Soon Valley
The 'Soon Valley' (Urdu: وادئ سون) or Soon Sakesar is one of the famous valleys of Pakistan situated in the central Punjab province. The Valley is situated in the north west of Khushab. Naushera is the main town of the Valley. The Valley starts from Padhrar village and end to Sakesar that is the highest peak of Salt Range. The length of Soon Valley is 35 miles (56 km) and average width is 9 miles (14 km). The area of Soon Valley is 300-square-mile (780 km2). Although not as coold as the valleys up north, Soon valley consists of beautiful
lakes, waterfalls, jungles, natural pools and ponds. Soon valley is also blessed with ancient civilization, natural resources, and fertile farms. There are some special features of this valley that distinguish it from other areas, without knowing about them it is very hard to understand its importance. Sabhral, Khoora, Naushera, Mardwal, Kufri, Anga, Ugali, Uchali and Bagh Shams-ud-Din are important towns in soon valley. Kanhatti Garden, Sodhi Garden, Da'ep and Sakesar are resorts to visit. Awan tribe is settled in Soon Valley.Located at a height of 5,010 feet (1,530 m) above sea level, Sakesar was once the summer headquarters for the Deputy Commissionersof three districts - Campbelpur (now Attock), Mianwali and Shahpur (now Sargodha). It is the only mountain in this part of the Punjab which receives snow fall in winters. In view of Sakesar's ideal location and height, the PAF selected it in the late-50s as the site for a high powered radar which would provide air defence cover for the northeastern part of the western wing. Pakistan Television's re-broadcasting center has been installed to provide terrestrial transmissions coverage to adjoining areas.
The main tribe of the area is the Awan of ancient repute. This tribe came in this area with Qutab Shah and settled in the Soon valley. The other sub branches and small tribes are Shehal, Ardaal, Mirwal, Adriyal, Shenaal in Kufri, Latifal, Jurwal, Radhnal, Sheraal in Naushehra, Pirkal in Jallay wali, Majhial in Mardwal, Bazral, Chhatal, Ghadhyal, Phatal's are also awan,Yakial, Maswal in Ugalisharif, Phatwal and Bhojo Khail, Sheral, Mianwaddal, Alyaral, Sher Shahal, Noor Khanal in Khabbaki, Uchalla and so on. In the valley Awan's are known by their clans. In old time the head of clan in each village was known as Raees, and the head of a tribe was known as Raees-Azam. The most famous Raees Azam were Malik Muzaffar Noor Khanal Khabaki,Khansahab Malik Buland Khan of Kufri was also elected member of the District Board Shahpur till his death in 1928 after him his sons Zaildar Malik Sarfraz Khan was elected as Member District Board Shahpur he was also appointed Honrary Magistrate in 1936, His younger brother Colonel Malik Sultan Mubaraz Khan was elected Senior Vice Chairman of the District Board Shahpur in 1936 He was also elected as President District Bar Association Sargodha in 1952, Haji Malik Mohammad Nawaz Khan son of KhanSahab Malik Buland Khan was a keyrole player in the politics of the district and the soon valley, he was also Kursinasheen and lumberdar of three villages including Kufri,Chak No.39 NB Sargodha and Chamu Sana. KhanSahab Malik Buland Khan's grandson Malik Muhammad Akram Awan Advocate was elected Member of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in 1970 by the peole of Soon Valley.KhanSahib Malik Buland Khan's great grand son Malik Hamid Nawaz Awan was also elected Nazim(Member District Assembly Sargodha)in 2001 and 2005 he was appointed Leader Of Opposition By Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He is also President of Pakistan Peoples Party District Sargodha.He was also allotted ticket for the Provincial Assembly in 2007 Elections by Pakistan Peoples Party. Malik Ameer Haider of Kufri, Qazi Mazhar Qayyum of Naushera and Syed Gul Peer Shah of Sodhi.A majority of the people are serving in the armed forces of Pakistan. Many loyal brave soldiers and officers belong to this land who even laid down their lives for their homeland.Other professions like education, business, transportation and agricultural are also adopted by the locals. The people are hard working and agriculture used to be the main profession. Per person square footage of land decreased, as population increased. Consequently the people have migrated to large cities for jobs.Many famous writers like Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi (late), Prof. Syed Ahmad Saeed Hamadani, journalist Abdul Qadir Hassan , Shaukat Mehmud Awan, Allama Muhammad Yousuf Gabriel and other personalities belong to this beautiful valley.
The Awans of the Soon Valley were also amongst those the British considered to be "martial race".The British recruited army heavily from Soon Valley for service in the colonial army, and as such, the Awans of this area also formed an important part of the British Indian Army, serving with distinction during World Wars I and II. Of all the Muslim groups recruited by the British, proportionally, the Awans produced the greatest number of recruits during the First and Second World Wars. Contemporary historians, namely Professor Ian Talbot and Professor Tan Tai Yong, have authored works that cite the Awans (amongst other tribes) as being looked upon as a martial race by not only the British, but neighbouring tribes as well. The army of Pakistan also heavily recruits Awans from this area. Awans occupy the highest ranks of the Pakistani Army.
Being as a tribe of Arabs origin, the local people follows Islamic culture and traditions. Traditionally the marriages are arranged according to the Islamic traditions and wedding ceremony usually takes place at the mosques. Nikah is attended by close family members, relatives, and friends of groom and bride. Usually, the men and women are made to sit separately, in different rooms, or have a purdah (curtain) separating them.Luddi is famous folk dance on occasions of happiness. Also dhol and shehnai are famous musical instruments for celebrations.
There are two well-renowned Uchhali Lake and Khabikki Lake lakes in Soon valley. Uchhali is a salt water lake in the southern Salt Range area in Pakistan. This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range. Sakaser, the highest mountain in the Salt Range, looms over the lake. Due to its brackish water the lake is lifeless. But it offers a picturesque scenery. Khabikki Lake is a salt water lake in the southern Salt Range area in Pakistan. This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range. The lake is one kilometer wide and two kilometres long. Khabikki is also the name of a neighbouring village. Boats are also available and there is a rest house beside the lake. A hill gently ascended on the right side of the lake. The lake and the green area around provide a good scenery. These lakes attract thousands of migratory birds each year and are ideal haven for the bird watchers.
Tucked in the southern periphery of the Salt Range and hemmed in by its higher cliffs, is a cluster of natural lakes — Ucchali, Khabbeki and Jhallar in district Khushab. These lakes are said to be 400 years old, maybe more. The lakes are a prime sanctuary for the migratory birds and were declared a protected sanctuary for the native and migratory avifauna on the appeal of World Wildlife Fund. Nestled at about 800 meters above the sea, lakes have some marsh vegetation and are mostly surrounded by cultivated land, which is picturesquely intersected by hillocks. The lakes are fed by the spring, seepage from adjacent areas, and run off from the neighbouring hills of the historic Salt Range. The lakes are one of the most important wintering areas for the rare white-headed ducks (Oxyura leucocephala) in Pakistan that comes here from Central Asia. Locals believe that there is a volcano hidden beneath the surface of the Ucchali Lake due to which the colour of the water keeps changing. The appearance of a vert broad and brightly coloured rainbow in 1982 for consecutive 15 days is also attributed to this analogy. in 1982, a strange phenomenon was observed in the villages Ucchali and Dhadhar. The lakes’ water is also said to cure gout and skin diseases. People have been taking the water from the lakes as far as Lahore and Karachi. People think that a pure white winged creature called Great egret, from Grus family, found in the area is a symbol of longevity.
