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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in the country of Pakistan.

Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

It sits in the northwestern part of the nation. To its west, it shares a border with Afghanistan. Other provinces like Balochistan and Punjab sit nearby. The land here is very diverse and beautiful. You can see rugged mountain ranges and deep valleys. There are also rolling foothills and many green farms.

River Swat Pakistan 3
River Swat Pakistan 3

The area has a very long and busy history. Long ago, it was the home of the ancient Gandhara civilization. This place was a major center for Buddhism.

Takht-e-bahi
Takht-e-bahi

Many different empires traveled through this land over the years. This happened because of the famous Khyber Pass. The pass is a path through the mountains. It connects Pakistan to Afghanistan. Merchants used this path for trade a long time ago.

The Khyber Pass with the fortress of Alimusjid - lithograph by James Rattray - 1848 (1)
The Khyber Pass with the fortress of Alimusjid - lithograph by James Rattray - 1848 (1)

Changing the name of the province was a big job. For a long time, it was called the North-West Frontier Province. This name was used starting in 1901 under the British Raj. People had many different ideas for a new name. Some wanted a name that honored the Pashtun people. Others wanted a name that felt fair to all groups. In April 2010, the name Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was finally chosen.

Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The name means the "Khyber side of the land of the Pashtuns."

Many different groups of people live in this province. The Pashtuns are one of the main ethnic groups. You will also find Hindkowans, Saraikis, and Chitralis living there.

Ghabral swatvalley x004
Ghabral swatvalley x004

It is a large place with many people. It is the third-largest province in Pakistan by population. The province is also important for the country's economy. It makes up about 10.5% of Pakistan's total GDP. This amount is worth over US$ 30 billion.

Forestry by Province
Forestry by Province

Today, the province is a mix of old and new. You can see ancient sites like the Buddhist ruins at Takht-e-bahi.

Takht-e-bahi
Takht-e-bahi

You can also see beautiful natural places like the Swat Valley.

River Swat Pakistan 3
River Swat Pakistan 3

The province has many different cultures and languages. This makes it a very interesting part of the world. It connects the high mountains to the busy lands below. Visitors can see how history and nature live together here.

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🖼️ Images & Media (34)
File:Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.svg
Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.svg
File:Shiva and Parvati BM OA1939.01-19.17.jpg
Shiva and Parvati BM OA1939.01-19.17.jpg
File:Buddha-Vajrapani-Herakles.JPG
Buddha-Vajrapani-Herakles.JPG
File:Buner reliefs Scythian bacchanalian cropped.jpg
Buner reliefs Scythian bacchanalian cropped.jpg
File:Takht-e-bahi.jpg
Takht-e-bahi.jpg
File:KanishkaCasket.JPG
KanishkaCasket.JPG
File:Horseman_on_Hindu_Shahi_coinage.jpg
Horseman_on_Hindu_Shahi_coinage.jpg
File:Masjid_Muhabat_Khan.jpg
Masjid_Muhabat_Khan.jpg
File:Bala Hisar Fort.jpg
Bala Hisar Fort.jpg
File:The Khyber Pass with the fortress of Alimusjid - lithograph by James Rattray - 1848 (1).jpg
The Khyber Pass with the fortress of...
File:Badshah Khan.jpg
Badshah Khan.jpg
File:River Swat Pakistan 3.jpg
River Swat Pakistan 3.jpg

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