Ahmedpur East

Ahmadpur East احمدپور شرقیہ‬ Ahmadpur Sharqia
City
The Abbasi Mosque at the nearby Derawar Fort
Municipal Committee logo
Ahmadpur East Location of Ahmadpur East Show map of Punjab, Pakistan Ahmadpur East Ahmadpur East (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 29°8′38″N 71°15′33″E / 29.14389°N 71.25917°E / 29.14389; 71.25917Coordinates: 29°8′38″N 71°15′33″E / 29.14389°N 71.25917°E / 29.14389; 71.25917
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
District	Bahawalpur District
Number of Union councils	32
Government
• Type	Tehsil Municipal Committee
• Chairman	Malik Usman Bobak
• MNA (NA 183)	Syed Ali Hassan Gilani (PML-N)since 2013[1]
• MPA (PP 268)	Qazi Adnan Fareed (PML-N) since 2013[2]
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	+6
Postal code type	63350
Area code(s)	06222
Website	http://www.ahmedpureast.com

Ahmedpur East (Saraiki, Urdu: احمد پُور شرقیہ‬‎) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan and the capital of Ahmadpur East Tehsil in Bahawalpur District, Punjab, Pakistan. Ahmadpur East have historical Sadiq Garh Palace, which was the center of ruling Nawabs of the state of Bahawalpur. It is 38th biggest city in Pakistan in term of population . This city is Undeveloped but developing very fast.

History

The city of Ahmadpur East was once the capital of the former Princely State of Bahawalpur. It takes its name from Ahmed Khan, the son of Ghappa Khan Parjani, who was the first cousin of Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan I. On the invitation of Nawab Mubarak Khan, the dwelling where Ahmed Khan along with his family, tribe and supporters made their permanent abode was designated Ahmed Pur and the modern name is derived from this. Numerous important buildings and places constructed by the former rulers of Bahawalpur State remain in the city, including Sadiq Garh Palace, Qadeem Mahal and Jamia Masjid Chowk Bazaar.

Geography and climate

The city lies just south east of the Head Panjnad. It is situated 50 km from Bahawalpur, 470 km from Lahore, 15 km from Uch Shareef, 60 km from Yazman, 320 km from Faisalabad and about 750 km from the national capital, Islamabad. The west region of the city is called the Sindh. The chief crops are wheat, gram, cotton, sugarcane, and dates. Sheep and cattle are raised for export of wool and hides. It is chiefly desert irrigated by the Sutlej inundation canals and yields crops of wheat, cotton, and sugarcane. Farther south, the Cholistan, is a barren desert tract, bounded on the north and west by the Hakra depression with mound ruins of old settlements along its high banks; it is still inhabited by nomads. The climate is mainly hot and dry. In summer's the temperature reaches high forties degrees Celsius during the day and the nights slightly cooler. Since the city is located in a desert environment there is little rainfall. The weather conditions in reach extremes in both summer and winter. Average temperature in summer is 33c and 18c in winter. Rainfall is very scarce and scanty. The average rainfall is 20 to 25 cm annually

Economy

Ahmedpur East is also an important agricultural training and educational center. Soapmaking and cotton ginning are important enterprises; cotton, silk, embroidery, carpets, and extraordinarily delicate pottery are produced. Factories producing cottonseed oil and cottonseed cake were built in the 1970s. It is an important marketing center for the surrounding areas and is located on the crossroads between Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta and Karachi. Ahmedpur East is also known for its distinctly embroidered khusa and pottery which is made here. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural, which allows agricultural exports in many parts of the world. There is also a large market town for mangoes, dates, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton that bring in continuous demand all year round. In addition, it has soap making and cotton spinning factories".

Culture

The city of Ahmedpur East is a tourist destination for not only locals but provides an important hotspot for historians and archeologists due to its rich heritage. The City Contains Sadiq Garh Palace Which Was Built In 1302 By Nawab Sadiq I And Many Old Buildings. The Derawar Fort is also in Ahmadpur East tehsil Ahmedpur East is known for its cotton, silk, embroidery, carpets, and extraordinarily delicate pottery.^[3]

Health infrastructure

According to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, of the 46 hospitals he intends to build, one will be built in Ahmadpur East. The land has been allocated in Moza Abbas Arbi, 4 kilometres from Ahmadpur East. The Turkish Government will provide funds to build the hospital. There Is Already A THQ hospital Working Excellently And Providing Health Facilities To A Population Of About 10 lacs People . But The Hospital Is Not Much Developed. Number Of Private Hospitals Are Also Working In the City. The City Has Facility Of Rescue 1122 started in early 2011 working Fine Contains 12 to 15 ambulance Fire Service And Other Emergency Services.

Ahmedpur East Nuclear Power Complex

According to The Wall Street Journal, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) plans to install three Chinese nuclear reactors at Ahmedpur East and the site is now being prepared.^[4] Ahmedpur East Nuclear Power Complex would have 1100 MW Nuclear reactor.^[5]

2017 Oil tanker fire disaster

In 2017, Ahmedpur East was the site of a major disaster, when over 200 villagers collecting fuel from an overturned truck were killed in an accidental explosion. More than 70 among injured died in burn centers. Updated numbers indicate that at least 200 people died in the explosion.^[6] The death toll of Ahmadpur East oil tanker tragedy reached to 219 when another victim died at the Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

As many as 94 victims have been died in different hospitals, including 18 at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, 11 at Burns Ward of CMH, Bahawalpur, and 10 at Bahawal Victoria Hospital. However, 34 injured persons are still under treatment at different hospitals, including 22 at BVH, five at THQ Hospital, Ahmadpur East, three at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, and four at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore.

According to focal person appointed for giving details about the tragedy Dr Amir Mahmood, 31 injured persons had been discharged after recovery. Meanwhile, relatives of several Ahmadpur East tragedy victims alleged that their financial aid cheque issued by the district government on the order of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif had bounced by the banks concerned. The DC Office spokesman through the Information Department said that the claim was not true. The spokesperson said that if any cheque did not cash then the concerned families should immediately contact the DC Office. ^[7]

Education Facilities In Ahmadpur East

Apart from an Army Public School at Dera Nawab Sahib, the Cities Contains 2 Govt Postgraduate Colleges one Of Them Named "SA post Graduate College " was Built In early 1965s is providing best Education Facility For All Student from Urban Area as well as rural areas.. The city Also contains A Gov.t Commerce College, Govt Sadiq Abbas Degree College And A Colleges For Special Education. Many Private Colleges Such As Punjab College, Nimz College, Allama Iqbal College, United College Of Engineering and Technology, Millat College, Millat Law College, Millat Commerece College, Laural College, City College, Oxford College, Amil College And Many more Are Working there. A Campus Of Virtual University Is also working there. Many Private And Gov.t School also Working There. There Are About 10 Gov.t High School In City And Nearby. The City Contains 100s Of Private Schools . some Of them are Allied School, Islamic Model Higher Secondary School, Country School System, The Educators, Dr AQ School System, The Smart School, Dar-e-Arqam School, The Arqam School System, EFA School System, The PACE School System And Many more.

Transport

Ahmadpur East is located on the N-5 National Highway, from Karachi to Peshawar.^[8] Ahmadpur East is also facilitated with the Dera Nawab Sahib railway station.^[9] Which is one of the oldest railway station of British India. The railway station was built in 1780s. One way roads are built within the city by the authorities to improve the infrastructure. Motar RickshawsR are widely spread in the City. A Daewoo Express Terminal is Also here for daily luxury bus service for all the cities of Pakistan. Other Bus Companies like Faisal Movers, Bilal Travels, Warraich Express, Skyways Have Also there Terminal in the City..

The saints of Ahmadpur Tehsil

(1) Syed Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani, great grand son of Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi and a descendant of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. Born and raised in Medina, he walked miles between Mecca and Madina in the heat. He then spent least 12 years of service at the Masjid-e-Nabwi and had a dream where Mohammad ordered him to find his murshid Sultan Bahu. He met Sultan Bahu on the 12th Rabi' al-awwal. During the reign of Nawab Bahawal Khan III, he migrated from Medina to Ahmadpur East for a permanent residence from 29th Ramazan 1241 H/6 May 1826 AD. He died on Friday of 29th Ramazan 1276 H/20 April 1860. His shrine is situated at Fatani Chowk, Fatani Street, Ahmadpur East. He was the 26th Shaikh of the Sarwari Qadri Order.^[10]

(2) Makhdoom Bahaudin Akbar, belonging to Bahaudin Zikarya’s 18th generation of descendants. He migrated from Multan to Ahmadpur East. He died in 26 Ramazan 1267/24 January 1851. He belongs to the Suhrawardiyya Order.

(3) Azmat Sultan, a descendant of Sultan Bahu. His father, Sultan Mohammad Hussain was a Sufi dervish. Azmat Sultan migrated to Ahmadpur East along with his family and resided there. It was here that he died and his shrine is also located here.

(4) Abdul Asad Khan Afghan: There is a khanqah by the name of Abdul Asad Khan in Ahmadpur East. He is known as being the khalifah of Khawaja Aaqil Mohammad.

(5) Noor Shah Bukhari: In Ahmadpur Sharqia, his shrine is located near Qilla Tehsil. He is from the progeny of Syed Jalal Bukhari. He spent most of his time in the Zikr of Allah. The order of his followers initiated at the desert area.

(6) Molvi Hakeem Gul Mohammad: His khanqah exists in Ahmadpur East. His family was prominent for its knowledge and herbal tips. The shrines of his ancestors still exist in Multan and Uch, Pakistan. He was the khalifah and a disciple of Aaqil Mohammad. His family lineage and biography is preserved in his writing Takmala Sharif.^[11][12]

(7) Khawaja Muhammad Abdul Malik Siddique belongs to Ahmad Pur East. He was the Peer-e-Tariqat of Naqashbandi Golden Chain. Khawaja Muhammad Abdul Malik Siddique was Khalifa of Peer Fazal Ali Qureshi of Miskeen Pur sharif Distt Muzaffar Garh.Now his son Khawaja Abdul Majid Siddiqui is the Sajjada Nasheen of Khanqah Malikia. Khanqah. Khawaja Abdul Majid Siddiqu is Khalifa of Peer Shaikh Mufti Muhammad Fareed Sahib in Naqashbandi.

Notable people

• List of people from Ahmedpur East

References