Faisalabad

(Punjabi, Urdu: فیصل آباد) is a city located in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. It was formerly known as Lyallpur. Faisalabad is the third largest city in Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has risen from 9,171 in 1901 to 179,000 in 1951 and to 2,009,000 in 1998. The larger Faisalabad district had a population of about 5.4 million in 1998.

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, on the south by Toba Tek Singh and on the west by Jhang. Its located 1,135 km (705 mi) from Karachi, 128 km (80 mi) from Lahore, 350 km (220 mi) from Islamabad/Rawalpindi, 187 km (116 mi) from Burewala and 70 km (43 mi) from Jhang.

The city is at a road and railway junction, which has played an influential role in the development of Faisalabad's trade and economy. The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the Lower Chenab River, has seen expanded production of cotton, wheat, vegetables, and fruits, which form 25% of Pakistan’s exports. The city is also an industrial centre with major railway repair yards, engineering works, and mills that process sugar, flour, and oil seed. Produce includes super phosphates, cotton and silk textiles, hosiery, dyes, agricultural equipment, and ghee (clarified butter). Faisalabad is also the site of the prestigious University of Agriculture, founded in 1909.

Faisalabad, a city synonymous with success and growing metropolis pulsating with life, is fast evolving into the financial hub of the country. It is the largest industrial city of Pakistan and specializes in export oriented manufactured goods and the textile capital of the country.

History

Faisalabad was once part of ancient district of Jhang and Sandalbar, a 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi) part mainly consisted of thick forests and wild tribes. The tract from Shahdara to Shorekot, Sangla Hill to Toba Tek Singh, was traditionally called Sandalbar.

In 1880, a colonial officer called Captain Poham Young proposed a new town, with a design based on the Union Jack, with eight roads radiating from a large clock tower in the centre. The eight roads developed into eight separate bazaars. The construction of various artificial canals allowed the surrounding areas to be irrigated. After the founding of the town, there was rapid growth as people were invited with promises of land.

In 1895, the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was completed. In 1896, Lyallpur was given the status of a tehsil of the Jhang District and its administration were carried on in tents on the old Theh (Mound) of Pucca Mari near Tariqabad. The majestic Clock Tower was constructed out of the funds raised by the Sikh land owners, who collected it at a rate of Rs. 18 per square of land. The fund thus raised was handed over to the Town Committee which undertook to complete the project.

By 1902, the population of the town had exceeded 4,000. A considerable number of houses and shops had been constructed to cater the ordinary needs of the population. In 1903, a decision to have an agricultural college was made. In 1904, the new district of Lyallpur was constituted composed of the tehsils of Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba Tek Singh with a subtehsil at Jaranwala which later became a full tehsil. By 1906, the district headquarters began to function in Lyallpur and all the bazaars and settlements within the bounds of a ring road were nearing completion. The city began to spread outside the circular road. The Town Committee was upgraded to a Municipal Committee in 1909 and the Deputy Commissioner was appointed as the first 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 World War II, there was an increase in political awareness across the city. Revolutionary meetings were held, fiery speeches were made, and slogans were written on walls.

In 1943, Mohammed Ali Jinnah came to Lyallpur and addressed a gathering of over 2 million in Dhobi Ghat Grounds. On March 3, 1947, when the creation of Pakistan was approved, the Muslims of Lyallpur held special prayers and distributed sweets and food among the poor.

After independence, the city of Lyallpur enjoyed considerable development, and became a major commercial and industrial centre. The population grew quickly past one million. There was an expansion of the provision of health and education in the city. In 1977, the name of the city was changed to "Faisalabad", in honour of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who was held in high regard in Pakistan. In 1985, the district was upgraded to a division with the new districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.

Geography and climate

Faisalabad
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     12     19 4     20     22 7     26     27 12     17     34 18     16     38 23     28     41 27     115     37 27     90     36 27     29     36 24     3.8     33 17     3     27 10     8.6     21 5 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: World Meteorological Organization
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.5     67 39     0.8     71 45     1     80 54     0.7     92 64     0.6     101 73     1.1     105 80     4.5     99 81     3.5     97 80     1.1     96 75     0.1     91 63     0.1     81 50     0.3     71 41 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Faisalabad is located in the rolling flat plains of northeast Punjab, between longitude 73°74 East, latitude 30°31.5 North, with an elevation of 184 metres (604 ft) above sea level. The city proper covers an area of approximately 830 square kilometres (320 sq mi), while the district covers 1,280 square kilometres (490 sq mi).

There are no natural boundaries between Faisalabad and adjoining districts. Faisalabad is bounded by Hafizabad and Sheikhupura towards the north and northeast, by Sheikhupura, Okara and Sahiwal towards the east and southeast, and by Jhang and Toba Tek Singh towards the west and southwest. The Chenab River flows about 30 km (19 mi) to the north west while the River Ravi meanders about 40 km (25 mi) south east of the city. The lower Chenab canal is the main source of irrigation water, which meets the requirements of 80% of cultivated land. The soil of Faisalabad comprises alluvial deposits mixed with loess having calcareous characteristics, making the soil very fertile.

The climate of the district can see extremes, with the maximum temperature in summer reaching 50 °C (122 °F) and a winter temperature of −1 °C (30 °F). The mean maximum and minimum temperature in summer are 39 °C (102 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F) respectively. In winter it peaks at around 21 °C (70 °F) and 6 °C (43 °F) respectively. The summer season starts from April and continues till October. May, June and July are the hottest months. The winter season, on the other hand, starts from November and continues till March. December, January and February are the coldest months. The average rainfall is about 2,000 mm (79 in), sufficient to keep the soil very fertile.

Temperatures (1948-2006)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
Highest maximum (°C)	19.4	22.4	27.4	34.2	39.7	41.0	37.7	36.5	36.6	33.9	28.2	22.1	31.6
Lowest minimum (°C)	4.8	7.6	12.6	18.3	24.1	27.6	27.9	27.2	24.5	17.7	10.4	6.1	17.4

Economy

Main article: Economy of Faisalabad

Agricultural exports form an important part of Faisalabad's economy

A PricewaterhouseCoopers study released in 2007, that surveyed the 2005GDP of the top cities in the world, calculated Faisalabad’s GDP (PPP) to be $10 billion. The city was third behind Karachi ($55 billion) and Lahore ($28 billion). Faisalabad's GDP is projected to rise to $24 billion in 2020 at a growth rate of 6.0%, higher than the growth rates of 5.8% and 5.9% predicted for Karachi and Lahore.

Faisalabad has a strong industrial base including textiles, jewelry, home furniture, and pharmaceuticals, assisted by the expanding transport network which includes newly-built motorway and highways to Lahore, Multan, Sargodha and Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Faisalabad is one of the three planned cities of the country. The eight bazaars of the city each have different types of markets and goods.

Before independence, there were only five industrial units in Faisalabad, but now there are numerous textile mills, engineering units and chemical and food processing units. Other industries include hosiery, carpet and rugs, nawar and lace, printing and publishing and pharmaceutical products etc. There are also several thousand household industries, including some 60,000 power loom factories.

The textile industry of Faisalabad constitutes more than 70% of the textile export market of Pakistan which have a share of 68% in total exports from Pakistan. This makes Faisalabad’s share of total exports from Pakistan to be more than 45%.

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Shopping malls are springing up in the city to meet the needs of a trendier generation

The district is unparalleled for its agricultural productivity. The area grew in importance as the grain belt of the Punjab during the wake of colonisation. This lead to economic development of towns and villages within the district. Crops that have become major exports out of Faisalabad include the Kharif crops which include maize, rice, sugarcane and bajra as well as the Rabi crops which include wheat, barley, gram and barseen. In addition to these, there are also Zaid Kharif and Zaid Rabi crops. Zaid Kharif crops are toria, raiya, sarsoon and Zaid Rabi crop is tobacco. The use of tractors is becoming popular and is fast replacing the conventional ploughs. Improved variety of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides have greatly increased per acre yield and with that the prosperity of the peasant community which has toiled for three generations to transform a barren land into verdant fields. Faisalabad district is famous for its fruit production. The important fruits are oranges, bananas, apples, sugarcanes, tangerines, fruiter, mangos, guava and Faalsa. The total area under fruit orchards is 34,517 acres (13,969 ha).

The rise of the middle class as a result of economic boom in the past decade has led to the construction of major malls and shopping plazas amid investment from the United Arab Emirates as well as many European firms. The projects currently under construction include Motorway City, Kohinoor One, Doburg, Gateway Towers, Paradise Inn, MediaCom City, Centre Point, FDA City and Rehman Heights. Faisalabad is also called as "Manchester of Pakistan" because it has a major impact on the economy of Pakistan. The city also generates 25% revenue for the trade and commerce activity of Pakistan.

Government

Faisalabad 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:

1. Lyallpur
2. Madina
3. Jinnah
4. Iqbal
5. Chak Jhumra
6. Jaranwala
7. Samundri
8. Tandlianwala

Twin city

Faisalabad has a friendship agreement with Manchester, which was established in 1997, driven by the Pakistani community in Manchester to build and maintain cultural and community links.

Flora and fauna

The Ravi River flows on the eastern and the Chenab River on the western boundary of the district. No other river passes through it. Floods are caused by the ove flow of Ravi on account of heavy rains in its catchment areas during the Monsoon. Floods are usually a recurrent feature since the rivers cannot hold the vast amount of water flowing from the northern areas to the south of the country. These floods cause extensive damage to crops and villages periodically. The provincial government is proposing dams and barrages to control the flow of water in the future. However, local settlements are not to keen on the issue.

The wildlife of the district includes a range of animals since the district is very vast. Animals such as foxes, boars, jackals and wild cats are normally seen. Among the birds there are usually partridges, pigeons, doves, tilliars, lal menas, bias, parrots, quails, pochards, mallards and teals.

Culture

Main article: List of places in Faisalabad

British built Gumti Water Fountain and the Qaisery Gate, the entrance to the Eight Bazaars

File:Faisalabad Jinnah Gardens.jpg

Jinnah Gardens, one of the central parks of the city

File:Mall Construction Faisalabad.jpg

A new mall currently in development on Sitiana Road

The McDonalds branch near D Ground

Faisalabad is generally referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan". Compared to its more tourist-attractive provincial capital, Lahore, Faisalabad is basically an industrial and agricultural city. It is the second largest business city in Punjab and it is a region for investment and economic prosperity. Textiles generate the best business in this city. There are a selection of sites and tourist attractions; however, even with such fast growth the country lacks historical significance since it was developed mostly in the last hundred years. The Faisalabad Clock Tower, locally called "Ghenta Ghar", was one of the first main market of Faisalabad and it is also the oldest area of the city. Here you can also find the remains of buildings which mainly belonged to the British Raj. Interestingly, this market has eight bazaars, forming a "Union Jack" (British flag), which can be seen from above. There are still structures from previous settlements such as Zorastrian Temples, Buddhist Monasteries, Hindu mandirs and Sikh gurudwaras still visible, however, since the mass migration these have been converted into schools and museums. "D Ground" is the second most important market after Ghenta Ghar. The area has been continually developing into a shopping area with many brands from all over the world. It is seen most busiest at night when local people come out for an outing. There are many local and western restaurants ranging from Namwah Chinese, Bundu Khan, KFC, Al Maida, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Sardines, Yummy 36, Cube and many open-air barbecues.

The Jinnah Garden is most probably the most famous park in Faisalabad. It is locally known as "Company Baagh". The tomb of H.E Sir Charles James Lyall, is situated here. He was the founder of this city and the city was first named Lyallpur in his honour. There are many food outlets, walking paths, cycling lanes and a huge fountain structure. The park is often used by the local council for holding rallies, concerts, shows and melas. Getwala Park is a small park situated just at the corner of Faisalabad. It is an excellent place for family picnics and relaxing. Canal Park is located at the west bank of Rakh Branch Canal. It is also a good place for families.

Happy Land Water Park is a beautiful amusement park built up to international standard, a complete entertainment centre for families. It has the biggest water slides in Pakistan. It is also equipped with amazing swings for both children and adults. Getwala Swimming Pool is another water park which has a huge swimming pool, attracting many local Faisalabadis. Aqua Land Water Park is the latest water park to open in Faisalabad that is located on Canal Road and draws many expatriates and families. Sindbad is an amusement park located near the Iqbal Stadium that is used for national and international cricket matches. It has an indoor bumper cars, flume rides, train rides as well as large gaming arcade room to suit all ages.

Rex City is a huge computer shopping mall dealing with everything computer related. Here you can find a computer at low prices. There are service shops, as well as CD and mobile shops and computer software and hardware experts. There are also internet services from well known companies such as "Cyber net", "Wolnet", "dancom", "Nexlinx" and "Satcom" which provide high speed internet. Kohinoor One is a newly constructed shopping mall located on Jaranwala Road which has many retail outlets, restaurants, clothing outlets and home furniture stores. Am Tex Waterfall is located at Am Tex Squire, Abdullah Pur. It is the biggest artificial waterfall in Asia.

The majestic "Chenab Club" is a social club. It was the first such club established in Faisalabad. It still exists today and is used by the elite society of Faisalabad. It is located in the beautiful surroundings of "Jinnah Garden". The club is situated in the heart of the city, just a short walk from Railway Station and within walking distance of Clock Tower. There are also a few monuments still fully erect in many parts of Faisalabad such as Gumti Water Fountain, Qaisery Gate (Entrance to the Eight Bazaars), Ghenta Ghar and various Sikh Gurudwaras and Hindu Mandirs still visible in the older part of the city.

Faisalabadi cuisine is very much Punjabi cuisine. The samosas of Faisalabad are the best in Pakistan. A chock is dedicated to them, named Samosa chock. These samosas are different from any others because here you can get the chatani variety. The very famous name Chacha Samosay Wala is also in the D Ground. Dahi Bhale, these are also delicious. The best Dahi Bhale is being prepared by a Thele Wala at Jinnah Coloney, near Chatri Wala Ground. Gohl Gappay are also these are really tasty. They are basically made with flour into a ball shape, and they are filled with black grams, onions, potatoes and other supplements. The most famous is a person who sells gole gappe on tehla in the start of the AminPur bazaar. A sour drink called "khatta" is served with them. Biryani & pulao (special cooked rice) are also very popular. Jehangir's Murgh Pulao is most popular in the country. It was first started by Mr. Jehangir about 60 years ago. English and Continental Foods - are also easily available in Faisalabad. You can access Mcdonald's, KFC, Food Rally, Pizza Hut, Dynasty, Lasania, Shehryar's, Exotica Cafe, Hameed's, Sam's, Al-Aziz, Al hamd, Khayyam restaurant, Lahore Chatkhara, Hawali Restaurant, Oriental Restautant and some other fast food restaurants. Pakistani fast foods & BBQ - is also hot favourite here. Chinese Food - also popular among the people. The best Chinese restaurants are Qulim, Exotica Cafe, Namwah, Pearl Garden and China City. All are operated by Chinese personnel. Bar Be Ques (BBQs) are best quality. Karachi's famous BBQ "Bundu Khan" has also opened an outlet and one may find that at D Ground in People's Colony. There are also some Punjabi drinks like rabri, lassi, limo pani and sugar cane rusk.

Sport

Main article: List of sports venues in Faisalabad

File:Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.jpeg

A test match taking place at Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium

Cricket, being pretty much a national sport within Pakistan is also the most popular sport in the city. It is played pretty much anywhere a city dweller will find a large piece of land. This is known as Bat aur Gendh. It is played in the narrow by-lanes of the city. Night time cricket can be seen at weekends when people play brightly lit night matches on less traversed city streets, disused construction sites, parks and several grounds within the district. The oldest and only venue for international cricket matches within the city is Iqbal Stadium. The Faisalabad Wolves, Faisalabad's local team, is based at this venue and often regional matches are played throughout the spring season which draws in plenty of crowds such as Twenty-20 Cup. The ground also hosted matches for the 1987 Cricket World Cup as well as the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

Other popular sports in the city are hockey, Weightlifting, association football, Kabaddi, table tennis, billiards and snooker, squash, and horse racing. Sports like badminton, volleyball and basketball have also started to gain popularity as western influences have affected the locals. Faisalabad also has its own team, called the PMC FC who take part in the Pakistan Premier League. The Punjab Medical College has its own stadium built within its campus to train and host matches for the sport.

The city also has facilities for hockey. The Faisalabad Hockey Stadium is located on Susan Road and mostly hosts field hockey matches for most national and some international matches. The stadium also has plenty of shops and restaurants which bring out a lot of life to the area. A new sports complex is also being planned to host athletic and gymnastic matches as well as Olympic training for future Pakistan participation.

PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad is the city's only participant in the Pakistani Premier Football League. Athletico's city rival Panther FC plays in the 2nd Division of Pakistani Football pyramid.

Education

File:Agriculture Uni FSD.JPG

University of Agriculture, one of the oldest and most prestigious university’s of Pakistan

Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad Campus

The people of Faisalabad have a very low literacy rate of approximately 40%, which has hampered the economic development of the city. Several institutions of higher education and several research centres including:

• University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
• Institute of Cost and Management Accountants
• Institute of Chartered Accountants
• Government College University, Faisalabad
• National Textile University
• University of Faisalabad
• Government College of Technology
• Preston University
• Punjab Medical College

Transport

File:Faisalabad M3 Motorway Interchange.jpg

The M3 Motorway has allowed greater logistical networking for the city and transportation of goods

Faisalabad International Airport is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) 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). Airblue, Aero Asia International and Shaheen Air used to also operate from the airport however, all three have currently suspended operations from Faisalabad.

There are many roads in Faisalabad which connect the city with many other localities as well as neighbouring towns and villages. The National Highway Authority has rebuilt and improved the standards of roads to meet international standards and improve logistical networks for freight companies. There is also a public bus network as well as private coaches within the city and many privately operated auto-rickshaws and taxis to get around the city. Rental cars are also available from many areas of the city, however, people who are not used to the roads and speeds are advised not to hire.

Faisalabad Railway Station

There are many highways under the control of the National Highway Authority, linking Faisalabad with other cities of the country. The M3 access-controlled motorway connects Faisalabad with the motorway M2 near Pindi Bhattian which furthermore connects with Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Lahore and Multan. There is an expressway which connects Faisalabad with Lahore, Sheikhupura and Mananwala. City is also connected with Sargodha with a highway known as Sargodha-Faisalabad road. Furthermore, motorway M4 is also under construction which will connect Faisalabad with Multan. The newly furnished Grand Trunk Road, otherwise known as GT Road, is a popular highway that links most parts of Pakistan as well as neighbouring countries. There are also several bus operators that offer quick services to the provincial capital, Lahore as well as Islamabad, Jhang, Multan, Peshawar, Karachi and several smaller localities. The Daewoo Express, Ravi Express, Kohistan Coaches, Airport Limousines and Niazi Coach are some of the well known services.

The main railway station was built in the nineteenth century by the British Empire. Today there are connections available to all parts of Pakistan including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar.

Media

World-renowned Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the most famous Qawwali maestro, began his career in the city

The Daily Express is the only national newspaper published from Faisalabad (previously the Daily Asas used to publish from Faisalabad but it is now published elsewhere). It is the product of Express Media Group largely circulated in the Faisalabad Division. The Daily Express started publishing in Faisalabad on 17th of September 2002. There are also other popular Urdu Faisalabadi newspapers including: Daily Gareeb, Daily Shelter, Daily Awam, Daily Aman, Daily Tajarti Rahber, Daily Paygaam, Daily Business Report, Daily Report and the Daily Surrat-E-Haal.

Cinemas have fallen in number in the city since the ban on most Bollywood films. The lack of interest in English and Lollywood related films has caused many cinema halls to close down and many owners to invest in other forms of entertainment. Punjabi stage dramas are still quite popular among Faisalabadis and there are still some theatres still running quite successfully till this date. There are many stars in Lollywood that hail from Faisalabad which draws in the crowds from far and wide. Shows usually take place at night and involve a range of day to day topics as well as dances to many types of music from female artists.

The radio industry has expanded with a number of private and government-owned FM channels being introduced. The FM radio channels that broadcast in the city include the government-owned Radio Pakistan, Mast FM103, FM 90, FM 101 and Dawn Media Group; City FM 89. State-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) transmits five terrestrial and cable television channels. There also a number of private television channels that have offices in Faisalabad including Express News, Geo TV, Apna Channel and Punjab TV.

Notable people

• Bhagat Singh, South Asian freedom fighter
• Milkha Singh, athlete
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Qawwali singer
• Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Qawwali singer
• Raj Kapoor, actor, producer and director
• Waheed Ahmed, Renowned Urdu Poet and Novelist
• Abrar ul Haq, Punjabi Bhangra singer
• Resham, Pakistani film actress
• Waheed Ahmed, Urdu poet and novelist
• Charles James Lyall, founder of the city
• Khalid Maqbool, former governor of the Punjab
• Shahbaz Ahmed, Pakistani hockey player
• Waseem Rehman, TV & Film Industry Tv & Film Creative Director
• Sunder Singh Lyallpuri
• Shahid Nazir, player of the national cricket team
• Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan national cricket team
• Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan national cricket team
• Ahmad, West Ham United F.C., UK
• Rameez Raja, cricketer
• Madan Lal Khurana, Indian BJP Politician and former Delhi Chief Minister
• Kaleem Saadat, former Chief of Air Staff Pakistan Air Force
• Amanat Ali, Singer
• Muhammad Hanif Ansari, MNA 1985 & Philatelist

See also

• Faisalabad Chamber Of Commerce and Industries
• Faisalabad Electric Supply Company
• Faisalabad International Airport
• British Punjab province
• Rakh Branch
• Sandal Bar

External links

• CITYFM89 Faisalabad Listen Live! 'We are Playing Your Song'
• Faisalabad Government website
• Punjab Government website
• Template:Wikitravelpar
• Faisalabad at Curlie
• Faisalabad Portal