Sargodha

Sargodha سرگودھا
Coordinates: 32°05′N 73°42′E / 32.08°N 73.7°E / 32.08; 73.7
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
District	Sargodha
Government
- Maher Ship	Ch. Hamid Hameed
Population (1997)
- Total	558,440
- Estimate (2007)	700,500
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Calling code	048
Number of towns	1
Number of Union councils	22

Sargodha (Urdu: سرگودھا) is a city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan. It is located in northeast Pakistan. It is 8th largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best Citrus producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries.^[1] Sargodha is one of three "planned cities" in Pakistan (the other two are Faisalabad and Islamabad).^[2]

Pakistan's largest airbase, Mushaf Airbase (formerly Sargodha Airbase), is situated in Sarghoda and hosts the headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force's Central Air Command. The airbase is also home to the Combat Commanders School (CCS), formerly the Fighter Leader's School, an elite training facility for training Pakistan Air Force pilots in fighter tactics and weapons.

Etymology

There are several theories as to the origins of the name. It may be derived from the Sanskrit Svargadhāma, meaning Heavenly Abode^[2] although this would have resulted in Punjabi Sargdham. The word could also be broken (according to 'sandhi+vigrah' in sanskrit grammar) down into SAR (upper) GO (holy cow) DHAM (abode). Sargodha may be derived from a legend about a pond where an old Hindu Sadhu Godha used to live, as the Punjabi word for pond is Sar: Sargodha might translate to "the pool of Godha". However, Punjabi would reverse the order of the component words (for example, Amritsar means "the pool of nectar." The etymology must lie in Sar + Godha, with Sar being the adjective and Godha the noun.

History

Sargodha was a small town at the beginning of the British Empire but, due to its geographical location, the British Royal Air Force built an airport there. It took on greater importance after the Independence of Paistan for the Pakistan Air Force. Shahpur, which is now a tehsil of Sargodha District, was the district at that time. Most parts of the tehsil Sillanwali and Kirana Hills region were part of Jhang district and were included later during the British Raj in the Sargodha district.

The 1965 war with India on September 6, 1965 meant the city was a prime target for India, due to the city close proximity with the neighbouring rival. The citizens of Sargodha supported the Pakistan Army against the advancing of the Indian Army into Pakistan. In 1966, recognising this bravery, the Government of Pakistan awarded the city of Sargodha as well as Sialkot and Lahore with the award of Hilal-E-Istaqlal.

The city also has a Pakistan Air Force base within its city. The PAF Base Sargodha now known as PAF Base Mushaf, named after the late Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, a former Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. The strategic location of the base has allowed the Air Force to carry out experimental work within the city.

Geography and climate

Sargodha is the 8th largest city of Pakistan. It is located 172 kilometres northwest of Lahore, in Sargodha District. It lies about 30 miles from the M2 Motorway which connects Lahore and Islamabad. it is connected to motorway M2 by several interchanges at different locations. Sargodha is roughly 60km from Faisalabad due South east. Directly east connected by the M2 motorway is Lahore and the route to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Due east is the city of Jhang and towards the west the city of Mianwali and the Chashma Barrage. Dera Ismail Khan is located 50 km from the city and towards the south west region from the city.

Sargodha mainly comprises flat fertile plains, which are the ideal conditions for cultivation of the land. There are a few small hills on Sargodha - Faisalabad Road. River Jhelum flows on the Western and Northern sides and river Chenab on the eastern side of the city. The city has extreme hot and cold climate. The maximum temperature touches 50C in the summer while the minimum temperature recorded is as low as freezing point in the winter.

Government

Until divisions were abolished in the year 2000, Sargodha was also divisional headquarters of Sargodha Division. Sargodha is the district and tehsil capital - the city of Sargodha is administratively subdivided into 22 Union councils.^[3] In October 2008, the division system in Punjab Province has been restored which meant Sargodha became the divsional headquarters of Sargodha District, Khushab District, Mianwali District and Bhakkar District.

Economy

Kinnows (Mandarin orange) are a speciality fruit produced in high amounts in the city

Sargodha is largey an agricultural and industrial city. The vast fields on the city have allowed the farmers to develop a range of crops and animal breeding programs. Some of the main crops include citrus, wheat, rice, and sugar cane which are exported to the other cities as well as internationally. Besides, Jawar, Bajra, Moong, Mash, Masoor, Gram and Oil Seed such as Rape / Mustard are also grown in minor quantities in the district. Citrus fruits such as oranges (locally known as kinnows), Guavas and Mangoes are main fruits grown in the district. As well as Jaman, Pears, Dates, Pomegranate, Phalsa and Almond are also grown in minor quantities. Turnip, Onion, Cauliflower, Potatoes and Tomatoes are main vegetables grown in the district. The main livestock for the city include goats, sheep, buffaloes and cattle.

Even with agricultural goods being the major income generator for the city as well as the district. The economy and industry has been diversifying itself to generate more demand for other goods which can be manufactured and produced in the city. Other industrial markets include: Beverage, manufacture of diesel engines, electricals, foundry products, glass products, leather footwear, oil mills, pesticides, insecticides, poultry feed, plastics, readymade garments, tannery as well as textiles.

Education

Sargodha has several institutions of higher education and several research centres and Local Sargodha University:

• Army Public School and College Sargodha Cantt.
• Allama Iqbal Open University
• Fazaia Model Inter College
• Air Base Inter College
• University of Sargodha
• Northwestern Theological Seminary
• Sargodha Medical College,Affiliated with Sargodha University
• Dar-e-Arqam Model School & College Affiliated with Sargodha & Fedrel Board Islamabad
• Govt. College Of Commerece Sargodha Faisalabad Road Sargodha
• Connoisseur Grammar School Sargodha
• Ambala College Sargodha
• ITM College Sargodha, Affiliated with Punjab University of Lahore.
• Punjab College of Commerce
• ILM College Sargodha
• Superior College of Commerce
• Beacon House School System
• City School System

Languages

Punjabi is the main language of the people. Urdu and Siraiki are also widely spoken.

Media

• Express News (Pakistan) Bureau Office: Express News/The Daily Express/Express 24/7 Bureau chief: Nadeem Khan Sub Editor: Ghulam Muhammad
• Radio Pakistan Sargodha (FM 93 MHz Band),Club Road Sargodha.
• FM Sunrise (96 MHz) Most popular, also plays Indian and western music, Aziz Bhatti Town Sargodha.
• FM Bhalwal (104 MHz) Most popular in Punjabi and classical music, Tehsil Bhalwal District Sargodha.
• Pakistan Television Islamabad centre terrestrial transmissions at VHF and UHF band routed from Sakesar rebroadcast centre.

See also

• Chak 34 SB
• Chak 75 SB
• Chak 100 SB

References

External links

Find more about Sargodha on Wikipedia's sister projects:

Definitions from Wiktionary
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Quotations from Wikiquote
Source texts from Wikisource
Images and media from Commons
News stories from Wikinews
Learning resources from Wikiversity

• SargodhaPost.com First Online Newspaper of Sargodha | Chief Editor: Imran Bashir
• Sargoda Government of Punjab, Pakistan Portal, Accessed 2009-09-13
• Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Sargodha
• University Of Sargodha
• Its All about Sargodha

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