Gujranwala

Gujranwala (Punjabi : گوجرانوالہ ਗੋਜਰਾਨਵਾਲਾ ; Urdu: گوجرانوالہ) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan with a population of 1,132,509 (1998 census). Gujranwala is located at 32.16° North, 74.18° East and is 226 metres (744 feet) above sea-level. With a population of over 1.1 million Gujranwala is the seventh largest city in Pakistan, and is one of Pakistan's most industrialised cities. It borders with Ghakhar Mandi and some small towns and villages. Punjabi is the local language, however English and Urdu are also common, particularly in schools and offices, as is the case in almost all of Pakistan.

History

Early history

The human settlements in Gujranwala existed since antiquity. The first name of the settlement according to the compilers of the first edition of the district Gazette was "Khanpur Shansi" after a member of the Jat tribe who founded eleven villages in the nearby area. Gujjars also settled in the Gujranwala region. They reached such dominance that the town came to be known as Gujranwala. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India however the town was originally founded by Gujars, and renamed Khanpur by some Sansi Jats of Amritsar who settled there; but its old name has survived. In 630 the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, Hsuan Tsang visited a major town known as Tse-kia (or Taki) which was in the vicinity of modern Gujranwala. A mound near the modern village of Asarur has been identified as the site of the ancient city. Until the arrival of the Muslims little is known of Gujranwala, except that Taki had fallen into oblivion and Lahore had become the chief city. Under Muslim rule the district flourished for a time; but a mysterious depopulation took place and the whole region seems to have been almost entirely abandoned. The district gazetteer dates the name of Gujranwala to approximately the middle of the 16th century.

Sikh era

The Sikhs occupied the Punjab after the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir in 1707. The town became important during the rule of the father and grandfather of Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh who himself was born here became the most powerful of all the Sikh rulers. It was Hari Singh Nalwa, the great military commander of the Sikh Kingdom, who was credited with having built the 'new' city of Gujranwala.

British era

The area was conquered and annexed by the British in 1849. A railway line was built alongside the Grand Trunk Road in 1881 to connect Gujranwala with other cities of the Punjab and made commercial trade between cities more convenient. The municipality of Gujranwala was created in 1867. The North-Western Railway connected Gujranwala with other cities of British India, Calcutta 1,294 miles, 1,322 miles, and Karachi 828 miles.

The population according to the 1901 census of India was 29,224. In 1903-4 the income and expenditure were Rs. 83,100 and Rs. 67,900 respectively. The chief source of income was octroi Rs. 59,700.

After independence

After the foundation of Pakistan in 1947, Gujranwala developed rapidly and is now a leading city of Pakistan. It is an agricultural marketing centre (grains, melons, sugarcane), it is also a commercial and industrial centre, manufacturing ceramics, iron safes, copper, brass, and aluminium utensils. The establishment of an industrial park with textile, silk, pipefitting, electric fan, and tannery production increased its importance. Cultivation in the surrounding area is dependent upon canal irrigation. Wheat, cotton, rice, barley, and pearl millet are the chief crops.

Gujranwala, as a district was run by a Deputy Commissioner until it became a Division. Many prominent civil servants worked as its Deputy Commissioners, renowned among them is Mr. Mansur Zaimur Rehman (M.Z. Rehman) who worked as the DC from 1959 to 1962. He initiated many development projects including the cantonment. He is known for his hard work, integrity and honesty.

Economy

Gujranwala is a major agricultural and industrial city of Punjab, Pakistan. The rural areas around Gujranwala produce a large variety of agricultural goods, the main crops are rice, wheat, potatoes, barley and pearl millet. The Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) shares a building with the zonal and circle offices of Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited and State Bank of Pakistan.

Gujranwala's industrial areas have numerous textile mills, cutlery manufacturing and large agricultural processing plants, Ceramics industries, electronic equipments and auto industry. Master Industries (which makes tiles, ceramics, sanitary, baby diapers and ballpoints and other stationery products) and Super Asia Industry (makers of electronic equipment like air conditioner, washing machines, fans, heat gysers etc) are two major industries of Gujranwala.Gujranwala is also famous for its plastic products, the big names are Boss, Citizen and Toyo. Nowadays there are many industries which are making motorcycles like Toyo Industries, Super Asia and others. The major exports include rice, sugar, textiles, carpets, glass goods, medical equipment, leather products, metal utensils, agricultural equipment, and automotive machinery parts as well as producing machinery for military uses. The main source of energy is a hydro-electric project on the Chenab River.

Transport

Gujranwala Railway Station

The Gujranwala Railway Station was Built by the British before the independence of Pakistan. It is situated on the Grand Trunk Road in the middle of the city.

Highway

Highway and river transportation. It has a dry port for the export of local products to the rest of the world. The nearest airport are the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore -80 km, and Sialkot International Airport, Sialkot- 40 km.

Health

There are many hospitals, clinics and NGOs in Gujranwala, such as the Sundas Foundation, [www.maa.org Maa Foundation] and Roshni Homes. The city hospitals are not designed to cope with huge amount of people which now reside in Gujranwala, city still lacks with cheap and proper medical treatment most people visit the hospitals in Lahore. Gujarnwala has only one proper Government hospital called DHQ (civil) hospital which is burdened by the patients from the city.

Education

There are several colleges affiliated with the University of the Punjab which also operates a main campus offering courses such as LLB, BCom, MCom, and MBA. Another higher education institute is the GIFT University which also offer courses such as LLB, BCom, MBA, Textile and Design, M.A English. There is also the Rachna Engineering University in Gujranwala. Punjab College of Commerce & Information Technology is one of the best college in Gujranwala which has grabbed 15 out of 18 positions in Gujranwala board, offering courses such as FSc, ICS, ICom, BCom, MCom, and MBA. Other colleges include Elite College of Commerce, National college of Science, Superior College of Science, Government College for boys, Government College for girls, Government Islamia college, Workers Welfare School & College and Crescent College of Science. Quaid-e-Azam Divisional Public College is the biggest institution in the District. It has its own cricket oval and numerous buildings and is currently run by semi-Government and Board of Trustees.

Islamia college has started Msc. Chemistry in Gujranwalla. It is affiliated with The University of Punjab.

Another institute is the SOFT Solutions College . SOFT Solutions College is well rated among the private colleges in Gujranwala division.

At the Community Development front, Gujranwala is also home to the Roshni Homes Trust, an orphanage that provides a home, a family and an education to orphaned and abandoned children.

In Gujranwala, Virtual University Campus is working and offers the students best quality lectures at there doorstep. In MBA, MIT, BBA etc. www.vugujranwala.com helps with student guidelines, especially for IT students.

Beaconhouse School System Gujranwala is the only school in Gujranwala which offers both GCE O and A Level. It has achieved admirable results in both examinations, with its Alumni students currently studying in privileged institutions in Pakistan and abroad, such as Lahore University of Management Sciences and the Aga Khan University.

Swedish Group of Technical Institutes, Punjab is the Largest Technical Training Institutes in Pakistan Which is providing the (Three Years Diploma of Associate Engineering DAE) Technical Education in nine(9) major cities of the Punjab like Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Multan, Wah Cantt,Chakwal, Rahim Yaar Khan, Muzaffar Garh and Layyah, in different Technologies like Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Architecture, Computer Hardware, Computer Information Technology, Telecommunication and Automation. Swedish Institute of Technology, Gujranwala is the Mother Institute of Swedish Group. This Institute is run by Al-Asar Technical Education Society, Gujranwala. Swedish Group is also now Offering B. Sc Engineering and B Tech Degrees with the affiliations of University of Engineering and Technology, Texila, Islamia Univarsity, Bahawalpur and Edexel International.

TV Channels

Gujranwala TV : GTV ( Gujranwala TV ) is the first community based TV channel started in 1999 , just with the motive to upgrading minds through media, in the channels 10 years history it covers almost all aspects of Gujranwala Life. sports , Industry,education showbiz, & Social activities. GTV Official site

See also

• Gujranwala District
• Gujranwala Division
• Gujranwala Electric Power Company
• Ghakhar Mandi
• Ahmed Nager Chatha
• Aminabad

External links

• GujranwalaPost Gujranwala's First Online Newspaper
• Gujranwala History
• Gujranwala TV
• Gujranwala Times Daily News Online
• Article on Gujranwala from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica