Dir District
Dir
دیر | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 35°10′N 72°00′E / 35.167°N 72.000°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,282 km2 (2,039 sq mi) |
| Population (1998) | |
• Total | 1,373,710 |
| • Density | 260/km2 (670/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Spoken Language(s) | Pashto, Gawri |
| Time zone | PST |
| Largest city or town | Timergara, Wari and Dir |
Dir is a region in northwestern Pakistan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Before the independence of Pakistan, Dir was a princely state, and it remained so until 1969 when it was abolished by a presidential declaration, and the Dir District was created the following year. The area covers 5,280 square kilometres. In 1996 Dir district was officially divided into Lower Dir District and Upper Dir District.
The district is situated between Chitral and Peshawar. It is bordered by Chitral to the northwest and north, Swat to the east, Malakand to the south, Bajaur to the southwest, and Afghanistan to the west.