Faisalabad
Faisalabad
Faisalabad
فیصل آباد
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From top, left to right:
Clock Tower, Faisalabad Railway Station, Faisalabad Arts Council, Divisional Model College, Agricultural irrigation canal | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname(s):
The Manchester of Pakistan
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Faisalabad
Location of Faisalabad
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| Coordinates: 31°25′0″N 73°5′28″ECoordinates: 31°25′0″N 73°5′28″E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Region |  Punjab |
| District | Faisalabad |
| Settled | 1892 |
| Founded by | Sir James Broadwood Lyall |
| Government | |
| • Mayor of Faisalabad | Aniq Ahmad Rana |
| • Deputy Mayor of Faisalabad | 3 zonal mayors |
| Area | |
| • City | 1,300 km2 (490 sq mi) |
| • Land | 840 km2 (325 sq mi) |
| • Water | 430 km2 (165 sq mi) 33% |
| • Metro | 5,860 km2 (2,261 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 186 m (610 ft) |
| Population | |
| • City | 3,203,846 |
| • Rank | 3rd, Pakistan |
| • Density | 2,500/km2 (6,500/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 7,873,910[1] |
| Demonym(s) | Faisalabadi |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (PST) |
| ZIP code format |
38xxx
|
| Area code(s) | 041 |
| Vehicle registration | Three letters beginning with F and random four numbers (e.g. FDA-1234) |
| Former Name | Lyallpur |
| Official Language | Urdu |
| Native language | Punjabi |
| Languages (1981) | 98.2% Punjabi 1.8% Others[4] |
| GDP/PPP | $43 billion (2013)[5] |
| Website | www |
Faisalabad (Urdu: فیصل آباد; English: /fɑːɪsɑːlˌbɑːd/), formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third-most-populous city in Pakistan, and the second-largest in the eastern province of Punjab. Historically one of the first planned cities within British India, it has long since developed into a cosmopolitan metropolis. Faisalabad was restructured into city district status; a devolution promulgated by the 2001 local government ordinance (LGO). The total area of Faisalabad District is 5,856 km2 (2,261 sq mi)[6] while the area controlled by the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) is 1,280 km2 (490 sq mi).[7][8]:8 Faisalabad has grown to become a major industrial and distribution centre because of its central location in the region and connecting roads, rails, and air transportation.[9] It has been referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan".[10][11] As of 2013, GDP (PPP) of Faisalabad was estimated as $43 billion[5] and projected to rise to $87 billion in 2025 at a growth rate of 5.7%.[12] Faisalabad contributes over 20 percent of Punjab's GDP, and has an average annual GDP (nominal) of $20.5 billion.[5] Agriculture and industry remain its hallmark.[13][8]:41
The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the lower Chenab River, produces cotton, wheat, sugarcane, maize, vegetables and fruits. The city is an industrial centre with major railway repair yards, engineering works, and mills that process sugar, flour, and oil seed. Faisalabad is a major producer of superphosphates, cotton and silk textiles, hosiery, dyes, industrial chemicals, beverages, clothing, pulp and paper, printing, agricultural equipment, and ghee (clarified butter). The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry monitors industrial activity in the city and reports their findings to the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and provincial government. The city has a major dry port and international airport.
A few of Faisalabad's educational institutions include the University of Agriculture, Government College University, Divisional Model College, Beaconhouse School System, Divisional Public School Faisalabad and National Textile University. The city has its own cricket team, Faisalabad Wolves, which is based at the Iqbal Stadium.[14] There are several other sports teams that compete internationally, including hockey and snooker as well as other sporting events.[15]
History[edit]
Toponymy[edit]
Faisalabad district actually began as Lyallpur district in 1904 and prior to that, was a tehsil of Jhang district.[17] During the British Raj in colonial India, the city of Lyallpur was named in honour of the then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall, for his services in the colonisation of the lower Chenab Valley.[18] His surname Lyall was joined with "pur" which in old Sanskrit language means city.[19] In 1979, the Government of Pakistan changed the name of the city from Lyallpur to Faisalabad (meaning City of Faisal), in honour of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who made several financial contributions to Pakistan.[20][21]
Early settlements[edit]
According to the University of Faisalabad, the city of Faisalabad traces its origins to the 18th century when the land was inhabited by a number of forest-dwelling tribes. It is believed these early settlements belonged to the ancient districts of Jhang and Sandalbar, which included the area between Shahdara to Shorekot and Sangla Hill to Toba Tek Singh.[22]
Colonial rule[edit]
By the mid-18th century, the economic and administrative collapse of provinces within the Mughal Empire, from Punjab to Bengal, led to its dissolution.[23] Internal unrest resulted in multiple battles for independence and further deterioration of the region, which then led to formal colonialisation as established by the Government of India Act 1858, with direct control under the British Raj from 1858 to 1947.[24][25] In 1880, Poham Young CIE, a British colonial officer, proposed construction of a new strategic town within the area.[26] His proposal was supported by Sir James Broadwood Lyall and the city of Lyall was developed.[26] Historically, Faisalabad, (Lyallpur until 1979), became one of the first planned cities within British India.[13]
Young designed the city centre to replicate the design in the Union Jack with eight roads extending from a large clock tower at its epicentre;[27] a design geometrically symbolic of the Cross of Saint Andrew counterchanged with the Cross of Saint Patrick, and Saint George's Cross over all.[28] The eight roads developed into eight separate bazaars (markets) leading to different regions of the Punjab.[18][29] In 1892, the newly constructed town with its growing agricultural surplus was added to the British rail network.[30] Construction of the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was completed in 1895.[27] In 1896, Gujranwala, Jhang and Sahiwal comprising the Tehsils of Lyallpur were under the administrative control of the Jhang District.[17]
In 1904, the new district of Lyallpur was formed to include the tehsils of Samundri and Toba Tek Singh with a sub-tehsil at Jaranwala, which later became a full tehsil in itself.[31] The University of Agriculture, originally the Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute, Lyallpur, was established in 1906.[16] The Town Committee was upgraded to a Municipal Committee in 1909. Lyallpur grew into an established agricultural tool and grain centre.[32] The 1930s brought industrial growth and market expansion to the textile industry as well as to food processing, grain crushing and chemicals.[18]
Independence[edit]
In August 1947, following three decades of nationalist struggles, India and Pakistan achieved independence. The British agreed to partition colonial India into two sovereign states – Pakistan with a Muslim majority, and India with a Hindu majority; however, more Muslims remained in India than what governing authorities believed would assimilate into Pakistan.[33] The partitioning led to a mass migration of an estimated 10 million people which made it the largest mass migration in human history.[33] India's Bengal province was divided into East Pakistan and West Bengal (India), and the Punjab Province was divided into Punjab (West Pakistan) and Punjab, India. There were also respective divisions of the British Indian Army, the Indian Civil Service, various administrative services, the central treasury, and the railways.[34] Riots and local fighting followed the expeditious withdrawal of the British, resulting in an estimated one million civilians deaths, particularly in the western region of Punjab.[33] Lyallpur, which was located in the region of the Punjab Province that became West Pakistan, was populated by a number of Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India, while Muslim refugees from India settled in the district.[34]
In 1977, Pakistani authorities changed the name of the city to "Faisalabad" to honour the close relationship of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia with Pakistan.[35] During the eighties, the city realised an increase in foreign investment.[36] More Faisalabadis began working abroad as bilateral ties improved within the new dominion. This led to more monetary funds returning to the city that aided the development of the region.[21] In 1985, the city was upgraded as a division with the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.[22]
Government and public services[edit]
Civic administration[edit]
Faisalabad was restructured into city district status; a devolution promulgated by the 2001 local government ordinance (LGO).[37] It is governed by the city district's seven departments: Agriculture, Community Development, Education, Finance and Planning, Health, Municipal Services, and Works and Services.[38] The district coordination officer of Faisalabad (DCO) is head of the city district government and responsible for co-ordinating and supervising the administrative units.[38] Each of the seven departments has its own Executive District Officer who is charged with co-ordinating and overseeing the activities of their respective departments.
The aim of the city district government is to empower politics by improving governance which basically involved decentralising administrative authority with the establishment of different departments and respective department heads, all working under one platform. The stated vision and mission of the city district government of Faisalabad is to "establish an efficient, effective and accountable city district government, which is committed to respecting and upholding women, men and children's basic human rights, responsive towards people's needs, committed to poverty reduction and capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century. Our actions will be driven by the concerns of local people."[38]
Tehsil municipal administration[edit]
In 2005, Faisalabad was reorganised as a city district composed of eight Tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs).[39] The functions of the TMA include preparation of the spatial and land use plans, management of these development plans and exercise of control over land use, land sub-division, land development and zoning by public and private sectors, enforcement of municipal laws, rules and by-laws, provision and management of water, drainage waste and sanitation along with allied municipal services.[40]
There are 118 union councils in Faisalabad. Their role is to collect and maintain statistical information for socio-economic surveys. They consolidate ward neighbourhood development needs and prioritise these into union-wide development proposals. The council identifies any deficiencies in the delivery of these services and makes recommendations for improvement to the TMA.[41]
Faisalabad Development Authority[edit]
The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) was validly established in October 1976 under The Punjab Development of Cities Act (1976) to regulate, supervise and implement development activities in its jurisdiction area.[42][43] The FDA acts as a policy-making body for the development of the city and is in charge of arranging and supervising major developments within the city. It is responsible for the administration of building regulations, management of parks and gardens and subsoil water management. The FDA works with the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to control and maintain the water supply, sewerage and drainage.[44] The FDA works to improve conditions in the slums.[45]
Healthcare[edit]
Healthcare services are provided to the citizens by both public and private sector hospitals. The government–run hospitals are Allied Hospital, District HQ Hospital, Institute of Child Care,[46] PINUM Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC) and General Hospitals in Ghulam Muhammadabad and Samanabad.[47] There are a number of private hospitals, clinics and laboratories in the city.
Law enforcement[edit]
Law enforcement in Faisalabad is carried out by the city police, under the command of the city police officer (CPO), an appointment by the provincial government.[48] The office of the CPO is located in the District Courts, Faisalabad.[49] Various police formations include district police, elite police, traffic police, Punjab highway patrolling, investigation branch, and special branch.[50]
Water supply and sanitation[edit]
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), is a subsidiary of Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), established 23 April 1978 under the Development of Cities Act 1976.[51] 2015 estimates indicate that WASA provides about 72% of the city's sewerage services and about 60% of their water services.[52] The existing production capacity of WASA is 65 million imperial gallons per day (300 million litres per day), almost all of which is drawn from wells located in the old beds of the Chenab River. From the wells, water is pumped to a terminal reservoir located on Sargodha Road.[53] Water is normally supplied for a total of about 8 hours per day to the majority of the city.[53] The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided financial and hardware equipment to help improve the water and sanitation conditions in the city.[54]
Geography[edit]
Location[edit]
Faisalabad lies in the rolling flat plains of northeast Punjab, at 186 metres (610 ft) above sea level. The city proper comprises approximately 1,230 square kilometres (470 sq mi) while the district encompasses more than 16,000 square kilometres (6,200 sq mi). The Chenab River flows about 30 kilometres (19 mi), and the Ravi River meanders 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the southeast. The lower Chenab canal provides water to 80% of cultivated lands making it the main source of irrigation. Faisalabad is bound on the north by Chiniot and Sheikhupura, on the east by Sheikhupura and Sahiwal, on the south by Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh and on the west by Jhang.[55]
Geology[edit]
The district of Faisalabad is part of the alluvial plains between the Himalayan foothills and the central core of the Indian subcontinent.[56] The alluvial deposits are typically over a thousand feet thick.[57] The interfluves are believed to have been formed during the Late Pleistocene and feature river terraces.[58] These were later identified as old and young floodplains of the Ravi River on the Kamalia and Chenab Plains. The old floodplains consist of Holocene deposits from the Ravi and Chenab rivers.[59]
The soil consists of young stratified silt loam or very fine sand loam which makes the subsoil weak in structure with common kankers at only five feet. The course of the rivers within Faisalabad are winding and often subject to frequent alternations. In the rainy season, the currents are very strong. This leads to high floods in certain areas which do last for a number of days. The Rakh and Gogera canals have encouraged the water levels in the district however the belt on the Ravi River has remained narrow. The river bed does include the river channels which have shifted the sand bars and low sandy levees leading to river erosion.[57] Faisalabad is situated at the centre of the lower Rechna Doab, the area is located between the Chenab and Ravi rivers. There is a mild slope from the northeast to the southwest with an average fall of 0.2–0.3 metres per kilometre (1.1–1.6 feet per mile). The city is situated at an elevation of about 183 metres (600 ft). The topography is marked by valleys, local depression and high ground.[60]
Climate[edit]
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The weather in the city is monitored by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.[61] The Pakistan Meteorological Department regularly provides forecasts, public warnings and rainfall information to farmers with the assistance of the National Agromet Centre.[62][63][64]
Average annual rainfall is approximately 784 millimetres (30.9 in). It is at its peak in July and August during monsoon season though western disturbances during winter months also bring considerable rainfall associated with hail. During winter the weather usually remains cloudy associated with frequent fog.[60] Record-breaking rainfall of 264.2 millimetres (10.40 in) was recorded on 5 September 1961 by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.[65]
| hideClimate data for Faisalabad | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 26.6 (79.9) | 30.8 (87.4) | 37 (99) | 44 (111) | 47.5 (117.5) | 48 (118) | 46.1 (115.0) | 42 (108) | 41.1 (106.0) | 40 (104) | 36.1 (97.0) | 29.2 (84.6) | 48 (118) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 19.4 (66.9) | 22.2 (72.0) | 27.4 (81.3) | 34.2 (93.6) | 39.7 (103.5) | 41.0 (105.8) | 37.7 (99.9) | 36.5 (97.7) | 36.6 (97.9) | 33.9 (93.0) | 28.2 (82.8) | 22.1 (71.8) | 31.6 (88.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 4.8 (40.6) | 7.6 (45.7) | 12.6 (54.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 24.1 (75.4) | 27.6 (81.7) | 27.9 (82.2) | 27.2 (81.0) | 24.5 (76.1) | 17.7 (63.9) | 10.4 (50.7) | 6.1 (43.0) | 17.4 (63.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.9 (26.8) | −1.4 (29.5) | 1 (34) | 7 (45) | 13 (55) | 17 (63) | 19 (66) | 18.6 (65.5) | 15.6 (60.1) | 9 (48) | 2 (36) | −1.3 (29.7) | −4 (25) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 31.5 (1.24) | 41.3 (1.63) | 49.1 (1.93) | 43 (1.7) | 24 (0.9) | 103 (4.1) | 202.4 (7.97) | 190.6 (7.50) | 100.3 (3.95) | 9.8 (0.39) | 2.6 (0.10) | 20.4 (0.80) | 743 (29.3) |
| Source: [66] | |||||||||||||
Demographics[edit]
| showPopulation growth |
|---|
Faisalabad was established as one of the first planned towns of British India covering an area of 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi).[67] It was initially designed to accommodate 20,000 people. The city's population increased from 69,930 in 1941 to 179,000 in 1951 (152.2% increase).[68] Much of the increase is attributed to the settlement of Muslim refugees from East Punjab and Haryana, India. In 1961, the population rose to 425,248, an increase of 137.4%. Faisalabad set a record in the demographic history of Pakistan by registering an overall population increase of 508.1% between 1941 and 1961. The industrial revolution of the 1960s contributed to population growth.[68] In 1961, the population was 425,248. A 1972 census ranked Faisalabad as the 3rd largest city of Pakistan with a population of 864,000. In a 1981 census, the population was 1,092,000; however, the Faisalabad Development Authority estimated the number to be 1,232,000.[68] In the 2017 consensus, the total population of the city was 3,203,846 [2]
Religion and ethnic groups[edit]
The province of Punjab, in which Faisalabad is the second largest city, has prevalent sociocultural distinctions.[70] Population sizes vary by district but some distinguishing factors include a young age structure, high age dependency ratio, a higher percentage of males, a higher proportion of married population, and heterogeneity in castes and languages.[70]:387
Islam is the common heritage in the region with a 97.22% Muslim majority according to the 1998 Pakistan census report and 2001 population data sheet.[70] Islamic influences are evident in the fundamental values of various inhabitants including cultural traditions, marriage, education, diet, ceremonies and policies with may reflect stark differences in rural villages as compared to urban areas.[71] People live in tight-knit joint families, although a nuclear family system is emerging due to changing socio-economic conditions.[70] Ancient Pakistani culture prevails in most marriage practices in the region, as do certain restrictions related to ethnicity and caste. However, the influences of more modern societies have effected some change, particularly in the area of the dowry system. In the following ancient culture, marriages are customarily arranged by the parents or matchmakers. In some instances, the husband must buy his wife from her parents.[72] Marriage ceremonies, which can be more or less formal, include rituals which are universal in nature and hold sociological importance.[71] Studies conducted in 2007 and 2013, the latter in an outlying rural village in Faisalabad District, acknowledged the existence of gender bias and discrimination against females, stating that "Gender discrimination is not a new phenomenon", and that it still exists in the modern world.[70][71] It was further noted that situations may be worse in villages because "whenever a girl is born, nobody celebrates her birth, whereas when a boy is born, it means great joy and celebration."[71]
Social change in the region has been a slow process but there are indications that change has occurred as more villages are exposed to various forms of media and modernized urban communities. It is further noted that there has been a "conscious and persistent effort" to educate rural and urban societies about gender bias and equality.[71] In early 2014, there was a march known as the "White Ribbon Campaign" which took place in front of the Faisalabad Press Club. Protestors appealed to the government to adopt new laws "to protect women who are discriminated against in the family and workplace."[73]
Prevalent minorities, particularly Hindu and Christian, feel a sense of vulnerability because of their religious beliefs.[69] Labourers and farmhands comprise the countless Christian villages throughout Punjab; many are descendants of people who converted from Hinduism to Christianity under the British Raj, and considered low caste by virtue of their birth.[33] A small population of wealthy, well-educated Christians have settled in Karachi; however, as a result of increasing Islamization, religious intolerance in Pakistani society, blashphemy laws and Islamist militancy, most have left Pakistan to settle in other countries where there is more religious tolerance, such as Canada and Australia.[69][74]
Economy[edit]
As of 2013 GDP (PPP) of Faisalabad was estimated as $43 billion[5] and projected to rise to $87 billion in 2025 at a growth rate of 5.7%.[75] Faisalabad contributes over 5% toward Pakistan's annual GDP; therefore, it is often referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan".[10][11] Faisalabad's average annual GDP (nominal) is $20.55 billion (USD), of which 21% comes from agriculture.[5][8]:41 The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the lower Chenab River, produces agricultural commodities such as cotton, rice, sugarcane, wheat, fruit and vegetables.[76][77] The city has carved a niche as an industrial centre with its highways, railways, railway repair yards, processing mills, and engineering works. It is a producer of industrial goods and textile manufacturing including cotton and silk textiles, super phosphates, hosiery, dyes, industrial chemicals, clothing, pulp and paper, printing, agricultural equipment, ghee (clarified butter), and beverages.[78]
The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry monitors industrial activity in the city and reports their findings to the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and provincial government.[79] The city has a major dry port[80][8]:25 and international airport.[8]:26
Faisalabad is recognised as the centre of the textile industry in Pakistan, contributing to half of Pakistans total textile shipments.[81] At the end of June 2012, textile mills employed 20% of the nation's workforce, and generated 1.3 trillion rupees ($13.8 billion) in textile products, most of which were exported to the US and Europe.[81] While Punjab's economy is driven primarily by agriculture, the textile industry along with leather products and light engineering goods play an important role, with more than 48,000 industrial units spread across Punjab.[82] In an effort to boost bilateral trade, Romania and Turkey have honorary-consulates in Faisalabad which enable trade links with the city.[83][84]
The Faisalabad clock tower and its eight bazaars (markets) remain a major trading zone in the city.[85] Each of the eight bazaars has a special name and is known for selling certain goods as follows:[86]
- Katchery Bazaar, named for the court (Katchery) is known for its mobile phone and accessory market.
- Rail Bazar is a gold and cloth market.
- Bhawana Bazaar supplies electrical and electronic goods.
- Jhang Bazaar supplies fish, meat, vegetables and fruits.
- Aminpur Bazaar supplies stationery and interior décor.
- Kharkhana Bazaar is known for herbal medicines.
- Gol Bazaar contains dry fruit, as well as wholesale soap, oil, and ghee shops.
- Chiniot Bazaar is known for allopathic and homoeopathic medicinal stores, cloth, blankets, sofa cloth, and curtains. It also has poultry feed
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