Gojra

This article is about the city. For the tehsil, see Gojra Tehsil.
Gojra
گوجرہ
Gojra

Location within Pakistan

Coordinates: 31°9′N 72°41′E / 31.150°N 72.683°ECoordinates: 31°9′N 72°41′E / 31.150°N 72.683°E
Country  Pakistan
Province

Punjab

  • B
District Toba Tek Singh District
Established 1896
No. of Towns 1
Government
 • Union Councils 6
Area
 • Total 7 sq mi (17 km2)
Elevation 1,526 ft (465 m)
Population (1998)
 • Total 117,892
 • Density 17,000/sq mi (6,900/km2)
 • Estimate (2005) 143,369
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC+6)
Area code(s) 046 International +9246

Gojra (Punjabi, Urdu: گوجرہ‎), the administrative seat of Gojra Tehsil, is a city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan,[1] and is located 30  miles (50 km) from Faisalabad, 125 km from Burewala, 157 km from Vehari and 20 miles (32 km) north of Toba Tek Singh.[2] It has a history of more than hundred years, and being the centre of the cultivated lands, the village was known for its "Mandi" (market) for cash crops. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in Gojra.

History

Gojra town was established in 1896 when colonisation of Faisalabad began. The railway line between Faisalabad 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 Faisalabad itself".[2]

In 1919 following the Rowlatt Act, hartals broke out throughout Punjab, Gojra was affected by serious protests and a member of the Church Mission Society had to be escorted out of the town by loyal residents.[3]

Municipal committee status

After independence from Britain, in view of its increasing size, it was declared as 2nd class Municipal Committee in 1960.

Tehsil status

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] Canal rest house is the oldest building constructed during British government in 1898.

Motorway

Gojra was connected to motorways of Pakistan in 2015. On 16th March 2015, Governor Punjab Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan inaugurated Faisalabad to Gojra motorway M4. [5]

Education

The city has two dedicated further education institutions, Government Degree College for Boys and Government Degree College for Girls (Women),Government Degree College is now upgraded as Government Postgraduate College. The city also has number of Higher Education school, two prominent schools are Government M. C. High School and Government Islamia High School. M. C High School is one of the oldest school and has produced some of the most prominent hockey players for the national hockey team.

Hockey

Gojra contributed a number of players to the Pakistan Hockey team, including Iqbal Bali and Muhammad Aslam .[6] When they returned to Gojra they established their own hockey teams, and provided free training to the youth of the city and created a nursery for the Pakistan hockey team and many of the Pakistan hockey team players.

The Gojra Hockey Club (a local club, has won this year's Jat Tar Singh memorial U19 (Under 19) hockey tournament, this high profile tournament was held in India, where Gojra city team competed again best of Indian U19 hockey teams and won this championship.[7] The Gojra team won this title by defeating Amritsar Academy 4–2 at Ludhiana hockey stadium.

The Manzoor-ul-Hassan and Rasheed-ul-Hasan brothers were the main source of inspiration for hockey and establishing it in their native town. They brought Gojra to be recognised in the hockey playing nations of the world. Manzoor-ul-Hassan (1972–1982) played 154  games and scored 101  goals for Pakistan. He was given the name "Wall of China" because he was so hard to beat as he was a defender (full back). Rashid-ul-Hassan played 199 matches and scored 9  goals. He was the backbone of the Pakistan Hockey team from 1979 to 1987.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ T. Singh$d_home&group_type=dist&group_id=332&group_name=T. T. Singh&js_pane=P-1004ba76975-10000&pview=true "Punjab Portal". Pportal. punjab.gov.pk. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Gojra – Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 12, p. 306". Dsal. uchicago.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Punjab disturbances, April 1919; compiled from the Civil and military gazette (1919)
  4. ↑ Tehsil Administration of Gojra
  5. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/1170052
  6. ↑ "Hockey players honoured – Dawn Pakistan". Dawn.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Gojra club wins hockey final in India". App.com.pk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Sardar Fraz Wahlah, Provincial Vice President Pakistan Peoples Party Youth (PYO) Punjab". Pakistanileaders.com.pk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "I’m in the Cloud and It’s Really Foggy Up here!" (in German). CIO.de. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Threats at the speed of light ( – Legal )". News.idg.no. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  11. ↑ 13 July 2009 (13 July 2009). "Threats at the Speed of Light: Fraz Wahlah | CIOPakistan.com – Business Technology Leadership". CIOPakistan.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "CureMD bags the Merit Award in the E-Health category « In the Line of Wire". Jehanara. wordpress.com. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  13. ↑ ictadmin (15 October 2010). "Pakistan bags seven at APICTA! | PASHA ICT Awards 2010". Pashaictawards.org. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  14. ↑ "Pakistan sweep the Oscars with seven Merits! « In the Line of Wire". Jehanara. wordpress.com. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2011.