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Location
Faisalabad
is an industrial city of Pakistan, Situated 225-miles (360 kilometers) south of
the capital Islamabad. The district lies from 30-35 to 31-47 north Latitudes and
72-73 to 73-40 east longitudes. Gujranwala And Sheikhupura districts bound it in
the north. In the East by Sheikhupura and sahiwal districts. In the south By
Sahiwal and Toba tek singh districts and jhang.
District
is to its west. The city covers an area of 5,856 Square kilometers. The city is
linked to m-2 motorway (Islamabad-Lahore motorway) with m-3 motorway section (Pindi-Bhattian-Faisalabad
motorway).
Faisalabad (Formerly Lyallpur)
is a road and railway junction, which lies in an area watered by the Lower
Chenab Canal. Cotton, wheat, vegetables, and fruits are grown there and the city
is also an industrial centre with railway-repair yards, engineering works, and
mills that process sugar, flour, and oil seed. Produce includes super
phosphates, cotton and silk textiles, hosiery, dyes, agricultural equipment, and
ghee (clarified butter). Faisalabad is the site of the University of
Agriculture, founded in 1909.
Before Independence:
The city of Lyallpur , multicoloured jewel of the
lower Chenab organization area, came into being in 1880. The city which is
now well known as "Manchester of Pakistan" for its industrial
activity, was nothing but a desolate tract of land 100 years age. It did
not rain here for weeks together and when it rained, the water vanished in
the city land in no time. There was no village nearby.
The villages of Dodiwala and Paokianwala which shelter thousands of
inhabitants these days, were nothing but a group of a few cottages. Pucca
Mari was place of rest for those who travelled from district Jhang to
District Lahore. It was in 1885 that the Deputy Commissioner Jhang, on his
way to Lahore,broke his journey
near the Theh of Pucca Man'. The Deputy
Commissioner after resting for a while
set out for walk, along with the Tehsildar of Chiniot, towards the west
and returned quite late in the evening. He spent the night and rode for
Lahore on the next day morning.After about 6 months, there dawned a
morning when the Then of Pucca Mari saw some government officials
pitching tents and making other camping arrangements. In the evening,
there arrived the caravan of Deputy Commissioner, the Colony Assistant
of Jhang and their subordinate officials. All the barren and desolate
tract of land situated to the west of Pucca Mari was
surveyed and marked here and there in three days. In the beginning,
there was only a few huts and cottages nestled beside the Theh of Pucca
Mari. Later with the construction of Chenab canal, more and more people
were attracted. The proper city was founded in 1892.The Tehsildar of
Chiniot, recommended to name this township after PuccaMar but the Deputy
Commissioner Jhang prevailed upon him at the name of the then Lt.
Governor of the Punjab, Sir James Lyall, who let it be named .after him.
The famous Philanthropist, Sir Ganga Ram was assigned to draft its plan.
After approval of draft Sir Ganga Ram was given five squares of lane as
reward.
In 1895, the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was effected. The
building of Railway Station wanted time, therefore, a Goods train wagon
served as Lyallpur Railway Station. As the progress ol colonization  stepped
up the Lyallpur was given the status of Tehsil of District Jhang and its
administration carried on the tents on the old Theh (Mound) of Pucca Mari
near Tariqabad.The Majestic Clock Tower of Lyallpur was constructed out of
the funds raised by the Zamindars who collected it at a rate of Rs. 18 per
square of land. The fund thus raised was handed over to the Municipal
Committee which got it completed.
In 1902, the population of the town had exceeded 4,000. A considerable
number of houses and shops to cater to the ordinary needs of the
population had constructed.
In 1903, decision to have an agricultural college was made. In the very
next year, 1904, the new district of Lyallpur was constituted comparing of
Tehsils of Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba-Tek-Singh with a subtehsil at
Jaranwala which later turned into a full fledged Tehsil.
In 1906, the District Headquarters began to function at Lyallpur and all
the bazars and mohallas within the bounds of circular road were nearing
completion and city began to spread outside the circular road. The Town
Committee which has come into being in 1904, was upgraded as Municipal
Committee in 1909 and Deputy Commissioner was declared to be the lst
Chairman.In 1916, the grain market saw its shops surging with customers.
In the same year the civil Hospital was expanded. With the advent of the
world war II, the political awakening sprinkled its influence over the
city. Revolutionary meetings were held. Fiery speeches were made. slogans
were written on the walls.
In 1943, the late Quaid-e-Azam came to Lyallpur and addressed a gathering
of over 2 lakh in Dhobi Ghat Grounds. And, on March 3, 1947, when Pakistan
was accepted as an independent unit, the Muslims of Lyallpur held special
prayers and distributed sweets and food among the poor.
After Independence:
After the independence, the city of
Lyallpur marched rapidly on the path of progress. The city which had so
far been known for its grain market, became a great commercial and
industrial centre. The population of the city which in 1901 hardly touched
the figure of a few thousands soared up to lacks. Medical and educational
level was lifted up. In 1977, the name of the city was changed to
Faisalabad, after the name of the late king of Saudi Arabia, Shah
Faisal-bin-Abdul Aziz. In 1985, the city was upgraded as a division with
the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba-Tek Singh.
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