Dera Ghazi Khan

Dera Ghazi Khan (Urdu: ڈيره غازي خان‎), abbreviated as D. G. Khan, is a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the 19th largest city of Pakistan by population.[5] It is the headquarters of the Dera Ghazi Khan District and Dera Ghazi Khan Division.

For the district, see Dera Ghazi Khan District. For other uses, see Dera Ghazi Khan (disambiguation).

Dera Ghazi Khan ڈيره غازی خان
City
Clockwise from top: Statue of Horses, Shrine of Ghazi Khan, for whom the city is named, Dera Ghazi Khan International Airport
Nickname(s):  Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan Show map of Punjab, Pakistan Dera Ghazi Khan Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 30°1′59″N 70°38′24″E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Divsion	Dera Ghazi Khan
District	Dera Ghazi Khan
Foundation of Old City	1474
Foundation of New City	1910
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Mayor Of DG Khan	Shahid Hameed Khan Chandia (PML-N)[1]
Area [2]
• City	70 km^2 (30 sq mi)
• Metro	11,294 km^2 (4,361 sq mi)
Population  (2017)[3]
• City	399,064
• Rank	19th, Pakistan
• Density	5,700/km^2 (15,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	+6
Postal code	32200
Dialling code	064[4]
Acronym	DGK
Demonym	Digerian, Sulemani Balochs

History

Foundation

Dera Ghazi Khan was founded in the end of 15th century and was named after Ghazi Khan Mirrani, son of Haji Khan Mirrani who was a powerful Baloch chieftain. 15 generations of Mirranis ruled the area.

See also: Derajat, History of Multan, History of Punjab, and History of Sindh

Post independence

After the success of the Pakistan Movement, which lead to the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while many Muslims refugees from India settled down in the Dera Ghazi Khan District. Many Hindus and Sikhs from Dera Ghazi Khan settled in Delhi found Derawal Nagar along with the migrants from Dera Ismail Khan.[6]

Geography and Climate

Dera Ghazi Khan is located at 30'03" N and 70'38" E. The overall climate of the city is dry with little rainfall. The winter is mild, but it is very hot in summer. The average high temperature during summer is about 107 °F (42 °C), while during winter the average low is 40 °F (4 °C). The prevailing wind direction is North-South. Due to the barren mountains of Koh-Suleman (Sulaiman Mountains) and the sandy soil of the area, windstorms are common in the summer. During summer, the temperatures are generally amongst the highest in Pakistan. Fort Munro, located on the edge of Punjab Province, has relatively cooler weather. In winter, scattered snowfall has been reported.

Climate data for Dera Ghazi Khan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	25.0 (77.0)	30.0 (86.0)	35.0 (95.0)	38.0 (100.4)	42.0 (107.6)	46.0 (114.8)	44.0 (111.2)	42.0 (107.6)	40.0 (104.0)	38.0 (100.4)	32.0 (89.6)	22.0 (71.6)	46.0 (114.8)
Average high °C (°F)	20.3 (68.5)	22.1 (71.8)	26.9 (80.4)	33.5 (92.3)	38.7 (101.7)	41.5 (106.7)	38.5 (101.3)	37.4 (99.3)	36.7 (98.1)	33.4 (92.1)	27.7 (81.9)	21.9 (71.4)	31.5 (88.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12.2 (54.0)	14.7 (58.5)	19.9 (67.8)	26.0 (78.8)	30.9 (87.6)	34.2 (93.6)	32.7 (90.9)	31.9 (89.4)	30.2 (86.4)	25.3 (77.5)	19.1 (66.4)	13.6 (56.5)	24.2 (75.6)
Average low °C (°F)	4.2 (39.6)	7.3 (45.1)	12.9 (55.2)	18.5 (65.3)	23.1 (73.6)	26.8 (80.2)	26.9 (80.4)	26.4 (79.5)	23.8 (74.8)	17.3 (63.1)	10.5 (50.9)	5.3 (41.5)	16.9 (62.4)
Record low °C (°F)	−2.2 (28.0)	−2.0 (28.4)	4.0 (39.2)	9.5 (49.1)	14.4 (57.9)	17.5 (63.5)	18.6 (65.5)	19.5 (67.1)	15.8 (60.4)	8.0 (46.4)	2.2 (36.0)	−2.8 (27.0)	−2.8 (27.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	10.0 (0.39)	17.5 (0.69)	34.8 (1.37)	21.7 (0.85)	17.2 (0.68)	14.4 (0.57)	60.8 (2.39)	57.5 (2.26)	17.6 (0.69)	4.8 (0.19)	2.1 (0.08)	10.4 (0.41)	268.8 (10.57)
Mean monthly sunshine hours	222.2	206.8	234.3	259.2	290.1	247.7	241.3	261.1	271.1	283.2	249.7	220.4	2,987.1
Source: NOAA (1961–1990)[7]

Civic Administration

Dera Ghazi Khan Municipal Corporation is administratively subdivided into seven Union Councils.[8] The city is also the headquarters of Dera Ghazi Khan District and administrative capital of Dera Ghazi Khan Division.

Education

Colleges

• College of Agriculture, DG Khan Sub-Campus University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. (CADGK)[9]
• Indus International Institute: It is affiliated with National College of Business Administration and Economics has been established by private sector.[10] For the needs of remote area students, the institute has its own buses to facilitate the transport availability for the students. Indus has a library and Computer Lab as well.

University of Education, Dera Ghazi Khan campus

• The College of Education: It was established in 1989 under the affiliation of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. The college became a constituent institution of the University of Education in 2002 and is in its new building adjacent to the Shah Faisal (Bihari) Colony. The campus has a hostel for boys and onel for girls. The campus offers teacher education programs like BEd Secondary, MEd, M.A. Education and B.A. BEd's several private sector colleges also exist in this city.
• Ghazi Khan Medical College: The government decided to establish a medical college in Dera Ghazi Khan to improve the facilities in southern part of the province.[11] Ghazi Khan Medical College classes were started in 2010 in Q.M.C Bahawapur. The foundation stone for Ghazi University and Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College was laid in December 2011.[12] Classes shifted from Q.M.C Bahawalpur to Ghazi Khan Medical College in March 2012. Niaz Ahmed Baloch was appointed as a first principal of the Medical College. The Medical and Dental College has been developed as a state-of-the-art medical institution imparting accredited and approved medical education and research. The D.H. Hospital and Research Institute, which will be a research-oriented teaching hospital, will fulfill the requirement of training and research of medical students. The curriculum of the Medical and Dental College will be in line with the PM&DC regulations and international health standards.

Technology and specialization

• UAF College of Agriculture, Dera Ghazi Khan: It is a constituent college of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad located near the airport imparts training in the degree of BSc (Hons.) Agriculture. The college consists of teaching sections of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Horticulture, Agronomy, Soil and Forestry Range Management and Wildlife, Agricultural Entomology, Plant Pathology, Animal Production and Health, Agricultural Engineering and Technology, and Social Sciences and Rural Development. It aims to develop as a university.
• Govt. Institute of Technology: It is situated at airport road, and is one of the biggest institutes in the region offering diploma and BTech classes in more than ten technologies in morning and evening shifts. Diploma courses in technologies are Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Auto-mechanical, Petroleum, Chemical, Petrochemical, I.T. and Computer etc.

Universities

See also: Ghazi University

The government has established a state-of-the-art Ghazi University in Dera Ghazi Khan since 2011 near airport. For this purpose 1000 acres of land has been acquired for the next 50 years requirement of the university. The foundation stone for Ghazi University and Ghazi Medical College was laid in December 2011.[13] The Govt. Postgraduate College, FAU Agriculture College and Ghazi Medical College will work under this university. Vice Chancellor of Islamia University Bahawalpur Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed has given additional charge of Ghazi University v.c since 11.06.2014. The Virtual University of Pakistan has established its campus here since 2004 which is providing both campus based and distance learning education primarily based on IT tools and technology. Another prominent educational organisation is the Allama Iqbal Open University campus. The government has approved Akhuwat University of Engineering and Technology in Dera Ghazi Khan since 2012.[14]

Demographics

The majority of the population is poor but they have been ruled by the rich landlords and chiefs of Baloch tribes which played a significant role in the national and provincial politics. Some of these feudals use the title Sardar for themselves, including former President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari, Governors of Punjab Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, Sardar Akram Khan Malghani Sardar of the Malghani Balouch tribe and Latif Khosa, Chief Minister of Punjab Dost Muhammad Khosa, present Chief Secretary of Punjab, Nasir Mehmood Khosa, Former Inspector General Police of Punjab, Tariq Khosa, and present Supreme Court Judge Asif Khosa. The city is one of the oldest districts in South Asia. Dera Ghazi Khan did not develop like other cities in Punjab. Based on the surveys of 2004–2005, Dera Ghazi Khan district is considered as one of the twenty poorest districts of Pakistan with about 51% of its population living below the poverty line.[15]

Population

Historical populations of Dera Ghazi Khan city.[16]

National Census Year	Population
1972	72,343
1981	102,007
1998	190,542
2017	399,064

Transport

Air

Dera Ghazi Khan International Airport

Dera Ghazi Khan International Airport is 15 km (9.3 mi) from the city centre of Dera Ghazi Khan. It caters mainly to the population of Dera Ghazi Khan.

Culture

Fairs and festivals

• Sangh Mela, is a Vaisakhi fair during March and April, and has been celebrated in Sakhi Sarwar by people coming from Jhang and Faisalabad for centuries. This festival is celebrated by Hindus and Muslims, especially at the time of wheat harvesting. In some places it is known as Basant. Throughout history, a large number of followers coming from different religions became the followers of Sakhi Sarwar. Max Arthur Macauliffe, a colonial office appointed in Punjab, observed in 1875 that not only Muslims but Hindus also visited the shrines during the [urs]. In the 1911 census of India, 79,085 Sikhs reported to be followers of Sakhi Sarwar.[17]

Cuisine

• Sohan Halwa is a traditional sweet made by boiling a mixture of water, sugar, milk and wheatflour (coarse pieces)/cornflour until it becomes solid.[18]

Notable people

• Farooq Leghari (Ex President of Pakistan)
• Mohsin Naqvi (Poet)
• Prabhu Chawla (Journalist)
• Asif Saeed Khosa (Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan)
• Amjad Farooq Khan (MNA)
• Zulfiqar Ali Khosa (Ex Governor of Punjab)
• Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa (Ex Chief Minister Punjab)
• Tauqeer Nasir (Actor)
• Hafiz Abdul Kareem (Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan - MNA)
• Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari (MNA)
• Sardar Usman Buzdar (Chief Minister Punjab)
• Latif Khosa (Ex Governor of Punjab)
• Zartaj Gul (MNA)

Press and media

Daily Jang is published from Dera Ghazi Khan[19] along with many local newspapers in Urdu, Saraiki and Balochi languages. The Daily Kasak is also published in the city.

References

Notes

1. "PML-N wins DG Khan, Rajanpur councils". DAWN.COM. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
2. https://www.punjab.gov.pk/dg_khan
3. "DISTRICT WISE CENSUS RESULTS CENSUS 2017" (PDF). www.pbscensus.gov.pk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
4. "National Dialing Codes". Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
5. "Pakistan City & Town Population List". Tageo.com website. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
6. "Colonies, posh and model in name only!". NCR Tribune. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
7. "Dera Ghazi Khan Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
8. "Tehsils & Unions in the District of D.G. Khan – Government of Pakistan". Nrb.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
9. "CADGK – College of Agriculture, D. G. Khan". University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
10. "Indus International Institute". Indusdgk.edu.pk. 11 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
11. "Leading News Resource of Pakistan". Daily Times. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
12. Jafri, Owais. "Dera visit: Sharif lays medical college's foundation – The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
13. "Punjab Assembly: Ghazi University Bill among eight passed". The Express Tribune. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
14. "Cabinet approves provision of land for 2 universities". The Express Tribune, 22 February 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
15. Haroon Jamal (June 2007). Income Poverty at District Level: An Application of Small Area Estimation Technique (PDF) (Report). Social Policy and Development Centre. pp. 15–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
16. "Pakistan: Provinces, Major Cities & Urban Areas – Statistics & Maps on City Population". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
17. Census of India, 1911, Vol. XIV, Punjab, Part I Report, by Pandit Harkishan Singh Kaul, 39
18. "Sohan Halwa a gift of saints' city". Dawn.com. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
19. "Daily Jang Urdu News | Pakistan News | Latest News – Breaking News". Jang.com.pk. Retrieved 8 September 2013.

Bibliography

• "How Pakistan Made Nuclear Fuel" by Munir Ahmad Khan, former chairperson of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission: Islamabad The Nation 7 February 1998, page 7 [Pakistan: Article on How Pakistan Made Nuclear Fuel: FBIS-NES-98-042 : 11 February 1998].