Vehari District
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Vehari District | |
|---|---|
| MMC International | |
 Map of Punjab with Vehari District highlighted | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Capital | Vehari |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,373 km2 (1,688 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 2,613,020 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
Vehari District (Template:Lang-ur) is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan - the city of Vehari is the capital of the district.[1] The district was created in 1976 out of the three tehsils of Multan District (Vehari, Burewala and Mailsi). The name Vehari means low lying settlement by a flood water channel. The district lies along the right bank of the river Sutlej which forms its southern boundary.
Boundaries
The district is located between 29°36′N 71°44′E / 29.600°N 71.733°E and 30°22′N 72°53′E / 30.367°N 72.883°E and borders with Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur on the southern side, with Pakpattan on the eastern, with Khanewal and Lodhran on western and with Sahiwal and Khanewal on northern side.
The total area of the district is 4,364 square kilometres (1,685 sq mi). It is about 93 kilometres (58 mi) in length and approximately 47 kilometres (29 mi) in breadth and it is sloping gently from northeast to southwest. this city has three tehseels. 1- Vehari 2- Mailsee 3- Burewala
Administration
The district of Vehari is administratively subdivided into threetehsils these are:[1]
Physical features
The district consists of plain area with fertile land. It is a part of Indus plain. It has the best cultivated land which is suitable for cotton, wheat and other agricultural crops. Vehari district lies Nili Bar which is between Ravi and Bias and Sutlej rivers. Its land is irrigated with the fertile water of Chenab and Ravi rivers. Vehari District has a big canal system with two canals namely Pakpatan and Mailsi canal. The total number of canals including their minors in the district are 19 with a total length of about 1,380.
Nullahs
The Bias River, or Beas River, is known locally as the Viyah. The old bed of the river is known as Sukh Bias. During heavy floods nominal water flow into the nullah. The stream enters Vehari district near Sheikh Fazal and joins Satluj River via Pakhi More and Pul. The path of the nullah has changed over the years; it currently joins Satluj River via Burewala.
History
Vehari District is the result of construction of the Pakpattan canal from Sulemanki Head Works on the Sutlej and the institution of Nili Bar colony project in 1925, so called because of the hints of blue in the water of the Sutlej. The ancient history of the district is obscure. The populated areas in ancient times was restricted to the banks of the river Sutlej where seasonal inundation permitted some cultivation. The rest of the area was a vast sandy scrap-land at best affording pastures itinerant herdsmen. The riparian tract formed the state of Fatehpur during the time of Akbar the Great. This was ruled by Fateh Khan of Joya family who founded and gave his name to the town of Fatehpur. Fatehpur is still in existence about 15 kilometres to the south of Mailsi and is the oldest town of Mailsi subdivision. It has some remains of archaeological value.
In May 2002, Vehari District was the scene of a shootout between members of the Sunni militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and local Shia villagers. LeJ members had come to a local village to stage an attack on a prominent local Shia, but were met with local armed resistance. In the ensuing shootout, all four LeJ members were killed, including their leader, Riaz Basra.[2][3]
Language
Punjabi is the first language of most of the people in the district. Saraiki and Urdu are also spoken.
Tribes and clans
The principal tribes of the district are the Rajpoot (generally known as Ranghar, who migrated from Haryana during 1947 and are settled in all parts of Pakistan but mostly in Punjab and Sindh), Khokhar, Arain, Dogar, Dhudhi, daultana, Daha, Gujar, Jat (both local & settler), Johiya, Khagga, Khichi, Khakwani, Kharal, Langrial, Manais, Syed, QureshiSuddiqe, Gasura Jatt, Wattu, and Kamlana
Subsequently, areas to the east of the above mentioned riparian tract were inhabited by arain from Lahore and Khichi from Bikaner who founded Mailsi town. Mailsi is still much their preserve.
Syed===
[ [Syed] ] in Vehari,Burewala is migrated from several countries e.g(India,Afghanistan,Iran,Iraq),in Vehari Syed also known as Mukhdooms.Most prominent personalities of the syed's are syed Naseem mehdi shah(ex District Nazim Vehari).
Khokhar
Khokhar in Vehari, Lahore and Multan is the dominant caste. Khokhar, Bhatti, Khar, Kharal,meyany, Awan and Bara are associated castes and probably originated the name of five brothers. They trace their genealogy with Bahud Din Zakria, Qutab Shah and then back to Arab Quresh. These castes trace their links to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, through distinct genealogy. Prominent personalities of the Khokhar caste are Riaz Khokhar (Ex. Foreign Secretary), Haji Nawaz Khokhar (Ex. Deputy Speaker National Assembly Pakistan), Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar (Ex. Member of National Assembly, Pakistan), Justice (R) Fakhur un Nisa Khokhar and Malik Ahud Khkhar.
Malik
Malik is famous for business, religious, political and social activities. There is 90% hold in Karayana businees in bureala and medical business in Vehari. Malik are 95% belongs to business class families so they take a major role in business in District Vehari.
Daha
The tribe claims descent from Daha jats, who was said to be a Muslim holyman, who married the daughter of Parihar Rajput. They does claim kinship with the Bohar and Parhar Jats, who are also of Parihar Rajput ancestry. They are found mainly in Vehari, Khanewal,D G Khan,D I Khan,Faisalabad, Multan and Rajanpur districts. In Rajanpur District, their main village is Kotla Daha. In Muzaffargarh District, their main villages are Mahiwal Daha, Sardar Mohammed Daha, Mohammed Daha, Chak Ali Daha and Ali Daha.
Arain
According to some traditions, they are descendants from the group of Ummayad(Arab) soldiers from Areeha (Jericho, Palestine) who accompanied Muhammad bin Qasim and were called by their Arabic name "Areehai", which changed to Arain by the usage in local tongues.Most of them are migrated from indian punjab after partition during 1947.
Dhudhi
A clan derived from Punwar, Dhuddis are rajputs (son of raja), their origin is from Rajputana (a state of Rajpoots).and village kadhar mandi bahauddin pakistan
The Dhuddi is one of the major clans of district Vehari, have influential socio-political relations with the district.
Khichi
Khichi are a clan of Chauhan Rajputs, who came into the district from Bikaner in Rajasthan, India.The Khichi Tribe are known to be one of the biggest Landlords of Pakistan, and proved to be the leading Agriculturists too. The Tribe owns more than 45,000 acres (180 km2) of Land(Irrigated). The Sargana Village has great political background of more than 60 years.They are the more powerfull and politicals of whole districts.
Gasura Rajput Jat
Gasura are a clan of Jat Rajputs, who came into the district from Bikaner in Rajasthan, India. Gusura arrived in Vehari (Multan) in 1890. The Gasura live in Basti Gud Gasuran Wali and other villages of Mailsi. The important village of Gussora is 65/KB which is near to luddan. its people are educated in that area.
Joiya Daultana
The Joiya is tribe of ancient pedigree. The Daulatana clan has dominated the district's politics since 19th century.
Khakwani
They had come to Multan from Khugyani District in Nangarhar province. Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Khakwani was made the Nawab of Multan after the city came under the rule of the Durrani Empire.
Jats
Jats are split into two groups: those who lived in the district prior to the building of the canals and the start of colonization, and those who settled afterward, including refugees who came after 1947.
Maken
The word Maken came from urdu word مے کن mean Bar Keeper (شراب فروش).
They claim descent from the Parmara Rajputs, and spring from the same ancestor as the Dhudhi tribe. The tribe claims to have settled in the Thal, after the end of Arab rule in Sindh. The Hindu king of Kanauj, a Parmar Rajput took possession of the region, and settled his kinsmen, the Maken. They ruled Mankera for five hundred years. Their conversion to the faith is recorded during the time of Ghias-ud-din Balban, courtesy of Baba Farid Ganj Shakr. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, the Baloch from Makran flocked into the country in and around Mankera, and subsequently ruled this state for the next three hundred years. They are courageous and prudent. They have a history of bravery and most of the Maken's ancestors were warlords. In the present Pakistan's /Indian's history they have been appointed on important Public positions and some are very famous politicians.
Sports
In sports, Vehari has produced many talents. It is famous in the field of hockey. Famous players in the history of the game include:
- Waqar Younis, former Captain Pakistan Cricket Team and a very famous bowler and widely regarded as one of the best fast bowlers of all time.
- Waseem Ahmed, ex Olympian and former captain of Pakistan National Hockey Team. He is one of the best left half produced by the world. He also got selected in World XI.
- Saleem Sherwani, ex hockey Olympic champion and world hockey champion.
- Sajjad Anwar International Player, represented Pakistan National Hockey Team.
- Waqas Akbar, Olympian and currently representing Pakistan National Hockey.
- Malik Kashif, currently representing Pakistan National Hockey.
Education
University of Education (UE), Vehari campus was established on September 10, 2002, as the first specialized university in the field of Education in Pakistan. It is a rapidly growing institution for the promotion of knowledge, skills and research.
Divisional Public School, Vehari is working under the management of District Government, Vehari.
The City School is also working efficiently and is named as the best primary educational institute of the city. There are also separate degree colleges for boys and girls.
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology
has opened its campus at Vehari which is one of the best Universities in Pakistan ranked by HEC. The campus is located at Mailsi road off Multan road, adda Pir Murad. Currently CIIT Vehari is operating department of Management Science and department of Computer Science
Outreach Scholarship Program opened new ways of Educating the people in Punjab(Pakistan).
A prominent educationist from this region is Dr. Muhammad Zaman. He is a renowned sociologist, currently living in Germany. Zaman was a graduate of the University of Leipzig and the University of Punjab-Lahore in sociology. He was associated with Zentrums für Höhere Studien (ZHS), Research Academy Leipzig. He wrote on ‘BBC Urdu service as contact zone between the Urdu speaking migrants in Germany and people at home in Pakistan’.
Weather
The climate of the district is hot and dry. The summer season starts in April and continues until October. May, June, and July are the hottest months. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures for these months are about 47 and 28 degrees Celsius. Dry, hot, and dusty winds are common during summer. The winter season lasts from November to March. December, January and February are the coldest months. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures for this period are about 22 and 4 °C. Fog is very common during winter.
Most of the area's rain falls during the monsoon season from July to September. During winter season there is very little rain, however, deluges and floods can occur.
References
- ^ a b Tehsils & Unions in the District of Vehari - Government of Pakistan
- ^ Police kill Pakistan's most wanted man BBC News, 14 May 2002
- ^ Howard D. French For Militant, No Glorified End, but Death in the Dust New York Times, May 19, 2002
