Local Government systems and structures by utilizing existing spaces and opportunities in the LG Plan (2001):
Help create replicable models of rural poor’s involvement in development planning Improved social service delivery Monitoring and accountability of LG structures, committees, GLAs, and other government functions.
The program needs to ensure that it has developed a district-level information base to gain a deeper understanding of the overall socio-economic context of their areas and target population. In pursuance of this objective, SAP-Pk engaged a social development expert, to undertake the task of compiling ‘Socio-economic Profiles of program districts’ based upon the existing secondary data. These studies will provide socio-economic bench-mark data to yield the basis for planning and assessing the impact of SDGP project interventions.
The consultant focused on preparation of profiles of the following 20 programme districts of specific interest to the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), (5 districts in each of the 4 provinces):
1) Punjab:
Layyah Faisalabad Lodhran Toba Tek Singh Mianwali
2) Sindh:
Sanghar Badin Dadu Nawabshah Larkana
3) NWFP:
Mardan Charsada Lower Dir Bannu
3 D.I. Khan
4) Baluchistan:
Turbat Mastung Naseerabad Gwadar Kalat
The current report presents the socio-economic profile of the District Mianwali of the Punjab province.
1.2 Methodology and process
1.2.1 Sources of information
The report is based primarily upon the existing district-level data, mainly statistical data on basic human development indicators (HDIs), from secondary sources. The major secondary sources used in preparation of socio-economic profile of Layyah district include the following: i. ‘1998 District Census Report of Mianwali’ ; June 2000; Population Census Organization-Satatistical Division, GoP, Islamabad. ii. ‘District-based Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey 2003-04: Punjab’; 2004; Planning and Development Department-Govt. of Punjab in collaboration with FBS and UNICEF-Islamabad. iii. ‘Food Insecurity in Rural Pakistan 2004’; 2004; The World Food Programme and SDPI-Islamabad. iv. SDGP project reports, project related staff and district-level resource-persons, SAP-Pk research and documentation related staff at the HQ in Lahore (?). v. Election Database; HRCP; 2005; Lahore. vi. Livestock National Baseline Survey; 2006; SEBCON-Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad. vii. Pakistan Economic Survey2003-04; 2004; Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad. viii. ECP-Govt. of Pakistan, official web. ix. NRB, official web. x. Pakistan Statistical Yearbook, GoP, 2005 xi. Agricultural Census of Pakistan, 2000, GoP xii. Newspaper reports, other documents, maps, etc.
4 1.2.2 Process
The consultant prepared a comprehensive checklist of basic socio-economic indicators, both quantitative and qualitative, against which information was collected from different sources, processed, tabular and graphic presentations prepared.
This report provides an overall understanding of the development status of the programme districts, the facilities and resources available and the development trends. The information related to the women and gender issues in this report, has not been presented in a separate section but mainstreamed in all the major aspects of the district profile.
Coordination and facilitation
While the entire data collection, processing and analysis for this report were a primary responsibility of the consultant, SAP-PK HO in Lahore ensured that the relevant persons liaise and coordinate with the consultant at the provincial-district levels.
Analysis and report writing
All data, once checked and edited, was computer inputted in 20 separate sets and analytical tables and graphic presentations of data were prepared.
Twenty (20) analytical and descriptive district profiles/reports have been prepared (5 for each district). Each of the reports comprises a number of sub-sections providing information about the various aspects of the district (see Table of Contents).
5 CHAPTER TWO
2. An Overview of District Mianwali
2.1 Introduction and historical background
According to the sources available, it appears that this district was a part of Bannu district and known as ‘Kachachi’ till somewhere in the 16th century (District Census-1998). The name was changed to ‘Mianwali’ during this century after the name of a local saint, Mian Ali, who lived in a hamlet on the eastern bank of the river Indus (ibid). Un-till relatively recently i.e., till 1982, district Mianwali covered a much larger area as it also included Bhakkar district.
Being part of the Indus Valley, this district is one of the oldest human inhabitation i.e., the Indus Civilization (District Census-1998). All major rulers and invaders of the Sub- continent have governed this area. According to the ancient history records, this area was called Hindu Shahi when Alexander the Great invaded India in early 4th century B.C. Mahmud Ghaznavi, followed by Mohammad Ghori, annexed this area, along with a greater part of Punjab to the Ghazna empire. The large-scale conversions to Islam among the local population were initiated during this period. During the following period, the Niazi Pathans poured into the north-west of the area, pushing the Awans east-ward, beyond the Salt range. The Mughal emperor Babur mentions Esakhel when he was on his mission to conquer the Pakhtuns and the Punjab in 1520. The Mughal ruled through the Ghakkar feudatories. The latter were uprooted by Niazis at the decline of the Mughal empire and in the wake of Nadir Shah’s invasion of India.
District Mianwali, is one of the programme districts of special interest for the SAP-PK. This is one of the 40 districts of the SDGP project, and one among the 20 districts within the same project, of specific interest for the SDC-support.
Mianwali district has been of a particular interest for development interventions of SAP- PK due to the organizational priority focus upon the most vulnerable population groups in the district. These groups include the landless and marginal peasants and workers, including the women and some religious minorities whose basic human rights have been constantly violated due to existing socio-economic inequalities in the area.
2.2 Location and size
District Mianwali is situated in the west of the Punjab province but it is located almost at the center of the country, about 200 kms and in the south-west of Islamabad. In its north is situated the district of Kohat (NWFP) and Attock (Punjab); in the south is located the Bhakkar district (Punjab). While in its east are Chalwal and Khushab districts (Punjab), in the west, are the districts of Karak, Marwat and D.I. Khan (all in the NWFP). The Indus River flows across the district, starting in the north-east and separating the district
6 into two un-equal parts till it faces the district D.I.Khan across the river, in the south-west of the Mianwali district (see Map, District Mianwali).
Mianwali district lies between 32 – 10’ to 33 – 15’, north latitudes and 71 – 08 to 71d - 57 east longitudes. The district covers an area of 1,426,000 acres or 5,840 sq. kms. A little more than one-third of this area (of Isakhel Tehsil) are in the trans-Indus zone of the Salt Range and almost half of the Mianwali Tehsil excluding an area as big as almost one-fifth of the total of Piplan Tehsil are in the cis-Indus zone of the Salt Range. The area in the north is a continuation of what is known as the Potohar Plateau and Kohistan-e- Namak.
2.3 Geography and ecology
The district Mianwali may be divided into two main parts:
i. A hilly terrain in the north, north-east and south west ii. A firm clay plain falling in front of Salt Range and Dhuk hills, a sandy plain in the centre and the south.
There are many mountains, the major among them are Bhangi Khel in the extreme north all along the Indus, Khattak hills which are in a large part also in district Kohat Niazi mountains in the north and north-west and the Salt Range in the south-east.The mountainous area has many steep hills, gorges, deep ravines, nullahs and streams. Cultivation in this area is possible on the hilly slopes, flat hill-tops and along the beds of torrents. The Kheshore hills are spread along the southern boundary of Isa Khel Tehsil. The Sakesar hills in the Salt Range proper, which were summer headquarter for the district before the partition. They remain still a pleasant summer resort for tourists because of the cooler temperature in summer and greenery (highest peak at 1,520 metres). The central and southern plain area includes cultivated tract between the river Indus and its elevated banks and the sandy desert of Thal. The latter starts at the south of Sakesar hills, spreading across the southern boundaries of the district. Since the Thal canal channels pass from here, there has been much tree-plantation in this otherwise naturally desert and rugged area.
The climate and weather are shaped by a combination of factors such as:
General nature of the area or terrain i.e., mostly hilly Average height above sea level Conspicuous river-effect i.e., a large district area lies on the banks of the Indus Distance from Arabian sea
The climate of the district varies from very hot in summers to cold in winter with highest temperature of above 42 degrees centigrade in June and lowest up to 3 degrees in
7 January. The district receives only scanty rainfall. The average rainfall does not exceed 44 millimeters (mainly in the monsoons, August-September, up to 100 millimeters). 1.
However, heavy rains anywhere above the Indus even beyond the district result in floods in the Indus River. These floods cause huge disasters especially in the Nasheb and Katcha areas along the river-banks (from the north-east to south-west of the entire district). The high floods during the monsoon months this year and the year before, affected several thousand persons, many human lives, loss of livestock, crops and land eroded besides leaving as many without homes. Many villages of Mianwali district in Katcha or pond- area of Jinnah and Chashma Barrage had been inundated due to floodwater (Oxfam flood reports July 18, 2005 and July 19, 2006. and The Nation, 5 July 2005)2.
2.4 Natural Resources
Due to its peculiar ecological characteristics, Mianwali district has a considerable abundance of natural bio-diversity. Besides the natural sources of water (Indus river, Kurram river, lakes and many nullas and streams as mentioned above, the area is specifically rich in natural/wild trees, plants and shrubs, wild animals including a wide variety of birds and fishes. Since above-subsistence-level farming is possible in irrigated area mainly and most lands in such areas are owned by few influential land-owners, the importance of such natural resources is vital for the subsistence and survival of most landless and marginal-owners including the small nomadic and fishing communities. It is important to note, however, that most natural resources are also owned or/and controlled by the powerful landowners or by the State.
2.4.1. Mineral resources
Mianwali district is extremely rich in minerals both in the cis-Indus and trans-Indus areas of the Salt range, most of which are formally and at large scale exploited for commercial purposes. The Dhal range is known as the ‘geological museum’ of Pakistan. The following minerals are important:
. Rock salt . Alum . Coal . Iron ore . Silica sand . Fire clay . Dolomite . Gypsum
1 ‘1998 District Census Report of Mianwali’; 1999; Population Census Organization, Statistical Division- GoP, Islamabad. 2 http://www.un.org.pk/undp/cpr/floods/summer-floods-update-no-6
8 Although most of the minerals are exploited, some at a fairly large-scale in particular, when excavations are carried out by private firms e.g., excavations of fire clay, gypsum, silica sand and dolomite. Coal at Makerwal is extracted by the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation and, iron ore is used by the Mini Steel Mill at the Kalabagh hills near Chichali.
2.4.2. The Wild Fauna
The natural bio-diversity of the district has been extremely threatened by a number of ‘mega-development’ initiatives such as the construction of the Thal Canal, Kalabagh and other dams, large-scale mine extractions, industrial plants at Iskandarabad, etc.
However, even in the most barren-looking hills in the district, there grows a large variety of vegetation3. The following fauna is found in the district:
Phulai (Acacia modeste): a common tree, used as fodder and fuel. Sanatha: a common, large tree, used for fodder and fuel commonly. Kangan, Kan or wild olive (Olivia indica): Used for agricultural instruments, house construction and other implements. This tree is also considered sacred and found often close to shrines of local saints. Dhaman
Jand/Kana or Prosopis Spicigera : A common ever-green tree in the sandy Thal, famous for its sweet berry-fruit Pehlu, said to have many therapeutic qualities. The young branches and flowers are nutritious food for sheep, goats and camels. The woods/branches are used for fuel and construction of houses. It also grows in graveyards.
Tahli/Shesham or Dalbergia Sissoo: It grows originally in Kacha but grown even hills all over the district including the desert areas due to canal irrigation. The wood is highly valued for furniture. Especially, the older and more seasoned wood is very expensive.
Keekar or Acasia Arabica: There is an abundant natural growth in the district as it needs little moisture to flourish. The wood and branches are used for fuel, leaves for fodder (especially the camels), for agricultural implements and tools as well as natural Acacia gums and honey used for nutrition and therapeutic value.
Beri or Ziziphus jajoba: This is the most common tree of large size. Fresh and dried berries are used as fruit, fuel and fodder, barriers for cultivated plots and animal sheds. Its planks are considered the best for roofing. However, this indigenous tree is increasingly under threat by the plantations for citrus fruit orchards for cash income.
Kari: Another common, indigenous treewhich is priced for its ball-like fruit called Della, used for making pickles.
3 See for ‘ethno-medicinal’ data: Sultana, S et al, ‘A Checklist of Medicinal Flora of Tehsil Isakhel, District Mianwali, Pakistan’;ND; QAU-Islamabad, paper in http://www.siu.edu/-ebl/leaflets/tehsil.htm.
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Lai/Pilchhi and Jhan or Tamarix Gallion: Grows widly along the riverines and areas inundated by Chashma lake of Kacha. It is used for fuel, basket-making and lining of walls in mud houses.
Kanh and Sarkana: They also grown in wet-lands and cropped by tens and thousands of tones every year for export to Naushehra and Lahore for hard-board and package-making industries.a
Sar: Also grows in wet areas and used locally as a fuel by the brick-kiln industry.
Jhal or Salvadora Oleoides: This is common in Thal and waste lands. Fruit also called ‘Pihlun’ is edible and known for its therapeutic value. The leaves and young twigs are used as fodder for goats and camels.
Many indigenous varieties of fruit trees include: Anar or Pomegranate, Khabari or wild fig, Bohar or Baniyan (Ficus indica), Toot or mulberry (Morus meraccae), etc.
With the coming of irrigation canal, many ‘exotic’ varieties of trees have been planted/promoted by the concerned public sector institutions many of which may threaten the growth of the wild fauna and flaura indigenous to this area. These include: eucalyptus, dandy symbol, proud popular, among others.
In the hills, local shrubs of therapeutic value grow naturally: Vivan, Mastiara, Hari, Vithaman, Ganger and Kohir. Among the common plants, shrubs and grasses which grow naturally, are many used as fodder, fuel, nutritious and therapeutic value. They include among others: Lana, Khippi, Akk, Akri, Chember, Dodak, Ludri, Itsit, Kartamma/Gharumba, Mena, Raspulhi, Pockhi, Bhakra, and Leh..
Wild mushrooms: Namely, Khumbi, an edible and delicious mushroom. Paddu, a poisonous mushroom.
2.4.2. Wild animals and birds
A number of wild animals have disappeared entirely from the district due to the large- scale deterioration of natural environment followed by industrialization and intensive farming for the market by the large landowners. The wild animals not found any more in the district include: tigers, leopards, bears and wolves. The few Hariarls, Parha and various species of deer are confined to the sanctuaries and wildlife reserves owned by the Maliks/ Nawabs of Kalabagh, located at Jabba. Among the wild animals still found in the district are included the jackals, foxes, hedge-hogs, wild boars and rabbits. The Kanh- Koonder forests of Kacha still harbors thousands of wild boars and jackals. The Indus river used to provide enough food for crocodiles, porpoises and ladders, which are all extinct today.
10 Among the birds, sussi and white/brown partridges thrive still allover the hilly tracts. In the shrubs of Kacha area, are found black partridges and Mushki titer. People who are fond of keeping them at home catch the latter. The birds that are either totally extinct or on the verge to extinction include: Chakor, Tilior, Koonj, quail, Bhattittar, Rehra, Mung, Chaha and many kinds of hawks. Due to the development of water works (canals and dams), a number of different species of ducks are found especially in the winter around the Chashma and Narmal lakes.
Fish: A large variety of excellent quality fish is found in the river Indus, Chashma and Narmal lakes and dams.
2.5 Settlement patterns
The settlement patterns in the district are influenced by its geography and agro-ecological setting. Hence, relatively large and nucleated villages have been possible in the fertile and irrigated areas, mainly in tracks where agriculture has been developed extensively. In ‘Kacha’ or low-lying trans-Indus areas, inundated occasionally by the Indus River, relatively smaller, scattered and rather temporary or semi-permanent human settlements have been possible. The same trend is found in the sandy-desert and also in the hilly areas of the district with smaller, scattered and humble habitations of nomadic and semi- nomadic population groups are located. This is in coherence with the local ecology, which cannot support large human concentrations at any given place in such areas. However, with the population increase as well as the ‘modern development’ initiatives in the mining, industry and ‘green revolution’ such balance is fast disappearing.
The urban settlements, representing about one-fifth of the total population of the district Mianwali resemble any other urban concentration in the southern district of the Punjab. The Mianwali city is the district capital and a hub of economic and commercial activities. However, Kalabagh is the most important city with the biggest business and industrial centre of the district. Other urban centres include: Kundian, Esakhel, Ahmed Wala, Piplan, Mocch, Daudkhel, and Rokhri.
2.6 Social groups and divisions
2.6.1 Qoums/tribes, Zats/castes, Biraderis and Classes:
The major ‘social groups’ of real or fictive uni-lineal descent, may be identified as Qoum or tribe and/or Zat also known as caste (similar to Jati among the Hindus), but also Biraderi. However, it is difficult to distinguish the tribe and caste as such since the people use the terms ‘Qoum’ and ‘Zat’ inter-changeably (e.g., the ‘Jats’ may identify themselves as ‘Qoum’ as well as ‘Zat’ or yet as ‘Biraderi’)4. Some Qoums and Zats many claim superior descent compared to some others, they are not always and not as clearly classifiable as the castes and ‘Vernas’ of the caste system among the Hindus.
4 Ref.: Danzil, Ibbitson (1883?); Alvi, Hamza (1964?); Ahmed, Saghir (1965); and Barth, Frederic (1963?); Imdad, Naghma (2002) for detailed discussion.
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The Mianwali district has been settled by a triple immigration from opposite directions: Awans also known as Rajputs from the north-east, Pakhtuns, including the Khattaks from the north-west and Jats and the Baloch from the south of the Indus valley. The Jats might be the oldest/indigenous inhabitants of the area while the Baloch, one of the oldest, followed by the Rajputs. While the Jats were made into the tenants by the latter settlers or/and pushed into further south or in vulnerable desert and Kacha areas.
The principal quoms of the district today are the Pathan, Jat, Rajpout, Awan, Baloch, Syed, Qureshi, Khwaja and Sheikh. Many others include the professional/artisanal groups classified as ‘menials’ by the British rulers, after the large landowners own groupings for the Sepi-castes or for those in hereditary service of the landowners and paid annually by the latter in kind (a share in harvest) against their services known as ‘Thal’. They include: the Tarkhans (carpenters), Mochis (shoe-makers and leather workers), potters, black- smiths, Pawlis, etc. Most of these groups are now concentrated in urban areas and mostly practicing their professional skills as independent business.
The Pathans include mainly the Niazis and the Khattaks. Coming from the north-west, the Niazis settled mainly along the high banks of the Indus in Mianwali and Esakhel Tehsils. There are three main sub-groups of Niazi Pathans which are each, further sub- divided into smaller lineages and clans: Esakhel, Farhang and Mushani.
Khattaks preceded Niazis in the north of Isakhel Tehsil and remained in the hills. Two sections of Khattaks are known in the district: Bhangi Khels and the Bani-Afghans. They were classified by the colonial rulers as “hardy and tenacious, vigorous workers” (District Census-1998). They were encouraged to join the British army as they were supposed to “make good soldiers” and thus, enjoyed a “special place in the army” (ibid).
The Baloch are relatively few and settled in Piplan and in the surrounding villages.
Awans, although claim Arab descent from Qutub Shah are probably one sub-group of Rajput quom who settled mostly in the upper table land beyond the Salt Range except two villages: Kalabagh and Jalalpur which are located in west of the Indus river. They have important landownership and many of them have reached high ranks in the armed forces. They also enjoy considerable control over the electoral politics of the district.
The Pathans, Awans, Baloch, Jats, etc., practiced Quom endogamy and clan exogamy traditionally for marriages of their off-springs. With the increasing influence of ‘Islamization’ and the pressure on lands owned by a clan or a Biraderi, the clan exogamy seems to be disappearing as such and resulting in marriages within close relatives.
The Syeds, claiming a direct descent from the Prophet Mohammed, are another important group in the district in terms of socio-economic and political influence. They are
12 generally, rich, large and usually absentee landlords and ‘spiritual-feudals’ 5. The Syeds have been traditionally the ‘Peer’ (spiritual leaders) of a large number of the local inhabitants. According to the District Census 1998 (opp-cit), the Syeds in the District Mianwali are “care-takers of shrines and tombs” which provides them an opportunity to remain among the key-players in local politics.
The Sheikhs are important business and trading community in the urban areas of Mianwali district. They are non-agriculturists and enjoy sufficient hold on the local business: also Arhtis and money-lenders, they are described as the “successors of Hindus” in this field (District Census 1998).
The Qureshis are mostly known as keepers of shrines in the district.
It is understandable that with the Indus river all along the north-west to the south-west of the district, a number of nomadic/semi-nomadic fishing groups must be inhabiting this district. It is most unfortunate, however, that there is no record available on such communities in the district.
The numerical strength of each of these groups/sub-groups is not available from any existing source.
2.6.2 Religion
The Muslim population is by far the largest religious group (99.1%, according to the District Census-1998), followed by Christians who are concentrated mostly in the urban centres (hardly 1% of all). A small minority of Ahmadis inhabit the rural and urban areas of the district. Before the 1947 Partition, according to the 1941 Census, more than one- fifth of the district population was Hindu and about one percent was Sikh6. They were mostly rich merchants and settled in urban centres. Presently, only a few Hindus (Jati), ‘Scheduled Castes’ also inhabit the district. It is feared that the census data may not be completely reliable in this respect as due to socio-political influences from the local elite, the real demographic strength of religious minorities is not revealed. The district had an important Ahmadi concentration, e.g., before they were declared non-Muslims in the early 70s. Most members of this community left the district after taking asylum in Europe and North America but those still in the district keep a low profile. The Ahmadies face continuous socio-political persecution, often victim of the Blasphemy law i.e., unjust application of this law to target members of this community (2003 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom in Pakistan; also see: ‘Pakistan: Persecution of Ahmadis continues’; Amnesty International on Pakistan; Sun. Dec. 13, 1998-google-socio-culture- pakistan).
5 Adil, Adnan (2000) has used this classification to differentiate them from another sub-category of feudals i.e., ‘non-spiritual feudals’ in his study: ‘Key Players in Punjab Politics: The Pattern of Leadership from 1970-1997 and Implications for Women’; Savera with the support of UNDP,NORAD, Islamabad. 6 See: Kenneth Hill et al.: ‘The Demographic Impact of Partition: The Punjab in 1947’; a Working Paper Series No.06-08 (ND); Weather head Center for International Affairs-Harvard University.
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2.6.3 Linguistic groupings
Although only 12% of the district population reported Saraiki as their ‘mother-tongue’ according to the last census, Saraiki, along with Punjabi are the most commonly spoken and understood languages of the people. Punjabi is the mother tongue of three-fourths of the population especially in the rural district. Saraiki is more common in urban areas (20% urban population reported Saraiki as their mother tongue). About 10% population reported Pushto as their language (especially in rural areas of the northwest of the province, but also the Afghan refugees in the camps in the district) A very small minority identified Urdu (3.5), Sindhi, Balochi, Brahvi and Dari languages (ibid).
2.7 Administrative Sub-divisions
District Mianwali has three sub-divisions or Tehsils:
1) Mianwali 2) Isakhel 3) Piplan
Tehsil Mianwali is the largest of all the three tehsils. It is situated in the centre of the district along the eastern bank of river Indus and with isakhel tehsil on its west and north- west. While on its north is Kohat district and south, Tehsil Piplan of Mianwali tehsil, all along its eastern side are located, from north-east to south-east, Attock, Chakwal and Khushab districts of the Punjab.
A Deputy Commissioner, with additional powers of District Magistrate and Collector, is the administrative head of the district and supervises all the line departments at the district level. The DC of Mianwali is assisted by two Additional Deputy Commissioners (one general and another on judiciary side). There are also Assistant Commissioners for: Sadar Sub-Division at the district headquarter; Isakhel Sub-division, and Piplan Sub- division. The ACs are assisted by three Tehsldars and 13 Naib Tehsildars. The latter are primarily responsible for collection of revenues. At Kot Chandan there is an Afghan Refugee Camp which is operated under the supervision of District Administration with the assistance of 8 village Administrators.
There is one Municipal Committee and seven Town Committees in the district. The number of Mauzas or the smallest revenue units in the district is about 225 (more than three times less than Layyah district). Of these 56 Mauzas have a population of above 5000 persons, 49 Mauzas have two to five thousand persons while 48 have one to two thousand persons and 21 are un-inhabited (District Census 1998-op.cit).
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CHAPTER THREE
3. Access to Basic Facilities
3.1 Infrastructure and Basic Services
3.1.1 All the major line departments of related provincial ministries (20 in all), have their offices and staff at the District Headquarter in Mianwali and at Tehsil headquarters of the three Tehsils of the district. Among others, most relevant are the following:
Agriculture Health Education Livestock and Dairy Development Fisheries Forest Food Mineral Development Telephone and Telegraph Water Management Irrigation Highways Local Government and Rural Development Industries Social Welfare
3.1.2 Roads and transport
According to a recent survey, the roads length in the district is 11-20 km/100 sq. km area (WFP-SDPI; 2004). District Mianwali is linked to all the major cities and towns in the district and the country through roads and railways. In particular, Mianwali city, the district Head Quarter and Kalabagh, with major industries and nuclear are connected through metal roads. Most Tehsil head quarters and major towns/UCs are linked with a network of roads. However, villages do not enjoy this basic facility in many cases. In particular, Piplan Tehsil is less developed in this respect and remains relatively speaking more remote. Most development in this respect is concentrated around the villages of influential and large Zamindars. The latter have often canal irrigation available for cultivation and have benefited from ‘farm-to-market’ roads e.g., ‘Sugarcane Roads’ Villages inhabited by more marginal groups i.e., the landless tenants and labourers, minority groups, especially in the ‘Barani’ and desert areas and at the canals’ tail-ends,
15 are usually isolated. The Thal and Kachi areas have few roads and villages are often not connected to the outside world.
Whereas many among the small groups of local elite have their own private vehicles like motor cars and jeeps, masses rely upon public transport which is quite modern and regular between large urban locations within and outside the district but insufficient in terms of quantity and quality for meeting the needs of most rural population. This reinforces the marginality of the less resourceful populations in the district.
The district is quite well-served as far as the availability of railways is concerned and links the district with other major parts of the country. There are 22 railway stations in the district, half of which are in the Mianwali Tehsil. Similarly, there are 32 telephone exchanges functioning for more than 10,000 telephone connections, mostly in the urban areas of the district. However, many rural settlements are without such facility. There are 36 post offices in the district, with more than half in the Mianwali Tehsil.
3.1.3 Educational and vocational skill training opportunities
The situation of the district population in terms of literacy and education has been discussed in the following chapter. The un-even distribution of educational institutions shown in the following table explains the same trend in percentages of educated persons in the district. Most educational facilities are concentrated in the Mianwali Tehsil (974) followed by Isakhel (518) but Piplan Tehsil has hardly one-tenth of the total public-sector educational institutions of the district (133). Primarily in its urban areas. The gender difference is in the favour of girl children in terms of number of primary schools. This is also partially due to the fact that more schools for boys include primary and middle-level both sections. This is also because in many cases, although officially known as such, many girls primary schools also admit young boys for enrolment.
Table: No. of government schools in the district by level and gender
No. of schools No. of teachers Level Total MaleFemale Total Male Female Primary 1,259 485 774 3,0341,441 1,593 Middle 161 94 67 1,571 993 578 Higher secondary 10 9 1 198 178 20 High 75 51 24 1,118 801 317 Mosque 178 176 2 231 229 2 Total 1,683 815 868 6,1523,642 2,510 Source: EES-MoE; Govt. of Punjab.
In all, there are 8 government colleges: 3 in Mianwali, 3 in Piplan and 2 in Isakhel tehsils. Also, there is a PAF Intermediate College at Mianwali and a number of private
16 institutions including Namal College in Mianwali, which has become Associate College of the University of Bradford-UK, with Imran Khan as the Chancellor. The first phase of expansion to university is being completed with the support of the UoB-UK, which will focus on establishing specific subject areas in automotive engineering, information technology and the construction industries including teacher training and health in the next phase.
According to another official source7 there are a number of educational institutions in the district, their details till March 2000 is presented below (see Table below).
Table: No. of private educational institutions by level and gender in Mianwali
Level educational. Boys Girls Both Total Institution Primary 2 0 108 110 Middle 4 0 33 37 High 8 0 10 18 Total 14 0 151 165
At Mianwali, there is a Special Education Complex, established by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education. The official claim is that it has the ‘state of the art’ equipment and skilled team to provide education and training to the disabled children.
There are a number of public-sector commercial and vocational/technical institutions in the district with a current enrollment of above 1000 trainees8 of which, one-third females. They are all situated in Mianwali city or in Isa Khel Tehsil whereas one exists for the people in Tehsil Piplan:
Govt. Commercial Training Institute, Mianwali for males (D.Com., 2 yrs) Govt. Commercial Training Institute, Isa Khel for males (D.Com., 2 yrs) Govt. Technical Training Institute, Mianwali, for males (Certificate in mechanical, electrical, auto-farm mechanic, carpenter, plumber and welder., 2 yrs) Technical Training Centre-ABAD-Isa Khel, for boys/males (6 months) Govt. Vocational Institute for women, Mianwali (Certificate/Diploma in hand- machine embroidery, knitting, ½ yrs) Govt. Vocational Institute for women, Isa Khel (Certificate/diploma as above) Govt. Commercial Training Institute for women, Mianwali (D.Com. 2yrs) Vocational Training Centre for women-ABAD, Isa Khel
7 Pakistan Statistical Year-Book; 2005; FBS-Govt of Pakistan 8 http://www.mianwalionline.com/Education.htm
17 3.1.4 Basic health facilities
The district has few health facilities available to its population. There are 3 government hospitals in Mianwali Tehsil, 2 in Isa Khel and 3 in Piplan Tehsils. The District Headquarters Hospital in Mianwali city has 250 beds, surgical and medical specialists and eye surgeons, gynecologist, pathologist, and dental surgeon. A round the clock ambulance service is available on principle. There are also 15 Medical Officers, three Women Medical Officers assisted by a number of nurses, dispensers and technicians.
In Isa Khel Tehsil headquarter, there is a hospital with 42 beds, ambulance, X-Ray and laboratory services. Another hospital, of similar description is available in Kalabagh city. In Kalabagh city, another hospital exists for Afghan refugees, run by the Red Crescent, which also accepts local population from the encroachment areas.
Two T.B. Centres at Isa Khel and Mianwali cities exist in collaboration with Welfare Societies. Preventive services are carried out by the Health authorities with the assistance of Federal Government such as the EPI, T.B., FPP, etc. However, no public hospital exists for the population in Piplan Tehsil, where only RHC is available with fewer services.
While there are nine (9) Rural Health Centres (RHC), 8 of which are equipped with ambulance service and 5 of the RHCs have 20 beds facility each for in-patient treatment. According to the official sources, all of them ‘enjoy X-Ray and laboratory services’ (District Census Mianwali; 1998). There are also, 35 BHUs, mostly one BHU at each of the as many UCs.
Public Health Facilities in Mianwali District Facilities D H Q Tahsil hospitals Hospital 1 7 Beds 250 300 RHC 9 BHU 35 T.B Centre 2
EPI campaign Yes Source: Population Census Mianwali, 1998
According to another recent and probably, more reliable source, there are 11 to 40 health facilities and 151 to 300 patient beds per million population in Mianwali district (WFP- SDPI-2004). According to the same survey, there are only between 51 to 100 doctors per million rural population and 21 to 50 LHVs /million rural persons in the district (ibid). Another recent survey carried out by the UNICEF have the following important findings in this regard (District-Based multiple indicators cluster survey-2003-04; 2004; UNICEF):
Women with skilled attendant at birth: 41%
18 HHs covered by LHW: 49% Antenatal care by skilled attendant 55%
3.1.5 Water and sanitation
According to the sources of information available, overall close to three-fourths of the total households have a source of drinking water supply inside the dwelling (District Census 1998). While more than 90% of the urban HHs have the facility inside the house, above 30% of them in the rural areas do not enjoy this basic facility. However, two-thirds of all those who have the source of water inside the house, have hand-pumps installed privately and only 23% have piped water supply provided by the government. It is important to point out that even in the urban areas, 10% of the households do not have any water supply for drinking inside the house. A more recent study (2004-UNICEF) shows an impressive figure of 91% households having access to ‘improved source of drinking water’ (outside and inside the house combined). Nevertheless, a more critical study in this respect finds that only 21% to 30% of the rural population in the district has access to ‘safe drinking water’ (2004-WFP-SDPI).
HOUSEHOLD UNITS PERCENTAGE BY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER AND RURAL/URBAN AREAS, 1998
2 OTHERS 7 6 0.1 POND 0 3.8 0.3 WELL 5.2 4.2 4.3 HA ND PUMP 7.9 7.2 2.4 PIPE( NUL) 6.3 5.5 9.1 OUTSIDE 31.2 26.7 0.4 WELL 1 0.9 50.2 HA ND PUMP 49 49.2 40.3 PIPE( NUL) 18.9 23.2 URBA N 90.9 RURA L INSIDE 68.9 73.3 ALL AREAS
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0
SOURCE : SENSUS 1998
19 Table: % Housing units by source of drinking water and rural- urban areas (1998) Mianwali Source All areas Rural Urban Inside 73.3 69.0 91.0 Pipe (Nul) 23.2 19.0 40.3 Hand-pump 49.2 19.0 50.2. Well 0.9 1.0 0.4 Outside 26.7 31.2 9.1 Pipe (Nul) 5.5 6.3 2.4 Hand-pump 7.2 8.0 4.3 Well 4.2 5.2 0.3 Pond 3.8 4.8 2.0 Others 6.0 7.0 2.0
However, the quality of water may not be equally good in all the areas due to intensive canal irrigation and cultivation of cash-crops, the latter requiring high use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers9. Increasing salinity and water-logging due to canal irrigation has also impacted upon the quality of water severely in the district. This hypothesis is supported by findings of another recent survey by UN-World Food Programme and SDPI. According to this study only about 10% of the district population has ‘access to safe drinking water’ (2004). Nevertheless, the UNICEF survey (reference given earlier, 2004) ranks the district among one of the few in Pakistan with close to 100% households having the facility inside the house.
The water pump manufacture, installation, operations and maintenance seem to be a flourishing business in the district as most households depend upon pump water for drinking and other domestic use.
3.2 Housing
Most houses are owner-occupied (84.5%) while a one-tenth of the HHs live in rented houses since a number of outsiders: linked to important industrial units, barrages, armed forces, etc., reside in this the district. A few people live in houses not owned by them but they do not need to pay any rent (6.3%). However, the latter are mostly in rural areas, where 84% of total houses are rent-free. It may be justified to assume that the houses belong to large landowners and their land-less tenants are allowed to live without having to pay a rent. Another important aspect in this respect needs attention here i.e., that this percentage has decreased from 11% in 1980 (District Census 1980) indicating probably evictions/disengagements of ancestral tenants by the large landowners.
Most houses are constructed in Pucca material (70%) but in the urban areas even more (80%) are in this category. Close to one-third of all rural houses are made in mud and other temporary materials. However, the roofs of most houses are made in non-concrete material (72% houses have roofs in ‘wood/bamboo’) irrespective of the material used in the walls.
9 The impact of nuclear installations in the district may not be ignored in this respect.
20
Material used in outer walls by rural/urban areas-1998 Wall material type All areas Rural Urban Baked bricks/blocks/stones with cement 69.8 67.2 80 UN-BAKED Bricks/earth-bounded 28.1 30.5 18.7 Wood/bamboo 0.7 0.7 0.7 Others 1.4 1.6 0.6
M ATERIAL USED IN OUTER WALLS BY RURAL/URBAN AREAS , 1998
90 80 80 69.8 70 67.2
60
50
40 30.5 28.1 30 18.7 20 ALL AREAS 10 RURA L 1.4 1.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 URBA N 0
S DED OO R NES B OTHE KS/STO H BOUN OD /BAM OC RT O W
ICKS/BL ICKS/ EA BR BR
BACKED BACKED N- U
On an average, there are 2.7 rooms and 7.1 persons per housing unit. The average number of persons per room in a house is 2.6 in the district. Most houses have 2 to 4 rooms (56.5%) and more than one-third are only one-room houses. However, another recent study finds significantly higher congestion of 3.4 persons/room as mean average (UNICEF-2005).The figures for one-room houses seem to have dramatically decreased from 22% in the 1980 Census. Similarly the housing units with more than five rooms has increased in colossal proportion of 21% according to the last Census, from a meager 6.2% in 1980. It is difficult to imagine a direct relation between the change of houses with one-room and houses with more than five rooms. Most probably, the usual trend of the rich becoming more resourceful has taken place especially when more recently build large houses by the few rich families in the urban centres for renting purpose (to outsiders) is taken into consideration.
It is important to note that despite having a source of water inside most houses in the district, only about 27% of the overall and 22% rural houses have a bath-room facility.
21 Less than half of the urban houses enjoy this facility. Even fewer have a latrine constructed in the house (20.5%) with a small difference in this respect between rural and urban areas (14% and 46% respectively). Most rural population uses open fields for their toilet needs (68%).
The UNICEF study, carried out more recently (2004), provides the following information in this respect:
- HHs with ‘adequate’ sanitation: 62% - HHs with ‘proper’ disposal of waste water: 88% - HHs with proper disposal of solid waste: 56%
Most houses have no separate kitchen (34%), although almost half of the urban houses have this a facility.
3.4. Fuel used for cooking
Almost all population uses wood as fuel for cooking in the house (89%). Only a small proportion of urban households use gas cylinders (10%) (Table below). The heavy use of food for fuel indicates the dependence of the district population upon its natural resources besides the amount of time and energy of the poor especially the females in collecting the fuel. It is worth mentioning that coal-making from the local wood is an important informal ‘industry’ in the district and some influential Zamindars who control most natural resources of the district extract monetary benefits from cutting of the local trees.
HOUSING UNITS PERCENTAGE BY SOURCE OF COOKING FUEL USED BY RURAL/URBAN AREAS, 1998
10 0
89.4 90.2 90 86.2
80
70
60
50
40
30
20 ALL AREAS 10 10 6 RURA L 3.9 5.3 2.3 2.4 1. 5 1. 5 1. 4 URBA N 0 WOOD KEROSINE OIL GAS OTHERS
SOURCE : CENSUS 1998
22
3.3 Electricity
The district is one of the less served in the province in respect to this very basic facility as a significant proportion of rural areas are without electricity (40%). Overall, 35% households have no electricity and therefore, use kerosene oil for light at night. Although 91% of the HHs in urban areas have the facility, the latter represent a small proportion of the total.
HOUSING UNITS PERCENTAGE BY SOURCE OF LIGHTIND BY RURAL/ URBAN AREAS, 1998
10 0
90.5 90
80
70 65.4
59.1 60
50
40.1 40 33.5
30
20
7.7 ALL AREAS 10
1 0.8 1. 8 RURA L 0 URBA N ELECTRICITY K EROS INE OIL OTHERS
SOURCE : CENSUS 1998
3.4. Access to information
Access to information is one of the fundamental human rights for any society. The only information available in this respect, i.e., the 1998 District Census report, collected such information for the first time as part of the census enquiry. Overall, 34% HHs have access to television, radio and reading of newspaper. Of these, 70% have TV facility, 55% radio and 41% newspaper. These figures may be acceptable because they represent access not possession or ownership of these gadgets.
% of Households by sources of information and area-Mianwali Area T.V. Radio Newspaper All areas 70.2 55.0 40.8 Rural 46.3 42.9 26.0 Urban 24.0 12.0 15.0 Source: District Census-1998
23 CHAPTER FOUR
4. Demographic Characteristics
4.1. Population:
The total population of district Mianwali, according to the last census (1998; ref.: ibid) was 1,056,620. There has been an increase of 48.5% in the population since the previous Population Census, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3% during this period.
Most of the district population is rural i.e., 79.2% or only about one-fifth being ‘urban’. Piplan Tehsil has higher percentage of urban population at 27%.
4.1.1. Gender aspects of population
This is one of the few districts having not only gender equal but even slightly more female population than the male. This apparently progressive trend is significant in Isakhel Tehsil where the percentage of female population is almost 52% compared to 48.8% of male population.
Table: Population by sex and region Region Male Female T. Isakhel 49.03 50.96 T. Mianwali 50.39 49.6 T. Piplan 50.89 49.01 Mianwali 50.18 49.81 Punjab 51.47 48.25 Pakistan 52.03 47.46
24 % DITRIBUTION OF POPULTION BY SEX AND REGION
55 52.03 50.96 50.39 50.89 51.47 49.03 49.6 49.01 50.1849.81 50 48.25 47.46
45
40
35
30
25 MALE FEMALE 20
15
10
5
0 T ISA KHA L T MIA NWA LI T PIPLA N MIA NWA LI PUNJA B PA KISTA N
Similarly, the absence of gender gap seen in the sex ratio in the district i.e., 100.7 in favor of females (or 100.7 females against every 100 males) is also more encouraging than the ratios at the national and provincial levels (108.5 Pakistan, and 107.2 Punjab). In Piplan Tehsil, however, the trend is more ‘classic’ or towards having more males than the female
Table: Sex ratio by Country, province and district
Region Sex Ratio Pakistan 108.5 Punjab 107.2 Mianwali 100.7 T Isakhal 96.21 T Mianwali 101.5 T Piplan 103.6
25 SEX RATIO BY AREA AND REGION
110 108.5 108 107.2
106
103.6 104
102 101.5 100.7
100
98 96.21 96
94
92
90 Pakistan Punjab Mianw ali T Isakhal T Mianw ali T Piplan
SOURCE : CENSUS 1998
4.1.2. Households and size:
There are approximately 15,000 households in the district, with an average household size of 7.1 persons. The average HH size is quite high for the Isakhel Tehsil (8.1 person/HH) while it is smallest for Mianwali Tehsil where it is only 6.7 persons.
4.1.3. Rural-Urban distribution of population:
The population of this district is primarily rural with only about 80% living in ‘rural’ areas. Only the population of urban Mianwali is close to 100,000 (just above 80,000 in
26 1998).
DISTRIBUTION RURAL OPULATION BY SEX AND TAHSIL
55 51.96 51.05 49.95 50.04 50.52 49.94 48.8 49 50
45
40
35
30
25 MALE 20 FEMALE
15
10
5
0 MIANWALI T ISAKHAL T MIANWALI T PIPLAN
SOURCE:CENSUS 1998
Table..:Population by sex, sex ratio, population density, urban proportion and HH size
Admin.Unit Both Male Female Sex Pop. Urban Average Sexes ratio Density/ Proportion HH size sq.km Mianwali 1,056,620 530,311 526,309 100.8 180.9 20.8 7.1 District Isakhel 256,497 125,774 130,723 96.2 137.7 17.1 8.1 Tehsil Mianwali 532,156 268,168 263,988 101.6 197.9 19.3 6.7 Tehsil Piplan Tehsil 267,967 136,369 131,598 103.6 208.0 27.4 6.9 Source:Census Mianwali 1998.
27
4.1.4. Age distribution of district population:
Most of the district population is relatively young which conforms to the overall national trends in this respect. Children in the youngest age-group of 0-5yrs represent almost 15% of the total population. While a significant proportion of the district population (almost 44%) is in the younger age-categories of 0-14 yrs, more than half of the total population is in the reproductive age (15-64yrs). In particular, the percentage of females in the reproductive age is considerably higher compared to the males in the same category (54% females and about 51% males). This trend is specific to the rural areas and since there is no evidence of higher health, reproductive health, nutrition and educational status of women (according to the related statistics, shown elsewhere in this report), it is possible that the higher female percentages are merely the result of absence of males on urban jobs from their villages.
Table: Mianwali Population % distribution by age-groups, sex and rural-urban areas (1998) All areas Rural Urban Age groups Age/yrs M+F Male Female M+F Male Female M+F Male Female Under 1 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.2 Under 5 14.6 15.0 14.3 15.1 15.6 14.7 12.9 12.8 12.9 Under 10 30.3 31.1 29.5 31.1 32.2 30.1 27.2 27.3 27.2 Under 15 43.6 44.9 42.4 44.4 46.1 42.8 40.6 40.5 40.6 15 to 49 44.3 42.5 46.1 43.5 41.3 45.6 47.5 47.2 47.8 15 to 64 52.3 50.8 53.9 51.4 49.5 53.3 55.7 55.6 55.8 18 & above 50.3 48.6 52.0 49.7 47.6 51.8 52.6 52.6 52.6 21 above 43.5 42.5 44.5 42.9 41.5 44.2 46.0 46.4 45.6 65 above 4.1 4.3 3.8 4.1 4.5 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.6 Age Dependency ratio 91.2 96.9 85.794.5 102.1 87.4 79.5 79.7 79.2 Source: District Census, 1998
4.1. 6. Marital status:
Of the total population of 15 years and above ages, close to two-thirds is married (59.7% males and 64.2% females). It is, however, important to point out that about 9% of the married population is only in the age-category of 15-19 years. This trend of early-age marriage, although significantly lower than the national average, is even more alarming for the females in this age-classification as one-fifth of them are married.
28
% MARRIED POPUALTION BY SEX AND REGION (15 - 19 YRS) AREA TOTAL MALE FEMALE T ISAKHEL 12.11 5.45 18.75 T MIANWALI 10.1.8 5.6 15.69 T PIPLAN 8.59 5.27 16.51 MIANWALI 8.01 3.51 12.57 PAKISTAN 13.1 6.00 20.7
%MARRIED POPULATION BY SEX AND REGION (15 - 19YERS)
25
20.7
20 18 . 7 5
16 .5 1 15 .69
15 13 .1 12.5 7 12. 11
10 8.59 8.01 TOTAL 6.00 5.6 5.45 5.27 MALE 5 3.51 FEMALE
0 0 T ISAKHEL T MIANWALI T PIPLAN MIANWALI PAKISTAN
SOURCE :CENSUS 1998
29 CHAPTER FIVE
5. Education and Health
5.1. Literacy and Education
5.1.1. Literacy: The literacy ratio is considerably low in the district as merely 43% of the total population of 10 years age and above is literate. Nevertheless, this compares well with the provincial and national literacy ratios (46.6% and 44% respectively).
A wide gender gap exists in terms of literacy, indicating a low socio-economic status of the women in the society. Of the total literate, about 64% are males and only about one- third (22%) are females (Census 1998).
Literacy is significantly high for the urban population compared to the rural: 57% urban and 38% rural. Urban males have the highest literacy ratio of 73.5% when compared with their rural brothers i.e., 61%. However, huge gender gaps persist in this regard, twice more urban females are literate than the rural females (40% and 17% respectively).
Literacy ratio by sex, area and region Rural Rural Urban Urban Region Total rural males females Total urban males females Pakistan 46.4 20.1 70 55.2 Punjab 50.4 24.8 70.9 57.2 Mianwali 38.79 60.98 17.29 57.07 73.4939.93 T. Piplan 40.7 59.06 22.04 54.09 70.83 37.03 T. Isakhel 32.17 55.25 11.15 52.3 69.18 35.72 T. Mianwali 41.05 64.48 18.24 61.18 77.03 43.91 Source: District Census 1998
The literacy situation seems to have improved slightly since 1998 as according to a more recent survey, overall 56% of the district population is literate: males 73% and females 37% (UNICEF-2004).
Adult literacy for rural population has been reported at between 41%-50% by another district-level national study carried out recently (WFP-SDPI-2004). According to the same source the literacy for rural adult females is at an alarming rate of 10% to 11%.
At the Tehsil level, the rate of literate population is highest in Mianwali Tehsil, followed by Piplan Tehsil. Female literacy, which is very low for rural areas, is the lowest in Tehsil Isakhel with hardly 11% literacy among rural females.
30 LITRACY RATIO BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN AREAS,1981-- 1998 M IANWALI
80 73.5
70 63.8 61 60 57.1 52.8
50 42.8 38.3 40 37.6 36.9 33.7 29.6 30 22.1 21.4 20.5 ALL AREAS 20 18 17.3 RURA L
8 URBA N 10 5.5
0 BOTH SEX MALE F/MALE BOTH SEX MALE F/MALE
SOURCE : CENSUS 1998
80 73.3
70 63.5 60.7 60 56.8
50
42.5 39.6 38.5 40
30
21.7 20 16 . 9 BOTH SEXES MA LE 10 F/MALE
0 ALL AREAS RURAL URBAN
SOURC E :C ENSUS 1998
31
LITRACY RATIO BY SEX, AREA AND REGION 90
80 77.03 73.49 70.9 70.83 70 69.18 70 64.48 60.98 59.06 57.2 60 55.2 55.25 50.4 50 46.4 43.91 39.93 40 37.03 35.72
30 24.8 22.04 20.1 18.24 20 17.29 11.15 RURA L M 10 RURA L F URBA N M 0 PAKISTAN PUNJAB MIANWALI T-PIPLAN T-ISAKHAL T-MIANWALI URBA N F
SOURCE:CENSUS 1998
LITRACY RATIO BY SEX & RURAL/ URBAN AREAS,1998
80 72.6
70 62.5
60 53 51.5 49.9 50 #REF! #REF! 38.7 40 34.9 #REF! 1998 BOTH SEXES
30 1998 MALE 23.4 1998 F/MALE 19 20
10
111 0 ALL AREAS RURAL URBAN
SOURCE :CENSUS 1998
5.1.2. Current enrolment: While the literacy ratios are low, current enrolment ratios for the population between 5-24 years age, are not quite encouraging: Hardly 40% of the district Mianwali population in this age-group was enrolled in any educational institution
32 in 1998 or at the time of the last census (District Census-1998). The same trend is observed in terms of the gender gap in enrolment ratio as is seen already in literacy ratio.
According to the same source, the current net primary school enrollment rate (children in the 5 to 9 yrs ages, excluding those in ‘Kacchi’ class) is at 47%: 54% males and only 38% females/girl children (UNICEF-2004). This also means that more than half of the children in this age-group are denied their basic child right i.e., access to primary education in the district.
Table: School enrollment by level and sex.
Level Total Male Female Pre-primary/ 103,398 64,045 39,353 Kacchi Primary 36,297 24,648 11,649 Middle 510 349 161 High 15,050 10,890 4,160 Higher Secondary 18,854 18,854 - Total 174,109 118,78655,323 Source: MoE, Govt. of Pakistan
5.1.3. Educated population and level of education:
The following details are available from the official source about the formal level of education of the ‘educated’ population in the district (District Census-1998):
Below primary: 20.4% Passed primary: 30.7% Passed middle: 25.0% Passed matriculate: 19.4% Passed intermediate: 4.3% Passed graduate: 2.2% Post-graduates: 0.8%
5.2. Health situation
The information related to the health facilities of the district has already been presented earlier in this report. The availability and access to primary health care is extremely poor for most people who inhabit the rural areas. Poverty and powerlessness among the large sections of the landless and marginal peasants, of the women in particular, have none or hardly any access to the health care facilities. The following information is revealing in this respect:
33 Some more recent findings relating to the health situation of mothers and children in the district are given below:
Only413% deliveries reported with skilled attendant (2004-UNICEF) 39% women ‘aware’ of HIV/AIDS (2004-UNICEF) Women having knowledge of prevention from HIV/AIDS: 54% Only 17% reported use of modern method of contraception(2004-UNICEF) Under 5 mortality rate 129/1000 live-births (period from 1997-2001; ibid) Infant mortality rate under 1 year of age/100 live-births, 83/100,000live births (ibid) Children Under 5 years of age who are malnourished (under-weight for age) 34% Children under 5yrs receiving Vit. A capsules: 77% Access to food in low’ category for rural Mianwali (UN-WFP & SDPI-2004) HHs using iodized salt 11%(2004-UNICEF) Children under 5 yrs with BCG scar seen: 87% (2004-UNICEF) 41% to 50% children below the age of 10yrs in rural district are covered by immunization (UN-WFP & SDPI-2004) HHs covered by LHWs: 49% (2004-UNICEF) Infant mortality rate rural: 51 to60/100,000 (WFP-SDPI-2004) Food absorption in rural district ‘low’ (WFP-SDPI-2004) Children under 5yrs birth registered: 78% (UNICEF-2004) Wash hands before eating food: 36% (ibid) Wash hands after going to latrine: 56% (ibid) Maternal mortality, against 1000 live-births past 5 yrs: 399 (ibid) Ante-natal care by skilled attendant 55%women (ibid) Diagnosed as TB patient past year: 223/100,000 persons (UNICEF-2004) Cough for past three weeks: 3.2% (UNICEF-2004)Mean children ever born (MCEB) to married women of 15-49 yrs age: 3.47
The official figures for immunization coverage are given below (Figure below)
34 % OF POPULATION UNDER 10 YRS BY IMMUNIZATION , SEX AND RURAL/ IRBAN AREAS,1998
80
67.7 70
60 50.5 48.3 50 45.146.9 ALL AREAS 40 RURAL 34.2 33.5 31.1 URBAN 30 25.7 24.6 23.624.5 24.823.7 21.522.4 20 16.7 14.4
10 0 0 0 0 TOTAL VACCINATED NOT KNOWN VACCINATED NOT KNOWN VACCINATED NOT KNOWN POPULATION
SOURCE : CE NSUS 1998
Mianwali % of population under 10 yrs by immunization, sex and rural-urban areas, 1998 Both sexes Males Females Area Total population Vaccinat Not Not Vaccinat (under 10 yrs) ed known Vaccinated known ed Not known All areas 320506(100) 72.9 24.3 37.8 12.3 35.1 12 Rural 260600(100) 71.7 25.2 37.3 12.7 34.4 12.5 Urban 59906(100) 78.2 20.6 39.8 10.7 38.4 9.9
The UNICEF study (2004, op-cit) also collected useful data about current rate of illness among children in the age categories of 0-5 yrs and health-seeking practices. The results of the study in this regard are given below:
Recent illnesses (in the past two weeks), among children under 5 yrs:
Diarrhoea: 22% Cough with difficult breathing (ARI): 15% High fever: 22%
Health-care provided to the children with illnesses:
ORS used: 33% Consulted any health provider: 74% Admitted to hospital: 14.6%
35 Care-seeking knowledge of mothers: 50%
5.3.1 Degree of Urbanization and utilities/possessions in Mianwali District (at household level) (UNICEF-2004):
% of urbanization: 20% Houses ‘Pucca’: 41% Utilities: At least one of the following: 87% HHs
- Electricity: 85% - Gas: 5% - Telephone: 10% - Cable TV: 1%
Possessions:
- Radio: 10% - Television: 44% - PC: 2% - Mobile phone: 1%
Assets, land and livestock value (for those who have, mean value for assets in Rs. Lakhs):
- House: Rs 1.5 Lakhs - Land: Rs 2.8 Lakhs - House + land: Rs 4.3 Lakhs - Livestock: Rs 0.21 Lakhs - All the above sorted by ‘livestock value’: Rs 0.21 Lakhs
36
CHAPTER SIX
6. District Economy
6.1. Labour Force
6.1.1 Economically active population:
The most striking feature of the economically active population/activity rate of Mianwali district (as already observed in Layyah District also) is that it is remarkably lower than the national and provincial averages (Chart below). There is certainly a need to explore the reasons for such low activity rate although it may be assumed that besides a large number of women working in agriculture sector, a significant proportion of farm and related labour/tenants have not been included in the Census. It is possible that the large Zamindars, politically influential in the district do not disclose the number of their employees to the Census authorities and that the latter do not contact the poor workers and dependents of feudal masters independently or personally. However, the Census does not acknowledge that the rate is low compared to the provincial averages nor does it provide any comments on the issue.
% of economically active population by sex and region (10 Yrs +) Region Total Male Female Mianwali 18.1 34.5 1.5 Punjab 32.0 59.4 2.2 Pakistan 32.0 59.2 2.2
37 % OF ECNOM ICALLY ACTIV E POPULATION BY SEX AND REGION (10 YRS +)
70
59.4 59.2 60
50
40 34.5 32 32
30
20 18 . 1
TOTAL 10 MA LE
1. 5 2.2 2.2 FEMALE
0 MIANWALI PUNJAB PAKISTAN
SOURCE : CENSUS 1998
The ‘crude activity rate’ (CAR) or those economically active10 out of the total population (all ages), is at 18.0%. The ‘refined activity rate’ (RAR) or those reporting economically active out of the population of 10 yrs old and above is at 26%. For males, CAR is 34.5% and for females, it is only 1.5%.
Rural women participate actively in farm-related activities, including care of livestock, not just in Mianwali district but allover the country. Their contribution for survival and subsistence of their families is often equal if not more compared to the men especially among the poor and the marginal rural households. However, the official policy is to ignore the female economic participation in Pakistan, where the ‘economically active’ persons are those who contribute to ‘monetary’ profit or production mainly. It is perfectly understood that if valuated in monetary terms, the female contribution to the household and national economy would come to significant volumes. However, due to the existing gross gender bias, the national or official economists are not willing to valuate the women’s economic contribution in this respect.
The official ‘un-employment’ rate is high, at 29%: 29.3% males and 22.1% females), which is considerably higher for urban areas compared to the rural (37.7% urban and
10 The ‘economically active’ persons, defined as the persons working most of the time during the year preceeding the census date i.e., March 1998, looking for work, laid-off and un-paid family helpers assisting their family (Census 1998). The un-paid work of the HH females, however, is not included in this official definition as their work is not for monetary returns or because the respondents at the household level, for the Census organization are usually the males.
38 26% rural). The rate of female ‘un-employment’ is significant as many folds of them fall in the official definition of the category than those ‘currently employed’.
6.1.2 Employment status:
Of the total economically active population, 71% reported registered as self-employed: (70% males and 28.5% females). Self-employment is understandably higher in rural areas (71%) than in urban areas (56%) as they are mostly owner-farmers, business, etc. The next employment category in importance in the district is of public and private-sector service/employment. More than one-fourth of the total employment or 26% is in this category (Table below). Government service is in particular important for the employed females as the few females ‘employed’ are in government service, primarily as teachers and in health sector.
Table: Employed population by employment status
All areas Rural Urban Employment Both Male Female Both Male Female Both Male Female Status Sexes sexes sexes Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Self-employed 68.1 70.1 28.5 71.2 72.8 34.4 56.1 59.0 12.8 Employees 13.8 12.9 33.5 11.2 10.5 26.3 24.2 22.3 52.6 (Govt.) Employees 0.7 0.5 3.9 0.6 0.4 4.3 1.1 0.9 3.1 (auto-body) Employees 12.6 12.7 6.1 12.2 12.5 5.3 13.9 14.3 8.1 (private) Employers 0.7 0.5 4.9 0.7 0.4 5.7 0.9 0.7 2.8 Un-paid family 4.1 3.2 23.1 4.1 3.3 24.1 3.9 2.8 20.7 helpers Source: District Census Mianwali-1998
6.1.3 Occupations of employed population:
The most important occupational category in the district is classified as ‘elementary occupations’ which according to the official definition includes those un-skilled occupations related to agriculture, fishing, forest, etc. but also mining workers. The employed in this occupations represent 37% of the total but even much higher in the urban areas (47%) (Census-1998). This is followed by the category of ‘skilled agriculturists, forestry, hunting, fishing, etc.’, and expectedly, mainly in the rural district where a considerable proportion of the employed persons are in this occupation (42.6% rural and 9% urban) (see Table below).
39
Percentage of employed population by occupation and rural/urban areas,1998 Occupation All areas Rural Urban Code Description 1 Legislators. senior officials and managers 0.2 0.1 0.3 2 Professionals 4.5 2.9 10.5 3 Technicians and Associate professionals 2.3 2.0 3.4 4 Clerks 2.2 1.7 4.1 5 Service workers, shop-market sales workers 7.0 5.1 14.5 6 Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 35.7 42.6 9.0 7 Craft and related trades workers 2.7 2.0 5.7 8 Plants and machines operators and assemblers 6.7 7.4 3.7 Elementary occupations (agri. Fishery-mining 9 labourers) 37.3 34.8 46.9 10 Not classified 1.5 1.4 2.0 Source: District Census Mianwali-1998
6.2 Farm-related economic activities
As discussed in the above sections, the district is predominantly rural and the population depends upon farm and related activities for its survival and subsistence. Access and control of natural resources and, in particular, of cultivable land is therefore a critical factor in the local economy.
6.2.1 Land for cultivation:
The total land for agriculture in the district is 1,426,000 acres, of which slightly less than half is cultivated (Table below) (Census-1998). The highest cultivation, in proportion to the total land, is in the Piplan Tehsil where almost two-thirds of the land is cultivated however, irrigation is not available for more than half of the lands. The cultivated area is smallest in Isakhel as most land here is un-cultivable.
Tehsil-wise land utilization Type of area Isakhel Piplan Mianwali Total Total 457,958 312,625 655,419 1,426,000 Cultivated 20,233 182,729 306,683 691,745 Irrigated 71,078 116,820 201,567 389,465 Un-irrigated 131,255 65,909 105,116 302,280 Un-cultivated 255,625 101,587 143,051 600,263 Cultivable 50,276 6,504 14,841 71,621 Un-cultivable 241,629 11,003 87,651 340,283 Forest 8,381 32,337 3,193 33,911 Source: District Census Mianwali-1998
40 More than half of the total cultivated land has irrigation available. About two-thirds of the cultivated lands in Mianwali Tehsil are irrigated.
For agricultural purposes district Mianwali falls in arid and semi-arid zone of the country. The lands may be divided into the following types with the corresponding type of cultivation suitable:
Loamy with clay soil: wheat and maize Sandy soil, rainfed cultivation: Gram, Mong, Guara Irrigated: wheat, cotton, sugarcane, oninions, citrus, etc.
6.2.2. Land ownership:
The pattern of landholdings indicates the extreme in-equalities existing in terms of access and control over the most important source of production in the district i.e., the land. It is therefore, that although the average size of landholding of an owner is about 13 acres, about half of the total holdings are of under 5 acres and only about 7% of the total land owned (see Table below). Similarly, about 5% of the total holdings own more than 38% of the total land owned. Only one percent of the total holdings own 21% of the total land owned in the district (Agricultural Census of Pakistan; 2000). The most fertile, irrigated and largest tracts of lands are owned by a few families of Syed, Jat, Baluch and Pathan tribes or castes. Most of these big farms are owned by absentee landlords, who do not work on the farm, their farms being managed by tenants.
A large majority of rural population is, however, landless. According to a recent study, only 34% of the HHs own agricultural land in this district (UNICEF-2004). A significant proportion of those having the ownership, are only marginal cultivators with less than 2.5 acres of land: 21% to 30% (Food insecurity in rural Pakistan, 2003; 2004; WFP-SDPI).Together, they may make above three-fourths of the total rural population of the district but if those who own up-to 5 acres agricultural land, the landless and below subsistence owner-farmers may represent about 80% of the total.
Table: No. and size of land holdings with farm area Size of holdings (acres) No. Holdings % holding Total area % area Total: private holdings 76,860 100 1,006,361 100 Under 1.0 6,565 9 2,739 (v. few) 1.0 to under 2.5 14,628 19 22,301 2 2.5 to under 5.0 14,710 19 49,617 5 5.0 to under 7.5 9,927 13 55,981 6 7.5 to under 12.5 11,346 15 107,815 11 12.5 to under 25.0 9,728 13 160,644 16 25.0 to under 50.0 6,850 9 216,190 21 50.0 to under 100.0 2,140 3 133,874 13 100.0 to under 150.0 398 1 43,561 4 150.0 and above 568 1 213,639 21 Source: Agricultural Census of Pakistan 2000; Govt. of Pakistan
41
6.2.3 Irrigation: As already mentioned above, more than half of the total cultivated lands in the district Mianwali are irrigated. This district has an elaborate canal irrigation system in place. Off- taking from the Indus at Jinnah Barrage, two systems of Thal Canal namely Mohajir Branch and Dullewala Brach irrigate an area of 123,024 acres in the district.
Additionally, the following lift-irrigation schemes were constructed in 1964 in the district:
i) Mianwali LI Scheme: irrigating 34,050 acres and generating an annual ‘Abiana’ worth Rs. 2,216,000. ii) Gulmiti LI Scheme: irrigating 6,192 acres and providing an annual ‘Abiana’ of Rs. 406,000. iii) Samandwala LI Scheme: irrigating 6,855 acres and generating annually an ‘Abiana’ of Rs. 376,000. iv) Paikha LI Scheme: Under progress.
The Since most irrigation is available to large landowners in the district, the landless and small farmers prosperity is further aggravated due to their dependence upon rains solely for agriculture. However, those with relatively little land, if irrigated their lands may produce significant income. As discussed already, canal irrigation is not only a blessing but also the cause of severe water-logging and salinity in the district resulting in large tracts of land turning into un-cultivable waste.
6.2.3 Crops
A large variety of crops is grown on different types of land: Wheat, gram, oil seeds, lentils, cotton, sugarcane, mong, guara, groundnut, bajra, jawar, fodder, vegetables and fruits. The information is available for the following crops major crops grown in the district:
- Wheat: Sown on irrigated and rain-fed both types of land as the main crop. It is cultivated on 317,888 acres, with an average yield per acre of 672 kilograms. - Gram: Sown on rain-fed or Barani lands. Its area is 73,769 acres and the average yield is 187 kilograms.
The major cropping seasons are two but with irrigation and modern methods in farming even more cycles may be followed.
- Kharif or crops harvested in summer include mainly: Jawar and Bajra - Rabi or crops harvested in Late autumn: Grams, Wheat and oil-seeds
42 Sugar-cane is an important cash crop, along with the cotton, both in irrigated areas. Improved and certified varieties of seeds of cotton, wheat, gram and Guar seed are used especially in irrigated lands. Similarly, chemical fertilizers and insecticides are widely used in irrigated areas. Onions and potatoes are also two important crops grown for market.
Fruits are grown by some large landowners who have irrigation. Fruit production became an important occupation since after the canal irrigation was possible in late 70s. The area under orchards is 6,000 acres. The fruit gardens of Kalabagh and Wan Bhacharan are famous in the district. Citrus fruits, mangoes, guava and Ber or Zizifus are important commercial crops of the district today.
A significant decrease in production of some major crops may be noticed over a period of three harvests as seen in the table below. Only an increase in production of guar seed seems to have taken place which does not explain really the decrease in the three major crops.
Table: Production of main crops by volume and period
Crops Production (000 M. Tons) Yr. 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 Wheat 281.14 237.78 217.00 Sugarcane 241.90 205.20 169.60 Gram 21.20 17.40 14.80 Guar seed 12.00 16.00 16.50
The reduction in production of above crops is explained hardly by the production of some fruit and vegetable production pattern shown in the table below against the same period. However, elsewhere, it also appears that canal irrigation has had massive negative impact on the land in terms of increasing salinity and water-logging, leaving large areas of land un-cultivable in the district. According to a rough estimate, 25% of the canal commanding area in the sandy region is in grip of water-logging (District Census 1998).
Table: Production of main fruits and vegetables Fruits Production (000 M. Tons) 1998-99 1999-20002000-01 Citrus 17,887 19,588 18,737 Guava 1,589 1,826 1,782 Mango 769 806 784 Vegetables Onion 4,095 5,748 5,795 Turnip 1,920 1,875 1,717 Tomato 1,045 1,111 1,008
43 This district is one of the total 34 in the country and of 21 districts of the province with ‘surplus production’ in terms of all food production (i.e., agriculture, fruit, vegetables and livestock, fish combined), or ‘per capita, per day consumption vs. production of all food in rural district of 0-0.99 Kcal/capita (WFP-SDPI, 2004). It has ‘surplus production’ of wheat, maize, cereal, sugar-cane, pulses, crop-based food. In terms of edible oil/oil-seeds and rice, the district has ‘low deficit’ according to the same source. Although the physical food availability is high/surplus production technically and that the district is recognized as ‘less insecure’ in terms of ‘food insecurity’, access to food in rural areas of the district is ‘low’. The latter originates in the socio-political factors including existing inequalities and disparities in access and control of socio-economic resources and capital among the various sections of population.
6.2.4 Livestock:
The importance of livestock is great for landless and marginal farmers, livestock farming is a parallel activity to crop farming (2003; PPLPI-IFCN, FAO, opp.cit). According to the same source, a landless farmer in irrigated areas with one buffalo, utilizes crop residues acquired from other farmers fields (landlords’), consumes 73% of the milk produced while the surplus (27%) is sold to the local milk-man (ibid). In comparison, a farmer with 60 hectors of land, with 10 buffaloes, sells about 90% of milk twice daily to the milk collection point (ibid).
According to the findings of another recent study, Mianwali district is classified as a district of ‘sufficient’ livestock-based food production zone, with a ‘food availability’ at 0.996 to 1.49 Kcal/capita production (WFP-SDPI-2004). Similarly, in terms of milk and dairy production in the rural district, as well as in ‘meat, fish and poultry’ production, the district falls in the category of ‘surplus production’ (ibid). This is despite the fact that the number of livestock per capita in the district is recognized as ‘low’ or just between 0.5 to below 1.0 animal/person by the same source (ibid). This is partly because larger flocks of high quality animals are kept by large landowners who have sufficient fodder/feed produced from their own lands while most poor people have none or few animals.
Table: Livestock in Mianwali district (000 heads)
Source Cattle Buffalo Sheep Goat No. of livestock (cow equivalent) WFP-SDPI; 327 213 275 373 755 2004 Agricultural 323 137 246 455 - Census of Pakistan, 2000. GoP
44 6.3. Wood and timber
Although classified mostly as arid and semi-arid/ desert and barren, as discussed earlier (Chapter 2, above), the district is rich in indigenous bio-diversity and a huge variety of wild trees and shrubs are grown in the area. Also, as shown earlier, almost all households use wood as fuel for cooking. Important monetary benefits are withdrawn by the concerned authorities and influential landowners in the district through cutting and marketing of wood and timber. It is also important to point out here that the local timber, especially the Sheesham or rose-wood and Bakain is highly valued by the furniture and related industry.
According to the District Census (1998), “Mianwali District is a prosperous husband-man of irrigated, compact plantation as well as of the linear plantation in the district” (p.16). The scrub forest area in the district measures 49,732 acres, whereas the linear plantations alongside roads, canals and railway tracks measures another 566 kilometres. Afforestation was initiated in 1949 and the entire command area was brought under forest by 1968. The major ‘Plantations’ include: Kundian, Hernoli, Chak, Shelter belts, Sarkar and resumed lands. In Piplan Tehsil, a major proportion of the ‘cultivable’ land is under the category of ‘forests’ (more than 30,000 acres).
The official annual figures from wood and timber are presented in the table below although the number of households involved in the activities related to wood and timber and benefiting from this income are not known. What is very clear from the figures shown in the following table, that the exploitation of forests has increased tremendously in less than a decades period, causing massive degradation of the natural environment of the district and there is no indication of proportionately important afforestation.
Table: Year-wise production of timber and firewood and income (1997-98)
Year Timber Fire-wood Revenue production production (million Rs.) (cubic feet) (cubic feet) 1990-91 56,450 446,855 11.7 1991-92 36,044 225,875 12.6 1992-93 70,559 339,330 11.3 1993-94 30,479 115,100 10.8 1994-95 62,565 246,550 11.5 1995-96 68,123 261,875 11.3 1996-97 55,071 314,175 17.1 1997-98 103,014 246,285 15.0 1998-99 4,200 (+)14.8 Source: District Census 1998 (+)figures not yet available in Februray1998, after which Census data was collected.
45 6.4. Industry and manufacture
6.4.1 Modern industry:
District Mianwali is not only important for its ‘surplus agricultural production’, but it is also an important hub of industrial and trade activities. There are about 259 cottage-level, small/medium and large-scale industrial units in the district. In 1991, there were already 10 ‘large-size’ industrial units operating in the district with about 14,000 workers engaged. The Mini-Steel Mill and Coal mining have already been discussed earlier. Some of them include the following:
i) Pak-American Fertilizers Ltd, (1958) Iskandarabad ii) Maple Leaf Cement Factory, (1958) Iskandarabad iii) White Cement Plant, Iskandarabad iv) Pak Dyes, Iskandarabad v) Antibiotic (PVT) Ltd., (1959) Iskandarabad vi) Saudi-Pak Beef Plan, Kalabagh
Among the medium and small industries include: saws, oil mills/oil expellers (7 small and medium units), cotton ginning (two medium and many small), poultry farms, flour/wheat milling (7 medium-small), ‘Unani medicine (7 small-medium units), carpet weaving, brick-kilns, stone-crushing, ice-factories, desi ghee factories, etc.
6.4.2 Traditional artisanal activities:
Mainly a local type of shoe-making, ‘Khari’ is prepared at a large scale by 11 units, according to the official records. However, with such a rich natural bio-diversity and type of local economy, it may be safe to assume that many artisanal crafts such as pottery, weaving of cotton and wool cloth, embroidery, etc., are common and traditional trades of the district.
Traditional food-processing is another important cottage-industry. In particular, a Sweet called Halwa made of wheat germ, milk and purified butter or ghee, similar to ‘Multani Halwa’ is a specialty of the district.
6.5 Marginality and Poverty
There exists no study on the various dimensions in scale and nature of poverty in the district. It is evident, though, from all the available facts about the social, economic and political life of the people in this district, presented above, that a large majority of the district inhabitants live under marginality and vulnerability situation.
With respect to economic marginality, it has been shown above that more than two-thirds of the rural households in the district have no or below-subsistence landholdings. Such people have been pushed increasingly into endless powerlessness with every new natural disaster, namely the floods or droughts but also because of many interventions in the
46 name of economic growth and ‘development’. The indigenous inhabitants, who lived off the local natural resources in relative harmony were classified as lower castes by the Arian and following invaders. The Land Settlements and subsequent reforms by the British during their rule strengthened the existing socio-economic hierarchy but also created new divisions where non-existent.
Sufficient information has been presented in relevant sections of this report about in- equal distribution of availability and access to the various resources (UNICEF-2004). The following data from a recent study merely stresses the point of argument further:
- Per capita income: below Rs.750/month, 47% (HHs) - Average monthly income: Rs. 1,271 - % HHs own house with any value: 82% - % HHs own house with value below 1 Lakh Rs.: 47% - % HHs own agricultural land: 34% - % HHs own agricultural land valued over Rs. 1 Lakh (of who own land): 78%
The National Human Development Report (2003; UNDP), measures all the districts against a comprehensive HD Index. The status of Mianwali according to the report is given below. Although the district stands quite high nationally, only 20th out of the total 110 in the country, and in the middle (14th) in the province according to this ranking, the most marginal groups in real HDI are those who remain out of even this ranking:
Lit. Enrol. Full Infant R. Edu. Health In- HDI HDI HDI Ratio Ratio Immun. Surviv. GDP Attain- Index come Nation- Province % % Ratio Ratio Per ment Index nal Rank 1998 1998 % % capita Rank 1998 PPP$- 1998 42.8 39.7 72.9 95.4 1,930 0.418 0.887 0.308 0.537 20 14
The canal irrigation system (post-Partition, in the late 50s), was designed in a manner to further refine the power structures already established. It is therefore, the landless and the marginal owners who have been pushed to the tail-ends of the irrigation canals. Consequently they face drought when there is a shortage of water and the floods erode their meager belongings when there is surplus of it. Their lives are spent in a constant struggle of fighting disasters, both natural and man-made, and trying to ‘rehabilitate’ themselves. Other long-term impact of irrigation on the quality of life of the poor has been due to the ‘green revolution’ which accompanied the availability of canal irrigation. The shift of entire farming to production of cash-crops for export and industry, from food-crops simply meant hunger and helplessness for large proportion of the local population.
The large and medium-scale industrial installations, barrages, nuclear and other military interventions in the district have further pushed the common people with meager
47 subsistence baggage, to mal-nutrition, hunger and powerlessness. It is important to point out that the industrial policy for the district is in particular dangerous for the natural environment and in complete disregard with the priorities and interests of the local population. The foreign investors are permitted to hold 100% of the equity of industrial projects in the district without any need for permission of the Pakistani government. No prior government sanction is required, thus, for establishment of an industry outside Ex- Municipal Territorial Limit of Town Committee/Municipal Corporation, irrespective of its size11.
The large net-work of irrigation canals established mainly for the benefit of large feudal Zamindars, who produce for the market, has left in a couple of decades time alone, one- fourth of all land in its range, uncultivable due to severe water-logging and salinity. This also means that the natural bio-diversity of these lands, which provided subsistence to many landless in the past, has disappeared.
A recent study has classified the district’s rural population in the category of ‘Low’ household incomes and ‘Low’ per capita income (WFP-SDPI; 2004). The same source, as discussed already, finds its access to food at ‘Low’, despite the fact that in terms of technical food production and ‘food availability’ there is ‘Surplus production’ in this district. In principle, there is not just enough local production of all types of food for everyone in the district, but even more or surplus for export and profit in the market. However, due to un-equal distribution of resources and control of resources among its population, access to food remains at ‘low’ for most of its inhabitants, since:
“Notwithstanding the importance of physical access (food availability), food security at the individual or household level is inter alia a function of economic access, the second pillar of food security, as food can only be secured when the capacity to acquire the food exists” (WFP-SDPI; 2004; p.51)
The data with regards to other basic human and civic facilities and rights such as the education and literacy, skill development, primary health care, electricity and roads has been presented in the earlier sections of this report. Their availability is limited and access is restricted to the powerful few in the district. Besides the local socio-economic and other productive resources, the small and powerful, feudal elite controls also the modern institutions of provision of justice and civic rights such as participation in decision-making processes. Translated as ‘Risks and uncertainty’, food-absorption for rural district is also graded at ‘Low’ by the same study mentioned above (food absorption is calculated in respect to access to safe drinking water, infant mortality, adult literacy, not just food availability but a combination of enabling factors for absorption). The intensity of poverty in relation to ‘calorie-poverty’ is faced by 36.7% rural HHs.
There is a serious need to learn about the actual scale and depth of poverty in its all the prominent dimensions i.e., socio-economic, political, human development, cultural, etc.,
11 With a formal and small ‘exception’ of: Arms and ammunition; security printing currency & Mint; High explosives; Radio-active Substances; alcoholic beverages or liquor; cotton ginning industry; and flour mills. Source: www.punjab.gov.pk
48 in the district. Without this effort, it is evident that this major issue cannot be addressed sincerely. It is expected that the South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, having the possibility of working with a focus upon the marginal peasants and workers, the women in particular, through implementation of Supporting Democratic Governance Programme (SDGP) in this district, will be able to carry out this important task.
49
CHAPTER SEVEN
7. Political participation and governance
7.1 Right to franchise:
The situation of voter registration in the district is similar to other districts in the country. This is to say that while many new voters are registered regularly, a 100% voter registration of all the ‘eligible’ voters is not achieved. On the other hand, those registered as voters, also include many who are deceased, changed address or/and names (e.g., many males due to migration to cities for work or females often after marriage change names and address both). In particular, many poor and the women are often nowhere in voters lists. This is clear from the total number of voters shown in the following table below for the 1997 and 2002 elections in the district. According to the District Census, the total population of the district was 1,056,620 persons in 1998. According to the same source the total population in the ages 18 yrs and above was 50% and in the ages of 21 yrs and above were 43.5% only. If these figures are accepted, number of registered voters in two elections under discussion are largely incorrect as they exceed the total population in these age categories (or 18yrs and above or 21 yrs and above). This has been further proven by the ECP itself in a new voter registration for the forth-coming elections in 2007, for district Layyah: 25% voters additional registration was found in the district. It may be safe to assume that the situation is the same if not worse, in most districts in this respect.
This, i.e., over-registration of voters, makes the voter turnout percentages for the various elections also in-correct. This is to say that irrespective of the bogus votes, the voter turnout rates may actually be much higher than seen in the table here since the numbers of ‘registered voters’ is too inflated.
Table: Voter participation in the past elections by year Election Year Registered voters Votes polled % Turnout NA 1988 451,454 204,611 45.32 PA 1988 Same as above 216,367 47.93 NA 1990 455,566 210,400 46.18 PA 1990 Same as above 225,491 49.50 NA 1993 479,181 226,547 47.28 PA 1993 Same as above 239,311 49.94 NA 1997 499,463 218,214 43.69 PA 1997 Same as above 217,616 43.57 NA 2002 620,008 292,382 47.16 PA 2002 Same as above 292,317 47.15 Source: ECP-GoP
50
7.2. Party politics and vote-bank of political parties
Like allover the country, due to a number of factors, primarily among them, the interference from the military, a discontinued and varied pattern, if at all, may be seen in different elections over a period of about two decades (see Table below). The local elite, The Nawab of Kalabagh in particular, but also a number of other feudal and ‘religious- feudal’ groups have dominated the course of electoral politics in accordance with the national military/vested groups. In this respect, it is important to point out the role of ‘Independent’ candidates and ‘Others’ categories in the table below. It is clear as well that the district has never been a stronghold of progressive political parties during this period. Except for the last elections in 2002, it has always been the PML (N)/IJI who have won the maximum seats.
Table: The position of various political parties in different elections Political 1988 1990 1993 1997 2002 parties NA PA NA PA NA PA NA PA NA PA PPP/PDA 13.2 9.9 31.9 7.9 2.4 1.0 9.8 0.0 18.4 13.0 PML(N)/ 20.2 23.0 60.4 45.1 20.7 15.1 44.1 32.8 10.7 8.3 IJI PML (QA) ------37.9 38.2 MMAP/PIF - - - - 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.5 10.8 IND. 22.8 60.3 7.7 46.9 71.6 83.8 18.7 59.3 0.79 19.4 Others 43.8 6.9 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 27.4 7.91 25.7 10.3 Source: ECP-GoP
Out of the total ‘Returned Candidates’ in all the 10 elections discussed in the above table, besides the PML (N)/IJI, the second most important number of returned candidates has been of the ‘Independent’ candidates who have won at least one-third of all seats or ‘Returned Candidates’. In fact, it indicates a consistently pragmatic trend of mostly the same few influential families who manage to remain in power. Consequently, they make alliances (or not) with whoever wins overall and gains power at the national level, most often with the conservative forces, including the military forces.
The following names have been repeating again and again in almost every NA elections, often changing parties, if necessary, as long as it could ensure continuing as returning:
1) Maulana Abdul Sattar Niazi 2) Dr. Sher Afgan Khan Niazi 3) Nawab Malik Muzaffar Khan 4) Khan Aamar Hayat Khan 5) Haji Gul Hamid Khan Rokhari 6) Maqbool Ahmed Khan
51
7.2 Local governance
7.2.1 Local Bodies’ Elected representatives
Mianwali district has 3 Tehsil Councils and 56 Union Councils in LG elections in 2001 and 2005.
District Nazims:
2001: Mohammad Humair Hayat Khan 2005: Obaid Ullah Khan
Naib Nazims:
2001: Amjad Ali Khan 2005: Malik Tariq Masood
In all, at national, provincial, district, Tehsil or even the UC levels, it has always been the same influential families of ‘Nawabs’, ‘Khans’/Niazis and Rhokris, Maliks’, Awans’, ‘Shahs’/Syeds, etc. who held the formal political influence.
As far as the voters’ side is concerned, the same erroneous voter registration has been repeated at the local government level also. For instance, in the 2005 local government elections, a total of 562,844 registered voters were recorded of whom, 305,010, or 54% voted (NRB official web). The total number of registered voters is, as discussed in ample detail earlier, is larger than the actual population of age 18 years and above in the entire district. It is also safely understood that even if 100% eligible voters were registered (which is far from being the case), this number is still too big.
At the level of UCs, there were 56 UCs for the district in the two LG elections of 2001 and 2005 but the total number of seats was reduced for the last elections due to decrease in the women’s seats by the government. While there were total 1,176 seats in 2001 elections, the number reduced for 2005 was only 728 seats. The distribution of total seats for 2001 elections is explained below:
- Muslim (General): 448 - Muslim (Women): 224 - Peasants/Workers: 224 - Peasants/Workers (Women): 112 - Minority: 56 - Nazim and N. Nazim: 112
52 For the later elections (in 2005), the numbers were reduced to half for the first three categories of: Muslim General; Muslim Women and Peasants/Workers (50% reduction). The details of seats for the last elections are given below (ECP-GoP):
- Muslim (General): 224 - Muslim (Women): 112 - Peasants/Workers: 112 - Peasants/Workers (Women): 112 - Minority: 56 - Nazim and Naib-Nazim: 112
Of the above, 675 or 92.7% seats were contested, about 4% returned un-oppsed and only 3.3% remained vacant (ibid).
7.2.2. CCBs
Mianwali district, compared to other districts in the province, falls in the ‘medium’ range in terms of number of CCBs registered so far. According to the NRB till March 2006, more than 300 CCBs were registered in the district but none of them wase allocated funds yet.
7.4.Development projects and donors
SAP-PK, SDC, CIDA, NRSP, PRSP, SPO, ADB, Japan Aid ADB project to ‘Improve livelihoods in Punjab Barani areas’, Mianwali is one of the ten districts12 . Focuses upon the poorest population, women included (http://www.adb.org/ for project document): Poverty reduction, participation, gender development, micro- finance, literacy through vocational skill development, livestock, improved services, etc.
UNICEF-Punjab Education Department’s ‘Universal Quality Primary Education Project’ launched in 2003 with funds from Norwegian government with the target to ‘provide good quality elementary education to every child, with an emphasis on girl’s education, in line with the MDG Goal of achieving universal and equal primary education by 2015. UNICEF chose six districts in the Punjab where enrolment rates were especially low: Mianwali, Kasur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Sargodha and Sheikhupura .
HRCP district office and links all over the districts.
12 Other districts include: Layyah, Bhakkar, Chakwal, Gujrat, Jhelum, Khushhab, Narowal, Rawalipindi and Sialkot and the project plans to cover 70,000 poor families in 200 poorest UCs, dependent upon ‘precarious’ rain-fed agriculture.Besides sustainable livelihoods, the project aims to also develop medium- scale infrastructure and provision of social infrastructure in the targeted area. Execution Agency for Barani Area Development. ADB loan, Women and marginal farmers are the major focus of the project. Role of CCBs. Completion date 2010.
53 The Fred Hollows Foundation (Australia-based), has undertaken work at Mianwali, as part of a four year national project to upgrade District Hospitals across the four provinces in the country. The assistance is to achieve the objective of enable the DHQ hospitals to provide ‘efficient, affordable eye care with the the assistance of AusAID and the TFHF ($ 4 million project). Improving training and facilities at districts for prevention of blindness and to eliminate curable blindness. UNHCR, with the assistance of its many donors, implemented many projects for some one lakh or more Afghan refugees in camps near Kalabagh (finishing).
Japan Government assistance for construction of rural roads for remote areas in Mianwali, with Imran Khan’s NGO-Mianwali Development Trust (US$ 84,559), The road will be 62.4 Kms of length and will interconnect some 10,000 villages.
7.5. Local Civil society
Mianwali Development Fund (Imran Khan) Mianwali District Association (Hindu minority) Agriculture Market Committees at Layyah and Fatehpur. Karwan Community Development Association: working on women and gender rights and awareness in particular, against the common custom of ‘Vani’ in the district. Malik Maula Bakhsh Memorial Trust (MMBMT), 1990, working against poverty and illiteracy in the district, Piplan Project, schools, training centres, especially female education, Community Learning Centres (7), UNESCO appreciation. Promotion and protection of women’s rights for culture of peace and non-violence’
Pakistan Development Gateway-PDG
Lawyers’ organizations, District Bar Association. Press and journalists associations Teachers and professors’ associations SHARP-refugee camps Political parties: district offices of PPP; PML-Q, ML-N, JI. Peasants and workers groups PWGs-SDGP-SAP-PK (not registered) Labour organizations
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