Lahore , the provincial capital of Panjab

Lahore , the provincial capital of Panjab, is a tourists' heaven. Being the cultural nucleus of Pakistan , it offers visitors and locals alike, a rare treat of architectural splendour, magnificent museums, stunning gardens and colourful festivals. Over the years thousands of tourists have come to Pakistan to witness a multitude of unparalleled attractions. According to legends, Lahore was founded by the son of Lord Rama almost 4000 years ago. From the 16 th to the 18 th century, the city was part of the Mughal Empire and this period saw Lahore reaching to glorious heights. Most of Lahore attractions were built under the patronage of Mughal rulers.







Royal Fort (Shahi Qila)

Centrepiece of Lahore 's Mughal architecture is the Royal Fort or Shahi Qila. Initially constructed by Mahmood of Ghazna and Akbar, the fort has seen many additions and extensions by every succeeding Mughal Emperor, the Sikhs as well as the British. A highlight of this stunning Lahore attraction is the Sheesh Mahal or Palace of Mirrors , featuring a collection of multi-coloured mirrors.

Roshnai Gate Area

Roshnai Gate serves as an entrance to the Walled City . The Badshahi Mosque, one of the world's largest mosques, is located just outside the Northeast corner of the Walled City . Between the mosque and the historic Lahore Fort lies the Hazuri Bagh Garden , featuring a marble pavilion. The Mausoleum of Muhammad Iqbal, the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh and the Shrine of Syed Ali Hajveiri (ra), renowned as Data Ganj Bukhsh, are all located in the garden.

Masti Gate Area

The Masti Gate entrance is situated behind the Lahore Fort and this area is predominantly occupied by shoe vendors. Going further down the street, one comes across one of the city's oldest mosques, the Mosque of Mariyam Zamani, named after the mother of Jahangir.

Bhati Gate Area

Entrance of the Bhati Gate is located on the western wall of the Old City and inside the gate is a popular area for dining in Lahore . The Data Durbar, the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Ali Hajweri (also known as Data Sahib Ganjbaksh) is situated just outside the Bhati Gate and people visiting here on Thursday evenings can witness the performances of Qawwali music.

The Lohari Gate

The Lohari Gate, another work of great architecture in Lahore , is located close to Bhati Gate. It is surrounded by shops. In urdu 'loha' means iron and the gate gets its name because of the blacksmiths (Lohars) who lived outside the gates and had their workshops here.

Delhi Gate Area

Delhi Gate is an entrance on the eastern wall of the Walled City . The Shahi Hammam or 'Royal Baths' are located inside the gate on the left hand side. Further down is the beautiful Wazir Khan Mosque, named after a viceroy of Punjab during the reign of Shah Jahan. The Sonehri Masjid is also located close by.

Anarkali

Located on Mall Road in Lahore , Anarkali is one of the oldest bazaars on the Indian subcontinent. Legend says that when the Mughal Prince Saleem fell in love Anarkali, she was buried alive inside one of the walls of the bazaar, on the command of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Gawal Mandi

Gawal Mandi is home to the Food Street - the centre of authentic Pakistani cuisine. Surrounded by ancient buildings of Kashmiri-Persian architecture and several bazaars, the Food Street is a not-to-be-missed Lahore attraction. Visitors come here to enjoy the delicious Lahore cuisine and linger till late in the night, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

Tomb of Shah Jamal

The tomb of Sufi Saint Baba Shah Jamal is located in Ichhrah, Lahore . The famous Pappu Sain performs at the shrine every Thursday evening. Pappu Sain is a master dhol (Indian drum) player in Pakistan , who has performed in Germany , Switzerland , Britain , and throughout the Muslim world.

The Mausoleum of Bibi Pak Daman

The Bibi Pak Daman mausoleum houses the graves of five ladies from Prophet Muhammad's household (Ahlulbayt).






Parks and Gardens

The Shalimar Gardens , located just five kilometres east of old city, is one of the most popular Lahore attractions. A breathtaking work of art by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan, the garden's exquisite landscape is enclosed within high walls with watchtowers in the corners. The Golden Mosque is situated in the Kashmiri Bazaar inside the garden.




Source : worldexecutive.com

THE Capital of Pakistan "ISLAMABAD"

Pakistan's new Capital ISLAMABAD nestles against the backdrop of the Margalla Hills at the northern end of Pothowar Plateau. It offers a healthy climate, pollution free atmosphere, plenty of water and lush green area.

It is a modern and carefully planned city with wide tree-lined streets, large houses elegant public buildings and well-organised bazars/markets/shopping centres. There are rarely crowds or traffic jams and few narrow lanes or slums; the walkways are shaded & safe and seperated from the traffic by rows of flame trees, jacarnda and hibiscus. Rosed, Jasmine & bougainvillea fill the parks and scenic viewpoints shoe the city to its best advantage.

The city is divided into eight basic zones Administrative, diplomatic enclave, residential areas, educational sectors, industrial sectors. commercial areas, rural and green areas. Each sector has its own shopping area and public park.

Islamabad today is the heart and soul of Pakistan, a city which symbolizes the aspirations of a young and dynamic nation that looks forward to a glorious future for its people, a city which welcomes modern ides but at the same time recognizes and cherishes its traditional values and its past history.

Source : islamabad.net

Peshawar

Peshawar valley is one of the most colorful Pakistani cities (and that's saying a lot!) and the capital city of North West Frontier Province. Its proximity to the Afghan border, give it a real border town flavour, not unlike the Wild West towns of the USA in 19th century.
Peshāwar (known as Pesha-awar or Purushapura in the old days of Gandhara's history) is a city in Pakistan 's North-West Frontier Province, near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass.
Peshawar used to be the capital of the Gandhara empire by Kaniska the First at 58 BC. Being among the ancient cities of the world, it has been for centuries and centuries a centre of trade between the Indian Subcontinent, Afghanistan, central Asia and Europe.
The formalities of dress and manner give way here to a free and easy style, as men encounter men with a firm hand-clasp and a straight but friendly look.



Hefty handsome men in baggy trousers and long, loose shirts, wear bullet studded bandoleers across their chests or pistols at their sides as a normal part of their dress, but nowadays you would not be able to see the guns anymore as carying guns has been made illegal.
There is just that little touch of excitement and drama in the air that makes for a frontier land. An occasional salvo of gun fire- no, not a tribal raid or a skirmish in the streets but a lively part of wedding celebrations. Although just-for-fun gun firing has also been banned now you might just be able to hear some.
The main sights in town and in its sorroundings are, Peshawar Museum in Peshawar cantt, the old Peshawar city, the Qisa Khawani bazaar, Sadar bazaar, the spectecular architecture of Masjid Mohaabt Khan in old city, the Fort Bala-Hissaar, Islamia College, Peshawar University, Rose Garden of Agriculture University Peshawar, the largest Shopping Mall of Pakistan - The Karkhano Market, the guns industry at Darra Adam Khael, the tomb of a sofi scholar and saint, Kaka Sahib Nowshera, the Maqbara (tomb) and Library of legendary sofi poet and leader - Khoshal Khan Khattak at Akora Khattak, the venture spot of two famous rivers of subcontinent, River Indus and River Kabul at Attock and the Mughal erra Attock Fort. You can enjoy hill stations just on few hours drive away from Peshawar, such as Swat, Chitral Kaghan, Kohat
From Peshawar you can visit the Khyber Pass, which still is the most important pass between central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For centuries and centuries armies have swept down to plunder the fertile plains of the Indus valley.

Rawalpindi

History of Rawalpindi :


Rawalpindi city, also known as Pindi, has a history spread over several millenniums extending to the ancient times corresponding with the decaying period of Buddhism to the invasions of the Macedonians and then to the dawn of the Muslims era. The long spells of darkness overcast the history of the religion as well as the city before Muslims conquest.
Archaeologists believe that a distinct culture flourished on this plateau as far back as 3000 years. The material remains found on the sight of the city of Rawalpindi prove the existence of Buddhist establishment contemporary to Taxila but less celebrated than its neighbors.
It appears that the ancient city went into oblivion as a result of the Hun devastation. the first Muslim invader, Mahmood of Ghazni (979-1030 AD), gifted the ruined city to a Gakkhar Chief, Kai Gohar. the town, however, being on invaders' route, could not prosper and remained deserted until Jhanda Khan, another Gakkhar Chief, restored it and gave the name of Rawalpindi after the village Rawal in 1493 AD.
Rawalpindi remained under the rule of Gakkhars till Muqarrab Khan, the last Gakkhar ruler, was defeated by Sikhs in 1765 AD. Sikhs invited traders from other places to settle here. This brought the city into prominence. Sikhs lost the city to British in 1849 AD.
Following the British occupation in 1849, the city became permanent cantonment of the British army in 1851. It was around 1881 that the railway line to Rawalpindi was laid. The train service was formally inaugurated on January 1, 1886. The need for having railway link arose after Lord Dollhouse made Rawalpindi the headquarters of the Northern Command. And, Rawalpindi became the largest cantonment in the South Asia.
Rawalpindi, after independence of 1947, has been the home of various political powers and important events that shaped the future of the country. This included the unfortunate murder of First elected prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali khan, in the Liaquat Garden, in 1951. Rawalpindi has the long time honor of having Army headquarter . Now the Airforce headquarter has also moved here.
The famous Murree road has been the hot spot for the various political and social events. In 2004 Murree road will have its first underpass to decrease the enormous traffic load it faces, every day. The sites proposed for these flyovers and underpasses are Committee chowk, Sixth road and Mareer chowk.
Nala Lai, famous for its floods, runs in the middle of the city, dividing it into city area and Cantt. area. History describes Nala lai water pure enough to do washing clothes but now it has become polluted with the waste water from all sources including factories and houses.
With historical buildings and bazaars, vast parks and high hills and chilling winter and hot summers, Rawalpindi has proven its status as the MUST visit place.


Famous Historical Places


Leh Nullah :

The Leh Nullah flows zigzagging through the city. An early edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica describes the Leh Nullah as a river. Until 1923, according to the old timers, the water of the Leh was crystal clear and considered fit for human consumption or performing ablutions. At that time, the city drains were not allowed to be discharged into the Leh as all the nullahs were supposed to flow toward depression on the other side of the Arya Mohalla running along the Murree Road. Now it has been reduced to a carrier of sewage of the twin cities. Heavy amounts of industrial wastes combined with the domestic refuse are deposited in Leh. The presence of two factors had made the Leh water highly polluted and rendered it unsafe even for agricultural use in the suburbs of the city. And, pungency of the flowing water has made the life of those living beside the nullah miserable.
The Mall :Rawalpindi's Thandi Sarak, better known as The Mall - the glory of the cantonment - with its row upon row of the senior Cypresses and seasonal flower beds, was formally inaugurated in 1910 with the beautifully sculpted statue of Queen Victoria standing majestically at the convergence point of the Murree Road an The Mall in close vicinity of the flashman's. The statue was chiselled in the United Kingdom in 1906. After independence, the statue was shifted from The Mall to the British High Commission.


Lal Haveli :

In old times, Rawalpindi had developed a unique architectural style. Both in the older quarters of the city and cantonment, it was considered fashionable to have wooden balconies with intricately designed motifs.It is located in the neighbour hood of the Purana Qilla, Sarafa Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar and Moti Bazaar. In 1920 in the pre-partition days, it was home to Budhana Bibi, a famous dancing girl.


Purana Qilla :

Enter the old part of the city and you will find yourself in archetypal form of an ancient town - crooked and narrow streets, dense housing, intricate woodwork on Jharokas, bay windows and doors, cut brick corbellings. Like Multan, Pakpattan or Lahore, the old quarters of the city, better known as the Purana Qilla, have a series of alleys with some of them being so narrow that they barely leave enough space for two people to walk side by side at the same time. At least there is one street through which only one person can walk. It is the entire urban fabric of the place that is historic. There is still a chance of seeing specimen of solid old masonry in construction of some of the old buildings. Homes have also retained their essential trait despite renovations to make them comfortable for modern living and their division for growing population.

My City " The City of Eagles"

HISTORY OF SARGODHA





Population = 558,440 (1998)

Estimate = 700,500 (2007)

Sargodha City is located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the eighth largest city of Pakistan, 175 kilometres north-west of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It is called “Shaheeno Ka Shahar” (City of Eagles), having Pakistan Air Force Operational and Central Command Air Base, and an Army Garrison. It is an agricultural city, Wheat, rice, and sugarcane being its main crops. Also it is famous for its Kennoo Oranges. Sargodha is one of three “Planned Cities” in Pakistan(other two are*Faisalabad & *Islamabad (Capital of Pakistan).

It is located in northeast Pakistan, to the north-west of Lahore by the lower Jhelum Canal. It is 10th largest city of Pakistan. It is an agricultural trade centre with varied industries.[1] Sargodha is one of three “planned cities” in Pakistan (the other two are Faisalabad and Islamabad).

It is an industrial centre for trade in cotton and other agricultural commodities. Hosiery, textiles, chemicals, and soap are the major manufactures
A large Pakistan Air Force base is located in the city.


History

Origin of name

There are several theories as to the origins of the name. It may be derived from the Sanskrit ’svargadhama’, meaning ‘heavenly abode’ Though this would have given rise to the Punjabi *sargdham. Other theories suggest that the name Sargodha is derived from that of a Hindu resident GodhaAlso it is believed that there was an old pond in the middle of the town where the old Hindu sadhu Godha used to live. In Punjabi the word for pond is sar hence sargodha, “The pool of godha”. Again this can’t be accepted as the order of words doesn’t refelect Punjabi usage, e.g., Amritsar, “the pool of nectar.” The place would have been called Godhsar if anything. The etymology must lie in sar + godha, with sar beinng the adjective and godha the noun.

Just over a century ago, there was a well owned by a Hindu Godha. The well was known as Gol Khuh, Punjabi “round well, and travellers used it as a resting place. As time passed the well eventually went out of use and a market evolved around it. There is a market at the place where Gol Khuh used to exist and a grand mosque above the market and it is known as “Gol Chowk”, which is the centre of downtown Sargodha today.

Sargodha was a small town at the beginning of the British Raj but, due to its geographical location, the British Royal Air Force built an airport there. It took on greater importance after the partition for the Pakistan Air Force.

History of Sargodha can be traced back to July 1951, when the disused WW II airfield was first occupied by a PAF Care and Maintenance Party. With this, the first step had been taken and by 16 November 59, all the infrastructure had been completed under the supervision of Wing Commander R D Rollo to make Sargodha ready to receive its First flying squadrons. Group Captain Salahuddin was posted in November 59 as the first commanding officer of PAF Station Sargodha. Over the next five months, by April 60, Nos 5, 11 and 16 Squadrons equipped with F-86F aircraft, had been positioned at this base; they comprised No 33 Wing.

The Air Force has about 65,000 active (40,000 uniformed and 25,000 civilian) personnel with about 10,000 reserves. The overall operational and administrative control of the PAF vests in the Chief Of the Air Staff who excercises these functions through Air Headquarters. He is assisted by a Vice Chief Of Air Staff and five Deputy Chiefs Of The Air Staffs.

The flying operations of the air force are carried out from a number of operational, training and maintanance air bases located all over the country. The respective Base Commanders are responsible to their Air Officer Commanding for the operaional readiness and combat efficiency of their bases.



Nishan-e- Istiqlal

A ttile Nishan-e-Istiqlal was given to three cities of Punjab in the Pakistan India War of 1965 against showing severe resitance in front enemy. Thse cities included Sargodha, Lahore and Sialkot.

1965 Pakistan India War

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 started on September 6, 1965 and Sargodha was on its front line. Citizens of Sargodha supported the Pakistan Army against the advancing and numerically larger Indian Army.

In 1966, recognising this bravery, the Government of Pakistan awarded the citizens of Lahore, Sialkot and Sargodha the award of Hilal-E-Istaqlal.



PAF Base

PAF Base Sargodha is now known as PAF Base Mushaf, named after the late Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir (March 5, 1947 – February 20, 2003), the former Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force from November 20, 2000 until his death when his PAF Fokker F-27 crashed near Kohat, North-West Frontier Province. He had been posted in Sargodha as the Base Commander.by Sami-ul-Ah Wahla

Demographics and Location

Sargodha is the 10th largest city of Pakistan. It is located 172 kilometres northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It lies about 30 miles from the M2 Motorway which connects Lahore and Islamabad.

It is an agricultural city with wheat, rice, and sugar cane being its main crops. Also it is famous for its Kinow oranges.

Administration

Until divisions were abolished in the year 2000, Sargodha was also divisional headquarters of Sargodha Division, currently Sargodha is the district and tehsil capital – the city of Sargodha is administratively subdivided into 22 Union Councils.

Divisional Headquarter:

Sargodha is infact a divisional headquarter of the Sargodha Division. Sargodha division has following Districts:

1. Sargodha District 2. Khushab District

3. Mianwali District 4. Bhakkar District

Tehsils of Sargodha:

Sargodha District is further divided into following major Tehsils.

1. Sargodha 2. Sillanwali

3. Bhalwal 4. Sahiwal

5. Kot Momin 6. Shahpur Sadar

Sargodha is connected to other major cities of Pakistan by motorways through Pindi-bhatian Interchange for Lahore and Bhalwal Interchange for Islamabad/Peshawar. A title Nishan-e-Istiqlal was given to three cities of Punjab in the Indo Pak war of 1965 against showing severe resistance in front enemy. These cities included Sargodha, Lahore and Sialkot.

City is also called a City of Eagles or ‘Shaheenon ka Shahar’. Most poeple think that it is because of the second largest Pakistan Airforce Airbase. Most of the 1965 India Pakistan Air war was fought over Sargodha city and hence this name was officially adopted. Some people think that M.M.Alam flew his fighter plane from Sargodha base & detroyed nearly 12 Fighter jets of India during the Air war.

Presidential Awards

Only two people from Sargodha have been Conferred upon with the presidential awards by the PRESIDENT of PAKISTAN.They are Prof.Ghulam Jilani Asghar and Prof.M.H.Musaddiq for their flawless contribution in the field of education

Citrus Fruit:

Sargodha is famous for production of citrus fruit “Kinnu”, “Malta”, “Grapefruit” etc. Soil is very receptive to citrus fruit and Sargodha arguably produces the best quality “Kinnu” (type of orange) in the world. Per acre yield of “Kinnu” is arguably the highest in the world. Demand for “Kinnu” of Sargodha is highest in domestic fruit markets, especially from Tehsil “Sillanwali” followed by a narrow margin by “Kinnu” of “Kot momin".

Sargodha City, the headquarters of the district with the same name, was founded in the year 1903, soon after the opening of thelower Jhelum canal and the colonization in the area that followed as a result thereof. The name Sargodha consists of two words, namely; ‘Sar’ and ‘Godha’, Sar, means pond or pool and Godha was the name of a Hindu ‘jogi’ (hermit). As the tradition goes, there was a natural water pond on the place where, at present, a portion of the Divisional Headquarters Hospital and Municipal Office stand. Godha had put up a small hut for himself on the side of this pond. The area around it was an uninhabited ‘bar’ or bush jungle where the cattle used to graze and drink water from the pond, named after the jogi. According to another tradition, the original name of the jogi was Lalu; Godha was the name of histribe, and he was known as Lalu Godha. When the new city was founded, it automatically took the name Sargodha.

City of Brave:

The word Godha is probably derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yoddha’, meaning fighter. Even now there are manypersons having the name ‘Jodha’ as well as ‘Godha’, both derived from the word ‘Yoddha’. There exists an old tribe of this name also. So Sargodha means pond of ‘Godha’ or Abode of the Fighter. It is, therefore, not a mere coincidence that Sargodha has made a name for itself, for fighting valiantly against the Indian Air Force during the wars of 1965 and 1971, as a result of which, it has won the well-deserved title of the City of Eagles.

Cultural Diversity:

The Sargodha city was founded by Lady Trooper in 1903. The city is very close to the heart of the Punjab. not just geographically but also in terms of cultural depth and diversity, now a city of about half million. A big canal arising from the river Jhelum brought green revolution to the barren valley of Karana Hills. New people started pouring in, not only from the neighbouring districts but also from distant towns like Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat. As a result of the partition in 1947 the Muslims from the East Punjab and the United Province (UP) added more colours to the already coloured and diverse culture of the city. Being the District Headquarters since 1940, Sargodha was upgraded to the status of Divisional Headquarters in the year 1960. Apart from being a well planned city, Sargodha enjoys the distinctionof being one of the most important bases of Pakistan Air Force. There is a beautiful cantonment area marked by the Pakistan Army

Links:

Sargodha is linked with all the major cities of the country by road and rail. It is at just two hours traveling distance from the Provincial Capital (Lahore) and three hours from the Federal Capital (Islamabad). Road Transport connections are very frequent and comfortable, and maintain direct service to and fro Peshawar. Karachi is in direct contact through express train service and Quetta is also easily accessible through railways.

Moving Ahead:

The last decade has seen Sargodha expanding and prospering. Heavy investment was attracted in the field of industry, especially the agro-based industry. A number of national and multi-national companies have established their offices and new investment is being pumped into the city’s economy. Sargodha is a smart and exceptionally cheap place to shop. Getting around the city is very easy. It has an affordable comprehensive transport network.

California of Pakistan:

With its lush-green and glowing orange orchards, the District of Sargodha,the greatest Kinno producer throughout the world, deserves the title of the “Kinno Capital of the World”, or the
“California of Pakistan

Media

” Indus News TV Channel
Sargodha (Bureau Office)
Upper Story NADARA Office, Khayyam Chowk Sargodha.
Bureau Chief:
Muhammad Shafiq Khan
Audio-Visual Editor:
Ghulam Muhammad Malik
” Dhoom News TV Channel
Sargodha (Bureau Office)
Upper Story NADARA Office, Khayyam Chowk Sargodha.
Bureau Chief: Raja Asif Mahmood
Audio-Visual Editor:
Ghulam Muhammad Malik
” Royal News TV Channel
Sargodha (Bureau Office)
Upper Story NADARA Office, Khayyam Chowk Sargodha.
Bureau Chief: Amjad Ali
Audio-Visual Editor:
Ghulam Muhammad Malik
” Radio Pakistan Sargodha (FM Band),Club Road Sargodha.
” FM Sunrise (96 MHz) Most popular, also plays Indian and western music, Aziz Bhatti Town Sargodha
” Pakistan Television Islamabad centre terrestrial transmissions at VHF and UHF band routed from Sakesar rebroadcast centre.
” Cable tv transmissions via cable service providers

Print Media

National News papers include:

” Daily Pakistan (Rawalpindi)
” Daily Patriot (Rawalpindi)
” Daily Pak Watan (Rawalpindi)
” Daily Inkishaf-i-Haq (Lahore)
” Daily Asian Post (Lahore)

Local News papers include:

” Daily Rafaqat Sargodha
” Daily Express
” Daily Tijarat
” Daily Khabria
” Daily Zaroorat
” Daily Sham E Sargodha



Schools/Colleges and Universities

” University of Sargodha (formerly Government College, Sargodha)
” Quaid-e-Azam Law College http://www.qlc.edu.pk
” Fazaia Inter College Mushaf Sargodha(Formerly Air Base Inter College)
” PAF Model Inter College Sargodha
” Govt. Polytechnic institute Sargodha (GPI Sargodha)
” Govt Colleges of Commerce
” Punjab Group of Colleges for Commerce and IT
” I.T.M College
” Govt. Degree College For Women, Chandni Chowk
” Govt. Degree College For Girls, Farooq Colony Sargodha
” Govt Comprehensive High School for Boys
” Center model high school
” Govt Comprehensive High School for Girls
” Government model High School No.1
” Progressive Public Higher Secondary School
” The Apostles School http://www.apostles.cjb.in
” Sargodha Catholic School
” Sargodha Institute of Technology
” The Punjab Girls High School
” St. Doris Girls High School
” St. Marry’s High School
” Iqra College for Women
” ThinkPatterns (An Institution for Professional Education)
” Shakespeare Academy Sargodha(School of Linguistics)
Dar-e-arqam model school and college,sargodha by Muhammad Imran Malik



Shopping in Sargodha

In previous decades, shopping in Sargodha was limited to the bazaars like Ameen Bazaar, Kachehri Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Anarkali Bazaar. With the city’s development and progress, new small scale shopping centres spread all around the city.