Yar Hussain

Yar Hussain is one of the largest towns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, lying about 23 kilometres (14 mi) from the district capital of Mardan and 82 kilometres (51 mi) from the provincial capital of Peshawar.

Yar Hussain is the business centre of the surrounding locality, which includes the towns of Yaqubi, Sard Chena, Ghazikot, Sadri Jadeed, Urmel Dehri, Sadri Qadeem, Sano Banda, Naiknam, Jagganat, Payende and Dobian. It is also the biggest tobacco business centre. The tobacco produced is of a good quality. However, the rate of return for the farmers is much less compared to the profit margin for middlemen, companies and cigarette manufacturers.

Yar Hussain is a village of high cultural values, especially the hospitality. People serve their guests with an open heart and a smile. Many of the old traditions are still followed.

Yar Hussain has made modest development since Pakistan's independence. However, this almost one-party system, showing the strong commitment of Yousafzai Pakhtuns to Bāchā Khān and his mission, has also had some negative effects, like the lack of electoral accountability of ANP candidates. In the absence of pressure from the electorate, the successful candidates mostly ignore developmental works. This phenomenon is not limited to Yar Hussain – it affects Swabi District as well. However, it is expected that the current provincial government will clean up this decade-old syndrome.

The village has become a commercial hub, mainly because of surrounding small villages' dependence on its market. It now has New Adda at Mata Shagai from which Flyingcoaches depart for Rawalpindi, Jehangira, and Mardan.

Yar Hussain has a strong Jirga system, comprising the elders (Masharan) of the village. Police Station Yar Hussain also has a conciliatory committee (Maslehati Committee). The decisions, conciliation, mediation, and arbitration of the Jirga are highly appreciable. Yar Hussain has seen very bad and worst enmities during the recent past. These problems were solved by the elders of the village. Most of the disputes among the people are solved by the Jirga because it is speedy and cheaper justice. These elders have solved thousands of disputes in Yar Hussain and nearby villages without having personal benefits.

Marriage ceremonies in Yar Hussain are often traditional. Most of the families beautify their ceremonies with beating of drums (dholkey). Mostly women sing traditional songs and TAPE with self-made music of drums at home. Almost all hujras (entertainment rooms in guest houses)hujras in Yar Hussain have weekly music programs of rebab, mangi, and folk songs. However, over the recent years, music and sports are quickly disappearing, which might be one of the worst impacts of cold war and post 9/11 regional situation.

Main crops

• tobacco
• sugar cane
• sunflower
• sugar beet
• cereals
• wheat
• maize
• vegetables

Industry

Although the prominent industries are still lacking in the village, some medium- and small-scale industries are present.

• Tobacco – Pakistan Tobacco LTD and Premier Tobacco Co LTD – founded by Mr. Fida Khan
• Rice – Rice ripening furnace and packaging process were initially founded by Maulana Mukhtiar Gul Haji Sahib in 1980
• Salt – Salt milling machinery introduced by Mr. Shah Room Fazal Rahim and his younger brother Haji Shams-ul-Arifeen in 1979
• Wholesale Market – The wholesale market is highly established in this village due to the dependency of surrounding villages and their growing population. Among the prominent figures of the wholesale market is Mr. Sultan Shah Brother, who initiated the business in 1965.
• Sugar – Brown sugar (gurh) is produced from nearly 5,000 metric tons (5,500 short tons) of sugar cane grown by many regional farmers. The traditional practice of gurh production dates back to the Mughal Empire.

Population

Yar Hussain's population is rapidly increasing and people are migrating from the center and narrow homes of the village toward the outskirts and barren lands. A rise in the addiction to drugs (chars) is being seen among the village's youth, due to high unemployment, illiteracy, and lack of healthy activities.

References