Mirpur District

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Mirpur is a district in Pakistan's Azad Kashmir Territory. This area was historically part of the original state of Jammu and Kashmir, the district is named after the main city - Mirpur.

Mirpur District is located in the south west of the Kashmir region - it is part of Azad Kashmir and is administered by Pakistan from Islamabad. Azad Kashmir has been considered politically, constitutionally and geographically as part of a separate state, i.e. Jammu & Kashmir. This state is a disputed territory and has been controlled by both Pakistan and India, since their independence, 14 / 15th August 1947, respectively. Azad Kashmir is under the indirect control of Pakistan, however its defence, foreign policy and currency are under the direct control of Pakistan.

Consequently, fiscal issues, i.e. budget and tax affairs have been dealt with by the 'Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council', instead of the Central Board of Revenue. Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council is a supreme body, consisting of 11 members - 6 of these members are from the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and 5 members are from the Government of Pakistan.

Also its chairman / chief executive is always the President of Pakistan. Hence, the rest of members are Azad Kashmir's own Prime Minister and President and some ministers, (also note that Azad Kashmir has its own president, prime minister and legislative assembly also supreme-court and high-court & other departments). The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) is responsible for tax affairs of rest of all Pakistani territory, i.e. all four provinces and the capital, Islamabad.

The Mirpur District (to the west and south) borders the Punjab province of Pakistan and the language and culture of this area in the border regions is very similar.

The District of Mirpur comprises partly plain and partly hilly areas. Its hot and dry climate and other geographical conditions closely resemble to those of Jhelum and Gujrat, the adjoining Districts of Pakistan.

The people of this area are basically agriculturalist belonging to Jatt and Rajput castes, with strong cultural links to the Potwar and Hazara regions of Pakistan. The Mirpur area was traditionally a recruiting ground for the British Indian Army. The people of this region are considered to be part of the 'martial tribes' as designated by the British. Mirpuri soldiers showed there bravery in both world wars.

People from this region of Jammu and Kashmir have historically looked abroad for employment. Many a ship employed Mirpuri boiler men in the age of steam. During the two world wars many Mirpuris enlisted in the merchant navy and armed services. During the last four decades a large number of people from this district have gone abroad, especially to United Kingdom for earning their livelihood. The Mangla Dam project in the early sixties resulted in the displacement of a large number of people, who under an agreement between the Pakistan government and the British government, were allowed to settle in the UK. Where they are usually known as Kashmiri-Pakistani and playing their role in the British society, British economy and their politics etc;

As such, they are today the major foreign exchange earning resource for Pakistan. Around 50,000 people were moved from this district in the mid-sixties to make way for the construction of Mangla Dam, but corrupt handling of funds meant long drawn out delays in completing the project. Most of these people settled in new Mirpur whilst some moved elsewhere in Pakistan or to the UK.

As it adjoins the industrial cities of Pakistan, the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has successfully endeavoured to develop it as an industrial place and promote private investment for establishing Textile, vegetable fat ('ghee'), garments, scooters, cosmetics and many other industries.