Dir (city)
Dir
دیر | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Coordinates: 35°12′24″N 71°52′36″E / 35.20667°N 71.87667°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| District | Upper Dir District |
| Elevation | 1,420 m (4,660 ft) |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 47,828 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PKT) |
Dir (Urdu, Pashto: دیر) is a city in the Upper Dir District of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is sometimes known as Dir Khas (Proper Dir) to distinguish it from the district's name, Dir (Upper and Lower). It lies along the Dir River, a tributary of the Panjkora River. It is at the base of the Lowarai Pass, the main road to Chitral.
Dir was founded in the 17th century. Mullā Ilyās, a 17th-century holy man, is said to have been the founder. It was the capital of the former princely state of Dir, until its full incorporation into Pakistan in 1969. The former royal palace is on a hill above the city. Dir was then the capital of the Dir District. When the Dir District was divided in 1996 into Upper and Lower Dir, Dir city and Timergara became its district headquarters respectively. Yusufzay Pashtuns make up the primary ethnic group in the region and in the city.