Pakpattan | FindPK

Location | History | Education | Current Conditions | Baba Farid | Agriculture | Town
Pakpattan District is a district of Punjab Province in Pakistan, Pakpattan is the district capital. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, it had a population of 1,286,680 of which 14% were urban this has now risen to 1,563,000.
Pakpattan is one of the ancient and smallest cities of Pakistan. It is the city that has the shrine of the well-known Sufi of his times, Baba Fareed. Pakpattan is located 190 km from Lahore and is very close to Sahiwal (about 45 km).
Punjabi is the most spoken language in the district

Location
The capital Pakpattan is located 175-180 km from Lahore - the district is bounded to the northwest by Sahiwal District, to the north by Okara District, to the by the Sutlej river and Bahawalnagar District, and to the southwest by Vehari District.

History
In the outskirt of Pakpattan about 12 miles away there is a small village town called MALKA HANS where the famous Punjabi writer Waris Shah wrote his famous book 'Heer Ranjha', by Waris Shah.

British Raj
When Punjab fell into the hands of Britishers, due to its historical importance and value, the British given a Pakpattan, a significant value. Pakpattan was made a Distrct Headquarter and only district between Lahore and Multan. Two big and gigantic water canals Khadar Branch Canal and Pakpattan Canal (also called Upper and Lower Pakpattan Canals repectively), were dug and constructed at the left and right sides of the city somewhere in 1920. These two canals are of hundreds miles long. A Colony Officer and a Colony Magistrate was posted in the area. As far the area of canals irrigating, all the disputes and land revenues cases of the irrigating areas were brought before the Colony Officers and Magistrate courts. A big and grand train station was built in the city area to connect all the irrigating areas that was as far away as Bahawalpur State and the areas of today Mailsi and Khanewal. Once Tehsil Pakpattan was the biggest tehsil administrative area in the British Raj. The ruins of grand administrative area can seen in once called "Colony Areas' where big and grand old court houses and British Officers residences tell its stories. Train station was so busy and big that can serve hundreds of passengers at the same time. The ruins of its grandeur can be seen at old Ticket houses and waiting areas. Many trains were departing daily towards Bahawalpur and Lahore to cover the areas between these cities. Nowadays Pakpattan train station is deserted and only one train leaves daily. Once road transportation was not good and easy then this train station was a big source of link in the area. But due administrative reasons and mainly was to protect British Officers from freedom fighter during Great Mutiny, another small and peaceful village Sahiwal, then called later Montgomery, given the status of district and Pakpattan was made its Tehsil. Till 1991, Pakpattan remained Tehsil Headquarters of Sahiwal District formerly Montgomery District. From 1991, it has been given the status of District Headquarters and Arifwala has become its 2nd Tehsil.
Pakpattan is so deeply influenced by Saint Baba Farid that a lot of visitors and faith lovers daily visiting his beautiful white marbled shrine. Many shops, Business agencies, Housing Schemes and Companies have set their names on the name of Saint Baba Farid. Pakpattan is also called PAKPATTAN SHARIF (Sharif means noble, Respectful in Urdu) because many of Saint Farid's lovers think it is derogatory to call even his city name without respect.
Etymology
Word Pakpattan is made of two words PAK and PATTAN which means clean dockland (Pattan meaning dockland or place where boats and ships stop).According to Imperial Gazetteer of India,from a very early date it was a place of importance, as the principal ferry across the Sutlej River and the meeting-place of the great western roads from Dera Ghazi Khan and Dera Ismail Khan.It is said that in old times once Saint Farid was having ablution at the bank of Sutlej River and a local man told Saint Farid this area is dirty and water is not clean, then Saint Farid replied "no its a clean water and area' in local language a word Pak Pattan. Once Pakpattan was situated at River Sutlej, as other world cities flourished on the banks of rivers. By the passage of time Sutlej River has changed its course and now flowing three miles away from today's city areas.
Ancient History
Pakpattan is the ancient Ajoodhun or Ajj-u-dhan, which probably derived its name from the tribe (the modern Johiyas). Before it was named as Ajoodhun, some believe that it was called 'Katora'. Old city prior to Saint Farid was sacred to Hindu religion. Old city is established on a big mound called DHAKI meaning "something hidden'. This Dhaki is on higher altitude than the area around, there were gates to enter in the city. It is said that city was destroyed seventeen times in the history by great warriors. All times then after destruction a new city was built on the ruins of old city, because of this a big mond made up. From a very early date it was a place of importance, as the principal ferry across the Sutlej River and the meeting-place of the great western roads from Dera Ghazi Khan and Dera Ismail Khan. The city was on the way to Multan State and Delhi Sultanate. All warriors were travelling from Multan to Dehli or Dehli to Multan were crossing this city. This city was important in the line of defence all the times. A road called "Dehli Multan Road' road was constructed by Sher Shah Suri. The Land marks of Dehli Multan Road are still in use by Punjab Road Transportation Department. Anybody can read the mileage of Dehli and Multan at any time in all over the area, only present in modern times in this area. The fort defending the city was once captured by SebÃ¼ktegin in 977â€“78 and by Ibrahim Ghaznavi in 1079â€“80.
According to Firishta, an old writer and historian, in 1079 its fort was conquered by Ibrahim Ghaznavi/Ibrahim Bin Masaud Ghaznavi.The town owes its sanctity and modern name, 'the holy ferry', to the shrine of the great Muslim Sufi Fariduddin Ganjshakar Shaikh-ul-Islam, Farid-ul-Hakkwa-ud-Din, Shakar Ganj (1173â€“1265) which was visited by old great traveller and historian Ibn Batuta in 1334. The town was besieged by Shaikha; the Khokhar, in 1394, and in 1398 was visited by Timur, Mughal Emperor who spared much of the inhabitants as had not fled, out of respect for the shrine of the saint. It was the scene of two of Khizr Khan's victories over generals of the Delhi 1401 and 1405. The shrine of Baba Farid attracts crowds of followers, its sanctity being acknowledged as far as Afghanistan and Central Asia. The urs (death anniversary) of Saint Baba Farid is observed every year in Islamic/lunar month of Muharram, that lasts for ten days. Hundreds of thousands pilgrims and visitors come every year to pay homage to this great Saint. The principal event of urs is crossing of gate that called Bahishti Darwaza(Gate of Heavens). Followers believe by crossing this gate all of your sins are pardoned and one becomes neat and clean again. Some critics say it is unholy to cross this gate with this intention but believe its sanctity. Critics argue it is good to cross this gate with resolution not to do sins in future life. This "Gate To Heavens' remains open ten consecutive nights after sunset to sunrise and padlocked during the day time. This gate is padlocked all the year except these ten days.
British Era
During British rule Pakpattan Town was headquarters of the tehsil of the same name in Montgomery District, 29 miles south-east of Montgomery station on the North-Western Railway. The municipality was created in 1867, the population in 1901 was 6,192. During the ten years ending 1902-3 the income averaged Rs. 7,200, and the expenditure Rs. 7,000. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 8,400, chiefly derived from octroi; and the expenditure was Rs. 7,300.
According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India
" Pakpattan is a town of some commercial importance, importing wheat, cotton, oilseeds, and pulses from the surrounding villages, gur and refined sugar from Amritsar, Jullundur, and the United Provinces, piece-goods from Amritsar, Delhi, and Karachi, and fruits from Afghanistan. The exports consist principally of cotton, wheat, and oilseeds. The town has a local manufacture of silk lungis and lacquer-work. It contains a vernacular middle school and a dispensary. From 1849 to 1852 it was the head-quarters of the District.â€