Gujrat (Pakistan)

Brief History: Gujrat, a historical city of Pakistan, is situated 160 km from Islamabad on the bank of Chenab River on Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road), also known as “Jernaili Sarak. Gujrat was founded by Raja Bachhan Pal Gurjar in 460 BC. The city’s Raja Porus fought bravely with Alexander, the Great at the bank of the Jehlum River. Mughal emperor Jahangir died at Gujrat while returning from Kashmir. The news of his death was kept secret to avoid any rebellion. His abdominal organs were buried in Gujrat. To this day, an annual festival is held commemorating this event, commonly known as “Mela Shah Jahangir”.

Gujrat was controlled by the Sikhs from 1756 to 1846 before it was annexed by British. Two major battles between British and Sikh armies were fought in this district; the Battle of Chillianwala and the Battle of Gujrat. There are many historical buildings and ruins in and around Gujrat. It is famous for pottery, wooden furniture, shawls and electric fan industries.

Gujrat has a unique distincntion that three Nishan-e-Haider recipients:; Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, Major Muhammmad Akram and Major Shabbir Sharif, hail from this District. 

The tombs of Sain Karam Ellahi (Kanwaan Wali Sarkar), Shahdaula Peer and Shah Hussain are also located here.

History
Gujrat was founded by Raja Bachhan Pal Gurjar in 460 BC, according to General Cunningham, the British historian. Historical consensus is that it existed in the time of Alexander the Great, and that the Mong's Raja Porus put up a fierce challenge to Alexander's invasion at the bank of the Jehlum River. The establishment of Gujrat City was realised early in the 19th century after the British Empire and in support of regional landlords (e.g., Daswandi Khan of Daswandi Pura).

In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region. Gujrat became a part of the Muslim Sultanate of Delhi when the Persian noble Sultan Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Ghauri conquered Punjab in 1185. Gujrat slowly developed as medieval town and many Muslim Sufi missionaries converted the local Gurjar population to Islam. During the Mughal period, Mughal royalty frequently travelled through the district en route to Kashmir. When King Jahangir died while he was returning from Kashmir, the news of his death was suppressed to avoid any chaos in the empire. His abdominal organs were taken out and buried in Gujrat. To this day, an annual festival is held commemorating this event, commonly known as the "Festival of Jahangir".

Shah Daula is a Sufi saint of the city and he met Sikh's sixth Guru Har Gobind (1595–1644) when he was passing though Gujrat. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Gujrat. The Muslims faced severe restrictions during the Sikh rule. Between 1765 and 1846 Gujrat was occupied by the Sikhs.

Two main battles between British and Sikh armies were fought in this district: the Battle of Chillianwala and the Battle of Gujrat. Only after winning the battle of Gujrat on 22 February 1849 did the British declare victory in Punjab.

After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Gujrat district. Muslims refugees from East Punjab, Haryana, Jammu started arriving and crossed the border into Pakistan; many were given land in Gujrat District to settle.

There are many historical buildings and ruins in and around Gujrat. The Grand Trunk Road, commonly abbreviated as G.T. Road, built by emperor Sher Shah Suri, also passes through Gujrat. The road still exists today, along with its period stone wall. Historical buildings and ruins can be found in nearby towns throughout the area.

Language and demography[edit]
For more information, see Punjabi dialects.
As per the 1998 census of Pakistan, Punjabi language is spoken by 95%. Punjabi dialects spoken in the district are

Majhi or Standard (Majority)
Potohari (Few people near jehlum district)
Shah puri (Few people speak this dialect)
Other Languages include:

Urdu being national language is spoken and understood.
English is also understood and spoken by the sizeable educated people.
According to the 1998 census of Pakistan the total population of Gujrat district was 2,048,008 of which 1,026,000 are males and 1,022,000 are females, with a population density of 642 persons per square kilometre. Over 25.62% of the population was recorded as being urban.[3]

Geography[edit]
Gujrat is an ancient city of Pakistan located between two famous rivers, Jhelum River and Chenab River. Because of its proximity to the rivers, the land is good for cultivation of rice and sugarcane as main crops. It is bounded to the northeast by Jammu and Kashmir, to the northwest by the Jhelum River, to the east and southeast by the Chenab River, separating it from the districts of Gujranwala and Sialkot; and to the west by Mandi Bahauddin District.

Climate[edit]
The city has a moderate climate. During the peak of summer, the daytime temperature shoots up to 45 °C (113 °F), but the hot spells are relatively short due to the proximity of the Azad Kashmir Mountains. During the winter, the minimum temperature may fall below 2 °C (36 °F). The average rainfall at Gujrat is 67 centimetres (26 in).

Culture[edit]


Terracotta vases of Gujrat
Gujrat produces low-temperature pottery and ceramic goods, hukkas, or water pipe, artistic handicrafts, flower pots, changairian (made from the leaves of palm and date trees), cotton mates and woolen shawls. Sohni Mahiwal is a famous folk tale of the Punjab region. The heroine of the story, named "Sohni" (a Punjabi word meaning "beautiful"), came from the Gujrat region. She used to meet her lover, Mahinwal, by crossing the Chenab river, sitting on a pitcher. The tale is still told to this day and is an essential part of Punjabi culture. The anniversary of Kanwan-Wali Sarkar near Karuan Wala Gujrat is celebrated with a fair in August every year. He is known as one of the greatest saints that ever lived. A famous miracle was when water in a well actually turned to milk for a period of time. The well is still there. Some locals attach significance to the fact that it often rains heavily around the time of the fair (monsoon). "Wengi Wali Sarkar" anniversary in 5 January every year at village Haji Wala near Karianwala Tehsil and District Gujrat.[clarification needed]the shrine of hazrat shahdola (a famous saint in Punjab) is also in gujrat near shahdola choki. the anniversary of (hazrat shahdola sarkar) is celebrated in June every year.

Economy and industry[edit]


A Clay artist working thrower to make terracotta vases.
Gujrat is also known for its clay, with which the locals have long produced quality pottery. The city also produces fine furniture. Over the last few decades, Gujrat has also attained a name in the manufacture and export of electric fans. Gujrat is now well'ly known by the trading company of medicines, (GSM Corporation). Gujrat is also home to one of the two largest shoe manufacturing companies in Pakistan, namely Service Industries, which runs a large shoe factory in the city.

There are about 1,059 cottage-level and small- to large-scale industrial units operating in the district. Rice production and export is another major product of Gujrat. There are many other factories engaged in manufacturing of electrical goods, electric motors and rice cleaning mills. Most are cottage industries, providing employment to a large number of people and accounting, in aggregate, for more than 90 percent of the domestic market. gujrat has the highest percentage of the population abroad compare to any other district in Pakistan. Gujrat leads in foreign currency remittances in the country.

Education[edit]
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan named the region "Khita-e-Younan", or "territory resembling ancient Greece", in reference to the high number of educational institutes present in the area. The following universities,colleges and schools are locate

The Smart School, City Campus, behind Usman Plaza, Rehman Shaheed Road.
University of Gujrat Main/Hafiz Hayat Campus,2 km off Main Jalalpure Jattan Road, Link University/Hafiz Hayat Road.
University of Gujrat, Nawaz Sharif Medical College, 2 km off Main Jalalpure Jattan Road, Link University/ Hafiz Hayat Road.
University of Gujrat, Fatima Jinnah College, Fawara Chowk
University of Gujrat, College for Boys, School of Law, Modern Languages Learning Centre, G.T. Road.
University of Gujrat Murghzar College For Girls, Bhimber Road, Murghazar [1]
University of Gujrat, College for Girls, Railways Road.
University of Lahore, Chenab Campus, Gujrat.
University of Central Punjab, Gujrat Campus, Gujrat.
Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Gujrat Campus, Gujrat (Under construction)
Govt. Kamli Wala Girls High School Near Railway Road Gujrat.
Institute of Modern Practical Arts & Communicational Technologies (IMPACT College Gujrat)
Hashmat Medical and Dental College, Jalalpur Jattan. (recog. PM&DC)
Govt. Zamindar College, Bhimber Road opposite Aziz Bhatti Hospital
Punjab College of Commerce, Gujrat
Govt. College of Commerce, Jalalpure Jattan Road, Bolay.
Govt. Commerce Institute for Girls, Jalalpure Jattan Road near Green Town.
Govt. Vocational Training Institute for Girls, Jalalpure Jattan Road near Green Town.
Sanat Zaar, Jalalpure Jattan Road.
Govt. Swedish Pakistani college of Tecnology, Servis More.
Govt. Technical Training Institute, G.T. Road, near Servis Morde.
Govt Miss froze-o-din girls high school(near walit sah musjid, jinah road)
Govt. Fan manufacturing Institute, Small Industries Estate.
Govt. Ceramics Institute, Small Industries Estate.
Govt. Furniture Institute, Small Industries Estate.
Govt. College for Teacher's Training, Court Road, Civil Lines.
Govt. Public High School No.2(Boys) Railway road Gujrat.
Govt. Muslim Parda School (For Girls) Staff gala Gujrat.
Govt. Miss Fatima Jinnah High School (for girls) muhallah fattu pura gujrat city,
University of Munawwar-ul-islam Main Jalalpure Jattan Road Link umi-pk.com .
Punjab Group of Colleges, G.T. road
The City School Gujrat Campus.
The Learners' Heaven School, Green Town Near Old Civil Lines.
Global City School Dinga Morde.
Bloomfield Hall School, Jinnah Road.
Gujrat Homeopathic Medical College.
Gujrat Group of Colleges, Bhimber Road Murghzar and Model Town.
Vision Science College, for boys Gujrat.
Ajmery Group of Colleges
CMH medical college, Kharian (proposed)
Jinnah College of Commerce (for Boys)
Jinnah College of Commerce and I.T. (for Girls)
Jinnah College of Education Gujrat
Chenab Group of Colleges, Jalalpure Jattan Road and Gharibpura Road.
ILM College, G.T. Road
Jamia Islamia Le-Binat-Ul-Islam (religious)
Govt. Comprehensive School, G.T. Road (Govt. Jamia high School)
Bright Model School (BM Edu. Campus)
Municipal Model High School for Boys
Municipal Model High School
Shaukat Model High School muhallah fattupura gujrat city
Ghazali Public School Amana Abad
Government Zamindar High School
Pakistan International Public School (P.I.P.S.) Shadman
Kids Galaxy High School, Gujrat
Dar-e-Arqam Model High School Gujrat
Govt. Muslim High School Gujrat
County Public High School Gujrat
Roots Foundation High School Gujrat
Standard Model High Gujrat
Beaconhouse School System (Pakistan) G.T. Road near River Garden Housing
Jinnah Public School (Near UOG Hafiz Hayat Campus)
Government Secondary School, Dhuma Malka, Gujrat
Gujrat Law College
Grammar School Gujrat
H.B.A. Girls Higher Secondary School Peroshah
Superior College, G.T. Road Gujrat
The Cathedral School Gujrat
The Chenab School, Near State life building, Gujrat
The Educator Bara Dari Campus Gujrat
Quaid Grammar School Sook Klan Gujrat
The Risers School and College Deona Mandi Gujrat
Govt high school Kahpranwalla Gujrat
Govt. High School Dittewal
Govt Islamia High School Kunjah
Govt Islamia High School Gujrat
Captain Amir Shaheed School Gujrat
Govt High School saroki
Govt. Boys High School Nagrianwala
Roots Foundation High School Gujrat(for boys&girls)
Standard Model High School Gujrat(for boys&girls)
Notable people[edit]
Fakhar Zaman Ex Senator PPP, Poet, Ex-Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters
Aitzaz Ahsan Ex Federal Minister and Senator PPP
General Raheel Shareef, Army Chief
Maj. Shabbir Sharif, Nishan-e-Haider
Maj. Muhammad Akram, Nishan-e-Haider
Orya Maqbool Jan famous columnist, writer, poet
Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry, Former President of Pakistan 1972 -1977, Deputy Speaker N.A 1965–1969.
Chaudhry Shujat Hussain former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Nawabzada Gazanfar Ali Gul former Federal Minister of Pakistan
Muhammad Alam Lohar (1928 – 3 July 1979), (Punjabi, Urdu: محمد عالم لوہار), from a village not far from Gujrat. Was one of the most prominent Punjabi folk music singers.
Mian Muhammad Afzal Hayat former Chief Minister of Punjab and served as ambassador in different countries
Qamar Zaman Kaira Chaudhery Qamar Zaman Kaira is Former Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, served in various portfolios as Federal minister.
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi former Chief Minister Punjab & Federal Minister.
Maj Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed ( Nishan-e-Haider )
Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar Minister for Defence, Govt. of Pakistan
Chaudhry Muhammad Jaffar Iqbal Vice-President of PMLN Punjab
Mian Imran Masood former MPA of Gujrat and Minister of Education Punjab.
Inayat Hussain Bhatti, Folk Singer, religious scholar, and Punjabi writer
Sharif Kunjahi, Punjabi poet belonging to Kunjah, recipient of Pride of Performance
Anwar Masood, Pakistani poet. He writes in Punjabi, Urdu and Persian.
Sabiha Khanum, actress and wife of actor Musa Raza (Santosh Kumar)
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Former Chief Minister of Punjab
Transportation[edit]

Alexendria bridge in Chenab River Gujrat

The district is linked with Gujranwala, Jhelum, and Mandi Bahauddin districts with 1,019 kilometres (633 mi) of paved roads. The main Peshawar – Karachi railway line passes through the city and Gujrat is among the important railway stations of this route. The district is linked with Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha and Gujranwala districts through Pakistan Railway Network. Gujrat is located on the biggest highway of the country i.e. G.T. Road which connects Karachi to Lahore and Peshawer via Hyderabad, Sukkhur, Bahawalpure, Multan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Kharian, Jhelum, Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Attock and Nowshehra. It is also known as N-5. NHA has built a bypass over N-5 in Gujrat to avoid traffic problems on the highway.. There are three major roads which start from Gujrat i.e., Gujrat_Sargodha Highway, Gujrat-Bhimber Highway and Gujrat-Jalalpure Jattan-Chamb Highway. Daewoo Express has a terminal at GT Road Gujrat, opened on 14 May 2004, and connects Gujrat with Lahore. General Bus Stand and Municipal Wagon Stand are the biggest road transport terminal in Gujrat. Gujrat Railway Station is the major station on Karachi-Peshawer main railway line. Gujrat has a railway link via Akhtar Karnana to Mandibahauddin and Sargodha districts. Gujrat airport does not host any commercial flights, and people use the nearby Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore and Sialkot International Airport for domestic and international flights. There is a non-commercial airport in the near Model Town and Gujrat-Bhimber Highway, which Pakistan Air Force uses to train pilots.

Clubs[edit]
Beside some active political parties there are various social clubs in Gujrat which are actively working for the social well-being of the city some of them are mentioned as follows,

Gujrat Chenab Lions Club, Dr. Akram Mirza Lions Club, Progressive Lions Club, Young Fellows Lions Club, Friends Lion Club, AHM clubs

Zahoor Ellahi Cricket Stadium is the only one cricket stadium in Gujrat city. It is located in Kutchehary Chowk at the junction of Jalalpur Road and Bhimber Kotla Road. It was outwardly rebuild during the last government of Pervez Musharraf and Chaudharys'. Many shops are set up around its wall. Previously Zahoor Elahi Cricket Stadium was known as Horse Show Ground. The name was given to it because a horse show was performed at this place.
note: info copied from Wikipedia.

Sohni, heroine of a popular folk story Sohni Mahiwal, also hailed from Gujrat.

First see  view photos.

Zamindar College, the Oldest College of Gujrat

 Gujrat Railway Station

 Welcome to the City of Nishan-e-Haiders, Gujrat

A Village near University of Gujrat: Snow-Covered Kashmir Mountains in the Background. A village near University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus. Please note the snow-covered mountains of Kashmir in the distant background. Photo taken from the roof of University of Gujrat on April 7, 2014 by Asfand Yar Masood with his Nikon camera (D 3200 with 200 mm Teli lens).

Zahoor Elahi Stadium (Old Horse Show Ground) Gujrat

Nishan-e-Haider Monument-Gujrat

 An Aerial View of Old City, Gujrat

The Gujrat Fort. The Gujrat Fort was constructed in 1596-7 by the Mughal emperor Akbar. It reflects the beauty of Mughal architecture.

Another View of Gujrat Fort

Gates of Gujrat. In old times, Gujrat city was located within four gates. At night, the gates were closed and nobody was allowed to enter inside the city. The names of these main gates are;  the  Shah Daula Gate (Shahdaula Darwaza, named after famous saint Kabiruddin Shahdoula Daryai) ) in the East, Dhakki Gate (Dhaki Darwaza) in  the West, Sheeshiyan Wala Gate (Shishianwala Darwaza, which was famous for the glass work carved on its roof) in the North and  Shah Faisal Gate (Shah Faisal Darwaza. Its old name was Kalra Gate, named after a small village Kalra) in the South. The Sheeshiyan Wala Gate was famous for the glass work carved on its roof. However, Professor Sharif Kunjahi, a local historian, argues that the word “Shishi” is a Scandinavian word for graveyard. Hence, there would have been a graveyard near the gate and the name stuck to it with the passage of time.

Eid Gah Masjid on G.T. Road, Gujrat 

A Mughal Bara Dari at Gujrat

 Aerial View of University of Gujrat

Another View of University of Gujrat

Nawaz Sharif Medical College, Gujrat. Located in the Main Campus of University of Gujrat. Photo taken by Asfand Yar Masood with  Casio EX-Z80.

Buses of University of Gujrat. Buses lined up on a weekend at the main Campus of the University of Gujrat. Photo courtesy University of Gujrat website.

Pakistani flag painted at the wall of University of Gujrat, City Campus 

Pakistan Chowk (Near Sheeshaan Wala Darwaza), Gujrat

 Government College for Women, Fawara Chowk, Gujrat

Cheema Manzil, Kutchery Road, Gujrat. A very old building with excellent woodwork. Photo shared by Ahmed Pervaiz Cheema.

Fawara Chowk, Gujrat

Aerial view of Fawara Chowk, Gujrat

Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital, Gujrat

Railway Bridge on River Chenab, Gujrat

Road Bridge on River Chenab, near Gujrat

Government Swedish Pakistani College of Technology, Gujrat

A Pottery Shop in Gujrat

 Shrine of Kanwaan Wali Sarkar, Gujrat

 Government Mission High School for Girls, Gujrat

 District Courts Complex, Gujrat

Airport (Airfield) of Gujrat

Mian Jee Restaurant on GT Road between Lala Musa and Kharian. It is a stop over for travelers, located almost midway between Lahore and Islamabad. It’s original specialty was Daal cooked in Desi Ghee. It was initially a modest hotel. Another elegant restaurant (shown in the photo) was constructed much later. Photo taken and contributed by Lt Col ( R ) Shahid Nazir, an old Aviator.

A View of Kharian Cantonment 

A Church at Kharian Cantt, Gujrat 

A Street in Gujrat in 1940s 

Show Room of Industrial Co-operative Societies, Gujrat, 1940 

Another Photo of Show Room of Industrial Co-operative Societies, Gujrat, 1940 

A Train at Lala Musa Railway Station, District Gujrat, 1932  

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Raheel Sharif 

Two sons. Two brothers. One mother and one motherland. Born from a single mother, the elder brother (left) received Pakistan's most reputed and highest military honor, Nishan-e-Haider for showing extreme valor, courage and bravery whereas the younger one (right) became the head of Pakistan's highly powerful Army and lead it like no other becoming the most successful and respected Army Chief in Pakistan's 69 year history. For people to know, Raheel is 13 years younger to his iconic brother but what legendary brothers. Surely these siblings have made Pakistan proud like no other. The brothers who serviced and lived only for one word - Pakistan. Needless to say that when your elder brother is a Nishan-e-Haider, the younger brother has to live a life to make him proud and that's what General Raheel did. Bravery runs in their blood, the love for Pakistan was what they were taught from their household. Also to add, Shabbir Sharif (left) is known as the most decorated Army officer in Pakistan's history and the only person to have both honors; the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery along with Sword of Honour!

#ThankYouRaheelSharif