Gujar Khan (Punjabi: گُجر خاں [ɡʊˈd͡ʒəɾ xãː]; Urdu: گوجر خان [ɡoːdʒəɾ xaːn])[3] is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area.[4]
Gujar Khan
گُجر خاں گوجر خان | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Gujar Khan | |
 | |
  Gujar Khan  Gujar Khan | |
| Coordinates: 33°15′11″N 73°18′14″E / 33.253°N 73.304°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Punjab |
| Division | Rawalpindi |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Elevation | 461 m (1,512 ft) |
| Population | |
| • City | 103,284 |
| Society | |
| • Languages | Punjabi (native and majority) Urdu (minority) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Calling code | 0513 |
| Number of union councils | 36[2] |
Gujar Khan is located approximately 57 km (35 mi) southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and 220 km (140 mi) to the northwest of Lahore, the capital of Punjab. It is bounded on the north by Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock, on the south by Jhelum, Lahore, and Gujrat, on the east by Azad Kashmir, and Kahuta and on the west by Chakwal and Khushab.
Situated in the heart of the Pothohar Plateau in northern Punjab, The city and surrounding region is renowned for their martial culture and is sometimes referred to as the 'Land of Martyrs', having produced two recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider.[5] There is the main district hospital in the center of the city, along with many other private and public medical and care services.
History
editThe place was named due to the large population of Gujjars which inhabited this area. Some Gujjar settlements are still present in the Gujar Khan Tehsil. The modern town was developed by the British colonial authorities after the region came under British rule in 1848.
Administration
edit
Gujar Khan is administratively subdivided into 36 union councils, whereas City Gujar Khan is administered by municipal corporation.[6]
Demographics
editPopulation of Gujar Khan city.[7]
| Census Year | Population |
| 1972 | 24,121 |
| 1981 | 33,920 |
| 1998 | 57,099 |
| 2017 | 900,149 |
| 2023 | 103,284 |
Natural resources
editLarge reserves of oil and gas were discovered in February 2002 at Tobra, about ten kilometres from Gujar Khan. The field is being developed by the Oil and Gas Development Company. The field could produce 1,600 barrels of crude oil daily. Missa Kaswal and Ahdi is also a major source of energy in Gujar khan. Missa Kaswal is supplying several cubic meters of gas on a daily basis and is also extracting large quantities of oil. [8]
Transport
edit
Road
editGujar Khan is located on the N5 National highway from Islamabad-Lahore.[9] Railway Road links from the east of the city to the nearby towns of Bewal and Islampura.[10] There are also many other minor roads linking the villages and towns of the region to the city.
Rail
editThe Gujar Khan railway station is located in the center of the city and provides links to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Lahore.
Bus
edit
Local services also provide extensive bus routes to local towns, and smaller shuttles go around the villages in the surrounding area. There are also services to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, and Lahore.[11]
Local auto-rickshaw drivers also provide transport for people in and around the city.[12]
Notable people
edit- Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz, politician and Ex-MNA
- Raja Muhammad Sarwar, first recipient of Nishan-e-Haider
- Mohammad Amir, cricketer
- Muhammad Javed Ikhlas, former MPA and MNA from Pakistan Muslim League (N)
- Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Speaker National Assembly, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Muhammad Hussain Janjua, first soldier to be awarded Nishan-e-Haider
- Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, former Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Army
- Najaf Shah, cricketer[13]
Friendship links
editGujar Khan also has formal "Friendship" links with:[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Citypopulation.de Population of Gujar Khan
- ^ "Zila, Tehsil & Town Councils Membership for Punjab (scroll down to Rawalpindi District to read Gujar Khan)". Election Commission of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ Debates: Official Report (in Urdu). Manager of Publications via Google Books website. 1976. pp. 199–200. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "List of Administrative Units of Pakistan (Tehsil/Taluka) (Punjab)". Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "District Website". rawalpindi.dc.lhc.gov.pk. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Towns & Unions in the City District of Rawalpindi". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Gujar Khān (Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Business in Asia Today (scroll down to 'Huge reserves discovered in Pakistan near Gujar Khan)". Asia Times Online website. Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Maps – National Highways Authority". National Highway Authority, Government of Pakistan website. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Railway Road at G.T. Road - Wikimapia". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Pindi-Gujar Khan CNG bus service from today". Dawn (newspaper). 8 June 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Rickshaws plying in Gujar Khan to be registered". The Nation (newspaper). Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Najaf Shah". Cricinfo.com website. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ [1] Archived 27 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine