Sunday, January 9, 2011

FAISALABAD


About this sound Faisalabad  (PunjabiUrduفیصل آباد) is a city in the province of Punjab,Pakistan. It was formerly known as Lyallpur. Faisalabad is the third largest city in Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has risen from 9,171 in 1901 to 979,000 in 1951 and to 2,009,000 in 1998.[2] The larger Faisalabad district had a population of about 5.4 million in 1998.[3]
It is an important industrial centre west of Lahore. The city-district of Faisalabad is bound on the north by the districts of Hafizabad and Chiniot, on the east by Nankana sahib, on the south by Sahiwal, and Toba Tek Singh and on the west by Jhang. It is 1,135 km (705 mi) from Karachi, 128 km (80 mi) from Lahore, 350 km (220 mi) from Islamabad/Rawalpindi, 187 km (116 mi) from Burewala, and 70 km (43 mi) from Jhang.
The city is at a road and railway junction, which has played an influential role in the development of Faisalabad's trade and economy. The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the Lower Chenab River, has seen expanded production of cottonwheatvegetables, andfruits, which form 25% of Pakistan's exports. The city is also an industrial centre with major railway repair yards, engineering works, and mills that process sugarflour, and oil seed. Produce includes super phosphatescotton and silk textiles, hosierydyes, agricultural equipment, and ghee (clarified butter). Faisalabad is also the site of the prestigiousUniversity of Agriculture, founded in 1909.

Contents

 [hide]

[edit]History

The very first name of Faisalabad was Chenab Colony, then Sandalbar, then Lyallpur and currently is Faisalabad. Faisalabad was once part of ancient district of Jhang and Sandalbar, a 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi) part mainly consisted of thick forests and wild tribes. The tract from Shahdara to ShorekotSangla Hill to Toba Tek Singh, was traditionally calledSandalbar.
In 1880, a colonial officer called Captain Poham Young proposed a new town, with a design based on the Union Jack, with eight roads radiating from a large clock tower in the centre. The eight roads developed into eight separate bazaars. The construction of artificial canals allowed the surrounding areas to be irrigated. The town grew rapidly as people were invited with promises of land.
In 1895 the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was completed. In 1896, Lyallpur was given the status of a tehsil of the Jhang District, and its administration was carried on in tents on the old Theh (Mound) of Pucca Mari near Tariqabad. The majestic Clock Tower was constructed out of the funds raised by the Sikh landowners, who collected it at a rate of Rs. 18 per square of land. The fund thus raised was handed over to the Town Committee, which undertook to complete the project.
Pakistan Railways, Locomotive parked at Lyallpur Railway Station c. 1949
By 1902 the population of the town exceeded 4,000, including the new sialkoti jutts particularly Bajwas, Kalloos, Cheemas & Chattas came to establish the agriculture land of chenaab (Called Chena bar). Houses and shops had been constructed to cater to the ordinary needs of the population. In 1903 it was decided to establish an agricultural college. In 1904 the new district of Lyallpur was constituted, composed of the tehsils of Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba Tek Singh, with a subtehsil at Jaranwala which later became a full tehsil. By 1906, the district headquarters began to function in Lyallpur and all the bazaars and settlements within the bounds of a ring road were nearing completion. The city began to spread outside the circular road. The Town Committee was upgraded to a Municipal Committee in 1909 and the Deputy Commissioner was appointed as its first chairman. In 1916, the grain market saw its shops surging with customers. In the same year the civil hospital was expanded. With the advent of World War II, there was an increase in political awareness across the city. Revolutionary meetings were held, fiery speeches made, and slogans written on walls.
The First Colonisation officer Raja Aurangzeb Khan made sure that no individual in this district owned more than 25 squares (625 acres) of land. The merit or method of allotting the land was to check each individual's hand who was applying for some land, and if the hands showed that individual had worked hard in the past, only then was land given to him, which has led to a district where there aren't any big land owners, as the land has been equally distributed amongst hard working men and it is their hard work that has led to Faisalabad becoming the third richest district in Pakistan.[citation needed]
The main roads in and out of the city were kept 1-acre (4,000 m2) wide; since creation of Pakistan a lot of roads have been taken over by land mafia. The industrial areas were kept on the East of the main canal which is present day People's Colony and Madina town. The urban areas were kept to the west of the canal, as sweet ground water flowed from the canal to the river Chenab, the consequence of changing former industrial area into urban areas has been a lack of proper drinkable water for those living in peoples colony and Madina town.
The prestigious Chenab Club, a social club built during the reign of the British Empire
In 1943, Mohammad Ali Jinnah came to Lyallpur and addressed a gathering of over 2 million inDhobi Ghat Grounds. After independence, the city of Lyallpur enjoyed considerable development, and became a major commercial and industrial center. The population grew quickly past one million. There was an expansion of the provision of health and education in the city. In 1977, the name of the city was changed to "Faisalabad" (City of Faisal), in honour of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who was held in high regard in Pakistan. In 1985, the district was upgraded to adivision with the new districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.

[edit]Geography and climate

Faisalabad
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
12
 
19
4
 
 
20
 
22
7
 
 
26
 
27
12
 
 
17
 
34
18
 
 
16
 
38
23
 
 
28
 
41
27
 
 
115
 
37
27
 
 
90
 
36
27
 
 
29
 
36
24
 
3.8
 
33
17
 
3
 
27
10
 
 
8.6
 
21
5
average max. and min. temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm
source: World Meteorological Organization
Faisalabad stands in the rolling flat plains of northeast Punjab, between longitude 73°74 East, latitude 30°31.5 North, with an elevation of 184 metres (604 ft) above sea level. The city proper covers an area of approximately 830 square kilometres (320 sq mi), while the district covers.
There are no natural boundaries between Faisalabad and adjoining districts. The Chenab Riverflows about 30 km (19 mi) to the north-west while the River Ravi meanders about 40 km (25 mi) south-east of the city. The lower Chenab canal is the main source of irrigation water, which meets the requirements of 80% of cultivated land. The soil of Faisalabad comprises alluvial deposits mixed with loess having calcareous characteristics, making it very fertile.
Due to its high evapotranspiration, Faisalabad features an arid climate. The climate of the district can see extremes, with a summer maximum temperature 50 °C (122 °F) and a winter temperature of −1 °C (30.2 °F). The mean maximum and minimum temperature in summer are 39 °C (102 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F) respectively. In winter it peaks at around 21 °C (70 °F) and 6 °C (43 °F) respectively. The summer season starts from April and continues till October. May, June and July are the hottest months. The winter season starts from November and continues till March. December, January and February are the coldest months. The average yearly rainfall lies only at about 400 mm (16 in) and is highly seasonal with approximately half of the yearly rainfall in the two months July and August.
Temperatures (1948–2006)JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
Highest maximum (°C)19.422.427.434.239.741.037.736.536.633.928.222.131.6
Lowest minimum (°C)4.87.612.618.324.127.627.927.224.517.710.46.117.4

[edit]Economy

Agricultural exports form an important part of Faisalabad's economy
A PricewaterhouseCoopers study released in 2009, surveying the 2008 GDP of the top cities in the world, calculated Faisalabad's GDP (PPP) at $14 billion. The city was third behind Karachi ($78 billion) and Lahore ($40 billion). Faisalabad's GDP is projected to rise to $37 billion in 2025 at a growth rate of 5.7%, higher than the growth rates of 5.5% and 5.6% predicted for Karachi and Lahore.[4]
Faisalabad has a strong industrial base including textiles, jewellery, home furniture, and pharmaceuticals, assisted by the expanding transport network which includes newly-built motorway and highways to LahoreMultanSargodha and Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Faisalabad is one of the three planned cities of the country.[citation needed] The eight bazaars of the city each have different types of markets and goods.
The State Life Building - Faisalabad Zone
Before Pakistan's independence there were only five industrial units in Faisalabad, but now there are numerous textile mills, engineering units and chemical and food processing units. Other industries include hosiery, carpets and rugs, nawar and lace, printing and publishing, and pharmaceutical products. There are also several thousand household industries, including some 60,000 power loom factories. The richest man of Pakistan and the owner of MCB also belongs to this city. Local companies include Sitara group, Manno group (Rafhan foods), Crescent group, and Ibrahim group (owner of Allied Bank). Karachi and Faisalabad have the highest population growth rate in Pakistan.
The textile industry of Faisalabad constitutes more than 20% of the textile export market of Pakistan, which itself forms 18% of total exports from Pakistan. This makes Faisalabad’s share of total exports from Pakistan more than 15%.[5]
Shopping malls are springing up in the city to meet the needs of a trendier generation
The district is unparalleled for its agricultural productivity. The area grew in importance as the grain belt of the Punjab during the wake of colonisation. This led to the economic development of towns and villages within the district. Faisalabad's major export crops include the Kharif crops which include maize, rice, sugarcane and bajra as well as the Rabi crops which include wheat, barley,gram and barseen. In addition to these, there are also Zaid Kharif and Zaid Rabi crops. Zaid Kharif crops are toria, raiya, sarsoon and Zaid Rabi crop is tobacco. The use of tractors is becoming popular and is fast replacing the conventional ploughs. Improved varieties of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides have greatly increased per-acre yield and with that the prosperity of the peasant community which has toiled for three generations to transform a barren land into verdant fields. The Faisalabad district is famous for its fruit production. Important fruits are oranges, bananas, apples, sugarcanes, tangerines, fruiter, mangosguava and Faalsa. The total area under fruit orchards is 34,517 acres (13,969 ha). Establishment of a dry port at Gatti, a few kilometers away from the main city has greatly boosted economic activities in Faisalabad by facilitating direct imports and exports of goods and cargo.
The rise of the middle class as a result of economic boom in the past decade has led to the construction of major malls and shopping plazas amid investment from the United Arab Emirates as well as many European firms. Faisalabad has been called the "Manchester of Pakistan" because it has a major impact on the economy of Pakistan. The city also generates 25% revenue for the trade and commerce activity of Pakistan.

[edit]Government

Faisalabad Admin.PNG
Faisalabad district formerly comprised six sub-divisions; Faisalabad City, Faisalabad Sadr, Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala, Samundri, and Tandlianwala. In 2005, Faisalabad was reorganised as a City-District composed of eight autonomous towns:[6]
  1. Lyallpur Town
  2. Madina Town
  3. Jinnah Town
  4. Iqbal Town
  5. Chak Jhumra Town
  6. Jaranwala Town
  7. Samundri Town
  8. Tandlianwala Town

[edit]Sister cities

Faisalabad has a friendship agreement with England Manchester, England[7] and Japan Kobe, Japan,[8] established in 1997 and 2000 respectively, driven by the Pakistani community in Manchester and Kobe to build and maintain cultural and community links.

[edit]Demographics

The city of Faisalabad carried out a census in March 1981 which showed the population of Faisalabad city as 1,092,000, which indicates that growth rate of Faisalabad city is only 3.37 percent per annum. In April 1981 the survey was carried out again which recorded the population to 1,232,000 which made the growth rate approximately 4.6%. Given this growth rate the population at the end of 1981 was estimated to be 1,240,000.
Punjabi is the main language of Faisalabad.The emergence of Faisalabad as a major agriculture and industrial center created a great increase in the city's population. From a population of 69,930 in 1941, it rose to 179,000 in 1951, an increase of 152.2% this was mainly due to the settlement of Muslim refugees from East Punjab and Haryana who came from India and settled in Faisalabad. The population rose to a future figure of 425,248 in 1961, an increase of 137.4%. Faisalabad became a record in the demographic history for Pakistan by registering an overall population increase of 508.1% between 1941 and 1961. This record has never been matched by the largest city of Pakistan.[9] In the 1998 census the city population was recorded as 2,009,000, growing at a rate of 21.3% per annum.[10] According to the World Gazetteer, the estimate of the city is expected to have reached 2,793,721 in 2009.[11] Punjabi is the most widely spoken language. Urdu and Saraiki are also spoken.

[edit]Main Residential Areas

[edit]Flora and fauna

The Ravi River flows on the eastern and the Chenab River on the western boundary of the district. No other river passes through it. Floods are caused by the overflow of the Ravi on account of heavy rains in its catchment areas during the monsoon. Floods are a recurrent feature since the rivers cannot hold the vast amount of water flowing from the northern areas to the south of the country. These floods cause extensive damage to crops and villages periodically. The provincial government is proposing dams and barrages to control the flow of water in the future. However, local settlements are not keen on this idea.
The wildlife of the district includes foxesboarsjackals and wild cats. Among the birds there are usually partridgespigeonsdovestilliars,lal menasbiasparrotsquailspochardsmallards and teals.

[edit]Culture

British built Gumti Water Fountain and theQaisery Gate, the entrance to the Eight Bazaars
A new mall currently in development on Sitiana Road
The McDonalds branch near D Ground
Compared to its more tourist-attractive provincial capital, Lahore, Faisalabad is basically an industrial and agricultural city. It is the second largest business city in Punjab and it is a region for investment and economic prosperity. Textiles generate the best business in this city. There is a selection of sites and tourist attractions; however, even with such fast growth the country lacks historical significance since it was developed mostly in the last hundred years. The Faisalabad Clock Tower, locally called "Ghenta Ghar", was one of the first main market of Faisalabad and it is also the oldest area of the city. Here you can also find the remains of buildings which mainly belonged to the British Raj. This market has eight bazaars, forming a "Union Jack" (British flag), which can be seen from above. There are still structures from previous settlements such asZoroastrian Temples, Buddhist Monasteries, Hindu mandirs and Sikh gurudwaras still visible, however, since the creation of Pakistan these have been converted into schools and museums. "D Ground" is the second most important market after Ghenta Ghar. The area has been continually developing into a shopping area with many brands from all over the world. It is seen at its busiest at night when local people come out for an outing. There are many local and western restaurants ranging from Namwah Chinese, Bundu Khan, KFC, Al Maida, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Sardines, Yummy 36, Cube and many open-air barbecues.
The Jinnah Garden is probably the most famous park in Faisalabad. It is locally known as "Company Baagh". The tomb of H.E. Sir Charles James Lyall is situated here. He was the founder of this city and the city was first named Lyallpur in his honour. There are many food outlets, walking paths and cycling lanes, and a huge fountain structure. The park is often used by the local council for holding rallies, concerts, shows and melasGetwala Park is a small park situated on the edge of Faisalabad. It is popular for family picnics and relaxing. Canal Park is on the west bank of the Rakh Branch Canal. It is also a good place for families.
Happy Land Water Park is an amusement park built to international standards, a complete entertainment centre for families. It has the biggest water slides in Pakistan. It is also equipped with swings for both children and adults. Getwala Swimming Pool is another water park which has a huge swimming pool, attracting many local Faisalabadis. Aqua Land Water Park, the latest water park to open in Faisalabad, stands on Canal Road and draws many expatriates and families.Sindbad is an amusement park located near the Iqbal Stadium that is used for national and international cricket matches. It has an indoor bumper cars, flume rides, train rides as well as large gaming arcade room to suit all ages.
Rex City is a huge computer shopping mall dealing with everything computer related. Here you can find a computer at low prices. There are service shops, as well as CD and mobile shops and computer software and hardware experts. There are also internet services from well known companies such as "Cyber net", "Wolnet", "dancom", "Nexlinx" and "Satcom" which provide high speed internet. Kohinoor One is a newly constructed shopping mall located on Jaranwala Road which has many retail outlets, restaurants, clothing outlets and home furniture stores. Am Tex Waterfall is to be found at Am Tex Squire, Abdullah Pur. Kaleem Shaheed Park is another famous Park in Faisalabad. It is Situated at Narrwala Road near Raza abad.
The majestic "Chenab Club" is a social club. It was the first such club established in Faisalabad. It still exists today and is used by the elite society of Faisalabad. It stands in the beautiful surroundings of "Jinnah Garden". The club is situated in the heart of the city, just a short walk from Railway Station and within walking distance of Clock Tower. There are also a few monuments still fully erect in many parts of Faisalabad such as Gumti Water FountainQaisery Gate (Entrance to the Eight Bazaars), Ghenta Ghar and various Sikh Gurudwaras and Hindu Mandirs still visible in the older part of the city.
Faisalabadi cuisine is very much Punjabi cuisine. The samosas of Faisalabad are different from any others because here you can get the chatani variety. The very famous name Chacha Samosay Wala is also in the D Ground. Dahi Bhale is prepared by a Thele Wala at Jinnah Coloney, near Chatri Wala Ground. Gohl Gappay are basically made with flour into a ball shape and filled with black grams, onions, potatoes and other supplements. The most famous is a person who sells gole gappe on tehla in the start of the AminPur bazaar. A sour drink called "khatta" is served with them. Biryani & pulao (special cooked rice) are also very popular. Jehangir's Murgh Pulao is popular. English and continental foods are also easily available. There are also some Punjabi drinks like rabrilassi, limo pani and sugar cane rusk.
Faisalabad Arts Council is situated near Iqbal Stadium. Arts council have a major role in promoting the cultural activities and the art in the city. It has an auditorium Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium with a seating capacity of 500 people. Arts council organize many cultural events including exhibitions and cultural shows. The current Resident Director of Arts council is Ch Muhammad Asif Pervaiz, who has played an important role in the establishment and development of Faisalabad Arts Council.
Faisalabad has always been a hub of literature. Renowned poets and prose writers belong to this city. Sahir Ludhianwi, the great poet of the sub-continent, belongs to Faisalabad. The other important writers are Afzal Ahsan Randhawa, Shehzada Hassan, Adeem Hashmi, Riaz Majeed and Dr. Waheed Ahmed.

[edit]Sport

A test match taking place at Faisalabad'sIqbal Stadium
Cricket, a national sport in Pakistan, is the most popular sport in the city. It is played anywhere a city dweller will find a large piece of land. This is known as Bat aur Gendh. It is played in the narrow by-lanes of the city. Night-time cricket can be seen at weekends when people play brightly-lit night matches on less traversed city streets, disused construction sites, parks and several grounds within the district. The oldest and only venue for international cricket matches is Iqbal Stadium. The Faisalabad Wolves, Faisalabad's local team, are based at this venue and often regional matches are played throughout the spring season which draws in plenty of crowds such as Twenty-20 Cup. The ground also hosted matches for the 1987 Cricket World Cup as well as the1996 Cricket World Cup.
Other popular sports in the city are hockeyWeightliftingassociation footballKabadditable tennisbilliards and snookersquash, and horse racing. Sports like badmintonvolleyball andbasketball have also started to gain popularity as western influences have affected the locals. Faisalabad also has its own team, called thePMC FC who take part in the Pakistan Premier League. The Punjab Medical College has its own stadium built within its campus to train and host matches for the sport.
The city also has facilities for hockey. The Faisalabad Hockey Stadium on Susan Road mostly hosts field hockey matches for most national and some international matches. The stadium also has plenty of shops and restaurants which bring a lot of life to the area. A new sports complex is being planned to host athletic and gymnastic matches as well as Olympic training for future Pakistan participation.
PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad is the city's only participant in the Pakistani Premier Football League. Athletico's city rival Panther FC plays in the 2nd Division of Pakistani Football pyramid.

[edit]Education

University of Agriculture, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities of Pakistan
Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad Campus
The people of Faisalabad have a literacy rate of approximately 40%, which has hampered the economic development of the city. There are several institutions of higher education and several research centres including:

[edit]Transport

The M3 Motorway has allowed greater logistical networking for the city and transportation of goods
Faisalabad International Airport is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the city centre, and is a major transit point for exporting goods to other parts of Pakistan and abroad. Passenger flights are run by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). AirblueAero Asia International and Shaheen Air used also to operate from the airport, but have currently suspended operations from Faisalabad.
The National Highway Authority has rebuilt and improved the standards of roads to meet international standards and improve logistical networks for freight companies. There is also a public bus network as well as private coaches within the city and many privately operated auto-rickshaws and taxis to get around the city. Rental cars are also available.
There are many highways under the control of the National Highway Authority, linking Faisalabad with other cities of the country. The M3 access-controlled motorway connects Faisalabad with the motorway M2near Pindi Bhattian which furthermore connects withRawalpindi/IslamabadLahore and Multan. There is an expressway which connects Faisalabad with Lahore, Sheikhupura and Mananwala. The city is also connected with Sargodha by a highway known as the Sargodha-Faisalabad road. Furthermore, motorway M4 is also under construction which will connect Faisalabad with Multan. The newly furnished Grand Trunk Road, otherwise known as GT Road, is a popular highway that links most parts of Pakistan as well as neighbouring countries. There are also several bus operators that offer quick services to the provincial capital,Lahore, as well as IslamabadJhangMultanPeshawarKarachi and several smaller localities. The Daewoo Express, Ravi Express, Kohistan Coaches, Khan Brothers, Nadir flying coach, Airport Limousines and Niazi Coach are some of the well-known services.
The main railway station was built in the nineteenth century by the British Empire. Today there are connections available to all parts of Pakistan including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Quetta, and Peshawar.

[edit]Media

The Daily Express is the only national newspaper published from Faisalabad (previously the Daily Asas used to publish from Faisalabad but it is now published elsewhere). It is the product of Express Media Group, largely circulating in the Faisalabad Division. The Daily Express started publishing in Faisalabad on 17 September 2002.[citation needed] There are also other popular Urdu Faisalabadi newspapers including: Daily Permanent News, Daily ShelterDaily AwamDaily AmanDaily Tajarti RahberDaily PaygaamDaily Business ReportDaily Reportand the Daily Surrat-E-Haal
Cinemas have fallen in number in the city since the ban on most Bollywood films. The lack of interest in English and Lollywood-related films has caused many cinema halls to close down and many owners to invest in other forms of entertainment. Punjabi stage dramas are still quite popular among Faisalabadis and there are still some theatres operating quite successfully. There are many stars in Lollywood that hail from Faisalabad, which draws in the crowds from far and wide. Shows usually take place at night and involve a range of day-to-day topics as well as dances to many types of music from female artists.
The radio industry has expanded with a number of private and government-owned FM channels being introduced. The FM radio channels that broadcast in the city include the government-owned Radio Pakistan FM 101FM 93Mast FM103Humara FM90, and CityFM89 The DAWN Media Group. State-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) transmits five terrestrial and cable television channels. There also a number of private television channels that have offices in Faisalabad including Express NewsGeo TVApna Channel and Punjab TV. Weekly “Lyallpur Akhbar" is one of the oldest new paper in district of Faisalabad formally named Lyallpur. As source of Agriculture media this news paper was established in 1933 and still serving rural and Agriculture business communities since then. Office of the newspaper is located in Killa Gift Fund Trust Building, Inside District Courts of Faisalabad. Bashir Ahmad Mumtaz is publisher and editor of the newspaper.

[edit]Notable people

[edit]See also

[edit]References

[edit]External links

    About