Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of
KashmirKashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
near the Chenab river. It is the capital of
Sialkot DistrictSialkot District or the District of Sialkot , is one of the districts of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located in the north-east of the province...
. The
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
is about 125 km (77.7 mi) north-west of
LahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled
JammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
.
The recorded history of
SialkotSialkot District or the District of Sialkot , is one of the districts of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located in the north-east of the province...
covers thousands of years. Sialkot has, since its foundation, changed hands from
HinduHindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, Buddhist,
PersianIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
,
GreekThe Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
,
AfghanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
,
TurkThe Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
,
SikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, Muslims and
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rule to that of present-day
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
History
There are various sources tracing the origins of the city of Sialkot but the authenticity of many of these sources varies. Excavations throughout the area have revealed large amounts of
Greek coinsThe history of Ancient Greek coinage can be divided into three periods, the Archaic, the Classical, and the Hellenistic. The Archaic period extends from the introduction of coinage to the Greek world in about 600 BCE until the Persian Wars in about 480 BCE...
, ancient Zoroastrian temples and several Buddhist stupas. The antiquities of Sialkot have also been discussed by Sir
Alexander CunninghamSir Alexander Cunningham KCIE CSI was a British archaeologist and army engineer, known as the father of the Archaeological Survey of India...
in his Archaeological Survey Reports, II, 21, 22, and XIV, 44 to 47.
According to the
GreekAncient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
historical texts, which bring mention of the city of Sialkot dating back to before 327 BC when the city was known as
SagalaSagala or Sangala, the ancient Greek name for the modern city of Sialkot in present day Pakistan, was a city of located in northern Punjab, Pakistan...
, it represented the eastern-most outpost and expansion of the
Hellenic EmpireHellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
created by
Alexander the Great which has been cross-correlated to ancient Greek maps of the era and several monuments found in the
Sialkot DistrictSialkot District or the District of Sialkot , is one of the districts of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located in the north-east of the province...
. The Greek historians state that the city was one of the most productive
SilkSilk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
regions of the
Achaemenid EmpireThe Achaemenid Empire , sometimes known as First Persian Empire and/or Persian Empire, was founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great who overthrew the Median confederation...
.
PunjabPunjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
had earned a reputation of being one of the richest satrapy (province), beside Gandhara, of the then Persian Empire. Sákala or
SagalaSagala or Sangala, the ancient Greek name for the modern city of Sialkot in present day Pakistan, was a city of located in northern Punjab, Pakistan...
was the capital, or one of the capitals, of the
Indo-Greek KingdomThe Indo-Greek Kingdom or Graeco-Indian Kingdom covered various parts of the northwest regions of the Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries BC, and was ruled by more than 30 Hellenistic kings, often in conflict with each other...
which broke-away from the
Greco-Bactrian KingdomThe Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was the easternmost part of the Hellenistic world, covering Bactria and Sogdiana in Central Asia from 250 to 125 BC...
during the
Euthydemid DynastyEuthydemus I , Greco-Bactrian king in about 230 or 223 BCE according to Polybius., he is thought to have originally been a Satrap of Sogdiana, who overturned the dynasty of Diodotus of Bactria and became a Greco-Bactrian king. Strabo, on the other hand, correlates his accession with internal...
, and the residence of
Menander IMenander I Soter "The Saviour" was one of the rulers of the Indo-Greek Kingdom from either 165 or 155 BC to 130 BC ....
(Milinda) during his reign between 160 and 135 BC. Shun and Dall were two of the most powerful tribes in Sialkot.
Popular legends attribute the foundation of Sialkot city to Raja Sala - the uncle of the Pandavas. According to Punjabi folk-lore, the early history of Sialkot is closely interwoven with the traditions of Raja (King) Sáliváhan, his son, Raja Rasálu, and his foe, Raja Húdi. A popular belief is that the city was re-founded by Raja Sáliváhan or
SálbánRaja Sálbán was a King of South Asia in the 2nd century CE, who is believed to have founded the fort of Sialkot. Sialkot is now in the Punjab province of Pakistan, near the country's north eastern border with India....
, in the time of Vikramaditya, when it became a part of
KashmirKashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
under Raja Sama Dutt. Raja Sáliváhan built a fort (
Sialkot FortSialkot Fort is one of the oldest forts in Pakistan. The city of Sialkot, which is one of the oldest cities of Pakistan , has historical significance due to the Fort, The well-known historian, Diayas Jee, has stated that Raja Sálbán re-established Sialkot city around the 2nd century CE. and ruled...
) and the city and gave the place its present name.it is believed that the word "Sialkot" means the 'Fort of the Sia'. Legend also says that Raja Sáliváhan had two sons: Puran and Rasalu. Puran got punished by his father, Raja Sáliváhan, due to the actions of his wicked stepmother and thrown into a well, still the resort of pilgrims near Sialkot, called "Puran di Khui", (Puran's Well). A mohalla (town) in the city is also named "Puran Nagar". The other son of Raja Sáliváhan, Rasalu, became Raja after the death of Raja Sáliváhan. Attacks from the neighbouring Raja of
JhelumJhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...
ruined the city. Raja Rasalu got involved in wars with Raja Hudi, popularly stated to have been a Gakkhar chieftain. Being worsted in battle, Rasalu, as the price for peace, was forced to give his daughter in marriage to his conqueror, who gave the territory he had conquered to Rasalu's adopted son. After Rasalu's death in 400 AD, there are no significant accounts of Sialkot for the next 300 years in the known history except that, after the invasion of the Húnas (
HunsThe Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
or Hephthalites) in the last quarter of the 5th century AD, it became the capital of
ToramánaToramana was a Huna ruler in India. He is known from the Rajatarangini, coins and inscriptions. In the Kura inscription his name is mentioned as Rajadhiraja Maharaja Toramana Shahi Jaula. The Eran Boar Image inscription of his first regnal year indicates that eastern Malwa was included in his...
and his son
MihirakulaMihirakula was the most important Sveta Huna ruler in India. He was the son of Toramana, the founder of Huna power in India. He ruled his horde from 502 to 530 ....
until he was defeated by a native Indian Prince,
YasodharmanYasodharman or Yashôdharman was the king of Malwa, in central India, during the early part of the 6th century.- History :...
.
Sialkot became a part of the
MuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Sultanate of Delhi when the Afghan noble
Sultan Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad GhauriSultan Shahāb-ud-Din Muhammad Ghori , originally called Mu'izzuddīn Muḥammad Bin Sām , was a ruler of the Ghurid dynasty who reigned over a territory spanning present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India.Shahabuddin Ghori reconquered the city of Ghazna Sultan Shahāb-ud-Din Muhammad Ghori...
conquered
PunjabThe Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
in 1185. He was unable to conquer
LahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
but left a garrison in Sialkot. Later, Sultan Khusro Malik tried to capture the city but failed to do so. Sialkot then became a part of the
MuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Mughal EmpireThe Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
which was of Central Asian origin. The Mughal commander, Usman Ghani Raza, advanced towards Delhi by way of Sialkot which capitulated to his armies.
In 'Babur Nama',
Zaheer-ud-Din Muhammad BaburBabur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
records:
During the era of the Mughal Emperor, Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, the present district of Sialkot formed a part of the Rachna-Bar Sarkar of the Lahore province. Under the reign of the Mughal Emperor,
Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
, Ali Mardan Khan held the charge of Sialkot.
At the end of the
MughalThe Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
dynasty, the suburbs and the outlying districts and areas of Sialkot were left to themselves. Sialkot, itself, was appropriated by a powerful family of
PashtunsPashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
from
MultanMultan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
,
AfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Swat, the
KakazaiThe Kakazai , also known as Loye Mamund , are a Pashtun tribe originally from the Laghman province of Afghanistan.They came to South Asia during Afghan invasions such as those of Mahmud of Ghazni, settling in various regions....
, and another family from
Quettais the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
. In 1748, the four districts of
GujratGujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
, Sialkot,
PasrurPasrur is a city of Sialkot District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 32°16'0N 74°40'0E with an altitude of 238 metres . The nearest big cities are Sialkot, Narowal and Gujranwala...
and
DaskaDaska is a growing industrial city with a population of around 440,200 in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The town is the capital of Daska Tehsil one of four tehsils of Sialkot District. It is located at 32°19'60N 74° 20' 60E-Name:The name Daska is said to be a distortion of "Dah Kos"...
were given to the Afghan Pashtun ruler, Ahmed Shah Durrani, and the area was amalgamated into the Afghan empire. After 1751, Ahmed Shah Durrani left his son, Taimur, to rule Lahore and these districts. During that time, Raja Ranjit Deo of
JammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
expanded his domination over the peripheral areas, but the city of Sialkot was not included in it. Afterwards, the city was held strongly by a Pashtun clan till the occupation of the
SikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s who ruled for a period of about 40 years followed by the British. The Pashtun presence is still considerable to this day and continues to attract newer Pashtun migrants and workers from Pakistan's tribal areas.
During the decline of the Durrani regime, Sialkot was occupied from the Pashtuns by the
SikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s and, thus, began the rise of their short-lived empire. Between 1797 to 1810, Maharaja
Ranjit SinghMaharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
occupied Sialkot. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the British officers were appointed in Sialkot. Sialkot was annexed by the
BritishBritish Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
after the
Second Anglo-Sikh WarThe Second Anglo-Sikh War took place in 1848 and 1849, between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company. It resulted in the subjugation of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab and what subsequently became the North-West Frontier Province by the East India Company.-Background...
in 1849.
The British laid the foundation of the Sialkot cantonment in 1849 which was completed in 1852. For establishing the Sialkot cantonment, the British Commander-in-Chief,
Sir Lord NapierDuring the period of the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India was the supreme commander of the Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his staff were based at General Headquarters, India, and liaised with the civilian Governor-General of India...
, surveyed and selected the area between the seasonal streams, Bher Nala and Palkhu Nala, from the point of view of defence. The Area Command laid its foundation in 1852 under the leadership of Major-General Angulas. During the
Indian Rebellion of 1857The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
it was the scene of heavy fighting, and the
Sialkot FortSialkot Fort is one of the oldest forts in Pakistan. The city of Sialkot, which is one of the oldest cities of Pakistan , has historical significance due to the Fort, The well-known historian, Diayas Jee, has stated that Raja Sálbán re-established Sialkot city around the 2nd century CE. and ruled...
was used by the Europeans for protection. The native troops plundered the
treasuryA treasury is either*A government department related to finance and taxation.*A place where currency or precious items is/are kept....
and destroyed all the records.
Murray CollegeGovernment Murray College Sialkot , formerly known as Scotch Mission College, is located in Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan.-History:...
, Sialkot was established in 1889. The railway branch from
WazirabadAYAZ KHANWazirabad is an industrial city located in Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan. Wazirabad is situated on the banks of the Chenab River nearly 100 kilometres north of Lahore on the Grand Trunk Road. It is 45 kilometres from Sialkot, 30 kilometres from the district capital - Gujranwala...
to Sialkot was extended to
JammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
in 1890. The Sialkot-Narowal railway line was opened in 1915.
The city played an important role during the
Pakistan MovementThe Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
. The national poet of Pakistan, who spearheaded the movement for an independent country, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot in 1877. In May 1944, the historic
Sialkot Convention was held here. This convention is widely regarded as the landmark event which catapulted the All India Muslim League into prominence in the British-Indian
PunjabPunjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
. This convention was host to such Muslim League luminaries as
Muhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
,
Liaquat Ali KhanFor other people with the same or similar name, see Liaqat Ali Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan was a Pakistani statesman who became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence minister and Commonwealth, Kashmir Affairs...
,
Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad MalhiChaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi : A historical figure in subcontinent politics, Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi played a pivotal role in the formation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and is recognised as one of the nation’s founding fathers...
,
Khawaja Nazim-ud-DinHajji Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, KCIE , was the second Governor-General of Pakistan, and later the second Prime Minister of Pakistan as well.-Early life:...
,
Sardar Abd-ur-Rab NishtarSardar Abdur Rab Nishtar was a Muslim League stalwart, Pakistan movement activist and later Pakistani politician.-Education:...
, Mumtaz Ahmad Khan Daultana, Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan Mamdot and Maulvi Tamiz-ud-Din.
After the independence of
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
from the British Empire in 1947, the Muslim residents of
PathankotPathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
,
GurdaspurGurdaspur district is a district in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. Gurdaspur is the district headquarters. It internationally borders Narowal District of the Pakistani Punjab, Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir, the Punjab districts of Amritsar and...
and other parts of
East PunjabEast Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
came to Sialkot as refugees and settled here. Most of the refugees have since settled and inter-married into the local population. Ever since, Sialkot has become one of the major industrial centres of Pakistan and is well-known for its manufacture and export of surgical instruments, musical instruments, sports goods, leather goods, textile products and other light manufactures.
During the Second Kashmir War in 1965, the Lahore-Sialkot region (along with the Karachi region) was attacked by the
Indian ArmyThe Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
which, despite overwhelming numerical superiority managed only to capture some outlying areas in the sector. The people of Sialkot came out in full force to support the troops of the Pakistan Army to repel the invasion by India. In fact, the armoured battles in the Sialkot sector (especially, the
Battle of ChawindaThe Battle of Chawinda was a part of the Sialkot Campaign in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It was one of the largest tank battles since the Battle of Kursk in World War II....
), in 1965, were the most intense since the Second World War. In 1966, the Government of Pakistan awarded the
Hilal-i-IstaqlalHilal-i-Istaqlal is an honour awarded to civilians in Pakistan. The name translates as crescent of independence.In 1966, the Pakistan Government awarded the citizens of Lahore, Sialkot and Sargodha the Hilal-i-Istaqlal for their bravery in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965....
to the citizens of Sialkot, Lahore and Sargodha for their courage and bravery during the 1965 war between Pakistan and India.
Again, during the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
, the region witnessed bitter battles, most importantly, the
Battle of BasantarThe Battle of Basantar or the Battle of Barapind was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India...
in the Sialkot-ShakarGarh area. The major Indian counter-offensive came in this area where two large Pakistani tank regiments, equipped with the Patton tanks, lost part of the region despite outnumbering the Indian First Armoured Corps, which was equipped with British Centurion tanks.also have a small village chak sukha located on line of control on sialkot zafarwal road 20 km toward east.
Geography and climate
Lying between 32°30′ North latitude and 74°31′ East longitude at an altitude of 256 m above sea level, Sialkot is bounded on the north by
JammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
, north-west by
GujratGujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
, on the west by
GujranwalaGujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
and on the south by
NarowalNarowal is a city in the northeast of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the capital of Narowal District and tehsil. It is situated on the banks of Ravi River about 4–5 km from the Indian border.-Etymology:...
. The
Chenab riverThe Chenab River چنRiver' آب) is a major river of Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab in Pakistan. It forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan...
flows to the north of Sialkot. There are three small seasonal streams flowing through the city, Aik, Bher and Palkhu.
Sialkot features a
humid subtropical climateA humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
under the
Koppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
. Sialkot is chilly during winters and hot and humid during summers. May and June are the hottest months. The temperature during winter may drop to 0°C. The land is, generally, plain and fertile. Most of the rain falls during the
monsoon seasonMonsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
in summer which often results in flooding when combined with meltwater from Himalayan glaciers entering local rivers. Sialkot has one of the most modern weather forecasting and flood warning centres in the country, which is fully equipped to record and transfer data to and from the relevant concerns. This facility is equpped with a radar and is internationally linked.
Government
The
Sialkot District GovernmentThe Sialkot District Government in Pakistan is headed by the District Nazim and assisted by Naib Nazim who is also speaker of District Council. District Nazim is elected by the nazims of union councils, union councillors and by tehsil nazims, who themselves are elected directly by the votes of the...
is headed by the District
AdministratorA nazim is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. Nazim is the title in Urdu of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council....
who is assisted by the
Deputy Administrator-Etymology:The word Naib means assistant or deputy whilst Nazim is similar to a mayor, hence Naib Nazim is similar in function to a deputy mayor.He is also custodian of the house....
who is also
SpeakerThe term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the District Council. The District
AdministratorA nazim is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. Nazim is the title in Urdu of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council....
is elected by the
AdministratorsA nazim is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. Nazim is the title in Urdu of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council....
of the Union Councils and Union Councillors who, themselves, are elected directly by the votes of the local public. There are 106 Union Councils in District Sialkot. The District
AdministratorA nazim is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. Nazim is the title in Urdu of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council....
is assisted by the District Coordination Officer (DCO) and the District Police Officer (DPO). All the Departments are grouped and placed under the Executive District Officers, of various Departments, including Health, Finance, Revenue, Industry, Agriculture, Education, Law, Literacy, IT, Community Development, Transport, etc. who are subordinate to the DCO.In addition to that District Account Office performs the function of pre-audit of all the Departments of Federal, provincial and District Government. This Office is headed by the Assistant Accountant General (AAG) who is representative of the Accountant General Of the Punjab and works in an independent capacity. The city is managed by the Tehsil Municipal Administration which is headed by a
TehsilA Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
AdministratorA nazim is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. Nazim is the title in Urdu of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council....
. The
Sialkot CantonmentSialkot Cantonment is cantonment area in Sialkot adjacent to city area. It is one of the oldest and most important Cantonments of Pakistan. It was established in 1852 by the British Indian Army. As gleaned from the old records, the Sialkot Cantonment is the precursor of Wazirabad Garrison which...
is managed by
Sialkot Cantonment BoardSialkot Cantonment Board is aministrative body of Sialkot Cantonment. It covers an area of 6781.77 Acres including four Bazar Areas and a very posh living Bungalow Area.-Functions of Sialkot Cantonment Board:...
.
Demography
Population of the Sialkot city (proper) is about 510,863. Its population density is 1160/km
2 and population growth rate is very low as compared to other urban areas of Pakistan. In 1947, Sialkot was the 6th largest city in Pakistan (150,000) and in 2009, it is the 13th largest city. Punjabi is the main language of its people. The population of Sialkot mainly comprises
PunjabisThe Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
,
KashmirisThe Kashmiri people are a Dardic linguistic group living in Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir who speak the Kashmiri language...
and
PashtunsPashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
. Major clans are
SyedSyed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
,
GhumanGhuman are a Rajput tribe, found in Pakistan and Northern Indian States of Punjab and Haryana. Ghumman is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan of Janjua Rajput lineage in Punjab that claims Lunar origin by direct descent from Raja Sanpal Janjua of Janjua Rajput ancestry...
,
SulehriaThe Suleria are a clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs. The Sikh and Hindu Sulehria live in India. The Muslim Sulehria are considered a clan of Muslim Rajputs and nearly all live in Pakistan...
,
BajwaBajwa is a Jat gotra or clan. They originally belonged to the region known as 'Bajwath' situated on the border of Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab. They are now spread across the Punjab region divided between Northern India and Pakistan.- Etymology :...
,
CheemaCheema is a Jatt of Jat ethnicity found inPunjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and also in Pakistan.Cheemas are one of the two major sub clans of Jats along with other Jat clans like Sandhu, Grewal, Pannu, Uppal etc.. .Historically, this tribe has held considerable tracts in the upper Rechna Doab since...
,
Dhillon,
Kang-Royalty:* King Kang of Zhou , third sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty* Tai Kang , third sovereign of the Xia Dynasty-Surname:* Kang , a Chinese surname 康...
, Jatt (Tatla's),
ArainThe Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
,
RajputA Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
,
ChughtaiChagatai or Chughtai is a family name in portions of South Asia, Central Asia, Middle East and the associated diaspora that claims descent from Chagatai Khan .-Origin of the name:...
,
AwanAwan , is a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, Pakistan...
,
KakazaiThe Kakazai , also known as Loye Mamund , are a Pashtun tribe originally from the Laghman province of Afghanistan.They came to South Asia during Afghan invasions such as those of Mahmud of Ghazni, settling in various regions....
,
ButtButt may refer to:* Butt , a unit of wine* Butt , a target for practicing archery* Butt , a joint between planks of wood on a ship* Butt * Bhat , Kashmiri surname sometimes spelled "Butt"* Butt...
,
MirMir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
,
SharifSharīf or Chérif is a traditional Arab tribal title given to those who serve as the protector of the tribe and all tribal assets, such as property, wells, and land. In origin, the word is an adjective meaning "noble", "highborn". The feminine singular is sharifa...
,
SheikhNot to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
,
SulehriaThe Suleria are a clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs. The Sikh and Hindu Sulehria live in India. The Muslim Sulehria are considered a clan of Muslim Rajputs and nearly all live in Pakistan...
,
GujarThe Gurjar are an ethnic group in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gujar, Gurjjara and Gūrjara. The spelling Gurjara or Gurjar is preferable to the rest....
,
KhatanaKhatana is a Gotra among the Gurjars. It was one of the ruling clans of the Gurjars.-History:According to Bhats of Gurjars, the area beyond Kabul in earlier period was called as Khattan in India. The Gurjar kings serving as fuedatories of Gurjar Empire there were called the Rana of Khattan and...
,
PathanPashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
(Pashtun origin),
MughalThe term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves...
and Qureshi. As per 2007 report main tribe of district 15%Jat 13%Arian,13%Kashmiri,14%Rajputs,25% Gujjars,20%others. Literacy rate is among the highest in Pakistan.In urban areas, it is 73% and in rural areas, it is 54%. Employment in the agriculture sector is only 19.5% and 32% in elementary occupations. 95% of the population have electricity and 96% have the water facility. Sialkot has also attracted many labourers and other entrepreneurs many of whom hail from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (
FATAThe Federally Administered Tribal Areas are a semi-autonomous tribal region in the northwest of Pakistan, lying between the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the neighboring country of Afghanistan. The FATA comprise seven Agencies and six FRs...
), notably from Bajaur and
MohmandThe Mohmand Agency is a district in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan created in 1951. Before that, the Mohmand Tribes were administered by the Deputy Commissioner based in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. However it was not until 1973 that the headquarters of...
agencies who have set up vibrant businesses throughout the area.
Economy and Industry
Sialkot is the third largest economic hub in
PunjabPunjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
after
LahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and
FaisalabadFaisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...
. It is commercially linked with the
Lahore Stock ExchangeLahore Stock Exchange Limited is Pakistan's second largest stock exchange after the Karachi Stock Exchange. It is located in Lahore, Pakistan.- History :...
through its Sialkot branch, known as the
Sialkot Trading FloorSialkot Trading Floor is one of the two branch offices of Lahore Stock Exchange in order expand its boundaries and make ease of its access in major cites of country. Acting as a part of LSE, STF is going forward day by day to achieve aims, goals and aspirations of its ancestor...
(STF). The
State Bank of PakistanThe State Bank of Pakistan is the central bank of Pakistan. While its constitution, as originally laid down in the State Bank of Pakistan Order 1948, remained basically unchanged until January 1, 1974, when the bank was nationalized, the scope of its functions was considerably enlarged...
and the Export Promotion Bureau of Pakistan have branch offices in Sialkot. After
KarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Sialkot is Pakistan's second largest source of foreign exchange earnings through its exports and remittances from the overseas manpower. For the past several decades, the manufacturers and exporters of the city have been awarded the annual National Exports Award by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Sialkot has an Industrial Estate and an Export Processing Zone. Another Export Processing Zone is planned along the
Sialkot Lahore MotorwayA 6-lane motorway from Sialkot to Lahore, the two important industrial centers of Punjab, was to be constructed which would have given impetus to economic activities in the province. NHA recognized this motorway as M11, however it was also known as LSM, SLM, Lahore-Sialkot Motorway or Shahrah-e-Sanat...
. The per capita income of Sialkot is ranked among the highest in Pakistan.
The history of industrialisation of Sialkot is very old. The Damascene craftsmen of Sialkot (koftgars or koftars) were famous during the
Mughal eraThe Mughal era is a historic period of the Mughal Empire in South Asia . It ran from the early 15th century to a point in the early 18th century when the Mughal Emperors' power had dwindled...
for their fine swords and daggers. Papermaking in Sialkot dates back to the time of the
MughalThe Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor Akbar which was famous all over the world. Brick making was another historic skill of the people of the Sialkot and those bricks were known as the "Sialkoti Bricks" throughout South Asia. Most of the states in the South Asian region relied on the slender but strong Sialkoti brickslanateer for the erection of forts, castles, monuments, public buildings, infrastructure construction, etc..
Sialkot is the world's largest producer of hand-sewed footballs, with local factories manufacturing 40~60 million footballs a year, amounting to roughly 70% of world production. There is a well-applied child labour ban in the industry since a 1997 outcry.
During the colonial era British India's first bagpipe works opened in the city, today there are 20 pipe bands in the city.
Sialkot is Also providing Dental Instruments, Surgical Instruments, Beauty Instruments and other all sorts of Hospital Equipments.
Other important industries in Sialkot include
Leather TanneriesTanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
,
Leather GarmentsLeather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
, Musical Instruments, Surgical and Dental Instruments,
SportswearSportswear or activewear is clothing, including footwear, worn for sport or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and physical exercise, for practical, comfort or safety reasons....
including
Martial ArtsMartial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
wear, Gloves, Badges, Seat and Walking Sticks,
CutleryCutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
,
Hunting KnivesA Bowie knife is a pattern of fixed-blade fighting knife first popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie in the early 19th Century. Since the first incarnation was created by James Black, the Bowie knife has come to incorporate several recognizable and characteristic design features, although its...
,
Air GunsAn air gun is a rifle , pistol , or shotgun that fires projectiles by means of compressed air or other gas, in contrast to a firearm, which burns a propellant. Most air guns use metallic projectiles as ammunition. Air guns that only use plastic projectiles are classified as airsoft...
and Shotguns. These are all export-oriented businesses and earn billions of dollars every year in
foreign exchangeForeign-exchange reserves in a strict sense are 'only' the foreign currency deposits and bonds held by central banks and monetary authorities. However, the term in popular usage commonly includes foreign exchange and gold, Special Drawing Rights and International Monetary Fund reserve positions...
. There are several other allied industries which are working day and night as vendors for the
automobileAn automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
industry of Pakistan. Sialkot has also a rich tradition of producing wooden and steel furniture,
rubberNatural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
products, cooking utensils, bicycles, their tyres and tubes and shoes.
Notable Residents of Sialkot
Sialkot is the birthplace of the prominent scholar, philosopher and poet, Dr.
Muhammad IqbalSir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
, as well as the scholar and poet,
Faiz Ahmed FaizFaiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani intellectual, poet, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu language. He was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind and an avowed Marxist. In 1962, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union...
.
Zafar Ali KhanMaulana Zafar Ali Khan , was a writer, poet, and journalist who played an important role in the Pakistan Movement. He was born at Kot Mehrath, Sialkot during the time the area became part of British India. He belonged to Janjua family. He also played a role in the freedom movement against the...
, another famous writer and poet, was born at Kot Mehrath, Sialkot. Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan was also born in Sialkot. He was President of the
International Court of JusticeThe International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
in Den Haag, Pakistan's first Foreign Minister and President of the UN-General Assembly.
Shiv Kumar Batalvi was born in a Saraswat Brahmin family on 23 July 1936 (though a few documents related to him state October 7th, 1937 as his DOB), in village Bara Pind Lohtian, Shakargarh Tehsil, Sialkot District (now in Punjab province, Pakistan),[7
Amjad Islam AmjadAmjad Islam Amjad, PP, SI is a famous Urdu poet, drama writer and lyricist from Pakistan.-Life and career:...
the famous writer, lyricist and poet was born at Sialkot. Professor
Rajinder Singh BediRajinder Singh Bedi was an eminent progressive Urdu writer, playwright and a Hindi film director, screenwriter and noted dialogue writer....
, a well-known writer, was also born at Sialkot.
Narendra KohliNarendra Kohli ' is a Hindi-language author. He is credited with reinventing the ancient form of epic writing in modern prose. He is also regarded as a trend-setter in the sense that he pioneered the creation of literary works based on the "Puranas"...
, a prominent writer, belongs to Sialkot as well.
Zulfikar GhoseZulfikar Ghose is a novelist, poet and essayist. A native of Pakistan who has long lived in Texas, he writes in the surrealist mode of much Latin American fiction, blending fantasy and harsh realism....
, a well-known writer, was born at Sialkot. The Indian journalist, Kuldip Nayyar, was also born at Sialkot. Prominent journalists,
Khalid HasanKhalid Hasan was a senior Pakistani journalist and writer. He was born in Srinagar, Kashmir.He was the brother in law of first elected president of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Mr K.H.Khurshid private secretary to Mohammed Ali Jinnah,the founder of Pakistan...
,
Hamid MirHamid Mir is a Pakistani journalist and editor. He is also a news anchor, terrorism expert, and security analyst who regularly participates in international conferences. He is also known for his columns in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, and English newspapers and hosts a popular political talk show on Geo...
, Zahid Malik and Ibn-e-Shamsi were born in Sialkot. Jawed Iqbal,
Muhammad FarooqMuhammad Farooq is a journalist, Qari, Naat Khawan and newscaster from Pakistan. He was the founder editor of first Pakistani evening newspaper, Daily Evening Special from Quetta. He also worked as Joint Executive Editor Daily Mashriq Quetta. Nowadays he is working in Daily Pakistan Lahore as a...
and
Mumtaz Hamid RaoMumtaz Hamid Rao was a senior Pakistani electronic media journalist and analyst...
are other famous personalities from Sialkot. The Indian politician and twice
Prime Minister of IndiaThe Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
,
Gulzari Lal NandaGulzarilal Nanda was an Indian politician and an economist with specialization in labour problems. He was the interim Prime Minister of India twice for thirteen days each: the first time after the death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, and the second time after the death of Prime...
, also belonged from Sialkot. The orator of Pakistan
Syed Faiz-ul Hassan ShahSyed Faiz-ul Hassan Shah also known as Hazrat Khatib ul Islam was a Pakistani Islamic religious scholar. He was born in Allo Mahar Sharif, tehsil Daska, Sialkot District, in what was then British India.-Education:...
belonged from Sialkot.
Maulana Ubaidullah SindhiMaulana Ubaidullah Sindhi was a noted pan-Islamic leader a political activist of the Indian independence movement...
was born at Sialkot.
Khawaja Muhammad SafdarKhawaja Muhammad Safdar was famous politician from Pakistan Muslim League. He was born in Sialkot and take active part in Pakistan Movement. In 1981, he was nominated as Chairman of Majlish-i-Shorah, Pakistan and also act as Acting President in this Capacity. He is the father of Khawaja Muhammad...
a former Acting
PresidentAn Acting President is a person who temporarily fills the role of an organization's or country's president, either when the real president is unavailable or when the post is vacant .-See also:*Acting *Acting President of Pakistan*Acting President of Malta*Acting President of...
of Pakistan and Chairman of the
Majlis-e-ShooraThe Parliament of Pakistan, officially termed the Majlis-e-Shoora ; is the federal and supreme legislative body of Pakistan. It is a bicameral federal legislature that consists of the Senate and the National Assembly, the upper and lower houses, respectively...
also hails from Sialkot.
Khawaja Muhammad AsifKhawaja Muhammad Asif , is a Pakistani lawmaker and politician of the center-right conservative democratic party PML-N. Khawaja Muhammad Asif previously served as the Pakistani Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, with additional portfolio of Sports Ministry in the PM Yousaf Raza Gillani...
, The former
Speaker of the National AssemblySpeaker of the National Assembly may refer to:Kenya*Speaker of the Kenyan National AssemblyPakistan*Speaker of the National Assembly of PakistanSouth Africa*Speaker of the South African National AssemblySuriname...
, and
Acting PresidentAn Acting President is a person who temporarily fills the role of an organization's or country's president, either when the real president is unavailable or when the post is vacant .-See also:*Acting *Acting President of Pakistan*Acting President of Malta*Acting President of...
,
Chaudhry Amir HussainChaudhry Amir Hussain is a Pakistani politician. He was the 17th Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, serving from 2002 to 2008.Hussain was born in Sialkot, Punjab in a Gujjar family of subcast khatana and was elected as Speaker of the National Assembly on November 19, 2002, succeeding Elahi...
and the Interior Minister
Rehman Malik27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
also hail from Sialkot.
The Pakistani (
LollywoodLollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
) actor
Waheed MuradWaheed Murad was a legendary Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Waheed is considered to be one of the most famous and influential actors of subcontinent. Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, he was the only child of well-off film distributor Mr. Nisar Murad. He got early education from...
, Indian (
BollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
) actors
Rajendra KumarRajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
and
A. K. HangalAvtar Kishan Hangal , popularly known as A. K. Hangal, is a well known Indian character actor in Hindi language films. His most notable roles are as the Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Rahim Chacha in Sholay and as Ram Shastri in Aaina...
were also born at Sialkot.
Ghulam AliUSTAAD Ghulam Ali is a Pakistani ghazal singer of the Patiala gharana. He is not to be confused with the Indian singer Bade Ghulam Ali Khan or Chhote Ghulam Ali, who is another Pakistani singer in the Qual Bachon Gharana....
, the
GhazalThe ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
singer and Ustad
Allah RakhaAllah Rakha may refer to:* Alla Rakha, tabla player from India* Allah Rakha , sarangi player from Pakistan* A. R. Rahman, Indian film music composer...
, the famous Sarangi Nawaz, are also from Sialkot. Sialkot is the home city of many players of the Pakistan National Cricket Team.
Ijaz ButtMohammed Ijaz Butt is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in eight Tests from 1959 to 1962...
, (
Chairman Pakistan Cricket BoardThe Pakistan Cricket Board is a sporting organization that is responsible for governing all professional cricket including Test cricket and One Day International matches played in Pakistan...
),
Zaheer AbbasSyed Zaheer Abbas Kirmani , popularly known as Zaheer Abbas, is a former Pakistani cricketer, regarded as one of the finest batsman produced by that country. He is widely known as the "Asian Bradman", a reference to former Australian great Sir Donald Bradman...
, Ijaz Ahmed,
Shoaib MalikShoaib Malik is a Pakistani cricket player and former captain. He made his One-Day International debut in 1999 against the West Indies and his Test debut in 2001 against Bangladesh. He has taken over 100 ODI wickets, and has a batting average in the mid 30s in both Test and ODI cricket...
,
Mansoor AmjadMansoor Amjad is a Pakistani cricket player. Despite his young age he has already played for the Pakistan A cricket team.Mansoor Amjad is a right-handed wrist spinner who took five wickets against an England XI at Lahore in 2005–06...
,
Zahid FazalZahid Fazal is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 9 Tests and 19 ODIs from 1990 to 1995.He was first spotted by selectors while playing for Pakistan International Airlines. His highest one-day score was 98 not out at Sharjah against India, in which he collapsed in the end...
, Abdur Rehman, and
Jawaid IqbalJawaid Iqbal is a Pakistani born Hong Kong cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm off spin bowler, he has played for the Hong Kong cricket team since 2000.-Biography:...
(
Hong KongThe Hong Kong cricket team represents Hong Kong in international cricket. It played its first match in 1866 and has been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1969....
National Cricket player) were all born at Sialkot. The captains and players of the Pakistani National Hockey team including
Shahnaz SheikhShahnaz Sheikh is a famous hockey player from Pakistan. He was born at Sialkot, Pakistan.A forward, Shahnaz Sheikh played between 1969 and 1978, he was capped 68 times and scored 45 goals. He won Silver in the 1972 Olympics and Bronze in the 1976 Olympics . Shahnaz won 1971 World Cup and was...
, Manzoor Hussain Jr.,
Nasir AliNasir Ali is a Pakistani field hockey player. He played at fullback position. He was a player in the National hockey team from 1981 to 1988....
,
Asif BajwaMuhammad Asif Bajwa is a Pakistan ex-Field Hockey Team Player . He later became Pakistan's Hockey Team Manager and Chief Coach. Asif started his career against Spain in 1991. Bajwa was a member of Pakistan's World Cup-winning hockey team in 1994 and played 74 international matches and scored 25...
, (
Secretary of Pakistan Hockey FederationThe Pakistan Hockey Federation is the national governing body for field hockey in Pakistan. It is affiliated to the International Hockey Federation .The current PHF president is Qasim Zia.- History :...
),
Tariq SheikhTariq Sheikh is a field hockey player who remained a member of Pakistan National Hockey Team from 1986 to 1993. He was born at Sialkot. He was caped 44 times and scored 23 goals. He is younger brother of Shahnaz Sheikh. He played 1990 7th Hockey World Cup at Lahore and was silver medalist...
,
Zahid SheikhMuhammad Zahid Sheikh was a field hockey player who played for the Pakistan National Hockey Team from 1969-1976. He was born at Sialkot. He was capped 34 times and scored 8 goals. He is the younger brother of field hockey star Shahnaz Sheikh.-References:***...
,
Muhammad Waqas SharifMuhammad Waqas Sharif is a field hockey player. He plays as Right Out.-2010:Waqas was a member of the gold medal winning team at the Asian Games in Guanzhou, China.-References:...
,
Mahmood HussainMahmood Hussain was a Pakistani field hockey player, who played for the international side between 1984 and 1990.He was born at Sialkot, and played hockey at the Forward position. He played 27 international matches, scoring 13 goals. He is the brother of ex-Pakistan hockey captain Manzoor Hussain...
,
Maqsood HussainMaqsood Hussain born at Sialkot on 10 April 1962 carries a career record of International Field Hockey from 1981-1987. Maqsood Hussain , at forward position usually Right Out, played 38 matches scoring 27 goals. He is the brother of ex Pakistan Field Hockey Captain Manzoor Hussain Junior....
,
Munir BhattiMunir Bhatti is a retired field hockey player who was a member of the Pakistan National Hockey Team from 1978-1979. He was born in Sialkot. A half back, he was capped by Pakistan 13 times, scoring no goals....
and
Kamran AshrafKamran Ashraf Urdu:کامران اشرف is a former field hockey player from Pakistan, who was born in Sialkot. He played 166 internationals from 1993 to 2002 and scored 129 goals. He played at centre forward position....
also hail from this city.
Senate Chairman Mr.Farooq Hamid Naek originally belongs to a family from Sialkot and settled in Karachi
Important Sites
Sialkot is a great center of the Punjabi culture. The old city has a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and crowded bazaars. In the old part of the city is located the shrine of Hazrat
Imam Ali-ul-HaqThe great saint of Sialkot, Imam Ali-ul-Haq, better known as Imam Sahib, lived in the 13th century, during the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlaq . He is reputed to have converted a majority of the local population to Islam...
also known as
Imam SahibThe great saint of Sialkot, Imam Ali-ul-Haq, better known as Imam Sahib, lived in the 13th century, during the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlaq . He is reputed to have converted a majority of the local population to Islam...
. The mausoleum complex is a maze of narrow corridors leading to several shrines of saints. The tomb of
Imam Ali-ul-HaqThe great saint of Sialkot, Imam Ali-ul-Haq, better known as Imam Sahib, lived in the 13th century, during the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlaq . He is reputed to have converted a majority of the local population to Islam...
is to the right, through a mirrored gateway tiled with Koranic inscriptions and geometric designs. On a low hill, in the centre of the old city, are the few remains of the
Sialkot FortSialkot Fort is one of the oldest forts in Pakistan. The city of Sialkot, which is one of the oldest cities of Pakistan , has historical significance due to the Fort, The well-known historian, Diayas Jee, has stated that Raja Sálbán re-established Sialkot city around the 2nd century CE. and ruled...
which is popularly believed to mark the site of the original stronghold of Raja Salivahan; but the fort itself is not more than 1000 years old and is said to have been rebuilt by Shahab-ud-Din Ghauri at the end of the twelfth century A.D. The fort is now dismantled, and the few buildings it contains are used for public purposes. The shrine of the Muslim saint, Pir Muradia Shah, is also situated on the Sialkot Fort.
Puran's WellPuran's Well is an historic site near Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan.Puran's Well lies just a few kilometres from the Sialkot cantonment on the highroad to Chaprar village. Raja Sálbán was a very famous ruler at Sialkot. He reconstructed the Sialkot Fort. His first son, by his second...
is a famous historical site, which is related with the Punjabi folklore 'Bhagat Puran'. It is located just outside the city of Sialkot. According to
Mutiny in Sialkot there were remains of Puran's tomb extant in 1857 but now there is no tomb except for a small building, a small place for worship and a running well.
Also of interest is the birth place of Dr.
Muhammad IqbalSir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
(1877–1938) which has been turned into a small museum containing some of his personal belongings and a library and named as
Iqbal ManzilIqbal Manzil is the birth place of famous poet Dr Muhammad Iqbal in the centre of the historic city of Sialkot. It has been converted in to a museum cum library. Iqbal Manzil was purchased in 1861 by Mohammad Rafique, the grandfather of Dr Mohammed Iqbal...
(Iqbal House). The most famous square of the city is the Iqbal Chowk. Here, the famous
Shaheen (Falcon) monument has been erected to pay tributes to Dr.
Muhammad IqbalSir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
(falcon is a metaphor for the Muslim youth in Iqbal's poetry). Near the Iqbal Chowk is located the biggest grand mosque of the city,
Jamia MasjidJamia Masjid is the largest mosque in Sialkot, Pakistan. It has a capacity of 50,000. It has two small and one large minarets; the large minaret is the biggest landmark in Sialkot. There is notable mirror work on front walls of the main prayer hall....
Donga Bagh. One of its three minarets is the tallest landmark in Sialkot. Other places of interest include the tombs of the great Muslim scholars, Mullah
Abdul Hakim SialkotiAbdul Hakim Sialkoti – – was a Muslim scholar. He was a scholar of the Qur'an. He also wrote many books on logic and philosophy. His books are taught at international level Islamic universities. The Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, had him weighed in gold once and in silver twice. He died on 24th Safar...
near Abdul Hakim Park, Hakim Khadim Ali on Khadim Ali Road and Hafiz Muhammad Alam, near Do Darwaza (the name of one of the gates of the once walled city).
Seerat Study Center is situated at the southern edge of the Khayaban-I-Iqbal (Company Bagh) on Ghazi Road. It is a world-renonwed center for conducing research on the life of the Prophet
MuhammadMuhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. Located in the cantonment area is the famous Holy Trinity Cathedral Church also known as the
Sialkot CathedralThe Holy Trinity Cathedral Church is located in Sialkot Pakistan. Its first stone was laid on March 1, 1852. It is located in the Sialkot Cantonment on The Mall . The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Madras on January 30, 1857, Sialkot at the time being in the diocese of Calcutta....
which was built in 1852. On Zafarwal Road is located a famous
SikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
Gurdwara Beri SahibGurdawara Bair Sahib also called as Baba Beri or Baba Bair is situated in Sialkot, Pakistan. It was the place where Baba Guru Nanak stayed and met Hazrat Hamza Ghaus - a famous saint of Sialkot. The Bair tree under which Guru Nanak had stayed is still present. The Gurdawara was built by Natha Singh...
. Every year, many Sikh pilgrims come to visit here. In Saddar Bazar is located the famous
Clock TowerThe Sialkot Clock Tower is situated in Saddar Bazar, Sialkot, Pakistan. It acts like a giant pin, holding the crazy and bustling streets of the main city and the well--planned, relatively tranquil portions of the cantonment area together. Standing tall for more than a century, the tower would have...
which is more than a century old. The Connelley Park (named after a British Deputy Commissioner of Sialkot), was converted to
Jinnah Stadium in 1979. The Jinnah Stadium has one of the fastest cricket pitches in Pakistan. Close to Jinnah Stadium is located the famous
Murray CollegeGovernment Murray College Sialkot , formerly known as Scotch Mission College, is located in Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan.-History:...
which was established in 1889. Its alumni include Dr
Muhammad IqbalSir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
and Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
Sialkot has three main parks, Khayaban-e-Iqbal Park, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park on Parsur Road and Garrison Park on Kashmir Road. More than a century old Company Garden (Khayaban-i-Iqbal Park) is located on Ghazanvi Road in the Sialkot cantonment. Some of the other famous and historic places are the Talab Maula Bakhush and Ram Talai. Talab Maula Bakhush is the place where, in May 1944, the historic Sialkot Convention of the All India Muslim League was held. It was also attended by
Muhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
and
Liaquat Ali KhanFor other people with the same or similar name, see Liaqat Ali Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan was a Pakistani statesman who became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence minister and Commonwealth, Kashmir Affairs...
. Both sites have been converted to mini stadiums for traditional
wrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
(Kabadi) and
volleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
matches and also for political rallies.
There are several famous squares in the city as Beri Wala Chowk, Rang Pura Chowk, Dara-Araian, Imam Sahib Chowk, Shahab Pura Chowk, Sublime Chowk, Hansa Chowk and Anwar Khawaja Chowk. Famous markets (bazaars) are Bazar Kalan, Trunk Bazar, Tehsil Bazar, Lahai Bazar and Saddar Bazar. The Sialkot
Railway StationSialkot Junction is the main railway station in Sialkot city on the Wazirabad Narowal Railway line. It was established in 1880. Before partition , it was also linked with Jammu with Sialkot Jammu Line. As of 2008, this line is in working condition up to Sialkot Cantonment station only...
, is situated on the Railway Road near the Iqbal Chowk. On the Paris Road is located the American Christian Mission Hospital which was established in 1880. Also located there is the
Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry[Image:Sialkot Chamber Logo.jpg|150px|right|thumb|]Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry is located in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a trade body, which was established in 1982. Late Mr. A.D. Bhutta was the founder President of this esteemed organization...
and the branches of many multi-national banks.
Marala HeadworksdMarala Headworks is a headworks situated on the River Chenab near the city of Sialkot in Punjab province of Pakistan.Marala Headworks is a large hydro engineering project and is used to control water flow and flood control in the River Chenab....
is located on the Chenab river about 20 km from Sialkot. Two major water canals originate at the Marala Headworks - the Marala-Ravi Link Canal and the Upper Chenab Canal. Planning of the Mangla-Marala Link Canal is in the pipeline. The area around the Marala Headworks lake is also a picnic spot.
The Bajwat Wildlife Sanctuary includes a complex of natural riverine habitats along the
ChenabThe Chenab River چنRiver' آب) is a major river of Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab in Pakistan. It forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan...
river and two of its tributaries, extending up to the border with India with a total area of 5400 hectares providing protection to
waterfowlWaterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
, as well as a variety of mammals including
Hog DeerThe Hog Deer is a small deer whose habitat ranges from Pakistan, through northern India, to mainland southeast Asia...
and
NilgaiThe nilgai , sometimes called nilgau, is an antelope, and is one of the most commonly seen wild animals of central and northern India and eastern Pakistan; it is also present in parts of southern Nepal. The mature males appear ox-like and are also known as blue bulls...
.
Transport
Sialkot International AirportSialkot International Airport is situated 14 km west of Sialkot in the Sialkot District of Pakistan...
is the first-ever private-sector airport of Pakistan managed by the SIAL consortium. It is located near
SambrialSambrial is a town of Sialkot District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the capital of Sambrial Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district.- Tribes & clans :...
and is noted for having the longest runway in Pakistan. Direct flights are available from
Sialkot International AirportSialkot International Airport is situated 14 km west of Sialkot in the Sialkot District of Pakistan...
to Karachi, Islamabad, Sharjah &
LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Muscat
KuwaitKuwait International Airport is located in Farwaniyah, Kuwait, south of Kuwait City. It serves as hub for Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways. A portion of the airport complex is designated as Al Mubarak Air Base, which contains the headquarters of the Kuwait Air Force, as well as the Kuwait Air...
,
DammamDammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
,
JeddahJeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
,
RiyadhRiyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
. Pakistan International Airlines has plans to start non-stop flights from Sialkot to
ManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, & Barcellona & Hajj flights have started from the
Sialkot International AirportSialkot International Airport is situated 14 km west of Sialkot in the Sialkot District of Pakistan...
last year in 2009.
EmiratesEmirates is the airline based in the Emirate of Dubai part of the United Arab Emirates . Based at Dubai International Airport it is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 2,400 flights per week, from its hub at Terminal 3, to 111 cities in 62 countries across six continents...
is also expected to start flights in mid 2011 to
DubaiDubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
.
AirblueAirblue Limited is a private airline with its head office on the 12th floor of the Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is Pakistan's second largest airline with over 20% share of the domestic market...
will operate on domestic routes to Islamabad,
MultanMuhammad Bin Qasim International Airport is an airport situated 10 km away from the city centre of Multan in Punjab, Pakistan. It is not as large as the other airports in Pakistan, as it operates to cater mainly to the population of Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Sahiwal,...
and
KarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
in mid 2011.
A small
Sialkot Cantonment AirportSialkot Cantonment Airport is a small army airport for Mushak and Cessna planes and helicopters in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located on Cantonment Road adjacent to Garrison Park...
, located in the Sialkot Cantonment, is in use of the aviation wing of the Pakistan Army. This airport has also been used as a public airport by
PIA-In aviation::* Pacific Island Aviation* Pakistan International Airlines, the flag carrier of Pakistan.* Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Ontario * Peoria International Airport IATA code...
for operating a
HelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
service from Sialkot to
IslamabadIslamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
in 1995-1996.
Sialkot Dry PortSialkot Dry Port is a dry port in Sialkot, Pakistan. It was established on May 16, 1984 near Sambrial, about 20 km from Sialkot city under control of Sialkot Dry Port Trust. It is located at the junction of major industrial cities of Pakistan eg.Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Daska and Wazirabad. ...
carries the honor of being the first-ever private-sector dry port in Asia. It was established in 1986 near
SambrialSambrial is a town of Sialkot District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the capital of Sambrial Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district.- Tribes & clans :...
, about 20 km from the Sialkot city under the control of the Sialkot Dry Port Trust.
Sialkot is served by
Pakistan RailwaysThis article is about the rail company in Pakistan. For technical details and operations see: Transport in Pakistan.Pakistan Railways is a national state-owned rail transport service of Pakistan, head-quartered in Lahore. It is administered by the federal government under the Ministry of Railways....
through the
Sialkot JunctionSialkot Junction is the main railway station in Sialkot city on the Wazirabad Narowal Railway line. It was established in 1880. Before partition , it was also linked with Jammu with Sialkot Jammu Line. As of 2008, this line is in working condition up to Sialkot Cantonment station only...
. Sialkot used to be a junction in the British era with trains leaving for
JammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
and
GurdaspurGurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
. Plans are under consideration to open the border for an international train between Sialkot and
JammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
. Express trains to and from
NarowalNarowal is a city in the northeast of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city is the capital of Narowal District and tehsil. It is situated on the banks of Ravi River about 4–5 km from the Indian border.-Etymology:...
,
LahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
,
RawalpindiRawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
,
FaisalabadFaisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...
,
MultanMultan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
,
BahawalpurBahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
and
KarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
are available daily. The Railway station is situated in the center of the city. Other suburban train stations are Ugoki and
SambrialSambrial is a town of Sialkot District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the capital of Sambrial Tehsil - an administrative subdivision of the district.- Tribes & clans :...
.
Sialkot is about two hours from
LahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and four hours from
IslamabadIslamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
.Sialkot is linked with the National Highway
N-5The National Highway 05 or the N-5 is Pakistan's longest highway running from the port city of Karachi to the border crossing at Torkham...
through
GujranwalaGujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
and
WazirabadAYAZ KHANWazirabad is an industrial city located in Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan. Wazirabad is situated on the banks of the Chenab River nearly 100 kilometres north of Lahore on the Grand Trunk Road. It is 45 kilometres from Sialkot, 30 kilometres from the district capital - Gujranwala...
. A dual carriage-way is available between Sialkot and Wazirabad. A new bridge on the Chenab river, called the Shahbazpur bridge, is under construction these days which is located to the north-east of Gujrat. Once completed, it will connect Sialkot to N-5 at Gujrat. The
Sialkot Lahore MotorwayA 6-lane motorway from Sialkot to Lahore, the two important industrial centers of Punjab, was to be constructed which would have given impetus to economic activities in the province. NHA recognized this motorway as M11, however it was also known as LSM, SLM, Lahore-Sialkot Motorway or Shahrah-e-Sanat...
(M-11) is also under construction. All the bus and commuter coach stations are located on the Jail Road. A bus service operated by
Daewoo ExpressDaewoo Express or Sammi Daewoo Express is an inter-city common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 30 destinations in Pakistan and is headquartered in Lahore. It is operated by a Korean company, Sammi...
is available from Sialkot to
RawalpindiRawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
,
LahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
,
GujranwalaGujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
and
MultanMultan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
.
Recently, public transport has been launched in Sialkot on one route which circle around the city. SCCI
Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry[Image:Sialkot Chamber Logo.jpg|150px|right|thumb|]Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry is located in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a trade body, which was established in 1982. Late Mr. A.D. Bhutta was the founder President of this esteemed organization...
has signed an MOU with American bus company FOTON
http://www.foton-america.com|FOTON to provide airconditioned lcoal transport to the citizens with
CNGCompressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
fuel. However main mode of transport within the city at present is the auto rikshaw. Although no proper taxi service exists in the city, there are many rent-a-car service outlets which provides vehicles with drivers.
Educational Institutions
Sialkot has a fairly well-developed educational infrastructure that comprises a University of Engineering Sciences and Technology (planned in cooperation with Sweden) a sub-campus of the
Fatima Jinnah Women UniversityA sub-campus of Fatima Jinnah Women University is being established at Sialkot from 2008. Sub-campus of the FJWU at Sialkot will be established at land with a cost of Rs 300 million.-References:*http://dawn.com/2007/10/25/nat17.htm...
, a sub-campus of the
Virtual University of PakistanThe Virtual University of Pakistan is the first university in Pakistan based entirely on modern information and communication technologies. It was established by the Government of Pakistan as a public sector, not-for-profit institution, with a mission to provide education to students all over the...
, 8
Degree Colleges for Women, 5
Degree Colleges for Men, 2 Cadet Colleges, 6
Commerece Colleges, one Law College, one
Medical CollegeSialkot Medical College is a medical college in Sialkot, Pakistan. It was established in 2002 with a sanction of PKR 450 million. 30 seats allocated for the year 2003 in the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, which were shifted to the Sialkot Medical College in 2004. However because of...
, one Homeopathic Medical College, one Nursing School, one Para-Medical School, one Poly-Technic Institute, with numerous Inter Colleges, Higher Secondary Schools and over 250 High Schools.
Blue Coat School System, near Chenab Ranger Headquarters, is a leading school with a mission to provide modern education using latest methodology.
The
Convent of Jesus and Mary, SialkotThe Convent of Jesus and Mary, Sialkot was the first Catholic school in the Punjab and second in British India after Agra. It was established in 1856 opened at the request of the Archbishop of Agra. It was established by five nuns headed by Mother St. Gonzaga Bergonhoux.The school is located at...
was established in 1856. It was the first Catholic mission school in Punjab and the second of its kind in British India. Other eminent private-sector schools include the American School, the City School and the Beaconhouse School.
The
Murray CollegeGovernment Murray College Sialkot , formerly known as Scotch Mission College, is located in Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan.-History:...
, Sialkot was established in 1889 as the Scotch Mission College by the Scottish missionaries belonging to the
Church of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
Mission. It is one of he oldest educational institutions in
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
offering education up to the post-graduate level.
The Jinnah Islamia College, Sialkot is the second oldest college in Sialkot.
The
Sialkot Medical CollegeSialkot Medical College is a medical college in Sialkot, Pakistan. It was established in 2002 with a sanction of PKR 450 million. 30 seats allocated for the year 2003 in the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, which were shifted to the Sialkot Medical College in 2004. However because of...
was established in 2002 with a sanction of Rs.750 million. 30 seats were allocated for the year 2003 at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore to be shifted to the Sialkot Medical College in 2004. However, because of local politics, the project was shelved. In April 2007, the President of Pakistan again announced an immediate construction of the Medical College building in Sialkot. Temporary project office has been established at the Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital, Sialkot which will also be the attached teaching hospital.
Islam Medical Collage is a private sector medical collage, having a modern campus on Pasrur Road.
The
Fatima Jinnah Women University Sialkot CampusA sub-campus of Fatima Jinnah Women University is being established at Sialkot from 2008. Sub-campus of the FJWU at Sialkot will be established at land with a cost of Rs 300 million.-References:*http://dawn.com/2007/10/25/nat17.htm...
is a sub-campus of the
Fatima Jinnah Women UniversityFatima Jinnah Women University was established in 1998 at Old Presidency in Rawalpindi. It is situated on mall road, Rawalpindi. It is the first female university in Pakistan. A sub-campus of FJWU is being established at Sialkot. The university is ranked at number 18 in general category of HEC...
and is being established in Sialkot starting from 2008. The sub-campus of the FJWU in Sialkot will be established on a 200 acre (0.809372 km²) land with a cost of Rs 300 million.
The University of Engineering Sciences and Technology (UEST), Sialkot is being established in collaboration with the
Royal Institute of TechnologyThe Royal Institute of Technology is a university in Stockholm, Sweden. KTH was founded in 1827 as Sweden's first polytechnic and is one of Scandinavia's largest institutions of higher education in technology. KTH accounts for one-third of Sweden’s technical research and engineering education...
, Sweden on the (under-construction)
Sialkot Lahore MotorwayA 6-lane motorway from Sialkot to Lahore, the two important industrial centers of Punjab, was to be constructed which would have given impetus to economic activities in the province. NHA recognized this motorway as M11, however it was also known as LSM, SLM, Lahore-Sialkot Motorway or Shahrah-e-Sanat...
. It will also have an attached Technology Park. The Government of Pakistan, through the
Higher Education CommissionThe Higher Education Commission , formerly the University Grant Commission, is the primary regulator of higher education in Pakistan. It also facilitated the development of higher educational system in Pakistan. Its main purpose was to upgrade universities in Pakistan to be centres of education,...
(HEC), is financing and building the campus while the
Royal Institute of TechnologyThe Royal Institute of Technology is a university in Stockholm, Sweden. KTH was founded in 1827 as Sweden's first polytechnic and is one of Scandinavia's largest institutions of higher education in technology. KTH accounts for one-third of Sweden’s technical research and engineering education...
(KTH)
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
will be responsible for the provision of technical support which includes course contents specification, university management, human resource development and education quality control.
Sports
The Sialkot Cricket Team are known as the
Sialkot StallionsThe Sialkot Stallions are a Twenty-20 Cup team, based in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. The team was established in 2004 and its home ground is Jinnah Stadium. The team is one of several proposed franchises for the Pakistan Super League...
. They are National Champions and have won The
Quaid-i-Azam TrophyThe Quaid-i-Azam Trophy is the premier first-class domestic cricket competition in Pakistan.-History :Named after Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, the Trophy was introduced in 1953 to help pick the squad for Pakistan's Test tour of England in the forthcoming year...
during the 2008-2009 season and were also national champions in 2005-2006 when thy won The
Quaid-i-Azam TrophyThe Quaid-i-Azam Trophy is the premier first-class domestic cricket competition in Pakistan.-History :Named after Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, the Trophy was introduced in 1953 to help pick the squad for Pakistan's Test tour of England in the forthcoming year...
Golden League. Sialkot were runners-up in 2006-2007 and also won The
ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 CupThe Twenty-20 Cup is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in Pakistan, initiated in 2004 by the Pakistan Cricket Board , and is currently sponsored by Faysal Bank...
in 2005-2006 and 2006–2007 and RBS Twenty-20 Cup 2007-2008 and then 2008-2009 to complete a title hat-trick. The team's home ground is
Jinnah StadiumJinnah Stadium, one of the oldest Cricket stadiums in Pakistan, is located in Sialkot, Pakistan. It is one of the oldest cricket grounds in Pakistan. Before independence, it was called Connelley Park. After independence, it was renamed as Jinnah Park. The construction of Jinnah Stadium was started...
.
Sialkot annually hosts the Allama Iqbal Open Golf Championship at the Sialkot Golf Club. The
Sialkot Hockey StadiumSialkot Hockey Stadium is a large Field Hockey stadium in Sialkot, Pakistan. Its pitch is made of AstroTurf. Necessary arrangements are being finalized for development work on the Sialkot Hockey Stadium which will cost Rs 1002 million. A pavilion, dressing rooms and stands for spectators will be...
is located at Pasrur Road adjacent to the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park Sialkot. The
Sialkot Sports ComplexA Multi-Purpose "Sialkot Sports Complex" is under construction at Kotli Mir Ali on Sialkot-Daska Road in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan under the supervision of Sialkot District Government and Pakistan Sports Board...
is under construction at Daska Road with
Tartan trackTartan Track is the trademarked all-weather synthetic track surfacing made of polyurethane which is used for track and field competitions. It lets athletes compete in bad weather without serious performance loss and improves their results over other surfaces...
facility for track running events. Sialkot Junior Hockey Team play in National Junior Hockey League. The
Crescent Hockey ClubCrescent Hockey Club Sialkot is one of the top Field Hockey clubs of Pakistan with almost 10 Olympians playing for it. It has played in the at Jalandhar, India in 2008.-Current Players:Farhan AsifAmair SaleemAteeqM.Tofeeq ShabirAkhtar AliImran Butt...
has played in the Surjit Silver Jubilee hockey tournament at
JalandharJalandhar is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It is located 144 km northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh...
in 2008.
Media
Radio
Television
- ATV
ATV is the largest privately operated terrestrial television network in Pakistan having the 2nd largest national viewer ship base in the country. The channel was launched on May 01, 2005.-Channel Profile:...
- STV (sialkot)
Newspapers
- Daily Taqat
- Daily Saif-ul-Akbhar
- Roznama Sialkot
Magazine
Gallery
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=196423213741430&set=t.100001824273859&type=1&theater
See also
- Allama Iqbal
- Anjotar
- Begowala
Begowala is a town of District Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located in the centre of the Sialkot-Sambrial road and lies 10 km away from Sambrial...
- Butter village
- Dalowali
-History:Dalowali was named after Dalah Singh, the first occupant of the village. Dalah Singh by a profession and lineage was a "Jutt" farmer. He reverted to Islam from Sikhism and is the forefather of most of the occupants of today’s Dalowali, referring to themselves as "Deo"...
- Iqbal Manzil
Iqbal Manzil is the birth place of famous poet Dr Muhammad Iqbal in the centre of the historic city of Sialkot. It has been converted in to a museum cum library. Iqbal Manzil was purchased in 1861 by Mohammad Rafique, the grandfather of Dr Mohammed Iqbal...
- Jinnah Stadium Sialkot
- Kakazai
The Kakazai , also known as Loye Mamund , are a Pashtun tribe originally from the Laghman province of Afghanistan.They came to South Asia during Afghan invasions such as those of Mahmud of Ghazni, settling in various regions....
- List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by area
- Manpur
Manpur is a village in Sialkot District, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It belongs to the Jatts of Cheema mugrur clan. Was ruled by Sikh Cheemas before partition and still is....
- Marala Headworks
dMarala Headworks is a headworks situated on the River Chenab near the city of Sialkot in Punjab province of Pakistan.Marala Headworks is a large hydro engineering project and is used to control water flow and flood control in the River Chenab....
- Murray College
Government Murray College Sialkot , formerly known as Scotch Mission College, is located in Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan.-History:...
- Perochak
Perochak is a village in Sialkot District, Punjab Province, Pakistan. It is located at approximately south of the district capital, Sialkot, on the road connecting Motra and Bidyana...
- Sagala
Sagala or Sangala, the ancient Greek name for the modern city of Sialkot in present day Pakistan, was a city of located in northern Punjab, Pakistan...
- Sialkot beating incident
On August 15, 2010 two brothers and residents of Sialkot, Mughees and Muneeb, were beaten to death in front of a crowd which included members of the district police. The incident was recorded in a video by a spectator which was later used by news broadcasting stations.- Background :Muneeb and...
- Sialkot Cantonment
Sialkot Cantonment is cantonment area in Sialkot adjacent to city area. It is one of the oldest and most important Cantonments of Pakistan. It was established in 1852 by the British Indian Army. As gleaned from the old records, the Sialkot Cantonment is the precursor of Wazirabad Garrison which...
- Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry
[Image:Sialkot Chamber Logo.jpg|150px|right|thumb|]Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry is located in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a trade body, which was established in 1982. Late Mr. A.D. Bhutta was the founder President of this esteemed organization...
- Sialkot District
Sialkot District or the District of Sialkot , is one of the districts of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located in the north-east of the province...
- Sialkot District Government
The Sialkot District Government in Pakistan is headed by the District Nazim and assisted by Naib Nazim who is also speaker of District Council. District Nazim is elected by the nazims of union councils, union councillors and by tehsil nazims, who themselves are elected directly by the votes of the...
- Sialkot Dry Port
Sialkot Dry Port is a dry port in Sialkot, Pakistan. It was established on May 16, 1984 near Sambrial, about 20 km from Sialkot city under control of Sialkot Dry Port Trust. It is located at the junction of major industrial cities of Pakistan eg.Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Daska and Wazirabad. ...
- Sialkot Fort
Sialkot Fort is one of the oldest forts in Pakistan. The city of Sialkot, which is one of the oldest cities of Pakistan , has historical significance due to the Fort, The well-known historian, Diayas Jee, has stated that Raja Sálbán re-established Sialkot city around the 2nd century CE. and ruled...
- Sialkot International Airport
Sialkot International Airport is situated 14 km west of Sialkot in the Sialkot District of Pakistan...
- Sialkot Junction
Sialkot Junction is the main railway station in Sialkot city on the Wazirabad Narowal Railway line. It was established in 1880. Before partition , it was also linked with Jammu with Sialkot Jammu Line. As of 2008, this line is in working condition up to Sialkot Cantonment station only...
- Sialkot Lahore Motorway
A 6-lane motorway from Sialkot to Lahore, the two important industrial centers of Punjab, was to be constructed which would have given impetus to economic activities in the province. NHA recognized this motorway as M11, however it was also known as LSM, SLM, Lahore-Sialkot Motorway or Shahrah-e-Sanat...
- Sialkot Medical College
Sialkot Medical College is a medical college in Sialkot, Pakistan. It was established in 2002 with a sanction of PKR 450 million. 30 seats allocated for the year 2003 in the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, which were shifted to the Sialkot Medical College in 2004. However because of...
- Sialkot Trading Floor
Sialkot Trading Floor is one of the two branch offices of Lahore Stock Exchange in order expand its boundaries and make ease of its access in major cites of country. Acting as a part of LSE, STF is going forward day by day to achieve aims, goals and aspirations of its ancestor...
- University of Engineering Science and Technology, Sialkot
The University of Engineering Science and Technology Sialkot was to have been established in collaboration with the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology...
External links