Introduction

The city is quite new in a sense that it was built in 1823 after the flood, but this fact alone has preserved the old touch of city which has been lost in other cities. The old wall is still visible around the old city. The bazaars of the city all converge at one point which is called "chowgalla", which literally means a place from where four ways are leaving out. Major bazaars include Topanwala bazaar, Bhatiya bazar, Muslim bazar, Kalan bazar and Bakhiri bazar. Like all other cities and towns of saraiki speaking belt, Dera Ismail Khan is also famous for a desert delicacy called sohan halwa. The shops of this delicacy are mostly situated in Topawaala bazar. Dates are grown here in abundance and are one of the major exports. Dera Ismail Khan takes its name from Ismail Khan, a Bloch chief who settled here towards the end of the 15th century in 1469 A.D. according to most accounts. His descendants ruled the city for 300 years. "Dera" means a place people gather for activities. The old town was swept away by a flood in 1823, and the present town stands four miles back from the permanent channel of the river. The population is the mix of ethnic Balochi and pashtun segments, while a significant segment of Urdu speaking immigrants is also present. Urdu, the national language is understood and spoken by all, while Seraiki is the native language and language of people. Pashto is also spoken, but is mostly restricted to the Pashtuns only.

According to data from Pakistan's last census in 1998, the district's population stands around 853,000 with an annual growth rate of 3.26%. The urban ratio is 14.7% and the literacy rate is 31.2%. The district of DI Khan is a beautiful area with a historically strategic location and has traditionally been a crossroads for many cultures and trading routes.

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