Okara District
Encyclopedia
Okara District is a district
of Punjab
, Pakistan
. The Multan
Road connects the district capital, Okara
with tLahore
110 km away. Okara began as a small town about 40 km from the city of Sahiwal. It later become a city in its own right. According to the 1998 census, the district had a population of 2,232,992 of which 12.84% were urban. The postal code of Okara is 56300.
there was a jungle of Okaan where the city has been built. The word Okara for this district was actually originated from word Okan(A lush green tree with needle like leaves).The tree Okan gave birth to word Okanwali(Land of Okan)which ultimately finalized into Okara. During British rule
the area was part of Montgomery District
and contained a large saltpeter
refinery. At partition one of the two textile mills that Pakistan got was the one at Okara. The mill was known as Sutlej textile mill and belonged to Aditya Birla Group
. It was asia's biggest textile mill at that time. In 1982 the city became the headquarters of the newly created Okara District. Okara has had a railway line since 1892.
and the British Raj
.
There is a central ridge, in the centre of Okara District, which marks the old river bed of the Beas
, and the boundary b/w the eastern and western half of the district. The ridge descends from Kasur
, all the way to Chunian
, and then Shergarh
in Okara. As you go west of the ridge, into Okara
& Renala Khurd
, the subsoil water is brackish, therefore the area is dependant on canals for irrigation. However, after you cross the ridge east into Depalpur Tehsil
, the subsoil water is sweet and good for agriculture.
Okara District is also famous for the lemon
, guava
& grapefruit
orchards, belonging to the food processing company, Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited
. The orchard runs for about 6 miles, along the LBDC, from Renala Khurd
all the way up to the Okara bypass.
, as a majority of the urban population in and around the major administrative towns of Okara
& Renala Khurd
have roots in that area, & belong mainly to the Arain
& Ranghar
clans. However, deviating from the main Lahore
-Multan
route, the accent starts changing to the Jaangli accent, which is more tinged by Seraiki
than the Lahori accent. This has been the original tongue of the people back when irrigation was a distant facility, and most of the people used to rear cattle as the main occupation, along the courses of the rivers Ravi
and Satluj. It is spoken by the natives of the Ravi belt (major towns include Gogera
, Satghara
, Mouza Meerak etc.) belonging to the Joiya
Kharal
, Baloch
, Kathia
, Kamiana & Jakhar clans, as well as the Satluj belt around Dipalpur
(encompassing major towns such as Shergarh
, Hujra Shah Muqeem
, Haveli Lakha
etc.) belonging to the Wattu
, Bodla
, Baloch, Bhatti & Jurrera clans.
There are two stadiums of Okara district, in which one of them includes Football ground, Basketball court and Swimming pool for Sports. A new international hockey stadium is being constructed in Renala khurd Tehsil of Okara, which would be completed by 2013. This stadium will develop a strong infrastructure for hockey in the country.
There are also many small and considerable big parks for general public. The three main recreational parks are Ladies Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah and District Park.
Educational institutes include Education University, Cadet College, Govt. College for Boy, two Govt. Colleges for Women.
There are also many privately owned colleges and schools, which are nationally recognised, well built, big and their standard of education is also high as comapred nationally.The District Public School and College, Okara (DPSC Okara) is a well known institute in the City , province and also the Country. These institutes include Morden science and computer labs, libraries, playgrounds and canteens.
There are various numerous public & private hospitals and clinics providing the health services. The popular and well equipped hospitals are District Govt. hospital, Shareef surgical hospital and C.M.H Okara Cantt. There is also a Social welfare health society which is being operated under the Govt. of Punjab. Every hospital has more than two ambulances. Located in the village of Rehmpur the Rosary Christian Hospital
also provides medical services to Okara and surrounding areas.
The 1122 Rescue Govt. organization is also offering their services in Okara city. There is also a separated Fire station, located in the centre of city, which have several old and also latest fire engines for safety services.
Okara also have a vast Railway station, which contain several platforms, where almost every train going from Islamabad
to Karachi
makes stop. There are two railway underpasses and one flyover which helps in smooth flow of traffic.
On 31 May 2005, the Ex-President General Pervez Musharraf
inaugrated the Okara Bypass (30.786887° 73.459238°), lenegth of 12.7 KM, on GT road (N-5). This project was commenced on 5 September 2003, due to the great demand of the people of the area. It was completed at the cost of 628.17 Million rupees. This interchange proved very helpful in the smooth flow of national highway traffic, particularly between Lahore and Multan and to reduce the national traffic in the city. This bypasss connects the Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway which is the economic lifeline of Pakistan.
, Pakpattan
, Depalpur
, Basirpur
, Renala Khurd
and Haveli Lakha
. There is a Famous Shrine of SUFI of Hazrat Sayed Shabeer Husain Shah Ghilani Situated in village "47/2-L (RAJPUTAN)at the tarivling of only 10 Minutes on depalpur road OKARA.. About a distance of 25 km from Depalpur, on Haveli Lakha
-Hujra Shah Muqeem
road, there is a famous shrine of sufi "Baba Wali Roshan Shah" situated in village "Bunga Saleha". Every year on 27th of Harr(Desi Month), Mela is celebated with great joyous. Another well known shrine near Depalpur is that of Hazrat Syed Daud Bandagi Kirmani
, located in the town of Shergarh
, which is about 12 miles from Depalpur and 7 miles from Hujra Shah Muqeem
.His urs is held in the middle of March, and is attended by thousands from all over Punjab and beyond. In the west of Okara city, the Ravi goes winding along the borders of Faisalabad
and Sheikhupura
districts.
The Main Towns of the district are:
And some minor towns of the district are:
(Urdu: رینالاخورد) is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about 570 feet (170 m). It is located at 30°52'60N 73°35'60E[2] and is about 117 km from Lahore and 10 km from the district capital Okara city towards south-west of Lahore on national highway (GT Road) and on Lahore Karachi main railway line. Eastern time zone of Renala Khurd is UTC+5+6DT.
It is mainly known for a famous fruit products company Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited
. It has orchards of guava & citrus running b/w the lower bari doab canal and the Multan Road, for about 8 miles all the way up to Okara bypass. This region is also well known as a major producer of sugarcane & rice. These crops can be cultivated due to abundance of water supplied by the lower bari doab canal & smaller water channels.
At Renala Khurd, one may visit still opertaional, Renala Hydro Power Station, situated on Canal Loar-Bari-Doo-Aab. Its capacity is 1 MW. Sir Ganga Ram
(1851–1927), a civil engineer and leading philanthropist of his time, established Renala Hydral Power Station in 1925. In 1873, after a brief Service in Punjab P.W.D, he devoted himself to practical farming. He obtained on lease from the government 50000 acres (202.3 km²) of barren, unirrigated land in Montgomery District
, and within three years converted that vast desert into smiling fields, irrigated by water lifted by a hydroelectric plant and running through a thousand miles of irrigation channels, all constructed at his own cost. This was the biggest private enterprise of the kind, unknown and unthought of in the country before. Sir Ganga Ram earned millions, most of which he gave to charity. In the words of Sir Malcolm Hailey, the Governor of Punjab at the time, "he won like a hero and gave like a Saint".
A part of Renala Khurd
is naturally deprived of the underground sweet water. People in this part rely on canals as the main source of irrigation, as tube -wells, unlike other parts of the district, only pour out salty water which nothing but spoils the land.
(literally 'Lion's Den'), is a town located 10 miles away from Renala Khurd
on the Hujra Shah Muqeem
road, and is a union council of Depalpur Tehsil
. It is a very historic town. It was named by the 16th century governor of Multan
, Fateh Jang Khan
, in honour of the present Afghan
ruler of India
, Sher Shah Suri
. This fact is documented by Abbas Khan Sarauni in his book, Tarikh-e Sher Shah Suri
.
It started off as a small police station and was informally known as "Chor Chauki", or "The Police Station". About a decade later, in 1545, a young Syed
ascetic named Ibrahim
, belonging originally to Kirman of Southern Persia, migrated here from Satghara
. After being initiated into the Qadiriyyah order of Sufism
, at the hands of Shaikh Hamid Gilani, he established his khanqah in the remote village. At the time, it was sparsely populated, located on the high abandoned bed of the Beas
, marking the geographical boundary between the Neeli
and the Ganji
bars. It was surrounded by jungle from both sides, and was equi-distant from the rivers, Ravi
& Satluj. It was also very distant from the main road connecting Lahore
to Multan
. These factors made the place ideal for a man of his position, as he could worship there in solitude. He spent the remaining thirty years of his life here.It is also documented, that he would sometimes go in the jungle lying between Shergarh
and Satghara
to meditate, and lose control over his senses. He would stay there for many days until his close friends and relatives would find him deep in the jungle, and bring him back to his home.
Thus, as people started hearing about this holy man, from a small, minor administrative center, Shergarh started gaining spiritual influence. Many people from all over the country, would come to receive spiritual guidance from the holy man. In 1572, a well known historian of Akbar, `Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni, travelled there upon hearing about this fascinating ascetic. He states in his book, Muntakhab-ul Tawarikh (Volume II) that: "Not a day went by in my time there, that I saw less than 50 visitors come to the Shaikh
, and recite the Kalimah
at his hands". It is believed that the Shaikh converted a total of 35,000 followers to Islam
, including 365 disciples to sainthood. He has no books to his credit, and his poetry is only known to his descendants. He even forbade his spiritual succesor, Shah Abul Muali (also his nephew and son-in law) to write anything about him. He was a man who despised worldly power, wealth, fame, materialism & publicity.
The saint passed away in 1575, after which his successor had a beautiful large mausoleum erected for his grave. The pinnacle of its dome was added in 1580. This mausoleum is now the major landmark of Shergarh and can be seen from afar, lying in the heart of the town. It is grand from the outside, yet graceful and charming from the inside with beautiful calligraphy and rare tilework in the 'naqshi' style. The mazar itself also contains 7 or 8 graves of the gaddi nashins, including his son's, Abdullah Naurang Noor and other descendants such as Said Mustafa, Baqa Ali Shah, Syed Abu'l Baqa Muhammad, Pir Nadir Ali Shah, Pir Mohd. Hussain Shah and many others. The compound is also very large and contains the graves of more recent descendants, and others who have been close to the Shaikh and his family. One of the Shaikh's famous descendants who is buried outside is Mohd. Jaffar Shah
. He was a prominent hockey player in the Indian
olympic team, and won 2 gold medals.
Today, the town is home to 20-25,000 people. The main clans are Syed (Kirmani)
, Akhund, Baloch
, Hans, Joiya
, Kharal
, Kumhar
, Lohar
, Machhi
, Mirasi
, Muslim Shaikh
, Nai
, Sial
, Tarkhan
& Wattu
. It is well developed and soling is common. All in all, Shergarh is the joining point of roads from six towns, namely Akhtarabad (7 miles away), Chunian
(17 miles away), Depalpur
(12 miles away), Hujra Shah Muqeem
(7 miles away), Renala Khurd
(10 miles away), & Wan Radha Ram
(11 miles away). The old bed of the Beas
is still intact, and agriculture is practiced on both sides.The western side and the town itself is dependant on canals for irrigation, as the sub-soil water is brackish.This side is known as uttar. The eastern, low lying side has sweet subsoil water fit for agriculture, thus tubewells can be used. This side is known as hithar. The main crops cultivated in the region, are rice
, maize
, potato
, cotton
& wheat
.
The town attracts curious travellers, artists and calligraphers on a year round basis, as well as the usual murids. It is particularly crowded in the month of March, when thousands travel from all over the Punjab & beyond, to attend the annual urs of the Shaikh
mubarik) of Hazrat Sahib, Karmanwaleh, situated on the GT road towards Renala Khurd and Lahore. This Mazar-i-Sharif is commonly known as 'Aastana Alia Hazrat Karmanwala Shareef'. Beside the Mazar-i-Sharif, there is a main Masjid. Both were constructed under the authority and guidance of Hazrat Syed Mohammed Ali Shah Bhukari (RA) Naqshbandi Sahib, in honour of their late Father, Hazrat Syed Mohammed Ismael Shah Bhukari (RA), Naqshbandi sahib, who was affectionately referred to as "Hazrat Sahib, Karmanwaleh".
Date of Urs:
The main Urs mubarak is held annually on 27–28 February & 10,11,12 Rabi-Ul-Awal (every year) Salana Khatam Sharif of Ahl-e-bait on 10 Muharram (every year) and also the urs is on 8–9 April and also 9–10 June every year under the supervision of Syed Shaukat Hussain Gilani and Sajjada Nasheen Syed Hassan Mujtaba Gilani.
Date of Wisaal:
Syed Muhammad Ismail Shah Bukhari (RA) Naqshbandi sahib, known as Hazrat Sahib Karmanwala - 27 Ramzan 1385 Hijri
Syed Usman Ali Shah Bukhari (RA) Naqshbandi sahib - 15 July 1978
Syed Mohammed Ali Shah Bhukari (RA), Naqshbandi sahib, 1st Sajjada Nasheen Hazrat.
Besides Darbar Sharif, there is Hazrat Karmanwala University an Educational project planned by Syed Mir Tayyab Ali Shah Bukhari (RA) Sajjada Nasheen Hazrat Karmanwala Sharif.
of Okara District in the Punjab
province of Pakistan
.
It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres (541 feet) and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch
folk
hero, Mir Chakar Rind
. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent predominate in the district.
More than half of the town is inhabbited by Syeds. They also have a family graveyard where many great spiritual leaders including Syed Qaim Ali Shah Gilani who was also known as Pir Bodian Wala. He was head of this lineage of the descendents of Abdul Qadir Gilani (Hazrat Ghouse Al Azam) of Baghdad Sharif in Satghara, Syed Ahmed Shah Gilani who was lately known as Pir Bodian Wala was the eldest son, Syed Shams-Ud-Din, Syed Fateh Ali Shah Gilani, Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, Syed Ahmed Ali Shah Gilani(Chan Pir), Syed Jaffir Hussain Gilani, Syed Ali Bahadur Gilani, Syed Sher Shah Gilani and Syed Khadim Hussain Gilani(Peer Sahib) are lying in peace. Their shrines are built in the graveyard and are visible even from a great distance.
Mounds of brick debris at Satghara mark the site of a forgotten town, the coins found at Satghara prove that it was inhabited in the time of the Kushan dynasty
.
The name of this town "Satghara" is commonly believed to drive its name from words (Saat or Seven) (Ghara or pitchers) or seven ghars seven homes. Another sound historical folklore is narrated that some injured soldiers of Alexandar the Great (belonging to ancient town of Stageira of Macedonia) resided their and they named this ancient town as Stageira now corrupted as Satghara.
, Arain
and Khokhar are main tribe
s of the area.
broke famous jail during War of Independence of 1857
and British Extra Assistant Commissioner (Lord) Berkley was defeated and killed by the resilient locals.
The unique claim of the village to international fame is the dolls and toys made by village women that are collectors delight all over the world. Dolls made in the village have travelled to International Dolls Museum in Amsterdam and also have been put on display in the "Theme-park" at EXPO 2000 in Hanover
(Germany) as one of the 767 worldwide projects – an example of thinking for 21st century. Earlier, the dolls participated in International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. These dolls show how culture goes beyond simple work of art and becomes collaboration among applied and natural sciences as well as other forces that affect our lives. Mauza Akbar is named after the name Akbar the Great (Mughal). Satghara remained the capital during the period of Baluch leader Mir Chaker Rind.
s & Union Councils of Okara District:
The district is represented in the Provincial Assembly
, by 9 elected MPAs
, who represent the following constituencies:
The district is also represented in the National Assembly
, by 5 elected members who represent the following constituencies:
s (fairs) in the month of 'Saawan' are notable among these traditions where different types of games are played on the drum-beat and shops of sweets and toys etc. are decorated. The population mostly relies on agriculture as their main source of livelihood, although a number of people work in factories and offices as well. Dairy and fruit products are the identical mark of the area.
There are many Syed
clans settled in the district, who have been in the area for a long time, and have a great impact & history in the district. The main Syed
families are the Kirmanis
of Shergarh
, the Gilanis of Hujra Shah Muqeem
, Satghara
, Shaikhu and Depalpur
, & the Mashdis of Mustafabad. All these towns are in Depalpur Tehsil
except Satghara Sharif
and Shaikhu Sharif, these are in Okara Tehsil
. Their ancestors were Sufis
, all of whom migrated from Iran
,and converted many tribes of the area to Islam
. They are revered as saints by the people of the region, and thousands attend the respective shrines daily. The ancestor of the Saadat of Shergarh, Hazrat Daud Bandagi
,a renowned follower of the Qadiri Order is revered by millions all around Punjab, and his urs is attended by many in March.
The ancestor of Sadaat Gilani of Depalpur and Satghara
, is Muhammad Ghaus Bala Peer, a renowned Shaikh of Ghousiyah Qadiriyyah Order is revered by unaccountable people throughout Pakistan and India. The town of Balakot
in Azad Kashmir
is named after him. His Urs is on first Naochandi Thursday of every lunar month, it is a miracle of the time. His shrine is near Satghara, about 8 km and 10 to 15 minutes journey on own car or motor bike.
The Syeds
also play an important role in the politics of the district. The previous nazim was Syed Sajjad Haider Kirmani, who belonged to the Syed
clan of Shergarh
, and was a very well known and respected leader of the region who died in May 2009. The current Nazim,Syed Assad Ali Gilani, is also a Syed
, from the town of Hujra Shah Muqeem
.
The Sial tribe is Also Present in the Area of tehsil Okara. Renala Khurd and Depalpur but in lesser amount.
The Baloch have a long history in the area. Their 15th century folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind
, migrated from Sibi
, with a large army to this area and made Satghara
his capital. Many Baloch can still be found in the District, especially near the Ravi
, but also have many villages around Shergarh
. They are mainly of Lashari
and Rind
stock. They are the only people of the region who did not revert to agriculture prior to the development of the irrigation system in the region. They still practice the ancient tradition of rearing cattle along the courses of the rivers as their main source of livelihood.
The Wattu
are a Muslim Rajput tribe who reside mostly in the eastern part of Okara District, namely Depalpur Tehsil
. They can be found along the Sutlej
, & have many villages around towns such as Basir Pur, Haveli Lakha
, Hujra Shah Muqeem
& Mandi Ahmedabad all the way up to Pakpattan District
. Their sub-clans include the Ladhuka, Maneka, Shamadka, Pablika etc. They claim that their pastoral ancestors were converted to Islam
, by Baba Farid of Pakpattan
The Joiya
, are also a Muslim Rajput tribe of Chandravanshi origin. They too, like the Wattoos
live in areas around the Sutlej
and can also be found on the other side, in Bahawalnagar District
. They are native to Depalpur Tehsil
, & can be found around towns such as Hujra Shah Muqeem
, Shergarh
, Haveli Lakha
, Basir Pur etc. They too, like many native clans of the region, had ancestors that were mainly pastoral, but reverted to agriculture after the development of the irrigation system.
The Jakhar are settled in the district They reside in 8 villages and in Okara city
. On the Okara-Faisalabad
Rd., the Jakhar Chowk is famous.
The Ranghars
are a Rajput
community of considerable influence in the district. Their ancestors were alloted plots of land all over the district, after the partition of Sub-Continent. They were the prime choice of the British
for recruitment in the British Army
, as they were skilled warriors, and were later awarded the title of Martial Race
. Their ancestors migrated from Haryana
, Rajputana
and East Punjab
.They spoke Ranghari. Prior to partition, they started adopting titles such as Rao, Rana etc. Today, they wield significant power in the running of the district's affairs, and have gained substantial landed property through the decades.
The Dogar
are settled in the district .Mainly settled in Depalpur Tehsil
. They migrated from Ferozpur & Gurdaspur
districts.
The Arain
are primarily an agricultural caste of Okara district. They are settled all over the district. They are hardworking, honest, and dedicated people. Most of the Arain
in this area migrated from East Punjab
, from districts like Amritsar
, Gurdaspur
, Ferozepur etc.They were also rewarded plots of land by the British, upon the development of irrigation in the area.
The Kharal
are a tribe of both Rajput
& Jatt origin. They are Jaanglis, and speak the Jaangli dialect of Punjabi
. Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal
, a Kharal from Gogera
is famous for rebelling against the British, in 1857. The Kharals are native to the region around the Ravi River
, majority live around towns like Baman Bala, Chuchak, Gogera
, Satghara
, Jaboka
etc., and can also be found on the other side of the river, in Sheikhupura
, Faisalabad
& Toba Tek Singh
districts. Their ancestors were converted mainly by Baba Farid of Pakpattan
, and Daud Bandagi Kirmani
of Shergarh
. Their subclans include the Rabera's, Jurrera's, Masrera's, Lakhwera's, Sangoka's, Beguka's etc.They were the most powerful and influential pastoral clan of their time.However due to the mass migration of immigrants from East Punjab
, and the development of the canal colonies by the British
, their power declined and they became absorbed in the agrarian society. The ones of Rajput
origin use the prefix 'Rai', whereas many of Jat origin will use another prefix such as 'Chaudhary'.
The Awans
, although originating in the Potohar region, can also be found in the district. They live all over, and have many villages in Renala Khurd Tehsil
& Depalpur Tehsil
Moreover, the shrine of Syed Shabbir Ali Shah has also gained popularity among the people.
Districts of Pakistan
The Districts of Pakistan are the second order administrative divisions of Pakistan. Districts were the third order of administrative divisions, below provinces and "divisions", until the reforms of August 2000, when "divisions" were abolished...
of Punjab
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...
. The 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...
Road connects the district capital, Okara
Okara, Pakistan
Okara is the capital city of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The name Okara is derived from Okaan, a name of a tree, the city is located south-west to the city of Lahore and is famous for its agriculture-based economy and cotton mills...
with tLahore
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...
110 km away. Okara began as a small town about 40 km from the city of Sahiwal. It later become a city in its own right. According to the 1998 census, the district had a population of 2,232,992 of which 12.84% were urban. The postal code of Okara is 56300.
History
The city is a relatively new agricultural city. During the period of British ruleBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
there was a jungle of Okaan where the city has been built. The word Okara for this district was actually originated from word Okan(A lush green tree with needle like leaves).The tree Okan gave birth to word Okanwali(Land of Okan)which ultimately finalized into Okara. During British rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
the area was part of Montgomery District
Montgomery District
Montgomery District was an administrative district of the former Punjab Province of British India, in what is now Pakistan. Named after Sir Robert Montgomery, it lay in the Bari Doab, or the tract between the Sutlej and the Ravi rivers, extending also across the Ravi into the Rechna Doab, which...
and contained a large saltpeter
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
refinery. At partition one of the two textile mills that Pakistan got was the one at Okara. The mill was known as Sutlej textile mill and belonged to Aditya Birla Group
Aditya Birla Group
The Aditya Birla Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. It operates in 33 countries with more than 133,000 employees worldwide...
. It was asia's biggest textile mill at that time. In 1982 the city became the headquarters of the newly created Okara District. Okara has had a railway line since 1892.
Agriculture
Okara District is famous for its fertile lands, peaceful natural environment and green fields of potato, tomato, sugarcane, wheat, rice and maize crops. Oranges and Mangoes orchards are famous. The area of district Okara is the gold mine for history seekers, spiritual and curious travellers. One can find archaeological remains of different dynasties of prehistory, Indus civilization, Persians, Sultanates, the Mugal Empire, the Sikh ConfederacySikh Confederacy
The Sikh Empire was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The empire, based around the Punjab region, existed from 1799 to 1849. It was forged, on the foundations of the Khalsa, under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from a collection of autonomous Punjabi Misls...
and the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
.
There is a central ridge, in the centre of Okara District, which marks the old river bed of the Beas
Beas River
The Beas River is a river in the northern part of India. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some 470 km to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab....
, and the boundary b/w the eastern and western half of the district. The ridge descends from Kasur
Kasur
Kasur , the capital of Kasur District in Pakistan. Kasur is located adjacent to the border of Ganda Singh Wala between Pakistan and India, and is a tourist attraction because of the daily occurring Flags lowering ceremony...
, all the way to Chunian
Chunian
Chunian is an historic city of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at 30° 58' 0N 73° 58' 60E. The is located at an elevations of 177 metres , and lies about 70 km south of Lahore, the Punjab capital. It is the headquarters of a tehsil or revenue sub-division of the same name in Kasur District...
, and then Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
in Okara. As you go west of the ridge, into Okara
Okara Tehsil
Okara is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 41 Union Councils, 11 of which form the tehsil capital Renala Khurd.-References:...
& Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd Tehsil
Renala Khurd is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 18 Union Councils, two of which form the tehsil capital Renala Khurd.-References:...
, the subsoil water is brackish, therefore the area is dependant on canals for irrigation. However, after you cross the ridge east into Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur...
, the subsoil water is sweet and good for agriculture.
Okara District is also famous for the lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
, guava
Guava
Guavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
& grapefruit
Grapefruit
The grapefruit , is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour fruit, an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit"; it has also been misidentified with the pomelo or shaddock , one of the parents of this hybrid, the other being sweet orange The...
orchards, belonging to the food processing company, Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited
Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited
Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited or Mitchell's is a Pakistani food company. It is considered as one of the largest and oldest food company that has started its operations in 1933 under the name of Indian Mildura Fruit Farms Limited in the British Indian region that has now been administered by...
. The orchard runs for about 6 miles, along the LBDC, from Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
all the way up to the Okara bypass.
Language
Most of the urban people of the district speak the dialects of East PunjabEast Punjab
East Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
, as a majority of the urban population in and around the major administrative towns of Okara
Okara
Okara can have several meanings:* Okara * Okara, Pakistan*Okara Tehsil* Okara District, Pakistan* Gabriel Okara, a Nigerian writer....
& Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
have roots in that area, & belong mainly to the Arain
Arain
The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
& Ranghar
Ranghar
Ranghar are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India...
clans. However, deviating from the main 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...
-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...
route, the accent starts changing to the Jaangli accent, which is more tinged by Seraiki
Saraiki 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...
than the Lahori accent. This has been the original tongue of the people back when irrigation was a distant facility, and most of the people used to rear cattle as the main occupation, along the courses of the rivers Ravi
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
and Satluj. It is spoken by the natives of the Ravi belt (major towns include Gogera
Gogera
Gogera or Gugera is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'4N 73°18'24E with an altitude of 166 metres and lies to the north-west of the district capital - Okara....
, Satghara
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
, Mouza Meerak etc.) belonging to the Joiya
Johiya
Johiya , also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, and Joeya, is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh", a region that included Haryana,...
Kharal
Kharal
-History:Kharal are Panwar Rajputs. Panwar is Sub division of Paramara Rajputs.The Paramara belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs....
, 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....
, Kathia
Kathia
The Kathia are a rajput Muslim tribe, found in Punjab, Pakistan. According to the Census of India 1931, their male population numbered 1,600.-Locality:...
, Kamiana & Jakhar clans, as well as the Satluj belt around Dipalpur
Dipalpur
Dipalpur is a town in Okara District of the Punjab and headquarters of Depalpur Tehsil, assumed to be largest tehsil of Pakistan. It is situated 25 kilometres from the district capital Okara on a bank of the Beas River in Bari Doab...
(encompassing major towns such as Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
, Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
, Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha is a town of the Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located around 180;km south west of Lahore....
etc.) belonging to the Wattu
Wattu
The Wattoo or Wattu are Muslim Rajput tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan.-History and origin:Accoding to some traditions, the Wattoo are descended from a Rajah Junhar, a descendant of the famous Raja Salvahan of Sialkot. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal...
, Bodla
Bodla
Bodla is a Punjabi tribe found along the banks of the Sutlej River in Pakistan.- History and origin :The Bodla are found in the lower and middle Sutlej valley in Pakistan. They were at one time an entirely pastoral tribe, and are said to have come from Multan through Bahawalpur to Sahiwal...
, Baloch, Bhatti & Jurrera clans.
Livestock
Okara is also famous for its cattle breed known as Sahiwal and a water buffalo breed known as Nili-Ravi. It is very rich in livestock population and production. The Livestock Production Research Institute Bahadar Nagar Farm is a very large Government farm near Okara city. The farm has large number of cows, buffalos, bulls (for reproduction), goats and sheep.Infrastructure
Okara have all the basic physical and origanizational structures, services and facilities needed and necessary in a city.There are two stadiums of Okara district, in which one of them includes Football ground, Basketball court and Swimming pool for Sports. A new international hockey stadium is being constructed in Renala khurd Tehsil of Okara, which would be completed by 2013. This stadium will develop a strong infrastructure for hockey in the country.
There are also many small and considerable big parks for general public. The three main recreational parks are Ladies Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah and District Park.
Educational institutes include Education University, Cadet College, Govt. College for Boy, two Govt. Colleges for Women.
There are also many privately owned colleges and schools, which are nationally recognised, well built, big and their standard of education is also high as comapred nationally.The District Public School and College, Okara (DPSC Okara) is a well known institute in the City , province and also the Country. These institutes include Morden science and computer labs, libraries, playgrounds and canteens.
There are various numerous public & private hospitals and clinics providing the health services. The popular and well equipped hospitals are District Govt. hospital, Shareef surgical hospital and C.M.H Okara Cantt. There is also a Social welfare health society which is being operated under the Govt. of Punjab. Every hospital has more than two ambulances. Located in the village of Rehmpur the Rosary Christian Hospital
Rosary Christian Hospital
Rosary Christian Hospital is a medical facility in Okara, Pakistan, owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad.-History:Construction of Rosary Christian Hospital started in 2001 when Italian Father Rino Metrini became the first Camillian priest to visit Pakistan...
also provides medical services to Okara and surrounding areas.
The 1122 Rescue Govt. organization is also offering their services in Okara city. There is also a separated Fire station, located in the centre of city, which have several old and also latest fire engines for safety services.
Okara also have a vast Railway station, which contain several platforms, where almost every train going from 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...
to 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...
makes stop. There are two railway underpasses and one flyover which helps in smooth flow of traffic.
On 31 May 2005, the Ex-President General Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
inaugrated the Okara Bypass (30.786887° 73.459238°), lenegth of 12.7 KM, on GT road (N-5). This project was commenced on 5 September 2003, due to the great demand of the people of the area. It was completed at the cost of 628.17 Million rupees. This interchange proved very helpful in the smooth flow of national highway traffic, particularly between Lahore and Multan and to reduce the national traffic in the city. This bypasss connects the Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway which is the economic lifeline of Pakistan.
Surroundings
Nearby cities are SahiwalSahiwal
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...
, 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...
, Depalpur
Dipalpur
Dipalpur is a town in Okara District of the Punjab and headquarters of Depalpur Tehsil, assumed to be largest tehsil of Pakistan. It is situated 25 kilometres from the district capital Okara on a bank of the Beas River in Bari Doab...
, Basirpur
Basirpur
Basirpur is a town of Depalpur Tehsil, in Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is around 90 south west of Lahore, the district headquarters is Okara and Tehsil Head Quarter is Depalpur. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 59,781...
, Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
and Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha is a town of the Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located around 180;km south west of Lahore....
. There is a Famous Shrine of SUFI of Hazrat Sayed Shabeer Husain Shah Ghilani Situated in village "47/2-L (RAJPUTAN)at the tarivling of only 10 Minutes on depalpur road OKARA.. About a distance of 25 km from Depalpur, on Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha is a town of the Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located around 180;km south west of Lahore....
-Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
road, there is a famous shrine of sufi "Baba Wali Roshan Shah" situated in village "Bunga Saleha". Every year on 27th of Harr(Desi Month), Mela is celebated with great joyous. Another well known shrine near Depalpur is that of Hazrat Syed Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim bin Syed Fatehullah Kirmani 1513-1575C.E. more popularly known as Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani was a famous 16th century saint of the Qadiri order.- Overview :...
, located in the town of Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
, which is about 12 miles from Depalpur and 7 miles from Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
.His urs is held in the middle of March, and is attended by thousands from all over Punjab and beyond. In the west of Okara city, the Ravi goes winding along the borders of Faisalabad
Faisalabad District
Faisalabad District is one of the districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 5,429,547 of which almost 42% were in Faisalabad City....
and Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura District
Sheikhupura District is a district of Punjab province, Pakistan. Sheikhupura is the headquarters of Sheikhupura District. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the district had a population of 3,321,029 of which 25.45% were urban....
districts.
The Main Towns of the district are:
- DepalpurDipalpurDipalpur is a town in Okara District of the Punjab and headquarters of Depalpur Tehsil, assumed to be largest tehsil of Pakistan. It is situated 25 kilometres from the district capital Okara on a bank of the Beas River in Bari Doab...
- OkaraOkaraOkara can have several meanings:* Okara * Okara, Pakistan*Okara Tehsil* Okara District, Pakistan* Gabriel Okara, a Nigerian writer....
- Renala KhurdRenala KhurdRenala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
And some minor towns of the district are:
- Akhtarabad
- Bama Bala
- Bama Kohla
- Basir Pur
- Chuchaq
- GogeraGogeraGogera or Gugera is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'4N 73°18'24E with an altitude of 166 metres and lies to the north-west of the district capital - Okara....
- Haveli LakhaHaveli LakhaHaveli Lakha is a town of the Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located around 180;km south west of Lahore....
- Karmanwala
- Hujra Shah MuqeemHujra Shah MuqeemHujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
- JabokaJabokaJaboka is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°57'38N 73°27'10E with an altitude of 161 metres -References:...
- Mouza Meerak
- Jandraka
- Lasharian
- Mandi Ahmedabad
- SatgharaSatgharaSatghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
- ShergarhShergarh, PakistanShergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
Renala Khurd
Renala KhurdRenala Khurd
Renala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
(Urdu: رینالاخورد) is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about 570 feet (170 m). It is located at 30°52'60N 73°35'60E[2] and is about 117 km from Lahore and 10 km from the district capital Okara city towards south-west of Lahore on national highway (GT Road) and on Lahore Karachi main railway line. Eastern time zone of Renala Khurd is UTC+5+6DT.
It is mainly known for a famous fruit products company Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited
Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited
Mitchell's Fruit Farms Limited or Mitchell's is a Pakistani food company. It is considered as one of the largest and oldest food company that has started its operations in 1933 under the name of Indian Mildura Fruit Farms Limited in the British Indian region that has now been administered by...
. It has orchards of guava & citrus running b/w the lower bari doab canal and the Multan Road, for about 8 miles all the way up to Okara bypass. This region is also well known as a major producer of sugarcane & rice. These crops can be cultivated due to abundance of water supplied by the lower bari doab canal & smaller water channels.
At Renala Khurd, one may visit still opertaional, Renala Hydro Power Station, situated on Canal Loar-Bari-Doo-Aab. Its capacity is 1 MW. Sir Ganga Ram
Sir Ganga Ram
Sir Ganga Ram KCSI was an eminent civil engineer born in Mangtanwala, a small village of Punjab Province in British India now in Punjab, Pakistan and educated at the Thomason College of Civil Engineering 1873 batch...
(1851–1927), a civil engineer and leading philanthropist of his time, established Renala Hydral Power Station in 1925. In 1873, after a brief Service in Punjab P.W.D, he devoted himself to practical farming. He obtained on lease from the government 50000 acres (202.3 km²) of barren, unirrigated land in Montgomery District
Montgomery District
Montgomery District was an administrative district of the former Punjab Province of British India, in what is now Pakistan. Named after Sir Robert Montgomery, it lay in the Bari Doab, or the tract between the Sutlej and the Ravi rivers, extending also across the Ravi into the Rechna Doab, which...
, and within three years converted that vast desert into smiling fields, irrigated by water lifted by a hydroelectric plant and running through a thousand miles of irrigation channels, all constructed at his own cost. This was the biggest private enterprise of the kind, unknown and unthought of in the country before. Sir Ganga Ram earned millions, most of which he gave to charity. In the words of Sir Malcolm Hailey, the Governor of Punjab at the time, "he won like a hero and gave like a Saint".
A part of Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
is naturally deprived of the underground sweet water. People in this part rely on canals as the main source of irrigation, as tube -wells, unlike other parts of the district, only pour out salty water which nothing but spoils the land.
Shergarh
ShergarhShergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
(literally 'Lion's Den'), is a town located 10 miles away from Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
on the Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
road, and is a union council of Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur...
. It is a very historic town. It was named by the 16th century governor of 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...
, Fateh Jang Khan
Fateh Jang
Fateh Jang is a town and the tehsil headquarters of Attock District in the Punjab province of Pakistan...
, in honour of the present Afghan
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...
ruler of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
. This fact is documented by Abbas Khan Sarauni in his book, Tarikh-e Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
.
It started off as a small police station and was informally known as "Chor Chauki", or "The Police Station". About a decade later, in 1545, a young Syed
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
ascetic named Ibrahim
Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim bin Syed Fatehullah Kirmani 1513-1575C.E. more popularly known as Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani was a famous 16th century saint of the Qadiri order.- Overview :...
, belonging originally to Kirman of Southern Persia, migrated here from Satghara
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
. After being initiated into the Qadiriyyah order of Sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
, at the hands of Shaikh Hamid Gilani, he established his khanqah in the remote village. At the time, it was sparsely populated, located on the high abandoned bed of the Beas
Beas River
The Beas River is a river in the northern part of India. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some 470 km to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab....
, marking the geographical boundary between the Neeli
Neeli Bar
Neeli Bar is a geographical region in Punjab, Pakistan. It is between the rivers Ravi and Satluj. "Bar" is the name given to areas in Punjab which were thick forests before the arrival of the modern canal irrigation system. Its soil is very fertile, as this plain is formed by the mud that has been...
and the Ganji
Ganji Bar
Ganji Bar is the lower valley region from the old flow of the rivers Satluj and river Beas or river Hakra to Ravi. Districts lying in this area include Bahawalnagar and Chishtian...
bars. It was surrounded by jungle from both sides, and was equi-distant from the rivers, Ravi
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
& Satluj. It was also very distant from the main road connecting 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...
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...
. These factors made the place ideal for a man of his position, as he could worship there in solitude. He spent the remaining thirty years of his life here.It is also documented, that he would sometimes go in the jungle lying between Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
and Satghara
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
to meditate, and lose control over his senses. He would stay there for many days until his close friends and relatives would find him deep in the jungle, and bring him back to his home.
Thus, as people started hearing about this holy man, from a small, minor administrative center, Shergarh started gaining spiritual influence. Many people from all over the country, would come to receive spiritual guidance from the holy man. In 1572, a well known historian of Akbar, `Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni, travelled there upon hearing about this fascinating ascetic. He states in his book, Muntakhab-ul Tawarikh (Volume II) that: "Not a day went by in my time there, that I saw less than 50 visitors come to the Shaikh
Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim bin Syed Fatehullah Kirmani 1513-1575C.E. more popularly known as Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani was a famous 16th century saint of the Qadiri order.- Overview :...
, and recite the Kalimah
Kalimah
The Kalimah literally translates as "the word". In the Islamic context, it translates to "the word of Islam." It is a centrepiece in the faith of Muslims...
at his hands". It is believed that the Shaikh converted a total of 35,000 followers to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, including 365 disciples to sainthood. He has no books to his credit, and his poetry is only known to his descendants. He even forbade his spiritual succesor, Shah Abul Muali (also his nephew and son-in law) to write anything about him. He was a man who despised worldly power, wealth, fame, materialism & publicity.
The saint passed away in 1575, after which his successor had a beautiful large mausoleum erected for his grave. The pinnacle of its dome was added in 1580. This mausoleum is now the major landmark of Shergarh and can be seen from afar, lying in the heart of the town. It is grand from the outside, yet graceful and charming from the inside with beautiful calligraphy and rare tilework in the 'naqshi' style. The mazar itself also contains 7 or 8 graves of the gaddi nashins, including his son's, Abdullah Naurang Noor and other descendants such as Said Mustafa, Baqa Ali Shah, Syed Abu'l Baqa Muhammad, Pir Nadir Ali Shah, Pir Mohd. Hussain Shah and many others. The compound is also very large and contains the graves of more recent descendants, and others who have been close to the Shaikh and his family. One of the Shaikh's famous descendants who is buried outside is Mohd. Jaffar Shah
Sayed Jaffar (field hockey)
Sayed Mohammad Jaffar Shah was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics.-Early Life and education:...
. He was a prominent hockey player in the Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
olympic team, and won 2 gold medals.
Today, the town is home to 20-25,000 people. The main clans are Syed (Kirmani)
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
, Akhund, 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....
, Hans, Joiya
Johiya
Johiya , also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, and Joeya, is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh", a region that included Haryana,...
, Kharal
Kharal
-History:Kharal are Panwar Rajputs. Panwar is Sub division of Paramara Rajputs.The Paramara belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs....
, Kumhar
Kumhar
Kumhar or Kumbhar ; also known as Prajapati, is a caste or community of India, mainly belonging to the Hindu religion. The word "Kumhar" literally means "potter" in Indian languages, pottery being the traditional occupation of the Kumhars....
, Lohar
Lohar
Lohar is an ethnic sub-caste found among Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in Northern India and Northern Pakistan. Originally this community was a warrior tribe living in provinces of Kermanshah in Iran right up to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. In India the Lohars are also known as Vishwakarma, Sharma,...
, Machhi
Machiyar
The Machiyar are Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. They also known as the Machhi.-History and origin:The Machiyar are fishing community distributed throughout the coastal areas of Gujarat from Kutch to south Gujarat. They are first said to have settled at Patan, the historic...
, Mirasi
Mirasi
The Mirasi are a Muslim or Sikh caste, found in Northern India and Pakistan. They are also known as Pakhwaji, Kalawart and Qawwal.The Mirasi community are the genealogists of a number of communities in Northern India and Pakistan. Most Mirasis are Muslim, but Rababi and Dhadi sub-groups are...
, Muslim Shaikh
Muslim Shaikh
The Muslim Shaikh or Mussali are a community found in the Punjab province of Pakistan The Shah Khel community of the North West Frontier Province, has similar roots.-History and origin:...
, Nai
Nai (caste)
The word Nai refers to a particular profession, that of cutting hair, running beauty salons, makeup or facelift clinics, beauty parlours, etc. among Hindus, Sikhs or Muslims in India. They are also referred to as Nai and Nai-Thakur, Sains. In Pakistan, the Nai or hairdresser were following it as a...
, Sial
Sial
In geology, the sial is the upper layer of the Earth's crust made of rocks rich in silicates and aluminium minerals. It is sometimes equated with the continental crust because it is absent in the wide oceanic basins, but "sial" is a geochemical term rather than a plate tectonic term.Geologists...
, Tarkhan
Tarkhan
Tarkhan is an ancient Central Asian title used by various Indo-European Tarkhan (Old Turkic Tarqan; Mongolian: Darkhan; ; ; ; alternative spellings Tarkan, Tarkhaan, Tarqan, Tarchan, Tarxan, Tarcan or Targan) is an ancient Central Asian title used by various Indo-European Tarkhan (Old Turkic...
& Wattu
Wattu
The Wattoo or Wattu are Muslim Rajput tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan.-History and origin:Accoding to some traditions, the Wattoo are descended from a Rajah Junhar, a descendant of the famous Raja Salvahan of Sialkot. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal...
. It is well developed and soling is common. All in all, Shergarh is the joining point of roads from six towns, namely Akhtarabad (7 miles away), Chunian
Chunian
Chunian is an historic city of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at 30° 58' 0N 73° 58' 60E. The is located at an elevations of 177 metres , and lies about 70 km south of Lahore, the Punjab capital. It is the headquarters of a tehsil or revenue sub-division of the same name in Kasur District...
(17 miles away), Depalpur
Dipalpur
Dipalpur is a town in Okara District of the Punjab and headquarters of Depalpur Tehsil, assumed to be largest tehsil of Pakistan. It is situated 25 kilometres from the district capital Okara on a bank of the Beas River in Bari Doab...
(12 miles away), Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
(7 miles away), Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd
Renala Khurd is a growing city of Okara District in the north east of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the headquarters of Renala Khurd Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district. Its approximate height above sea level is about...
(10 miles away), & Wan Radha Ram
Wan Radha Ram
Wan Radha Ram is a town and Union Council of Kasur District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Pattoki Tehsil and is located at 30°56'60N 73°45'0E with an altitude of 181 metres ....
(11 miles away). The old bed of the Beas
Beas River
The Beas River is a river in the northern part of India. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some 470 km to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab....
is still intact, and agriculture is practiced on both sides.The western side and the town itself is dependant on canals for irrigation, as the sub-soil water is brackish.This side is known as uttar. The eastern, low lying side has sweet subsoil water fit for agriculture, thus tubewells can be used. This side is known as hithar. The main crops cultivated in the region, are rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
, cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
& wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
.
The town attracts curious travellers, artists and calligraphers on a year round basis, as well as the usual murids. It is particularly crowded in the month of March, when thousands travel from all over the Punjab & beyond, to attend the annual urs of the Shaikh
Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim bin Syed Fatehullah Kirmani 1513-1575C.E. more popularly known as Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani was a famous 16th century saint of the Qadiri order.- Overview :...
Hazrat Karmanwala Shareef
There is Mazar-i-Sharif (also known as DarbarDarbar
Darbar may refer to:* A term for a court in Urdu from the Persian - Durbar * A surname used in the Indian Subcontinent, it originated during Mughal rule...
mubarik) of Hazrat Sahib, Karmanwaleh, situated on the GT road towards Renala Khurd and Lahore. This Mazar-i-Sharif is commonly known as 'Aastana Alia Hazrat Karmanwala Shareef'. Beside the Mazar-i-Sharif, there is a main Masjid. Both were constructed under the authority and guidance of Hazrat Syed Mohammed Ali Shah Bhukari (RA) Naqshbandi Sahib, in honour of their late Father, Hazrat Syed Mohammed Ismael Shah Bhukari (RA), Naqshbandi sahib, who was affectionately referred to as "Hazrat Sahib, Karmanwaleh".
Date of Urs:
The main Urs mubarak is held annually on 27–28 February & 10,11,12 Rabi-Ul-Awal (every year) Salana Khatam Sharif of Ahl-e-bait on 10 Muharram (every year) and also the urs is on 8–9 April and also 9–10 June every year under the supervision of Syed Shaukat Hussain Gilani and Sajjada Nasheen Syed Hassan Mujtaba Gilani.
Date of Wisaal:
Syed Muhammad Ismail Shah Bukhari (RA) Naqshbandi sahib, known as Hazrat Sahib Karmanwala - 27 Ramzan 1385 Hijri
Syed Usman Ali Shah Bukhari (RA) Naqshbandi sahib - 15 July 1978
Syed Mohammed Ali Shah Bhukari (RA), Naqshbandi sahib, 1st Sajjada Nasheen Hazrat.
Besides Darbar Sharif, there is Hazrat Karmanwala University an Educational project planned by Syed Mir Tayyab Ali Shah Bukhari (RA) Sajjada Nasheen Hazrat Karmanwala Sharif.
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union councilUnion Councils of Pakistan
A sherwan or village council in Pakistan is an elected local government body consisting of 21 councillors, and headed by a nazim and a naib nazim...
of Okara District in the Punjab
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...
province of 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...
.
It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres (541 feet) and is also the location of the tomb of 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....
folk
Folk
The English word Folk is derived from a Germanic noun, *fulka meaning "people" or "army"...
hero, Mir Chakar Rind
Mir Chakar Rind
Mir Chakar Khan Rind or Meer Chaakar Khan Rind or Chakar-i-Azam was a Baloch chieftain in the 15th century...
. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent predominate in the district.
More than half of the town is inhabbited by Syeds. They also have a family graveyard where many great spiritual leaders including Syed Qaim Ali Shah Gilani who was also known as Pir Bodian Wala. He was head of this lineage of the descendents of Abdul Qadir Gilani (Hazrat Ghouse Al Azam) of Baghdad Sharif in Satghara, Syed Ahmed Shah Gilani who was lately known as Pir Bodian Wala was the eldest son, Syed Shams-Ud-Din, Syed Fateh Ali Shah Gilani, Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, Syed Ahmed Ali Shah Gilani(Chan Pir), Syed Jaffir Hussain Gilani, Syed Ali Bahadur Gilani, Syed Sher Shah Gilani and Syed Khadim Hussain Gilani(Peer Sahib) are lying in peace. Their shrines are built in the graveyard and are visible even from a great distance.
Mounds of brick debris at Satghara mark the site of a forgotten town, the coins found at Satghara prove that it was inhabited in the time of the Kushan dynasty
Kushan Empire
The Kushan Empire originally formed in the early 1st century AD under Kujula Kadphises in the territories of ancient Bactria on either side of the middle course of the Oxus in what is now northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and southern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.During the 1st and early 2nd centuries...
.
The name of this town "Satghara" is commonly believed to drive its name from words (Saat or Seven) (Ghara or pitchers) or seven ghars seven homes. Another sound historical folklore is narrated that some injured soldiers of Alexandar the Great (belonging to ancient town of Stageira of Macedonia) resided their and they named this ancient town as Stageira now corrupted as Satghara.
Akhtarabad
Akhtarabad is one of the towns in Okara district. It is located 25 km away from Okara city on the N-5 National Highway (Multan to Lahore section, also known as G.T road). Its sugar market (shaker mandi) is famous all over Pakistan. Gujjar, RajputRajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
, Arain
Arain
The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
and Khokhar are main tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
s of the area.
Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka
A few kilometres from Okara on the Okara-Faisalabad road there is a village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. For going too the village you pass through Gogera—a place where Rai Ahmed Khan KharralRae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal
Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal was one of the greatest freedom fighters in the Indian rebellion of 1857.He was a resident of Neeli Bar's famous town Gogera, District Sahiwal. He started his rebellion in a wide area of Punjab, Pakistan covering Ganji Bar, Neeli Bar and Sandal Bar area...
broke famous jail during War of Independence of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
and British Extra Assistant Commissioner (Lord) Berkley was defeated and killed by the resilient locals.
The unique claim of the village to international fame is the dolls and toys made by village women that are collectors delight all over the world. Dolls made in the village have travelled to International Dolls Museum in Amsterdam and also have been put on display in the "Theme-park" at EXPO 2000 in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
(Germany) as one of the 767 worldwide projects – an example of thinking for 21st century. Earlier, the dolls participated in International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. These dolls show how culture goes beyond simple work of art and becomes collaboration among applied and natural sciences as well as other forces that affect our lives. Mauza Akbar is named after the name Akbar the Great (Mughal). Satghara remained the capital during the period of Baluch leader Mir Chaker Rind.
Administration
The following is a table of the TehsilTehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
s & Union Councils of Okara District:
| Tehsil Tehsil A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia.... | Unions | Total Unions |
|---|---|---|
| Depalpur Depalpur Tehsil Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur... |
1/SP WESAWEWALA, AMLI MOTI, AWAN KALAN, BARICT (CHAK BAWA), BASIRPUR-1, BASIRPUR-2, BEHLOL PUR, BHELA GULAB SINGH, BHOMAN SHAH, BHONE MANZEBTA, BHUTA MOHABBAT, BONGA SALEH, CHIPLI PUR, DEPALPUR-1, DEPALPUR-2, DEPALPUR-3, DHULLIANA, FARID PUR SOHAG, GUDDAR MULKANA, HAVELI LAKHA-1, HAVELI LAKHA-2, HAVELI LAKHA-3, HUJRA SHAH MUQEEM-1, HUJRA SHAH MUQEEM-2, HUJRA SHAH MUQEEM-3, JAITH PUR, JHUJH KALAN, KANI PUR, KLAIR KALAN, MAHANT DARSHAN, MANCHARIAN, MANDI AHMADABAD, MAROOF, MAZHAR ABAD, MEHAR SHAH KHAGA, MOHIB ALI UTAR, MUHAMMAD NAGAR, MUSTAFABAD., NAHAL MAHAR, NAMA JINDEKA, PANDAT MANFOOL PUR, PHULLAN TOLI, PIPLI PAHAR, QADIR ABAD, QILA JAVAND SINGH, QILA TARA SINGH, RAJOWAL, RATTA KHANNA, REHMAT WALA, ROHILA TAJEYKA, RUKAN PURA, SHAH NAWAZ KHAN, SHAH YAKKA, SHERGARH, SOBHA RAM | 55 |
| Okara Okara Tehsil Okara is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 41 Union Councils, 11 of which form the tehsil capital Renala Khurd.-References:... |
AKBAR,BIBI PUR, BURJ JEWAY KHAN, CHAK 12/GD, CHAK 15/1R, CHAK 18/GD, CHAK 24/GD, CHAK 27/4L, CHAK 32/2L, CHAK 32/2R, CHAK 34/GD, CHAK 36-A/4L, CHAK 4/4L, CHAK 40/3R, CHAK 40-A/4L, CHAK 42/3R, CHAK 44/2L, CHAK 45/GD, CHAK 48/3R, CHAK 52/2R, CHAK 53/2L, FATEH PUR, GOGERA-1, JABOKA, JANDRAKA, KOHLA, LASHARI, OKARA-1, OKARA-10, OKARA-11, OKARA-2, OKARA-3, OKARA-4, OKARA-5, OKARA-6, OKARA-7, OKARA-8, OKARA-9, SATGHARA, SHEIKHU SHARIF, TARIQ ABAD | 41 |
| Renala Khurd Renala Khurd Tehsil Renala Khurd is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 18 Union Councils, two of which form the tehsil capital Renala Khurd.-References:... |
AKHTARABAD, BAZEEDA, CHAK 11/1L, CHAK 13/1L, CHAK 14/1AL, CHAK 18/1L, CHAK 22/1AL, CHAK 23/2L, CHAK 33/1AL, CHAK 4/1AL, CHAK 4/GD, CHAK 5/1RA, CHAK 6/1L, CHAK 7/1R, KAMAN, MOPALKEY, RENALA-1, RENALA-2 | 18 |
The district is represented in the Provincial Assembly
Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab is a unicameral legislature of elected representatives of the province of Punjab, which is located in Lahore in eastern Pakistan...
, by 9 elected MPAs
Member of Provincial Assembly
A Member of Provincial Assembly or MPA is an elected representative to one of the four provincial assemblies of Pakistan, which are:*The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan*The Provincial Assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa...
, who represent the following constituencies:
| Constituency | Member | Party |
|---|---|---|
| PP-186 | Javed Allaudin Sajid | PPP |
| PP-187 | Syed Raza Ali Gilani | PML (Q) Pakistan Muslim League (Q) The Pakistan Muslim League or officially Pakistan Muslim League is a centrist, modern political party in Pakistan. The present form of PML-Q was formed prior to 2002 general elections.... |
| PP-188 | Rubina Shaheen Wattoo | PPP |
| PP-189 | Ch. Nadeem Abbas Rabera | PML(Q) Pakistan Muslim League (Q) The Pakistan Muslim League or officially Pakistan Muslim League is a centrist, modern political party in Pakistan. The present form of PML-Q was formed prior to 2002 general elections.... |
| PP-190 | Mohd. Ashraf Khan Sohna | PML (Q) Pakistan Muslim League (Q) The Pakistan Muslim League or officially Pakistan Muslim League is a centrist, modern political party in Pakistan. The present form of PML-Q was formed prior to 2002 general elections.... |
| PP-191 | Mian Yawar Zaman Mian Yawar Zaman Mian Yawar Zaman, son of Mian Muhammad Zaman, was born on March 21, 1961 at Okara, Pakistan, and graduated in 1980 from Government College Okara. An agriculturist, who has been elected as Member Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in General Elections 2002 and 2007 respectively. He belongs to a... |
PML (N) Pakistan Muslim League (N) The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism... |
| PP-192 | Malik Ali Abbas Khokhar | PML (N) Pakistan Muslim League (N) The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism... |
| PP-193 | Moeen Wattoo | PML (N) Pakistan Muslim League (N) The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism... |
| Total | 9 |
The district is also represented in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
, by 5 elected members who represent the following constituencies:
| Constituency | Member | Party |
|---|---|---|
| NA-143 | Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal | PPP |
| NA-144 | Sajjad-ul Hassan | PPP |
| NA-145 | Syed Samsam Ali Bokhari | PPP |
| NA-146 | Manzoor Wattoo | PPP |
| NA-147 | Khurram Jahangir Wattoo | PPP |
| Total | 5 |
Culture
It is also known for the wide variety of culture reflecting the traditions and customs of the area. MelaMela
Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a Fair. It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gathering and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sports. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance...
s (fairs) in the month of 'Saawan' are notable among these traditions where different types of games are played on the drum-beat and shops of sweets and toys etc. are decorated. The population mostly relies on agriculture as their main source of livelihood, although a number of people work in factories and offices as well. Dairy and fruit products are the identical mark of the area.
Castes
- SyedSayyidSayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
There are many Syed
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
clans settled in the district, who have been in the area for a long time, and have a great impact & history in the district. The main Syed
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
families are the Kirmanis
Kerman
- Geological characteristics :For the Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.- Economy :...
of Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
, the Gilanis of Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
, Satghara
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
, Shaikhu and Depalpur
Dipalpur
Dipalpur is a town in Okara District of the Punjab and headquarters of Depalpur Tehsil, assumed to be largest tehsil of Pakistan. It is situated 25 kilometres from the district capital Okara on a bank of the Beas River in Bari Doab...
, & the Mashdis of Mustafabad. All these towns are in Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur...
except Satghara Sharif
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
and Shaikhu Sharif, these are in Okara Tehsil
Okara Tehsil
Okara is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 41 Union Councils, 11 of which form the tehsil capital Renala Khurd.-References:...
. Their ancestors were Sufis
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
, all of whom migrated from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
,and converted many tribes of the area to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. They are revered as saints by the people of the region, and thousands attend the respective shrines daily. The ancestor of the Saadat of Shergarh, Hazrat Daud Bandagi
Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim bin Syed Fatehullah Kirmani 1513-1575C.E. more popularly known as Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani was a famous 16th century saint of the Qadiri order.- Overview :...
,a renowned follower of the Qadiri Order is revered by millions all around Punjab, and his urs is attended by many in March.
The ancestor of Sadaat Gilani of Depalpur and Satghara
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
, is Muhammad Ghaus Bala Peer, a renowned Shaikh of Ghousiyah Qadiriyyah Order is revered by unaccountable people throughout Pakistan and India. The town of Balakot
Balakot
Balakot , is a town in Mansehra District in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The town was destroyed during the 2005 earthquake and later rebuilt with the assistance of the Government of Pakistan and Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims , a Saudi relief organization...
in Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
is named after him. His Urs is on first Naochandi Thursday of every lunar month, it is a miracle of the time. His shrine is near Satghara, about 8 km and 10 to 15 minutes journey on own car or motor bike.
The Syeds
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
also play an important role in the politics of the district. The previous nazim was Syed Sajjad Haider Kirmani, who belonged to the Syed
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
clan of Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
, and was a very well known and respected leader of the region who died in May 2009. The current Nazim,Syed Assad Ali Gilani, is also a Syed
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
, from the town of Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
.
- SialSial (tribe)The Sial tribe are a Punjabi,Sindhi,Baluchi and Pakhtun people found among Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus in Pakistan and India .Sials are found among Jatts, Rajputs/Khatris...
The Sial tribe is Also Present in the Area of tehsil Okara. Renala Khurd and Depalpur but in lesser amount.
- BalochBaloch peopleThe 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....
The Baloch have a long history in the area. Their 15th century folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind
Mir Chakar Rind
Mir Chakar Khan Rind or Meer Chaakar Khan Rind or Chakar-i-Azam was a Baloch chieftain in the 15th century...
, migrated from Sibi
Sibi
Sibi is a city of Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city is located at 29°33'0N 67°52'60E at an altitude of 130 metres and is headquarters of the district and tehsil of the same name.. According to the 2001 census of Pakistan the population of Sibi is 52,100...
, with a large army to this area and made Satghara
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
his capital. Many Baloch can still be found in the District, especially near the Ravi
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
, but also have many villages around Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
. They are mainly of Lashari
Lashari
Lashari is the name of a Baloch tribe in Pakistan and Iran. The Lasharis have migrated and settled in the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Indonesia, USA, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, England, and many other countries of the world...
and Rind
Rind (tribe)
Rind are a Baloch tribe settled in the Balochistan province of Iran, and the Balochistan Province of Pakistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan....
stock. They are the only people of the region who did not revert to agriculture prior to the development of the irrigation system in the region. They still practice the ancient tradition of rearing cattle along the courses of the rivers as their main source of livelihood.
- WattuWattuThe Wattoo or Wattu are Muslim Rajput tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan.-History and origin:Accoding to some traditions, the Wattoo are descended from a Rajah Junhar, a descendant of the famous Raja Salvahan of Sialkot. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal...
The Wattu
Wattu
The Wattoo or Wattu are Muslim Rajput tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan.-History and origin:Accoding to some traditions, the Wattoo are descended from a Rajah Junhar, a descendant of the famous Raja Salvahan of Sialkot. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal...
are a Muslim Rajput tribe who reside mostly in the eastern part of Okara District, namely Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur...
. They can be found along the Sutlej
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
, & have many villages around towns such as Basir Pur, Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha is a town of the Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located around 180;km south west of Lahore....
, Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
& Mandi Ahmedabad all the way up to Pakpattan District
Pakpattan District
Pakpattan District is a district of Punjab Province in Pakistan, Pakpattan is the district capital. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, it had a population of 1,286,680 of which 14% were urban...
. Their sub-clans include the Ladhuka, Maneka, Shamadka, Pablika etc. They claim that their pastoral ancestors were converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, by Baba Farid of 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...
- JoiyaJohiyaJohiya , also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, and Joeya, is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh", a region that included Haryana,...
The Joiya
Johiya
Johiya , also known as Joia, Joiya, Joyia, Joya, Joyea, and Joeya, is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan in Northern India and Pakistan. The Johiyas are one of the twenty-four undivided Rajput clans or eka. In ancient chronicles, they are described as "Lords of Jangladesh", a region that included Haryana,...
, are also a Muslim Rajput tribe of Chandravanshi origin. They too, like the Wattoos
Wattu
The Wattoo or Wattu are Muslim Rajput tribe found in Punjab, Pakistan.-History and origin:Accoding to some traditions, the Wattoo are descended from a Rajah Junhar, a descendant of the famous Raja Salvahan of Sialkot. This Raja Junhar settled in Bhatner, where he had two sons, Jaipal and Rajpal...
live in areas around the Sutlej
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
and can also be found on the other side, in Bahawalnagar District
Bahawalnagar District
Bahawalnagar District is a district of Punjab province in Pakistan. The district is situated on the border, before the independence of Pakistan, Bahawal Nagar was a part of Bahawalpur state governed by the Nawab of Bahawalpur...
. They are native to Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur...
, & can be found around towns such as Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem
Hujra Shah Muqeem is a town of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is part of Depalpur Tehsil and is administratively subdivided into 3 Union Councils. The town is the site of an historic Gurudwara.-References:...
, Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
, Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha
Haveli Lakha is a town of the Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located around 180;km south west of Lahore....
, Basir Pur etc. They too, like many native clans of the region, had ancestors that were mainly pastoral, but reverted to agriculture after the development of the irrigation system.
- Jakhar
The Jakhar are settled in the district They reside in 8 villages and in Okara city
Okara, Pakistan
Okara is the capital city of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The name Okara is derived from Okaan, a name of a tree, the city is located south-west to the city of Lahore and is famous for its agriculture-based economy and cotton mills...
. On the Okara-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...
Rd., the Jakhar Chowk is famous.
- RangharRangharRanghar are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India...
The Ranghars
Ranghar
Ranghar are a Muslim ethnic group, which is found in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Ranghar were native to Indian state of Haryana and also found in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as Delhi in India...
are a Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
community of considerable influence in the district. Their ancestors were alloted plots of land all over the district, after the partition of Sub-Continent. They were the prime choice of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for recruitment in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, as they were skilled warriors, and were later awarded the title of Martial Race
Martial Race
Martial Race was a designation created by Army officials of British India, where they classified each ethnic group into one of two categories: 'Martial' and 'Non-Martial'. A 'martial race' was typically considered brave and well built for fighting. The 'non-martial races' were those whom the...
. Their ancestors migrated from Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Rajputana
Rajputana
Rājputāna was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. George Thomas was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana...
and East Punjab
East Punjab
East Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
.They spoke Ranghari. Prior to partition, they started adopting titles such as Rao, Rana etc. Today, they wield significant power in the running of the district's affairs, and have gained substantial landed property through the decades.
- DogarDogarDogar is a Muslim, Punjabi tribe in the Punjab region of Pakistan. It is also used as a family name in Turkey and Northern Iraq among some Kurds and Turks.-Ethnography:...
The Dogar
Dogar
Dogar is a Muslim, Punjabi tribe in the Punjab region of Pakistan. It is also used as a family name in Turkey and Northern Iraq among some Kurds and Turks.-Ethnography:...
are settled in the district .Mainly settled in Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur...
. They migrated from Ferozpur & Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
districts.
- ArainArainThe Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
The Arain
Arain
The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
are primarily an agricultural caste of Okara district. They are settled all over the district. They are hardworking, honest, and dedicated people. Most of the Arain
Arain
The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
in this area migrated from East Punjab
East Punjab
East Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
, from districts like Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
, Ferozepur etc.They were also rewarded plots of land by the British, upon the development of irrigation in the area.
- KharalKharal-History:Kharal are Panwar Rajputs. Panwar is Sub division of Paramara Rajputs.The Paramara belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs....
The Kharal
Kharal
-History:Kharal are Panwar Rajputs. Panwar is Sub division of Paramara Rajputs.The Paramara belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs....
are a tribe of both Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
& Jatt origin. They are Jaanglis, and speak the Jaangli dialect of Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi 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...
. Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal
Rae Ahmed Nawaz Khan Kharal
Rai Ahmed Khan Kharal was one of the greatest freedom fighters in the Indian rebellion of 1857.He was a resident of Neeli Bar's famous town Gogera, District Sahiwal. He started his rebellion in a wide area of Punjab, Pakistan covering Ganji Bar, Neeli Bar and Sandal Bar area...
, a Kharal from Gogera
Gogera
Gogera or Gugera is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'4N 73°18'24E with an altitude of 166 metres and lies to the north-west of the district capital - Okara....
is famous for rebelling against the British, in 1857. The Kharals are native to the region around the Ravi River
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
, majority live around towns like Baman Bala, Chuchak, Gogera
Gogera
Gogera or Gugera is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°58'4N 73°18'24E with an altitude of 166 metres and lies to the north-west of the district capital - Okara....
, Satghara
Satghara
Satghara is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°55'0N 73°31'0E with an altitude of 164 metres and is also the location of the tomb of Baloch folk hero, Mir Chakar Rind. Many of his descendants as well as sub tribes of Balochi descent...
, Jaboka
Jaboka
Jaboka is a town and union council of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan.It is located at 30°57'38N 73°27'10E with an altitude of 161 metres -References:...
etc., and can also be found on the other side of the river, in Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura or Shekhupur , formerly Kot Dayal Das or Singhpuria or Virkgarh , is an industrial city in the province of Punjab slightly northwest to Lahore in Pakistan. It is known for its historical places, and is commonly known locally as Qila Shaikhupura, because of the fort in the city,...
, 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...
& Toba Tek Singh
Toba Tek Singh
Toba Tek Singh District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located between 30°33' to 31°2' Degree north latitudes and 72°08' to 72°48' Degree longitudes.-Origins of Name:...
districts. Their ancestors were converted mainly by Baba Farid of 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...
, and Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Daud Bandagi Kirmani
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim bin Syed Fatehullah Kirmani 1513-1575C.E. more popularly known as Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani was a famous 16th century saint of the Qadiri order.- Overview :...
of Shergarh
Shergarh, Pakistan
Shergarh is an historic town, union council and major administrative subdivision of Depalpur Tehsil, Okara District.- History :Sher Garh is one of the most historic towns of the district, along with Haveli Lakha, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Basir Pur, Depalpur & Satghara among others...
. Their subclans include the Rabera's, Jurrera's, Masrera's, Lakhwera's, Sangoka's, Beguka's etc.They were the most powerful and influential pastoral clan of their time.However due to the mass migration of immigrants from East Punjab
East Punjab
East Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
, and the development of the canal colonies by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, their power declined and they became absorbed in the agrarian society. The ones of Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
origin use the prefix 'Rai', whereas many of Jat origin will use another prefix such as 'Chaudhary'.
- AwanAwan (Pakistan)Awan , is a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, Pakistan...
The Awans
Awans
Awans is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Awans had a total population of 8,696. The total area is 27.16 km² which gives a population density of 320 inhabitants per km²....
, although originating in the Potohar region, can also be found in the district. They live all over, and have many villages in Renala Khurd Tehsil
Renala Khurd Tehsil
Renala Khurd is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 18 Union Councils, two of which form the tehsil capital Renala Khurd.-References:...
& Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil
Depalpur Tehsil is an administrative subdivision of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, headquartered at the town of Depalpur...
Shrine
The honour of the city, shrine of Hazarat Sufi Manzoor Ahmad Sabri(s a) is situated in muhalla Gazi abad in okara which is serving the humanity by showing real picture of spending life.A project of charity work, free maternity home serving poor women there at Dargha shraif. new project of free education free food and library is under consideration.Moreover, the shrine of Syed Shabbir Ali Shah has also gained popularity among the people.