Gujranwala

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Gujranwala
گجرانوالہ
General Information
Country Pakistan
Province Punjab
Location 32.16°′″N, 74.18°′″E
Altitude 700 metres AMSL
Area 3,198 km²
Calling code 055
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
No. of Towns
Population 3,500,000 1998
Government
City Mayor (Nazim) Fayyaz Ahmad Chattha
No. of Union Councils 192
No. of NGOs Working
Emblem
Website
Gujranwala Government Website

Gujranwala (Urdu: گجرانوالہ) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan with a population of more than 4 million. It is located at 32.16° North, 74.18° East and is 700 feet above sea-level. The division of Gujranwala, with a population of about 11 million has an area of 3198 km². Gujranwala is the 5th largest city in Pakistan. It borders with Ghakhar Mandi and some small towns and villages. Punjabi is the local language, however English and Urdu are also common, particularly in schools and offices, as is the case in almost all over Pakistan.

Contents

[edit] History

The human settlements in Gujranwala existed since antiquity. The first name of the settlement according to the compilers of the first edition of the district Gazette was khanpur Shansi after an individual of the Jat tribe called Khan Shansi who founded 11 villages in the nearby area. Gujjar also settled in the Gujranwala region. They reach such dominance that the town came to be known as Gujranwala. It seems likely that the district once contained the capital of the Punjab, at an epoch when Lahore had not begun to exist.

We learn from the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, Hsuan Tsang, that about the year 630 A.D.. he visited a town known as Tse-kia (or Taki), the metropolis of the whole country of the five rivers. A mound near the modern village of Asarur has been identified as the site of the ancient capital. Until the Muslim rule little is known of Gujranwala, except that Taki had fallen into oblivion and Lahore had become the chief city. ‘Under Muslim rule the district flourished for a time; but a mysterious depopulation fell upon the tract, and the whole region seems to have been almost entirely abandoned. The Compilers of the district Gazetteer Gujranwala date this name to Approximately 300 years, giving us a rough estimate of the middle of the 16th century . Other smaller town in the vicinity for example Sohdara Eminabad Wazirabad and Ghakhar have older antecedent than Gujranwala itself.

The Sikhs occupied the Punjab after the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir in 1707. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the most powerful of all the Sikh rulers and ruled over for 40 years. After his death in 1840 the Sikh Empire was divided and disintegrated. The area was conquered and annexed by the British in 1849. A railway line was built along Grand Trunk Road in 1881. That railway line interconnected Gujranwala with other cities of Punjab and made the commercial trade between cities more convenient. British ruled the city until Pakistan's independence in 1947.

After independence Gujranwala was developed and it is now leading city of Pakistan. It is now an agricultural marketing center (grains, melons, sugarcane), it is also a commercial and industrial center, manufacturing ceramics,iron safes, copper, brass, and aluminum utensils. The establishment of an industrial park, textile, silk, pipefitting, electric fan, and tannery production increased its importance. Cultivation in the surrounding area is dependent upon canal irrigation. Wheat, cotton, rice, barley, and millet are the chief crops. One of the best quality Rice grows in Gujranwala.

In 1951, the city was converted into the capital of the district which gave rise to the new industries in the city. The Gujranwala hydroelectric project provides power from the Chenab River. There are also rice and sugar mills and glassworks in the locality. City has an International Level Cricket Stadium, Jinnah Stadium also or formerly known as Municipal Stadium.

The Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) was established. Now apart from the chamber office, the Zonal and Circle offices of Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited and State Bank of Pakistan are functioning in the building.

[edit] Economy

Gujranwala is a major agricultural and industrial city of Punjab, Pakistan.

[edit] Agriculture

The rural areas around Gujranwala produce a large variety of agricultural goods, the main crops grown here are wheat, rice, potato,barley and millet.

[edit] Industry

Today, Gujranwala is playing a major role in supporting the economy of Pakistan. It is a large industrial city, called mini japan, with numerous textile mills, Cutlery industry and large agricultural processing plants. Gujranwala's major exports are rice, textiles, carpets, transformers, clothing, glass goods, electric fans, surgical equipment, hosiery, leather products, metal utensils, auto parts ,plastic goods,washing machines,rice husking plants,agircultural implements,automotive machinery parts,moter bikes,food products,moters,garments,sanitary products etc. Gujranwala is also producing machinery parts for military. . Gujranwala's hydro-electric project provides power from the Chenab River.

[edit] Transportation

Gujranwala is a major center of rail, highway and river transportation. It has a dry port for export of local products to the rest of the world. The newly built Sialkot International Airport is the closest airport. The Roads of Gujranwala are showing the down side of the city and the ignorance form long time. It is the demand of people of Gujranwala to make roads inside the city.

[edit] Famous People

  • Inaam-Waseem-Khurram-Shahzad, Next prominant Peoples In Computer Sciencies
  • Rafique Tarrar, President of Pakistan
  • Abbassa Electritian, Jagna
  • Kashif Mohsin, IT Professional
  • Atif Aslam, a musician
  • Sohail Ahmed, Stage Actor
  • Abdul Hameed Adam, Poet
  • [Professor Mansoor ul Hassan Alvi], Doctor, Reseacher, Biochemist, MD, and PhD from Havard, Ex-Principle Khayber Medical College, Director of IN&HS, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore.

[edit] Health

There are many Hospitals,Clinics and NGOs in Gujranwala, like Sundas Foundation and Roshni Homes. There is a need to establish a Medical College in Gujranwala.

[edit] Education

Many colleges are affiliated with the University of the Punjab. Recently, the University of the Punjab at Gujranwala campus has also been established.It is offering LLB,Bcom,Mcom,MBA,MIT and in near future planing to offer more. Rachna Engineering University is also located in Gujranwala.GIFT University is also another good addition to Education Sector in Gujranwala. This city produced some brilliant stuff like Amjad Irfan who is Gold Medalist from National University of Modern Languages.Gujranwala has pride that many of its inhabitants are Engineers,Doctors and Scientist and serving the world in different countries.

[edit] Sports

Gujranwala is famous in Pakistan for Wrestling. The main sports are: Cricket, Kabbadi, Wrestling,Hockey, Soccer. It's home to the international cricket stadium, Jinnah Stadium.

[edit] Cuisine

Gujranwala is renowned all over Pakistan for its food, especially Barbecue meat dishes like "Mutton Tikka" of "Haji Allah Rakha", Shahbaz Tikka, etc. Some people also like Roasted Sparrows (Bhune Chire & Roosi Bater). Gujranwala has always been famous for its pehlwans (wrestlers) which is why it is also called Pehlwanon Ka Shehar (The City of Wrestlers).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 32°09′N 74°11′E

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