Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan (Punjabi/Urdu: گُوجر خان)[3] is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area.[4]
Gujar Khan گُوجر خان | |
---|---|
Gujar Khan | |
Gujar Khan Gujar Khan | |
Coordinates: 33.253°N 73.304°E | |
Country | |
Province | |
Division | Rawalpindi |
District | Rawalpindi |
Elevation | 461 m (1,512 ft) |
Population | |
• City | 90,131 |
Society | |
• Languages | Pahari-Pothwari, Punjabi, Urdu |
Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
Calling code | 0513 |
Number of union councils | 36[2] |
Gujar Khan is approximately 55 kilometres southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan and 220 km to the north west of Lahore, capital of Punjab. It is bounded on the north by Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Attock, on the south by Jhelum, Lahore and Gujrat, on the east by Azad Kashmir and Kahuta and on the west by Chakwal and Khushab.
Located in the heart of the Potohar region, The city and surrounding region is renowned for its martial culture and is sometimes referred to as the 'Land of the Shaheed',[5] having produced two recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider.
There is a main district hospital in the center of the city, along with many other private and public medical and care services.[6]
History
The place was named after the large Gujjar settlement during Mughal period.
The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region.
Gujar Khan also contained a notable Hindu and Sikh population, though much of this population either converted to Islam during British rule, or migrated to India following partition.[7] However the area is still home to Hindu temples[8][9] and Sikh Gurdwaras[10][11] which have been not maintained through the years.[12]
Administration
Gujar Khan is administratively subdivided into 36 union councils, whereas City Gujar Khan is administered by municipal corporation.[13]
According to the 2017 census of Pakistan, the city had a population of 678,503.[14]
Natural resources
Large reserves of oil and gas were discovered in February 2002 at Tobra, about ten kilometres from Gujar Khan. The field is being developed by the Oil and Gas Development Company. The field could produce 1,600 barrels of crude oil daily.[15]
Transport
Road
Gujar Khan is located on the N5 National highway from Islamabad-Lahore.[16] Railway Road links from the east of the city to the nearby towns of Bewal and Islampura.[17] There are also many other minor roads linking the villages and towns of the region to the city.
Rail
Gujar khan railway station is located in the center of the city and provides links to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Lahore.[18]
Bus
Local services also provide extensive bus routes around the local towns, and smaller shuttles go around the villages in the surrounding area. There are also services to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, and Lahore.[19][20]
Local auto-rickshaw drivers also provide transport for people in and around the city.[21]
Notable people
- Raja Muhammad Sarwar, martyred
Captain of Pakistan Army and first recipient of Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award of Pakistan. - Mohammad Amir, cricketer
- Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, ex-prime minister of Pakistan
- Muhammad Hussain Janjua, First soldier to be awarded Nishan-e-Haider
- Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, ex-COAS and Director General of ISI
- Najaf Shah, cricketer
- Pir Syed Zubair Bukhari,Custodian Darbar Khanyara Sharif,Mandra
See also
References
- https://www.citypopulation.de/Pakistan-Punjab.html?cityid=11415
- Election Commission of Pakistan. "Zila, Tehsil & Town Councils Membership for Punjab". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- Debates: Official Report (in Urdu). Manager of Publications. pp. 199–200. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan. "List of Administrative Units of Pakistan (Tehsil/Taluka)". Archived from the original on 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- "District Overview | CPO Rawalpindi". cporwp.punjabpolice.gov.pk. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- "Hospitals Gujar Khan". Cybo - The Directory. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- sightsandsoundsofpak (2014-04-22), Pre-Partition "Sikh" House in Sukho Punjab Pakistan (English Translation), retrieved 2016-05-21
- Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (2015-06-20). "Gulyana: Punjab's crumbling 900-year-old village". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- "The old temple at Beval". www.thefridaytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- sightsandsoundsofpak (2013-12-28), Gurdwara in Sukho Punjab Pakistan, retrieved 2016-05-21
- sightsandsoundsofpak (2010-05-07), Gurdwara in Daultala Punjab Pakistan, retrieved 2016-05-21
- "Sikh Gurdwaras in Punjab Province of Pakistan". Sikh Gurus and Sikh Gurdwaras. 2014-11-07. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- Towns & Unions in the City District of Rawalpindi
- "Rawalpindi City District". Archived from the original on 2008-03-13.
- Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. "Business in Asia". Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- "Maps – National Highways Authority". nha.gov.pk. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- "Railway Road at G.T. Road - Wikimapia". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- "Gujar Khan Railway Station". pk.geoview.info. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- "Pindi-Gujar Khan CNG bus service from today". DAWN.COM. 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- "Pakistan Express Bus Service Khalid & Nasir Gujar Khan". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- "'Rickshaws plying in Gujar Khan to be registered'". The Nation. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- "Najaf Shah". Cricinfo.