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History
| Location |
Culture Dress and Ornaments | Flora & Fauna
| Industry | Economy |
Demography |
Literacy and Education |
Physical Features and Topography | Immunization
| Places of Interest |
Sports and Festivals |
Hospital
Rahim Yar Khan District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan,
the city of Rahim Yar Khan is the capital. The district lies between 27.40'
- 29.16' north latitudes and 60.45' - 70.01' east longitudes. The Indus
flows on the northern outskirts of the districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and
Muzaffargarh. There is no other river, Nullah or lake in this district.
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Places of
Interest | Hotels
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Eating & Dining |
Parks & Gardens
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Educational Institutes |
Hospitals
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| Banks |
Fuel
Stations |
CNG Stations |
Police
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Shopping /Trade
History
The Rahim Yar area came under Greek control during Alexander the Great's
Invasion of India, after Alexander victory at Multan, he appointed General
Philipos to rule Multan and Uch and advanced himself towards Alor. This part
of the country is also said to have been a part of the Buddhist Empire of
Ashoka. Authenticated history of the district begins by about 493 CE, when
the Raja dynasty of Rai dynasty came to the throne. In the Rai dynasty
dominions were vast, extending from Kashmir and Kanauj to Kandhar and
Seistan and on the west to Mekran and a part of Debal, while on the south to
Surat.
During the reign of Raja Dahir some Arab carrying ships carrying merchandise
were attacked and plundered by his subjects. Arabs demanded compensation and
on refusal by Raja Dahir, Muhammad Bin Qasim invaded this area in April 712
and conquered the whole territory up to Multan. Dahir was killed in the
battle at Pawar. The territory remained under the various governors
appointed by the Abbasid and the Ummayads from 712-870. In 871 the powers of
Caliphs declined and the province of Sindh slipped from their control. Sindh
went under the Balkh dynasty when two principalities, Multan and Mansura (Bahawalpur
Division) were founded. In the 1578 the territory was invaded and conquered
by the Ghjori Sultans of Delhi, who were succeeded by the Mughals. The
exodus of the Abbasides nobles of Egypt to India had already started in the
reign of Muhammad Taughlak Bin Ghiasuddin. Amir Muhammad Mubarik Khan 1,
Abbasi who came to the power in 1702, was an able commander and leader.
Throughout his reign he had to fight many battles against the Kalhoras. He
abdicated in 1723 in favour of his son, Sadiq Mohammad Khan 1, who was
killed in battle with Khuda Yar Kalhora. Amir Mohammad Bahawalpur Khan 1,
(1746-1949) ascended the throne in 1746. During his short rule, he built the
towns of Bahawalpur, Qaimpur, Hasilpur, Tranda Ali Murad Khan, Shabazpur and
Mohammadpur Lamman. During his reign three canals namely Khan Wah, Qutab Wah
and Wahi Qaider Dina were dug. As a result the agriculture of the state
improved considerably and the people became prosperous. In 1776, the Sikhs
confederates Jhanda singh, Ganda Singh and Hari Singh invaded the Amir"s
trans-sutlej territories but were repulsed. Amir Mohammad Mubarik Khan II
Abbasi was an able administrator and a powerful ruler. He took keen interest
in building his army. Many of the forts on the border of the state were
built during his reign. He kept the Sikhs in check. Many canals on which the
prosperity of the district depended were constructed during his time.
The first treaty between Bahawalpur and the British government was affected
in 1883, which remained in force till the 14th August, 1947 when the state
acceded to Pakistan . On the death of Amir Bahawal Khan III, Sadiq Mohammad
Khan III, (1852-1853 ) was crowned as Amir. On assuming rule, he confined
prince Haji Khan and his brothers and treated them harshly. A large number
of the Bahawalpur army was demobilized. All the grants, rights and claims of
Daudpotas and other usual expenses were diminished and abolished. These
events made the Amir unpopular. On the 29th of Rabi-ul-Sani, 1269 A.H, Fateh
Garh Fort was attacked at night. Prince Haji Khan who was kept as prisoner,
was freed and brought to Khanpur. Prince Haji Khan, who was kept as a
prisoner, was freed and brought to Khanpur. Haji Khan entered Ahmedpur East
without any resistance and Sadiq Muhammad Khan III was imprisoned. Prince
Rahim Yar Khan succeeded his father, the late Amir Fateh Khan Abbasi, as
Muhammmad Bahawal Khan IV (1858-1866). He was poisoned and died on the 25th
March 1866. On the death of Bahawal Khan IV, Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV was
crowned when he was four and half years old. He was installed in 1879, when
he attained maturity. In the interim period from 1866 to 1879, British
officers supervised the state. Amir Muhammad Bahawal Khan V, the next
successor was about 16 years old, he ruled the state till 1955 when it was
integrated in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
Rahim Yar Khan was created as a separate administration district in 1932
(during the days of the British Raj. The district derives its name from its
headquarters - the city of Rahim Yar Khan. The previous name of this
district was Naushehra which was built as a castle in 1750 by Fazal Elahi
Halani on the ruins of the ancient Pul-Wadda during Sumra rule in Sindh. In
1883, Nawab Sadiq Khan-IV of Bahawalpur renamed it after his son Rahim Yar
Khan.
Rahim Yar khan was declared as a separate administration district in In the
year 1881, the Railway Authorities desired to change the name of railway
station in the name of a town called Nowshera situated in Peshawar district.
Consequently in 1881 to avoid any confusion because of similar nomenclature,
Nawab Sadiq Khan-IV of Bahawalpur changed the name of the sub-division
Naushehra after the name of his first son crown prince Rahim Yar Khan.
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Location
Rahim Yar Khan is bounded on the north by Muzaffargarh District, on the east
by Bahawalpur District, on the south by Jaisalmer (India) and Ghotki
District of Sindh province and on the west by Rajanpur District.
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Culture Dress and Ornaments
The common attire in the rural area for the male is a long loose shirt
hanging up to the knees, made of coarse cloth, a chadder and pagri. In the
urban areas, Shalwar and a Dupatta is the dress of choice. In the Cholistan
area, the women generally wear short shirts and ghagras and Dopattas. People
use cheap and coarse cloth for dresses. For footwear, men in the rural areas
wear locally made shoes prepared by the village cobbler (Mochi). The women
of this area are very fond of wearing ornaments, both golden and silver.
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Flora & Fauna
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Flora
The flora of the district characterizes two major ecological divisions,
northern and southern. The botanical life found in the northern half is
like that of the rest of the irrigated tracts at central Punjab. The human
interference in the form of irrigation network has greatly damaged the
natural environment. Increases in cultivation, waterlogged areas, and
salinity have badly hurt plant life. Because of the increase of salinity
at the surface, only salt resistant plants can survive in most of the
area. The southern half of the district, characterized by sand dunes, is
mostly barren. The exception is in the rainy season when multitudes of
ephemeral plants come up and transform the bare land into a lush green
carpet. These ephemeral plants complete their life cycles before the
summer heat arrives, leaving the land bare and dry.
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Fauna
The arid land, generally referred to as the Cholistan desert, has a lot of
wild life. Wild cats, the Chinkara deer, a variety of pigs, jackals,
foxes, badgers, porcupines, squirrels, gerbils, wild rats, mongeese,
poisonous snakes, hog deer, blue bulls, ravine deer, sand grouse, wild
lizards, wild egrets are among many other creatures are found in the
district.
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Industry
The main crops of the district are cotton, sugarcane, and wheat, most of the
orchards are of mangoes and citrus. The main industries of the district are
textile, cotton ginning and pressing, sugar, cottonseed oil, edible oil,
soap, beverage making, agricultural implement manufacturing, and fertilizer
manufacturing. Cottage industry includes ginning, pottery/clay products,
electric desert cooler, agricultural machinery, handicrafts, food industry,
and embroidery.
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Economy
View of evening at the Desert's Palace Road, Rahim Yar KhanRahim Yar Khan is
a commercial and industrial centre, it is connected with the rest of the
country through rail and air including the other industrial hubs such as
Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Faisalabad. Industries include fertilizer,
cosmetics, glass manufacturing, cotton production and processing, large
textile units, flour mills, sugar and oil mills and large-scale power
generation projects. Cotton production in Punjab Province starts from this
area. Mango and Malta are two main fruits of this city. Cottage industries
includes ginning, pottery/clay products, agricultural machinery,
handicrafts, and embroidery. Keeping in view the agricultural importance of
the district, a special program is launched to improve the farm production :
Special Program for food and secuirity Enhancement for small farmers Crop
Maximization Project Phase II. The project is being started in 10 union
councils of Tehsil Rahim Yar khan and it focuses on food secuirity,
empowering farmers for enhanced yield and to fascilitate the farmers in
credit processes. Mr. Irfan Arshad is appointed as "Credit & VO Help
Officer" and is working to ensure the training of farmers in way such that
farmers are able to meet their goals. Irfan Arshad said that "I will make
the credit access easy for the farmers"
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Demography
According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the total population of Rahim Yar
Khan district was 3,141,053 of which 19.16% were urban[2] an intercensal
percentage increase of 70.6 since March, 1981 when it was 1,841,451. The
average annual growth rate was 3.2 percent during this period. The total
area of the district is 11,880 square kilometres which gives population
density of 264 persons per square kilometre as against 155 persons observed
in 1981 indicating a fast growth rate of the district.
Arain is the major tribe of the district. Arains are the desandants of
Ummayad Arabs from Areeha who entered in Sub-continent through Debal, Sindh
with Muhammad Bin Qasim in 711 AD and were arrived in this region in Aprial
712 AD. They were known as their Arabic name Areehai which change to Arain.
Due to accompaning with Muhammad Bin Qasim a considerable population of
Arains were settled in the district before partition. After partition a huge
population of Arains revirted in the district from East Punjab. Other tribes
include Jat, major clans are Cheema and Waraich, Rajput and Gujjar. They
have all came from the adjoining districts of East and West Punjab . The old
settlers are the Joya, Wattoo, Daudpota, Balouch, Syed and Pathan. In
Cholistan area there are some local tribes including Bohar, Lark, Mahar and
Bhen,and most educated tribe in whole of the district are Bhait tribe. The
Jats and Rajputs came from Rajputana and Jaisalmir and converted to Islam in
the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlak.Terhaily has come in this area from ARAB
along with MUHAMMAD BIN QASIM and settle in these area at different
place,mostly are near boarder of sindh punjab as well as near liaqat pur
Tehsil and Multan region etc.Terhaily family are mostly educated family.
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Rural and Urban
Distribution
The urban population was 616,582 or 19.6 percent of the total population
of the district which grew at an average rate of 4.3 percent during
1981-98 and had decreased from 4.7 percent observed during 1972-81. There
are three Municipal Committees and five Town Committees in the district.
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Religion
The population of the district is predominantly Muslims i.e. 96.7 percent.
The next higher percentage is of Hindu (Jati) with 1.8 percent, followed
by Scheduled Castes 0.6 percent. While other minorities like Christians,
Ahmadi etc. are very small in number. The proportion of population of
Muslims is higher in urban than rural areas. Christians are mostly living
in urban areas representing 1.2 percent as compare to 0.2 percent in rural
areas. Ahmadis are equal in proportion in urban and rural areas.
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Language
Siraiki is the predominant language being spoken in the district,
representing 62.6 percent of the population, followed by Punjabi and Urdu
spoken by 27.3 and 2.9 percent respectively and Sindhi by 2.0 percent
while others speak Pushto, Balochi, Bravi, Dari etc.
As According to District Profile research by Jaag Welfare Movement and
Published by SAP-Pakistan Saraiki is the predominant language being spoken
in the district. 68.6 percent of the population speaks it. Punjabi and
Urdu are spoken by 27.3 and 2.9 percent respectively. Sindhi is spoken by
2.0 percent. The rest of the population speaks Pushto, Balochi, Bravi, and
Dari.(Ref. Census 1998)
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Literacy and Education
The literacy ratio in the district has increased from 20.0 percent in 1981
to 33.1 percent in 1998. The literacy ratio for males is 43.4 percent as
against 21.8 percent for females. The ratio is much higher in urban when
compared with rural areas both for male and female.
In 1998, 33.1 percent of the population was reported as being able to read
at least one language. This was up from 20 percent in 1981. In urban areas,
65.0 percent of males and 48.4 percent of women were able to read. In rural
areas, 37.9 percent of males, and 14.9 percent of females were able to read.
there is a kh.freed college a university campus of islamia university of BWP
a medical college and a women college
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Physical Features and Topography
This district is divided into three main physical features i.e. (a) Riverine
area. (b) Canal irrigated area and (c) Desert area which is called Cholistan.
The Riverine area of the district lies close on the southern side of the
Indus river mainly falling in the river bed. The canal irrigated area lies
on the South and is separated by main Minchan Bund. The approximate height
of the irrigated area is 150 to 200 meters above the sea level. The third
part of the area called Cholistan lies in the south of the irrigated tract
up to the Indo-Pak border. The surface of the desert consists of a
succession of sand dunes rising at places to a height of 150 metres and
covered with the vegetation peculiar to sandy tracts.
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Immunization
In 1998, 65.9 percent of children were reported to have been vaccinated in
the Rahim Yar Khan district. Reported as not vaccinated were 9.9 percent of
children. And for 24.2 percent, it was not known whether they had or hadn't
been vaccinated.
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Places of Interest
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Rahim Yar Khan City
Rahim Yar Khan city is situated in the centre of the district. It is a
prominent railway junction, on the main line of Pakistan Railways, between
Lahore and Karachi . It is at a distance of 634 kilometres from Karachi,
566 kilometres from Lahore and 176 kilometres from Bahawalpur . Shahi
Road, Railway road,Colony Haji Mohammad, Colony Gulberg road and Hospital
road are the important roads in the city. Zaffar Market, New Sadiq Bazaar,
Sadar Bazaar and Grain Market are the shopping centres in the city. A
stadium known as Mahmud Stadium is situated at a distance of one kilometre
from the city. It has a seating capacity for 15,000 persons and contains
grounds for cricket, football, hockey and volley ball. There is Sadiq
Club, which is located in Officers Colony and have spacious games. It has
a swimming pool and vast halls. There are spacious grounds for various
games. It has a swimming pool and vast halls. There are three swimming
pools in the city.
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UniLever
Unilever, The international manufacturers of most famous brands of world
like Sunsilk, Walls, Lux etc. has one of their major factories of Pakistan
in Rahim Yar khan. It is located right in the city centre beside Railway
Station.
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Bagh-I-Bahisht. (The
Garden of Heaven)
It is one of the most beautiful and biggest gardens of this area. It is 5
km far from SADIQ Abad. Its 1 st owner was Meer Syed Abid Hussain Esq. who
had built this garden. The garden consists upon more than 75 acres
(300,000 m2). After his death, his only son MEER SYED Zahid Hussain Esq.
reconstructed it with his full zeal and zest and brought the each and
every plant from all over the world and made it the beautiful lest one of
this area. After his death in 2003, his only son Meer Syed Fazal Ellahi
Fazli is maintaining it with the same spirit of his father and grandfather
and still improving. This garden is, although, the private but also open
for the public at prescribed hours and days.
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Meer Syed Zahid
Hussain’s Library
Late Meer Syed Zahid Hussain Esq. created the biggest personal library of
this area which has very antique collection of books on many topics. Some
books including Quran Shareef are old and hand written scripts which are
very prestigious back ground. Now, his only son Meer Syed Fazal Ellahi
Fazli is maintaining this library. This library is also open for public.
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Fauji Fertilizer
Factory, Machi Goth.
This factory is 5 km far from Sadiqabad and one of the biggest fertilizer
factories in Asia . It was built by Fauji Foundation which serves retired
army personnel. It was constructed in 1974 and was completed in 1979.
Later on one more plant was established along with the previous one to
increase the production capacity . Now Fauji Foundation owns two more
plants in Karachi (Known as FFBL) and Mir pur Mathelo (known as FFC -III
).
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Bhutta Wahan
It is situated at a distance of 16 kilometres in the North of Rahim Yar
Khan, on the lost river Hakra. The village is said to be named after the
name of Raja Bhutta who captured this locality after Raja Dahir. This
village is also claimed to be the birth place of Sassi, the renowned
heroine of Sassi-Pannun and of Ab-ul-Fazal and Fiazi, sons of Mullah
Mubarik.
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Baghla Fort
Remnants and ruins of this fort are about 34 kilometres in the south of
Rahim Yar Khan city, in Cholistan area. In 1767 A.D., Ali Murad Pirjani,
founder of Trinda Ali Murad Khan (a village in Thesil Rahim Yar Khan )
built this fort.
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Islam Garh Fort
Islam Garh ,the old Bhinwar Fort, was built by Rawal Bhim Singh in Samabat
in 1665, as the following inscription on its gate in Babri character
proves "Samabat 1665 Asuj Wadi 2, Maharaj Rawal Siri Bhim Singh ji Maharaj".
The Fort is situated in the Cholistan area of Tehsil Khanpur. It is 46
kilometres south east of Baghla Fort. The fort is in a dilapidated state.
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Khair Garh Fort
Remnants and ruins of this fort are located, about 40 kilometres south of
Khanpur Town, in the Cholistan area. In 1189 A.H. Haji Khan, son of
Ikhtiar Khan built it and named it Khair Garh.
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Mau Mubarik Fort
According to Tarikh-e-Murad, a fort was built by Raj Sahanas Kharor in the
time of Christ as a residence for his mother. The word Mau refers to
mother in local language, and the word Mubarik is attached due to the
shrine of Sheikh Hakim. The fort was taken by Shah Arghun in 1525. and was
also laid siege to by Mahmood of Ghazni on his way to Somnat. It was one
of the six fortresses of Raj Sahasi 11. It had 20 bastions and Towers. The
ramparts were about 549 meters in circumference and the walls very
strongly and thickly built. Here the shrine of a saint Sheikh Hakim is of
great importance, where a Hindu jogi converted to Islam at the hands of
Sheikh Hakim. The descendants of both Sheikh Hakim and the Jogi are still
present in the area.
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Pattan Minar
The ruins of Pattan Minar are located at a distance of about 8 kilometres
in south-east of Rahim Yar Khan. It has variously been described as the
remains of Asahoka period, who built it in 250 BC or a Buddhist monastery.
Nearby the minar, remains of a fort, a mosque and some tunnels are also
visible. About 110 years ago Colonel Minchin a political agent of Ex-Bahawalpur
state started the excavation of these tunnels but discontinued digging for
some reasons or other. According to Colonel Toy it was the capital of the
Hindu kingdom in 10 AD. In the mid-eighteenth century Fazal Elahi Khan
Halani a Daupauta chief destroyed it and used its materials in the
construction of Baghla and Dingar Fort.
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Bhong Mosque
It is situated in the village Bhong at a distance of 28 kilometres from
Sadiqabad and 53 kilometres from Rahim Yar Khan. It was constructed by
Rias Ghazi Muhammad, a big landlord of Bhong. It has beautiful design of
arts and crafts, with marble stones of various kinds and colours. It is
well electrified with chandeliers of different kinds. It is a beautiful
piece of architecture. Being a worth seeing religious place, tourists from
far off places visit it frequently. good for human beings
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Palace Sultan of Abu
Dhabi
It is built by Shiekh Zayad- Bin-Sultan, ruler of Abu Dhabi. It is
situated in sandy desert of Cholistan at a distance of 18 kilometres
south-east from Rahim Yar Khan. It has large and spacious buildings having
two separate portions for ladies and gentlemen. Each portion contains
rooms and chambers. There are beautiful lawns in it having different beds
of flowers along the well-shaped roads. Many domestic birds like peacocks
are also kept there. Sultan of Abu Dhabi visits this district for hunting
and stays in this palace.
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Sports and Festivals
Kabaddi is liked and played almost in all urban and rural areas of the
districts. Besides, hockey, badminton, football, tennis, cricket, lawn
tennis are played. Wrestlers of the district have position among wrestlers
of the province. There is a Sports Committee headed by the Deputy
Commissioner for the Organizing various Tournaments in the district. A
District Sports Organizer also assist the Deputy Commissioner as Secretary
of the Sports Committee in this respect. Twenty Sports Associations are
working for promoting various sports in the district with the idea to
prepare nursery for sports.
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Hospital
The largest private hospital, established by the Saeed family, the Al-Saeed
Medical Complex and Suryia Saeed Institute of Research and Medical Sciences
(SIRMS) is a world leading institute of medical research.
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