Khushab District خوشاب
District
Map of Punjab with Khushab District (خوشاب) highlighted
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Capital	Islamabad
Government
• MNA	Malik Shakir Bashir Awan
• MPA	Asif Bha
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Number of Tehsils	2

Khushab District (Template:Lang-ur) is a rural tribal district located in Punjab, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census, the population was 905,711 with 24.76% living in urban areas.^[1] The district consists of 3 tehsils: Khushab, Nurpur, and Quaidabad, as well as a sub-tehsil Noshehra.^[2] Khushab is home to the Heavy Water and Natural Uranium Research Reactor^[3], a critical part of the Pakistan's Special Weapons Program, which has come under much heated scrutiny.^[4]

Khushab is situated between the cities of Sargodha and Mianwali, near the river Jhelum. The district is headquartered at Jauharabad (founded 1953, pop. 39,477).

Khushab is one of the most important cities especially from a defensive (atomic) point of view. The district is full of natural beauty containing Jhelum River, Fields, Mountains (Skaisar) and Thal desert. Its main towns included Quaida-bad, Jauhara-bad, Mitha Tiwana and Nowshera. Jauharabad (atomic city) is beautiful city for residence having wide roads and streets. Nearby cities include Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakher, Jhelum and Jhang.

The education rate is increasing in the district. The top Schools and colleges include Dar e Arqam (Jauharabad Khushab Campuses) DPS Khushab, Fauji foundation Khushab. Now there is a campus of Arid University in Khushab.

There are many schools in the area mostly Secondary or Higher Secondary Education institutions. Students have to go to the other cities for higher education and further education. The literacy rate of Khushab is about 65% and due to recent research projects in the area, the literacy rate is increasing.

The district is divided into two tehsils, Khushab and Noorpur Thal, which contain a total of fifty one Union Councils^[5].

Khushab is subdivided into 41 Union Councils.

Noorpur Thal is subdivided into 10 Union Councils.

The Soon valley Sakasir is one of the most beautiful areas of the district.

There are three beautiful lakes (Ochali, Khabbaki and Sodhi Jay Wali) and a beautiful Garden Kanhatti Garden near Khabbaki village, located here in the Soon valley area is the largest forest in Khushab district. Pail-Piran a gate way to Soon Valley represents a scenic view as you enter the valley via Kalar Kahar from Islamabad-Lahore MotorWay. On your left on the hill top you see shrine of Hazrat pir Khawja Noori,descendent of Hazrat Baha ud din Zakkariyya of Multan (a saint descendent of Habbari Arab rulers of Sindh).Few leading personalities of Pail Piran includeLate Late Pir Nowbahar Shah,Late Pir Kalu Shah,Late Pir Walayat Shah (Dr.Wali Pir).

• Katha Saghral - is semi-hilly and mineral area. Dozens of minerals including coal and salt are being mined in the surrounding area of this village.

• Khabikki Lake is a salt water lake in the southern Salt Range area in Pakistan. This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range. Earlier its water was brackish. Now the water is sweet and a Chinese breed of fish is introduced in it.

The lake is one kilometre wide and two kilometres long. Khabikki is also the name of a neighbouring village. Boats are also available and there is a rest house beside the lake. A hill gently ascended on the right side of the lake. The lake and the green area around provide a good scenery.

• Sakaser is the highest mountain in the Salt Range area in Pothohar in Pakistan. It is 1522 metre / 4946 feet high. It is situated in Khushab District but it can be seen from adjoining districts of Mianwali and Chakwal.

• Uchhali Lake is just below the Sakaser mountain, it is a salt water lake in the southern Salt Range area in Pakistan. This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range. Sakaser (1522 metre / 4946 feet), the highest mountain in the Salt Range, looms over the lake. Due to its brackish water the lake is lifeless. But it offers a picturesque scenery.
• PANJA Is a small village of 3000 population . The village is renowned for provision of islamic education and lot of people in the village are HAFIZ E QURAN. It has honour of having three (3)CSS Officers from a noble family who are also famous for being Hafiz e Quran.On the inspiration of these officers number of young students have marked their way in the field of education by doing Masters and Phd.

• Wattu

Wattu tribe is founded allong with the bank of Jehlam River, 36 km away from Khushab city in south on Khushab Muzafar Garh road. They belonged from Maneka Wattu Clan in Pakpatan Sharief. They are here in Khushab since year 1350 (approximatly).

• Awan

Awan is the most important and major tribe of district khushab. Awans of this region have always been heavily recruited in Armed Forces. They are almost the sole inhabitants in the Soon Valley and areas such as Jauharabad-I, Kund, Khabaki etc.

• Kandaan

Kandaan is a sub cast of the Awan tribe, residing in Khushab and in some villages across the river in "Kandaan Khurd" & "Kandaan Kalaan".

• [[Rana's](JHAMAT)].

Rana's (JHAMAT)is the most important and major tribe of district khushab especialy famous for lanlords. And their majority Belong to Shahpur District Sargodha.

• Sangha.

The famous cast of khushab.

• Lilla tribe.

People from Lilla tribe in the Khushab district are mostly located in the Mohibpur Village, 21km south of Khushab on adjacent to the Jhelum river.

• Aheer tribe.

Aheer is another cast in this area, mostly reside in khushab city and jauharabad. they own land in khushab and jauharabad.malik naseem ahmed aheer has been the interior minister and minister for education.

• Hashmi Sadaat

Hashmites:Also called Pir families (descendents of Baha Ud Din Zakkariyya Soharwardi Multani), settled in Pail-Piran http://pailpiran.blogspot.com/

• Tiwana

The Tiwana are found mainly in the Khushab tehsil.

• Bhatti

The Bhatti(Bilholky) are found in Goliwali village of khushab

• Bangyal

Found mainly in Thal desert region,They are an ancient Rajput clan.

• Baloch

reside mainly in khushab city and tehsil noor pur thal

• Johiya

The Johiya are found along the Jhelum valley in tehsil noor pur. They are an ancient Rajput clan.

• Khaira

The Khaira are a Jat clan commonly found in the villages of Khushab

• Raja

The Raja are found in District Khushab especially in Thal Desert. They positively effect the politics of said District.

• Uttra

A local Jat clan, found in thana gunjial side, new tehsil (qaidabad)

• Aulakh

Aulakh are found as a major tribe of Khushab mostely in Adhi kot, A well known personality in Aulakh tribe is Malik Khalid Mehmood Aulakh Assistant Vice president (Sargodha Region) National Bank of Pakistan.

• Rajput(Naru)

A local rajput clan, found in Noor Pur Thal, Jamali, Bambool, Mahmood Shaheed, Jara. Nootable persons are Raja Ashraf Hayyat(Advocate), Raja Aftab.

• jasra.

a notable tribe in peelowains noor pur thal. javed sarwar jasra

• Jamali

Jamali are a Baluch tribe. Found in Jamali Balochan, in Nurpur Tehsil.

• Baghoors

They are a Jat clan, mostly reside in Rangpur Baghoor and tehsil noor pur thal and have hold in tehsil noor pur of khushab district over other tribes. Baghoor tribe always play a dominant role in tehsil noor pur's politics.

Kalira tribe is a cast residing in Village Dravi Union council Adi Kot teh.Noor Pur

Saraiki is the most widely spoken language of district .

The Janjua is a Rajput royal warrior clan of South Asia. They have been referred to as the most Valiant Warriors of Punjab. They play a vital role in business and political in District Khushab.

Janjuas has their own villages of major population as, Kath Saghral, Kath Masral, Kotli Rajgan, Dhak, Talukar, Daewal, Jaswal and others. The Mughal Emperor Jalaludin Mohammed Akbar's record keeper Abu Fazl celebrated the Janjua Rajput as among the most renowned Rajputs of South Asia.

Khushab consists of agricultural lowland plains, lakes, and hills. Parts of the Thal desert touch the district and the Jhelum runs alongside it making it highly fertile for agriculture. The district is rich in natural resources (salt and coal). Most people are associated with farming and agriculture. One third of the district is hilly and is dominated by Awans and other minor tribes. Since there is no agriculture in the area, this part of Khushab district has been favoured by governments since British times as being fertile ground for armed services recruitment - a majority of the population from this area goes into the armed forces. The other two parts are irrigated lands between Khushab and Quaiadabad and the desert area of Tehsil Noorpur Thal. This desert area is the beginning of large Thal desert that continues into India's Rajasthan. In the 1980s the district was classified as a tax relief zone for new industries. This led to the establishment of many industries including cement, sugar, and textiles. But this exist only in the Headquarter (Jauharabad) so the benefits are getting the Elite ones. Masses have still a very hard life.

The Thal desert is a dry desert with scarce vegetation — mostly thorny bushes — over a breadth of 70 miles (110 km) and is situated between the Indus river and the Jhelum river. In Thal the whole land is arid and depends upon the weather condition, but now with the project of greater thal canal the most part of the desert will be irrigated. Gram is the main crop. People are hardworking. Noorpur thal and Rangpur Baghoor are main towns of this tehsil. Mari Shah Sakhira is the one of the biggest towns of Thal desert. Noor Pur Thal has ten Union councils having degree college for men and as well as for women. Thal desert is basically is a triangle between the districts of Khushab, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Jhang, Leyiha and Muzzafargarh. Thal has very hot days and pleasant nights.

The Soon Valley is the cultural hub of Awan tribe. The heirline of the Awan tribe reaches a common ancestor Qutab Shah who supposedly lived here, so the valley holds a special meaning to the tribe. One of the villages of the soon valley namely Pail-Piran is inhabited by the descendants of Bahauddin Zakkarya Multani, and are Hashmite Sadats (Syeds), whose ancestor Pir Khawja Noori son of Pir Ali Qatal made many people of region embrace Islam. Pirs of Pail-Piran are closely related to Pirs of Bhera Sharif (Sargodha), In Chakwal District Pir da Khara, Sarkal, Titral, Wahula, Watli, Karooli, In Abotabad District Malmula, Plasi, Arwari, Thath Pir Karam Shah. Few leading personalities of Pail-Piran included Pir Nowbahar Shah, Dr. Pir Walayat Shah (Dr. Wali pir). Pir Bahadar Shah (Zaildar), Pir Kalu Shah, Pir Qadir Bakhash one of biggest land lord of area, Pir Sattar Shah, Pir Walayat Shah, Pir Siddique Shah Nambardar, Pir Bashir Ahmad Shah, and lately the sons and grandsons of Dr. Wali Pir namely: Syed Sajid Hussain Shah, Dr. Syed Wajid H. Pirzada, Pirzada Majid Hussain Shah and Pirzada Zahid Hussain Shah (Zaidi Pir), Pirzada Aitizaz Walayat Shah, Pirzada Danial Walayat Shah, Pirzada Sheharyar Walayat Shah, Pir Zakriya Walayat shah. Mazar of Pir Khawja Noori is located in Pail-piran. The Soon Valley is important as a hill station after Murree in the province of Punjab. The valley has beautiful lakes and gardens.

• Major Malik Mohemmed Sher Khan Wattu (Late)
• Shakir Bashir Awan MNA
• Malik Saeed Akhtar Khan Wattu (Late)
• Malik Naeem Awan, Ex-Federal Minister
• Malik Umer Aslam Awan,Ex-MNA
• Sumera Malik (Grand Daughter of Nawab of Kalabagh)
• Naseem Ahmed Aheer Ex Interior Minister
• Group captain Khalil ullah khan(tamgha-e-imtiaz)
• Saifullah khan(member pakistan's first youth parliament)

: Malik Noor Muhammad Agral  ex vice chairman district khushab

• Hafiz Sher Ali Malik first PCS officer from panja distt khushab who subsequently did his CSS in 1988 and joined as DMG officer in Federal Government. He has ambition to start an educational institution for the backward people of his area and has planned to construct a modern islamic institution at or around PANJA his native village.
• Hafiz Zafar Ali Malik first CSS officer from panja distt khushab who has contributed to the well being of poor people of his area by providing employment to them on merit and without bias or prejudice.He has done LL.M and has ambition to establish a law firm in Jauharabad to facilitate the poor people of the area to get their legal rights and air their voice to the appropriate forum.
• Muhammad Omar FarooqAli Malik ,promising young civil servant from panja distt khushab who has ambition to work for the people from the platform of an organization 'HAYAT FOUNDATION' named after his mother.
• Amna Khizar,young lady from Katha distt khushab, first Gold Medalist in distt khushab in masters in interior designing from college of home economics lahore
• Dr Asma Hammad Peerzada from panja distt khushab first lady doctor of the small village who inspired and motivated the girls to acquire knowledge and become useful citizens ot pakistan.

A stark intervention of prying eyes of a privately owned satellite, at the eve of President Bill Clinton's arrival to the Indian Sub-continent, captured a nuclear weapons base in Khushab in 2000 and declared that Nuclear Weaponry Program in Pakistan was second only to the United States.

On March 21, 2000, the Christian Science Monitor published an article written by Alexander Colhoun, a high-resolution aerial satellite photo revealed a nuclear reactor and a missile base near the city of Khushab (32°1′12.62″N 72°12′27.02″E / 32.0201722°N 72.2075056°E / 32.0201722; 72.2075056). These pictures had mixed views, one of the expression of power that could shackle or reshape diplomatic landscapes^[6] of a region and another of the ethical question about the usage of satellite imagery in terms of privacy and national sovereignty of a nuclear-capable nation. The report was published at a time when American President Bill Clinton was due to visit India and sparked concerns worldwide. It was later clearly stated in the Dawn newspaper on June 14, 2000 that this particular nuclear reactor at Khushab and its reprocessing plant were generating between 8 to 10 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium per year, dedicated for military use.

Some reports around the time of the satellite imagery stunt revealed that China is helping Pakistan mount nuclear warheads atop mobile M-11 missiles for which garages were supposedly build underground at Sargodha. If the case be, Pakistan had a head-start in the nuclear game. John E. Pike, spokesperson for the Federation of American Scientists told a press conference nuclear powers, in the past, or presumed nuclear powers, except the U.S., had only one organisation for making uranium and plutonium bombs because of the high costs involved but, Pakistan had two.

• Khushab District