Saidu Sharif
Saidu Sharif سيدو شريف | |
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Town | |
Saidu Sharif Location within Pakistan | |
Coordinates: 34°45′N 72°21′E / 34.750°N 72.350°ECoordinates: 34°45′N 72°21′E / 34.750°N 72.350°E | |
Country | Pakistan |
Province | Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa |
District | Swat |
Elevation | 970 m (3,180 ft) |
Saidu Sharif (Urdu: سیدو شریف) is the administrative city or unit known as Union council or Ward in Tehsil Babuzai, of Swat District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is the second largest city in Swat district after Mingora.
Saidu Sharif is the hub of several official buildings, and archeological sites such as the Swat Museum, the Tomb of Akhund Sahib-e-Swat, Royal residential Palace of former Wali Swat and the archaeological remains of the Butkara Buddhist Stupa. It is also home to the Govt: Girls degree College, Govt: Jahanzeb college, DIG, DC, and the Commissioner House.
Old name of the city
Since the ancient Buddhist era, the name of Saidu sharif was Baligram. but when Akhund Sahib-e-swat, commonly known as Saidu baba settled here in 1835. So, from that time onward it was called as saidu sharif. while there is still a calm & panoramic region in southwest of saidu sharif known by Baligram.
Swat Museum of Saidu sharif
The Swat museum is on the east side of the G.T road, halfway between Mingora and Saidu Sharif. Japanese aid has given a facelift to its seven galleries which now contain an excellent collection of Gandhara sculptures taken from some of the Buddhist sites in Swat. The galleries have been rearranged and labelled to illustrate the Buddha's life story.
Terracotta figurines and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons and various metal objects are present from ancient Gandhara. The ethnographic section displays the finest examples of local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewelry. It is also under renovation with funds from the Pakistani-Italian debt swap agreement.
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Education
The pioneer alma mater of education & learning Govt: Wadudia High School is located in Saidu sharif which have blessed thousands of students with the light of knowledge. Similarly, the largest college (P.G Jahanzeb college) of the district was built here in 1952, and offers MSc (to males and females), BSc and Fsc degrees (male only).[1] Saidu medical college was built here in 1998; which ranks third in the government medical colleges in the province.[2] On 7 July 2010 the first university of the district was established in this area. [3]
Since the rule of the Mian family in Saidu Sharif, Swat has set excellent ground for education and infrastructure improving its image as a well preserve touristic site.
In the last few years, Swat has seen great changes in all aspects of its society including an increase in education,modern health care centres and a new university, along with private sector colleges.
The reason that capital investment, aid, and charity, isn't predominant in Saidu Sharif is because the government views other cities as a more worthwhile investment due to the myriad of problems in this district.
Archeological sites
One of the most important Buddhist relics in Swat, is near the museum. The stupa, which dates from the 2nd century BC, was possibly built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka to house some of the ashes of the Buddha. In subsequent centuries, it was enlarged five times by encasing the existing structure in a new shell.
Italian excavators working in 1955, exposed the successive layers of the stupa, each layer illustrating a stage in the evolution of building techniques.[4]
Administrative Division
Saidu Sharif is an administrative unit, known as Union council or Ward in Tehsil Babuzai, of Swat District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013.[5] District Swat has 67 Wards, of which total amount of Village Councils is 170, and Neighbourhood Councils is 44.
Saidu Sharif is Territorial Ward, which is further divided into three Neighbourhood Councils:
- Saidu Sharif i (Neighbourhood Council)
- Saidu Sharif ii (Neighbourhood Council)
- Saidu Sharif iii (Neighbourhood Council)
See also
- Swat District
- Babuzai
- Hidden Treasures of Swat, Book on Saidu Sharif Heritage
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saidu Sharif. |
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Swat