Gujar Khan
| Gujar Khan گوجر خان | |
|---|---|
| Gujar Khan | |
  Gujar Khan | |
| Coordinates: 33°15′11″N 73°18′14″E / 33.253°N 73.304°ECoordinates: 33°15′11″N 73°18′14″E / 33.253°N 73.304°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,466 km2 (566 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 461 m (1,512 ft) |
| Population (1998) | |
| • Total | 57,152 |
| • Density | 49.7/km2 (129/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Calling code | 0513 |
| Number of Union councils | 36[1] |
| 0 | |
Gujar Khan (Punjabi/Urdu: گوجر خان)[2] is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, and the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area.[3]
Gujar Khan is approximately 55 kilometres southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan and 220 km to the north west of Lahore, capital of Punjab. It is bounded on the north by Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Attock, on the south by Jhelum, Lahore and Gujrat, on the east by Azad Kashmir and Kahuta and on the west by Chakwal and Khushab.
In recent times the city has seen a rapid increase in population due to its unique location in providing services and materials for surrounding villages in the district, which in turn has developed the city into a centre of commerce for the area, this is evidenced by the many bazaars and market-stalls set up in the city and also by increased investments from national and international companies.
There is a main district hospital in the center of the city, along with many other private and public medical and care services.[4]
History
The place was named after the Gujar.[5] who were the rulers of the Gurjara-Pratihara Kingdom, ruling for centuries during the late classical period.
The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim during this time primarily due to Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region. The Mughal Empire later fell into a deep decline at which point the Sikh Empire invaded and occupied Rawalpindi District. Eventually the Sikh Empire collapsed and the British began direct rule in the region until independence in 1947.
Gujar Khan also contained a notable Hindu and Sikh population, though much of this population either converted to Islam during British rule, or migrated to India following partition.[6] However the area is still home to Hindu temples[7][8] and Sikh Gurdwaras[9][10] which have been maintained through the years by residents of the area.[11]
Administration
Gujar Khan is administratively subdivided into 36 Union Councils; whereas City Gujar Khan is administered by Municipal Corporation [12]
According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the city had a population of 57,099.[13]
Natural resources
Large reserves of oil and gas were discovered in February 2002 at Tobra, about ten kilometres from Gujar Khan. The field is being developed by the Oil and Gas Development Company. The field could produce 1,600 barrels of crude oil daily.[14]
Notable people
See also
References
- ↑ Election Commission of Pakistan. "Zila, Tehsil & Town Councils Membership for Punjab". Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- ↑ Debates: Official Report (in Urdu). Manager of Publications. pp. 199–200. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ↑ Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan. "List of Administrative Units of Pakistan (Tehsil/Taluka)". Archived from the original on 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- ↑ "Hospitals Gujar Khan". Cybo - The Directory. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ↑ Ramesh Chandra Majumdar; Bhāratīya Itihāsa Samiti (1954). The History and Culture of the Indian People: The classical age. G. Allen & Unwin. p. 64.
- ↑ sightsandsoundsofpak (2014-04-22), Pre-Partition "Sikh" House in Sukho Punjab Pakistan (English Translation), retrieved 2016-05-21
- ↑ Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (2015-06-20). "Gulyana: Punjab's crumbling 900-year-old village". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ↑ "The old temple at Beval". www.thefridaytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ↑ sightsandsoundsofpak (2013-12-28), Gurdwara in Sukho Punjab Pakistan, retrieved 2016-05-21
- ↑ sightsandsoundsofpak (2010-05-07), Gurdwara in Daultala Punjab Pakistan, retrieved 2016-05-21
- ↑ "Sikh Gurdwaras in Punjab Province of Pakistan". Sikh Gurus and Sikh Gurdwaras. 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ↑ Towns & Unions in the City District of Rawalpindi
- ↑ "Rawalpindi City District".
- ↑ Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. "Business in Asia". Retrieved 2007-07-02.
