Sargodha

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Sargodha (Urdu: سرگودھا) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan.

Sargodha
General Information
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Location	32°44′86″N, 72°40′18″E
Area	5,854 km²
Calling code	048
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
No. of Towns
Population	458 440 (city proper)[1] 1998
Estimate	566 312 (city proper)[2] 2007
Government
City Mayor (Nazim)	Inamul Haq Pirachal
No. of Union Councils
No. of NGOs Working
Emblem

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Demographics 4 Divisional Headquarter 5 Tehsils of Sargodha 6 Communications 7 Electronic Media 8 Print Media 9 Internet service providers 10 Mobile Phone Operators 11 WLL Operators 12 Schools, colleges and Universities 13 Hospitals and medical centres 14 Transportation 15 Distinctions 16 Pioneer 17 Citrus Fruit 18 Recreation and Sports 19 Shopping in Sargodha 20 Hotels and Restaurants

[edit] Etymology

There are several theories as to the origins of the name. It may be derived from the Sanskrit 'svargadhaama', meaning 'heavenly abode'^{[citation needed]}. Others suggest that the name Sargodha is derived from that of a Hindu loca, Godha.^{[citation needed]}

Also it is believed that there was an old pond in the middle of the town where an old Hindu monk or sadhu (godha) used to live. The Hindi word for pond is "ser". Since the town had a modest population, people would refer the place as sergodha, the place where that famous Sadhu resided next to the pond.

[edit] History

Pakistan's largest air base, Sargodha, is one of three planned cities in Pakistan; the other two are Faisalabad and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

Just over a century ago, there was a well owned by a Hindu named Goodha, the well was known as "Gool Khuuh" (round well), and travellers used it as a resting place. Now there is a market at the place where Gool Khuuh used to exist and a grand mosque above the market and it is known as "Goal Chowk", which is the center of downtown Sargodha today.

Sargodha was a small town in early British Raj but due to its geophysical location, the British Royal Air Force set up an airport here which took greater importance after partition for the Pakistan Air Force. Shahpur which is now a tehsil of district Sargodha was the district at that time. Most part of the tehsil Sillanwali and Kirana Pahari region were part of district Jhang and were included later during British Raj in district Sargodha. Hindu and Sikhs before 1947 Sargodha had a large and prosperous population of Hindus and Sikhs before the partition of India. At the time of the census in 1941 they were about 15%. The Kukhran clan formed a significant population among these people. The entire population was displaced from Sargodha at the time of the partition of India in 1947. The prime minister of India is a Kukhran.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Demographics

Sargodha is the eighth largest city of Pakistan, 175 kilometres northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It is called Shaheenõ Ka Shahar (A City of Eagles), having Pakistan Air Force Operational and Central Command Air Base, and an Army Garrison. It is an agricultural city, wheat, rice, and sugar cane being its main crops. Also it is famous for its Kinow Oranges.

[edit] Divisional Headquarter

Sargodha is a divisional headquarter of the Sargodha Division. Sargodha division has following districts:

1. Sargodha District
2. Khushab District
3. Mianwali District
4. Bhakkar District

[edit] Tehsils of Sargodha

Sargodha District is further divided into the following major Tehsils.

1. Sargodha
2. Sillanwali
3. Bhalwal
4. Sahiwal
5. Kot Momin
6. Shahpur Sadar

Sargodha is connected to other major cities of Pakistan by motorways through Pindi-bhatian Interchange for Lahore and Bhalwal Interchange for Islamabad/Peshawar.

[edit] Communications

Dialing Code: NWD 048 ISD +9248xxx xxxx Postal Code: 40100

[edit] Electronic Media

• Radio Pakistan Sargodha (FM Band)
• FM Sunrise (96 Mhz) Most popular, also plays Indian and western music
• Pakistan Television Islamabad Center terrestrial transmissions at VHF and UHF band routed from Sakesar rebroadcast center.
• Cable tv transmissions via cable service providers.

[edit] Print Media

Local News papers include:

• Daily Express [1]
• Daily Tijarat
• Daily Khabria
• Daily Zaroorat

[edit] Internet service providers

• Earth2link Wireless and internet provider compony
• WOL World Online
• Brain net
• Paknet
• Wave Net
• Cybernet
• Pioneer
• sky linker

[edit] Mobile Phone Operators

• Paktel GSM (China Mobile)
• Instaphone
• Mobilink GSM (PMCL)
• Ufone(PTML)
• Warid Telecom (WaridTel)
• Telenor (Telenor Pakistan)

[edit] WLL Operators

• PTCL-V (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd.) [2]
• Worldcall Wireless (Worldcall Telecom Ltd.)
• GO CDMA (TeleCard Ltd.) [3]

[edit] Schools, colleges and Universities

University of Sargodha (formerly Government College, Sargodha) Ambala Muslim College Government Degree College for Women Government College for Women, Farooq Colony ''''The Apostles School'''' (Montessori to O`levels and Metric) http://www.apostles.cjb.in Govt. Comprehensive High School Govt Ambala Muslim High School Progressive Public School/College. F.G. Public School, Mela mandi Road Suffah College Combat Commanders School of PAF equivalent to the TOPGUN. PAF Public School Sargodha Fazaia Inter College Mushaf (formerly Air Base Intermediate College Sargodha, ABICS) Fazaia Model Inter College, PAF Base Mushaf Divisional Public School Army Public School and College Punjab College of Information and Technology, Quid-e-Azam Law College

Misali Ravian High School(Residential) Misali Ravian Science Academy Logix College of Information, Technology and Business Sciences Govt. Model High School No. 1. Govt. Central Model High School New Satellite F.G. Model School New Cantt. Presentation Convent High School Punjab College of Commerce Beacon House School System Chughtai School System ELYSIUM HALL {Satellite Town} Superior Science College (Faisalabad Road) Al-Basharah College of Technology (City Road Govt.Polytechnic Institute P.A.F Road Govt. postgraduate college of commerce(Faisalabad road) The Punjab Girls High School (Qainchi More) Superior Girls College Superior Grammar School Islamic alta vista education system

ACME college Faisalabad road Sani Academy School System(Satellite Town) Shiblee college of Commrec Science Progressive Public School & College Sargodha govt.M.C girls high school (block #26-27)

• Pakistan international public school sargodha

[edit] Hospitals and medical centres

Basic health facilities in Sarghoda are provided both by the government and the private sector. District Headquarters Hospital is the major government hospital, while PAF Hospital and CMH are also major hospitals of the city. Sargodha is also famous as a city of hospitals because there are lots of hospitals providing health facilities. Major Private Hospitals Include:

Civil Hospital Anwar Hospital Ibrahim Hospital Sadiq Hospital Sarwar Hospital Fatima Hospital Al-Abbas Hospital Munir Hospital Awab Hospital

Allah Tawakal Free Hospital Niazi Medical Complex Cheema Heart Center Cantonment Board Health center sonypora Road Shafi Hospital[Zaheer Laser Center

[edit] Transportation

Inter-city transport on different routes is available in the form of auto-rickshaws, Sargodha Transport Network(STN) vans and buses. For intracity, A/C buses and railways is available. Commercial flights are not operated at airport/air base.

• Daewoo bus service is also available here to go to all over the country except Karachi.
• Al-Shahbaz bus service is available here to Rawalpinid & Islamabad
• Muslim Express is operating on the route of SARGODHA to PESHAWAR for more than 30 years

[edit] Distinctions

Nishan-e-Istiqlal

The title Nishan-e-Istiqlal was given to three cities of Punjab in the Indo Pak war of 1965 against showing severe resistance in front enemy. These cities included Sargodha, Lahore and Sialkot. New Khan Road Runners Bandial

Shaheenon Ka Shahar (city of Eagles)

Sargodha city is also called a city of Eagles or 'Shaheenon Ka Shahhar'. Most people think that it is because of the second largest Pakistan Airforce Airbase. Most of the 1965 India Pakistan Air war was fought over Sargodha city and hence this name was officially adopted. Some people think that M.M. Alam flew his fighter plane from Sargodha base & destroyed nearly 12 fighter jets of India during the air war.

Presidential Awards

Only two people from Sargodha have been Conferred upon with the presidential awards by the President of Pakistan. They are Prof. Ghulam Jilani Asghar and Prof. M.H. Musaddiq for their flawless contribution in the field of education. Prof. Ghulam Jilani Assghar passed away on December 26, 2006. He was born on June 06, 1918 in a village nearby Talagang. He was buried at his native town.

[edit] Pioneer

As Sargodha district has distinction in various field of life albeit an agrarian city. It serve the nation with its illustrious sons. As martial races are abundant in Sargodha, one of the sons of the soil is Brig. Ret. Saad Ullah Khan Ghuman HJ . Former active member of the Pakistan Muslim League under the guidance of Quaid e Azam while he was studying at Islamia College Lahore , also have the honour of having first sword of honour of Sargodha District from military academy Kakul in 1951. Author of the book East Pakistan to Bangla desh. He also served as the Chairman of the Faisalabad Development Authority for five years. Dr. Ch. Nasrullah Khan Ghuman was the first MBBS from Sargodha and completed his education from King Edward Medical College Lahore in 1937. He was a great reformer and social activist and rendered a meritorious job for his people.

[edit] Citrus Fruit

Sargodha is famous for production of citrus fruit: kinnu (a type of orange), malta, and grapefruit. The soil is very receptive to citrus fruit and Sargodha arguably produces the best quality kinnu in the world. Per acre yield of kinnuis arguably the highest in the world. Demand for kinnu of Sargodha is highest in domestic fruit markets, especially from Tehsil Sillanwali followed by a narrow margin by kinnu of Kot momin.

[edit] Recreation and Sports

Although recreational activities are limited, but two major recreational parks, Joy Land in Jinnah Garden (Company Bagh), and Rehmat, a Park in Satellite Town, provide a space for enjoyment and recreation. A cricket stadium adjacent to the university was developed and ODI match between PAK & W. Indies was played here in 1980s but according to the new rules of ICC it is not suitable for today's international cricket. The city is also famous for large scale sports activity in cricket, hockey, kabaddi and volleyball. Muhammad Hafeez (Chanda), Naveed Latif & Misbah-ul-Haq also belongs to Sargodha. An annual seasonal spring festival "Mela Mandi", a tradition of Punjab is organized during the month of march.

[edit] Shopping in Sargodha

A decade before, shopping in Sargodha was limited to the bazaars like Ameen Bazaar, Kachehri Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Anarkali Bazaar. But now, the city's development is in progress and this has also provided the citizens with a good scope of shopping by the establishment of shopping centers like:

• Pace
• Shaheen Shopping Mall
• Aziz sons
• Paragon
• Jaspal Plaza
• Q-mart
• Trust Plaza

[edit] Hotels and Restaurants

• PC (Pak Continental)
• AFC
• Al Maida
• Kirana Bar
• Q's Restaurant
• Zam Zam Snack Bar
• Style Broast
• Lahore Broast
• Red onion