Mirpur ضلع میر پور |
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district | ||
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Coordinates: 33°08′57″N 73°45′12″E / 33.1491°N 73.7534°ECoordinates: 33°08′57″N 73°45′12″E / 33.1491°N 73.7534°E | ||
Country | Pakistan | |
Established | 1947 | |
Headquarters | Mirpur | |
Area | ||
• Total | 1,010 km2 (390 sq mi) | |
Population | ||
• Total | 371,000 | |
Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
Mirpur district (Urdu: ضلع میر پور) is a district in Azad Kashmir. The district is named after the main city, Mirpur. The district of Mirpur has a population of 371,000 and covers an area of 1,010 km2 (390 sq mi). The district is mainly mountainous with some plains. Its hot, dry climate and other geographical conditions closely resemble those of Jhelum and Gujrat, the adjoining districts of Pakistan.
During the British colonial times, Mirpur was one of the five districts of the Jammu province in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. It consisted of three tehsils: Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber. Kotli and Bhimber have since been made into separate districts. According to the 1941 census, the original district had a population of 386,655, roughly 80% of whom were Muslim and 16% were Hindu. The Mirpur district, along wih the districts of Poonch and Reasi, had close geographic, ethnic and cultural connections with West Punjab, more so than with the Jammu city and the rest of the Jammu province. The people of Mirpur therefore had a strong desire to join Pakistan.
The people of the Mirpur district (along with Kotli and Bhimber) speak a language called "Mirpuri" or "Pahari", which is a blend of Punjabi, Dogri, Pothowari, Lahndi, and Gojri. Mirpuri itself is not officially recognized as an independent language. It is generally called "Mirpuri Pahari," "Mirpuri Pothowari" or "Mirpuri Punjabi".