Muzaffargarh District
| ضِلع مُظفّرگڑھ | |
|---|---|
| — District — | |
| Muzaffargarh District | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 30°20′N 71°05′E / 30.333°N 71.083°ECoordinates: 30°20′N 71°05′E / 30.333°N 71.083°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Capital | Muzaffargarh |
| Established | |
| Government | |
| • District Coordination Officer | Ibrar Ahmed |
| • District Police Officer | Zeeshan Asghar |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 3,826,000 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| District Council | |
| Number of Tehsils | 4 |
Muzaffargarh District (Urdu: ضِلع مُظفّرگڑھ) is a district in the south of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Its capital is Muzaffargarh city. It lies on the bank of the Chenab River.
Contents |
Administration [edit]
The district is administratively divided into the following four tehsils (subdivisions), which contain a total of 93 Union Councils:[1]
| Tehsil | No. of Unions |
|---|---|
| Alipur | 14 |
| Jatoi | 16 |
| Kot Addu | 28 |
| Muzaffargarh | 35 |
| Total | 93 |
Language [edit]
Following are the demographics of the Muzafargarh district, by spoken language:
- Punjab local people different dialects: 95%
- Other: 5%
Inhabitants of Muzafargarh District speak a great variety of Punjabi dialects, although few of these dialects are called as separate language “Saraiki”, but because of good and loving nature of people there is no distinction or hate among different dialects and have a mix culture of Great (North and South) Punjab.[2]
- Thalochi (Mainly)
- Majhi or standard (Sizeable population in cities also in newly cultivated areas)
- Raangri (A mixture of Punjabi and Urdu spoken by sizeable population in cities)
- Chinawari/Jhangvi (North Border areas near Khanewal district)
- Derawali (West Border areas near DG khan & Rajan pur districts)
- Multani (East Border areas near Multan district)
- Riyasti (South Border areas near Rahim yar khan district)
Other Languages include:
- Urdu is mother tongue of few people but being national language is spoken and understood by the sizeable population.
- English is also understood and spoken by the educated elite.
- Pashto is also spoken by very few people in the cities.
History [edit]
The Town of Muzaffargarh was founded in 1794 by the Governor of Multan Nawab Muzaffar Khan. The Meaning of Muzaffargarh is "Fort of Muzaffar" because the old town lies inside the walls of a fort built by Nawab Muzaffar Khan of Multan. Prior to that the place was known by a shop called "Musan Hatti", on the road leading from Multan to Dera Ghazi Khan. In 1861 it became the headquarters of Muzaffargarh District.[4] Muzaffargarh spreads over an area of 8,249 km2 and forms a strip between the Chenab River on its east and Indus River on its west, which pass along the Eastern and Western boundaries respectively of the district and a triangle at Alipur tehsil of the district. The district is bounded on the north by district Layyah, on the south by Bahawalpur and Rahimyar Khan districts across the river Chenab. Districts Multan and Khanewal are on the eastern side of district Muzaffargarh, across the river Chenab. District Jhang touches it on the northeast. Dera Gahzi Khan and Rajanpur districts lie on the western side across the river Indus. It is one of oldest districts of Punjab. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the population of the district was 2,635,903, of which 12.75% were urban.[3] Muzaffargarh is one of oldest districts of Punjab. Muzaffargarh was especially hard hit by the 2010 Pakistan floods, given its position between the Chenab and Indus rivers It is spread over an area of 8,249 km2. Muzaffargarh District lies in the strip between the rivers Chenab and Indus.
Geography and climate [edit]
| Muzaffargarh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The city of Muzaffargarh is located in southern Punjab province at almost the exact centre of Pakistan. The closest major city is Multan. The area around the city is a flat, alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many citrus and mango farms. There are many canals that cut across the Muzaffargarh District, providing water from nearby farms. This makes the land very fertile. However usually land close to the Chenab are usually flooded in the monsoon season.
Muzaffargarh features an arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The city witnesses some of the most extreme weather in the country. The highest recorded temperature is approximately 54 °C (129 °F), and the lowest recorded temperature is approximately −1 °C (30 °F). The average rainfall is roughly 127 millimetres (5.0 in). Dust storms are a common occurrence within the city.
Religion [edit]
The population is Muslim, with a Sunni majority and a Shia minority.There are also Christians and Hindus in the city.
Pakistan Standard Time [edit]
Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) is the time zone for Pakistan. It is 5 hours ahead of GMT/UTC (UTC+05:00). Daylight saving time is no longer observed in Pakistan.
Main towns [edit]
The district's towns include Basti Malik Wala,Taliri,Mauza Bahadur Dawana, Dawana Bahadur Peer Rajan Bukhsh, Khangarh, Rohillanwali,Mahrha khas, Rangpur, Gujrat, Mehmood Kot, Sinawan, Thatta Gurmani, ada rind wala,moza Dewala, Daira Din Panah, Chowk Sarwar Shaheed, Shah Jamal, Mahr pur, Baseera, Wasandaywali, Jalwala Pir Amir,Ara Stop,Basti Nawan_dobli Binda Ishaq, Ehsan Pur, Bakaini, Seet Pur Murad Abad, Ghazi Ghaat and Karam Dad Quresh & Douna, Basti dasti Wala, Basti Daood Shah Wala,Shaher Sultan, Kotla Gamoon, Basti jaangla, Chowk permat, Beat Mir hazar, jhugi wala, rampur, kalar wali, Alipur and Jatoi.Gujar chok,
Education [edit]
Although Muzaffargarh is one of the oldest and largest districts of Pakistan by area and population, it still has only a single campus of Virtual University of Pakistan. The literacy rate is one of the lowest in the country[citation needed].
Agriculture [edit]
Wheat, sugarcane and cotton are the main crops grown in the district. Rice, jawar, bajra, moong, mash, masoor, ground nuts, maize and oil seeds such as rape / mustard and sunflower are also grown in minor quantities in the district. Mangoes, dates, citrus and pomegranate are the main fruits grown in the district. Dates, jaman, pears, phalsa and bananas are also grown in minor quantities in the district. Onions, carrots, cauliflower and peas are the main vegetables grown in the district. Ladyfinger, turnips, tomatoes, potatoes, garlic and chillies are also grown in the district in minor quantities.
Forests [edit]
An area of 100,864 acres is forested in the district. There is also linear plantation of 1250 A.V. mile the roads/rails/canals in the district. Trees grown in the area are kikar, shisham, millbury, eucalyptus, bamboo and coconut.
Major industries [edit]
The district's major industries include cotton ginning and pressing, flour mills, jute textile, oil mills, paper/paperboard articles, petroleum products, polypropylene bags, power generation, readymade garments, solvent extraction, sugar, textile composite and textile spinning.
PARCO [edit]
PARCO's Mid-Country Refinery is the country's largest and most complex refinery and employs critical processes involved in refining. Commissioned in the year 2000, PARCO’s 100,000 barrels per day, Mid-Country Refinery (MCR) at Mahmood Kot in Muzaffar Garh, represents about 35% of Pakistan’s refining capacity. It helps substitute import of approximately US$ 100 million per year worth of refined, value-added oil products. The MCR mainly processes crude oil of Upper Zakum from Abu Dhabi and light Arabian crude from Saudi Arabia.
KAPCO [edit]
Kot Addu Power Company Limited (KAPCO) was incorporated in 1996 with the purpose of contributing economic power to the national grid. KAPCO provides services for plant maintenance, availability, quality standards and financial performance. In April 2005 KAPCO was formally listed on all the three Stock Exchanges of Pakistan.
AES Lalpir [edit]
Lal Pir (Pvt.) Limited owns and operates Lal Pir Thermal Power station. It is located in Muzaffargarh.
TPS Muzaffargarh [edit]
The Thermal Power Station Muzaffargarh consists of 3 oil-fired steam-operated units of 210 MW, each with provision of adding another 3 units of same or more capacity.
