Sargodha

Sargodha سرگودھا
—  City  —
Nickname(s): City of Eagles
Sargodha
Coordinates: 32°5′1″N 72°40′16″E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
District	Sargodha
Government
• Administrator
Area
• Total	5,854 km2 (2,260 sq mi)
Population	1,023,000
• Density	455/km2 (1,180/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Calling code	048
Number of towns	7
Number of union councils	22

Sargodha (Urdu: سرگودھا) is a major city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan.

Sargodha is located in the northwest of Pakistan. It is the twelfth largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best citrus-producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries. Sargodha is one of the few planned cities in Pakistan, the other four being Gwadar, Jauharabad, Faisalabad and Islamabad.

Pakistan's largest airbase, PAF Base Mushaf (formerly PAF Base Sargodha), is situated in Sarghoda and hosts the headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force's Central Air Command. The airbase is also home to the Combat Commanders School (CCS), formerly the Fighter Leader's School, an elite training facility for training Pakistan Air Force pilots in fighter tactics and weapons. The city is also home to Sargodha Medical College.

History

The term Sargodha has its origins in the words Sar, meaning pond, and Godha, meaning sadhu.

Sargodha was a small town at the beginning of the British Empire but, due to its geographical location, the British Royal Air Force built an airport there. It took on greater importance after the Independence of Pakistan for the Pakistan Air Force. Shahpur, which is now a tehsil of Sargodha District, was the district at that time. Most parts of the tehsil Sillanwali and Kirana Hills region were part of Jhang district and were included later during the British Raj in the Sargodha district.

The 1965 war with India on September 6, 1965 meant the city was a prime target for India, due to the city's close proximity to the neighbouring rival. The citizens of Sargodha supported the Pakistan Army against the advancing of the Indian Army into Pakistan. In 1966, recognising this bravery, the Government of Pakistan awarded the city of Sargodha as well as Sialkot and Lahore with the award of Hilal-E-Istaqlal.

The city also has a Pakistan Air Force base within its city. The PAF Base Sargodha now known as PAF Base Mushaf, named after the late Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, a former Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. The strategic location of the base has allowed the Air Force to carry out experimental work within the city. It's a defensive city actually due to presence of main AIR FORCE BASE ans its called city of eagles

Demographics

According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the district had a population of 2,665,979, of which 27.96% lived in urban settlements.

Geography and climate

It is located 172 kilometres northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It lies about 30 miles from the M2 motorway, which connects Lahore and Islamabad. It is connected to the M2 by several interchanges at different locations. Sargodha is roughly 94 km from Faisalabad, due southeast. Directly east connected by the M2 motorway are Lahore and the route to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Due east is the city of Jhang; toward the west are the city of Mianwali and the Chashma Barrage. Dera Ismail Khan is located 232 km southwest from the city.

Sargodha mainly comprises flat, fertile plains, although here are a few small hills on the Sargodha-Faisalabad Road. The River Jhelum flows on the western and northern sides, and the River Chenab lies on the eastern side of the city. The city has a climate of extreme heat and cold. The maximum temperature reaches 50 °C (122 °F) in the summer while the minimum temperature recorded is as low as freezing point in the winter.

Government

Sargodha is the capital of Sargodha Tehsil. Until divisions were abolished in the year 2000, Sargodha was the divisional headquarters of Sargodha Division. As of October 2008, the division system in Punjab Province has been restored, and Sargodha became the divisional headquarters of Sargodha District, Khushab District, Mianwali District and Bhakkar District. The city of Sargodha is administratively subdivided into 22 union councils.

Notable landmarks

Notable buildings include Jinnah Hall and Jinnah Library, Government College old building and Trust Plaza. Two notable gardens are Company Bagh (Jinnah Garden) and Rehmatul-il-alameeen Park. Rehman Plaza & Chen One Plaza.

Notable personalities

• Feroz Khan Noon (Former Prime Minister Pakistan)
• Wazir Agha (Urdu Schalaor)
• Hameed Gul (Former ISI Chief)
• Ch. Anwar Ali Cheema (Politician, PML-Q)

Economy

Kinnows (mandarin oranges) are a speciality fruit produced in high amounts in the city.

Sargodha is largely an agricultural and industrial city. The vast fields in the city have allowed the farmers to develop a range of crops and animal breeding programs. Some of the main crops include citrus, wheat, rice, and sugar cane, which are exported to the other cities as well as internationally. Citrus fruits such as oranges (locally known as kinnows) and guavas are the main fruits grown in the district. Jaman, pears, dates, pomegranates, phalsa and almonds are also grown in minor quantities. Turnips, onions, cauliflower, potatoes and tomatoes are the main vegetables grown in the district. The main livestock for the city include goats, sheep, buffaloes and cattle.

Even with agricultural goods being the major income generator for the city as well as the district, the economy and industry has been diversifying itself to generate more demand for other goods which can be manufactured and produced in the city. Other industrial markets include: beverages, manufacture of diesel engines, foundry products, glass products, leather footwear, oil mills, pesticides, insecticides, poultry feed, plastics, readymade garments, tanning and textiles.

Education

Sargodha is home to the University of Sargodha, offering a range of courses from Economics to Medicine. Sargodha Medical College (SMC) is located just outside the city offering not only MBBS but also postgraduate education and training. A new 100 acre state of the art campus has been built recently to accommodate the increasing demand for medical education in the city. Other colleges of the city include Punjab college of science & commerce, ILM college and Superior college.

See also

• Kakazai

External links

• Sargodha Pictures and Information
• CCAPS (City College of Accountancy & Professional Studies)
• SargodhaPost.com - First online newspaper of Sargodha
• Sargodha.com.pk - All about Sargodha
• Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Sargodha
• University of Sargodha