Faisalabad
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| Faisalabad فیصل آباد |
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| General Information | |
| Province | Punjab |
| Location | |
| Altitude | 300 metres AMSL |
| Area | 5,856 km² |
| Calling code | 041 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| No. of Towns | 8 |
| Population | 2,008,861 (city proper)[1] 1998 |
| Estimate | 2,582,175 (city proper)[2] 2006 |
| Government | |
| City Mayor (Nazim) | Rana Zahid Tauseef |
| No. of Union Councils | |
| Emblem | |
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| Website | |
| Faisalabad Government Website | |
Faisalabad (Urdu: فیصل آباد ) is located in Punjab, Pakistan. Faisalabad is the third largest city in Pakistan with an estimated 2006 population of 2.6 million (city proper). The entire district had a population of about 5.4 million in 1998[3]. It is an important industrial centre located in the Punjab province, west of Lahore. The city-district of Faisalabad is bound on the north by the districts of Gujranwala and Sheikhupura, on the east by Sahiwal district, on the south by Toba Tek Singh district and on the west by Jhang district.
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[edit] History
[edit] Pre-independence
The city was founded by the British Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir Charles James Lyall for whom it was originally named Lyallpur. Prior to the British making the area into an urban center, it largely consisted of various villages. However, the construction of various canals allowed the area to be irrigated. After the founding of the city, people were invited to the city with promises of land if they were to work it. This allowed the city to grow rapidly.
The city of Lyallpur came into being in 1880. The city which is now well known as "Manchester of Pakistan" for its industrial activity, was nothing but a desolate tract of land 100 years ago. It did not rain here for weeks together and when it rained, the water vanished in the city land in no time. There was no village nearby. The city centre of Lyallpur was designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Jack with eight roads radiating from a large clock tower in the centre to eight separate bazaars.
In 1895, the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was effected. The building of Railway Station wanted time, therefore, a Goods train wagon served at Lyallpur Railway Station (still present today). As the progress of colonisation stepped up Lyallpur was given the status of Tehsil of Jhang District and its administration carried on the tents on the old Theh (Mound) of Pucca Mari near Tariqabad. The Majestic Clock Tower of Lyallpur was constructed out of the funds raised by the Sikh Zamindars who collected it at a rate of Rs. 18 per square of land. The fund thus raised was handed over to the Municipal Committee which got it completed.
In 1902, the population of the town had exceeded 4,000. A considerable number of houses and shops to cater to the ordinary needs of the population had constructed. In 1903, decision to have an agricultural college was made. In the very next year, 1904, the new district of Lyallpur was constituted comparing of Tehsils of Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba Tek Singh with a subtehsil at Jaranwala which later turned into a full fledged Tehsil. In 1906, the District Headquarters began to function at Lyallpur and all the bazars and mohallas within the bounds of circular road were nearing completion and city began to spread outside the circular road. The Town Committee which has come into being in 1904, was upgraded as Municipal Committee in 1909 and Deputy Commissioner was declared to be the lst 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 the World War II, the political awakening sprinkled its influence over the city. Revolutionary meetings were held. Fiery speeches were made. Slogans were written on the walls.
In 1943, Mohammed Ali Jinnah came to Lyallpur and addressed a gathering of over 2 million in Dhobi Ghat Grounds. When Pakistan was accepted as an independent unit, the Muslims of Lyallpur held special prayers and distributed sweets and food among the poor on March 3, 1947.
[edit] Post Independence
The city grew into a strong industrial and agricultural centre and on independence of Pakistan it was a major urban area. After independence, the city of Lyallpur marched rapidly on the path of progress. The city which had so far been known for its grain market, became a great commercial and industrial centre. The population of the city which in 1901 hardly touched the figure of a few thousands soared up to millions. Medical and educational level was lifted up. In 1977, the name of the city was changed to Faisalabad, after the name of the late king of Saudi Arabia, Shah Faisal-bin-Abdul Aziz. In 1985, the city was upgraded as a division with the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.
[edit] Government
Faisalabad city-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, but there are also several unofficial neighbourhoods often considered as towns.
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Administrative Towns
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Other neighbourhoods
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[edit] Education
Faisalabad has several higher education institutions including:
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[edit] Sites of interest
The city has a number of sites of interest including several colonial-era buildings, two major sports stadiums, several public parks and amusement parks.
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Colonial Era
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Modern Era
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[edit] Development
Faisalabad has a strong industrial base including textiles, jewelery, home furniture, and phramaceuticals, assisted by the expanding transport network which includes newly built motorways to Lahore and Rawalpindi. The city is also home to numerous colleges and universities such as the Agricultural University and Punjab Medical College. The colonial-era grand clock tower (known locally as Ghanta Ghar) is located in the centre with eight roads radiating outwards in towards eight bazaars, each with different types of markets and goods. The development of a new middle class has lead to major malls and shoppings plazas amid investment from the United Arab Emirates as well as some European firms. The projects currently under construction include;
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[edit] Transport
The international airport is approximately ten kilometres 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), and several private airlines. There is also a public bus network within the city and many privately operated rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and taxis. The central railway station connects Faisalabad with all major cities and most minor towns and cities of Pakistan.
[edit] Famous people
- Husnain Ashraf - The first great mathematician and scientist who created the vilosity formula by generating heat in the toothpaste.
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - musician
- Mala - Singer
- Sir Charles James Lyall - Colonial Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab province
- Khalid Maqbool - Governor of the Punjab province
- Shehbaz Ahmad Sr. - Pakistani field hockey player
- Arfa Karim Randhawa - Youngest person in the world to pass MCAT Exam.
[edit] Captures in "the War on Terror"
Pakistani authorities have executed a series of raids on safehouses in the Faisalabad area, looking for terrorism suspects. Authorities captured senior Al Qaeda cadre Abu Zubaydah in Faisalabad.[4]
Abu Zubaydah was captured together with four of the Guantanamo detainees who face charges before Guantanamo military commissions: Sufyian Barhoumi, Ghassan Abdullah al Sharbi, Jabran Said bin al Qahtani and Abdul Zahir. Dozens of other suspects, captured in Faisalabad, were transported to Guantanamo, but haven't been called to face charges.
[edit] References
- ^ Pakistan Population Census Organization (1998)
- ^ World Gazetteer estimate (01-01-2006)
- ^ General statistics of Faisalabad
- ^ A Dilemma for the Defenders, Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2006
[edit] See also
- Faisalabad Chamber Of Commerce and Industries
- Faisalabad Electric Supply Company
- Faisalabad International Airport
- Industrial Estate
- Export Processing Zone
[edit] External links
- Bayans of Ulama from Faisalabad Faisalabad and Islam
- Faisalabad Government website
- UrbanPK: Projecting Pakistans Development
- Punjab Government website
- Satellite image of Faisalabad from Google Maps
- Images of Faisalabad on Worldisround.com
