History and geography of District Rajanpur

Rajanpur District derives its name from the town of Rajanpur which was founded by Makhdoom Sheikh Rajan Shah about 1770. Rajanpur District was carved out from Dera Ghazi Khan District in 1982. Rajanpur is situated on the right bank (west side) of River Indus. It is bounded on the north and west by Dera Ghazi Khan District, to the east by Muzaffargarh and Rahim Yar Khan districts, in the south lies Jacobabad District of Sindh Province. The Sulaiman Mountains rise to the west of the district.

Demographics

Rajanpur is the headquarters of Rajanpur District and Tehsil, is located in the extreme southwest part of Punjab, Pakistan (29:06N, 70:19E) with a geographical span of 12,319 km2. It is one of the only two districts of Punjab located west of the Indus River. The land is sandwiched by river Indus on one side, while the Sulaiman mountains range on the other. According to the National Census Report 1998, it had a population of 1,103,618 of which 14.27% were urban. Under the local administrative break up, whole district is divided into three Tehsils and 43 Union Councils (UCs).

Languages

The first language of the population is Saraiki and Baluchi is also spoken by Baluch Tribes.

Agriculture

Agriculture in Rajanpur depends solely upon canal irrigation since rainfall is negligible in the region. The five rivers of the Punjab meet at the locality of Wang near Mithankot; hence these rivers provide water for irrigation as well as for domestic usage. Rainfall occurs during the monsoon season (July–September). Occasional heavy rainfall causes flooding in this region, but such floods are rare. In Rajanpur, flood waters come from the Kah Sultan and Shacher torrents (rivulets), as well as the Indus.

Rajanpur district is famous for cotton and sugarcane crop, although they are cultivating wheat and rice as well. The current flood badly affected the about-to-ripe cotton crop. The cotton picking season starts in the middle of September. Last year flood also affected their crops and this time they took seeds, fertilizers and sprays on loan from the market. In the market, one bag of DP fertilizer is available at the rate of Rs 3,000 but the price reaches to Rs 5,000, if taken on credit. Majority of the agriculturists saved seeds from the previous crop and the same was done by the affected community. They saved wheat seed from the last crop but current flood destroyed all the seeds. The market prize of the wheat seed is 800 to 1000 per 100 gram (per mun) after the flood. On loan they have to pay 75% more than the market prize, an average 2 and half to three mun wheat seed has been used in 1-acre (4,000 m2) of the land.

Irrigation System

Canal Irrigation

The agriculture of Rajanpur depend upon canal irrigation in some areas of Rajanpur peoples drinking canal water in these areas Pachad include

Rod Kohi

Major Rod Kohi areas traversed by hill torrents constitute nearly 65 percent of the total area of Pakistan and encompass entire Balochistan i.e. (Makran coastal Basin and Kharan closed Desert Basin). The other major hill torrent areas include D.G.Khan and D.I.Khan, FATA and AJK. In Sindh province, the systems are spread in Dadu district (Kirthar range). There are around 17,130,000 acres (69,300 km2) as the potential area under hill torrent / Rod-Kohi / Sailaba fanning excluding riverine areas. Indigenous Spate Irrigation/ hill torrent-irrigation systems traditionally called Rod-Kohi. Rod means water channel and Kohi pertains to mountains. In these areas major constraint is the use of flood flow which is highly variable in quantity and distribution, both in time and space. Annual rainfall is low, uncertain and patchy. Flow is laden with high silt in each flood. It is unfortunate that in spite of scarcity of water, major part of flood flows is lost due to mismanagement. Spate irrigation often takes place in environments that are arid and remote. Poverty in these areas is a major issue. There are very few options for generating income and improvement of livelihood. Abject poverty in the areas affected by the Rod-Kohi water calls for a rational and scientific management of flood flows.

Rod-Kohi or hill torrent cultivation is a unique system of agriculture being practiced in all the four provinces. In NWFP, D.I.Khan tract represents the major part of the system fed by five large tributaries locally named as “Zams”. In the Punjab, major part of the system falls in the districts of D.G.Khan, Rajanpur and Jampur. In Balochistan, this system falls in the districts of Barkhan, Musakhail, Loralai, Zhob, Bolan and Lasbella. In Sindh province, the system is spread in Dadu & Larkana district (Kirthar range). The largest area under the system of agriculture lies in Balochistan.

Spate Irrigation is traditionally used system for diverting hill torrents into cultivable command areas for growing seasonal crops. The farming system is characterized by extreme events of floods and droughts. It usually entails the construction of an earthen diversion weir across the torrent with large channel on one or both sides of the river to convey flood water across large distances. These earthen diversion structures and water conveyance system has traditionally been constructed by the beneficiaries / communities themselves, making use of traditional technology. Farmers construct field by making embankments from 3 to 6 feet (1.8 m) high to store the water depending upon the soil type, share in water and various other factors. Upon drying crops are sown which thrive on the moisture stored in the soil. There is no further irrigation except rains, if any occurs. The economic significance of Rod-Kohi Irrigation agriculture is centered around subsistence agriculture and live-stock raising which are the main sources of income. Another aspect of the Spate Irrigation System of Rod-Kohi areas is the occurrence of the perennial water (known as Kalapani), which is available throughout the year in the upper reaches. It contributes significantly to sustainable farming in the area and used for high value crops like fodder, fruits and vegetables. The development potential in Rod-Kohi Hill torrent areas is listed below.

Floods

Rajanpur is a district of Punjab located in the southern region of the province. The total population of the district is 1,522,511. As a city, Rajanpur is relatively clean, with wide streets and a good sanitation system. The district consists of three tehsils: Rojhan Mazari, Jampur, and Fazilpur.

Recently, Rajanpur district was severely affected by flash floods. The floodwaters originated from Kah Sultan and the Chaachar torrent (rivulet), impacting several union councils of the district. Hundreds of houses were either completely or partially damaged, leaving many residents without shelter and forced to stay under the open sky. Displaced people have sought refuge on streets and in public buildings in and around their villages.

Initial assessments of the flood-affected areas indicate that four union councils Rojhan, Fatih Pur, Hajji Pur, and Umer Kot were completely devastated. The affected population is currently facing critical conditions and is likely to suffer economically for at least one year, as their crops have been largely destroyed.

According to local residents, this flood is more severe than the one that occurred approximately 40 years ago.

Prime Welfare Foundation has been actively working for the rehabilitation of flood-affected communities in Rajanpur, particularly in Union Council Harrand. The foundation has provided essential support, including food, hygiene kits, shelter, medical assistance, and financial aid to the affected families.

Places

Kot Mithan

The shrine of the great Sufi Saraiki poet Khawaja Ghulam Farid is the historical place in Kot Mithan. Thousands of his disciples come to Rajanpur every year on the anniversary of Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid.

Fazilpur

The shrine of the great Peer/Sufi Hazrat Chan Charagh Shah Sain a.k.a. Ghorrey Shah Sain is the historical place in Fazilpur.

Harand Fort

This fort, built in British era, is situated in the tribal area of Rajanpur.

Marri

Marri is the resort Hill Station in Rajanpur similar to Murree. Its altitude is 4800 ft, cold Weather in summer.

Ada Chiragh Shah

It is situated on Indus highway. There is a shrine of Baba Chiragh Shah, a sufi peer.