History narrates the interesting stories of Past princely states of Pakistan.The princely states of Pakistan also…

History narrates the interesting stories of Past princely states of Pakistan.The princely states of Pakistan also called native states of Pakistan were former princely states legally under the British and Indian Empire. After the independence of Pakistan, these states got accession to Pakistan and became the part of its territory. Let’s have a quick glimpse of all 12 princely states of Pakistan.

Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur is the 12th largest city of Pakistan located in the province of Punjab. It is situated near Derawar Fort in Cholistan deserts.

After the independence of Pakistan, Sadeeque Muhammad Khan who was the Nawab of Bahawalpur, became the first who acceded his state to Pakistan on 3 October 1947.

Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Photo by Perwaiz Asim

Khairpur

The 12th largest city of Sindh province of Pakistan. Mir Shoaib Khan founded it in 1783 .

Also on 3 October 1947, Khairpur acceded to the Pakistan and a Regent, Mir Ghulam Hussain Talpur Baloch did it so on his own behalf because the Nawab of Khairpur, George Ali Morad Khan was not in swing during his reign.

Khairpur
Photo by Qamar Bakhtyar

Chitral

A symbol of Pakistan’s beauty and home to high mountains, Chitral is situated on the western bank of Chitral River in  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The accession of Chitral took place on 15 August 1957 by the Nawab of Chitral Muzaffar-ul-Mulk.

Chitral
Photo by Sabir Haider

Swat

Mingul Abdul Wadud was the Wali of Swat and acceded his state on 3 November 1847. Swat was ruled as princely state till few decades after its accession and the past Wali was Mingul Jahan who died in 1987.

Swat
Photo by Azam Ali

Hunza

The crown of the beauty of Pakistan. Hunza Valley is located in the extreme northern side of in the province of Gilgit Baltistan province.

It was the smallest princely state and was under the hold of Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hunza
Photo by Humza Sabir

Nagar

Nagar, a beautiful mountainous place which is known as the district of Gilgit Baltistan province. The popular Karakoram Highway (by road connection of Pakistan and China) also crosses it.

Nagar was another small valley state and its society shared the culture and also the language of Hunza in 1931. The ruler of Nagar, Shaukat Ali Khan acceded it to the territory of Pakistan on 18 November 1947.

Nagar Pakistan
Nagar_ Photo by Tariq Sulemani

Amb

Amb is a village located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and lies on the bank of Indus River. Hence, its natural scenes give it a distinctive value.

A day before new year, Amb acceded to Pakistan on 31 December 1947. It was an autonomous state within the territory of Pakistan and then was incorporated into the province after the death of Nawab Farid Khan in 1969.

Amb
Photo by Suleman Qadir

Phura

Having the population of almost 8,000, Phura is khanate located near Amb. It’s too small that occupies a space of only 36 square miles.

Regarding accession, Nawab Ata Muhammad Khan who was the last Nawab of Phura, concurred with Nawab of Amb. Then Khanate was completely incorporated into the province of North West Frontier Province (KPK of today).

Photo by Aman Amir

Dir

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dir is a District which was discovered in 17th century. It was the capital of former princely state of Dir.

However, Nawab of Chitral was applied for accession in 1947 but due to social and political complications, it took more than 2 decades and got acceptance in reign of Yahya Khan in 1969.

Photo by Javed Haris

Las Bela

Las Bela is the District in the province of Balochistan. It became a separate district in Kalat division on 30 June 1954. About its accession, it was accepted it was acceded by the ruler of Las Bela on March 1948 which got acceptance on 17 March 1948.

Las Bela
Photo by Amir Iqbal

Kharan

Kharan is a District of Balochistan province. At the time of independence and the accession of this District, it was the reign of Nawab Habibullah Khan Baluch who was in power from 1911-1956.

The accession of Kharan was requested on 17 March 1948 and got acceptance on the same day. The rulers of Kharan, Las Bela and Makran were collectively declared that mow their states have become a part of Pakistan on 21 March, 1948.

Kharan
Photo by Shahi Muneeb

Makran

It’s located on an important elevation of the coast of Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman also a coasting line of Balochistan, Pakistan, and Iran.

Makran also got accession on 17 March 1948. The rulers of Makran were originally styled as Sardar and from 1922 as Nawab. Details on earlier rulers are sketchy, with the first definite dates from 1898 CE onwards. The Gichki Baloch family ruled this region before the formation of Makran State, and when Makran State was formed the Gichki Sardar of Kech was made the Nawab of Makran. 

Makran
Photo by Shahid Muneeb

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