Gujrat
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- This article is about a city in Pakistan. For the Indian state see Gujarat.
| Gujrat گجرات | |
| Image:43123213123214.png | |
| General Information | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Calling code | 053 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| No. of Towns | |
| Population | 2.5 million (1998) |
| Government | |
| Nazim (Mayor) | Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain |
| No. of Union Councils | 117 |
Gujrat (Urdu/Punjabi: گجرات) is a city in Pakistan located in Gujrat District in the Punjab Province. A person living in Gujrat is called Gujrati.
Contents |
[edit] Location
Gujrat is situated near the Chenab River, 120 km north of Lahore. Prominent nearby locations include Jhelum, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The city is surrounded by many villages from which the local labour market is supplied. The major source of livelihood of Gujrat populace is agriculture.
[edit] History
Gujrat is an ancient city which was founded by Raja Bachhan Pal in 460 BC, according to General Cunningham, the British historian. Historical consensus is that it existed in the time of Alexander the Great, and that the city's Raja Porus put up a fierce challenge to Alexander's invasion at the bank of the Jehlum River. The establishment of Gujrat City was realized early in the 1900 century after the British Empire and in support of regional land lords (e.g, Daswandi Khan of Daswandi Pura).
During the Mughal Empire period, Mughal royalty would travel through the district en-route to Kashmir. When King Jahangir died while he was returning from Kashmir, the news of his death was not released to avoid any unrest in the empire. As such, his abdominal organs were taken out and buried in Gujrat. To this day an annual festival is held commemorating this event, commonly known as the "Festival of Jahangir".
Two main battles between British and Sikh armies were fought in this district: the Battle of Chelianwala and Battle of Gujrat. Only after winning the battle of Gujrat on 22 February 1849 did the British exercise rule in Punjab.
[edit] Important Surroundings
There are many historical buildings and ruins in and around Gujrat. The Grand Trunk Road commonly abbreviated as GT road built by emperor Sher Shah Suri also passes from gujrat. The road still exists today, along with its period stone wall. The nearby towns of Shadiwal,Tanda, Adowal, Dinga and Kunjah are also historically important. The village Kurree Sharif is famous for the shrines of saints and mazar of Malik Jusrus, the forefather of Maliks (Khokhars) of Punjab. The Village LAHDA SADHA is also famous for the mazar of MIAN INYAT ALI.
[edit] Geography
Gujrat is an ancient district of Pakistan located between two famous rivers, the Jhelum River and the Chenab River. Because of its proximity with the rivers, the land is good for cultivation with rice and sugar cane as main crops. It is bounded on the northeast by Jammu and Kashmir, on the northwest by the Jhelum River which separates it from Jhelum district, on the east and southeast by the Chenab River, separating it from the districts of Gujranwala and Sialkot; and on the west by Mandi Bahauddin district. District Gujrat is spread over an area of 3,192 square kilometres and comprises the three tehsils of Gujrat, Kharian & Sarai Alamgir.The Sheikh pur is the famious village of Gujrat.It is suited on shahdullah road appox 8 km. Sheikh Pur is suited near the bank of river chenab.
[edit] Area and population
According to 1998 Population and Housing Census, total population of Gujrat District is 2,048,000 persons out of which 1,026,000 are males and 1,022,000 are females. Density of population in the district is 642 persons per square Kilometre. Percentage break-up of the Rural and Urban population is 72.3% and 27.7% respectively.
[edit] Famous people
- Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, a recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider (Pakistan's highest Military award) during the India-Pakistan war of 1965 was born in Laadhian, a village near Gujrat. He was martyred in the war and interred in the village.
- Major Muhammad Akram, another recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider during the India-Pakistan war of 17th December 1971, was born in Dinga, a city of Gujrat.
- Major Shabir Sharif was another recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider. He was born at Kunjah, a village near Gujrat.
- Captain Syed Mazhar Hussain Shaheed of the 8th Punjab Regiment was martyred on 22 September 1965, across the BRB canal steadfastly holding an advance defensive position against one of the main Indian thrusts directed towards Lahore, while the main defense force occupied positions behind the canal. He was laid to rest in his birthplace Madina Syedan, adjoining the city of Gujrat.
- Commissioned in 1954, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Arshad Qureshi (S/o the famous Chiragh Ali Hakeem) commanded an infantry battalion (26 FF) in East Pakistan (Saidpur-Rangpur-Dinajpur) and led it through the 1970 general election, the civil disobedience movement, the insurgency, the counter-insurgency and the 1971 war, earning a Sitara-i-Jurat in the process. His appointment as Director General Pakistan Rangers, made him responsible of keeping the 1400 miles long border with India porous for the ISI infiltrators.
- Mohammad Irshad Kingra, The Head of Kingra family of village Sheikh Pur.
- Peer Javaid Habib religious head of Hazrat Gohar-ud-din's mazar jinder sharif
- Nawab Sir Fazal Ali, Founder of Zameendara College and Nawabzada Family
- Nawabzada Asghar Ali, former Member National Assembly
- Fazal Elahi Chaudhry, former President of Pakistan
- Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, Renowned Politician and former Federal Minister of Pakistan
- Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Chaudhry Shahzad Bajwa, Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan
- Adeel Aftab, Mayor of Gujrat
- Nawabzada Mazhar Ali Khan, former Member National Assembly
- Nawabzada Gazanfar Ali Gul, former Member National Assembly
- Nawabzada Muzaffar Ali Khan, former Member Punjab Assembly & Chairman District Gujrat
- Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, former Commerce Minister of Pakistan
- Mian Imran Masood, Minister of Education Punjab, Pakistan
- Chaudhry Ghulam Mustafa Qamar, former Member Gujrat District Council and former Assist. Inspector General Police Azad Kashmir Tanda, Gujrat
- Chaudhry Zubair Ahmad Khan, former Member Gujrat District Council
- Inayat Hussain Bhatti, singer, actor, producer, director, script writer, social worker, columnist, religious scholar and a protagonist of the development of Punjabi language and literature.
- Col.(R)Muhammed Sakhi Raja (Hr. Megistrate Kharian)
[edit] Sites of interest
The sunny palace, situated in the center of the city (Pakistan Chowk), is the hub of political activity in Gujrat. The same building has been the residence of gul sher and muqrrabjaved. Over the ages, the building has influenced the political history of the city. The Gujrat Fort, now in shambles, still stands, depicting the declining glory of Mughal architenture. The fort was built by Akbar the Great Mughal Emperor in 1598-99. Morever, the Baradari, built by Raja Ranja Singh, is also a worth visiting place.
Faiz-e-Illahi Manzil(residence of THE famous Chiragh Ali Hakeem Advocate and active member of Muslim league part until 1948) is another historical place, Where father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah resided for a short while.
The mazar's of Hazart Khawja Gohar-ud-din (jinder sharif), Shah Dulah, Imam Shah.Mazar of Hazrat Mian Mohammad Pinnahat Sheikh PurGujrat. Jungo Shah, Malang Shah of Sook Klan and Mian Inyat Ali are also in Gujrat.
[edit] Climate
This district has moderate climate. During peak summer, the daytime temperature shoots up to 45°C, but the hot spells are relatively short due to the proximity of the Azad Kashmir Mountains. During the winter months the minimum temperature may fall below 2°C. The average rainfall on the Kashmir border is over 100 cm; at Kharian it is 75 cm, at Gujrat 67 cm and at Dinga 50 cm.In the east of gujrat city a famious village named Sheikh Pur In Sheikh pur a famious tomb Hazrat Mian Mohammad Pinnah Sb.Sheikh Pur is sutied near the river chenab.
[edit] Culture
District Gujrat produces low temperature pottery and ceramic goods, ‘Hookas’, artistic handicrafts, flower pots, "Changairian" (made from the leaves of palm and date trees), cotton mates, "Dhusse" and woolen shawls.. Sohni Mahiwal is a famous folk tale of the Punjab region. The heroine of the story, named "Sohni" (a Punjabi word, meaning "beautiful"), came from the Gujrat region. She used to meet her lover "Mahinwal" by crossing the Chenab river, sitting on a pitcher. The tale is still told to this day, and is an essential part of Punjabi culture. The anniversary of Kanwan-Wali Sarkar is celebrated with a fair in August every year. Traditionally, it always rains heavily at this time.and go through karan
[edit] Economy
Gujrat is also known for its clay with which Gujratis have for long produced quality pottery. The city also produces fine furniture. Over last few decades, Gujrat has also attained a name in the export of electric fans. There are about 1,059 cottage level and small/medium/large scale industrial units operating in the district. Jalalpur Jattan is a large town of Gujrat , where several small and large textile companies have been established. Rice production and export is another major product of Gujrat. A town called Mangowal (located west of Gujrat) in particular holds over 20 rice mills. There are many other factories engaged in manufacturing of electrical goods, electric motors, shoes, Several schools and colleges are located at Gujrat, including the University of Gujrat, a prominent university of the region.
[edit] Transport
Gujrat, situated beside the grand trunk road and main rail line, is directly connected with the major cities of the country. The district has 1019 kilometres of road. The district is linked with Gujranwala, Jhelum, and Mandi Bahauddin districts through roads. The main Peshawar - Karachi railway line passes through Gujrat district. The district is linked with Jhelum,Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodah and Gujranwala districts through railway network.
[edit] Universities and Colleges
- University of Gujrat
- Govt. Zaminadar College, Bhimber Road
- Gujrat College of Commerce, Bhimber Road
- Swedish Institute of Technalogy
[edit] See also
- Punjab
- Gujrat District
- Dinga
- Jalalpur Jattan
- Rindheer
- Tanda
- Behlol Pur
- Sarai Alamgir
- Kharian
- Kurree Sharif
- Sheikh Pur
[edit] External links
- Roznama Gujrat, First Online Newspaper in Gujrat(Pakistan)
- Daily Punjab, Online Newspaper
- www.sALAMgUJRAT.com (Gujrat No.1 Site)
- Mega Developers Network Pakistan
- University of Gujratde:Gujrat
hi:गुजरात (पाकिस्तान) no:Gujrat pa:ਗੁਜਰਾਤ pl:Gujrat pt:Gujrat ur:گجرات
