Gojra

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Gojra
 General Information
 Country Pakistan
 Province Punjab
 Coordinates 33°16′60″N 73°20′60″E / 33.28333, 73.35Coordinates: 33°16′60″N 73°20′60″E / 33.28333, 73.35
 Elevation 465 m (1,526 ft) AMSL
 Area 17 km² (7 sq mi)
 Calling code 046 International +9246
 Time zone PST (UTC+5)
 No. of Towns 1
 Population 117892 (1998)
 Estimate 143,369 (2005)
 Government
 Nazim (Mayor) Ch. Asad Zaman Cheema
 No. of Union Councils 6

Gojra (Urdu: گوجرہ), the capital of Gojra Tehsil, is a city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan[1], it is located at 33°16'60N 73°20'60E[2] and is located 50km from Faisalabad and 20 miles north of Toba Tek Singh[3]. It has a history of more than hundred years, and being the centre of the cultivated lands, the village was famous for its "Mandi" (market) for cash crops. The market was mainly handled by the Hindus and Sikhs but more recently has been run by Muslims following the establishment of Pakistan.

Contents

[edit] History

Gojra town was established in 1896 when colonisation of Layallpur (Faisalabad) began. The railway line between Layallpur and Gojra was laid in 1899. The town was given the status of notified area committee in 1904 and upgraded as B-Class Municipality in 1925. In 1906 the population was 2,589 - according to the Imperial Gazetteer of India "The business done in this rising mart on the railway, which has sprung into existence in the last six years owing to the extension of the Chenab Canal to the surrounding country, bids fair to rival in importance that of Lyallpur itself"[3]

After independence from Britain, in view of its increasing size, it was declared as 2nd class Municipal Committee in 1960. The town was raised to the status of Tehsil town and affiliated with the newly established district Toba Tek Singh on 01.07.1982. After the introduction of Devolution of Powers Plan, the Tehsil Municipal Administration Gojra came into being on 12.08.2001[4].

[edit] Eye Surgery

Gojra was a renowned centre for eye surgery. Its fame for ophthalmic excellence was known throughout India [5].

One of the leading figures of Gojra was the eye surgeon, Dr. Herbhajan Singh. He gave eyesight to a huge number of patients whose eyes could not be cured by many of the ophthalmologists in more sophisticated hospitals in big cities like Delhi, Lahore or Calcutta [6]. Another leading figure was Dr Rehmat Ullah. He later on established an eye hospital in Gojra, by the name of Dr Rehmat Ullah's General and Eye Hospital. He was famous for his expertise in the entire country and cured eyes of many. Later on his mission was carried on by his two sons Dr Abdul Hafeez and Dr Muhammad Iqbal.

Dr. Amanat is another prominent name in field of eye surgery,serving the community with his expertise now a days.

Another doctor, the late Dr Mian Abdul Hafeez, the founder the Mian Hospital is still held in high regard by the people of Gojra. People from distant areas used to travel for treatment by Dr Hafeez. The sons of Dr Hafeez wish to expand the Mian hospital and to make it regain its past popularity for patients.

[edit] Hockey

Gojra became famous in Pakistan after contributing a number of players to the Pakistan Hockey team, including Iqbal Bali and Muhammad Aslam (famous as Aslam Roda).[7] When they returned to Gojra they established their own hockey teams, and provided free training to the youth of the village. The biggest event in the calendar it used to be the annual fixture between these two teams. This match use to attract a huge crowd. This actually created a nursery for the Pakistan hockey team and many of the Pakistan hockey team players including Manzoor-ul-Hasan, Rasheed-ul-Hasan, Tahir Zaman, Muhammad Shahbaz Junior, Khawar Javedd International, Sheikh Usman, Baber Abdullah, Muhammad Qasim (died on the day of Eid ul-Fitr 2006 due to Cancer).

[edit] Demography

The City has a population of around 140,000[8], the people of Gojra are kind and famous for their hospitality, but at the same time long-standing fights between different castes settled in Gojra make national news [9]

[edit] Education

Gojra has a comparatively literacy rate:[citation needed]

Level of education percentage
Matric more than 10000
DFA 17
Bachelor more than 12000
Masters more than 20000
PhD 4

[edit] Educational Institutes

  • Government Degree College
  • Government Degree College for Women
  • Government Inter College of Commerce
  • Government Islamia High School
  • MC High School
  • Government Girls High School
  • Millat Girls High School
  • St Albert's High School
  • Govt Commercial Training Institute [10]
  • Junior model high school
  • Allama Iqbal science and commerce college
  • Muslim postgraduate college
  • Royal public school

[edit] Entertainment Places

  • Jinnah Park
  • Gojra Astro Turf Hockey Stadium
  • MC & Islamia School Hokey Stadiums
  • MC & Islamia School Cricket Stadiums
  • Nawaz Sharif Park
  • Lady Park
  • AnarKali Park


[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Punjab Portal
  2. ^ Location of Gojra
  3. ^ a b Gojra - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 12, p. 306
  4. ^ Tehsil Administration of Gojra
  5. ^ Gojra Eye Complex Pakistan
  6. ^ Gojra Eye Complex Pakistan
  7. ^ Hockey players honoured - Dawn Pakistan
  8. ^ Population Of Gojra
  9. ^ Political rivalry shifts to TMA offices - Dawn Pakistan
  10. ^ Government Colleges District Toba Tek Singh
  • Pakistan Peoples Party
  • Daily Express Newspaper March 11, 2008
  • Daily Din Newspaper March 07, 2008
  • Daily Jang Newspaper March 07, 2008
  • Daily Nawa-i-Waqt Newspaper March 12, 2008
  • www.fadvocat.com
  • Human Rights Lahore

[edit] External links

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