Faisalabad
From Free net encyclopedia
Faisalabad (Urdu: فیصل آباد ) is the third largest city in Pakistan with an estimated 2006 population of 2.6 million (city proper). The entire district had a population of about 5.4 million in 1998<ref name="districtpop">General statistics of Faisalabad</ref>. It is an important industrial centre located in the Punjab province, west of Lahore. The city-district of Faisalabad is bound on the north by the districts of Gujranwala and Sheikhupura, on the east by Sahiwal district, on the south by Toba Tek Singh district and on the west by Jhang district.
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History
The city was founded in 1892 by the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir Charles James Lyall and was originally named Lyallpur after him as acknowledgement of his contributions in the colonisation of the area. The city centre of Lyallpur was designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Jack with eight roads radiating from a large clock tower in the centre to eight separate bazaars. The farmland around the city was improved by irrigation with new canals and new inhabitants were attracted by promises of land. The city grew into a strong industrial and agricultural centre and by 1947 was a major urban area. The name of the city was changed to Faisalabad in honour of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who had been assassinated.
Government
Faisalabad city-district formerly comprised six sub-divisions; Faisalabad City, Faisalabad Sadr, Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala, Samundri, and Tandlianwala. In 2005, Faisalabad was reorganised as a City-District composed of eight autonomous towns, but there are also several unofficial neighbourhoods often considered as towns.
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Administrative Towns |
Other neighbourhoods |
Climate
The climate of the district ranges from a maximum temperature in summer of up to 52°C (125.6°F) to below freezing in winter. The mean maximum and minimum temperature in summer are 39°C and 27°C respectively and in winter, 21°C and 6 °C respectively. The summer season is from April to October with May, June and July as the hottest months. The winter season is from November to March with December, January and February as the coldest months.
Education
Image:Uni of agriculture FSD.jpg Faisalabad has several higher education institutions including:
Sites of interest
Image:FSDClock Tower.jpg Image:Jinah Gardens.jpg The city has a number of sites of interest including several colonial-era buildings, two major sports stadiums, several public parks and amusement parks.
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Colonial Era |
Modern Era
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Development
Faisalabad has a strong industrial base including textiles, jewelery, home furniture, and phramaceuticals, assisted by the expanding transport network which includes newly built motorways to Lahore and Rawalpindi. The city is also home to numerous colleges and universities such as the Agricultural University and Punjab Medical College. The colonial-era grand clock tower (known locally as Ghanta Ghar) is located in the centre with eight roads radiating outwards in towards eight bazaars, each with different types of markets and goods. The development of a new middle class has lead to major malls and shoppings plazas amid investment from the United Arab Emirates as well as some European firms. The projects currently under construction include;
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Transport
The international airport is approximately ten kilometres from the city centre, and is a major transit point for exporting goods to other parts of Pakistan and abroad. Passenger flights are run by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and several private airlines. There is also a public bus network within the city and many privately operated rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and taxis. The central railway station connects Faisalabad with all major cities and most minor towns and cities of Pakistan.
Famous people
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Internationally renowned musician
- Sir Charles James Lyall - Colonial Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab province
- Arfa Karim Randhawa - Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional
- Khalid Maqbool - Governor of the Punjab province
- Abrar-ul-Haq - Renowned "bhangra" musician
References
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See also
- Faisalabad Chamber Of Commerce and Industries
- Faisalabad International Airport
- Industrial Estate
- Export Processing Zone