خوش آمدید -  میرپور آزاد کشمیر
Commissioner Mirpur Division Azad Kashmir - Commissioner Mirpur Division Azad Kashmir - Commissioner Mirpur Division Azad Kashmir

Azad Kashmir - AJK

Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) or Azad Kashmir for short (literally, "Free Kashmir"), is the southern most political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. It borders the present-day Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir to the east (separated from it by the Line of Control), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the west, Gilgit Baltistan to the north, and the Punjab Province of Pakistan to the south. With its capital at Muzaffarabad, largest city Mirpur, Azad Kashmir covers an area of 13,297 square kilometres and has an estimated population of about four million.

Azad Kashmir Geography and climate

The topography of the area is mainly hilly and mountainous with valleys and stretches of plains. The area is full of natural beauty with thick forest, fast flowing rivers and winding streams. Azad Kashmir, Main rivers are Jehlum, Neelum and Poonch.

The northern part of AJK encompasses the lower area of the Himalayas, including Jamgarh Peak 4,734 meters. However, Hari Parbat peak in Neelum Valley is the highest peak in the state. Fertile, green, mountainous valleys are characteristic of Azad Kashmir's geography, making it one of the most beautiful regions of the subcontinent. The region receives rainfall in both the winter and the summer.  Central area of Azad Kashmir (Poonch and Muzaffarabad ) are among the wettest areas of Pakistan. Throughout most of the region, the average rainfall exceeds 1400 mm, with the highest average rainfall occurring near Muzaffarabad (around 1800 mm).

Ethnic Groups of Azad Kashmir

The majority of the population is culturally, linguistically, and ethnically related to the people of northern Punjab. The principal languages spoken are Pahari, Gojri, Dogri, Potohari, Urdu, Kashmiri, Pashto, Punjabi(formal languages Urdu and English).

A large number of residents of this area have relatives who live in England and other western states. District Mirpur in particular retains strong links with the UK.