The town of Charsadda, Pakistan is located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It is the 85th largest city in the country. It is home to a large number of industries, including textiles and leather. The population of Charsadda is around 70,000, and the town is home to a large number of ethnic groups.
Ancient Gandhara
The ancient Gandhara of Charsadda was part of the Achaemenid Empire, which ruled the Indus Valley around 550 BC. The empire later declined, and the region was conquered by the Greeks. Demetrius I of Bactria invaded in 180 BC and took much of Gandhara. The Greeks were a major force in India during this period, and they established provincial capitals. The new city of Gandhara was renamed Sirkap (severed head), and the kingdom included the Punjab and the Ganges Valley. The empire weakened, however, and in 322 BC Alexander the Great invaded and conquered the area.
The Gandhara Civilization was a crucial link between South Asia and Central Asia and was even older than the Silk Route. This ancient civilization carved out a significant role in the history of South Asia, and its ancient relics are still visible today. The ruins of Gandhara can be found at Peshawar, Charsadda, and Taxila.
The Gandhara scroll is one of several manuscripts that were unearthed in Afghanistan. It contains some of the earliest Buddhist writings ever discovered. It is similar in importance to the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scroll was written in carbon ink on birch bark support, and was ritualistically buried in a Stupa more than two thousand years ago.
Gandhara was the site of a complex religious tradition. It was a place of pilgrimage, trade, and other important events. It was a well-developed city, and was on a major route between China and India. Islam eventually conquered the region, but the city continued to be inhabited for centuries afterward.
Agricultural potential
The district of Charsadda is a fertile agricultural land with high potential for development. Its agricultural production is high and includes cereal crops and cash crops. There are about 1.7 million farm animals in Charsadda, and the district has the highest production of milk in the province, with 4.4 million liters produced every day. The district is close to Afghanistan and the Central Asian states, and is well-positioned to become a regional hub for agro-based industry.
The district is located close to the newly developed CPEC road network. Farmers can take advantage of this proximity and benefit from improved road infrastructure. In addition, there are micro-credit facilities available to help them achieve their farming goals. In addition, regular workshops should help farmers learn modern farming techniques and seek assistance from donor agencies.
The area is a great location for growing strawberries. The price is cheap at wholesale, and it reaches its peak in the second fortnight of March. The income per acre from this crop is estimated to be around Rs100,000. The area under this crop is increasing every year. In 2010, the strawberry crop area in Charsadda increased from 170 acres to 200 acres. There are still marketing problems in the area, but CMPII projects will help to address these problems by connecting VOs to the market.
The study also investigated the presence of pesticide residues in surface water samples in the Charsadda district. Thirty surface water samples were collected from different locations within the district. These were filtered through 0.45 mm filter paper and stored in 20-mL glass vials. The glass vials were cleaned with a glass cleaner detergent and rinsed under tap water.
Textile industry
The textile industry of Charsadda has been facing several challenges due to a number of factors. The handloom industry is under pressure from the domestic mill sector and imports from China. Furthermore, inflationary pressure is also a major hindrance to the textile industry in Charsadda. As a result, handloom weaving activities are declining day by day. Several weaving units have closed down. The study suggests that government support and policy measures can help revive the handloom sector in the district.
Special concessions can be provided to investors to set up new and sophisticated technology. In addition, a special power generation plant can be established in the district. It could be solar or diesel-based. A special residential colony with modern facilities can also be set up for the investors. Meanwhile, leather garment and footwear manufacturing companies can also set up plant in the district.
Besides, the Textile industry in Charsadda can be developed along multiple sectors, including leather and agriculture. Moreover, the district can also become a regional hub for leather production. Charsadda also has a large amount of fallow land, which could be converted into an agricultural sector.
The textile industry of Charsadda also includes khaddar making. The popular khaddar products are Chadar and Suit cloth. These are popular among the male population and are affordable. In addition to being economical, these products also have a lot of appeal in fashion circles.
The textile industry in Pakistan contributes 8.5% to the country’s GDP and makes up 38% of the entire manufacturing workforce. The sector is the eighth-largest textile exporter in the world and accounts for over 60% of Pakistan’s total exports.
Leather industry
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is planning to set up a leather industry in Charsadda to provide employment opportunities to local manual workers and shoe manufacturers. Shoemakers will be given interest-free loans and facilitation centres will be established in the district to train workers.
The district also boasts a significant comparative advantage in cash and cereal crops, which account for 6.4% of the provincial production and 27% of the national total. In addition, the district is home to the second largest sugarcane production in the province. With its proximity to Central Asian States and Afghanistan, Charsadda is ideally positioned to build a diversified agro-based industry to generate jobs and revenue.
The leather industry in Charsadda has a rich history and a strong culture of craftsmanship. The city is home to the Charsadda Chappal Makers Association, which represents around 800 chappal-making units and 8,000 workers. This industry is responsible for the production of about 8,000 pairs of chappals per day. Among the types of footwear produced in Charsadda are single-gear chappals, double-gear chappals, and sandals.
Despite the recent power outages, traditional Charsadda chappals are selling like hot cakes ahead of Eidul Fitr. Scores of clients have flooded the local market to place orders. The majority of shoemakers, however, refused to accept fresh orders because of their heavy workload and power cuts.
Fish farming
The district of Charsadda is one of the most fertile and fish-rich regions of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Over 35% of the local population is employed in the fishery and agriculture industries. However, the decreasing stocks of fish in the area have exacerbated the situation for fishers.
This study assessed the impact of destructive fishing practices on the livelihoods of small-scale inland fishers in Charsadda, Pakistan. The survey sampled three types of fishers using a two-stage cluster sampling approach. Using livelihood asset pentagons, the study found that the value of economic and physical assets declined across all three groups. For the farming fishers, the total value of livelihood assets fell from 0.40 in 2001 to 0.33 in 2016.
The Charsadda District is located between 34O3 and 34O28 North. It covers an area of 996 square kilometers. The average temperature in summer is 28 degrees Celsius, while winter temperatures range from 5 to 19 degrees Celsius. The rainy season occurs in July and August. However, winter rains are rare and are generally less than 100 mm.
The Indus River flows through the Charsadda District and stretches more than 2,750 km across the country. It is the lifeblood of the region and one of the major tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Fishers are concentrated in several villages between Munda and Nisatta. They use various tools for fishing, including spears, hooks, and drag nets.
Industrial fishing practices are not sustainable for the ecosystem. Moreover, the fish are overcrowded and cramped, and may suffer from lesions and fin damage. Such conditions also promote parasite and disease outbreaks.
