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History
| Tribes & People |
Population | Physical Features |
Topography | Flora &
Fauna | Famous & Special
Product of Kasur | Industries |
Agriculture |
Developmental Phase | Health |
Renowned Persons of Kasur |
Places of Interest
%20Chowk%20-%20Kasur.jpg) Kasur
is one of the districts in the province of Punjab, Pakistan It came
into existence on 1 July 1976. Earlier it was part of Lahore District.
The district capital is Kasur city, the birth city of the Sufi poet Bulleh
Shah, well known in that region as well as in the whole of Pakistan. The
total area of the district is 3,995 square kilometres.Kasur is located
adjacent to the border of Gunda Singh Wala between Pakistan and the India,
and is a tourist attraction because of the daily occurring Flags
lowering ceremony. Kasur district is surrounded at north by Lahore, at
east and south by India, at southern west Depalpur tehsil of Okara district
and at northern west Sheikhupura district. At east-southern border it is
circled by the Sutlej River and at west-northern border of district the
river Ravi flows.The famous man made forest Changa Manga is located at
western direction of the city Kasur about 30 miles away.
Kasur is known for its foods and dishes, e.g. a spicy fried fish, sweet
dishes like Andrassay, Falooda and vegetable (both as fresh and dried)
Kasuri Methi.The area is birthplace of many popular figures e.g. Noor Jehan,
the Pakistani singer and actress who gained popularity in the 1950s. The
city is also the resting place of Sufi poet Abdullah Shah (Bulleh Shah).
There are different traditions about the name of Kasur.One is that the town
was founded by Kassu the son of King Ram and named after him as Kasur Pur.
(One of Kassu's brothers was Laaho and the City of Lahore was named after
him.) According to another tradition the town was founded by Pashtun
families from Kabul (today the capital of Afghanistan) during the period of
Mughal emperor Akbar. The Pashtuns constructed 12 small forts (called as "Qasar"
in Persian) so the city was later on named as Qasoor i.e. city of many Qasar
(Forts). There are twelve known Qasars (Kot-urdu/Punjabi word of Qasar)
named after the heads of various families.
Seach
Kasur on Satellite Map
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History
History of City
History of the area is often endorsed as being very ancient by quoting the
mud filled town near it (1/2 km away from District Headquarters), which was
called Rohay Wal. A tomb of a Muslim mystic Baba Kamal Chishti and some
other graves are still found at the top of these teelas, who was of mughal
era and disciple of Baba Fareed-ud-Din Ganj Shakar and Nizam-ud-Din Aulia.
Many of these teelas has been dug up and has been leveled to ground for
encroachments and roads etc. It is said that Rohay Wal (the lost town) was
once the main city and the current city was a suburb of that. The city is
built upon the high bank which marks the termination of the Majha and looks
down upon the lowlands of the Satluj hither. It is a place of great
antiquity and is identified by the historians as one of the place visited by
the Chinese pilgrim, Howang Tsang in the 7th century BC but it does no
appear in history until late in the Muslim period when it was established as
a Pashtun colony near the northern/western bank of the Sutlej. These
migrants entered the town either in the reign of Babar or in that of his
grandson Akbar and founded a considerable principality with territory
on both sides of the Satluj. When the Sikhs rose to power, they met great
opposition from the Pashtuns of Kasur. The chiefs of the Bhangi confederacy
stormed the town in the 1763 and again in 1770 and although they succeeded
in holding the entire principality for a while, the Pashtun leaders
re-established their independence in 1794 and resisted many subsequent
attacks. The town of Kasur was incorporated in the Kingdom of Lahore by
Ranjit Singh in 1807 and had been a municipality since 1885. There is said
to be seven tribes of Pathan who settled here sometimes during the reign of
Moghal king Baber but more probably in 1560, during the times of his
grandson Akbar. At that time the town is said to have a population of about
3,500. Among the Pathans who settled here were certain Hasanzais, whose
descendents became the chiefs of the town and founded a considerable
principality, including territory on both banks of the Sutlej River. When
the Sikhs rose to power, they experienced great resistance from Kasur. In
1763 and again in 1790, a large number of Pathans embraced martyrdom while
defending their territory. In 1794, two Pathan brothers, Nizam ud Din and
Kutab ud Din expelled the Sikhs from Kasur and reestablished the Pathan rule
until 1807 when at last, Kutab ud Din was forced to give way to Ranjit Singh
and retire to his territory at Mamdot, beyond the Sutlej River. The town of
Kasur was then incorporated into the dominion of Ranjit Singh. After the
Sikhs, this area was taken over by the British. In 1867, the British
constituted the Municipality of Kasur. It remained a tehsil of Lahore
District with an Extra Assistant Commissioner in-charge of the sub division
until 1st July 1976 when it was made a district. Initially, the district
comprised two sub divisions namely Kasur and Chunian. Later on in 1992, the
Government of Punjab created a third sub division called Pattoki. While in
2008 another town Kot Radha Kishan was notified as fourth tehsil
(sub-division) of the district.
Kots (Forts-Qasars-Qasoor)
The city of Kasur is an aggregation of fortified hamlets, called kots, small
in themselves, but together forming a considerable town. In 1592 12
principal residential colonies were built by Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin
Muhammad Akbar. The names of 12 kots are Kot Pacca Qila, Kot Nawan Qila, Kot
Azam Khan, Kot Ghulam Mohayyudin Khan, Kot Murad Khan, Kot Haleem Khan, Kot
Peer Mohammad Khan, Kot Fateh Din Khan, Kot Usman Khan, Kot Badar-ud-Din
Khan, Kot Ruken Din Khan, Kot Nawab Hussain Khan.
Now along with these there are many other towns and colonies in the city.
History of Name
Historically the city of Kasur was named by ancient Aryan tribe of Kambojas
who migrated from Mittani and Kussara and belonged to Ancient King Pithana
of Mesopotamian Kussara. This fact is also endorsed by renowned folk Baba
Bulay Shah that all Pathans of Kasur would become weavers very soon. The
town of Khudian was built by ancient Aryan Iranian Kambojas of Kasur who
claim descent from Saman Khuda. A village Khoda nearKhudian is also
inhabited by Kambojah Clan. The same clan Kambojas also claims to be
offsprings of Kumbakarna and Rama. Ancient town of Rajowal of Kambojas is
also related to Kambojas of Khemkaran. According to a traditional belief,
Kasur was founded by Prince Kusha, the son of Lord Rama, while Lahore,
called Lavapuri in ancient times, was founded by his brother Prince Lava.
Kasur had been allotted by the Mughals to Pashtuns or Afghans of Kabul and
still contains a colony of Pashtuns. However the site was
occupied by a Rajput town long before the period of Muslim rule. According
to some historians, the name Kasur is derived from Kashawar, the same way
Lahore is said to be taken from Lahawar. Kush, the son of Ram Chander or
Rama, is said to have founded Kasur like his brother Loh or Lav is said to
have founded Lahore. However, some historians opine that Kasur is a Persian
word and a plural of “Kasar” or “Qasar” (meaning palace), which the name was
given during the times Kasur was a remarkable colony of Pathans, perhaps the
most remarkable on this side of Indus.
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Tribes & People
The principal tribes and tribes residing in Kasur District are Bhatti, Malik,
Arain, Jat,Sunyare Rajput, Mayo, Dogar, Ansari, Sheikh and Pathan, GUJAR.
The refugees from East Punjab that settled in the district largely belong to
these tribes and clans. There are mueens or village artisans including
Christians, blacksmiths, carpenters, potters, barbers, weavers etc. These
mueens are found in all villages and are generally paid in kind at the time
of each harvest.
Customs and Traditions
Kasur past has been nurtured by Sufi Saints like Baba Bulleh Shah, Baba
Kamal Chishti,Imam Shah Bukhari, on one hand and by musicians, singers like
Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan,
Malka-e-Tarrannam Noor Jehan etc. on the other hand. The important cultural
events in the district are the Urs of Baba Bulleh Shah and Urs of Baba Imam
Shah Bukhari as well as the Urs of Baba Sheikh Bhago. Kasur is also known in
folklore for its slippers. A famous Punjabi folk song is :"Jutti Kasuri,
Paire na puri, hai rabba ve sahnu turna paya." (The slippers of Kasur don't
fit me,Oh God, I had to walk!) Food: The staple food of the area is wheat,
rice and pulses.Inferior grains are not generally eaten. Meat is frequently
eaten specially in the urban towns. Wheat (flour) is baked in the from of
chapattis on an iron plate placed on the fire heart. Pulses and vegetables
are quite common items of diet. Spices, salts and Ghee (butter oil) are
added to them for flavor and taste. The chief meals are taken just before
mid-day and in the evening before sun set but city folks generally have
three meals.
Dress
The local dress consists of a Kurta without collar covered by a waist-coat
or Kurti and a loose loin cloth or trousers. A long piece of cloth called
Chaddar is usually thrown over the shoulders. Achkan and Sherwani are worn
on formal occasions by most people, but quite a large number of Muhajirs
(refugees) wear these as normal dress. In the villages, a Kurta with Tehband
(sheet round of legs) and Safa on shoulders is the most common dress. The
Pagri still carries a sign of respectability and some people in the cities
while most people in the villages have this as the sole head-dress. The
women’s clothes are generally more colorful with popular shades of red and
yellow. Women clothing consists of Shalwar, Kamiz and Dopatta or
Chaddar to cover their heads and upper part of the body. Phulkari is a silk
embroidered shawl often fancied by the rural women-folks. Saree is only worn
by women in towns and cities on formal occasions. The most common footwear
for men in the villages is shoes of rough leather usually made by the
village shoemaker. Boots are worn by those living in the cities and towns
while women folk-wear sandal or slippers. Purdah is very common amongst the
lower, middle and upper middle class women but rare amongst women of upper
class.
Basant
Basant is annual festival celebration of spring season, which connotes that
winter is gone and days of joy and blossom have arrived as harvest of wheat
crop is also anticipated in same season. Use of yellowish shades during
festival of basant hints towards the joy and blossom of spring and the
shining sun. Kasur is very famous all around the world for its specific
basant festival, which is now linked with more formal functions in its
neighbor city Lahore.
Betrothals / Marriages
Betrothal always precedes a marriage. The proposal is initiated by near
relative of the boy or girl and the women of both sides take leading role in
finalizing the proposal. The wedding may take place any time after the
betrothal. Marriages between the same section of tribe are customary but
inter- marriage between people of different tribes and clans in cities and
towns is becoming more frequent. The usual age at marriage for boys is 18 to
20 years and that for girls is 16 to 20 years. On the wedding day, the
relatives and friends of the boy assemble and proceed in procession to the
girl’s house. The marriage procession is generally headed by musical band.
The marriage party is received by the relatives and friends of the
parents of the girl. The party is then entertained. Thereafter the Nikah
(wed-lock) ceremony is performed by the Nikah Registrar and a feast is given
to the marriage procession. Alms are distributed to Fakirs (beggars) and
village mueens are fed. At
the end, the groom with the bride are put into a Doli (palanquin) and taken
away to the groom house. The bride stays in her new house for a couple of
days and then returns to her father’s house. This coming home of the bride
is called Muklawa.
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Population
According to the 1998 census, the total population of the district is
2,376,000. Of this 95.4% are Muslims, 4.4% are Christians while the rest are
Ahmadis, Hindus and scheduled castes. 22.78% of them lived in the urban
areas.
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Physical Features
The district is bounded by the Ravi River in the north-west and river Sutlej
in the south-east. Whereas the old course of Beas River bifurcates the
district into two equal parts locally known as Hither and Uthar or Mithan
Majh. Both of the areas have a height differential of approximately 5.5
meters. The natural surface elevation of the district is 198 meters above
the sea level, having a general slope from north-east to south- west.
Whereas the east and west ends of the district comprise the flood plains of
the rivers Satluj and Ravi, characterized by breaching of looping river
Channels braided around meander bars.
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Topography
Topographically speaking, Kasur District lies between the river Satluj which
flows along its boundaries with India and river Ravi which flows its
boundary with Sheikhupura District. The districts may be divided into two
parts, a low lying or riverine area along the two bordering rivers and
upland, away from the rivers. The riverine area is generally inundates
during monsoon season. The water level in this area is higher than in
theupland. The soil is sandy. The upland is flat plains sloping from
north-west to south-west. The general height of the area is from 150 to 200
meters above the sea level.
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Flora &
Fauna
Flora
Flora of the district has been greatly modified by human agency of the old
open forests of small trees and shrubs; there remains only a few Rakhs or
portions of forest which are kept as gazing ground for cattle etc. Amongst
trees the most important are Kikar (Acacia arbica), Shisham or Tahli (Dalbergia
sissoo), Beri (Zizyphus jajaba), Toot (Morus marlaccae), Sharin (Albizzia
lebbek, Dharek (Malia azerdaracb),Phulahi (Acacia modesta), and Nim (Melia
indica), Piple (Ficus indica) are planted for shade.The growth in Rakhs is
composed mainly of three kinds of trees Jand (Prosopis spicigera), Karril (Capparis
aphylla), and van or Jal (Salvadora obeoides). Occasionally pelu (acacia
Loucophhloea) and Farash (Tamarix articulate) are also found. Pilchi (Tamarix
gallio) is found on moist sandy soil along the rivers and is used for
wicker-work, basket making etc.
Fauna
Wolf and jackal are the only wild animals of any importance. The former
being met with occasionally in the low land wastes of Chunian Tehsil but
jackal are found every where. Changa Manga reserve a thick forest is the
only area in which a few Nelgai, pig, peafowl and here are found
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Famous & Special Product
of Kasur
Kasuri Methi is used as vegetable in various eatables. Fresh Methi herb does
not contain any smell but after drying, it becomes fragrant and possesses a
specific type low grade smell. Methi from Kasur / Qasoor in Punjab
(Pakistan) is very famous in its fragrance throughout the country and known
as Kasurii Methi.
Kasuri Methi leaves are also used as a condiment for flavoring and giving
special delicious taste. Steaming is considered the best method of cooking
leaves; in this the vitamins are retained and the vegetable become
palatable. The dried leaves can be composed to pulses for their protein
content. They supplement the lysine-deficient cereal diets. They have an
aromatic odor and agreeable spicy taste. Kasuri Methi leaves is an important
ingredient of curry powder and juicy and fry vegetables.
Historically, fenugreek was used for a variety of health conditions,
including menopausal symptoms and digestive problems. It was also used for
inducing childbirth.
Today, it is used for diabetes and loss of appetite, and to stimulate milk
production in breastfeeding women. It is also applied to the skin to treat
inflammation.
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Industries
Kasur is famous for raw leather produce which is sent within country and
exported for further cutting, polishing etc. Hand looms, which arenow
replaced by machine looms, have been another big industry of kasur. Shoe
making industry for sale within and outside the country has also flourished
in last two decades and is a major cause of economic well being of lower
class of area. Chemical production is also a good business in the city.
Whereas many textile, food, iron, light machinery industries are located
within the district. Kites and strings manufacturing has been a business of
the poor prior the ban on kite flying and use of chemical/steel string some
years ago. A very famous paper mill, Packages Ltd. has also erected its new
mill in vicinity of the main city. Some sugar mills are also located in
Chunian and pattoki tehsils. Kasur is also well-knowned as the city of
foods, there are so many foods industries are working with the best quality
like: Kasuri
Methi, Rice, Corn, Potatoes and many other vegetable & fruits products.
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Agriculture
Kasur is famous for Huldi (kitchen & medical use vegetable). While wheat,
potato, corn, sugar cane, seasonal vegetables are famous field products.
Cotton is also produced in very low quantity now. Kasur is considered as
main supplier for seasonal vegetables and milk to Lahore. Dairy farming is
also being practiced by farmers. Bamboo is very famous field produce of the
area, which is used for many purposes after valueadding works on it.
Kasur is also famous for the Rahu fish caught from the Sutlej river, whereas
many fishfarms are there to produce and sell fish at locallevel.
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Developmental Phase
Lahore Kasur Dual Carriageway
The Kasur-Lahore Dual Carriageway, a 6-lane highway inaugurated by
Ex-President Pervez Musharraf is under construction and is expected to be
completed by the end of 2010. This is particularly important for Kasur as
many people commute from Kasur to Lahore.
Supply of natural Gas
Supply of natural Gas to the city was also planned during Musharaf’s early
years and gas supply for many areas has been made now.
General Development
Polluted areas, narrow, bad and encroached roads along with ponds and swamps
of polluted water were the scenery of the city during last many decades. But
after 1995 a change started, when first drain for tanneries water was
planned. It was followed by erection and operation of tanneries water
treatment plant, which resulted in end of ponds of tanneries water and
stinky smell of those stagnant waters. Then some roads were carpeted a new
and repaired by local district governments. But the current provincial
government paid great attention to the city. In recent past DCO Kasur Mr.
Abdul Jabbar Shaheen has done memorable tasks regarding general
administration, roads & drains construction, and reclaiming encroached land.
He became very popular and near to a living legend of Kasur City. He did a
marvelous job and really made the impossibles happen. People of Kasur are
admiring of his services for rapid development of their (Sohna Sheher)
beautiful city. Another key name in this regard is of Ex-Chief Secretary
Punjab Mr. Javed Mehmood whose personal attention made all their dreams come
true. It is estimated that around 5 billions are to be spent totally by
Kasur Development Package excluding Lahore-Kasur road and Kasur-Depalpur
Dual Road, later was a plan initiated and pursued by ex-foreign minister
Khurshid Kasuri amounting about 3 billions.
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Health
Though earlier very few specialist doctors were available and most of the
people resorted to the adjacent city of Lahore for their health care needs.
But now BIT (Bhatti International Trsut) Teaching Hospital is catering needs
of many people by offering free check up facilities.Whereas many small
hospitals and clinics are providing basic health services as well.
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Renowned Persons of Kasur
-
Nawab Hussain KHAN
-
Irshad Hussain Haqani----Journalist/Sr.
Editor/columnist (late)
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Nawab Sherbaz Khan
C.I.E.(Companion Of Empire)
-
Nawab Shebaz Khan Hon.
Magistrate
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Mawab Muhammab Ahmad Khan
-
Ahmed Raza Kasuri Ex. MNA------Politician
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Shaibzada Khizer Hayat Khan
Kasuri Ex.MNA
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Shaibzada Sikinder Hayat
Khan Kasuri Retired Member Of CBR
-
Khurshid Mehmod Kasuri
------Ex Foreign Minister
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Shaibzada Mustafa Khan
Kasuri ------
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Aasif Ahmed Ali ------MNA,
Deputy Chairman Planning & Development Commission (Ex- Foreign Minister)
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Rana Muhammad Iqbal ------
Speaker Punjab Assembly
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Noor Jehan -----singer,
actress, director
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Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan
-----Classical Singer
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Ustad Barkat Ali Khan
-----Classical Singer
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Ustad Amanat Ali Khan
-----Classical Singer
-
Alhaaj Muhammad Ali Zahoori
------- Naat Khawan
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Places of Interest
-
Shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah,
Kasur City
-
Ganda Singh Wala Border,
Pakistan-India Border.
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Balloki Headworks
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Changa Manga Forest, near
Chunian Town
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