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North-West Frontier Province

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

Historical map showing the North-West Frontier Province in British India, published in 1916.

The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), often called Sarhad, was a province in two different countries over time. From 1901 to 1947, it was a part of the British Raj, a big empire that ruled much of what is now India and Pakistan. In 1947, when Pakistan became independent, the people of this area voted to join Pakistan. They did this in a big vote called a referendum.

The province covered a large area of 70,709 km2 (27,301 sq mi), with its capital in the city of Peshawar. It was made up of several regions called divisions, such as Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Hazara, Kohat, Mardan, and Peshawar Division. In 2010, the province was renamed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after a change in the country's laws.

During its time, the North-West Frontier Province shared borders with many places. To the north were five small areas ruled by kings, and to the northeast was the Gilgit Agency. To the east was the province of Punjab, and to the south was Balochistan. To the northwest was the Kingdom of Afghanistan, with a special area called the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in between.

History

Formation

The northwestern frontier areas were taken over by the East India Company after the Second Sikh War from 1848 to 1849. These areas were part of Punjab until 1901. In 1901, the North West Frontier Province was created from the north-western districts of Punjab. This region, together with the 'Frontier Tribal Areas', served as a buffer zone with Afghanistan.

Inside Pakistan

Before Partition of India, a vote was held in July 1947 in the North-West Frontier Province to decide its future. The people chose to join Pakistan. Chief Minister Dr Khan Sahib and his brother Bacha Khan, along with the Khudai Khidmatgars, did not take part in the vote. They felt it should have included options for the province to become independent or join Afghanistan.

The NWFP existed as a separate province until 1955. In 1955, it became part of the new province of West Pakistan under the One Unit policy by Prime Minister Chaudhry Mohammad Ali. It was created again after the One Unit system ended and kept its old name until April 2010, when it was renamed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Government

The North-West Frontier Province had important leaders named the Governor and the Chief Minister. These leaders worked there until October 14, 1955.

TenureGovernors of the North-West Frontier Province
14 August 1947 – 8 April 1948Sir George Cunningham
8 April 1948 – 16 July 1949Sir Ambrose Dundas Flux Dundas
16 July 1949 – 14 January 1950Sahibzada Mohammad Kursheed
14 January 1950 – 21 February 1950Mohammad Ibrahim Khan Jhagra (acting)
21 February 1950 – 23 November 1951Ismail Ibrahim Chundrigar
24 November 1951 – 17 November 1954Khwaja Shahabuddin
17 November 1954 – 14 October 1955Qurban Ali Khan
14 October 1955North-West Frontier Province dissolved
TenureChief Ministers of the North-West Frontier ProvincePolitical party
1 April 1937 – 7 September 1937Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum KhanNon-party government nominee
7 September 1937 – 10 November 1939Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan (1st time)Indian National Congress
10 November 1939 – 25 May 1943Governor's rule
25 May 1943 – 16 March 1945Sardar Aurangzeb KhanMuslim League
16 March 1945 – 22 August 1947Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan (2nd time)Indian National Congress
14 August 1947Independence of Pakistan
23 August 1947 – 23 April 1953Abdul Qayyum Khan KashmiriPakistan Muslim League
23 April 1953 – 18 July 1955Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan
19 July 1955 – 14 October 1955Sardar Bahadur Khan

Demographics

Main article: Federally Administered Tribal Areas § Demographics

The North-West Frontier Province had many people from different backgrounds. Most people spoke Pashto or Western Punjabi, and many practiced Islam. Before British rule, Persian was used for official government work.

The area included several districts such as Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan. Some areas also had separate counts for tribal regions.

Different groups lived together in these areas, including Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. Over time, the religious makeup changed, with Islam becoming the majority faith. Some Hindu traditions mixed with local customs due to living as a smaller group in the area for many years.

Population

Historical population, language, and religious counts in North-West Frontier Province were enumerated in all districts (Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan), detailed in the population, language, and religious tables above and below. Separate population counts were taken in the Agencies and Tribal Areas, as detailed on the respective article page.

At independence, there was a clear Muslim Pashtun, Hindkowan, and Punjabi majority in the North-West Frontier Province, although there were also significant Hindu and Sikh Pashtun, Hindkowan, and Punjabi minorities scattered across the province.

Language

The languages of the North-West Frontier Province included Pashto, Punjabi, Kohistani and others, although most of the population spoke either Pashto or Western Punjabi (primarily Hindko and Saraiki). Prior to the arrival of the British, the official language, for governmental uses and such, was Persian.

Districts

Religion

See also: Hinduism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Religious counts below is for the entirety of NWFP (Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan). The Agencies and Tribal Areas constituted a separate administrative division where religious composition was not enumerated, except at small Trans-Frontier Posts in the region.

Adherents of Islam who were indigenous to frontier regions that continued to have relatively large Hindu populations, and who were also relatively recent converts, were influenced by some traditions of Hinduism; in contrast, Muslims in frontier regions that had been further influenced by orthodox Islam and converted at a much earlier date were noted in their relatively different cultural habits.

Similarly, adherents of Hinduism who belonged to the various castes and tribes who were indigenous to the frontier regions had considerable Islamic influence, owing to their status as a religious minority in the region for centuries.

Lastly, decadal census reports throughout the colonial era frequently detailed the difficulty of differentiating adherents of Hinduism with adherents of Sikhism, owing to the traditional ability of the former in assimilating and integrating followers of varied thought into Hinduism.

Districts

Religion in North–West Frontier Province (1941): 22  

  1. Islam (91.8%)
  2. Hinduism (5.94%)
  3. Sikhism (1.91%)
  4. Christianity (0.36%)
  5. Others (0.00%)

With rapid population growth occurring across all districts in the province, Mardan District was added to the North-West Frontier Province in 1941.

Tehsils

Cities

Religion in Urban North-West Frontier Province (1941): 19  

  1. Islam (66.3%)
  2. Hinduism (24.3%)
  3. Sikhism (7.50%)
  4. Others (1.90%)

Religion in Urban North-West Frontier Province (1931): 257–259  

  1. Islam (66.3%)
  2. Hinduism (24.1%)
  3. Sikhism (6.57%)
  4. Christianity (2.95%)
  5. Others (0.02%)

Religion in Urban North-West Frontier Province (1921): 340–342  

  1. Islam (63.3%)
  2. Hinduism (28.2%)
  3. Sikhism (5.58%)
  4. Christianity (2.95%)
  5. Others (0.01%)

Castes and tribes

Population history
YearPop.±% p.a.
18551,209,736—    
18681,713,596+2.71%
18811,955,515+1.02%
18912,281,708+1.55%
19012,050,724−1.06%
19112,196,933+0.69%
19212,251,340+0.24%
19312,425,076+0.75%
19413,038,067+2.28%
Source: Census of India
: 31 : 11–13 : 1–2 : 7 : 30 : 345–346 
Population of North–West Frontier Province by District (1855–1941)
Census
Year		Peshawar
District		Dera Ismail Khan
District		Hazara
District		Bannu
District		Kohat
District		Mardan
District		North-West
Frontier Province
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
1855450,09937.21%362,04129.93%296,36424.5%—N/a—N/a101,2328.37%—N/a—N/a1,209,736100%
1868523,15230.53%394,88923.04%365,32021.32%284,81616.62%145,4198.49%—N/a—N/a1,713,596100%
1881592,67430.31%441,64922.58%407,07520.82%332,57717.01%181,5409.28%—N/a—N/a1,955,515100%
1891703,76830.84%486,20121.31%516,28822.63%372,27616.32%203,1758.9%—N/a—N/a2,281,708100%
1901788,70738.46%252,37912.31%560,28827.32%231,48511.29%217,86510.62%—N/a—N/a2,050,724100%
1911865,00939.37%256,12011.66%603,02827.45%250,08611.38%222,69010.14%—N/a—N/a2,196,933100%
1921907,36740.3%260,76711.58%622,34927.64%246,73410.96%214,1239.51%—N/a—N/a2,251,340100%
1931974,32140.18%274,06411.3%670,11727.63%270,30111.15%236,2739.74%—N/a—N/a2,425,076100%
1941851,83328.04%298,1319.81%796,23026.21%295,9309.74%289,4049.53%506,53916.67%3,038,067100%
Language in North–West Frontier Province (1881–1931)
Mother
Tongue		1881: 168 1891: 116 1901: 181 1911: 330 1921: 370 1931: 357 
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Punjabi1,050,06153.7%1,226,64853.76%876,60442.75%916,36541.71%1,000,25544.43%1,102,90545.48%
Pashto870,81644.53%1,023,02144.84%1,088,60653.08%1,221,85955.62%1,202,32653.4%1,279,47152.76%
Hindustani17,6450.9%15,6860.69%15,5980.76%16,9950.77%8,8140.39%19,2210.79%
English4,5540.23%5,2040.23%4,6010.22%5,7200.26%9,7620.43%7,8520.32%
Persian4,0280.21%3,9620.17%2,8510.14%3,4540.16%2,3520.1%6,0300.25%
Kashmiri3,7360.19%2,2180.1%8210.04%5330.02%3430.02%1,7960.07%
Balochi2,5100.13%5540.02%920.004%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Nepali1,0200.05%2,6550.12%—N/a—N/a5,1790.24%4,1490.18%5,1400.21%
Dogri6240.03%3360.01%6740.03%460.002%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Sindhi2040.01%1010.004%1960.01%—N/a—N/a70.0003%—N/a—N/a
Bengali2020.01%1060.005%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a2170.01%—N/a—N/a
Tibetan380.002%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Turkish320.002%1510.01%—N/a—N/a160.001%230.001%620.003%
Tamil230.001%370.002%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a680.003%—N/a—N/a
Gujarati160.001%2820.01%—N/a—N/a970.004%110.0005%—N/a—N/a
Marathi10.0001%610.003%—N/a—N/a2190.01%10%—N/a—N/a
Arabic10.0001%170.001%—N/a—N/a120.001%540.002%240.001%
German10.0001%100.0004%—N/a—N/a50.0002%—N/a—N/a30.0001%
French10.0001%40.0002%—N/a—N/a40.0002%—N/a—N/a90.0004%
Chinese00%20.0001%—N/a—N/a20.0001%10%50.0002%
Italian00%20.0001%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Portuguese00%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a340.002%—N/a—N/a140.001%
Chitrali—N/a—N/a70.0003%10%410.002%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Dutch—N/a—N/a20.0001%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a10%
Spanish—N/a—N/a20.0001%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a10%
Oria—N/a—N/a10%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Turanian—N/a—N/a10%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Armenian—N/a—N/a00%—N/a—N/a20.0001%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Russian—N/a—N/a00%—N/a—N/a10%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Greek—N/a—N/a00%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a20.0001%
Gujari—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a53,0212.59%25,6681.17%22,6371.01%5960.02%
Odki—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a3080.02%950.004%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Purbi—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a3590.02%980.004%—N/a—N/a
Kohistani—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a1170.01%2220.01%3770.02%
Marwari—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a490.002%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Pashayi—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a160.001%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Danish—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a20.0001%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Irish—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a10%—N/a—N/a10%
Welsh—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a190.001%
Scotch—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a10%
Japanese—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a10%
East African Dialects00%20%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Other Indo-Aryan or
Dravidian languages		00%6310.03%5,8860.29%420%00%1,5450.06%
Other Asian languages00%00%2060.01%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Other European languages00%00%200.001%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Not returned20%—N/a—N/a1,2390.06%—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a
Total1,955,515100%2,281,708100%2,050,724100%2,196,933100%2,251,340100%2,425,076100%
Language in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1931): 357 
DistrictPashtoGreater PunjabiHindustaniEnglishPersianOthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District781,77380.24%167,99417.24%11,7981.21%5,8640.6%3,9520.41%2,9400.3%974,321100%
Hazara District29,3754.38%630,70494.12%4,1130.61%2570.04%240%5,6440.84%670,117100%
Dera Ismail Khan District53,64319.57%217,56179.38%4190.15%3360.12%1,6780.61%4270.16%274,064100%
Bannu District228,38184.49%39,81414.73%1,1810.44%5560.21%130%3560.13%270,301100%
Kohat District186,29978.85%46,83219.82%1,7100.72%8390.36%3630.15%2300.1%236,273100%
Total1,279,47152.76%1,102,90545.48%19,2210.79%7,8520.32%6,0300.25%9,5970.4%2,425,076100%
Language in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1921): 370 
DistrictPashtoGreater PunjabiGujariEnglishHindustaniOthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District738,32581.37%153,90416.96%00%7,1370.79%6,0410.67%1,9600.22%907,367100%
Hazara District31,9755.14%562,29890.35%22,6373.64%3550.06%4450.07%4,6390.75%622,349100%
Dera Ismail Khan District59,21122.71%200,03576.71%00%1,2370.47%00%2840.11%260,767100%
Bannu District201,59281.7%44,77318.15%00%1870.08%480.02%1340.05%246,734100%
Kohat District171,22379.96%39,24518.33%00%8460.4%2,2801.06%5290.25%214,123100%
Total1,202,32653.4%1,000,25544.43%22,6371.01%9,7620.43%8,8140.39%7,5460.34%2,251,340100%
Language in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1911): 330 
DistrictPashtoGreater PunjabiGujariHindustaniEnglishOthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District709,46582.02%134,96215.6%270%11,2241.3%5,0280.58%4,3030.5%865,009100%
Hazara District29,1514.83%542,13189.9%25,6414.25%5150.09%1440.02%5,4460.9%603,028100%
Dera Ismail Khan District71,01527.73%182,13971.11%00%2,5310.99%2470.1%1880.07%256,120100%
Bannu District218,84587.51%29,87511.95%00%1,2040.48%1210.05%410.02%250,086100%
Kohat District193,38386.84%27,25812.24%00%1,5210.68%1800.08%3480.16%222,690100%
Total1,221,85955.62%916,36541.71%25,6681.17%16,9950.77%5,7200.26%10,3260.47%2,196,933100%
Language in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1901): 181 
DistrictPashtoGreater PunjabiGujariHindustaniEnglishOthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District619,02578.49%153,63719.48%550.01%8,6201.09%4,0580.51%3,3120.42%788,707100%
Hazara District31,5645.63%471,47484.15%52,9669.45%1,1140.2%890.02%3,0810.55%560,288100%
Dera Ismail Khan District73,13228.98%174,63269.19%00%1,9490.77%1590.06%2,5070.99%252,379100%
Bannu District195,82084.59%33,65614.54%00%1,7140.74%1240.05%1710.07%231,485100%
Kohat District169,06577.6%43,20519.83%00%2,2011.01%1710.08%3,2231.48%217,865100%
Total1,088,60653.08%876,60442.75%53,0212.59%15,5980.76%4,6010.22%12,2940.6%2,050,724100%
Religion in North–West Frontier Province (1855–1941)
Religious
group		1855: 31 1881: 17–18 1891: 14–15 1901: 34–36 1911: 307–308 1921: 345–346 1931: 373–375 1941: 22 
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam 1,099,13490.86%1,787,34191.4%2,088,01591.51%1,890,47992.19%2,039,99492.86%2,062,78691.62%2,227,30391.84%2,788,79791.8%
Hinduism 110,6029.14%154,0817.88%166,9847.32%129,3066.31%119,9425.46%149,8816.66%142,9775.9%180,3215.94%
Sikhism —N/a—N/a9,2050.47%21,1100.93%25,7331.25%30,3451.38%28,0401.25%42,5101.75%57,9391.91%
Christianity —N/a—N/a4,7250.24%5,4370.24%5,1190.25%6,5850.3%10,6100.47%12,2130.5%10,8890.36%
Jainism —N/a—N/a1060.01%1080.005%370.002%40.0002%30.0001%00%10%
Zoroastrianism —N/a—N/a520.003%480.002%460.002%490.002%200.001%600.002%240.001%
Buddhism —N/a—N/a00%00%00%00%00%20.0001%250.001%
Judaism —N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a40.0002%40.0002%140.001%00%110.0005%710.002%
Others—N/a—N/a50.0003%20.0001%00%00%00%00%00%
Total Population1,209,736100%1,955,515100%2,281,708100%2,050,724100%2,196,933100%2,251,340100%2,425,076100%3,038,067100%
Religion in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1941): 22–23 
DistrictIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District769,58990.35%51,2126.01%24,0302.82%6,8900.81%1120.01%851,833100%
Hazara District756,00494.95%30,2673.8%9,2201.16%7370.09%20.0003%796,230100%
Mardan District483,57595.47%10,6772.11%11,8382.34%4490.09%00%506,539100%
Dera Ismail Khan District255,75785.79%39,16713.14%2,3900.8%8100.27%70.002%298,131100%
Bannu District257,64887.06%31,47110.63%6,1122.07%6990.24%00%295,930100%
Kohat District266,22491.99%17,5276.06%4,3491.5%1,3040.45%00%289,404100%
Total2,788,79791.8%180,3215.94%57,9391.91%10,8890.36%1210.004%3,038,067100%
Religion in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1931): 373–375 
DistrictIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District898,68392.24%42,3214.34%24,2712.49%8,9740.92%720.01%974,321100%
Hazara District636,79495.03%25,2603.77%7,6301.14%4320.06%10.0001%670,117100%
Dera Ismail Khan District235,70786%35,82213.07%1,8780.69%6570.24%00%274,064100%
Bannu District237,67487.93%26,1819.69%5,4822.03%9640.36%00%270,301100%
Kohat District218,44592.45%13,3935.67%3,2491.38%1,1860.5%00%236,273100%
Total2,227,30391.84%142,9775.9%42,5101.75%12,2130.5%730.003%2,425,076100%
Religion in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1921): 344–346 
DistrictIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District836,22292.16%48,1445.31%15,3261.69%7,6520.84%230.003%907,367100%
Hazara District591,05894.97%26,0384.18%4,8500.78%4030.06%00%622,349100%
Dera Ismail Khan District218,31583.72%39,31115.08%1,9040.73%1,2370.47%00%260,767100%
Bannu District219,69589.04%23,5099.53%3,2861.33%2440.1%00%246,734100%
Kohat District197,49692.23%12,8796.01%2,6741.25%1,0740.5%00%214,123100%
Total2,062,78691.62%149,8816.66%28,0401.25%10,6100.47%230.001%2,251,340100%
Religion in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1881): 17–18 
DistrictIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District546,11792.14%39,3216.63%3,1030.52%4,0880.69%450.01%592,674100%
Dera Ismail Khan District385,24487.23%54,44612.33%1,6910.38%2530.06%150%441,649100%
Hazara District385,75994.76%19,8434.87%1,3810.34%900.02%20%407,075100%
Bannu District301,00290.51%30,6439.21%7900.24%820.02%600.02%332,577100%
Kohat District169,21993.21%9,8285.41%2,2401.23%2120.12%410.02%181,540100%
Total1,787,34191.4%154,0817.88%9,2050.47%4,7250.24%1630.01%1,955,515100%
Religion in the Districts of North–West Frontier Province (1855): 31 
DistrictAbrahamic religions & Others
(Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, others)		Dharmic religions
(Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, others)		Total
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar District403,53489.65%46,56510.35%450,099100%
Dera Ismail Khan District323,07189.24%38,97010.76%362,041100%
Hazara District276,92793.44%19,4376.56%296,364100%
Kohat District95,60294.44%5,6305.56%101,232100%
Total1,099,13490.86%110,6029.14%1,209,736100%
Religion in the Tehsils of North–West Frontier Province (1941): 30 
TehsilIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar Tehsil335,87186.27%33,5518.62%15,4543.97%2,6180.67%1,8350.47%389,329100%
Abbottabad Tehsil284,22892.13%17,5585.69%6,0351.96%2780.09%4190.14%308,518100%
Mardan Tehsil281,16193.91%8,7092.91%9,0913.04%3600.12%630.02%299,384100%
Charsadda Tehsil239,63498.11%2,5331.04%1,9400.79%1270.05%120.005%244,246100%
Mansehra Tehsil237,30697.58%4,9102.02%9650.4%220.01%00%243,203100%
Nowshera Tehsil194,08488.92%15,1286.93%6,6363.04%6520.3%1,7580.81%218,258100%
Swabi Tehsil202,41497.71%1,9680.95%2,7471.33%160.01%100.005%207,155100%
Haripur Tehsil178,54595.04%7,2783.87%2,0111.07%140.01%60.003%187,854100%
Bannu Tehsil157,09783.74%24,51713.07%5,2852.82%4670.25%2320.12%187,598100%
Dera Ismail Khan Tehsil155,10082.68%30,06516.03%1,7400.93%1950.1%4850.26%187,585100%
Kohat Tehsil100,86888.01%9,1567.99%3,6133.15%5960.52%3830.33%114,616100%
Teri Tehsil110,14697.73%2,4622.18%860.08%00%150.01%112,709100%
Marwat Tehsil100,55192.82%6,9546.42%8170.75%00%00%108,332100%
Hangu Tehsil55,21088.94%5,9099.52%6501.05%00%3100.5%62,079100%
Tank Tehsil49,84789.55%5,2799.48%4010.72%810.15%560.1%55,664100%
Kulachi Tehsil50,81092.58%3,8236.97%2490.45%00%00%54,882100%
Amb Tehsil47,28898.69%4330.9%1950.41%00%00%47,916100%
Phulra Tehsil8,63798.83%881.01%140.16%00%00%8,739100%
Total2,788,79791.8%180,3215.94%57,9291.91%5,4260.18%5,5830.18%3,038,067100%
Religion in the Tehsils of North–West Frontier Province (1931): 393–396 
TehsilIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar Tehsil240,64286.27%23,5388.44%9,7363.49%4,9911.79%400.01%278,947100%
Abbottabad Tehsil235,45492.78%13,3785.27%4,5991.81%3470.14%10%253,779100%
Mansehra Tehsil203,37497.47%4,3082.06%9660.46%120.01%00%208,660100%
Mardan Tehsil187,18094.27%5,9412.99%5,1742.61%2660.13%00%198,561100%
Charsadda Tehsil173,97097.81%2,1451.21%1,6530.93%920.05%00%177,860100%
Dera Ismail Khan Tehsil143,55983.94%25,98215.19%8940.52%5840.34%00%171,019100%
Haripur Tehsil160,63094.64%7,0164.13%2,0191.19%700.04%00%169,735100%
Bannu Tehsil138,15285.34%17,78910.99%4,9793.08%9620.59%00%161,882100%
Nowshera Tehsil142,96289.05%9,2715.77%4,6782.91%3,5992.24%320.02%160,542100%
Swabi Tehsil153,92997.17%1,4260.9%3,0301.91%260.02%00%158,411100%
Marwat Tehsil99,52291.79%8,3927.74%5030.46%20%00%108,419100%
Teri Tehsil100,17997.25%2,7882.71%270.03%170.02%00%103,011100%
Kohat Tehsil77,40887.65%7,6158.62%2,1842.47%1,1031.25%00%88,310100%
Kulachi Tehsil46,70990.08%4,7319.12%4100.79%10%00%51,851100%
Tank Tehsil45,43988.76%5,1099.98%5741.12%720.14%00%51,194100%
Hangu Tehsil40,85890.89%2,9906.65%1,0382.31%660.15%00%44,952100%
Amb Tehsil30,74298.22%5091.63%450.14%30.01%00%31,299100%
Phulra Tehsil6,59499.25%490.74%10.02%00%00%6,644100%
Total2,227,30391.84%142,9775.9%42,5101.75%12,2130.5%730%2,425,076100%
Religion in the Tehsils of North–West Frontier Province (1921): 510–516 
TehsilIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar Tehsil225,89785.82%25,4149.65%8,2233.12%3,6711.39%230.01%263,228100%
Abbottabad Tehsil214,72092.54%13,5805.85%3,3441.44%3900.17%00%232,034100%
Mansehra Tehsil195,81297.48%4,5922.29%4680.23%70.003%00%200,879100%
Mardan Tehsil161,72694.22%6,8463.99%2,8741.67%1960.11%00%171,642100%
Charsadda Tehsil161,40698.16%2,1831.33%7870.48%620.04%00%164,438100%
Haripur Tehsil153,64594.85%7,3624.54%9680.6%60.004%00%161,981100%
Swabi Tehsil155,11697.41%3,0631.92%1,0620.67%10.001%00%159,242100%
Dera Ismail Khan Tehsil129,91983.27%24,68515.82%8840.57%5290.34%00%156,017100%
Nowshera Tehsil132,07788.75%10,6387.15%2,3801.6%3,7222.5%00%148,817100%
Bannu Tehsil123,38486.56%16,13011.32%2,7771.95%2440.17%00%142,535100%
Marwat Tehsil96,31192.43%7,3797.08%5090.49%00%00%104,199100%
Teri Tehsil89,92497.49%2,2392.43%450.05%290.03%00%92,237100%
Kohat Tehsil67,53587.51%6,4158.31%2,1952.84%1,0261.33%00%77,171100%
Tank Tehsil47,89580.31%10,22417.14%8111.36%7071.19%00%59,637100%
Kulachi Tehsil40,50189.78%4,4029.76%2090.46%10.002%00%45,113100%
Hangu Tehsil40,03789.54%4,2259.45%4340.97%190.04%00%44,715100%
Amb Tehsil21,24497.66%4402.02%700.32%00%00%21,754100%
Phulra Tehsil5,63798.88%641.12%00%00%00%5,701100%
Total2,062,78691.62%149,8816.66%28,0401.25%10,6100.47%230%2,251,340100%
Religion in the Cities of North–West Frontier Province (1941): 19 
City/Urban AreaIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar122,97270.91%31,63018.24%14,2458.21%2,5861.49%1,9871.15%173,420100%
Dera Ismail Khan26,42451.5%22,81544.47%1,4122.75%1950.38%4600.9%51,306100%
Kohat32,11171.39%8,25018.34%3,5627.92%4450.99%6091.35%44,977100%
Nowshera28,13263.9%9,83122.33%4,2539.66%4120.94%1,3943.17%44,022100%
Mardan30,30171.31%5,85113.77%6,01414.15%2820.66%460.11%42,494100%
Bannu10,69627.78%22,17557.59%4,89412.71%4671.21%2320.6%38,504100%
Abbottabad12,19244.46%11,88643.34%2,6809.77%2981.09%3681.34%27,424100%
Charsadda15,74793.48%7454.42%2941.75%540.32%50.03%16,845100%
Parang13,49499.99%20.01%00%00%00%13,496100%
Tangi12,45696.51%4443.44%20.02%40.03%00%12,906100%
Mansehra8,14179.68%1,69916.63%3753.67%20.02%00%10,217100%
Lakki5,88358.01%3,71036.58%5485.4%00%00%10,141100%
Utmanzai9,76896.44%1821.8%1711.69%80.08%00%10,129100%
Haripur5,17455.5%3,11333.39%1,03511.1%00%00%9,322100%
Tank5,53160.85%3,29636.26%1811.99%660.73%150.17%9,089100%
Risalpur3,50638.93%3,93743.71%1,02411.37%3333.7%2072.3%9,007100%
Kulachi6,61074.77%2,09223.67%1381.56%00%00%8,840100%
Baffa7,16689.71%7359.2%811.01%60.08%00%7,988100%
Nawan Shehr5,07579.12%1,03016.06%3094.82%00%00%6,414100%
Kot Najibullah4,22879.55%92917.48%1562.94%20.04%00%5,315100%
Cherat27080.12%308.9%257.42%00%123.56%337100%
Total
Urban
population		365,87766.26%134,38224.34%41,3997.5%5,1600.93%5,3350.97%552,193100%
Religion in the Cities of North–West Frontier Province (1931): 257–259 
City/Urban AreaIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar86,36970.87%21,97318.03%8,6307.08%4,8543.98%400.03%121,866100%
Dera Ismail Khan22,32155.34%16,76141.56%7081.76%5411.34%00%40,331100%
Kohat24,38871%6,70919.53%2,1526.26%1,1013.21%00%34,350100%
Bannu10,60734.73%15,03649.24%3,94712.92%9493.11%00%30,539100%
Nowshera19,66267.88%4,67516.14%3,04210.5%1,5605.39%270.09%28,966100%
Mardan19,57974.5%3,60513.72%2,92711.14%1680.64%00%26,279100%
Abbottabad7,02643.46%7,75347.96%1,0396.43%3462.14%10.01%16,165100%
Charsadda10,70392.77%5194.5%2872.49%280.24%00%11,537100%
Parang10,21199.84%160.16%00%00%00%10,227100%
Tangi8,32095.75%3624.17%70.08%00%00%8,689100%
Kulachi6,11572.58%2,18225.9%1281.52%00%00%8,425100%
Risalpur3,17039.55%2,90036.18%3143.92%1,62920.32%30.04%8,016100%
Lakki4,63060.11%2,80536.41%2683.48%00%00%7,703100%
Haripur4,25355.57%2,69335.19%6969.09%110.14%00%7,653100%
Baffa6,40988.31%76210.5%861.19%00%00%7,257100%
Tank3,92961.19%2,24434.95%2403.74%80.12%00%6,421100%
Mansehra4,21772.96%1,09118.88%4698.11%30.05%00%5,780100%
Nawan Shehr3,88475.71%88317.21%3637.08%00%00%5,130100%
Cherat39646.98%15818.74%748.78%21325.27%20.24%843100%
Total
Urban
population		256,18966.34%93,12724.12%25,3776.57%11,4112.95%730.02%386,177100%
Religion in the Cities of North–West Frontier Province (1921): 340–342 
City/Urban AreaIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Peshawar73,88270.73%20,98120.09%6,1525.89%3,4143.27%230.02%104,452100%
Dera Ismail Khan21,05653.52%17,07743.41%7241.84%4841.23%00%39,341100%
Kohat18,89867.85%5,79620.81%2,1397.68%1,0203.66%00%27,853100%
Nowshera18,33566.09%6,19222.32%1,3194.75%1,8966.83%00%27,742100%
Bannu6,37628.64%13,22259.4%2,42110.88%2421.09%00%22,261100%
Abbottabad5,00736.76%7,34653.94%8796.45%3882.85%00%13,620100%
Mardan5,89053.89%3,22029.46%1,67915.36%1411.29%00%10,930100%
Tank6,04355.72%4,19738.7%3443.17%2622.42%00%10,846100%
Charsadda9,71094.9%4844.73%300.29%80.08%00%10,232100%
Parang9,86999.83%160.16%10.01%00%00%9,886100%
Tangi9,52896.8%3143.19%10.01%00%00%9,843100%
Risalpur2,72132.02%3,36939.64%6017.07%1,80821.27%00%8,499100%
Kulachi5,64971.55%2,16227.38%841.06%00%00%7,895100%
Baffa6,70388.16%86111.32%390.51%00%00%7,603100%
Lakki4,46359.7%2,54334.02%4706.29%00%00%7,476100%
Jamrud1,50724.59%3,11450.82%1,25420.46%2534.13%00%6,128100%
Haripur2,90749.36%2,63644.76%3465.88%00%00%5,889100%
Nawan Shehr3,79474.51%1,05220.66%2464.83%00%00%5,092100%
Cherat17366.28%8030.65%83.07%00%00%261100%
Total
Urban
population		212,51163.28%94,66228.19%18,7375.58%9,9162.95%230.01%335,849100%
Castes and Tribes of North-West Frontier Province (1931–1941)
Caste or
Tribe		1931: 377–383 1941: 26 
Pop.%Pop.%
Pathan905,12237.32%795,40026.18%
Awan280,99511.59%178,8965.89%
Gujar121,1705%114,7463.78%
Tanoli86,0033.55%113,8503.75%
Sayyid81,9723.38%71,2712.35%
Jat73,9193.05%43,0411.42%
Arora60,2832.49%17,8170.59%
Swathi46,5561.92%37,2451.23%
Tarkhan45,0881.86%—N/a—N/a
Julaha40,0551.65%—N/a—N/a
Dhund39,3221.62%—N/a—N/a
Baluch37,1451.53%—N/a—N/a
Khatri33,8041.39%13,9460.46%
Lohar28,9681.19%—N/a—N/a
Baghban28,4221.17%—N/a—N/a
Qureshi27,2111.12%—N/a—N/a
Karlal27,1851.12%—N/a—N/a
Mochi26,6281.1%—N/a—N/a
Kumhar23,1090.95%—N/a—N/a
Kashmiri21,7040.89%—N/a—N/a
Nai17,1780.71%—N/a—N/a
Brahman16,3790.68%13,4780.44%
Mughal16,0470.66%—N/a—N/a
Rajput14,6810.61%—N/a—N/a
Sheikh13,0460.54%—N/a—N/a
Dhobi11,6990.48%—N/a—N/a
Qassab11,5340.48%—N/a—N/a
Mirasi10,8690.45%—N/a—N/a
Sarara9,9840.41%—N/a—N/a
Sonar9,5320.39%—N/a—N/a
Chuhra8,4440.35%3,8380.13%
Paracha &
Banjara		8,2590.34%—N/a—N/a
Teli7,1740.3%—N/a—N/a
Gakhar7,0980.29%—N/a—N/a
Maliar6,6220.27%—N/a—N/a
Mallah6,5780.27%—N/a—N/a
Bhatia6,5220.27%—N/a—N/a
Arain6,4800.27%—N/a—N/a
Mashwani6,0840.25%—N/a—N/a
Rangrez5,7030.24%—N/a—N/a
Turk5,2770.22%—N/a—N/a
Bhatiara4,9980.21%—N/a—N/a
Khoja4,9860.21%—N/a—N/a
Gurkha4,5650.19%—N/a—N/a
Machhi4,1300.17%—N/a—N/a
Chamar2,9010.12%12,9900.43%
Penjara2,5730.11%—N/a—N/a
Darzi2,1770.09%—N/a—N/a
Jhinwar1,1080.05%—N/a—N/a
Others or
Not Stated		157,7876.51%1,621,54953.37%
Total2,425,076100%3,038,067100%

Images

Historical map showing the location of the North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan from 1901 to 1955.
Portrait of the Khan of Phulra, a historical leader from the princely state of Phulra.
The official flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a beautiful symbol of the region.
Historical map showing the North-West Frontier Province and Kashmir from 1907.
Historical map showing North-Western India in 1946, including regions like Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

Related articles

Peshawar
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Sikhism
British Raj

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on North-West Frontier Province, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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