Wah, Pakistan

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"Wah" redirects here. For other uses, see Wah wah (disambiguation).

Wah (Urdu: واہ) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. The population of Wah is estimated to be over 500,000. Amenities include a garden said to have been built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

It is connected by road with Peshawar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi and is a growing industrial centre. Industries in Wah include one of the largest cement factories in the South Asia, other than ordnance and tractor plants, and agricultural implements and spare-parts manufacturing. Nearby is Wah Cantt.

1 History
2 Personalities
3 Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF)
4 Squash At Wah
5 Education
6 External links

[edit] History

Legend states that one of the Mughal Emperors, probably Akbar was on a journey to Kashmir. On the way, his caravan stopped at a spring in Punjab to quench their thirst. Remarking at the quality and purity of the water, Akbar said Wah! which means similar to the English word Wow. That spring became known as Wah and the city gets its name from this event.

According to a landmark at the Wah Gardens, a map/design for the structures were planned out by Ahmed Mehmer Lahori. Within two years of this plan, the current structures were completed, and "barra dariyan, fawaarey, nehreain aur abshaaerie banwayi" i.e. got his subordinates to redirect the waters so as to create either many or twelve water features, possibly twelve rivers, fountains, streams and springs. According to the landmark, the Wah Gardens are being added/ modified to by the Government of Pakistan's Mahukma Ashaar-e-Qadma, whatever that is. More information is contained in the landmark which is in Urdu and can be viewed in the third link.

[edit] Personalities

Late Sardar Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, First Chief Minister of United Punjab in British era.

Late Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan, President of PML

Late Sardar Mumtaz Ali Khan, former MLA and Information Minister of Central Pakistan in 1955.

[edit] Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF)

POF was established in 1951 and expanded, as a sprawling complex of fourteen mainstream industries and six commercial subsidiaries. It is actually located in Wah Cantt. POF makes Wah very important from strategic point of view. POF is the biggest defence industrial complex producing conventional arms and ammunition in Pakistan and is under the control of Pakistan Army. This is the reason for the high security in Wah.
In addition to meeting the demands of Pakistan Defence Forces, POF products are in service with over 30 countries, in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Ammunition and rifles have been exported to countries like Iraq and Afaghanistan for their respective military establishments.
The wide range of products include a variety of NATO caliber Infantry weapons and their ammo, Tank ammo, Air craft and Anti Air Craft ammo, Artillery ammo, Rockets, Air craft bombs, Pyrotechnics, Mortar bombs and Hand grenade & a number of ordnance and commercial products.

[edit] Squash At Wah

Another pride for the Wahites is the reputation of Wah for holding national and international level squash competitions.

The 1st POF WISPA Squash Tournament was hosted at Jahangir Khan Squash Complex Wah Cantt from 28 August to 2nd September, 2005. The tournament carried a prize purse of US$ 7,000/- and players from Pakistan, England, Korea, Denmark and Malaysia took part in it. Top seeded Carla Khan of Pakistan won the championship beating No 2 seeded Sharon Wee of Malaysia in the final. President World Squash Federation, Mr Jahangir Khan graced the concluding ceremony as the chief guest.[1]

[edit] Education

Wah is the second city of Pakistan with a literacy rate near to 100 percent^{[citation needed]}. There are numerous educational institutions in Wah. Some of the major ones include :-

1. Comsats Institute of Information Technology
2. Wah Medical College.
2. University of Wah.
3. Nasheman Institute of Special Education.