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Faisalabad is the third
largest city in Pakistan.
Faislalabad is located in
the Punjab
province of Pakistan. Faislalabad
has estimated 2006 population
of 3 million. The entire
district of Faisalabad had
a estimated population of
about 8 million in 2006.
It is an important industrial,
commercial and cultural
center of Pakistan, located
west of Lahore.
The city-district of Faisalabad
is bound on the north by
the districts of Gujranwala
and Sheikhupura,
on the east by Sahiwal district,
on the south by Toba Tek
Singh district and on the
west by Jhang district.
History
The city was founded by the British Lieutenant
Governor of the Punjab,
Sir Charles James Lyall
for whom it was originally
named Lyallpur. Prior to
the British making the area
into an urban center, it
largely consisted of various
villages. However, the construction
of various canals allowed
the area to be irrigated.
After the founding of the
city, people were invited
to the city with promises
of land if they were to
work it. This allowed the
city to grow rapidly.
In 1943, Mohammed
Ali Jinnah came to Lyallpur
and addressed a gathering
of over 2 million in Dhobi
Ghat Grounds. When Pakistan
independence was announced
the people of Lyallpur held
special prayers and distributed
sweets and food among the
poor on March 3, 1947.
The city grew into a strong industrial
and agricultural centre
and on independence of Pakistan
it was a major urban area.
After independence, the
city of Lyallpur marched
rapidly on the path of progress.
The city which had so far
been known for its grain
market, became a great commercial
and industrial centre. The
population of the city which
in 1901 hardly touched the
figure of a few thousands
soared up to millions. Medical
and educational level was
lifted up. In 1977, the
name of the city was changed
to Faisalabad, after the
name of the late King of
Saudi Arabia, Shah Faisal-bin-Abdul
Aziz. In 1985, the city
was upgraded as a division
with the districts of Faisalabad,
Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.
Page last updated:
Monday, February 13, 2006 04:26:24 PM -0500 |
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