SAHIWAL

'Sahiwal' (Urdu: 'ساہیوال') is a growing city in southeastern Punjab province of Pakistan and the administrative centre of Sahiwal District. Founded in 1865, the town was formerly known as Montgomery after Sir Robert Montgomery, then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab. It took its current name in 1966. Sahiwal lies approximately 180 km from the major city of Lahore. The population is 207,388 (1998 Pakistan Census). Sahiwal District is included in the former Multan Division and lies between 30-40 north latitude and 73-10 longitude. The people of Sahiwal are known as Sahiwalians.

Contents

Climate

Major industries

Educational institutes

Twin town

Heads of the Local Bodies in District Sahiwal

Politicians and People

Broadcast Media

Sahiwal on the Information Super Highway

Medical care

References

Climate

The climate of Sahiwal district is extremely hot, reaching 52°C in summer, and cold in winter, down to -5°C. The soil of the district is very fertile. The average rainfall is about 2000 mm. See Latest Sahiwal Weather at and
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Major industries

Sahiwal is famous for its cotton ginning & pressing, tannery, textile spinning, textile weaving, leather products, garments, pharmaceuticals, flour mills, food industry, oil mills, tobacco, vegetable ghee/cooking oil, biscuit plants, chip board, confectionery, and woollen textile spinning/weaving, etc. Its garments are especially famous all over the world due to unique eastern designs (e.g., City Fasion Point [Idrees Silk Center] in the Alfah Market and City Cloth Palace in Baroon Sori Gali). Its main crops are wheat, cotton, sugarcane, maize and rice. Main fruits are citrus, mangoes and guava. Sahiwal is a green and fertile town with 11,522 acres under naturally grown forests.

Educational institutes

Sahiwal houses several educational institutes of high esteem. DPS & C is one of the leading high schools of the city. Government High School, GOVT high School Urban Area and Comprehensive High School are other eminent institutes imparting knowledge to the younger generations and have produced many notables in different fields of life. Education for girls is also given prime importance. Government Pilot Higher Secondary School and Junior Model High School are noted to be the finest institutes.Government college for Women is the only Government institute for Women in the city. Now Government college SWL has got also Baha-u-Deen Zikria university campus in it.
A lots more is being done for education sector in Sahiwal. BZU (Baha-u-deen Zikria University) Multan is planning for its dedicated, separate sub-campus in Sahiwal. Land is acquired for this purpose. This university is hoped to be completed in two years, after that it would named as University of Sahiwal.
Moreover COMSATS (An IT and Computer Science College based in Lahore) sub-campus in sahiwal in being under construction. KEMU (King Edward Medical University Lahore) is also planning for its sub-campus in Sahiwal. Looks like after two years there would be no need of moving toward big cities for higher eduction.
The private sector is investing in education, renowned school such as Educator, Beconhouse , Bloom Field, City School, and last but not the least The Lahore Lyceum is also contributing their share in Education sector. A remarkable new building is under construction for City School in front of Comprehensive School Sahiwal. After completion it would be the largest Private School Campus in Sahiwal.
The Educators College has separate campus for Boys and girls. It has grabbed the whole share of student from Govt. College Sahiwal.

Twin town

Sahiwal is twinned with the town of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England.

Heads of the Local Bodies in District Sahiwal

District Nazim (District Mayor) Sahiwal: Rai Hassan Nawaz
Tehsil Nazim (Tehsil Mayor) Sahiwal: Muhammad Umar Ishaq Chaudary
Tehsil Nazim (Tehsil Mayor) Chichawatni: Chaudary Muhammad Tufail

Politicians and People

One of the old Political families of Sahiwal is the Rajput Chaudhary's. They have been part of Local, Provincial and National level Politics of Sahiwal, Punjab and Pakistan for last 40 years. After partition in 1947, the late Ch.Abdul Shakoor moved from India to Pakistan to settle in one of the District's of Punjab 'Sahiwal'. In late 1960's, he became the first Vice-Chairman of the District Council, Sahiwal and later the Chairman. His friendship with late Zulifqar Ali Bhutto made him join Pakistan People's Party in 1968. He contested twice on PPP MPA ticket in 1971 and 1973 later he died in 1983. His son, Chaudhry Nouraiz Shakoor Khan contested all MNA elections from 1985-2002 on PPP ticket except 1985. He has been elected thrice in 1988, 1993 and 2002 as Member National Assembly, Pakistan. Nouraiz, later formed PPPP-Patriots in 2002 and became the Senior Vice President of the party.
During these tenures as Federal Cabinet Minister, Pakistan he rendered dedicated services as Parliamentary Secretary for Communications in 1993-95, as the Federal Minister of State for Communications and Youth Affairs in 1995-97. He then held the office of the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources from 2002-04. From 2005-present, he holds the portfolio of Minister of Science and Technology. He is an Advocate and an Agriculturist by profession. He is one of the senior most politicians of Pakistan who has a strong visionary political background. In 2002, his cousin Rana Aftab Ahmed got elected on a PPP ticket as Member Provincial Assembly, Punjab. He also contested in 1997 as MPA on the same PPP ticket but lost. After winning the elections in 2002, he also joined PPPP-Patriots co-founded by Nouraiz. From 2003-present, he is serving in the Provincial Cabinet of Punjab as Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Marketing and Production. Nouraizs' other cousin, Chaudhary Iftikhar Ahmed holds their family Nazim seat in his village. This Nazim seat has been won by Chaudhary's for last 40 years.
In his life long services as a triumphant political leader Ch. Nouraiz Shakoor held the membership of Standing Committee on Finance Economics Affairs in 1988-90 and 1993-96, Standing Committee on Production 1988-90, Standing Committee on Planning and Development 1993-96 and Parliamentary Kashmir Committee 1993-96.
Being on these titles Ch. Nouraiz Shakoor attended many national and international Conferences, Workshops and Seminars as the part and leader of the delegations. He has represented Pakistan on many official tours around the World and has visited regions within U.S.A, Europe and Asia. Married, he is the father of two sons (Jaffer Shakoor and Muhammad Ali Shakoor) and three daughters. An avid fan of sports, he is President of the Cycling Association Pakistan, President Sahiwal Club and Member Tennis Association, Punjab.

Broadcast Media

There various radio and cable networks broadcasting in the city, such as Sun Rise Pakistan radio and cable networks like Voltas Cable Network, GEO Cable Network and Galaxy Cable network.
On every main crossing of Sahiwal there is closed circuit TV Cameras monitoring 24 Days a week for security purpose.

Sahiwal on the Information Super Highway

Now Sahiwal is also on Information Super High way after getting High Speed DSL Internet Facility by Multi net . A lots more development in being done in the field of IT and Telecoms. Sahiwal is also connect with backbone fiber that connect all major cities of Pakistan. All Govt. Schools in Sahiwal have latest PIV Based Computer Lab from IT and Computer Labs Project Govt. of Punjab. Roughly 1 Million Rupees is spent on each lab. These furnished labs contain 16 Latest PIV (Core 2 Duo) Computer, Air Conditioner , Printer and Internet Facility. Each Lab has dedicated IT Staff including IT Teacher working on 17 Scale and Lab In charge). Govt. hoped that this project will defiantly improve the IT Education Standard in Sahiwal.

Medical care

There are several government hospitals that provide medication to people of the city, the District Hospital commonly referred to as the Civil Hospital is the larger one. It also has a school for nursing classes and different Lab courses. Many of the well known Doctors have served here as their House Job. However there is a lack of medical facilities in the hospital and throughout the city of Sahiwal. Patients have to go to Lahore (the capital city of the Punjab)for better treatment as often the civil hospital doesn't have specialist equipment required for emergency. All critical patients are referred to Lahore which is risky for patients. Ch Norez Shakur and Rana Aftab are available in the city only in election days. Any of the politician of sahiwal did nothing for the development of the city.

References