Abtabad [Abbottabad]

Abbottabad, located 50 km northeast of Islamabad in the Orash Valley, has a rich history spanning over 170 years. The city was founded in January 1853 by Major James Abbott, a British military officer in the Bengal Army, after the British annexation of Punjab. The name combines "Abbott" with the Persian suffix "abad," meaning "settlement". Major Abbott served as the first Deputy Commissioner of the Hazara district from 1845 to April 1853, and before leaving, he composed a poem expressing his fondness for the town. In the early 20th century, Abbottabad developed into a significant military cantonment, serving as the headquarters of a brigade in the Second Division of the Northern Army Corps. The garrison included four battalions of infantry, Frontier Force units (including the 5th Gurkha Rifles), and two mountain batteries. By 1901, the town's population was nearly 8,000 nestled in a bowl surrounded by hills.