Hafizabad District

Hafizabad
ضلع حافظ آباد ‬
District

Map of Punjab with Hafizabad District highlighted
Country Pakistan
Province Punjab
Founded by Zaman Haider Mangatt
Headquarters Hafizabad
Government
 • District Coordination Officer Saleh Saeed
 • District Police Officer Dr Sardar Ghias Gul
 • Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rev) Allah Ditta Warraich
Area
 • Total 2,367 km2 (914 sq mi)
Population (2017)[1]
 • Total 1,156,957
 • Density 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+5 (PST)
Number of Tehsils 2

Hafizabad District (Punjabi and Urdu: ضلع حافظ آباد‎) is located in Punjab, Pakistan. Hafizabad was made a district in 1993; formerly, it was a tehsil of Gujranwala District. It is situated in central Punjab and is known for its rice industry on the agricultural side and Rice industry on the industrial side and have top 5 exporters of rice from Pakistan .capital of the district, Hafizabad, was built by the Rajpoot, known for strengthening administration of Punjab.

Hafizabad is known as "Sheraz-e-Hind" (Shiraz) since many poets and scholars of international repute were born in the area, including Arif Saharni, Hakeem muhammad Siddique , Hakeem Zahoor Ahmad (Siddiqui) , Jahat girl Saqi, Hanif Saqi, Muhammad Siddique Tehami, Abid Tehami and Mumtaz Hussain Bhatti.

History

In 327 BC, when Alexander the Great invaded modern Pakistan, the territory of the Sandal Bar (where Hafizabad is now located) was a populated area. Big cities were located in here, and a lot of sub-states were organized here in the presidency of native Maharajas and Rajas. In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region. During the Delhi Sultanate period a big city was situated at the site of the present village of Mehdiabad. But afterwards this territory became unpopulated and jungle-like because of a shortage of water and Afghan incursions. This situation persisted until Mughal Emperor Akbar's period. Hafizabad was formerly a place of some importance, and is mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari as headquarters of a Mahal. Hafiz, the founder, was a favourite of emperor Mughal Emperor Akbar.[2] After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh Empire invaded and occupied Hafizabad District. The Muslims faced restrictions during the Sikh rule.

In 1846 Hafizabad came under the supervision of British colonial rule, when a settlement of land revenue was effected under order from the provisional government at Lahore. The main population was located where an old church is now located.

The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while Muhajir refugees from India settled in the Hafizabad. Most of the Muhajirs have since assimilated into the local population.

Geography

Hafizabad is situated at 800 feet (240 m) above sea-level in central Punjab. The district is located between 32°-20' north latitudes and 73°-12' and 73°-46' east longitude. The river Chenab forms the northern and northwestern boundary of the district. Hafizabad shares its borders with Sheikhupura District and Gujranwala District in the east, Mandi Bahauddin District in the north, Sargodha District in the west, Faisalabad and Chiniot District in the south. Hafizabad is situated at a distance of 303 km from the Federal Capital, Islamabad, and is 109 km away from the Provincial Capital, Lahore.[3] The district has a total area of 2,367 square kilometres and comprises two tehsils, namely Hafizabad and Pindi Bhattian. Major villages are Kaleke Mandi, Sukheke Mandi, Jalalpur Bhattian,Rasul Pur Tarar, Vanikay Tarar, Allaudin key Chattha, Burj Dara, Wachoke, Lawaray Kalan, Narianwala Shreef, Shameer Bhattian, Kolo Tarar, Jaidkey and Rahgo Syedan. Famous personalities of Hafizabad are Malik Kamran Nasir Lurka S/o Nasir Mohammad Lurka, Malik Adnan Nasir Lurka,Malik Zeeshan Nasir Lurka , Malik Nasir Lurka, Malik Arif Lurka from Village Kaleke, CH.Abdul Aziz Tarar (zaildar), Raj Mohammad Tarar(M.L.A) , CH.Ghulam Ali Chattha,CH.Mohamad Shaukat hayat Tarar, ch.SAIF ullah Tarar, Haji Ghulam Rasool Chattha(lamdar),CH Ghulam Muhammad Bhatti(Chairman 1959),Afzal Husain Tarar,Mehdi Hassan,Mumtaz Hussain Bhatti, Ikhlaq Ahmed Tarar, Hakeem Muhamnad Siddique, Hakeem Zahoor Ahmad siddiqui, Shahid Bhatti, Babur Ijaz Siddiqui , Hakeem Muhammad Saber Siddiqui, Master Sultan Ali Bhatti (Late), Dr.Muhammad Ali Chattha (dist surgeon Gujrat),Amjad Ali Chattha(A.A.G) Feisal Sultan(Assistant Commissioner) Dr.Azmat hayat tarar(Late) and many more.

Climate

The climate of the district is hot and dry during the summer and moderately cold in the winter. The maximum summer temperature in the month of June is 50 °C (122 °F), while in winter, during January, the lowest minimum temperature is 1 °C (34 °F). Owing to the proximity of the hills, there is more rainfall in the east than the west. The monsoon season usually starts in the middle of July and continues until September. The soil is alluvial and fertile.[3]

Industry

Rice & Power Loom industry are also important industries, located in Hafizabad city. Hafizabad Power Loom industry is directly connected with Faisalabad, that is the major industrial city in Pakistan

Demographics

According to the 1998 census, the district had a population of 832,980, of which 26.73% were urban.[4]

97% of the population are Muslim, while Christians and Qadyani represent 2.9% and 0.1%, respectively. Punjabi is the dominant first language at 98.7%, while other languages spoken in the district are Urdu (0.9%), Pushto (0.3%) and Siraiki (0.1%).[3][5]

Education

Sub campuses of Sargodha University and Virtual University are established in the city. Hafizabad has many colleges; the most famous are LIFE (Lyceum Institute of Future Education) headed by Sir Muhammad Imran Habib, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION(RISE), Aspire College Hafizabad ( Kasoki Bypass) Habib Institute of Leadership & Management-HILM, Hafizabad,NATIONAL Science Academy, Leadership Academy, Hafizabad, Learners' Hub, Government College Hafizbad, Islamia Girls College for Women, Punjab College, Superior College, Muslim College of Commerce, Hafizabad College of Commerce and Lahore Poly Technique Institute. All these colleges are offering many masters and degree programs.The education level is quite good as these colleges bring positions in BISE Gujranwala and Punjab University. Most famous secondary schools are Govt. Muslim high School, Govt.High School# 1, Govt. High School# 2, Govt. Girls High School, GOVT. Double Section Girls High School, Govt. Modern Higher Secondary School, District Public School, Misali School OfScience The Readers' School, Vision Standard School, Centurion Hafizabad, Chenab Public High School & College, The City School, Beconhouse School system, Allied School System, Knowledge House School System, Dare Arqam High School and Educators, Al fazal school karyala and hunjaranwala Govt. High School Mangatt Uncha Elite Academy And Computer College. Saint Mary's High School(Christian Qabarstan Road Essa Nagri Hafizbad. Azam Public School Girja Chowk

Politics

District has nomination in National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as prior to 2017 Census of Pakistan, Hafizabad District had two national assembly and three provincial assembly seats that has been changed into one and only MNA with three MPA. NA-87 (Hafizabad) is newly created constituency that has 684,447 votes, Chaudhary Shoukat Ali won Election 2018 on PTI ticket from this constituency against Saira Afzal Tarar who was contesting from PMLN side.[6] and Mamoon Jaffar Tarar, Muzaffar Ali Sheikh and Ahsan Ansar Bhatti win respectively as member of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.[7]

There are two prominent political group in Hafizabad District headed by Mehdi Hassan Bhatti and Afzal Hussain Tarar that contest election against each other. Afzal Hussain Tarar is serving as District Chairman since 2016 local Government Elections as his group won all over the district. Following are the main political personalities in Hafizabad District.

Afzal Hussain Tarar
Mehdi Hassan Bhatti
Saira Afzal Tarar
Chaudhary Shoukat Ali
Liaqat Abbas Bhatti
Shahid Hussain Bhatti
Malik Fiaz Ahmad Awan
Ch Asadullah Arain
Ahsan Ansar Bhatti
Muzaffar Ali Sheikh
Mamoon Jaffar Tarar
Syed Shoaib Shah Nawaz
Rai Riasat Ali
Rai Qamar Zaman Kharal

References

  1. ↑ "DISTRICT WISE CENSUS RESULTS CENSUS 2017" (PDF). www.pbscensus.gov.pk.
  2. ↑ Hafizabad Town – Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 13, p. 5
  3. 1 2 3 Punjab Portal
  4. ↑ Urban Resource Centre (1998 Census) Archived 2006-05-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ 1998 District Census report of Hafizabad. Census publication. 100. Islamabad: Population Census Organization, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan. 2000. p. 27. The term used by the census is "mother tongue", which is defined as the language of communication between parents and children.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑

Coordinates: 32°04′12″N 73°40′48″E / 32.07000°N 73.68000°E / 32.07000; 73.68000

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