Gujar Khan
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Gujar Khan (Punjabi/Urdu: گُوجر خان)[3] is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area.[4]
Gujar Khan گُوجر خان | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Gujar Khan | |
Gujar Khan Gujar Khan | |
| Coordinates: 33°15′11″N 73°18′14″E / 33.253°N 73.304°ECoordinates: 33°15′11″N 73°18′14″E / 33.253°N 73.304°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Division | Rawalpindi |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Elevation | 461 m (1,512 ft) |
| Population | |
| • City | 90,131 |
| Society | |
| • Languages | Punjabi, Urdu |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Calling code | 0513 |
| Number of union councils | 36[2] |
Gujar Khan is approximately 57 km (35 mi) southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and 220 km (140 mi) to the northwest of Lahore, the capital of Punjab. It is bounded on the north by Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock, on the south by Jhelum, Lahore, and Gujrat, on the east by Azad Kashmir, and Kahuta and on the west by Chakwal and Khushab.
Located in the heart of the Potohar region, The city and surrounding region is renowned for their martial culture and is sometimes referred to as the 'Land of the Shaheed', having produced two recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider. There is the main district hospital in the center of the city, along with many other private and public medical and care services.
History
The place was named due to the rule of Gurjar Prahihar clan which was ruling northern India during the sixth to tenth century. A large Gujjar settlement is still present in the Gujar Khan Tehsil, where the Gujjars have a Member in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab named Sajid Mehmood.
Gujar Khan also contained a notable Hindu and Sikh population, though much of this population either converted to Islam during British rule, or migrated to India following partition.[5] However the area is still home to Hindu temples[6][7] and Sikh Gurdwaras[8][9] which have been not maintained through the years.[10]
Administration
Gujar Khan is administratively subdivided into 36 union councils, whereas City Gujar Khan is administered by municipal corporation.[11]
According to the 2017 census of Pakistan, the city had a population of 678,503.[12]
Natural resources
Large reserves of oil and gas were discovered in February 2002 at Tobra, about ten kilometres from Gujar Khan. The field is being developed by the Oil and Gas Development Company. The field could produce 1,600 barrels of crude oil daily. Missa Kaswal and Ahdi is also a major source of energy in Gujar khan. Missa Kaswal is supplying several cubic meters of gas on a daily basis and is also extracting large quantities of oil. [13]
Transport
Road
Gujar Khan is located on the N5 National highway from Islamabad-Lahore.[14] Railway Road links from the east of the city to the nearby towns of Bewal and Islampura.[15] There are also many other minor roads linking the villages and towns of the region to the city.
Rail
The Gujar Khan railway station is located in the center of the city and provides links to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Lahore.[16]
Bus
Local services also provide extensive bus routes to local towns, and smaller shuttles go around the villages in the surrounding area. There are also services to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, and Lahore.[17][18]
Local auto-rickshaw drivers also provide transport for people in and around the city.[19]
Notable people
- Raja Muhammad Sarwar, first recipient of Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award of Pakistan.
- Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz
- Mohammad Amir, cricketer
- Muhammad Javed Ikhlas Former MPA and MNA from Pakistan Muslim League (N)
- Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Former prime minister of Pakistan
- Muhammad Hussain Janjua, first soldier to be awarded Nishan-e-Haider
- Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Former Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Army
- Najaf Shah, cricketer[20]
See also
References
- ^ "Punjāb (Pakistan): Province, Major Cities, Municipalites & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
- ^ Election Commission of Pakistan. . Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- ^ Debates: Official Report (in Urdu). Manager of Publications. 1976. pp. 199–200. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ^ Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan. . Archived from the original on 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- ^ sightsandsoundsofpak (2014-04-22), Pre-Partition "Sikh" House in Sukho Punjab Pakistan (English Translation), archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2016-05-21
- ^ Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (2015-06-20). "Gulyana: Punjab's crumbling 900-year-old village". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ^ "The old temple at Beval". www.thefridaytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ^ sightsandsoundsofpak (2013-12-28), Gurdwara in Sukho Punjab Pakistan, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2016-05-21
- ^ sightsandsoundsofpak (2010-05-07), Gurdwara in Daultala Punjab Pakistan, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2016-05-21
- ^ . Sikh Gurus and Sikh Gurdwaras. 2014-11-07. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ^
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-03-13.
- ^ Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. . Archived from the original on 2006-05-14. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Maps – National Highways Authority". nha.gov.pk. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ "Railway Road at G.T. Road - Wikimapia". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ "Gujar Khan Railway Station". pk.geoview.info. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ "Pindi-Gujar Khan CNG bus service from today". DAWN.COM. 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ "Pakistan Express Bus Service Khalid & Nasir Gujar Khan". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ "Rickshaws plying in Gujar Khan to be registered". The Nation. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ "Najaf Shah". Cricinfo.