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	Muhmmad Ahmed
Area
• Total	2,367 km^2 (914 sq mi)
Population (2012)
• Total	1,200,000
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Number of Tehsils	2

Hafizabad District (Urdu: ضلع حافظ آباد ‎) is located in Punjab, Pakistan. Hafizabad was made a district in 1991; 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 Rajput, 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,Jahangir Saqi and Hanif Saqi.

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.^[1] 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 Jat Muslim Tarar family was made Sardar of Hafizabad city by the British Government during the mid-19th century. The main population was located where an old church is now located. The area along the Chenab River was also settled by Muslim Jat clans: Bhatti and Chatha Muslim Rajput Khokhar ((Mangatt))and Dhudhi

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 the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Hafizabad. Most of the refugees have since settled and inter-married into the local population.

Hafizabad had always been dominated by the Awan tribe also being the first settlers of the city. Malik Rehmat Khan Awan also the early rulers and a Sufi saint of Hafizabad was one of the reasons that Hafizabad has a great deal of land. Following the dynasty, Malik Fazal Hussain Awan (Late)former Member of National Assembly and one of the most influential figure heads of Hafizabad, Malik Fazal Qadir Awan his younger brother, Malik Fiaz Ahmed Awan Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) son of Malik Fazal Hussain Awan and now Malik Gulnawaz Awan aka Malik Phool Khan Awan are the figure heads of this dynasty and the politics of Hafizabad District.

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.^[2] 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,Vanikay Tarrar, Ramkey Chattha, Burj Dara, Wachoke, Lawaray Kalan,Narianwala Shreef, Shameer Bhattian, Kolo Tarar and Rahgo Syedan. .

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

97% of the population are Muslim, while Christians and Ahmadis represent 2.9% and 0.1%, respectively. Punjabi is the dominant language at 98.7%, while other languages spoken in the district are Urdu (0.9%), Pushto (0.3%) and Siraiki (0.1%).^[2]

Language

The Punjabi is the most spoken language. Urdu is also spoken while English is spoken by the educated elite.

Education

Sub campuses of Sargodha University and Virtual University are established in the city. Hafizabad has many colleges; the most famous are 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, 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

References

1. Hafizabad Town – Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 13, p. 5
2. Punjab Portal
3. Urban Resource Centre (1998 Census)

(( "Aina-i-Hafizabad" by Pt. Hargolal Sharma (Urdu).

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