Faisalabad

Faisalabad فیصل آباد Lyallpur
Metropolitan City / Divisional Capital
Country	Pakistan
Region	Punjab
District	Faisalabad District
Former Name	Lyallpur
Official Language	Urdu
Native Language	Punjabi
First settled	1892
Founded by	Sir Charles James Lyall
Government
• Type	City District
• Body	Faisalabad District
• DCO	Noor-ul-Amin Mengal
Area
• Metropolitan City / Divisional Capital	1,300 km2 (490 sq mi)
• Land	840 km2 (325 sq mi)
• Water	430 km2 (165 sq mi)
• Metro	5,860 km2 (2,261 sq mi)
Elevation	184 m (605 ft)
Population  (2014)	7,480,765
• Rank	3rd, Pakistan
• Density	927/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym	Faisalabadi
Time zone	UTC+5 (Pakistan (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC+4 (PST)
ZIP code(s)	38000
Area code	041
Vehicle registration	Three letters beginning with F and random four numbers (e.g. FDA 1234)
Website	www.faisalabad.gov.pk

Faisalabad /fɑːɪsɑːlˌbɑːd/, formerly Lyallpur, is the third most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore. It is the second largest city in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center. It was one of the first planned cities within British India. Pricewaterhouse Coopers has projected Faisalabad's GDP to be around USD $87 billion by 2025. The city is also referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan". Faisalabad contributes over 20% to Pakistan's GDP.

Faisalabad is home to the University of Agriculture, Government College University as well as the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute and National Textile University. The city has its own cricket team, Faisalabad Wolves, which is based at the Iqbal Stadium. There are several other sports teams that compete internationally, including hockey and snooker as well as other sporting events.

The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the lower Chenab River, produces cotton, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables and fruits. The city is an industrial centre with major railway repair yards, engineering works, and mills that process sugar, flour, and oil seed. Faisalabad is a major producer of superphosphates, cotton and silk textiles, hosiery, dyes, industrial chemicals, beverages, apparels, pulp and paper, printing, agricultural equipment, and ghee (clarified butter). The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry monitors industrial activity in the city and reports their findings to the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and provincial government. The city also has a major dry port and international airport.

History

The first university was built by the British Empire in 1906 with the fountain stone laying ceremony being laid by Sir Louis Dane, the then Lieut, and Governor of the Punjab.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah, in Lyallpur where he gave an historic speech at Dhobi Ghat. Circ 1943

One of the earlier industrial exhibition at the University of Agriculture which is still a major exhibition held in the city today, Circ 1949

Toponymy

The name Lyallpur traces its origins back to the reign of the British Raj. The British decided to name the city after the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall. The name was coined by combining the surname of the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Lyall, with "Pur" which is derived from old Sanskrit language meaning "city". In the late 1970s, the Government of Pakistan changed the name of the city from Lyallpur to "Faisalabad" (meaning City of Faisal), in honor of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who made several financial contributions to Pakistan.

Early settlements

According to the University of Faisalabad, the city known today as Faisalabad traces its origins to the 18th century when the land was inhabited by a number of tribes living in a forestation environment. It is believed these early settlements belonged to the ancient districts of Jhang and Sandalbar, which included the area between Shahdara to Shorekot and Sangla Hill to Toba Tek Singh.

Colonial rule

It was not until the victory over the Sikh Empire during the Second Anglo-Sikh War on the 22 February 1849 that the region found its place on the map. The fall of the Sikh Empire lead to the area being governed by the British East India Company. It was in 1880 that Captain Poham Young C.I.E, a British colonial officer, proposed the construction of a new strategic town within the area. The proposed town was put forward for approval to the Governor of Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall. Lyall worked with Young to develop one of the first planned towns of British India. The design was based on the Union Jack, with eight roads extending from a a large clock tower at its epicentre. The eight roads developed into eight separate bazaars (markets) leading to different regions of the Punjab.

In 1892, the British Empire decided to add this newly constructed town to its rail network. In 1895 the railway line was completed allowing trains to run to Wazirabad in the north. It was also within the same year that the British Empire decided to name the newly constructed town after Sir James Lyall for his services in the colonisation of the lower Chenab valley. In 1896, Lyallpur was given the status of a tehsil of the Jhang District, and its administration was carried out in the Theh (mound) of Pucca Mari (present day Tariqabad). The clock tower and water fountain (known as Gumti) were constructed from the funds raised by the largest landlord, the Mian family of Abdullahpur.

In 1903, an agricultural college was founded, which is known today as the University of Agriculture. In 1904 the new district of Lyallpur was constituted, composed of the tehsils of Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba Tek Singh, with a subtehsil at Jaranwala which later became a full tehsil in itself. By 1906, the district headquarters began to function in Lyallpur and all the bazaars and settlements within the bounds of a ring road were nearing completion. The Town Committee was upgraded to a Municipal Committee in 1909 and the Deputy Commissioner was appointed as its first chairman. The Chenab Club was established in 1910 by Captain Dugglis. In the 1930s the industry gained momentum with the inauguration of the Lyallpur Cotton Mills (in 1934). This was soon followed by more industrial mills relating to cotton where basic textiles being constructed. There were also expansions in the food processing, grain crushing and chemicals industries too. In 1943, Mohammad Ali Jinnah visited Lyallpur and addressed a gathering of over 2 million in Dhobi Ghat Grounds. This was inline with the Pakistan movement who were fighting for the creation of an independent Muslim nation.

Independence

It was not until 1947 that the British decided to divide India. This led to the creation of Pakistan resulting in Lyallpur falling under a new government. This led to a number of Hindus and Sikhs migrating to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the district. It was documented that the Muslim refugees hailed from East Punjab, Haryana and Kashmir. It was agreed that the new arrivals would be given land within the district to start a new life.

Now no longer under British rule, the city saw considerable development and expansion due to government policies that promoted industrialisation and green revolution technologies. In 1977, the name of the city was changed to "Faisalabad", after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. During the eighties, the city saw heavy foreign investment. More Faisalabadis began working abroad as bilateral ties improved within the new dominon. This led to more monetary funds returning to the city that aided the development of the region. In 1985, the city was upgraded as a division with the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.

Today, Faisalabad's economy has continued to grow with the help of new infrastructure and a new motorway linking it with the rest of Pakistan. The city is also constructing a new expressway that will link Faisalabad to Multan (in the south) via the M4, and Islamabad (in the north) via M3. The airport was also inspected by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority in April 0215 to prepare it for international operations.

Faisalabad has become the third largest city in Pakistan. The District Government has been working with The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries to manage the development and bring economic growth to the city. The Faisalabad Development Authority, a government body, that looks over the planned development, is involved in several projects to meet the Faisalabad Urban Structure Plan of 2035.

Government and public services

Faisalabad, a City-District with 8 subdivisions

Lyallpur Town Madina Town Jinnah Town Iqbal Town Chak Jhumra Town Jaranwala Town Samundri Town Tandlianwala Town

Civic administration

The city of Faisalabad is governed by the City District Government, chaired by the district coordination officer (DCO) Noor ul Amin Mangal. The City District Government is made up eight departments who all report into the District Coordination Officer. The departments consist of the following: Finance and Planning, Community Development, Education, Healthcare, Municipal Services, Works and Services, Building Control and Agriculture. The role of the City District Government is to approve all major plans for the city and district. These include the approval of master urban plans, zoning plans, land use planning (which involves the classification and reclassification of the land), environmental control, urban design and ecological effects of the city. The government also tasks with the review of the rules and by-laws in place in regard to the land, housing, zoning, roads, traffic, tax, infrastructure and utilities.

Tehsil Municipal Administration

In 2005, Faisalabad was reorganised as a City-District composed of eight Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMA). The functions of the TMA include preparation of the spatial and land use plans, management of these development plans and exercise of control over land use, land sub-division, land development and zoning by public and private sectors, enforcement of municipal laws, rules and by-laws, provision and management of water, drainage waste and sanitation along with allied municipal services.

Union councils

There are 118 union councils in Faisalabad. Their role is to collect and maintain statistical information for socio-economic surveys. They consolidate ward neighbourhood development needs and prioritize these into union-wide development proposals. The council also identifies any deficiencies in the delivery of these services and makes recommendations for improvement to the TMA.

Faisalabad Development Authority

The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) is an institution established in 196, under the Development of Cities Act of 1975 to regulate, supervise and implement development activities in its jurisdiction area. The FDA acts as a policy-making body for the development of the city and is in charge of arranging and supervising major developments within the city. It is responsible for the administration of building regulations, management of parks and gardens and subsoil water management. The FDA works with WASA to control and maintain the water supply, sewerage and drainage. The FDA also works to improve conditions in the slums.

Healthcare

Health care services are provided to the citizens by both public and private sector hospitals. The government run hospitals are Allied Hospital, District HQ Hospital, PINUM Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC) and General Hospitals in Ghulam Muhammadabad and Samanabad. There are also a number of private hospitals, clinics and laboratories in the city,notably Al-Rahmat labs , Mujahid Hospital lab, National Hospital lab & Agha Khan lab. The City District Government also has a number of basic health units, rural health centres and dispensaries to provide care for its people in the rural parts of the district. During 2014, Faisalabad Division Commissioner Captain Nasim Nawaz announced Rs 1bn was being spent on building a new children's hospital in Faisalabad, which he claimed would be the second largest children's hospital in the world.

Emergency services

Law enforcement in Faisalabad is carried out by City Police Faisalabad, whose headquarters are located at the CPO Office, District Court Faisalabad. Police Formations consist of District Police, Elite Police, Traffic Police, Punjab Highway Patrolling, Investigation Branch and Special Branch. Fire and rescue services in Faisalabad are provided by Faisalabad Fire Brigade and emergency medical care by Edhi Ambulances and Rescue 1122.

Water supply and sanitation

The Water and Sanitation Agency, commonly known as WASA, which is a subsidiary of Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), was established on 23 April 1978 under the Development of Cities Act 1976. It is estimated that WASA provides about 72% of the city with sewerage services and about 60% with water services. The existing production capacity of WASA is 65 million gallons per day, almost all of which is drawn from wells located in the old beds of the Chenab river. From the wells, water is pumped to a terminal reservoir located on Sargodha Road. Water is normally supplied for a total of about 8 hours per day to the majority of the city. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has also provided financial and hardware equipment to help improve the water and sanitation conditions in the city.

Geography

Scope

Faisalabad stands in the rolling flat plains of northeast Punjab, between longitude 73°74 East, latitude 30°31.5 North, with an elevation of 184 metres (604 ft) above sea level. The proper city covers an area of approximately 1,230 square kilometres (470 sq mi), while the district covers more than 16,000 square kilometres (6,200 sq mi). The Chenab rier flows about 30 km in the north west while the Ravi meanders about 40 km off the city in the south east. The lower Chenab canal is the main source of irrigation meeting the requirements of 80% of cultivated land. There are no natural boundaries between Faisalabad and adjoining districts. Faisalabad is bound on the north by Chiniot and Sheikhupura, on the east by Sheikhupura and Sahiwal, on the south by Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh and on the west by Jhang.

Geology

The district of Faisalabad is part of the alluvial plains between the Himalayan foothills and the central core of the Indian subcontinent. The alluvial deposits are typically over a thousand feet thick. The scalloped interfluves are believed to have been formed during the Late Pleistocene and feature flat-topped river terraces. These were later identified as old and young floodplains of the River Ravi on the Kamalia and Chenab Plains. The old floodplains consist of Holocene deposits from the River Ravi and Chenab.

The soil consists of young stratified silt loams or very fine sand loams which gave the subsoil a very weak structure with common kankers at only five feet. The course of the rivers within Faisalabad are winding and often subject to frequent alternations. In the rainy season, the currents are very strong. This leads to high floods in certain areas which do last for a number of days. The Rakh and Gogera canals have encouraged the water levels in the district however the belt on the river ravi has remained narrow. The river bed does include the river channels which have shifted the sand bars and low sandy levees leading to river erosion.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Faisalabad

Faisalabad has a hot desert climate (BWh) in Köppen-Geiger classification. The climate of the district can see extremes, with a summer maximum temperature 50 °C (122 °F) and a winter temperature of −2 °C (28 °F). The mean maximum and minimum temperature in summer are 39 °C (102 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F) respectively. In winter it peaks at around 17 °C (63 °F) and 6 °C (43 °F) respectively.

The summer season starts from April and continues until October. May, June and July are the hottest months. The winter season starts from November and continues until March. December, January and February are the coldest months. The average yearly rainfall lies only at about 300mm (12 in) and is highly seasonal with approximately half of the yearly rainfall in the two months July and August.

Climate data for Faisalabad
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	19.4 (66.9)	22.4 (72.3)	27.3 (81.1)	33.8 (92.8)	48.9 (120.0)	49.5 (121.1)	42.3 (108.1)	40.3 (104.5)	36 (97)	33.6 (92.5)	27.5 (81.5)	21.8 (71.2)	33.6 (92.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	11.9 (53.4)	14.9 (58.8)	19.9 (67.8)	25.9 (78.6)	31.1 (88.0)	34 (93)	32.3 (90.1)	31.6 (88.9)	30.1 (86.2)	25.6 (78.1)	18.9 (66.0)	13.7 (56.7)	24.2 (75.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	4.4 (39.9)	7.4 (45.3)	12.6 (54.7)	18.1 (64.6)	23.3 (73.9)	27.4 (81.3)	27.4 (81.3)	26.9 (80.4)	24.2 (75.6)	17.6 (63.7)	10.4 (50.7)	5.7 (42.3)	17.1 (62.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	14 (0.6)	15 (0.6)	21 (0.8)	14 (0.6)	13 (0.5)	26 (1.0)	102 (4.0)	91 (3.6)	33 (1.3)	6 (0.2)	3 (0.1)	8 (0.3)	346 (13.6)
Source: Climate-Data.org, altitude: 188m

Architecture

The architecture of the city reflects upon the different empires that have governed the region. There are buildings dating back to the time of the Mughal, Sikh and British Empire, whose style is a mixture of Victorian and Islamic architecture. Today the most famous monuments include the Clock Tower, Gumti Water Fountain, Qaisery Gate and Lyall Monument, which were all commissioned during the time of the British Empire. Reflecting upon the Mughal structures of Lahore such as the Badshahi Mosque and Tomb of Jahangir the city has built several modern mosques based on these designs. Sunni Rizvi Jamia Mosque in the old city was comissioned in the colonial era and Masjid Quba on Canal Road were built using the same red bricks by the city district government. The Lyallpur Museum was also inspired by the red brick work on the Badshahi Mosque.

The colonial built clock tower at the centre of the eight bazaars blends a mixture of colonial and islamic and hindu architecture, also referred to as Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture. The photographs below show the tower in its current form. Notice, the Sanskrit inspcrtion plaque still at the entrace. The marble work on the doors represent classical Islamic geometric patterns.

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At the time of the British Empire, a large Sikh population was based in the city. One of the oldest Gurdwaras based in the old city is a prime example of Sikh architecture. The facade is painted in a classical orange and white which a prominent colour on the Khalsa flag. However, the facade at the top is a prime example of Mughal architecture as the shapes depict the domes of a mosque.

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Demographics

A Mughal inspired mosque in the old city. The majority of the population are Muslim however the is a significant Christian community.

A Sikh Gurdwara constructed during the reign of the British Empire in 1911 still exists as a school within the old city.

Faisalabad was established as one of the first planned towns of British India covering an area of 3 sq. kilometres. Initially it was designed for twenty thousand people, however, as the land was very fertile and a thriving centre for trading people people from rural areas moved to the city. The population doubled at the time of independence as a result of immigration of refugees from India. Furthermore, the industrial revolution of the 1960s changed the population drastically. In 1961 the population was 425,248.

The city of Faisalabad carried out a census in March 1981 which showed its population was 1,092,000, indicating that the growth rate of the city is only 3.37 percent per annum. In April 1981 the survey was carried out again which recorded the population to 1,232,000 which made the growth rate approximately 4.6%. Given this growth rate, the population at the end of 1981 was estimated to be 1,240,000.

The emergence of Faisalabad as a major agriculture and industrial center created a great increase in the city's population. From a population of 69,930 in 1941, it rose to 179,000 in 1951, an increase of 152.2%. This was mainly due to the settlement of Muslim refugees from East Punjab and Haryana who came from India. The population rose to a future figure of 425,248 in 1961, an increase of 137.4%. Faisalabad set a record in the demographic history of Pakistan by registering an overall population increase of 508.1% between 1941 and 1961. This record has never been matched by the largest city of Pakistan.

Religion and ethnic groups

The majority religion is Islam, making up 98.0% of the city with small minorities of Christians (1.8%) and others (0.2%), mainly Sikhs and Ahmadis. The majority of Muslims belong to Sunni, Hanafi, and Barelvi schools of thought with a minority of Shiites. The main ethnic groups in the district are Jatts(Gill), Arain, Sheikh, Malik, Baloch, Rajput, Bodla, Chishti, Dhudhi, Hans, Johiya, Kathia, Syed, Khagga, Kharal, Khichi, Langrial, Syal, Waince, Tarohly (Jats), and Wattu.

Languages

Further information: Punjabi dialects

According to the 1999 census of Pakistan, Punjabi language is spoken by 87% of the population. Faisalabad being the second largest city of Punjab province, exhibits a great variety of Punjabi dialects spoken by the people of different districts living in the city.

• Majhi, spoken by the majority
• Rangri, Haryanvi
• Pothohari
• Dhani
• Shapuri
• Jhangochi
• Rachnavi
• Chenavari
• Thalochi
• Hindko
• Chhachi
• Jandali
• Multani/Saraiki
• Derawali
• Riasti
• Ghebi
• Dogri/Darhab

• Urdu being the national language is also spoken and understood by most of the population and primarily used as a second language.
• English is also understood and spoken by a sizeable segment of the educated population.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Faisalabad

The eight bazaars remain a major trading centre in the city. It is made up of eight bazaars where local grown produce is bought and sold.

File:Chamber Of Commerce and Industries.jpg

The FCCI, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries monitors the economy and puts forward recommendations to the government.

Metro Cash & Carry, first foreign supermarket in Faisalabad.

Rural plains within the outer regions remain fertile due to irrigation systems developed by the British Empire

File:Faisalabad Airport - PIA 737-300 taxi.jpg

Aviation policy now allows more foreign airlines to operate to Faisalabad.

A PricewaterhouseCoopers study released in 2009, surveying the 2008 GDP of the top cities in the world, calculated Faisalabad's GDP (PPP) at $45 billion. The city was third in Pakistan behind Karachi and Lahore. Faisalabad's GDP is projected to rise to $67 billion in 2025. According to the 2010 World Bank's Doing Business Report, Faisalabad was ranked as the best place do to business in Pakistan and the second best location, after Islamabad, to start a business in.

Faisalabad is known as the centre textile industry in Pakistan. The textile industry of Faisalabad constitutes more than 65% of the textile export market of Pakistan, which itself forms 58% of total exports from Pakistan. This makes Faisalabad's share of total exports from Pakistan more than 40%. Reports by The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCI) showed that exports of locally manufactured machinery (such as auto looms, towel machinery and wheat threshers) to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and some parts of Africa were particularly high.

The Faisalabad clock tower and its eight bazaars (markets) are still a major trading zone in the city today. Each of the eight bazaars has a special name and is known for selling certain goods;

• Katchery Bazaar, named for the court (Katchery) is known for its mobile phone and accessory market.
• Rail Bazar is a gold and cloth market.
• Bhawana Bazaar supplies electrical and electronic goods.
• Jhang Bazaar supplies fish, meat, vegetables and fruits.
• Aminpur Bazaar supplies stationery and interior décor.
• Kharkhana Bazaar is known for herbal medicines.
• Gol Bazaar contains dry fruit, as well as wholesale soap, oil, and ghee shops.
• Chiniot Bazaar is famous for allopathic and homeopathic medicinal stores, cloth, blankets, sofa cloth, and curtains. It also has poultry feed wholesale shops.
• Montgomery Bazaar (also known as Sutar Mandi) is known for yarn and raw cloth trading.

Faisalabad also has large industries in the manufacturing of sugar, fertilizer, chemical, steel, rubber, leather tanning, vegetable ghee, and paints. A detailed breakdown by The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries revealed that there are 25 ginning units, 73 spinning units, 35 weaving units, 254 processing units, 27 textile made ups, 6 sugar units, 110 foundry units, 53 rice mills, 59 soap industries, 38 flour mills and 25 confectioneries. Faisalabad is also another exporter of traditional arts and crafts. The city is known for its hand-woven clothes and wood carving. Other traditional products produced in Faisalabad include handbags, carpets, rugs, and lace.

The Faisalabad Industrial Estate developed by the Punjab Small Industries Corporation covers an area of over 244 acres. A total of 1019 plots were built of which 80% are currently occupied today. Two further industrial estates, VAC and FIC are currently under construction and due to be opened soon.

Faisalabad Dry Port started operations on an experimental basis in 1994, which export and import 33,000 export containers and 5,500 import containers per annum. Cargo is expeditiously cleared by customs at the dry port prior to unloading. An on-line tracking facility has also been provided to customers by installing trackers in the Dry Port’s registered vehicles. The Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) has established its office at The Dry Port to evaluate the customs duty and automation of import and export data of customs. The port was constructed on Jumhra Road. Export items include cotton yarn, grey fabrics, shoes/leather products, textile made ups, garments and bed sheets whilst import items include mineral fuel oil, RBD palm oil, textile machinery parts, chemicals, auto spare parts, and vehicles.

Within the banking sector, there are 45 commercial banks (including Islamic banks) licensed by State Bank of Pakistan to operate within the city of Faisalabad. There are also an additional 30 specialised banks, including Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank and micro-finance banks. As agricultural exports are a major exporter the bank systems within the city offer a package known as "farm credit" to help businesses generate capital. In addition to banking, the insurance market has also grown exponentially in the city. This has led to a number of branches and firms setting up in the city, including State Life Insurance, Eastern federal Union Insurance, Jubilee Insurance and AIG Insurance.

As the economy has shown signs of improving within Pakistan due to various micro and macro economic policies, the wealth of the city has also known signs of growth. Development of international brands are also on the rise. In the late nineties, Faisalabad saw the rise of branded outlets and malls springing up. Fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, KFC, Burger King and Subway all have been very successful in the city. With more foreign investment being made in the city, there has been a rise of shopping malls and housing schemes to tailor the growing needs of the population.

Faisalabad has also received heavy investment from the Government of Punjab and the City District Government. The District Government is working with the National Highway Authority to connect Multan and Faisalabad. The construction of the M4 is planned to be completed in the next three years. Section One was inaugurated on 16 March 2015 which has linked the city to Gojra.

To deal with the energy crisis, the FCCI has been working with private companies to develop renewable energy resources such as solar energy and the building of dams within the district. German renewable energy company CAE plans to invest more than €100 million (Rs12.9 billion) in setting up the first solar panel manufacturing facility in Faisalabad and the second of its kind in Asia.

Transport

The M3 interchange connecting the M2 and M4 is an important junction for the city where it connects the north and south of the country.

Faisalabad Railway Station

Faisalabad International Airport is one of the top ten international airport in the country for air travel.

There are many ways to get in and around Faisalabad. Public transport in Faisalabad is diverse, ranging from auto-rickshaws, buses, railways. There are the plans to construct a new metro bus system to ease congestion in the city. An international airport on the outskirts of the city operates flights to the Middle East.

Road

The National Highway Authority has rebuilt and improved the standards of roads to meet international standards and improve logistical networks for freight companies. There are many highways under the control of the National Highway Authority, linking Faisalabad with other cities of the country. The M3 access-controlled motorway connects Faisalabad with the motorway M2 near Pindi Bhattian which furthermore connects with Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Lahore. Furthermore, motorway M4 is also under construction which will connect Faisalabad to Multan. An additional canal expressway is also under construction between Faisalabad and Lahore, Sheikhupura and Mananwala which will reduce travelling time by thirty minutes. The city is connected with Sargodha by a highway known as the Sargodha-Faisalabad Expressway.

The newly furnished Grand Trunk Road, otherwise known as GT Road, is a highway that links Faisalabad to most parts of Pakistan as well as neighbouring countries. GT Road was the main highway that ran through the district, however, with the opening of the motorway M3 and M4 the majority of the traffic has shifted. A proposal has been put forward for the construction of a ring road on the outskirts of the city.

Bus

The Faisalabad Urban Transport System Service (FUTS) is the main bus operator within the city. Launched in 1994, they operate a number of large CNG buses and smaller Toyota hiace vans connecting the majority of the city. The Federal and Provincial Government are planning to build a Metrobus service similar to the one in operation in Lahore and Islamabad. There is another public-private run bus operator, Brothers Metro, a consortium between the government of Punjab and a private firm who operate a fleet of air-conditioned CNG buses.

Coach

Being at a road and rail junction, the city is very well connected by several coach companies that offer inter-city travel to practically all parts of Pakistan. Several bus operators offer quick services to the provincial capital, Lahore, as well as Islamabad, Jhang, Multan, Peshawar, Karachi and several smaller localities. The newly inducted Korean Daewoo and German MAN coaches have proven to be highly successful. The city bus terminal is located on Station Road which is home to a number of privately-run coach services. Some of the most popular ones are Bilal Daewoo Express, Khan Brothers Flying Coach, Niazi Express and Kohistan Bus Services. The bus stand has undergone a recently renovation to beautify the area. Etihad Airways also launched a dedicated coach service for its passengers travelling from the city to Lahore Airport.

Rail

The Faisalabad railway station was built in 1896 during the reign of the British. Today there are connections available to Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Quetta and Peshawar. Pakistan Railways also has a special cargo facility in Faisalabad for shifting of goods from the city to other regions of Pakistan. The major import and export through the railway cargo is salt from Khewra Mines and final textile goods from and to Karachi respectively.

Air

Faisalabad International Airport is approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city centre and is a major transit point for exporting goods to other parts of Pakistan and abroad. As of August 2014 passenger flights are run by Pakistan International Airlines, and Shaheen Air. Flights are mostly domestic and some international destinations are available from the airport. Major flying within Pakistan is towards Karachi and Multan, whereas major international destinations are Dubai, Jeddah and Glasgow (suspended). In March 2015, Qatar Airways announced direct flights from Doha to Faisalabad, making it the first international airline to launch operations to the city. On 1 June 2015 Air Arabia announced that they will operate thrice a week service from Sharjah and Faisalabad from 18 September 2015. On the 15 June 2015, Flydubai announced daily flights to Faisalabad from the 10 July 2015 with an increase to nine a week from August 3. On 26 November 2015, the Pakistan CAA announced an expansion of the current airport to meet growing demand.

Culture

Main article: List of places in Faisalabad

The Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium is home of the Faisalabad Arts Council where the annual literacy and poetry festivals take place.

The Chenab Club is a social club built in 1904 and was inaugurated by British Officer Henry Cues. It was the first such club in the city.

D Ground is a major commercial area in the city which is home to a number of high street outlets and restaurants.

McDonalds, one of Faisalabad's first international restaurants

Faisalabad is the second largest city in the province of Punjab. It is an epicenter for trade and has gained much popularity for its colonial heritage sites. The city established its arts council in 1982, now housed at the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Arts Auditorium, and its museum in 2011.

Literature and film

Being a relatively small town pre-independence, there were a number of writers and poets who migrated to India during the war of independence. Post independence, with more focus on economic and industrial polices, the literacy rate suffered during the 1980s with only 40% of the population being literate. It was not until the early 1990s that the city's efforts focused more on education which resulted in increased enrollment in higher education. By 2008, the literacy rate had risen to 70%. In 2014, the city held its first literary festival which brought a number of writers to the city to encourage the community to follow the arts. Two literary groups were also established, The Faisalabad Union of Column Writers and The Faisalabad Union of Journalists, to bring together printed media personalities to provide training to budding writers from the city.

In the last few years, the cinema industry has picked up again in the city, with two brand new cinemas being inaugurated. Cinepax by Hotel One has proved to be a successful project. Cine Nagina has also been seeing locals return to the big screen. Faisalabad is also expected to have its first bowling alley inaugated in 2015.

Fashion

In the more rural regions of the district, the traditional dhoti and kurta is worn which is accompanied by a pagri (turban). Usually on Friday, Faisalabadi men typically wear a white shalwar kameez when attending the mosque for Jummah prayer. Faisalabadi women also wear the shalwar kameez accompanied with a dupatta (scarf). Traditional lacha, bangles and paranda are also used. Saris and lehngas which have substantial detail and embroidery work are traditionally worn for weddings.

Faisalabad Fashion Week takes place every year in the city where designers display their latest work. Faisalabad Institute of Textile and Fashion Design at the Government College University teaches Fashion Design as part of their Fine Arts program. Furthermore, the National Textile University hosts a graduate fashion show every year in the city.

Cuisine

Faisalabad cuisine is very much Punjabi cuisine, most of which originated during the realms of the Mughal and Colonial empires. Key ingredients include rice or roti (flatbread) served with a vegetable or non-vegetable curry, a salad consisting of spiced tomatoes and onions, and yogurt. This is usually accompanied by a variety of South Asian sweets such as Jaggery, Gajar Ka Halwa, Gulab jamun, and Jalebi. Tandoori BBQ specialties consist of a variety of naan bread served with tandoori chicken, chicken tikka or lamb shish kebabs served with a mint chutney.

Street foods are a key element to Faislabadi cuisine. Samosas (deep fried pastry filled with vegetables or meat) topped with an onion salad and two types of chutney. There is even a square dedicated to them in the old city. Other street foods include, dahi bhale (deep fried vadas in creamy yoghurt), Gol Gappay (fried round puri filled with vegetables and topped with tamarind chutney) and vegetable or chicken pakoras. Biryani and Murgh Pilao rice are also a specialty in Faisalabad.

A typical breakfast in Faislabadi is Halwa poori comprising a deep fried flatbread served with a spicy chickpea curry and sweet orange coloured halwa. It is customarily accompanied by a sweet or salty yoghurt based drink called Lassi. During winter, a common breakfast is roghni naan bread served with Paya curry.

Specialty drinks vary depending on climate. During winter, a variety of hot drinks are available, such as Rabri Doodh, a creamy dessert drink commonly made with full-fat milk, almonds, pistachios and basil seeds, Dhood Patti (milky tea), and Kashmiri Chai, a pink coloured milky tea containing almonds and pistachios. During summer, drinks such as sugar cane rusk, limo pani (iced lemon water), skanjvi (iced orange and black pepper) and lassi are common.

There are also Chinese and American franchises that cater to the local community by offering specialty burgers and pizzas, such as the Mcdonald's McArabia, a grilled chicken, pita bread sandwich with tomatoes, lettuce and garlic sauce. Pizza Hut offers the BBQ Seekh Kebab flatbread, and the Chicken Jalfrezi pizza.

Recreation

D Ground Central Park was rebuilt by the city district government which now includes miniature versions of the symbols of Pakistan such as the Mazar-e-Quaid, Minar-e-Pakistan and Bab-e-Pakistan.

Iqbal Stadium, home to the Faisalabad Wolves cricket team.

Parks and open spaces

Jinnah Garden is known as the oldest and central park in the city, commonly known as “Company Bagh”. The monument of Sir Charles James Lyall is situated here. The Chenab Club is located in the surroundings of Jinnah Garden, which was built during colonial rule. The park contains a Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabre, several fountains and colonial pavilions.

Canal Park, on the west bank of the Rakh Branch Canal, is a newly opened park for families. The Gatwala Wildlife Park is a botanical natural reseve located at Gatwala that has recently been renovated by the city district government.

Sports

Main article: List of sports venues in Faisalabad

Cricket, the most popular sport in Pakistan, is also the most popular sport in Faisalabad. It is played wherever a city dweller can find a large piece of land, the latter of which is known as Bat aur Gendh. It is also played in the narrow by-lanes of the city. Night-time cricket is commonly played on weekends on less-traversed city streets, disused construction sites, parks and on several grounds in the district.

The oldest, and only venue as of 2015, for international cricket matches is Iqbal Stadium. Faisalabad's local team, the Faisalabad Wolves, are based at the stadium where regional matches are often played throughout the spring season. The matches draw substantial crowds as evidenced by the Faysal Bank T20 Cup, the 1987 Cricket World Cup, and the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

The city is also famous for its hockey facilities. The Faisalabad Hockey Stadium located on Susan Road hosts numerous field hockey matches for both national and international competition, such as the Pakistan-China Hockey Series. The stadium's maximum capacity can accommodate 36,000 spectators.

Other popular sports in the city are weightlifting, association football, Kabaddi, table tennis, billiards and snooker, squash, and horse racing. Sports like badminton, volleyball, swimming, boxing and basketball have started to gain popularity as western influences have affected the locals. Faisalabad has its own team, the PMC FC, who take part in the Pakistan Premier League. The Punjab Medical College and Divisional Public School have their own stadiums built on their campuses to train and host matches for the sport.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Faisalabad

Education

Government College University

The population of Faisalabad has a literacy rate of approximately 60%, with a split of 69% for males and 46% for females (all figures are higher than the national average within the country).

Faisalabad has a number of world-renowned research and educational institutions. The city has a number of public and private universities including the University of Agriculture, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Punjab Forestry Research Institute, The University of Faisalabad and the National University of Textile Engineering. The University of Engineering & Technology of Lahore also opened a regional campus in the city. The University of Agriculture is one of the largest universities in Asia.

Three polytechnic institutions are located in Faisalabad with an average number of 3556 students enrolled every year in these institutions. There are also eight vocational institutes which have an approximate enrollment of 700 students. In all, about 7,220 skilled technicians are trained every year in the city. A number of public and private schools are also engaged in the educational enhancement for all ages.

Faisalabad's principles institutes includes: Government College University, (GCUF), University of Agriculture (UA), University of Faisalabad (UF), National Textile University (NTU), Punjab Medical College (PMC), Punjab Law College (PLC), Preston University (PU), Skans School of Accountancy (SSA), NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research (NFC-IEFR-FSD), University of Engineering and Technology, Faisalabad (UET) and National University of Modern Languages (NUML).

Media

The Dawn Media Group and state-owned Pakistan television (PTV) transmits five terrestrial and cable television channels. There is also a number of private television channels that have offices in Faisalabad including Express News, GEO TV, Apna Channel and Punjab TV and most prestigious and first High Definition TV 92newsHD of Pakistan also owned by famous Madina group of Faisalabad . The radio industry has expanded with a number of private and government-owned FM channels being introduced. The FM radio channels that broadcast in the city include the government-owned Radio Pakistan.

The Daily Express and Daily Dunya are the national newspapers published in Faisalabad. The Daily Express started publishing in Faisalabad on 17 September 2002. There are other popular Urdu Faisalabadi newspapers including Daily Shelter, Daily Awam, Daily Aman, Daily Tajarti Rahber, Daily Paygaam, Daily Business Report and the Daily Surrat-E-Haal. The weekly Lyallpur Akhbar is one of the oldest newspapers in the district of Faisalabad.

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Pakistan

The following list of cities have ties with the city of Faisalabad:

City	Region	Country	Year
Manchester	England	United Kingdom	1997
Kobe	Hyōgo Prefecture	Japan	2000

See also

• Faisalabad District
• Faisalabad Electric Supply Company

Notes

• Ultimate Handbook Guide to Faisalabad : (Pakistan) Travel Guide by Karlene Hornyak (2014)
• Faisalabad: The City I Love by Muhammad Arshad Chaudhri (1996)
• India Unbound: from Independence to the Global Information age by Gurcharan Das (2007)

External links

• Faisalabad City District
• Punjab Government website
• Faisalabad at Curlie
• Faisalabad travel guide from Wikivoyage

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