Dhodial (also known as Dhudial) is a town and union council located near Baffa between Mansehra and Shinkiari in Mansehra District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.^[1] Dhodial is a fertile region known for its vegetables and tobacco crop. Dhodial is also well known for its pheasant conservation project.^[2] The town was badly affected by the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

Location

Dhodial is north of Mansehra in Hazara area at an altitude of 3,267 feet34°26′N 73°16′E / 34.433°N 73.267°E / 34.433; 73.267.^[3] The river Siren flows alongside the town.

Health care

This area is known for the treatment of mentally ill patients. The Government of Pakistan established a National Psychiatric Health unit, called the "Government Mental & General Hospital" in Dhodial in the early 1960s. Its purpose was to treat patients with mental illness and to function as a general hospital. It had facilities for the treatment of mentally disabled patients, including physical and mental grooming. Mohammad Irfan was the initial medical superintendent and consultant psychiatrist. The government's other plans included the SOS Children's Villages and National Peasantry. This hospital became tuberculosis sanitorium Dadar when in 2002 Hazara University was formed in it.

Education

The University of Hazara is situated near Dhodial and provides education to students throughout Mansehra District and the Hazara Region.

Politics

The prominent political group is the Pakistan tehreek insaf which was led by Imran Khan. The Swatis,Turk, Awan, and Hashmi tribes that are in the majority coalition are also politically strong and influential. As people are getting educated, political situation is improving and parties like PTI are emerging. Other political parties are the PML N Jamiat Ullamay e Islam, Jammat Islami Pakistan. Dhodial has three village councils: Village Council Malkal, Arghoshal and Girwal. The largest is VC Malkal.

Conservation

The people of Dhodial practice conservation and captive breeding of various species of peasants. Dhodial Pheasantry, Asia's largest peasantry, is located near the village.

People

Dhodial is part of Upper Pakhli which is homeland to Gabri Swatis. Dhodial is inhabited by two out of 7 subsections of Gabris i.e Arghushal Swatis and Malkal Swatis. Some other tribes also live in minority here but the 95% lands of Dhodial belongs to Swatis. According to Hazara Gazetteer 1883, Dhodial was given to Arghushal family and Malkal family in Nemkai division of Pakhli-1703.

References