Bhakkar

Bhakkar (Urdu: بھکر, Seraiki Bakhar : بکھر) is the city principle city of Bhakkar District, Punjab, Pakistan, and lies on the left bank of the Indus river. It has a population of almost 300,000 and was given status of district in 1981.

Etymology

Its original name is Bakhar as Sakhar. Bakhar is an old city, and said to be named after the great Baloch Sardar Bakhar Khan. There are some other places named Bakhar, which means town of sun-baked bricks. Some people state his name as Bhake Khan Baloch, which is not correct as Bhake Khan is not a Baloch name.

History

Bhkkar was founded probably towards the close of the fifteenth century by a body of colonists from Dera Ismail Khan, led by a Baloch adventurer, whose descendants held the surrounding country until they were ousted by Ahmad Shah Durrani

British rule

During British rule Bhakkar Town was headquarters of Bhakkar tahsil (now Bhakkar District) in Mianwali District, and was on the North-Western Railway line. The municipality was created in 1874. Its income and expenditure during the ten years ending 1902-3 averaged Rs. 7,700. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 7,500, chiefly derived from octroi; and the expenditure was Rs. 8,600. The population according to the 1901 census of India was 5,312, at that time the town contained a dispensary and a municipal vernacular middle school.

The Imperial Gazetteer of India described the town as follows:

It stands on the edge of the Thal or sandy plain overlooking the low-lying alluvial lands along; the river, a channel of which is navigable as far as Bhakkar during the floods. To the west of the town the land is low, well cultivated, and subject to inundation, while to the east the country is high and dry, treeless, and sandy. A rich extent of land irrigated from wells lies below the town, protected by embankments from inundations of the Indus, and produces two or three crops in the year. The neighbouring riverain is full of date groves and fruit gardens; and in it stands a famous mango-tree, the fruit of which used to be sent to Kabul in the old days of Afghan rule.

Relics

The town has some historical places like the Dilkusha Bagh which is believed by some to be a Mughal garden built by Humayun, however Humayun never visited the area, on his retreat to Iran, he went to another Bakhar in Sindh to seek help from Mahmood Khan, which was however denied by Henry Raverty.

The old town was walled and had the Tavela, Imamanwala and King Gates, of the three the King Gate, which was built during the British period and was named after Mr King the then Deputy Commissioner of the Mianwali District, survives - since the end of colonial rule it has been renamed as the Jinnah Gate

There are remains of a handera (tomb) near Sheikh Raoo bridge, which is believed to be the burial place of Bakhar Khan, the founder of the city. The present police station was originally a Baloch fortress. Some 30 years ago a branch of River Indus flowed past the town. West side of the town was green and pleasant.

This is a very scarce silver coin belonging to the reign of Nadir Shah 1148-1160 AH (1735-1747) of the Afsharid dynasty. It is an Indian type minted during his post-occupation of. It is listed by type as Album #2744.2 (Type D). It weighs 11.3 gr. (18 mm.) and minted in the city of Bhakkar in the state of Punjab in India, dated 1157AH.

Notable people

• Chhina Family (A Jut Family): ,, is very prominent.
• Major Engineer Malik Muhammad Waqar Yasin Chhina (1st Army Engineer Officer of Bhakkar in Pak Army),
• Malik Ghulam Yasin Chhina (Senior Advocate of Bhakkar - Law),

Malik Muhammad Numan Yasin Chhina (Advocate of High Court, the one of ancient bar of asia - Law).

Bhatti Family: It is also the prominent family because of one person Ramzan Bhatti. Which are present on the pillar post in Pakistan. Which serve as collector in customs.

Naizi Family Niazi here in bhakkar are those which leave Mianiwala district because of clashes or family problems & migrated to bhakkar (because bhakkar is peaceful city). A great contribution in Army & Police also. Poets and writters

poet and writters

Asad Jafri,Iqbal Hussain,Asad Mustafa,Aneel chahoan,Ali Shah,Najaf Ali Shah,Ashraf Kamal,

Administration

Bhakkar city is also the administrative centre of Bhakkar tehsil one of the four tehsils of the district. Bhakkar tehsil is further divided into 17 Union Councils, Bhakkar city itself is divided into three Unions

Colleges

• Govt.College Bhakkar
• Govt. College Darya Khan, Bhakkar
• Govt. Degree College Jandanwala, Bhakkar
• Govt.College of Commerce Bhakkar
• District Public School and Interscience college bhakkar
• Govt.Girls College Bhakkar

High Schools

• Govt.Model High School Bhakkar
• Govt.CTTM high school Bhakkar
• Govt.MC high School Bhakkar
• Govt.Girls Higher Secondary school Bhakkar

Hospitals and Medical Centres

District Headquarter Hospital bhakkar

• Safdar Hospital
• Sidiq Medical Complex
• Nasir Hospital
• Jatial Hospital

Specialities

• Bakhars famous souvnir was Karna oil, which was extracted fron karna flower.
• CHANNA is the major crop here
• Karna is the Special Local Hair Oil here which is also Exported to Middle East.

Dr.Noman Muzaffar Awan s/o Malik Muzaffar

Industry

• A Textile Mills "Colony Thal Textile Mills Ltd.,Ismailpur BHAKKAR" working since 1956.
• A Sugar Mill "Fecto Sugar Mills Limited., Darya Khan".

Population

• Bakhar now is a bustling town, with population of more than three hundred thousand.

Castes

Major castes or Zaats in Bhakkar are: Niwani, Shahani, Awan, Kuhawar, Chap, Arain, Chheena, Chaddu, Pushia, Naich, Soha, Khan, Rawn, Miana, Aolakh, Rana, Rao, Chohdhari, Qureshi and Sayyed.

Language

Seraiki is the most dominant language of the district. The district has a population of over one million.

• Its area consists of riverine tract along Indus called Kacha and the Thal anciently called Chol-e-Jalali. The most of its area comprises greater thal.
• Mankera in centre of The Great Thal is a place of great antiquity. The old fort here; a historical heritage, is a great land mark of Thal needs preservation. Another old place in the district is Kallurkot. Bakhar is part of Seraiki Wasaib in western Punjab.

External links

• Official website

31°38′N 71°04′E