Sahiwal

Sahiwal (Punjabi / Urdu: ساہيوال) is a city in central Punjab, Pakistan. It used to be called Montgomery when British India ruled the area. Today, it is the administrative center for both Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division.

Sahiwal is the 19th most populous city of Pakistan, based on the 2023 census. The city is about 180 km from the big city Lahore and around 100 km from Faisalabad. It sits between Lahore and Multan.

The city of Sahiwal is roughly 152 meters above sea level.

Historical background

The ancient city of Harappa, one of the major Indus Valley Civilisation sites, is located just 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of Sahiwal.

The modern-day city of Sahiwal was founded in 1865 when a train station was built at the site of a small village on the Karachi-Lahore railway line. The site was named Montgomery for Sir Robert Montgomery, then lieutenant governor of the Punjab and it replaced Gogera as the capital of the recently created Montgomery district. Two years later in 1867, it was constituted a municipality.

Climate

The climate in Sahiwal is very hot and dry, often reaching up to 47 °C in the summer. In the winter, temperatures can drop down to about 5 °C. The land is very good for growing crops because the soil is rich. Sahiwal gets about 685 mm of rain each year, with the most rain falling during the summer monsoon season.

Demography

According to the 2023 census, Sahiwal city had a population of 538,344.

Most people in Sahiwal speak Punjabi, with 94.01% of residents using it. Urdu is the next most common language, spoken by 4.99% of the people. A small number of people speak Pashto or other languages of Pakistan.

Education

Sahiwal has many places where people can study and learn. Some well-known schools and colleges in the city include the University of Sahiwal, COMSATS University Sahiwal Campus, and Barani Institute of Sciences. There are also medical and engineering colleges like Sahiwal Medical College and Quaid-e-Azam College of Engineering and Technology, Sahiwal.

Many students attend private schools such as The Superior College, Army Public Schools & Colleges System, Beaconhouse School System, The City School, Divisional Public School and College, The Educators, and Government Postgraduate College Sahiwal.

Twin city

Sahiwal is linked with the town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. This connection started in 1998. Many people in Rochdale have roots in Pakistan, making this partnership special.

Notable people

Sahiwal has been home to many well-known people in different fields. Some of them are Mushtaq Ahmed, a former test cricketer, and Imran Ali, another cricketer. There are also writers and poets like Majeed Amjad and Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Sahar. The city has produced television personalities such as Tariq Aziz and Dildar Pervaiz Bhatti. Other notable individuals include Rana Mohammad Hanif Khan, a politician, and Saieen Zahoor, a Sufi music folk singer.