The word "Dera" is derived from the Saraiki word ḍerā which means
"encapment". This word is commonly used for residential towns in the
Indus valley such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali, Dera Allah
Yar, Dera Ismail Khan, etc. Dera Ismail Khan thus means the residential town of
Sardar Ismail Khan Baloch. People of Dera Ismail Khan as well as Dera Ghazi
Khan are also known as Derawal or sometimes as Dervi while the latter is used
as Pen name or
