Barakahu is a town located 13 Kilometer (km) east of downtown Islamabad in the Islamabad Capital Territory . It consists of 23 union councils, comprising 133 villages, while the urban has 27 union councils. The name 'Barakahu' (بارا کہو) comes from the Pothohari language, which is spoken locally in this area. 'Bara' (بارا) means twelve (12) in Pothohari, and 'Kahu' (کہو) refers to the Indian Rosewood tree (شیشم کا درخت). According to local legend, there were twelve Indian Rosewood trees in the area, which is now known as Barakahu bus stop or Athaal chok (اٹھال چوک). Geographically, Barakahu is situated between the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and is part of the Islamabad. The area falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The name 'Barakahu' is often mistakenly written as 'Bhara Kahu' in many places, which is entirely incorrect. 'Bhara' is not a valid word, and 'Kahu' should not be separated from 'Bara'. The correct name, 'Barakahu', should be used, just like the correct spelling of 'Islamabad' is used.

Demographics

As per a 2018 report from the

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) () is a federal agency under the Government of Pakistan. It is an attached department of the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives. It works for collecting statistics in the country. Hi ...

, Barakahu accommodates a population exceeding 119,034 individuals. Residents originate from various regions, including

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, and Hazara. The area also encompasses a range of minority communities residing within its boundaries.

Economy

On a daily basis, Barakahu generates a considerable amount of

solid waste Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the United States and rubbish in Britain, is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" can also refer specifically to food waste, ...

, estimated to range between six and eight tons. In the year 2020, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) made an effort to address this waste issue by initiating street cleaning endeavors. However, it appears that these efforts did not yield a sustainable solution to the problem.

Education

Barakahu is home to a number of educational institutions within its vicinity, among which are notable schools such as Dar e Arqam School and The Educators Barakahu Campus.

Transportation

The Green Line Metro Bus Service commenced its operations in Barakahu on 7 July 2022. This bus service runs between the Barakahu and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Metro Bus Station terminals. Along its route between these endpoints, the Green Line Bus traverses through key locations including Malpur, Lake View Park, Dhokri Chowk, Jinnah Sports Stadium/ Aabpara, and Zero Point Interchange.

References

{{reflist Populated places in Islamabad Capital Territory Geography of Islamabad