Its district headquarter is located in the town of Hattian Bala. It consists of three tehsils: Chikkar, Leepa and Hattian Bala. History[edit]
Before the establishment of the Azad Kashmir in 1948 it was the part of the district of Baramula, tehsil Uri (now in Indian Kashmir). After ceasefire during the first war between India and Pakistan Hattian Bala became part of the district of Muzaffarabad ti
ll 2009. It was announced district in July 2009 during the coalition government of Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan. Newly established district is the Gateway to Srinagar with 0.3 million population. Indian controlled district Baramula is located in the east of Hattian Bala while Kapwara of Indian Kashmir is in the northeast, Neelum district of AJK in the northwest, Muzaffarabad in the west and Bagh in the south. The majority of the rural population depends on agriculture, livestock and forestry for its subsistence. Many people are working or settled abroad in the Middle East, UK and USA and they support their families behind and in the development of the area. Hattian Bala is a mainly hilly and mountainous region with stretches of plains along the riverside, the river Jehlum which enters from the Chakothi LoC point and passes through the Jehlum valley flowing east to northwest. Due to fast flowing winding streams, Hattian Bala has great potential to generate hydroelectricity. Hydro power stations are Kathai, Leepa, and Sharian. The district is full of natural beauty, its mountains have beautiful valleys like Leepa, Khalana Chham, Ghail, Saina Daman and Chakar Salmia. Land of Saints:
Hattian Bala is the land of many famous saints and Sufia-e-Karams. Hafiz Jamal-ud-Din of Bani Hafiz Shareef, Mian Muhammad Jee, Hafiz Mian Muhammad Younis and Hafiz Abdul Qadus (Molvi Baji) of Bani Hafiz, Peer Sikndar Shah Sahib of Hattian Shareef, Sain Mitha Bajee of Tareda (Karnah). Demography:
Hattian Bala has a 100% Muslim population with a majority of Sunni Muslims about 96% and 4% Shia. About 5% of its present population migrated from Indian Kashmir during 1947-48, 1965 and after 1989s separatist disturbances. A very few number of Afghan refugees have also now settled in some urban parts of the district. Main tribes are Gujjars, Rajputs, Mughals, Syeds, Kiyanis, Awans and Abbasis, Mirs. Languages:
Urdu, Pahari (with a slight difference in dialect), Gojri and Kashmiri. Local government:
The district council of Hattian Bala has 12 union councils (comprising 8 UCs from constituency No.5 and 4 UCs from constituency No.6). One municipal committee at Hattian and one Town Committee Chikar. Sahibzada Zulfiqar Alam served as administrator district council and administrator municipal committee Hattian and established basic infrastructure for the local councils. The rural development department has 3 Markz (centers) Hattian, Leepa and Chikar. Assistan Director LG&RDD Hattian is the administrative officer for the rural development with 2 project managers at each center.
