Gujar Khan

{{Short description|City in Punjab, Pakistan}}

{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Gujar Khan

| name = Gujar Khan

| native_name = {{Nastaliq|گُجر خاں}}
{{Nastaliq|گوجر خان}}

| settlement_type = City

| image_skyline = گوجرخان Gujar Khan.jpg

| imagesize =

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| coordinates = {{coord|33.253|73.304|region:PK_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan

| pushpin_label_position = left

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| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{Pak}}

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Punjab, Pakistan}} Punjab

| subdivision_type2 = Division

| subdivision_name2 = Rawalpindi

| subdivision_type3 = District

| subdivision_name3 = Rawalpindi

| subdivision_type4 = Tehsil

| subdivision_name4 = Gujar Khan

| population_total = 103284

| total_type = City

| population_as_of = 2023

| population_est =

| pop_est_as_of =

| population_footnotes = [https://www.citypopulation.de/en/pakistan/punjab/rawalpindi/7280202__gujar_khan/ Citypopulation.de] Population of Gujar Khan

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| elevation_m = 461

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| elevation_m_max =

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| leader_title = Chairman

| leader_name =

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| blank_name_sec1 =

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| blank_name_sec2 = Number of union councils

| demographics_type1 = Society

| demographics1_title1 = Languages

| demographics1_info1 = Punjabi (native and majority)
Urdu (minority)

| blank_info_sec2 = 36{{cite web| url=http://www.ecp.gov.pk/content/zttc/townpunjab.htm| title=Zila, Tehsil & Town Councils Membership for Punjab (scroll down to Rawalpindi District to read Gujar Khan)|website=Election Commission of Pakistan website| access-date=2023-05-12| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304160001/http://www.ecp.gov.pk/content/zttc/townpunjab.htm| archive-date=2009-03-04}}

| blank_name_sec3 =

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| area_code = 0513

| area_code_type = Calling code

| timezone1 = PST

| utc_offset1 = +5

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| native_name_lang = pa/ur

}}

Gujar Khan ({{langx|pnb-Arab|{{nq|گُجر خاں}}}} {{IPA|pa|ɡʊˈd͡ʒəɾ ˈxãː|}}; {{langx|ur|{{unq|گوجر خان}}}} {{IPA|ur|ˈɡoːdʒəɾ ˈxaːn|}}){{cite book|title=Debates: Official Report|year=1976|pages=199–200|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lApQAQAAMAAJ&q=%DA%AF%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%B1+%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86|access-date=13 May 2023|language=ur}} is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area.{{cite web|url=http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/admin_unit/admin_list_tehsil.html |title=List of Administrative Units of Pakistan (Tehsil/Taluka) (Punjab) |website=Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan |access-date=2023-05-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305205949/http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/admin_unit/admin_list_tehsil.html |archive-date=2010-03-05 }}

Gujar Khan is located approximately {{cvt|57|km}} southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and {{cvt|220|km}} to the northwest of Lahore, the capital of Punjab. It is bounded on the north by Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock, on the south by Jhelum, Lahore, and Gujrat, on the east by Azad Kashmir, and Kahuta and on the west by Chakwal and Khushab.

Situated in the heart of the Pothohar Plateau in northern Punjab, the city and surrounding region is renowned for their martial culture and is sometimes referred to as the 'Land of Martyrs', having produced two recipients of the Nishan-i-Haider.{{Cite web |title=District Website |url=https://rawalpindi.dc.lhc.gov.pk/PublicPages/HistoryOfDistrict.aspx#:~:text=Gujar%20Khan%20is%20located%20in,Haider%20came%20from%20Gujar%20Khan. |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=rawalpindi.dc.lhc.gov.pk}} There is the main district hospital in the center of the city, along with many other private and public medical and care services.

History

The place was named due to the large population of Gujjars which inhabited this area. Some Gujjar settlements are still present in the Gujar Khan Tehsil. The modern town was developed by the British colonial authorities after the region came under British rule in 1848.

Administration

File:Rawalpindi District Sub Div.svg

Gujar Khan is administratively subdivided into 36 union councils, whereas City Gujar Khan is administered by municipal corporation.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=26&dn=Rawalpindi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124031138/http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=26&dn=Rawalpindi |title=Towns & Unions in the City District of Rawalpindi|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2008|website=National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan website|access-date=12 May 2023}}

Demographics

Population of Gujar Khan city.{{Cite web |title=Gujar Khān (Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/pakistan/punjab/rawalpindi/7280202__g%C5%ABjar_kh%C4%81n/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}{{Historical populations|1951|8496|1961|11529|1972|24,121|1981|33,920|1998|57,099|2017|90,149|2023|103,284|align=center|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources:{{cite web |title=Population by administrative units 1951-1998 |url=https://repository.lahoreschool.edu.pk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/13673/Administrative%20Units.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 |publisher = Pakistan Bureau of Statistics}}}}

Natural resources

Large reserves of oil and gas were discovered in February 2002 at Tobra, about ten kilometres from Gujar Khan. The field is being developed by the Oil and Gas Development Company. The field could produce 1,600 barrels of crude oil daily.

Missa Kaswal and Ahdi is also a major source of energy in Gujar khan. Missa Kaswal is supplying several cubic meters of gas on a daily basis and is also extracting large quantities of oil.

{{cite web| url=http://www.atimes.com/bizasia/DB22Aa01.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514160802/http://www.atimes.com/bizasia/DB22Aa01.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=2006-05-14| title=Business in Asia Today (scroll down to 'Huge reserves discovered in Pakistan near Gujar Khan)|website=Asia Times Online website| access-date=2023-05-13}}

Transport

= Road =

Gujar Khan is located on the N5 National highway from Islamabad-Lahore.{{Cite web|url=https://nha.gov.pk/en/maps/|title=Maps – National Highways Authority|website=National Highway Authority, Government of Pakistan website|access-date=2023-05-13}} Railway Road links from the east of the city to the nearby towns of Bewal and Islampura.{{Cite web|url=http://wikimapia.org/4186273/Railway-Road-at-G-T-Road|title=Railway Road at G.T. Road - Wikimapia|website=wikimapia.org|access-date=2023-05-13}} There are also many other minor roads linking the villages and towns of the region to the city.

= Rail =

The Gujar Khan railway station is located in the center of the city and provides links to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Lahore.

= Bus =

File:Road signboard in Gujar Khan FSJ.jpg

Local services also provide extensive bus routes to local towns, and smaller shuttles go around the villages in the surrounding area. There are also services to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, and Lahore.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/725088|title=Pindi-Gujar Khan CNG bus service from today|date=2012-06-08|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|access-date=2023-05-13}}

Local auto-rickshaw drivers also provide transport for people in and around the city.{{Cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/national/07-Jan-2015/rickshaws-plying-in-gujar-khan-to-be-registered|title=Rickshaws plying in Gujar Khan to be registered|newspaper=The Nation (newspaper)|language=en-US|access-date=2023-05-13}}

Notable people

See also

References