Nawan Shehr

Nawan Shehr (Urdu: نواں شہر) is a town in Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Pakistan. The town is renowned for the historic Ilyasi Masjid, the largest and oldest mosque of Abbottabad. Behind the mosque lies a small hill with walking trails, adding to the town's scenic charm. During the summer, Nawan Shehr attracts visitors from across the country due to its pleasant climate. It is also home to educational institutions of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. Nawan Shehr has its own old bazaar which is famous for its Chapli Kebab. The primary language spoken is Hindko, with Gojri also spoken in some areas. Nawan Shehr is located on the route to Abbottabad City and the tourist destinations of Thandiani and Nathia Gali along Murree Road, at an elevation of 1,216 meters (3,990 feet).

Nawan Shehr
Town
Nawan Shehr Show map of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nawan Shehr Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 34°9′51″N 73°15′50″E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
District	Abbottabad
Tehsil	Abbottabad
Area
• Total	... km2 (0 sq mi)
Elevation	1,216 m (3,990 ft)
Population  (2023)[1]
• Total	40,711

History

On the 3rd of June 1847 James Abbott, who would later become First Deputy Commissioner of Hazara, noted in his journal: "Marched to Nowa Shihr, 17 miles, a town of huts in a singularly beautiful and fertile valley, of considerable elevation. The wheat is still standing, although some of the ram crops are in ear. This would form a most desirable residence but for the fever with which it is visited during the rains and the swampiness of the soil at that season, I sought m vain for a quarter of an acre of ground near the town free from cultivation as a site for a shed to shelter me during the rains. I have ordered the erection of one, however, upon ground to be rented during occupation. The fever here seems to be less universal than in Pukli and Hurkishengurh".^[2]

Tourist attractions

Nawanshehr features some of its own tourist attractions, such as:

• Ilyasi Masjid (mosque)
• Bungalows (Locally known as Havelis) of Babu Sher Das.

In Nawanshehr there is a famous mosque that was built over a stream of water that flows from the mountain. The mosque stills stands to this day and still has water flowing underneath it. It is called Ilyasi Masjid. In front of it is a little pond-like area in which people can ride paddle-driven boats. The place is also famous for the 'Pakora' stalls.

• Naray a natural spring which is used as a public bath.
• Cricket Stadium^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1951	5,668	—
1961	8,507	+4.14%
1972	13,644	+4.39%
1981	14,504	+0.68%
1998	19,871	+1.87%
2017	35,737	+3.14%
2023	40,711	+2.20%
Sources:[3][4]

As of the 2023 census, Nawan Shehr had a population of 40,711.^[5]

Religion

Religious groups in Nawan Shehr City (1881−1941)^[a]

Religious group	1881[7][8][9]		1901[10][11]		1911[12][13]		1921[14][15]		1931[16]		1941[6]
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Islam	3,251	75.48%	2,939	71.44%	3,404	73.03%	3,794	74.51%	3,884	75.71%	5,075	79.12%
Hinduism [b]	1,056	24.52%	995	24.19%	1,069	22.93%	1,052	20.66%	883	17.21%	1,030	16.06%
Sikhism	0	0%	180	4.38%	188	4.03%	246	4.83%	363	7.08%	309	4.82%
Jainism	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	—	—
Christianity	—	—	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Zoroastrianism	—	—	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Judaism	—	—	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Buddhism	—	—	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	—	—
Others	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Total population	4,307	100%	4,114	100%	4,661	100%	5,092	100%	5,130	100%	6,414	100%

Notable people

• Mohammad Aslam Khan, senator from the Pakistan Peoples Party
• Mufti Qazi Asmatullah (1st Imam of Ilyasi Mosque)
• Asghar Khan

Notes

1. 1881-1941: Data for the entirety of the town of Nawan Shehr, which included Nawan Shehr Municipality and Nawan Shehr Notified Area.^[6]: 19
2. 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis