Mianwali

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Mianwali میانوالی
Mianwali
Coordinates: 32°21′N 71°20′E / 32.35°N 71.33°E / 32.35; 71.33
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
District	Mianwali District
Government
- Nazim	Ubaidullah Khan
Elevation	210 m (689 ft)
Population (2007)
- Total	110,359
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Calling code	(+92)0459
Punjab Government Website

Mianwali (Punjabi, Urdu: میانوالی) is the capital city of Mianwali District in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located at 32°34'60 N and 71° 32'60E with an altitude of 211 metres (695 feet).^[1] In November 1901, North West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab and present day towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (NWFP) and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. The municipal committee was made in December 1903 and remained operational since then.

Infrastructure

Mianwali city is the economic and commercial hub of the district. There are several educational institutions up to post-graduate level, affiliated with the University of Punjab. The city has an airport built near the old World War II aerodrome. This is presently called PAF Base Mianwali. It is one of the major operational bases of the country. The No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit of the PAF is stationed here. There is also a railway connecting the city with Kundian and Multan to the south and Attock and Rawalpindi to the north. The railways were a part of the now obsolete "North Western Railways" (NWR), which was operational during British colonial rule in the subcontinent. After the partition of India in 1947 it was renamed "Pakistan Western Railways" and was again renamed after December 1971 as Pakistan Railways.

The main highways connecting the city to the other parts of the country include the Sargodha-Lahore road [N-60], MM Road ( Mianwali-Muzaffargarh road ), Talagang-Rawalpindi road, and the Kalabagh- Bannu road [N-60]. The Balkassar interchange connects Mianwali to the M2 motorway. The Thal canal traverses the city and makes the surroundings a picturesque place.

The city is famous for the shrine of Mian Sultan Zakria (RA) whose father Mian Ali founded Mianwali village, in the 16th century.(Researchers need some documentary proof) The son is said to have exhibited supernatural powers from an early age and many miraculous deeds are ascribed to him. His name is frequently taken as an oath , and his shrine is not uncommonly the scene of settlement of civil disputes, in which one party has bound himself to abide by any statement made at shrine by the other party.

The city has its own FM Radio Station, a municipal library, a sports complex(Bodybuilding Mianwali gym, a hockey stadium , and a couple of parks for recreation.

History

Of the early history of the district nothing can be stated with any certainty, beyond the fact that its inhabitants were Hindus, and that before the Christian era the country formed an integral portion of the Graeco-Bactrian Empire of Kabul and the Punjab.^[2]

During British rule, the Indian empire was subdivided into province, divisions and districts, after the independence of Pakistan divisions remained the third tier of government until 2000. The British had made the towns of Mianwali and Isa Khel tehsil headquarters of Bannu District then part of Dera Ismail Khan Division of Punjab province. The population of Mianwali according to the 1901 census of India was 3,591.^[3]

In November 1901, the North-West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab and the towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (Bannu became part of NWFP) and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. The district became a part of Multan Division. There were four tehsils namely Mianwali, Isa Khel, Bhakkar, and Layyah. Layyah was included in the Muzaffargarh District in 1909. The district became a part of Sargodha Division in 1961. Bhakkar Tehsil was carved out of Mianwali District and was made a separate district inside Sargodha Division w.e.f. 01-07-1982.

Languages

Saraiki dialect continuum of Hindko, is main language of people. Pashto is spoken by northern mountainous and high landers.

Noteable personalities

• Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri
• Imran Khan
• Allama Mohammad Masood Alam Khan
• Pro. Saleem Ehsan Butcher

Saints

• Khawja Mohammad Akbar Ali Chishti(RA)
• Hazrat Mian Sultan Zakarea(RA)
• Hazrat Khaki Shah(RA)

Further reading

1. "Gazetteer of the Mianwali district 1915" by Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore, Pakistan
2. "Tareekh-e-Niazi Qabail"
3. "Wichara Watan" By Harish Chander Nakra, New Delhi, India
4. Henry George Raverty, Notes on Afghanistan and Baluchistan" (Indus Publications, Karachi)

See also

• List of Cities of Punjab, Pakistan by Area

References

^ A Glossary of the tribes & castes of Punjab by H. A Rose

External links

• http://www.GeoMianwali.com
• http://www.MianwaliOnline.com
• http://www.seraikigroup.nexo.com
•  "Mianwali". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.