Bhakkar
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Bhakkar
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General Information
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| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Calling code | 0453 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| No. of Towns | |
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Government
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| Nazim (Mayor) | Hameed Akbar Niwani |
| No. of Union Councils | 3 |
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| Official City District Govt Website | |
Bhakkar (Urdu: بھکر, Seraiki Bakhar : بکھر) is the city principle city of Bhakkar District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at 31°37'60N 71°4'0E at an elevation of 159 metres[1] 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.
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[edit] Administration
Bhakkar city is also the administrative centre of Bhakkar tehsil one of the four tehsils of the district. Bhakkar tehsil is sudivided into 17 Union Councils, three of which form the city of Bhakkar[2]
[edit] Etymology
The original name of Bhakkar was Sakhar, it 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.[citation needed].
[edit] 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[3]
[edit] 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[3].
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.[3] |
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[edit] 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 historian Henry Raverty[citation needed].
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.
[edit] Demography
Bakhar is now a bustling town, with population of more than three hundred thousand, Saraiki is the dominant language
The main tribes (Zaats) in Bhakkar are:
[edit] Poets and writers
- Malik Sona Khan Bewas
- Bashir Ahmed Bashar, Asad Jafri,
- Iqbal Hussain, Asad Mustafa,
- Aneel Choohan, Ali Shah,
- Najaf Ali Shah, Ashraf Kamal.
[edit] 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
[edit] High Schools
- Govt.high School Siyal Bhakkar
- Govt.Model High School Bhakkar
- Govt.CTTM high school Bhakkar
- Govt.MC high School Bhakkar
- Govt.High School Shahani Bhakkar
- Govt.Girls Higher Secondary school Bhakkar
- District Public School Bhakkar
- Govt.Model High School for Girls Bhakkar
- Govt.college of commerce Mankera (Bhakkar)
- Govt.Higher Secondry School Dullewala
- Govt.Higher Secondry School (for Girls)Dullewala
[edit] Hospitals and Medical Centres
- District Headquarter Hospital Bhakkar
- Safdar Hospital
- Sidiq Medical Complex
- Nasir Hospital
- Jatial Hospital
[edit] Specialities
1=>*Great & beautiful place here! Darbar-E-Aalia Murshid Abad Sharief Thall.
2=>*Bakhars famous souvenir was Karna oil, which was extracted from karna flower which is also Exported to Middle East. Channa is the major crop here.
[edit] Industry
- A Textile Mills "Colony Thal Textile Mills Ltd.,Ismailpur Bhakkar working since 1956.
- A Sugar Mill "Fecto Sugar Mills Limited., Darya Khan".
