sargodha

Sargodha was established by the British as a canal-colony in 1903 (originally spelled Sargoda) as a tehsil of Shahpur district.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.19432/page/n357/mode/2up |title=Punjab District Gazetteers Shahpur District |date=1918}} Sargodha was badly affected by an outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1903, and experienced a milder outbreak in 1904.{{cite book | last1=Cell | first1=J.W. | title=Hailey: A Study in British Imperialism, 1872–1969 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2002 | isbn=978-0-521-52117-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K5LX9AUcyMYC | access-date=2020-04-09 }} Although it was a small town in the beginning, the British Royal Air Force built an airport here due to its strategic location.{{cite web|url=http://sargodha.dc.lhc.gov.pk/?page_id=1335|title=District Website|website=Lhc.gov.pk|access-date=31 December 2012|archive-date=2 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002221533/http://sargodha.dc.lhc.gov.pk/?page_id=1335|url-status=dead}} The term "Sargodha" has its origin in the words "Sar" (from "sarowar") meaning "pond" and "Godha" meaning "Sadhu", which means "Pond of Godha". This city was founded by Lady Trooper by the supervision of Sir Charles Montgomery Rivaz KCSI (1845 – 7 October 1926), a colonial administrator in British India and Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab from 1902 to 1907. Being the District Headquarters since 1940, Sargodha was given the status of Divisional Headquarters in 1960.{{Cite web |title=Our History {{!}} District Sargodha |url=https://sargodha.punjab.gov.pk/our_history |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=sargodha.punjab.gov.pk}}

Location and distance of Sargodha with respect to five major cities of Pakistan is as follow:

• {{cvt|1202|km}} north of Karachi{{Cite web|url=https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Karachi/Sargodha|title=Karachi to Sargodha - 5 ways to travel via train, plane, taxi, bus, and car|first=rome2rio Pty|last=Ltd|website=Rome2rio}}
• {{cvt|187|km}} west of Lahore{{Cite web|url=https://www.distancecalculator.net/from-lahore-to-sargodha|title=Distance from Lahore to Sargodha|website=www.distancecalculator.net}}
• {{cvt|241|km}} south of Islamabad{{Cite web|url=https://www.distancesto.com/road-map/pk/sargodha-to-islamabad/history/598090.html|title=Road Map from Sargodha to Islamabad}}
• {{cvt|91|km}} north-west of Faisalabad{{Cite web|url=https://pk.toponavi.com:443/66794-66792|title=Sargodha — Faisalabad, distance between cities (km, mi), Driving directions, road|website=pk.toponavi.com}}
• {{cvt|223|km}} south of Rawalpindi{{Cite web|url=https://www.distancecalculator.net/from-rawalpindi-to-sargodha|title=Distance from Rawalpindi to Sargodha|website=www.distancecalculator.net}}

Sargodha is situated in Pakistani province of Punjab. It is located {{convert|187|km}} northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It lies about {{convert|30|mile|order=flip}} from the M-2 motorway, which connects Lahore and Islamabad. It is connected to the M-2 by several interchanges at different locations. Sargodha is roughly {{cvt|91|km}} from Faisalabad, due southeast. Directly east connected by the M-2 motorway are Lahore and the route to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Due east is the city of Jhang; toward the west are the city of Mianwali and the Chashma Barrage.

Sargodha mainly comprises flat, fertile plains, although here are a few small hills along the Sargodha-Faisalabad Road. The River Jhelum flows on the western and northern sides, and the River Chenab on the eastern side of the city.{{cite web|url=http://www.sargodha.gop.pk/district-at-glance|title=District at Glance|work=sargodha.gop.pk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626122455/http://www.sargodha.gop.pk/district-at-glance|archive-date=26 June 2015}} The city is located 190 metres above sea level.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/as/pk/pb/where-is-sargodha.html|title=Where is Sargodha, Pakistan?|website=WorldAtlas.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-17}}

The city has a climate of extreme heat in the summers and moderate cold in the winters. The maximum temperature reaches {{convert|50|C}} in the summer while the minimum temperature recorded is as low as freezing point in the winter.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed =

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Sarghoda (1991–2020)

| Jan high C = 18.6

| Feb high C = 22.4

| Mar high C = 27.6

| Apr high C = 34.1

| May high C = 39.6

| Jun high C = 40.7

| Jul high C = 37.7

| Aug high C = 36.6

| Sep high C = 35.7

| Oct high C = 32.8

| Nov high C = 26.9

| Dec high C = 21.6

| year high C = 31.2

| Jan mean C = 11.8

| Feb mean C = 15.2

| Mar mean C = 20.6

| Apr mean C = 26.7

| May mean C = 32.0

| Jun mean C = 34.0

| Jul mean C = 32.7

| Aug mean C = 31.9

| Sep mean C = 30.2

| Oct mean C = 25.4

| Nov mean C = 19.2

| Dec mean C = 14.0

| year mean C = 24.5

| Jan low C = 4.9

| Feb low C = 8.2

| Mar low C = 13.7

| Apr low C = 19.4

| May low C = 24.5

| Jun low C = 27.2

| Jul low C = 27.7

| Aug low C = 27.2

| Sep low C = 24.8

| Oct low C = 18.7

| Nov low C = 11.5

| Dec low C = 6.2

| year low C = 17.8

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 18.9

| Feb precipitation mm = 28.3

| Mar precipitation mm = 38.5

| Apr precipitation mm = 37.2

| May precipitation mm = 28.9

| Jun precipitation mm = 56.1

| Jul precipitation mm = 131.6

| Aug precipitation mm = 94.1

| Sep precipitation mm = 56.1

| Oct precipitation mm = 12.1

| Nov precipitation mm = 4.6

| Dec precipitation mm = 8.9

| year precipitation mm = 515.3

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 2.9

| Feb precipitation days = 3.9

| Mar precipitation days = 4.5

| Apr precipitation days = 4.5

| May precipitation days = 3.7

| Jun precipitation days = 4.6

| Jul precipitation days = 6.7

| Aug precipitation days = 5.4

| Sep precipitation days = 3.8

| Oct precipitation days = 1.5

| Nov precipitation days = 0.8

| Dec precipitation days = 1.0

| year precipitation days = 43.3

|Jan humidity=68

|Feb humidity=62

|Mar humidity=60

|Apr humidity=49

|May humidity=40

|Jun humidity=43

|Jul humidity=62

|Aug humidity=67

|Sep humidity=61

|Oct humidity=56

|Nov humidity=65

|Dec humidity=70

|year humidity=

| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Pakistan/CSV/Sarghoda_41594.csv

|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Sarghoda

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = February 6, 2024}}

| source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity 1979-1995)

{{cite web

| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_442590_kt.pdf

| title = Klimatafel von Sargodha (Flughafen) / Pakistan

| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure

| access-date = September 17, 2016}}

}}

{{Historical Populations

|1941 |36000

|1951 |78000

|1961 |130000

|1972 |200000

|1981 |291000

|1998 |458440

|2017 |872557

|align-fn=center

|2023|975,886}}

The total population of the city was 458,440{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//tables/POPULATION%20SIZE%20AND%20GROWTH%20OF%20MAJOR%20CITIES.pdf |title=Population size and growth of major cities |publisher=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics |date=1998}} according to the 1998 census. The majority of the people in the city speak Punjabi with Shahpuri dialect. According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the population of city was recorded as 872,557 with a rise of 43.94% from 1998. The population of the metropolitan area (City District) reached 3,903,588, in which around 1 million forms the urban population.{{cite web|url=http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk/sites/default/files/DISTRICT_WISE_CENSUS_RESULTS_CENSUS_2017.pdf|title=DISTRICT WISE CENSUS RESULTS CENSUS 2017|publisher=pbscensus.gov.pk|access-date=2017-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829164748/http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk/sites/default/files/DISTRICT_WISE_CENSUS_RESULTS_CENSUS_2017.pdf|archive-date=2017-08-29|url-status=dead}} The population of Sargodha Division was recorded as 8,181,499 by the 2017 Census of Pakistan.

The majority of Sargodha's economy is based on agriculture. Sargodha is considered the best citrus-producing area of Pakistan and therefore is also known as the California of Pakistan.{{Cite web |title=Welcome to SU {{!}} University of Sargodha |url=https://su.edu.pk/CityOfEagles#:~:text=Sargodha%20region%20is%20popularly%20known,variety%20of%20citrus%20called%20Kinno. |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=su.edu.pk |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2019-02-03 |title=Pakistan's California has some ways to grow |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1903186/pakistans-california-ways-grow |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} Sargodha is largest kinnow-producing district of the world. It produces oranges that are considered high-quality, and supplies them to the different parts of the country. These oranges are also exported to other countries.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/7790985|title=Orange Economy of Sargodha|first=Saman|last=Ijaz|via=www.academia.edu}} Sargodha produces a large amount of wheat, cotton, rice and vegetables that are transported to other parts of country and exported to other countries.

There are also textile mills, rice processing plants and Nestle and Shezan juice factories.

The Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry monitors industrial activity in the city and reports their findings to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry and provincial government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scci.pk/|title=Sargodha Chamber Of Commerce and Industry - Home|website=www.scci.pk}} A dry port is also under construction in Sargodha.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-26 |title=Dry port to be established in Sargodha |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1111172/facilitating-exports-dry-port-established-sargodha |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}

There are also several shopping malls and trade centres with both international and national outlets. Some of them include:{{Cite web|url=https://www.mallofsargodha.com/|title=Mall Of Sargodha|website=www.mallofsargodha.com}}

File:Mall of Sargodha.jpg

File:Burj Ismail Mall Sargodha 2024.jpg

• Mall of Sargodha{{Cite web |title=Mall Of Sargodha |url=https://www.mallofsargodha.com/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=www.mallofsargodha.com}}
• Burj Ismail Mall{{Cite web|url=https://wall.pk/burj-ismail-shopping-mall-sargodha-single-news-1463.aspx|title=Burj Ismail Shopping Mall Sargodha|website=wall.pk}}
• Xin Mall{{Cite web|url=https://www.xinhuamall.com.pk/about-us/|title=About us – Xinhua Mall}}
• Chenone Tower{{Cite web|url=https://everything.pk/searches-_chenone_tower-sargodha.html|title = Chenone Tower - EveryThing.PK (A Place for EveryThing) - Pakistan}}
• Burj Huraira Mall{{Cite web|url=https://pakistanplaces.com/listing/burj-huraira-sargodha/|title=Burj Huraira sargodha | Pakistan Places}}
• Al-Rehman Trade Centre{{Cite web |title=Al-Rehman Trade Centre الرحمان ٹریڈ سنٹر sargodha {{!}} Pakistan Places |url=https://pakistanplaces.com/listing/al-rehman-trade-centre-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%b9%d8%b1%db%8c%da%88-%d8%b3%d9%86%d9%b9%d8%b1-sargodha/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |language=en-US}}
• Toheed Mall{{Cite web|url=https://pakistanplaces.com/listing/toheed-mall-sargodha/|title = Toheed Mall sargodha | Pakistan Places}}
• Modern Shopping Mall (MSM)
• Shaheen Shopping Mall

The fifteen bazaars (markets) of Sargodha remain major trading zones in the city. Each of the fifteen bazaars has a particular name and is known for selling certain goods.{{Cite web|url=https://pmbmc.punjab.gov.pk/sargodha|title=Sargodha | Model Bazaar|website=pmbmc.punjab.gov.pk}}

• The Model Bazaar contains food court, joyland and shops of grocery and garments.
• The Urdu Bazaar contains shops of stationery and books.
• The Kachehry Bazaar contains bakeries, street food restaurants and shops of shoes, garments and general stores.
• The Amin Bazaar contains shops of fabrics, boutiques, garments and electric appliances.
• The Muslim Bazaar contains sanitary items and motorcycle repair shops.
• The Anarkali Bazaar contains shops of household items.
• The Sarafa Bazaar contains gold and jewellery shops.
• The Rail Bazaar contains fabric shops.
• The Liaquat Bazaar provides shops for new bicycles and sports cycles.
• The Faisal Bazar provides shops for spices, oil, meat and poultry.
• The Karkhana Bazaar provides shops for crockery and cutlery products.
• The Bans Bazaar supplies dairy and milk products.
• The Kabaarhi Bazaar contains shops of brokers.
• The Fruit Mandi is a fruit market.
• The Sabzi Mandi is a vegetable, meat, fish and grocery market.
• The Main Satellite Town Bazar contains hospitals and pharmacies.

Divisional and District Administration

Sargodha is the capital of Sargodha Tehsil. As of October 2012, the division system in Punjab Province has been restored and Sargodha became the divisional headquarters of districts Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali and Bhakkar. Sargodha became the administrative capital of the Sargodha Division, handling over a population of about 8.1 million.

Local Government

The Municipal Committee, Sargodha city was upgraded into Municipal Corporation in 1981 when the population of city was increased over half a million.{{Cite web|url=http://tmasargodha.lgpunjab.org.pk/|title=tmasargodha.lgpunjab.org.pk - /|website=tmasargodha.lgpunjab.org.pk}} In December 2019, Sargodha Municipal Corporation was upgraded into Metropolitan Corporation under Punjab Local Government Act, 2019.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Iftikhar A. |date=2019-12-27 |title=Every fourth district in Punjab to have a metropolitan corporation |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1524621 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} Metropolitan Corporation Sargodha is currently headed by the Divisional commissioner{{Cite web |date=2023-01-18 |title=Governor establishes local govt in Punjab |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2396640/governor-establishes-local-govt-in-punjab?amp=1 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Express Tribune}} whereas the seat of mayor is vacant.

Sargodha Development Authority (SDA) was established by the government of Punjab{{Cite web |last=Niazi |first=Sajjad Abbass |date=2017-03-10 |title=Sargodha Development Authority gets approval from Punjab govt |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1319516 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} in 2017 which replaced the Sargodha Improvement Trust. SDA is responsible for new planned development in Sargodha. It also regulates and issues permits for new construction and housing projects, private houses, and commercial development.

Sargodha also has a Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) which maintains all the parks and horticulture in the city. Moreover, Sargodha Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and Sargodha Waste Management Company (SWMC) are currently under planning phase.

In 2017, Sargodha was announced as one of six cities in Punjab whose security would be improved by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority. 5.5 billion Rupees were allocated for the project,{{Cite web |date=2017-02-19 |title=After Lahore, six others to become 'safer cities' |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1332499/lahore-six-others-become-safer-cities |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} which was to be modeled along the lines of the Lahore Safe City project in which 8,000 CCTV cameras were installed throughout the city at a cost of 12 billion rupees to record and send images to Integrated Command and Control Centres.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=The Newspaper's Staff |date=2016-10-12 |title=Punjab Safe City Project inaugurated |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1289650 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} In October 2024, the project was finally launched and in the project's first phase, the installation of cameras begin along the main roads of the city.{{Cite web |last=APP |date=2024-10-22 |title=Safe city project launched in Sargodha |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2504453/safe-city-project-launched-in-sargodha |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}

{{Main|List of hospitals in Sargodha}}

{{expand section|date=April 2020}}

File:University of Sargodha.jpg

File:PAF Public School Sargodha HQ 2003.jpg

According to the census of 1998, the literacy rate of Sargodha was 67.8%, while in 2017 the literacy rate was recorded as 80.5%.[https://www.urbanunit.gov.pk Sargodha City Profile – The Urban Unit] The city is considered the educational hub of Sargodha Division, handling a population of about 8.1 million. Sargodha Division has its own Education Board for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) Examinations. There are about four universities and numerous colleges of Medical Sciences, Law, IT, Commerce, Engineering and Intermediate Courses. Quaid-e- Azam Law College is famous for law education.

The Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education, Sargodha{{Cite web|url=http://www.bisesargodha.edu.pk/|title=BISE SARGODHA|website=www.bisesargodha.edu.pk}} handles the whole Sargodha Division. It was established in 1968 under the West Pakistan Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (Multan and Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Sargodha) Ordinance No. VII of 1968, with the jurisdiction of Sargodha and Rawalpindi Civil Divisions.

{{Main|List of educational institutes in Sargodha}}

The {{cvt|4|km}} long University Road runs from 47 Pull to Khayyam Chowk. Other main roads include {{cvt|6|km}} long Fatima Jinnah Road & City Road, Canal Road, Katchery Road, Stadium Road, Club Road, Jail Road, Queens Road, Mushaf Ali Mir Road, Railway Road, Lahore Road, Faisalabad Road, Eid Gah Road, Mianwali Road, Sillanwali Road, Bhalwal Road, and Shaheenabad Road.

There are 3 flyovers located in the city area to regulate the flow of traffic:

• Khayyam Chowk's flyover has a length of {{cvt|1|km}} that leads to Mianwali Road.
• Fatima Jinnah Road's flyover also has a length of {{cvt|1|km}}.
• A {{cvt|0.4|km}} long flyover is located on Kachehry Road.

File:M2 Sargodha.jpg

Sargodha lies about {{cvt|45|km}} from the M-2 Motorway, which connects Lahore and Islamabad. The N-60 National Highway runs from Sargodha to Lahore through Pindi Bhattian and Sheikhupura. It is also connected to Faisalabad by a highway.{{Cite web |title=Dualization of Faisalabad Chiniot Sargodha Road {{!}} PPP |url=https://ppp.punjab.gov.pk/Faisalabad-Chiniot |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=ppp.punjab.gov.pk}}

General Bus Stand is located on Fatima Jinnah Road that provides bus service from Sargodha to almost every part of the country. Daewoo Bus Service drives regular routes from Sargodha to the rest of the country.{{Cite web| url=http://www.daewoo.com.pk/terminal_view.asp?menu_set=5&submenu_set=1&page_title=Sargodha&terminal_code=13 | title=Sargodha | access-date=6 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706175300/http://www.daewoo.com.pk/terminal_view.asp?menu_set=5&submenu_set=1&page_title=Sargodha&terminal_code=13 | archive-date=6 July 2015 | url-status=dead}} Others include Niazi Express, Faisal Movers, Bilal Travels, Islamabad Express and Skyways etc.

The online cab service inDrive and some locally owned cab services such as Apni-Sawari are available in the city. Many auto rickshaws are also available throughout the city, which are often used by those who cannot afford the cab services.

File:Sargodha junction railway station.jpg]]

Sargodha is also connected by the rest of the country through the rail.{{cite web|url=http://www.railpk.com/sarghodha.html|title=Pakistan Railway Time Table|work=railpk.com|access-date=6 July 2015|archive-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710182618/http://www.railpk.com/sarghodha.html|url-status=dead}} Sargodha Junction railway station is located on Shorkot-Lala Musa branch railway line. Hazara Express, Millat Express, Sandal Express and Sargodha Express provide daily transport to Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Karachi and other major cities.

Pakistan's largest airbase, PAF Base Mushaf (formerly PAF Base Sargodha), is situated in Sargodha and hosts the headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force's Central Air Command. The airbase is also home to the Combat Commanders School (CCS), formerly the Fighter Leader's School.{{cite web|url=http://www.glowpakistan.com/about-pakistan/About-Sargodha-292|title=About Sargodha|work=glowpakistan.com}}

File:Kirana Hills Lake Sargodha.jpg|Lake of Kirana Hills

File:Company Bagh Sargodha3.jpg|Antique fighter jet mounted at Company Bagh

File:Company Bagh Sargodha2.jpg|Centre point of famous Company Bagh

The Kirana Hills are a small and extensive rocky mountain range located in Sargodha.{{harv|Mahajan|2009|pp=100–110}}{{harv|Ali|2002|pp=25–26}}{{harv|Smith|2007|pp=92–93}}{{cite web |last1=Wikimaps |title=Kirana Hills |url=http://wikimapia.org/12771852/Kirana-Hills |website=Wikimapia.org |access-date=14 June 2015}} They are a commonly-visited tourist attraction in Sargodha City. Locally known as the Black Mountains{{cite web |last1=DoE&ES |first1=Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences |title=Special report: Field report on Kirana Hills |url=http://www.slideshare.net/chsabasaif/slideshare-29477895 |publisher=Bahria University Press |access-date=15 June 2015 |location=Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |pages=33 |language=en |format=.net|date=2012}} due to their brownish landscape, their highest peak is about {{convert|980|ft|m}}.{{harv|DoE&ES|2012|pp=4–5}}

Jinnah Hall is a historical landmark in Sargodha.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jinnah+Hall/@32.0830934,72.6661648,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xcf178cb476e5cada?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3io3WjJTPAhVFExoKHSyXAbUQ_BIIYTAO |title=Google Maps |website=Google.com |access-date=2016-09-17}} Jinnah Hall was built in 1949. It was named for Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah Hall was originally built as a town hall and library in Company Bagh, Sargodha; now it is currently used as an exhibition hall, event space, and library.

File:Hockey Stadium Sargodha.jpg]]

Sargodha is home to the Sargodha Cricket Stadium.{{Cite web |title=Sports Stadium {{!}} Pakistan {{!}} Cricket Grounds {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/ground/59014.html |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Cricinfo}} Sargodha's cricket team was a first-class cricket team that represented Sargodha Division. They competed in Pakistan's first-class tournaments in 1961–62 and 2002–03. There's a sports complex adjacent to the stadium that includes gym as well as basketball, badminton and table tennis courts. Moreover, karate classes also take place regularly at the complex.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Mela Mandi Ground is a multi-use historic stadium in Sargodha. It is mostly used for staging cricket and football matches.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mela+Mandi+Ground/@32.0691594,72.6590951,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x3d77fd98247eb21f!8m2!3d32.0691594!4d72.6590951%3C|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps}} The Mela Mandi Ground was constructed to provide a vast ground for outdoor sports and activities. During March, every year (the country's spring season), several competitions are held here, attracting considerable spectator numbers.{{cite web|url=https://www.flighthub.com/cheap-flights-to-Sargodha|title=Cheap flights to Sargodha|website=Flighthub.com}}

Sargodha is also home to Sargodha Astroturf Hockey Stadium, located near Mela Mandi Ground. It is home to the Sargodha District Hockey Team, and provides a reliable platform for the city's youth.{{Cite web |title=Trials For Hockey Team Selection At Astroturf Hockey Stadium Sargodha |url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/sports/trials-for-hockey-team-selection-at-astroturf-539537.html |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=UrduPoint |language=en}} Galaxy Sports Complex is a renowned Sports Academy of the city.{{Cite web|url=http://wikimapia.org/3443348/Galaxy-ground|title=Galaxy ground - Sargodha|website=wikimapia.org}}

A flood-lit football ground is under construction in Company Bagh, Sargodha.

File:Food street Sargodha.jpg|Food Street on Stadium Road, Sargodha

File:Chili Chutney Restaurant Sargodha.jpg|A local restaurant in Sargodha

File:McDonald's Sargodha.jpg|A McDonald's outlet in Sargodha

File:KFC, University Road, Sargodha.jpg|KFC outlet, University Road, Sargodha

The cuisine of Sargodha is similar to that of other regions of South Asia, with some of it originating from the royal kitchens of 16th-century Mughal emperors.{{cite book|last=Goodwin|first=William|title=Pakistan|year=2002|publisher=Lucent Books|language=en|isbn=978-1-59018-218-5|page=79|quote=Pakistani food is similar to that of northern India, with a splash of Middle Eastern influence derived from other Muslim cultures over the centuries.}} Most of those dishes have their roots in British, Indian, Central Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine.{{cite book|last1=Lee|first1=Jonathan H.X.|last2=Nadeau|first2=Kathleen M.|title=Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|language=en|isbn=978-0-313-35066-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofas00leej/page/973 973]|quote=Pakistani cuisine—a fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Persian, and Indian traditions—is known for being spicy and for its aromatic and flavorful richness.|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofas00leej/page/973}} Pakistani cooking uses large quantities of spices, herbs, and seasoning. Garlic, ginger, turmeric, red chili, and garam masala are used in most dishes, and home cooking regularly includes curry. Roti, a thin flatbread made from wheat, is a staple food, usually served with curry, meat, vegetables, and lentils. Rice is also common; it is served plain, fried with spices, and in sweet dishes.{{cite book |author=Yasmeen Niaz Mohiuddin |title=Pakistan: a global studies handbook |year=2006 |publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-801-9|pages=3, 317, 323–324}}{{cite book |author=Kathleen W. Deady |title=Countries of the world :Pakistan |year=2001 |publisher=Capstone Press |isbn=978-0-7368-0815-6 |pages=13–15}}{{cite book |author=American Geriatrics Society. Ethnogeriatrics Committee |title=Doorway thoughts: cross-cultural health care for older adults |year=2006 |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning |isbn=978-0-7637-4355-0 |pages=119–120}}

Lassi is a traditional drink in Punjab, including Sargodha. Black tea with milk and sugar is also popular throughout the city and is consumed daily by most of the population.{{cite book |title=Pakistan & the Karakoram Highway |year=2008 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-74104-542-0 |pages=60, 128, 376 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zn8I4qEew9oC|author1=Sarina Singh |author2=Lindsay Brow |author3=Paul Clammer |author4=Rodney Cocks |author5=John Mock}}{{cite book |author=Tarla Dalal |title=Punjabi Khana |year=2007 |publisher=Sanjay & Co |isbn=978-81-89491-54-3 |page=8}}

Fast food is also very popular across the city. Along with local fast food restaurants, there are also several international fast food outlets in the city, including KFC,{{Cite web |title=Location |url=https://www.kfcpakistan.com/page/location |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=KFC |language=english}} McDonald's, Subway and Domino's.{{Cite web|url=https://mcdonalds.com.pk/|title=Home|website=McDonald's: Burgers, Fries & More | McDonald's Pakistan}} The world's biggest Gloria Jean's store is also located in Sargodha.

In 1966, the Government of Pakistan awarded a special flag, the Hilal-e-Istaqlal to Sargodha (also to Lahore and Sialkot) for showing severe resistance to the enemy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 as these cities were targets of the Indian advance.{{Cite web |date=2013-09-06 |title=Commemorating Sept 1965: Nation celebrates Defence Day with fervour |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/601035/commemorating-sept-1965-nation-celebrates-defence-day-with-fervour?amp=1 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=The Express Tribune}} Every year on Defence Day (6 September), this flag is hoisted in these cities in recognition of the will, courage and perseverance of their people.{{Cite web |date=2002-09-07 |title=Defence Day celebrated with renewed pledges |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/56110/defence-day-celebrated-with-renewed-pledges |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

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• Air Commodore Sajad Haider, 1965 War hero
• Sarfraz Ali (general), Corps Commander Quetta
• Wazir Agha, Urdu Scholar
• Rafiq Anjum, actor
• Imtiaz Bhatti, former Ambassador / High Commissioner of Pakistan
• Rubina Feroze Bhatti, human rights activist
• Aizaz Cheema, cricketer
• Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema, politician, PML-Q
• Hameed Gul, former ISI Chief
• Mohammad Hafeez, cricketer
• Farhat Hashmi, Islamic Scholar
• Chaudhary Ghias Ahmed Mela, politician, PML-Q
• Ali Haider Noor Khan Niazi, politician
• Feroz Khan Noon, former Prime Minister Pakistan
• Anwer Ali Noon, former Parliamentarian of Pakistan and army Officer
• Amjad Ali Noon, former Ambassador / High Commissioner of Pakistan
• Bakht Singh (1903–2000), prominent Christian leader and church planter, especially in India and Pakistan—born in nearby Joiya village, raised in Sargodha where his father Jawahar Mall owned a factoryT.E. Koshy, Bakht Singh of India, 2007
• Khalid Iqbal Yasir, poet

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{{Neighbourhoods of Sargodha}}

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Category:Metropolitan areas of Pakistan

Category:Planned communities in Pakistan