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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
In ancient days Jhelum was known as Jalham, the word Jhelum is reportedly derived from two words JAL(pure water) and HAM(snow).
The name thus refers to the waters of river Jhelum which have their origin in the snow capped Himalayas. The name of this river written in Rag-e-Vaid is Watasta. The origin of this river is Vary Naag Spring in Sri Nagar from where it enters Wooler Lake. After passing Wooler Lake it then enters Mangla Lake. The total length of this river is 450 Miles. Two canals named Upper Jhelum and Lower Jhelum are also constructed from this river.
Jhelum is one of the oldest districts of Pakistan, established by the British Regime in the year 1849 with its Headquarters at Pind Dadan Khan. At that time it consisted of Chakwal, Jabbi and Pind Dadan Khan. Subsequently, Jhelum replaced Tehsil Jabbi and also became the District Headquarter in 1850, In 1949 the Tehsil of Rohtas was also transferred to this District from Rawalpindi. In 1850, Makhad and Pindi Gheb area of this Tehsil were added to Talagang Tehsil. In this way Jabbi Tehsil was abolished that year and a new Tehsil was constituted. The same year the Headquarter of the District was shifted from P.D.Khan to Jhelum. P.D.Khan was relegated to a Sub-Division. In 1851 Jabbi area was transferred from Rawalpindi District to this District. In 1857, sixty five villages were again transferred from Rawalpindi District to Jhelum District. Afterwards, the Tehsil of Talagang was transferred to Cambellpur District. Presently named as Attock District. Thus at the time of independence, the District consisted of three Tehsils Jhelum, P.D.Khan and Chakwal covering an area of 2772square kilometers.
Jhelum District is situated in the north eastern parts of Pakistan and is one of the four districts of Rawalpindi Division. During the year 1992 Chakwal District was created. In this way a good part Jhelum District was detached. At the same time Jhelum Tehsil was bifurcated in two parts by creating a new Tehsil of Sohawa out of it.Recently a new Tehsil Dina has also been created out of Tehsil Jhelum.
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