Sahiwal

Scenic Jungle in District Sahiwal

Sahiwal (Punjabi, Template:Lang-ur) is a growing city in the southeastern province of Punjab province of Pakistan and the administrative centre of Sahiwal District & Division. Sahiwal has become a division headquarters in 2008. The districts of Okara and Pakpattan are under Sahiwal division. This city was a small village on the Karachi-Lahore railway line in 1865 when it was renamed Montgomery after Sir Robert Montgomery, then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab. It took its current name in 1966. Sahiwal lies approximately 180 km from the major city of Lahore. And it is the biggest city between Lahore and Multan. The population is 207,388 (1998 Pakistan Census). Sahiwal District is included in the former Multan Division and lies between 30-39 north latitude and 73-06 longitude. The people of Sahiwal are known as Sahiwalians.

Climate

The climate of Sahiwal district is extreme, reaching 52 °C in summer, and down to -5 °C in winter. The soil of the district is very fertile. The average rainfall is about 2000 mm.

Industry

Sahiwal's industries include cotton ginning and pressing, tanning, textile spinning, textile weaving, leather products, garments, pharmaceuticals, flour mills, food processing, oil mills, cold storage, potato, tobacco, vegetable ghee/cooking oil, biscuits, chip board, confectionery, and woollen textile spinning and weaving. The Sahiwal breed of cattle, recognised as productive among Zebu dairy breeds, originated here; they are now found throughout the tropics. The main crops of the Sahiwal district are wheat, cotton, sugarcane, maize and rice. Main fruits are citrus, mangoes and guava. Sahiwal is a green and fertile town with 11,522 acres (46.63 km²) under naturally grown forests. KSC is an electrical industry in Sahiwal, producing water heaters, water coolers, air coolers, fans and washing machines.

Educational institutions

Sahiwal houses several educational institutes of quality. Government College Sahiwal is one of big institute in the city. It has 100 acres of land which includes the college building, a separate library building, a recreational building having swimming pool inside two hostels named Jinnah Hall and Iqbal Hall and vast green playgrounds.

Government High School, Government High School Urban Area, Government Comprehensive High School, Government High School 86/6.R and Government Pilot Higher Secondary School are the leading high schools of the city. Junior Model High School, Divisional Public School (DPS) and St. Mary's Convent School are also providing education. Educator School, Government College for Women, Sahiwal, also contains the Baha-u-Deen Zikria University (BZU) sub-campus. One of the oldest Institutes of Commerce is the Government College of Commerce, Sahiwal.

St. Mary's Convent High School, is a well reputed English medium institution run by Italian nuns. Many among the elite of Sahiwal send their children to St. Mary's.

A lot is being planned for the education sector in Sahiwal. BZU Multan is planning its separate sub-campus in Sahiwal, and land has been acquired for this purpose. It is hoped that the university will be complete in two years and will be called the 'University of Sahiwal'.

The Virtual University of Pakistan has opened its regional as well as private campus in Sahiwal, and offers distant learning programmes. Regional Campus is situated at college chowk upper building of Bakers Inn. And private campus at high street. VU are providing best teachers of the country using offline method. One of its student name is added in adobe show flex and he is the first Pakistani student who's name is added there.

The sub-campus of COMSATS (an information technology and computer science college based in Lahore) has started classes in MBA and Computer Science.

The private sector is playing a major role in primary education: renowned schools in this regard are The Educators, The Beaconhouse School System, Bloom Field, The City School and Pre-Forces Cadet School. A new building of The City School is under construction in front of Comprehensive School Sahiwal. After completion it will be the largest private school campus in Sahiwal. Another new school established in 2007 is the Dare-Aqram Model School.

The Educators College has separate campuses for boys and girls.

The Commission on Science and Technology and Sustainable Development COMSATS has opened its sub-campus at Sahiwal. It is a Public Sector University, Chartered by Federal Government providing quality education in the field of Management Sciences and Computer Sciences at both undergraduate and post graduate level. COMSATS has an edge over its competitor institutions and it has foreign qualified and experienced faculty at its sub campus at Sahiwal.

There are two Government Colleges for Technical Education that offer three years DAE in various disciplines. There are many Private Technical Education Institutes that offer DAE. Allama Iqbal Polytechnic Institute is the first institute to offer DAE in Mechanical Technology (since 2003).

Faridia Islamic University is also located at Sahiwal.

Twin city

Sahiwal is twinned with the town of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, North West England, United Kingdom. There is direction sign in Rochdale city centre pointing in sahiwal's direction with "Sahiwal 3000 miles" written on it.

Politicians and Famous People

The oldest political families of Sahiwal are the Sahi Rajput, Chaudhary's,Saghla, Khagghas, Langrial, Jeewayka, Lodhi, and Chattha family. The Jeewayka and Chattha families were active during partition in 1947, played a fundamental role in the region and were great supporters of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The Chattha family helped thousands of immigrants who migrated from India to settle in Sahiwal District. They have been part of local, provincial and national level politics of Sahiwal, Punjab and Pakistan for the last 50 years. The oldest political families of Sahiwal are the Sahi, Rajput, Arrain, Saghla, Khagghas, Langrial, Jeewayka, Lodhi, and Jatt family. These family were exceptionally vigorous during partition of 1947 and played a fundamental role in the region and were great supporters of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. These families helped thousands of immigrants who migrated from India settled in Sahiwal District. They have been part of local, provincial and national level politics of Sahiwal, Punjab and Pakistan for last 50 years.

Chaudhary Nouraiz Shakoor Khan: Chaudhary Nouraiz Shakoor Khan is prominent figure of Sahiwal. He was elected MNA on PPP ticket in 1988, 1993, 2002. After winning, Mr. Nouraiz formed forward Black in PPPP in the name of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians Patriots (PPPPP) and became the Senior Vice President of the party. Later on, this block was merged in PML. He contested the 2008 elections on the PML ticket and lost to Pir Syed Imran Ali Shah in a historic election. He also worked as Parliamentary Sectary (Communication), State Minister (Youngster Affairs) and Federal Minister (Petroleum & science and technology). Mr Nouraiz is also famous of rewarding his friends with government contracts and his name has been a discussion of many corruptions and kickbacks.

Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan elected MPA on PPP ticket in 2002, he also contested on PPP ticket in 1997 and on PML ticket in 2008 but lost. After winning 2002 election, he also joined PPPP-Patriots co-founded by Nouraiz. From 2003-2007, he served in the Provincial Cabinet of Punjab as Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Marketing and Production.

Rana Tariq Javed: He was elected as MNA as independent candidate for the first time in the history of Sahiwal in 2002. After winning, he joined Pakistan Muslim League. In 2007, he became Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and got status of Federal Minister. He contested the 2008 elections on the PML ticket and lost to Maher Ghulam Fareed Kathia in a fare election. However, he lost the election due to the corruption alligations and prodigeous number of fradulent real estate deals conducted by Mr. Rana Tariq Javed and his brother Rana Amer.

Pir Syed Imran Ali Shah: Pir Syed Imran Ali Shah belongs to Pakistan Muslim League (N). He was elected for the first time as an MNA in 2008 general elections.

Malik Nadeem Kamran: he belongs to Pakistan Muslim League (N). He was elected for the second time as an MPA in 2008 general elections. He defeated PPPP candidate Muhammad Zaki Chaudhry with a margin of 15,000 votes and Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan of PML came third. Malik Nadeem Kaman is nephew of ex-Chief Minister Justice® Ijaz Nasar. Now-a-days he is working as Provincial Minister (Food).

Malik Iqbal Ahmad Langrial: He is elected as MPA in 1988, 1990, 1993 and 2008. In 2002, his elder son Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial was elected and and was served as Chairman, Committee on Government Assurances since August 19, 2003-7. In 2008 election, Nauman Langrial elected as MNA on PML Ticket. Iqbal Langrial was ex-chairman district council Sahiwal.

Rai Hassan Nawaz: Rai family moved from Talwandi Punjab Indian to Chichwatni after the partition of India and Pakistan. Rai Hassan Nawaz is currently District Nazim of Sahiwal and a key player in Politics of Sahiwal. Earlier, he was elected MPA and advisor to CM Punjab. His brothers Rai Ali Nawaz and Rai Ahmad Nawaz were also MNA and Federal Misister of paksitan. His cousin Rai Aziz Ullah had been MNA from Chichawatni in 2002 general elections but was defeated by Ch. Zahid Iqbal of PPPP in 2008 general elections.

Muhammad Arshad Khan Lodhi: A veteran politician, who is a practising lawyer and an agriculturist. He served as Chairman Union Council Harappa during 1968-70; and, as member District Council Sahiwal during 1979-87. He remained Member Provincial Assembly of the Punjab during 1972-77, 1985-88, 1988-90, 1990-93 and 1997-99; and also served as Parliamentary Secretary during 1985-86, Minister for Colonies during1986-87, Minister for Revenue during 1988-93, Minister for Industries, Mineral Development Department, Transport Department, and Agriculture during 1997-99. He has returned to Punjab Assembly for the sixth term in General Elections 2002. He also contested in 1997 as MPA on the same PPP ticket but lost. Ch. Zahid Iqbal: He became MNA on the platform of PPPP in General Elections, 2008 by defeating Rai Aziz ullah. Earlier, his first cousin Chaudhary Tariq Aziz became Nazim by defeating Rai Group in Local bodies Elections, 2004. Chauhdary Tahir Hameed is the president of PML (N) and the member of executive cabinet of Punjab belongs to Sahiwal city.

Sahiwal is the home town of the late Rana Mohammad Hanif Khan, who served as the Finance Minister of Pakistan from 1974-1977.

Dr Abdus Salam: Abdus Salam[3] (Urdu: محمد عبد السلام) (January 29, 1926; Jhang Punjab – November 21, 1996; Oxford, England)[4] was a Pakistani theoretical physicist, Astrophysicist and Nobel laureate in Physics for his work in Electro-Weak Theory. Salam, Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg shared the prize for this discovery. Salam holds the distinction of being the only Pakistani Nobel Laureate, and is the first Muslim Nobel Laureate in science. The validity of the theory was ascertained through experiments carried out at the Super Proton Synchrotron facility at CERN in Geneva, particularly, through the discovery of the W and Z Bosons.

Majeed Amjad: One of the founding forefathers of modern Urdu, Majeed Amjad, was also born in Sahiwal and got his education from Government College Lahore. He was inspired by the greenery of Sahiwal and wrote about the trees.

Munir Niazi: The family of famous Urdu/Punjabi poet, Munir Niazi (born in Khanpur Indian Punjab on April 9, 1927, migrated to Pakistan after the creation of Pakistan and settled in Sahiwal.

Mushtaq Ahmed: Mushtaq Ahmed (Urdu: مشتاق احمد) (born 28 June 1970 in Sahiwal) is a retired Pakistani cricketer who specialised as a leg spin bowler. He was known for his hard-to-pick googly. He memorably trapped Graeme Hick in front with one during the 1992 World Cup final. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.

Manzoor Elahi Manzoor Elahi (Urdu: منظور الہی) (born April 15, 1963, Sahiwal, Punjab) is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 6 Tests and 54 ODIs from 1984 to 1995.

Saleem Elahi: Saleem Elahi (Urdu: سلیم الہی) (born November 21, 1976, Sahiwal, Punjab) is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 13 Tests and 48 ODIs from 1995 to 2004.

Broadcast media

There are various radio and cable networks broadcasting in the city, such as Sun Rise FM 96 Sahiwal radio and cable networks like Voltas Cable Network, Galakcy Cable Network and Geo Cable network. The main companies providing dial-up internet facilities are BrainNet and CyberNet. World Call Wireless has also started its operation in Sahiwal. World Call provides wireless telephones at low call rates and a wireless internet facility which is much faster than the dial-up service providers in the city. Recently, Wateen Telecom has also opened its office in Sahiwal. Wateen offers landline telephone, cellular phone, HQ television, high-speed internet and WiMax.

Information Super Highway

Sahiwal is on the Information Superhighway after getting a High Speed DSL Internet Facility by Multi Net. Multi Net offer 256kb, 512kb, 1mb & 2mb shared speed & there is also Wateen Telecom who have started their service with high speed DSL via WIFI. A lot more development is being done in the field of IT and telecoms. Sahiwal is connected with backbone fiber that connects all the major cities of Pakistan. All Govt. Schools in Sahiwal have the latest PIV Based Computer Lab from the Government of Punjab IT and Computer Labs Project. Roughly one million rupees is spent on each lab; these furnished labs contain 16 of the latest PIV (Core 2 Duo) computers, air conditioner, printer and Internet facility. Each lab has dedicated IT staff including an IT Teacher, working on 17 Scale and Lab In charge. The government hopes that this project will improve the IT education standard in Sahiwal. Asia's biggest television broadcaster is located in the city.

Medical care

The District Hospital commonly referred to as the Civil Hospital is the largest hospital of Sahiwal. It has a nursing school and also offers different laboratory courses. Many well known doctors of the city have served their House Jobs here. However adequate medical facilities, especially emergency specialist equipment, are often not available and patients are referred to Lahore (the capital city of the Punjab), which is inconvenient and risky.