Mirpur is known locally as Little England because so many of its people, or their parents and grandparents, ended up settling in Britain, and because remittances and returning families have visibly shaped the city: British-registered cars, English signage on some shops, and houses built to patterns brought back from the UK. The story starts with the Mangla Dam, completed in 1967, which flooded old Mirpur and set off the migration that followed.
This guide explains how that history unfolded and what it means for what you see in the city today.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Trigger event | Mangla Dam, completed 1967, flooded old Mirpur and around 250 villages |
| People displaced | More than 100,000 |
| Main UK settlement cities | Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, Leeds, Luton, Blackburn |
| Scale of the diaspora | A majority of British Pakistanis in England are estimated to trace roots to Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber |
| Nickname | "Little England," used locally in Mirpur itself |
The dam that flooded the old city
Mangla Dam, built on the Jhelum river between 1961 and 1967, created a reservoir that submerged the original town of Mirpur along with roughly 250 surrounding villages. More than 100,000 people lost their homes, land and livelihoods, and a new town, New Mirpur City, was built nearby to resettle some of them.
Our guide to the old, submerged Mirpur city covers what still emerges from the lake in the driest winter months.
How the migration to Britain began
The company that built Mangla Dam was British, and as part of the arrangements around the project, work opportunities in England opened up to some of the men whose land and homes had been lost. Those who went first found factory and manual work in England's industrial cities, and, as is common in chain migration, sponsored relatives to join them over the following years, particularly once the UK's immigration rules of the 1960s and 1970s still allowed it.
That process, more than a single planned resettlement, is what turned a local displacement into one of the largest and most concentrated diaspora communities from any single region of Pakistan or Kashmir.
Where Mirpuris settled in Britain
Mirpuri families concentrated heavily in England's industrial towns and cities: Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, Leeds, Luton and Blackburn, among others, where textile mills and factories offered the work that first drew migrants over. These communities grew large enough that estimates commonly put a majority, by some accounts as much as 60 to 80 percent, of England's British Pakistani population as tracing its roots to the Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts of Azad Kashmir specifically, rather than to Pakistan's other provinces.
What it looks like in Mirpur today
The connection isn't just historical. Visitors to Mirpur notice:
- British-registered vehicles, brought back by families visiting from the UK, sometimes for extended stays.
- Building styles and house sizes that look different from typical Azad Kashmir towns, often built or extended with money sent from Britain.
- English used on some shopfronts and signage, alongside Urdu and Pahari.
- A local economy shaped by remittances, with property, construction and retail all reflecting money that flows back from the UK.
The city's ordinary population and daily life are, of course, Pakistani first; the "Little England" tag describes a layer of the place's economy and connections, not its everyday character.
Why this matters for visitors
If you're visiting Mirpur mainly for Mangla Dam and Ramkot Fort, this history explains a lot of what you'll notice around the city that doesn't quite match other parts of Azad Kashmir: the newer housing stock, the number of UK-plated cars especially in summer, and conversations that often turn to relatives in England. It also explains why "New Mirpur City," the planned town most visitors actually stay and eat in, exists at all: it was built to house people the dam displaced.
For the practical side of visiting, our guide to places to visit in Mirpur and our Mangla Dam guide cover the sights themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Mirpur called Little England?
Because a large share of its population has close family ties to Britain, going back to migration that followed the flooding of old Mirpur by the Mangla Dam in 1967. Money, property and visiting relatives from the UK are visible parts of the city's economy and streetscape.
How many people were displaced by the Mangla Dam?
More than 100,000 people, across the old town of Mirpur and around 250 surrounding villages, when the reservoir filled in 1967.
Which UK cities have the largest Mirpuri communities?
Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, Leeds, Luton and Blackburn are commonly cited as the main centres, though Mirpuri families and their descendants live across many parts of England.
Is most of Mirpur's population connected to the UK?
Not everyone, but the connection is unusually deep for a city of its size. Estimates suggest a majority of England's British Pakistani population traces its roots to the wider Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber area specifically, which is reflected in Mirpur's economy and visible in the city today.
Is Mirpur safe to visit as a tourist?
Mirpur itself is not near the Line of Control, and everyday risks there are heat and ordinary road conditions. Azad Kashmir saw serious unrest and long internet shutdowns from mid-2026, and as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all but essential travel to most of the territory; check current news before you travel, and see our guide to Azad Kashmir safety for the fuller picture.
