Multan

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Multan
 General Information
 Country Flag of Pakistan Pakistan
 Province Punjab
 District
 Coordinates 30°12′0″N 71°25′0″E / 30.2°N 71.41667°E / 30.2; 71.41667
 Elevation 710 m (2,329 ft) AMSL
 Area 3,721 km2 (1,437 sq mi)
 Calling code 061
 Time zone PST (UTC+5)
 No. of Towns 3 towns
Makhdoom Rashid
Qadirpur Ran
Basti Maluk [1]
 Population 1,423,919 (2007)
 Density 838/km² (2,170/sq mi)
 Government
 Nazim (Mayor) Mian Faisal Mukhtar
 No. of Union Councils 4 Union Councils
Multan Cantonment
Multan Sadar
Shujabad
Jalalpur Pirwala
 Location
Multan is located in Pakistan
Multan
Multan
Multan (Pakistan)
  
Multan City District Government Website
Area reference
Density reference

Multan_pronunciation.ogg Multan (help·info) (Saraiki, Punjabi: ملتان; Urdu: ملتان) is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province. Multan District has a population of over 3.8 million—according to 1998 census—and the city itself is the sixth largest within the boundaries of Pakistan. It is situated on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about 966 km (600 mi) from Karachi.

Multan is known as the City of Sufis due to the large number of shrines and Sufi saints from the city. The city is full of bazaars, mosques, shrines and ornate tombs.

Contents

[edit] History

Main article: History of Multan
A map dated from 1669 showing Multan

Multan is one of the oldest cities in the Asian subcontinent.[citation needed] It was the capital of the Trigarta Empire at the time of the Mahabharata war, ruled by the Katoch Dynasty. Multan has had various names over the years, originally Kashtpur (Kashyapapura)after the great Hindu sage Kashyap, this is also the Gorta used by the Katoch dynasty then Hanspur (Hamsapura), Bagpur (Vegapura), Sanb or Sanahpur (Sambapura)[1][2]. Its current name is derived from the Sanskrit name Mulasthana (also Mitrasthana) named after a sun temple.[3][4] Multan has frequently been a site of conflict due to its location on a major invasion route between South Asia and Central Asia. It is believed to have been visited by Alexander the Great.[citation needed] In the mid-5th century, the city was attacked by a group of nomads led by Toraman.

In 7th century during Amir Muavia's period, his one commander Mohlab in 664 captured Multan but it was not permanent.In the 8th century, Multan was conquered along with Sindh by Banu Ummaya the army of Muhammad bin Qasim from the local ruler Chach. Following bin Qasim's conquest, the city was securely under Muslim rule, although it was in effect an independent state and most of the subjects were non-Muslim.

In 1005 CE (396 AH), the ruler of Multan, Abool Futteh Dawood, rebelled against the rule of Mahmud of Ghazni. When Abool heard of the approach of Mahmud from Ghazni, he solicited the aid of his ally Anandpal, the successor of Jaipal; who—true to his alliance—detached the greater part of his army to oppose Mahmud in Peshawar. [5] Multan's location at the entrance to the sub-continent resulted in it being invaded by a long series of conquerors on their way to Delhi. Timur, Babur and many others passed through the city leaving much destruction in their wake.

Following annexation to Mughal empire in 1557 CE, at the beginning of emperor Akbars rule[6]; Multan enjoyed 200 years of peace, and became known as Dar al-Aman (Abode of Peace). Akbar was known as a wise ruler, setting reasonable taxes, creating effective government and being tolerant of religious differences.

Multan witnessed difficult times as Mughal rule declined in early 1700s, starting after death of emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. Persia was united under Nader Shah, ruling from 1736 as Shah of Iran. After his assasination in 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani—who was orignially born in Multan—rose to power. This counts as beginning of Durrani Empire. However, after death of Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1772, the influence of Durrani empire declined sharply in mere fifty years. Starting at late in 1700s, Multan was ruled locally by the Pashtun Sadozai and Khakwani chieftains.

In 1817, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent a body of troops to Multan under the command of Diwan Bhiwani Das to receive from Nawab Muzaffar Khan the tribute he owed to the Sikh Darbar. Bhiwani Das laid siege to the city, but failed to capture Multan. Maharaja Ranjit Singh planned a fresh expedition and sent a strong force under his son Kharak Singh's charge. [7]

In 1818, Kharak Singh's armies lay around Multan without making much initial headway. Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent a large cannon named Zamzama along with Akali Phula Singh's Nihang regiment. The Zamzama was fired with effect and the gates of the city were blown in. Akali Phula Singh made a sudden rush and took the garrison by surprise. The Nawab stood in his way resolved to fight to death. Prince Kharak Singh left Jodh Singh Khalsa with 600 men to guard the fort of Multan.[8] The Sikhs thereafter ruled Punjab until 1849, losing it to the British in the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Multan had a significant Sikh population and influence until the Partition of India in 1947.

However, Sikh rule would not last long, as the British were eventually provoked into checking the Sikh strength in Punjab. After a long and bloody battle, Multan was made part of the British Raj. During this time, Sardar Karan Narain's son became an icon during the British Raj and was awarded titles 'Rai Bahadur' and Knighted 'Sir' by Her Majesty. The British built some rail routes to the city, but its industrial capacity was never developed.

Upon Pakistan's independence in 1947, Multan became part of the Punjab province. It initially lacked industry, hospitals and universities. Since then, there has been some industrial growth, and the city's population is continually growing. But the old city continues to be in a dilapidated state, and many monuments wear the effects of the warfare that has visited the city.

[edit] Geography and climate

Climate chart for Multan
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
7.2
 
21
5
 
 
9.5
 
23
8
 
 
20
 
29
14
 
 
13
 
36
20
 
 
9.8
 
40
24
 
 
12
 
42
29
 
 
61
 
39
29
 
 
33
 
38
28
 
 
11
 
37
25
 
 
1.7
 
35
18
 
 
2.3
 
29
11
 
 
6.9
 
23
6
average temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm
source: World Meteorological Organization

The city of Multan is located in southern Punjab province at almost the exact centre of Pakistan. The closest major city is Sahiwal. The area around the city is a flat plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many citrus and mango farms. There are many canals that cut across the Multan District, providing water from nearby rivers.

During summertime, temperatures may reach 54 °C (129 °F), and in the winter −1 °C (30.2 °F) has been recorded. Dusty winds blow in the summer.

[edit] Demographics

The majority of Multan's residents speak Saraiki, while Haryanvi is the second most spoken language. A good portion of the people are conversant in Urdu. English is understood by the educated.

The majority of the people are Muslims.

Multan has traditionally been a melting pot of several distinct ethnic groups due to its location at the intersection of all four of Pakistan's main provinces and due to its historical significance as a centre of learning and culture. As a result, Multan today consists of Saraiki, Haryanvi, Punjabi, Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhi, and Urdu-speaking Muhajirs who arrived at the time of independence in 1947.

As per the 1998 census of Pakistan, the following are the demographics of the district, by spoken language:

[edit] Administration

Since the introduction of the local government system in 2001 the city has been governed by a Nazim (Mayor).

[edit] Economy

Local billboards in Multan
Mango's form a large portion of Multan's agricultural export market

Multan is a commercial and industrial centre, as it is connected with the rest of the country through rail and air including the other industrial hubs such as Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Faisalabad. Industries include fertilizer, cosmetics, glass manufacturing, cotton production and processing, large textile units, flour mills, sugar and oil mills and large-scale power generation projects. It is famous for its handicrafts (carpets & ceramics) and cottage industries.

Large, irregular suburbs have grown outside the old walled town, and two satellite towns have been set up. Mangoes of Multan district are well known. Multani khussa (traditional shoes), embroidery on dresses for women and men, furniture and other wooden products, earthenware pottery, painted pottery, camel-skin ware, surgical instruments and carpets are a few of the city's major export items with a great demand within the country as well.

Multan is an important agricultural, industrial and tourist centre. Wheat, cotton and sugarcane are the main crops grown in the district. Moreover, rice, maize, tobacco, bajra, moong (lentils), mash (lentils), masoor (lentils), oil seed such as rape, mustard and sunflower are also grown in minor quantities in the district. Mangoes, citrus, guavas and pomegranate are the main fruits grown in the Multan district. Additionally, dates, jaman, pears, phalsa and bananas are grown in minor quantities in the district.

There are hospitals, public gardens, and several colleges affiliated with the University of the Punjab.

[edit] Educational institutions

Main article: List of educational institutions in Multan

In 1950, then-Governor Abdur Rub Nishtar founded Nishter Medical College. Doctor graduates of this institution have spread across the world, and many have become established names in the field of medicine. Bahauddin Zakariya University formerly known as Multan University and University of the Punjab are the main sources of higher education for this region.

[edit] Sites of interest

 The lists in this article may contain items that are not notable, encyclopedic, or helpful. Please help out by removing such elements and incorporating appropriate items into the main body of the article. (July 2009)
The Multan Municipal Corporation Clock Tower
King's Mosque (also referred as Eid Gah Mosque)
Side view of the Shah Rukn-I-Alam mausoleum
A Sikh Gurdwara located in central Multan
There are various old heritage building still remaining in the old city of Multan
A food market in the heart of Multan

[edit] Notable people from Multan

[edit] References

  1. ^ Singh, Fauja. "History of the Punjab: Pre-historic times to age of Asoka". Pg.41. Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=7E1XAAAAMAAJ&q=Kasyapapura&dq=Kasyapapura&ei=jlQlSu28IJOUzATm_b33Bg&pgis=1. Retrieved on 02-06-2009. 
  2. ^ Sircar, D.C.. "Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India". Pg.52. Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=AqKw1Mn8WcwC&pg=PA52&dq=Hamsapura&ei=B1clSum5Ap2EyASgnJSEBw. Retrieved on 02-06-2009. 
  3. ^ Multān City - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 18, p. 35.
  4. ^ Hindu History BY Akshoy K Majumdar Published by Rupa and CO PAGE 54
  5. ^ Ferishta translated by John Briggs Vol 1 Page 21
  6. ^ [|Beck, Sanderson]. "Mughal Conquest of India 1526-56". INDIA & Southeast Asia to 1800. http://www.san.beck.org/2-9-MughalEmpire1526-1707.html. Retrieved on 11-06-2009. 
  7. ^ p 80-81 Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Last to Lay Arms: The Last to Lay Arms (2001) By Kartar Singh Duggal Published by Abhinav publications, ISBN 8170174104, 9788170174103
  8. ^ Harbans Singh "The Heritage of the Sikhs"

[edit] External links

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