Maidan, Lower Dir District
Maidan is a valley in the Lower Dir District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The inhabitants of Maidan are Pashtuns. The most numerous tribe living in Maidan is Ismailzai or Samelzai. It is one of the four clans of Tarkani also called Tarkalani tribe. Maidan was not directly under the control of Pakistan government at the time of partition, the valley was governed by a Nawab named "Nawab Shah Jehan". This region was part of the separate state named "Royal State of the Dir" till the 1960s. In 1961, Maidan came directly under the control of the Government of Pakistan. The main bazaar of Maidan Valley is Kumbar. There is a rural health centre situated at Lal Qilla region. Kumbar is the main business center in the valley. The valley passes through high mountains that are covered with snow in the winter season.
Maidan valley
میدان Maidan or Mayidan | |
|---|---|
| maidan sub division | |
 | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Pukhtunkhwa |
| Tehsil | Lal Qilla |
| District | Dir Lower |
| Language | Pashto |
| Religion | Islam |
| Time zone | PST |
Maidan is known for its lush green mountains and springs in the summer season. Kumber, being the main village of the Maidan valley, is a big trade centre comprising many commercial markets. People from various villages of the valley come to Kumbar Bazaar to fulfill their daily needs. Most of the population of the valley go abroad for earning their livings.
Tehsil Maidan has recently been declared a subdivision which comprises on five Union Councils namely Lal Qilla, Kotkay, Bashigram, Zaimdara and Gal. There are two police stations in Maidan, namely Lal Qilla and Zaimdara.
The people of Maidan are highly educated compared to other parts of the district, and most of them have served the district. Mr. Ghulam Nabi worked a lot for education. However, it is regretted to say that there is no government colleges for females in Maidan so far. A man named Malak Rehman Ullah worked for female education and built a private educational institute for girls, the Rayyan Education System. Rayyan Education System offers the valley girls a cheap education from prep to High standard school (college). Students receive higher education in the other districts of the province or in the expensive Degree College Timergara.
Religions, language and peoples
The peoples of Maidan are Pashtuns and they speak Pashto language. They are all Sunni Muslims.
Early Maidan
Early Maidan was under the Nawab rule. But after 1965, Maidan or Dir became a part of the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan .
Politics
The politics of Maidan Dir lower arise day by date and the people contributed more and more. Four main parties participate in politics: JI, PPP, ANP and PTI. Jumat Islami had won the provisional assembly seat till date except in the 2008 election as they had boycotted the GE. PTI won the election in 2018 and Malak Liaqat Ali became a MPA and Bashir Khan MNA of Madian.