Turkhel


The Turkhel is a Jatt Pushtun tribe found in the Mianwali District of Punjab, Pakistan.

History and origin

According to 1911 census the Turkhel were the principal Muslim Jat clan in district by population. According to traditions, the Turkhel were originally jatt, who took to agriculture. The word Khel in Pashto means tribe and Tur means Black.
Like other tribes of the district, they are trilingual, speaking Pashto, Punjabi and Urdu. According to 1901 census during British Raj, they numbered about 250.

Distribution

They are mainly found in the towns of Kalabagh and Marri Indus, in the Isakhel Tehsil of Mianwali District.
Many have now migrated to Karachi, and are involved in transportation business in the city.