NOWSHERA (Pronounced “Nau Shaar” or “Nau Khaar” in Pashto, “Nu Shera” in Hindku and “Nowshera” in Urdu languages) is one of the most fertile, peaceful and strategically located central districts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. There are three military cantonments situated in Nowshera district, which are Cherat cantonment, Nowshera cantonment and Risalpur cantonment. Therefore, Nowshera is also one of the most prominent districts of Pakistan.
Earlier, Nowshera was a Tehsil (Administrative sub-division) of Peshawar district. Its status was upgraded to District level during the regime of Pakistan Peoples Party in 1988. It is also one of the largest cities of the province and lies on the Grand Trunk Road 27 miles due east of Peshawar at 34°0’55N 71°58’29E.
Historically locals use to speak Hindko (a Punjabi Language dialect) which is spoken in areas of Nowshera Kalan, Akora Khattak, Shaidu, Jehangira and several other villages situated along the Grand Trunk Road.
When the British ruled here Nowshera was a town and cantonment as well as tehsil of the Peshawar District. This town was on the route of the North-Western Railway. The population according to the 1901 census of India was 9,518.
Major Tribes
- Khattak make up 65-70% of the district.
- Ahmadzai
- Mohammadzai
- Salarzai
- Orakzai
- Babar
- Kakakhel
- Mangal
- Awan
- Piracha