Sahiwal District

Not to be confused with Sahiwal Division.

Sahiwal District ساہیوال
District
Location of Sahiwal in Punjab.
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Capital	Sahiwal
Established	1965
Area
• Total	3,201 km2 (1,236 sq mi)
Population  (1998)
• Total	1,843,194
• Density	649/km2 (1,680/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Website	www.sahiwal.gov.pk

Sahiwal District (Template:Lang-ur) is one of the 32 District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. As of 1998, it had a population of 1,843,194 people, with an annual growth-rate of 1.92%. Since 2008, Sahiwal District along with Okara District and Pakpattan District has comprised the Sahiwal Division. The city of Sahiwal is the capital of both the district and the District. About 18 miles south-west of Sahiwal is Harappa, an ancient city of the world, oldest urban center of Harappan or Indus civilization in South Asia. About 28 miles (45 km) west of Sahiwal, at Kamalia, is the site of Malli city captured by Alexander the Great in 325 bc. Alexander stayed in this region of Punjab for two years and fought almost 12 wars during his stay. In 1849, a district was made with the name of Pakpattan (now Sahiwal) between Lahore and Multan for the administrative purposes. In 1851, it's headquarter was moved to Gogera (a small town) and this region got the name Gogera. In September 1858, participating in India's First War of Independence, this region fought war under the command of great Freedom Fighter Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal who was the famous landlord in this area. Along with his companions Murad Fatiana, Shujaa Bhadur, and Mokha Wehniwal, Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal killed Lord Burkley the Commissioner for Gogera. They led an insurrection in the wide area of Punjab covering Ganji Bar, Neeli Bar and Sandal Bar area (an area between rivers Sutlej, Ravi River and Chenab River covered with thick forests in past). These great warriors held the jungles of Gogera and gave the immense resistance to the British forces, besieging Major Crawford Chamberlain at Chichawatni. In 1954, when Railway tack between Lahore and Multan was laid under the British Raj, a large railway station was constructed here and this region got the name of Sahiwal after the Sahi clan of Kharal Rajputs who were the inhabitants of this area. In 1865, Sahiwal' name was changed and it was named Montgomery after Sir Robert Montgomery, then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab. Its current name was reinstated in 1966.

Location

Sahiwal District is located in the south-east of Punjab, from Multan District it lies between 30-40 north latitude and 73-06 longitude. It is 500 ft (150 m) above sea level. It forms a parallelogram lying NE-SW along the River Ravi. It is 100 km from east to west and 45 km from. The western boundary of the District of Sahiwal, District Faisalabad & District Toba Tek Singh. The dry River Khushak Bias separates it from the DistrictPakpattan. Okara District is east of the District. District Khanewal and District Vehari form boundaries with the District, and on the southern side is District Pakpattan.

Administration

Sahiwal District consists of two Tehsils and 531 Revenue Estates/Villages ;

District	Tehsil
Sahiwal	Sahiwal
	Chichawatni

Sahiwal District has an area of 3,201km². Sahiwal District contains subtowns like Qadirabad, Yousafwala,Iqbal Nagar, Kassowal, Noorshah, Harappa and Ghaziabad. There are transport connections via National Highway and Pakistan Railways to all over Pakistan.

History

This region has a very rich history. Harappa, which is now a large village in the Sahiwal, was once home of one of the earliest urban civilizations of the world; the Indus Valley Civilization.

File:Harppa ruins.jpg

The foreground well is one of eight wells that have thus far been discovered at Harappa

The water used by the population probably came from the adjacent [[Ravi River]Indus Valley Civilization is considered as Bronze Age Civilization (3300–1300 BCE; mature period 2600–1900 BCE)with Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt as its contemporaries. At its peak, the Indus Civilization may have had a population of well over five million. Inhabitants of the ancient Indus river valley, Harappans, developed new techniques in metallurgy and handicraft (carneol products, seal carving), and produced copper, bronze, lead, and tin. The civilization is noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system, and multistoried houses. The mature phase of this civilization is known as the Harappan Civilization which overlapped the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age; thus it is difficult to date this transition accurately. The declining period of the IVC from about 1,900 BC and most widely accepted factor of this decline is ecological change due to which migrations occurred. Shaffer & Lichtenstein (in Erdosy 1995:139) stated that: "This shift by Harappan and, perhaps, other Indus Valley cultural mosaic groups, is the only archaeologically documented west-to-east movement of human populations in South Asia before the first half of the first millennium B.C.." This could have been caused by ecological factors, such as the drying up of the Ghaggar-Hakra River and increased aridity in Rajasthan and other places. The Indus River also began to flow east and floodings occurred. Shaffer (as cited in Bryant 2001:192) contends: "There were no invasions from central or western South Asia. Rather there were several internal cultural adjustments reflecting altered ecological, social and economic conditions affecting northwestern and north-central South Asia". However, Indo-Aryan migration into this region is noted as approximately contemporaneous to the final phase of the decline of the Indus-Valley civilization (IVC).

Alexander crossed into India in 327 B.C.E. Here, he defeated many kingdoms capturing the jungles and planes of Indus, Chenab and Ravi. During his conquests, he with his army stooped at a village belonged to the Mallis, who were said to be one of the most warlike of the Indian tribes. Alexander was wounded several times in this attack, most seriously when an arrow pierced his breastplate and his ribcage.[2] This village of malli is located in Kamalia near Sahiwal.

After Alexander left back, this region along with the whole Indian subcontinent was ruled by the Ashoka the great (Maurya Empire) for some two hundred years. After that no significant ruler came and this region remain under the invasion of Muslims, Mongols, Lodhis and many others till the Babur came and laid down the foundation of Mughal Empirein 1526. However, after just four year after the death of Babur his son Humayun ruled India who later on was defeated by Sher Shah Suri. A soldier of fortune, Sher Shah also proved himself a gifted administrator as well as an able general. He during his reign laid down the net of road. The road connecting Dehli to Multan, he constructed, passed from Gogera, Sahiwal is known in locals as Kakhan Wali Sarak. To maintain his power in this region he constructed a fort in Shergarh near Sahiwal.

The Mughals controlled the region from 1524 until 1739. The pastoral tribes of this barren expanse did not appear to have paid more than a nominal allegiance to the Muslim rulers, and even in the 19th century, when Ranjit Singh extended the Sikh supremacy as far as Multan, the population for the most part remained in a chronic state of rebellion. After the hold of the Mughal Empire had relaxed, the District was divided among the Sikh Nakkais and a number of important muslim tribes (Kharrals, Sials, Wattus, Hans). Between 1804 - 1810, Maharaja Ranjit Singh held most of the district, except for a strip on the Sutlej, which was held by the Nawab of Bahawalpur on payment of tribute to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. However, it was occupied by Maharaja Ranjit Singh on default of payment. His rule remained till 1839 then after his death the empire was severely weakened by internal Districts and political mismanagement. This opportunity was used by the British Empire to launch the Anglo-Sikh Wars from 1845 to 1849. This region was the the last territory to be merged into British India. British influence was first exercised in the district in 1847, when an officer was deputed to effect a summary settlement of the land revenue. The district came under direct British rule in 1849, when the district was officially formed with its headquarters at Pakpattan. The district was expanded to include the trans-Ravi portion in 1852, and the district headquarters were moved to Gogera. In 1865, when the railway was opened, a village on the railway, was named Montgomery and became the capital of the district.

File:Gugera War of independence.jpg

An illustration of Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal's struggle in Gogera war

This region also played a great role during the Indian rebellion of 1857. During that time, there was a general rising of the Jat clans, the District formed the scene of the only rising which took place north of the Sutlej. The District authorities, however, kept down the threatened rising till August 26, 1857 when the prisoners in jail made a desperate attempt to break loose. At the same time Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal, head of the Khurrul tribe, who had been detained at Gogera, broke his arrest, and, though apprehended, was released on security, together with several other suspected chieftains. In September 1858 Rae Ahmed Khan led an insurrection in the Neeli Bar district, between the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers in the love of mother land. The freedom fighters held the jungles of Gogera and had some successes against the British forces in open rebellion. Kot Kamalia was sacked; and Major Crawford Chamberlain, moving up with a small force from Multan, was besieged for some days at Chichawatni on the Ravi. These freedom fighters were actually able to make vast part of their land totally free of the British Raj for at least three months. Along with his companions Murad Fatiana, Shujaa Bhadroo, and Mokha Wehniwal, Ahmed Khan killed Lord Burkley the Commissioner for Gogera. He united most of the Bari tribes against the British rule. They also attacked the Gogera Central Jail and ensured the freedom of hundreds of freedom fighters who were kept there for charge of actively taking part in the War of Independence. Several minor actions followed in the open field, until finally the rebels, driven from the plain into the wildest jungles of the interior, were utterly defeated and dispersed. The British troops then inflicted severe punishment on the insurgent clans, destroying their villages, and seizing large numbers of cattle for sale.

This district was part of the Lahore District of Punjab Province. After the Partition of British India, the district went to Pakistan in 1947. It's dimensions were altered many times till 2008 when it got the level of District

Climate

File:Trees and climate of sahiwal.jpg

Sahiwal area is dominated by grasses, shrubs and forests which are features of Semi-arid climate

Sahiwal has Hot Semi-arid climate as classified by Köppen climate classification. More precisely, it intermediates between Desert Climates (BW) and humid climates in ecological characteristics and agricultural potential.

The climate tends to have hot, sometimes extremely hot, summers and mild warm winters. Being around the fringes of Subtropical Deserts and at lower latitude so it has warmer wet seasons and cooler dry seasons. It also experiences the seasonal effects of Monsoon, being extremely wet during the monsoon months and dry during the rest of the year, with few or no months bringing moderate levels of precipitation.

The weather of Sahiwal is extreme during the months of May, June and July, when the temperatures soar to 40-50°C. While in winter, down to 5-10°C minimum. The average rainfall is about 200 mm annual. The soil of the land is very fertile and climate tends to support short or scrubby vegetation. A significant area is dominated by grasses, shrubs and forests.

Economy

Economy of Sahiwal District depends on Agriculture and Agro-based Industries.

Agriculture

File:Grain market sahiwal.jpg

Cotton, Wheat and Corn; A view of Sahiwal' Grain Market

Sahiwal being the land of three rivers is considered as one of the most fertile land zones of Punjab. Therefore, due to the most sophisticated canal irrigation system and supporting ecological and climate characteristics, this area has a good potential for producing almost all kind of food commodities. Another reason of diverse cropping pattern of the area is the heterogeneity in agro-climatic conditions, producing crops such as Wheat, Sugarcane, Cotton, Tobacco, Rice, Maize, Oilseeds and Rape/Mustard Seed. The vegetables produced by this piece of land are Potato, Onion, Cauliflower, Peas, Carrot, Turnip and Ladyfinger, while famous fruits of this area are Citrus, Guava, Orange, Lemon, Mango, Dates, Jambul, Jujube and Mulberry.

Forests

The other significant feature of Sahiwal is its forests. Archaeologists suggest that the forests are present in this area since old Harappan Civilization. During excavation of Harappa, archaeologist found a number of sculptures, stamps and seals depicting the animals like Bull, Elephant, Zebra and Rhinoceros. These are the animals of Hot Humid subtropical climate in which Sahiwal is also fall. So it can be concluded that, this land hosted great forests and animals in ancient times. In present, there is an area of 11,522acres of forests in district Chichawatni which is the 2nd largest forest of Punjab after Changa Manga. Peepal, Bargad, Safaida, Peelu, Jundi, Sal, Okaan, Shisham, Kikar/Babul, Neem and Bakain are the prominent trees of this area.

Cattles

Sahiwal cattle breed, which is the best dairy breed of Zebu or humped cattle especially Nilli Ravi Buffalo, is the main source of world wide fame of Sahiwal. It is thick-resistant, heat-tolerant and resistant to parasites, both internal and external. Cows average 2270 liters of milk while suckling a calf and much higher milk yields have been recorded. Besides, as oxen they are generally docile and lethargic, making them more useful for slow work. Information in DAD-IS (2005) indicated that the Sahiwal breed show resistance to tick-borne diseases. Because of these major reasons, they are introduced to many tropical countries. Due to their heat tolerance and high milk production they have been exported to other Asian countries, Africa (Kenya, Jamaica, Guyana, Burundi, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria), Caribbean and around the world. Other livestocks like sheep, goat, fish and poultry are also in abundant in the region.

Industries

Industry of Sahiwal is mainly an Agro-based Industries and has approximately 568 industrial units. The main industries include Food processing units,Rice Mills, Sugar Mills, Tobacco (Lackson Tobacco etc.), Cotton Ginning & Pressing, Flour Mills, Fertilizer companies (Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited etc.), Vegetable Ghee & Cooking Oil, Textile Weaving/Spinning, Paper & Paper Board, Poultry Feed, Seed Processing and leather products.

Education

Although Sahiwal District is mainly comprises of villages, it has relatively high rate of literacy than many other districts of Punjab. Statistics shows that is 54% There are several educational institutes of quality in this area.

File:Comsats sahiwal picture.jpg

Under-Construction Building of COMSATS Sahiwal

Institutes

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, which is ranked at 6th position in Pakistan is one of the leading institute in Sahiwal offering under-graduate and graduate programmes since 2005 in a broad range of programs. The offered programs are from Management Sciences, Computer Science, Biosciences, Engineering and Humanities. Similarly, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Sub-Campus Sahiwal, Acute Business College and Virtual University Sahiwal Campus are the other post graduate and professional institutes offering several programs especially in Business related field (BBA, MBA, ACCA and CAT).

In Medicine education, Sahiwal Medical College keeps the significant importance. It is the only Medical Institute between the Lahore and Multan region. It's building is yet to be constructed, however classes are being held in the premises of DHQ Hospital Sahiwal. For short course and nursing education, there is another institute; School of Nursing, DHQ Hospital, Sahiwal.

File:GC sahiwal.jpg

Beautiful Entrance of Govt. Post Graduate College Sahiwal

College of Technology Sahiwal] and Allama Iqbal Polytechnic Institute ( Reg.) Sahiwal , Pakistan.] are playing an important role in providing technical education to the students of this area. These institutes offers degrees in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Automobile, Food Processing and many other technologies. These institutes are affiliated with the TEVTA

Govt. Post Graduate College Sahiwal[3] was established in 1942 and produced a great wealth of glowing traditions during this period of 64 years. This college is an example of its own in the whole country. It covers an area of 84 acres enjoying a distinction of Sahiwal on account of its beautiful building, captivating mosque, grand hostel, unique pond, fantastic library, pavilion, spacious canteen, colorful Rose-garden, Sunken-garden, Terrace-garden and the big and wide Oval. It offers dozens of programs from 23 departments.

Divisional Public School and College, Sahiwal is another high-rated institutes in the area, offering education till the intermediate level in both Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medicine. It is well disciplined and quality of education there is pretty high.

Other notable schools are Beaconhouse School System, BloomField Hall, The City School, Government College For Women Sahiwal, Government High School Sahiwal, Comprehensive School Sahiwal, Government Pilot Higher Secondary School, Government Immamia College, Muhammadan Law College Sahiwal, Multan Law College Sahiwal, Government Commerce College, The Educators, Punjab Group of Colleges.

Libraries

Sahiwal Divison has following libraries;

File:JPL sahiwal library.jpg

Jinnah Public Library, Sahiwal; The third largest library of Punjab, Pakistan

• Govt. Jinnah Public Library, Sahiwal was build in 1989, having more than 30,000 books. It is the 3rd biggest Public library of the province of the Punjab. Number of its regular members is more than 4000. Library also organizes seminars, workshops, book fairs and book exhibition throughout the year.
• COMSATS Sahiwal Library has open shelves collection with vide range of books, Audio-Visual Material, CDs, Data Bases, Newspapers, National and International Journals / Magazines, Thesis, Projects, etc. The facility of more than 30,000 online research journals / Magazines and more than 50,000 books on different subjects through HEC Digital Library Program, is also accessible here at Sahiwal.
• Govt. Post Graduate College Sahiwal Library is the largest library in Sahiwal with more than 50,000 books.
• Sahiwal Public library, also knows as Library Bazm-e-Adab-o-Fikr is the oldest library of Sahiwal.
• Other libraries are Baldia Library, Govt. College for Women library, Zila Council Library' and District Bar Library.

Demography

As per the 1998' Census of Pakistan, Sahiwal district has a population of 1,843,194 with Population density of 649 (/km2) and literacy rate is 54  % (U-. R-).

File:Great migration into pakistan.jpg

Picture depicts the Mass migration of people from East to West Punjab (areas like Lahore, Sialkot and Sahiwal) in 1947

Locals & Migrants : This area hosts four type of people. First, those who are native to these lands are small in population, and were consisted largely of pastoral communities in eighties. Second are the people who were called here and allotted lands during the British Raj around 1849. Third are the Abadkar people who, after the establishment of irrigation/canal system in this area, were forcibly displaced from other areas of Punjab, mostly from eastern parts. It was these migrants that became the share-cropping tenants of the state-owned farms. They first had to completely change the landscape of the area and were promised ownership rights by the colonialists under the so-called Abadkari schemes and then lands were allotted to them. Fourth type is of people who came here after the Independence of Pakistan in 1947 and they made 14% of population in 1998' census.

Religion : Although Islam is 1400 old religion yet, it first time came in this region very late probably with the arrival of Arabic Merchants. However, attack of Muhammad Bin Qasim and teachings of Fariduddin Ganjshakar became the main source of propagation of Islam in this region. Before Partition, Montgomery Known then, Sahiwal was a Muslim Majority area with the minority of Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. Later two fled To the other side of the Border when there was lots of chaos and riots during the Independence of Pakistan. In 1998, Muslim proportion was 98.7%.

Language : Jhangochi dialect, spoken in Sahiwal District is considered as the oldest dialect of Punjabi language. while Harappai Language, the oldest language of this region, is considered as the original form of Punjabi Jangochi dialect. Later on, Manda and Dravian languages came in this region and made a new mixture of languages. Currently, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language of people of Sahiwal. Other languages are Saraiki, Urdu and English. As Sahiwal is situated in Ganji Bar and Neeli Bar, also in combine known as Jungli Bar (Due to the presence of deep jungles in this region in ancient times), the dialect spoken here is also known as Jaangli or Jhangochi.

Clans : Sahiwal was historically home to various clans of Kharal Rajputs (Sahis, Bashera, Purbera), Tullah , Maher, Dogar, Syal, Sanpal, Sipra, Khichi, Wasli, Kamboh, Kathia, Arain, Langriyal, Bhatti, Bhutta, Jats, Murdana a Subtribe of Rind Balochs, Khagga (Qureshi), Pathans and Gillani Syeds of Shekhu Shareef.

Notable residents

• Abdus Salam, Pakistan's only Nobel Prize winner was born in Santokdas, District Sahiwal, according to his elder sister and his obituary, although he grew up in Jhang. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his achievements in the field of Theoretical Physics in 1979. He is buried in Rabwah, in the Jhang district.
• Majeed Amjad, one of the founding forefathers of modern Urdu literature, was born in Sahiwal and received his education from Government College Lahore. He was inspired by the greenery of Sahiwal and wrote about the trees and greenery of Sahiwal. There is a park named for him.
• Munir Niazi, A leading Urdu language poet of national and international stature.

Central Jail Sahiwal

First jail in this area was Gogera jail that was built near Gogera Headquarters back in eighties. British used to put political prisoners during the War of Independence of India. Gogera jail was broken into by famous freedom fighter Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal. Later on, in 1873 due to security issues jail was shifted to city sahiwal which is now knows as Central Jail Sahiwal. Central Jail Sahiwal` is an ancient jail situated in Sahiwal, Pakistan and the largest in Pakistan with reference to the area and agricultural land adjacent to it. Comically, this jail is also a source of fame for Sahiwal because before and after independence, a numbers of politicians, poet, and social activists had remained confined in this prison including Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Faiz Ahmad Faiz,Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Habib Jalib, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan and Agha Shorash Kashmeeri.

The jail’s authorized accommodation is 1565, however, at present around 4500 prisoners (number varies almost on a daily basis) of are confined in this prison. A rough break-down of the prison population to give an idea to the reader is given below:

Undertrial Prisoners 2768 CT Prisoners 849 CP Prisoners 538 Juvenile Prisoners 57 Female Prisoners 37

Total population 4249

To fulfill the requirements of the inmates and made them useful citizen after their release, a Literacy Center has been established. About 1000 inmates are using this Center. Jail warders and convicts having minimum qualification Fellow of Arts (12th grade) have been deputed teachers in these Literacy Centers. A computer center has been established for the juvenile prisoners. The jail also has a farm where vegetables and fodder is grown. The prison also has a factory where carpets, duree, woolen blankets and jute tatts are made. A new high security jail is under construction next to the central jail.

Twin cities

Sahiwal city is twinned with the town of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, North West England.There is a direction sign in Rochdale's town centre pointing in Sahiwal's direction with "Sahiwal 3960 miles" written on it.

See also

• Sahiwal Division
• Sahiwal
• Harappa
• Okara District
• Pakpattan District