Chunian
{{Short description|Town in Punjab, Pakistan}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chunian
| official_name =
| native_name = {{Nastaliq|چُونياں}}
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline =
| imagesize =
| image_caption =
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan
| pushpin_label_position = left
| coordinates = {{coord|31|1|N|73|51|E|region:PK|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Punjab
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kasur District
| leader_name =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_m = 186
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 634,236
| population_as_of =
| population_density_km2 =
| timezone1 = PST
| utc_offset1 = +5
| area_code_type = Calling code
| area_code =
}}
Chunian ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|چُونياں}}}}), is a historic city and the capital of Chunian Tehsil of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at 30° 58' N 73° 51' E and at an elevation of 177 meters (583 feet),[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PK/04/Chunian.html Location of Chunian - Falling Rain Genomics] and lies about 70 km south of Lahore, the capital of Punjab. It is the headquarters of a tehsil or revenue sub-division of the same name in Kasur District. Before 1976 this city was the part or tehsil of Lahore district. The city is administratively subdivided into two union councils.[http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=14&dn=Kasur Tehsils & Unions in the District of Kasur - Government of Pakistan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807195906/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=14&dn=Kasur |date=August 7, 2011 }}
As per census, Chunian city had a population of 47,600 people in the year 1998 . It is located on the Pattoki-Kasur road at a major junction of local roads. The city is located on the right bank of the former Beas River bed. Beas changed its course several centuries ago.{{cite book|title=Punjab District Gazetteers: Ibbetson series, 1883-1884].|publisher=Compiled and published under the authority of the Punjab government|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8OQ2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA12|language=en}}
Some important places around Chunian include Gillan Wala, Dhose, Sadha Otar, Gurdas Walla, Bhemkie, Charkey, Kott Ch. Allah Ditta, Ellah Abad and Gehlan Hithar. Gehlan Hithar has almost 400 years of rich cultural history.
Economy
The tehsil is known for the Changa Manga forest which is the largest single plantation of trees in Pakistan. Chunian Industrial Estate is one of the largest concentration of manufacturing in the country near Kashif Chok (Kashif Petrolium) bypass Chunian. The city is a busy regional market for agricultural produce. In 2016, the Government of Pakistan created an industrial zone on the outskirts of the city to provide a boost to the local economy.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
History
The present city is more than 500 years old. Some parts of the city fortification and several of its old gates still exist. The city is built on a mound believed to have been built during the Indus Valley civilisation but very little excavation has been sought to confirm this. The Archeology Department, Government of Pakistan carried out the last excavation in 1978. Among other objects, coins dating back to Alexander the Great's time (c. 323 BC) were discovered at the site. A large area of unexcavated mounds extends to the south-west of the city where ancient bricks and shards of pottery can be found on the surface. Legends believe that the city has been destroyed nine times in the past.
The present name is popularly believed to have been derived from 'Chunni', name of a daughter of Raja Todar Mal, the dewan or revenue minister to Mughal emperor Akbar the Great. Little historical evidence of this belief has been documented. People of nearby villages call the city Chooni in local dialect of Punjabi.
There is a baradari in Chunian of Raja Todar Mal.
Chunian was the capital of the Nakai dynasty one of the 12 Sikh dynasties (misls) which ruled in modern-day Kasur and Okara Districts.
During the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, as a part of Operation Sindoor, India claimed that it had conducted air and missile strikes on Pakistani military installations in Chunian on 10 May, 2025.{{Cite news|date=2025-05-10|title=IAF strikes 11 Pakistani airbases, inflicts severe damage; Targets include Nur Khan, Sargodha, and Skardu|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-pakistan-ceasefire-iaf-strikes-11-pakistani-airbases-inflicts-severe-damage-targets-include-nur-khan-sargodha-and-skardu/articleshow/121060642.cms?from=mdr|issn=0013-0389}}{{Cite web |last=Bose |first=Saikat Kumar |title="Swift, Calibrated Response": Indian Fighter Jets Bomb Pak Air Force Bases |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-hit-targets-at-multiple-pak-bases-governments-special-briefing-8377773 |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=NDTV |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=10 May 2025 |title=Transcript of Special briefing on OPERATION SINDOOR (May 10, 2025) |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl/39486/Transcript_of_Special_briefing_on_OPERATION_SINDOOR_May_10_2025 |access-date=10 May 2025 |work=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India}}
Climate
{{Weather box
| location = Chunian
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan high C = 18
| Feb high C = 20
| Mar high C = 25
| Apr high C = 32
| May high C = 47
| Jun high C = 48
| Jul high C = 43
| Aug high C = 43
| Sep high C = 32
| Oct high C = 31
| Nov high C = 25
| Dec high C = 19
| Jan low C = 04
| Feb low C = 11
| Mar low C = 16
| Apr low C = 22
| May low C = 26
| Jun low C = 28
| Jul low C = 28
| Aug low C = 27
| Sep low C = 26
| Oct low C = 20
| Nov low C = 13
| Dec low C = 03
| Jan precipitation mm = 16
| Feb precipitation mm = 14
| Mar precipitation mm = 13
| Apr precipitation mm = 8
| May precipitation mm = 10
| Jun precipitation mm = 29
| Jul precipitation mm = 90
| Aug precipitation mm = 102
| Sep precipitation mm = 49
| Oct precipitation mm = 5
| Nov precipitation mm = 2
| Dec precipitation mm = 6
| source = weather2stay
| date = June 2012
}}