Gujranwala گوجرانوالہ

Gujranwala,گوجرانوالہ is a city in the north east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in 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 ft) above sea-level. 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.

Due to extensive road and rail links the city has flourished within the manufacturing and agricultural markets. The city is on the Grand Trunk Road which allows logistical connections to the provincial capitals such as Peshawar and Lahore. Gujranwala is known for its extensive production of sugarcanes, melons and grains for exporting internationally. The city also has set up several commercial and industrial centres allowing the manufacturing of ceramics, iron safes, metal utensils, textiles, sanitary as well as tannery production. The city is also known for its wrestlers & bodybuilders. It has produced some of the finest wrestlers & bodybuilders of the sub-continent, which has resulted in the city to be called the "City of Wrestlers" or "Phelwana da shehar" in Punjabi.

History

The human settlements in Gujranwala existed since antiquity.According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India the town was originally founded by Gujjars, and renamed Khanpur by some Sansi Jats of Amritsar who settled there; but its old name has survived.Many historians also states that place was named after Gujjars,while they formerly ruled the Gurjara Pratihara Kingdom for centuries.

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.

The Sikhs dominated 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.

The area was conquered and annexed by the British Empire 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 to the far ends of the Empire such as Calcutta as well as Karachi. 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 the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Gujranwala developed rapidly and is now a leading city of Pakistan. Gujranwala, as a district was run by a Deputy Commissioner until it became a Division. In 1951 the city was converted into the capital of the district which gave rise to new industries in the city. 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. In 1991, the city hosted its first test match at the Jinnah Stadium as well as several One Day International matches. Since then the city has continued to thrive with improved economic growth and stabilisation.

Geography and climate

Map of Gujranwala City

Gujranwala is located at 32.16° North, 74.18° East and is 226 metres (744 ft) above sea-level. It borders with Ghakhar Mandi and various small towns and villages. To its South lies the provincial capital, Lahore which is roughly 80 km away. Sialkot and Gujrat lie to its North along the Grand Trunk Road which leads to Mirpur in Azad Kashmir. To the south west of the city lies Faisalabad which is roughly 160 km from the city.

The climate of Gujranwala ranges quite drastically through the year. The summer periods last from June through to September where the temperature reaches 36-42 degree Celsius. The colder months are usually November to February. The temperature can drop to seven degree Celsius on average. The highest precipitation months are usually July and August when the monsoon season hits the Punjab province. Whereas the other months the average rainfall is roughly 25mm. The driest months are usually November through to April where little rainfall is seen.

Government

Since the introduction of the local government system in 2001 the city has been governed by a Nazim (Mayor). In 2007, Gujranwala was reorganised as a City-District composed of seven autonomous towns:

1. Khiali Shah Pur Town

2. Qilah Dedar Singh Town

3. Aroop Town

4. Nandi Pur Town

5. Wazirabad Town

6. Kamoki Town

7. Noshehra Virkan Town

8. Hamilton Road

In 2008, after the public elections and a new govt. coming in, the new democratic government decided to restore the divisions of all provinces. Therefore Gujranwala Division was formed, Gujranwala being the division capital.

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, cotton, potatoes, barley, grains, melons, sugarcane and pearl millet. Cultivation in the surrounding area are dependent upon canal irrigation provided by the River Chenab. The rice grown in the city is regarded as one of the best in Asia. 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. Because of its ideal location on economic lifeline of G.T. Road in Punjab, Gujranwala city has from times immemorial been a centre of trade and industry. The city was famous for its metal utensils manufacturing industry even under alien British rule before independence. Rapid growth was however, seen after independence in 1947. The number of industrial units enhanced from 40 in 1947 to 6,357 in 2006 during span of more than half a century of independence. Away from international border with erstwhile hostile India, the city attracted artisans and investors from all sides and today it has 2 small industrial estates while 3rd estate and export processing zone (EPZ) projects are in the pipeline. The city is busting at its seams and both planned and unplanned settlements are emerging on with the passage of time.

Gujranwala ranks 3rd largest industrial centre in the country after Karachi and Faisalabad. The nature of industry developed here is varied and vast with major part of light engineering industry besides textile, leather, electrical engineering, ceramics, cutlery and many others.The Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) is a representative body of traders. The major development is that the manufacturers of quality products have devolved on exports, so much so that foreign exchange of 285 million dollars was earned for the country during the year 2004-05 and optimistic target was set for the year 2005-06. The target is very likely to be achieved. Apart from export, the industry has lowered import bill to the tune of 600 million dollars by producing such items locally, which were previously imported from other countries. This saving is also equal to earning foreign exchange as "economy is the best source of revenue".

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) , Super Asia Industry (makers of electronic equipment like air conditioner, washing machines, fans, heat geysers etc.) and Bright Industry(makers of very good quality of washing machines,gysers room air_cooler etc)Sonex industries, Mughal Steels (Pvt) Ltd( steel, surgical and cutlery manufacturer), Mir Engineering Industries (manufacturers and specialist in surgical milling, polishing and grinding machines)are major industries of Gujranwala.Gujranwala is also famous for its plastic products, the big names are Boss, Citizen Venus 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,electrical equipments, 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. The city also has a dry port that has contributed a major part of the export growth for the city.

Culture

Nishan-e-manzil

Jinnah Stadium (Gujranwala)

Gujranwala is a historical and cultural city situated north east region of the Punjab province. Gujranwala offers a number of sights and activities which the city has given the city its name. Since the city is known as the "City of Wrestlers", the city hosts a number of bodybuilding tournaments, Kabaddi matches as well as weightlifting. Food is the second most famous thing Gujranwala is known for. The city has developed a very distinct kind of barbecue foods ranging to suit every style and budget. People from all over Punjab travel to the city just to taste the different types of cuisine that the city is proud of.

Gujranwala has a lot of tourist attractions and places of interest. There are many modern shopping malls where the visitors can enjoy shopping in controlled environment and can buy all local and international brands. There is an Officers' Club which has a swimming pool and squash complex, with the scenic natural beauty of Gujranwala Golf and Country Club. There are modern, innovative landmarks like Jinnah Stadium, Pace Shopping Centre and Nishan-e-Manzil. The variety of parks like Jinnah Park, Gulshan Park and Liaqat Park and recreational places ensure that the city offers something for everyone.

Educational institutions in Gujranwala

University of the Punjab (Gujranwala Campus)

GIFT University

University of the Punjab at Gujranwala - It is for the first time in 124 year history of the University of the Punjab that it has established a teaching campus outside Lahore. The Gujranwala campus has four disciplines i.e. Business Administration, Commerce, Law and Information Technology. All these programs aim at providing intellectual prowess, including exuberant professional skill and, above all, generating leadership qualities

The GIFT University was established in 2002 by the Government of Punjab (Pakistan), and all its degrees are recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, which also offer courses such as BBA, MBA, Computer Science, MBA, MSc Accounting & Finance, Textile and Design, M.A. English.

The Rachna Engineering University was established in 2003. Situated at the hub of the Engineering industries of the country, Rachna College derives its name from the lands stretching between the rivers, the Ravi and the Chenab. The Campus of Rachna College of Engineering & Technology,Gujranwala is speard over an area of about 74 acres (300,000 m2), surrounded by a canal on the south and lush agricultural land on the remaining three sides.

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.

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, Layyah and Bagh (AJK), 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.

Army Public School & College is one of the leading institution of Gujranwala which has produced many engineers, doctors, scientist in the past 30 years of excellence. Currently governed by Lt Col Atta-ur-Rehman it is making a variety of new techniques for skillful learnings. 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. Islamia college has now started Msc. Chemistry in Gujranwala. It is affiliated with The University of Punjab.

St. Thomas English High School was the first English medium school in the city.

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. Once there was also an Institution named Dublin Institute of Information Technology.

St. Joseph's English High School established in 1954. St. Joseph’s was founded on the 1 April 1954, by Fr. Bene OFM (Cap.) then Parish Priest of Gujranwala, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore.

Future Vision School at Shaheenabad Gujranwala is another state of the art purpose build English Medium school.

 Transport

Gujranwala Railway Station

Gujranwala is an extremely accessible city, benefiting from excellent road and rail links built during the reign of the British has allowed the city to grow and prosper. By road, the city is less than two hours away from Lahore and three hours drive from Islamabad. The city has a dry port for the export of local products to the rest of the world. The Grand Trunk Road and the motorways have helped the logistical movement of cargo as well as communiting from one city to the next.

There are also rail links with major cities in Pakistan including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad as well as smaller cities within the country. The Gujranwala Railway Station was built by the British before the independence of Pakistan. It is situated on the Grand Trunk Road at the centre of the city.

The city is served by two international airports at Lahore and Sialkot which offer flights domestically as well as internationally. Allama Iqbal International Airport (80 km from the city) and Sialkot International Airport (40 km from the city) are the prime airports that provide flights to the people of Gujranwala. City Tours is also serving to people of Gujranwala.

 Food & Beverage

One of the renowned food spot of the city

Gujranwala is famous for its exotic cuisine. There are a number of restaurants in Gujranwala offering a vast variety of sumptuous food. Popular local dishes, continental, Chinese, and fast food are offered at a wide variety of eating places. You can eat and drink somewhere different every day. People from other cities and far off places visit Gujranwala to enjoy popular traditional food like Tikkas, Chanps, and Kababs. Gujranwala is located on G.T road, which can be manipulated properly to give a boost to food industry.

Media

Gujranwala TV (GTV) 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 news, educational debates, showbiz and social activities. TVR is an upcoming project of The Renaissance group expected to be launched in 2010.

(source:wikipedia)