Hajira, Azad Kashmir

'Hajira' Azad Kashmir is located at latitude 33° 46′ 18.12″ N, longitude 73° 73° 53′ 45.96″ E and an altitude of 3168 feet. It is 27 kilometers (17 mi) from Rawalakot and 142 kilometers (88 mi) from Islamabad, Pakistan. The town is situated on the bank of a river (which feeds into the river Poonch) in a narrow small valley surrounded by hills. It is the nearest major town from the line of control and Indian controlled Kashmir, specifically Poonch. Hajira is one of four tehsils of Poonch district. It is a sub-divisional headquarter of Poonch district of Azad Kashmir. The main villages included in sub-division Hajira are: Ghameer, Pothi Chhaprian, Kathiara, Paghwati, Dawarandi, Tatrinote, Madarpur, Saher, Mandhol, Buttle, Sahra, Dara sher khan, Rakar, Sarari, Basari, Kaloti, Devigali, kalpur etc. 'Union Councils of Hajira': There are six union councils of Tehsil Hajira '1-Ghameer 2-Bahnteeni 3-Jandali 4-Serari 5-Raker 6-Phagwati'.

Most amenities are available in Hajira. Health and Education institutes are located in the town. Hajira has transport linked with Rawalakot, Kotli and Trarkhel by road. Public transport runs daily between Rawalakot and Hajira from morning to night. Hotels and guest houses are located for tourists stay. The town is covered by all GSM operators. There are many markets in Hajira e.g. . 'Main Bazar Hajira' which remains 24 hours open, 'Serari Bazar', 'Dak-khaana Market', 'Thana Road Market', 'Pull Bazar', 'Bypass road market', 'College chowk Market', 'Petrol Pump Market[2]

Hajira has a hot climate due to its low altitude but is a generally laid back town due to its mixed composition (Suddhans, Pathans, Awans, Khwajas, Janjua Rajputs, Dullies, Jaats, Gujars, Ghakhars, Mughals, Qureshis, etc.). Due to its strategic position between Rawalakot, Kotli and Abbaspur it attracts people from all sectors for education and shopping. The people of Hajira and the surrounding areas have faced a lot of trouble in the past because of its proximity to the line of control between Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir. Recently because of the Indo–Pak agreement , cross border attacks from India have been stopped and Hajira has become a safer town. The 2005 earthquake also caused some damage to the town, though far less than in Muzaffarabad and Bagh areas.

There is a Government Boys Degree College and a Government Girls Degree College in Hajira as well as several private colleges in the town for example Muhammadan Science College ' Islamia Science College . Literacy rate of this town is almost 60% .