Gujar Khan
گوجر خان
City
Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan is located in Punjab, Pakistan
Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan is located in Pakistan
Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan
Coordinates: 33°15′11″N 73°18′14″E / 33.253°N 73.304°E / 33.253; 73.304
Country Pakistan
ProvincePunjab, Pakistan Punjab
DivisionRawalpindi
DistrictRawalpindi
Elevation
461 m (1,512 ft)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • City90,131
Society
 • LanguagesPothwari Punjabi, Urdu
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Calling code0513
Number of union councils36[2]

Gujar Khan (Punjabi, Urdu: گوجر خان)[3] is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area.[4]

Gujar Khan is approximately 57 km (35 mi) southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and 220 km (140 mi) to the northwest of Lahore, the capital of Punjab. It is bounded on the north by Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock, on the south by Jhelum, Lahore, and Gujrat, on the east by Azad Kashmir, and Kahuta and on the west by Chakwal and Khushab.

Located in the heart of the Potohar region, The city and surrounding region is renowned for their martial culture and is sometimes referred to as the 'Land of the Shaheed', having produced two recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider.[5] There is the main district hospital in the center of the city, along with many other private and public medical and care services.

History

The place was named due to the large population of Gujjars which inhabited this area. A large Gujjar settlement is still present in the Gujar Khan Tehsil. The modern town was developed by the British colonial authorities after the region came under British rule in 1848.

Gujar Khan also contained a notable Hindu and Sikh population, though much of this population migrated to India following partition.[6] However the area is still home to Hindu temples[7] and Sikh Gurdwaras[6][8] which have been not maintained through the years. Today most of the population is Muslim.

Administration

Administrative subdivisions of Rawalpindi District

Gujar Khan is administratively subdivided into 36 union councils, whereas City Gujar Khan is administered by municipal corporation.[9]

According to the 2017 census of Pakistan, the city had a population of 678,503.[10]

Natural resources

Large reserves of oil and gas were discovered in February 2002 at Tobra, about ten kilometres from Gujar Khan. The field is being developed by the Oil and Gas Development Company. The field could produce 1,600 barrels of crude oil daily. Missa Kaswal and Ahdi is also a major source of energy in Gujar khan. Missa Kaswal is supplying several cubic meters of gas on a daily basis and is also extracting large quantities of oil. [11]

Transport

خطہ پوٹھوہار کا نقشہ

Road

Gujar Khan is located on the N5 National highway from Islamabad-Lahore.[12] Railway Road links from the east of the city to the nearby towns of Bewal and Islampura.[13] There are also many other minor roads linking the villages and towns of the region to the city.

Rail

The Gujar Khan railway station is located in the center of the city and provides links to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Lahore.

Bus

Local services also provide extensive bus routes to local towns, and smaller shuttles go around the villages in the surrounding area. There are also services to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, and Lahore.[14]

Local auto-rickshaw drivers also provide transport for people in and around the city.[15]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Punjāb (Pakistan) - Population of Gujar Khan (2017 census)". Citypopulation.de website. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Zila, Tehsil & Town Councils Membership for Punjab (scroll down to Rawalpindi District to read Gujar Khan)". Election Commission of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Debates: Official Report (in Urdu). Manager of Publications via Google Books website. 1976. pp. 199–200. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "List of Administrative Units of Pakistan (Tehsil/Taluka) (Punjab)". Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "District Website". rawalpindi.dc.lhc.gov.pk. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  6. 1 2 sightsandsoundsofpak (22 April 2014), Pre-Partition "Sikh" House in Sukho Punjab Pakistan (English Translation), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 12 May 2023
  7. ↑ Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (20 June 2015). "Gulyana: Punjab's crumbling 900-year-old village". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  8. ↑ sightsandsoundsofpak (7 May 2010), Gurdwara in Daultala Punjab Pakistan, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 13 May 2023
  9. ↑ "Towns & Unions in the City District of Rawalpindi". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Rawalpindi City District". Archived from the original on 13 March 2008.
  11. ↑ "Business in Asia Today (scroll down to 'Huge reserves discovered in Pakistan near Gujar Khan)". Asia Times Online website. Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Maps – National Highways Authority". National Highway Authority, Government of Pakistan website. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Railway Road at G.T. Road - Wikimapia". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Pindi-Gujar Khan CNG bus service from today". Dawn (newspaper). 8 June 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Rickshaws plying in Gujar Khan to be registered". The Nation (newspaper). Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Najaf Shah". Cricinfo.com website. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
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