Farooqabad

Farooqabad (Chuharkana)
city

Farooqabad Railway Station built during the British Rule around nineteenth century.
Coordinates: 31°44′39″N 73°50′00″E / 31.74430°N 73.83342°E / 31.74430; 73.83342Coordinates: 31°44′39″N 73°50′00″E / 31.74430°N 73.83342°E / 31.74430; 73.83342
Country Pakistan
Province Punjab
District Sheikhupura
Government
 • MNA Muhammad Irfan Dogar
Elevation 210 m (690 ft)
Population (2013)
 • Total 95,566
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
Calling code 056
Number of Wards 15
Website apnafarooqabad.com

Farooqabad (Urdu: فارُوق آباد‎), earlier known as Choorkana "(چوڑ کانا)" is an important city in Sheikhupura District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is situated along the twin canals (Qadirabad Balloki Link Canal and Upper Gogera Branch Canal) about 55 km west of Lahore on Sargodha Road along Lahore-Islamabad M-2 Motorway and on Lahore-Faisalbad-Karachi Main Railway Line.[1]

History

Farooqabad's old name was Chuharkana but the name was changed to Farooqabad to honour the second pious Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattāb in 1983. Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattāb was given the title of 'Farooq', meaning "leader, jurist and statesman" by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century.

Sheikhupura District, where Farooqabad is located, has been an agricultural region having dense forests ever since the Indus Valley Civilization some 5 thousand years ago. The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that invaded from Central Asia and settled in Punjab region. The Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Madras, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas and Kurus invaded, settled and ruled this ancient Punjab region. After overrunning the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. Sheikhupura was ruled by Maurya Empire, Indo-Greek kingdom, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire, White Huns, Kushano-Hephthalites and Shahi kingdoms and then the British in recent times.

In 1005 AD, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered the Punjab region including this area. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to the influence of missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh Empire under Maharajah Ranjit Singh created a secular kingdom in the Punjab. The first police station, in Farooqabad, was set up during the British rule in 1924 and is called Sadar Thana Farooqabad. The Pakistan Adventist Seminary and College (PASC) developed from a small Seventh-day Adventist Boys' School was founded in 1920 by the British. In 1937, it became a co-educational institution with the integration of the Seventh-day Adventist Girls' School. Steady growth followed as students came in from all parts of the Punjab and North West India. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs in Farooqabad area migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Farooqabad region. In recent times, 'Sikh Yatrees' (Sikh visitors) regularly come to visit their sacred places like Sucha Sauda in the Farooqabad area from all over the world.[2]

SANGAT organization

SANGAT is a non-profit and non-governmental organization established in 1994. The organization has been involved in various developmental projects in Farooqabad, including an 18-month project with the financial support of CDSP/PIF in three selected union councils. The main objectives of the program were to establish model union councils and work towards sustainable communities.[3]

Demographics and society

Farooqabad's population is mainly Muslim with Sunni majority and Shia minority. Farooqbad also has a small Christian community. Punjabi is the native language of city and Urdu is widely spoken as second language.

The major tribes of Farooqabad are: Rehmani Muslims, Gondals, Arains, Awans, Khans, Dogars, Jat Waseer, Gakhars, Gujjars, Jats, Kambohs, Mughals, Rajputs, Sheikhs, Qureshis, Syeds, Ansari and Labana).


Census history

Census History
Year Population
1961 8682
1972 15146
1981 34995
1998 57601
2012 74566
2013 95566
2017 245723

Economy

Farooqabad has always been a hub of business activities due to its location with road network including M-2 Motorway connecting it to all major cities, towns and villages of the area. Being a "Mandi" or the Market of the area since ages, it is major trade centre of the area where all kind of business activities take place. Agriculture is one of the main sources of employment, the town has been a popular grain market as the town is located in a highly fertile area.[4]

The economic growth in Farooqabad has been tremendous. City is enjoying fruits of economic growth offering great opportunities for all type of businesses.[5]

Railway station

Farooqabad railway station is located on main Lahore-Faisalabad-Karachi railway track. It was built during the British era in the nineteenth century. It connects people to all parts of Pakistan

List of banks

Farooqabad has branches of all the major banks, including Bank Alfalah, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank, MCB Bank, United Bank, Allied Bank, The Bank of Punjab, Punjab Cooperative Society Bank, Bank Alfalah Limited, National Savings.

Cricket

Farooqabad has many registered cricket clubs and also has a great talent. Some cricket clubs of farooqabad are:

Education

Farooqabad has a literacy rate of almost 75%. Some of the Government and Private educational institutes in city Farooqabad are:

(Principal: Khizar Hayat)

Government of the Punjab has approved a Degree College for this city which has started working in September 2015.

Hospitals

There is a government health facility, called Rural Health Centre(RHC) Farooqabad at Nokhar Road,headed by Dr. Tayyab Sattar. Private health facilities include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Farooqabad on GoogleMaps, Retrieved 13 July 2017
  2. ↑ Sikh Yatrees visit Sucha Sauda (sacred place) near Farooqabad, Published 11 November 2016, Retrieved 13 July 2017
  3. ↑ SANGAT Website, Retrieved 13 July 2017
  4. ↑ A Farooqabad-related news story on The Nation newspaper, Published 7 May 2017, Retrieved 13 July 2017
  5. ↑ List of Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Markets in the Punjab including Farooqabad Market, Retrieved 13 July 2017
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