Pir Piai (also Pirpiai or Pir Pai) is a village located 20 miles (32 km) to the east of city of Peshawar in Pakistan. It is part of Nowshera District and one of the largest villages in the North-West Frontier Province. It is also sometimes called "chota vilayat" (meaning "Little England" in Urdu), because of its high literacy rate and higher living standards compared to other villages in the country. The village is further divided into smaller sectors known as "Mohallas", namely (in alphabetical order):
Baba Khel Babar, Janabad, Manduri, Miskeen Khel, Qamar Khel, Sadri Khel, Tapu Khel, The village has 17 mosques surrounded by its own "Muhalla" as mentioned above.
Aza Khel which some people consider part of Pir Piai, is actually a separate neighbouring small village.
Originally Pir Piai was a kind of motel town for the passing travellers. It is situated on the side of the original Sher Shah Suri's Highway known in modern times as the Grand Trunk Road. The Mughals and their armies too used this route most times. It is known fact that men from the village were often recruited by the passing armies. One famous soldier recruited was known in those times as Bahadur Baba, he was an older man but fought fiercely and with great skill. When he died fighting for the Mughal armies he was sent by the then Mughal Emperor back to be buried in his native village of Pirpiai as per his last wishes. He is now buried in the compound of House of Haroon Leghari and earlier Col Mir Haider Khan and known famously as ' Shaheed Baba '. His grave is usually visited by villagers on Thursdays when Agarbatis are lit and candles surround his grave to this day. Each year people of the village change his cloth covering to pay their respects to this ancestor of the village.
Education
There are several private and government schools for education to the higher secondary school level. Also major colleges like Government College, Nowshera and the colleges and universities of Peshawar city are within short commute. The parents are highly motivated to properly educate their children and take great interest in their studies. The village boasts the first girls high school for which the land was contributed by Col Mir Haider Khan as far back as 1963. There are now colleges for boys and girls coming up in and around the village.
Health
There is a full-time government hospital in town where all the basic health care facilities are available 24 hours a day. However for major medical problems and specialized care patients are usually referred to hospitals in either Nowshera or Peshawar. There are also several private medical clinics in the area. The village also boasts a fully equipped Dental Hospital with equipment brought in from Germany.
Recreation
Pir Piaians are very fond of sports and music. There are several sports clubs which organize and play cricket, soccer, hockey and volley ball. The people are very friendly, peaceful and humble. They know their neighbours and fellow villagers and whenever there is a party or wedding, everyone is invited. Its one of those towns where everyone knows everyone. Haroon Leghari a well known Pirpiai personality has contributed heavily in encouraging Cricket and other sports for its youngsters in the village. He also began the now " Jashan e Shahzad " on the eve of Eid each year. Fireworks were bought and transported from the city of Lahore each year and reputed to be some of the best displays in the province. This jashan was to celebrate the birth of his son Shahzad Leghari. This jashan has been dormant now for some years. The village also boasts a 30 acre park with all kinds of emenities such as lakes and birds etc.
Transportation
Many Pir Piaians own their own vehicles but most people still rely on public transportation for travel inside and out of town.
Horse carriages are still in use but are slowly becoming obsolete. They are being steadily and sadly replaced by auto-rickshaws, taxis and buses. There is a bus station and a train station right at the entrance to the town for travel outside.
Pir Piai is connected to Peshawar by the Grand Trunk (G.T.) Road in its West and to Nowshera in its East. It is 27 KMs from Peshawar and 13 KMs from Nowshera. It is roughly 88 Miles from the border of Afghanistan.
Notable People
- Gul-Hamid Khan - Film Actor (died before Independence of Pakistan).
- Aamir Khan - RF National Manager (Mobilink) - One of the most senior RF engineers in the country, Aamir is an authority on Radio Frequency Planning.
- Naseer-Ullah Babar - Former Governor of NWFP and former Federal Interior Minister of Pakistan . He is known as "Sher -e- Nowshera" for his bravery.
- Haroon Leghari - A noted Politician of the area, Media Personality of Pakistan, Entrepenaur and Social Worker. He is known as BABA e GWADAR for being the man that instigated the Gwadar project in the 1990s by bringing a consortium of funders to the tune of 22.2 Billion US $. This project was later scuttled by Mr. Zardari husband of the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He is also known to have instroduced the concept of satellite Television in Pakistan. In the field of Media is known as a man of vision and has pioneered a number of projects in this field apart from being a Writer, Actor, Producer, Director, and Administrator. He is also known as an IT expert having consulted Internationally for firms such BT in the UK and a bevy of IT companies that use him from time to time as a troubleshooter. He is also an authority on Sales & Marketing.
- Col Mir Haider Khan (Retd) - First Indian Officer in the British Army, A much respected Village Elder, a man of distinction. He served as the last Defence Minister of Kalat State before its annexure to Pakistan. A major landlord of Pirpiai and a notable person of the Babar tribe. He was a man known for his flair and principles. He was an avid antique collector and owned the only Rolls Royce in Pakistan for a number of years. Most remember him as the man that put a face to the village and probably is the architect of making the village what it is today (died in 1973).
- Maj Gen (Retd) Adam Khan - A notable person of the Mohallah Babar and a Nephew of Col Mir Haider Khan, A Sandhurst returned army officer. A distinguished General of his time, Head of PIDC, A reputed landlord of Pirpiai. (died in 1973).
- Sanaullah Babar - A reputed civil servant and ex head of C&W of the NWFP.
- Abdul Manan Khan -A notable person of Mohallah Babar and a Nephew of Col Mir Haider Khan was the ex Chief Engineer Tarbela Dam during its construction days. (died in 2004).
- Mir Bashar Khan -A notable person of Mohallah Babar and Younger Brother of Col Mir Haider Khan, was ex Chief Engineer of Mangla Dam, he also was Chief Engineer of other Dams and Engineering projects in Pakistan. (died 1984 of cancer).
- Farouk Adam Khan -Belonging to the Mohallah Babar and The architect of ' The Attock Conspiracy ' son of Maj Gen Adam Khan with the help of his brother Maj Iftikhar Adam hatched a conspiracy in the 1970s to topple the Government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. They were apprehended by the then serving General Zia ul Haque ( later due to a coup that toppled Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto became the President of Pakistan & Chief Martial Law Administrator ) and tried in the now famous Attock fort. Thus naming the conspiracy by the same name and sentenced to life imprisonment later commuted to 5 yrs each which they served. Farouk Adam Khan later became the Director General of NAB, the Government agency responsible for trying Corrupt individuals in the country.
- Bashir Khan Babar - Ambassador extraordinair, serving as Ambassador of Pakistan in Brazil, Europe, and Australia he is well known in diplomatic circles as a man of distinction. He currently lives in Australia after retiring and is a man of repute.
- Naimatullah Abid - A reputed civil servant belonging to Mohallah Babar who has served as served as DG Audit NWFP, the first pathan Accountant General of Punjab, and Controller General Accounts, Pakistan
- Farhat Ullah Babar- An Engineer by profession. Resigned from civil services under pressure from Zia-Ul-Haq. Held the post of senator. Currently information secretary to Benazir Bhutto. Known for his knowledge and adherence to strict rules and regulation
- Dr. Irshad Ullah Babar- A reputable scientist. One of the few people to have done double PHD's.Did his PHDs in Maths and Physics. Part of Research in the field of Physics and currently working on presenting his own theory regarding the atomic particles. Residing in USA. Known as Dr. Khan in his immediate circle
- Saeed Rahman- Graduated from US with distinction in 70's, Saeed is one of the most popular Pakistani Engineer that telecom world (Ericsson & Saudi Telecom) has seen. He has been famous for recruiting Pakistanis in to Middle East. He is head of telecom services for entire Middle East region in Ericsson.
- Jameel Babar- Actor in Pushto and Urdu Movies. Famous for his negative roles in the pushto movies. Has a large number of followers in the viewers of pushto movies. Worked in over 500 movies and currently residing in Pir Piai
- Afsar Jan- Famous TV actor from Islamabad and Peshawar centers. Performed at highest levels.Also nephew of actor Gul-Hamid Khan.
- Sameen Jan Babar- Ex-Civil Servant. Held a variety of posts. Acted as Commissioner and Secretary at many important positions. Retired in Grade 22
- Abdul Jabbar Khan- Belonging to Mohallah Babar and Civil Servant during the RAJ times. Compulsory retired as a Tehsildar. died in 1980s