Farooqabad

Farooqabad (Chuharkana)
city
Farooqabad Railway Station built during the British Rule around nineteenth century.
Coordinates: 31°44′39″N 73°50′00″E / 31.74430°N 73.83342°E / 31.74430; 73.83342Coordinates: 31°44′39″N 73°50′00″E / 31.74430°N 73.83342°E / 31.74430; 73.83342
Country Pakistan
Province Punjab
District Sheikhupura
Government
 • MNA Muhammad Irfan Dogar
Elevation 210 m (690 ft)
Population (2013)
 • Total 95,566
Time zone UTC+5 (PST)
Calling code 056
Website apnafarooqabad.com

Farooqabad (Urdu: فارُوق آباد‬‎), earlier known as Choorkana "(چوڑ کانا)" is a city in Sheikhupura District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is situated along the twin canals (Qadirabad Balloki Link Canal and Upper Gogera Branch Canal) about 55 km west of Lahore on Sargodha Road along Lahore-Islamabad M-2 Motorway and on Lahore-Faisalbad-Karachi Main Railway Line.[1]

History

Farooqabad's old name was Chuharkana but the name was changed to Farooqabad to honour the second pious Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattāb in 1983. Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattāb was given the title of 'Farooq', meaning "leader, jurist and statesman" by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century.

Sheikhupura District, where Farooqabad is located, has been an agricultural region having dense forests ever since the Indus Valley Civilization some 5 thousand years ago. The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that invaded from Central Asia and settled in Punjab region. The Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Madras, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas and Kurus invaded, settled and ruled this ancient Punjab region. After overrunning the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. Sheikhupura was ruled by Maurya Empire, Indo-Greek kingdom, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire, White Huns, Kushano-Hephthalites and Shahi kingdoms and then the British in recent times.

In 1005 AD, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered the Punjab region including this area. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to the influence of missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region.

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh Empire under Maharajah Ranjit Singh created a secular kingdom in the Punjab. The first police station, in Farooqabad, was set up during the British rule in 1924 and is called Sadar Thana Farooqabad. The Pakistan Adventist Seminary and College (PASC) developed from a small Seventh-day Adventist Boys' School was founded in 1920 by the British. In 1937, it became a co-educational institution with the integration of the Seventh-day Adventist Girls' School. Steady growth followed as students came in from all parts of the Punjab and North West India. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs in Farooqabad area migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Farooqabad region. In recent times, 'Sikh Yatrees' (Sikh visitors) regularly come to visit their sacred places like Sucha Sauda in the Farooqabad area from all over the world.[2]

Demographics and society

Farooqabad's population is mainly Muslim. Farooqbad also has a small Christian community. Punjabi is the native language of city and Urdu is widely spoken as second language.

The major tribes of Farooqabad are: (Chattha, Virk, Phullarwan jutt), Maliks, Arains, Awans, Khans, Dogars, Jat Waseer, Gujjars, Mughals, Rajputs, Sheikhs, Syeds.

Census history

Census History
YearPopulation
19618682
197215146
198134995
199857601
201274566
201395566
2017245723

Economy

Farooqabad has always been a hub of business activities due to its location with road network including M-2 Motorway connecting it to all major cities, towns and villages of the area. It is a "Mandi" or the Market of the surrounding area. Fruit and Vegetable market serves around 125 villages with their products. Agriculture is one of the main sources of employment, the town has been a popular grain market as the town is located in a highly fertile area.

Railway station

Farooqabad railway station is located on main Lahore-Faisalabad-Karachi railway track. It was built during the British era in the nineteenth century. It connects people to all parts of Pakistan

References

  1. ↑ Farooqabad on GoogleMaps, Retrieved 13 July 2017
  2. ↑ Sikh Yatrees visit Sucha Sauda (sacred place) near Farooqabad, Published 11 November 2016, Retrieved 13 July 2017
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