Muzaffargarh
Encyclopedia
Muzaffargarh is a city in southwestern Punjab
, Pakistan
, located on the bank of the Chenab River
. The Town of Muzaffargarh was founded in 1794 by the Governor of Mulran 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 1859 the headquarters were moved to Muzaffargarh.
It is the chief city of Muzaffargarh District
. The city was founded in the sixteenth century. In 1864 it became the headquarters of Muzaffargarh District. Muzaffargarh spreads over an area of 8,435 km² and it forms a strip between the river Chenab on its east and Indus river on its West. Muzaffargarh is one of oldest districts of Punjab. The city is famous for sweet mangoes and nuts. Wheat, Cotton and Sugarcane are major crops of this area.
Muzaffargarh was especially hard hit by the 2010 Pakistan floods
, given its position between the Chenab
and Indus
rivers.
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 (129.2 °F), and the lowest recorded temperature is approximately -1 C. The average rainfall is roughly 127 millimetres (5 in). Dust storms are a common occurrence within the city.
, while Haryanvi is the second most spoken language. A good portion of the people are conversant in Urdu. English
is understood by the educated. The majority of the people are Muslim
s. However, the city does have significant Sikh and Hindu communities within the district.
Muzaffargarh has traditionally been a melting pot of several distinct ethnic groups due to its location at the intersection of all four of Pakistan's main provinces and due to its historical significance as a centre of learning and culture. As a result, Multan today consists of Saraiki
, Haryanvi, Punjabi
, Baloch
, Pashtun
, Sindhi
, and Urdu-speaking Muhajirs who arrived at the time of independence
in 1947.
As per the 1998 census of Pakistan, the following are the demographics of the district, by spoken language:
and Multan
districts through concrete roads. Buses to Multan
leave frequently, since it is located closely to the city. There are a variety of buses travelling farther from the city. Many of them are now air-conditioned with a fairly good safety record. The N-5 National Highway
connects the city to connect to all parts of Pakistan. The road otherwise, known as GT Road, allows connections to Rawalpindi
, Islamabad
, Faisalabad
, Karachi
, Lahore
as well as Bahawalpur
. Coach services such as Faisal Movers Express, Niazi Express,Khan brothers transport, Nadir flying coach, Punjab Tourism Department, Skyways and New Khan Bus Service are some of the most reliable coach companies operating out of Multan.
Muzaffargarh is connected by rail with all parts of the country and lies on the Branch track between Rawalpindi
, Multan
, Mainwali and Attock
. The main Peshawar-Karachi railway line passes through Multan district.
The people of Muzaffargarh use Multan International Airport because it is nearer to Muzaffargarh and a 25 minute drive. Multan International Airport
is an airport situated 10 km away from the city centre of Multan. It is not as large as the other airports in Pakistan, as it operates to cater mainly to the population of Multan, Vehari
, Khanewal
, Rajanpur
, Sahiwal
, and Pakpattan
to mainly to other points within Pakistan as well as the Middle East
. Flight are currently operated by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines
. However, since the growth of air travel within the region, there has been speculated interest from other private carriers. The rise in air-travel has also led to the expansion of the current airport with a new runway and terminal.
Mr.Chaudhary Pervez Akhter(Asian Construction Company)
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, located on the bank of the Chenab River
Chenab River
The Chenab River چنRiver' آب) is a major river of Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab in Pakistan. It forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan...
. The Town of Muzaffargarh was founded in 1794 by the Governor of Mulran 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 1859 the headquarters were moved to Muzaffargarh.
It is the chief city of Muzaffargarh District
Muzaffargarh District
Muzaffargarh is a district in the south of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Saraiki Waseb. It is spread over an area of 8,249 km². Muzaffargarh District lies in the strip between the rivers Chenab and Indus, which pass along the Eastern and Western boundaries respectively of...
. The city was founded in the sixteenth century. In 1864 it became the headquarters of Muzaffargarh District. Muzaffargarh spreads over an area of 8,435 km² and it forms a strip between the river Chenab on its east and Indus river on its West. Muzaffargarh is one of oldest districts of Punjab. The city is famous for sweet mangoes and nuts. Wheat, Cotton and Sugarcane are major crops of this area.
Muzaffargarh was especially hard hit by the 2010 Pakistan floods
2010 Pakistan floods
The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater, approximately...
, given its position between the Chenab
Chenab River
The Chenab River چنRiver' آب) is a major river of Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab in Pakistan. It forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan...
and Indus
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
rivers.
Geography and climate
The city of Muzaffargarh is located in southern PunjabPunjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
province at almost the exact centre of Pakistan. The closest major city is Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
. The area around the city is a flat, alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture, with many citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
and mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
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 (129.2 °F), and the lowest recorded temperature is approximately -1 C. The average rainfall is roughly 127 millimetres (5 in). Dust storms are a common occurrence within the city.
Demographics
The majority of Muzaffargarh's residents speak SaraikiSaraiki language
Saraiki , transliterated as Sirāikī and sometimes spelled Seraiki and Saraiki, is a standardized written language of Pakistan belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages. It is a language spoken in the heart of Pakistan...
, while Haryanvi is the second most spoken language. A good portion of the people are conversant in Urdu. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is understood by the educated. The majority of the people are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s. However, the city does have significant Sikh and Hindu communities within the district.
Muzaffargarh has traditionally been a melting pot of several distinct ethnic groups due to its location at the intersection of all four of Pakistan's main provinces and due to its historical significance as a centre of learning and culture. As a result, Multan today consists of Saraiki
Saraiki people
The Saraiki people or Multani people are an ethnic group from the central and south-eastern areas of Pakistan, especially the former princely state of Bahawalpur and the districts of Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh,...
, Haryanvi, Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
, Baloch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
, Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
, Sindhi
Sindhi people
Sindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...
, and Urdu-speaking Muhajirs who arrived at the time of independence
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947.
As per the 1998 census of Pakistan, the following are the demographics of the district, by spoken language:
- SaraikiSaraiki languageSaraiki , transliterated as Sirāikī and sometimes spelled Seraiki and Saraiki, is a standardized written language of Pakistan belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages. It is a language spoken in the heart of Pakistan...
: 70.58 (54.23% in the city) - Haryanvi: 14.59% (11.01% in the city)
- PunjabiPunjabi languagePunjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
: 7.14% (25.13% in the city) - UrduUrduUrdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: 5.86% (6.64% in the city) - Pashto: 0.62%
- BalochiBalochi languageBalochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
: 0.10% - SindhiSindhi languageSindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
: 0.07% - Other: 1.04%
Transportation
Muzaffargarh has connections with other cities by a variety of means of transportation. The district has concrete road reaching up to 983.69 km. The district is linked with DG Khan, LayyahLayyah
Layyah, also spelt Leiah , is the capital city of the Layyah District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'0N 70°56'0E with an altitude of 143 metres .-Old History:...
and Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
districts through concrete roads. Buses to Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
leave frequently, since it is located closely to the city. There are a variety of buses travelling farther from the city. Many of them are now air-conditioned with a fairly good safety record. The N-5 National Highway
N-5 National Highway
The National Highway 05 or the N-5 is Pakistan's longest highway running from the port city of Karachi to the border crossing at Torkham...
connects the city to connect to all parts of Pakistan. The road otherwise, known as GT Road, allows connections to Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, Faisalabad
Faisalabad
Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
as well as Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
. Coach services such as Faisal Movers Express, Niazi Express,Khan brothers transport, Nadir flying coach, Punjab Tourism Department, Skyways and New Khan Bus Service are some of the most reliable coach companies operating out of Multan.
Muzaffargarh is connected by rail with all parts of the country and lies on the Branch track between Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
, Mainwali and Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
. The main Peshawar-Karachi railway line passes through Multan district.
The people of Muzaffargarh use Multan International Airport because it is nearer to Muzaffargarh and a 25 minute drive. Multan International Airport
Multan International Airport
Muhammad Bin Qasim International Airport is an airport situated 10 km away from the city centre of Multan in Punjab, Pakistan. It is not as large as the other airports in Pakistan, as it operates to cater mainly to the population of Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Sahiwal,...
is an airport situated 10 km away from the city centre of Multan. It is not as large as the other airports in Pakistan, as it operates to cater mainly to the population of Multan, Vehari
Vehari
Vehari is a city in the Punjab province in Pakistan. The city, which is the capital of the district and tehsil of the same name, is located at 30°1'0N 72°21'0E at an altitude of 135m , lies about from the regional metropolis of Multan and about north of the river Sutlej - the southernmost of...
, Khanewal
Khanewal
Khanewal is the capital city of Khanewal District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is notable for being the host city to the second largest train station in Pakistan. Khanewal is located at 30°18'0N 71°56'0E with an altitude of 128 metres and is named after the earliest settlers here who...
, Rajanpur
Rajanpur
Rajanpur is a city and the headquarters of Rajanpur District in the far southwestern part of Punjab, Pakistan. The district lies entirely west of the Indus River. it is a narrow, to wide strip of land sandwiched between the Indus River on the east and the Sulaiman Mountains on the west. The...
, Sahiwal
Sahiwal
Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...
, and Pakpattan
Pakpattan
Pakpattan is the capital city of the Pakpattan District in the Sahiwal Division in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Pakpattan is one of the ancient cities of Pakistan. It is the city that has the shrine of the well-known Sufi of all times, Baba Fareed...
to mainly to other points within Pakistan as well as the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Flight are currently operated by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
. However, since the growth of air travel within the region, there has been speculated interest from other private carriers. The rise in air-travel has also led to the expansion of the current airport with a new runway and terminal.
| Tehsil | No. of Unions |
|---|---|
| Alipur | 14 |
| Jatoi Jatoi Tehsil Jatoi is a tehsil of Muzaffargarh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, it is administratively subdivided into 16 Union Councils. The main language spoken there is Saraiki.... |
16 |
| Kot Addu Kot Addu Tehsil Kot Addu Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Muzaffargarh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city of Kot Addu is the headquarters of the tehsil which is administratively subdivided into 28 Union Councils.... |
27 |
| Muzaffargarh Muzaffargarh Tehsil Muzaffargarh Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Muzaffargarh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city of Muzaffargarh was founded by Nawab Muzaffar Khan some 200 years ago. It lies between the two rivers Chenab and Sindh. According to the latest census 1998 its population is... |
35 |
| Total | 93 |
Main towns
The district's towns include Khangarh, Rohillanwali, Shaher Sultan, Rangpur, Gujrat, Mehmood Kot, Sinawan, Thatta Gurmani, Daira Din Panah, Chowk Sarwar Shaheed, Shah Jamal, Mahr pur, Baseera, Wasandaywali, Jalwala Pir Amir, Binda Ishaq, Ehsan Pur, Bakaini, Seet Pur Murad Abad, Ghazi Ghaat and Karam Dad Quresh & Douna, Basti Mohany Wala, Basti Daood Shah Wala (Shaher Sultan), Alipur and Jatoi.ada rind wala.Educational Institutions
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. However, regardless of this hapless scenario, the beacons of light still spread throughout the country from this region through its well-known academic educational institutions at the secondary level. There are many schools and colleges like Govt. College for Boys, Govt. College for Girls, Sardar Kuarey Khan Public Higher Secondary School, The Country School, Dar-e-Arqam, Beacon House School and College, Punjab Group of Colleges, Rise College, The Nelson School, Alla Public School, TEVTA, Govt. Comprehensive Higher Secondary School, Govt. High School, Govt. Normal higher Secondary School for Girls and many more schools and institutions. The famous academies include Superior Science Secondary School, Misali Zikriya Higher Secondary School, Misali Middle School, Rashid Minhas Higher Secondary School, Al-Hasnain Public School Khangarh and Ahsan Public School Basira.Major Crops
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.Fruits
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.Vegetables
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
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
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
PARCO's Mid-Country Refinery is the country's latest, largest and most complex refinery and employs critical processes involved in refining. Commissioned in the year 2000, PARCO’s 100,000 barrels per day, state-of-the-art Mid-Country Refinery (MCR) at Mahmood Kot in Muzaffargarh, represents about 35% of Pakistan’s refining capacity. It helps substitute import of refined, value-added oil products to the tune of US$ 100 million per year. The MCR mainly processes crude oil of Upper Zakum from Abu Dhabi and light Arabian crude from Saudi Arabia.KAPCO
Kot Addu Power Company Limited (KAPCO) was incorporated in 1996 with the purpose of contributing economic power to the national grid. KAPCO has shown exceptional results in the area of 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
Lal Pir (Pvt.) Limited owns and operates Lal Pir Thermal Power station, the most efficient power plant in Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffargarh.TPS Muzaffargarh
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.Notable Persons
- Prof. Dr. Shoaib Attique
- Dr. Sjaad Haider Parvaiz (writer)
- Tauqeer nasir (actor)
- Mohammad Sohail Karim Hashmi, Secretary PM&DC.
- Prof. Khalil-ur-rehman Farooqi
- Dr. Amjad Farooq (PhD nuclear physicsNuclear physicsNuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
) - Khalid Qureshi, Commander Special Investigation Group, Current DIG FIA.
Mr.Chaudhary Pervez Akhter(Asian Construction Company)