Faisalabad (Urdu: فیصل آباد) is a city located in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. It was formerly known as Lyallpur. This allowed the city to grow rapidly.
Faisalabad is the third largest city in Pakistan with an estimated 2006 population of 2.6 million (city proper). The entire district had a population of about 5.4 million in 1998. It is an important industrial centre located in the Punjab province, 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, on the so
uth by Toba Tek Singh and on the west by Jhang. History
Faisalabd was once part of ancient district Jhang and Sandalbar, a 50-square kilometre part mainly consisted of thick forests and wild tribes. The vast tract from Shahdara to Shorekot, Sangla Hill to Toba Tek Singh, is traditionally called Sandalbar. It has been a land of freedom fighters and great lovers - famous among Sikhs and other faiths.The great freedom fighters, such as Bhagat Singh - came from Bange village, nine kilometres from Jaranwala. The legendary love hero, Mirza Jutt, was born in Moza Danabad, seven kilometres from Jaranwala.The present day 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. The city of Lyallpur came into being in 1880 with the city centre designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Flag with eight roads radiating from a large clock tower in the centre to eight separate bazaars. In 1895, the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was completed. As the progress of colonisation stepped up Lyallpur was given the status of a tehsil of Jhang District and its administration carried on in tents on the old Theh (Mound) of Pucca Mari near Tariqabad. The majestic Clock Tower of Lyallpur was constructed out of the funds raised by the Sikh Zamindars who collected it at a rate of Rs. 18 per square of land. The fund thus raised was handed over to the Municipal Committee which undertook to complete the project. In 1902, the population of the town had exceeded 4,000. A considerable number of houses and shops to cater to the ordinary needs of the population had constructed. In 1903, decision to have an agricultural college was made. In the very next year, 1904, the new district of Lyallpur was constituted comparing of Tehsils of Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba Tek Singh with a subtehsil at Jaranwala which later turned into a full fledged Tehsil. In 1906, the District Headquarters began to function at Lyallpur and all the bazars and mohallas within the bounds of circular road were nearing completion and city began to spread outside the circular road. The Town Committee which has come into being in 1904, was upgraded as Municipal Committee in 1909 and Deputy Commissioner was declared to be the lst Chairman. In 1916, the grain market saw its shops surging with customers. In the same year the civil Hospital was expanded. With the advent of the World War II, the political awakening sprinkled its influence over the city. Revolutionary meetings were held. Fiery speeches were made. Slogans were written on the walls. In 1943, Mohammed Ali Jinnah came to Lyallpur and addressed a gathering of over 2 million in Dhobi Ghat Grounds. When Pakistan was accepted as an independent unit, the Muslims 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. Government
Faisalabad city-district formerly comprised six sub-divisions; Faisalabad City, Faisalabad Sadr, Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala, Samundri, and Tandlianwala. In 2005, Faisalabad was reorganised as a City-District composed of eight autonomous towns, but there are also several unofficial neighbourhoods often considered as towns. Administrative Towns[4]
Chak Jhumra
Madina Town
Iqbal Town
Jaranwala Town
Jinnah Town
Lyallpur Town
Samundri Town
Tandlianwala Town
Education
Faisalabad has several higher education institutions including:
Institute Of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan
Punjab Group of Colleges
Government College of Technology,Faisalabad
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
Punjab Medical College
Government College University Faisalabad
National Textile University
Institute of Engineering & Fertilizer Research
University of Faisalabad
Dar-e-Arqam Schools
Salafia University
University of Engineering and Technology (UET)
National University of Modern Languages (NUML)
Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology
College of Paramedics
Faisalabad Institute of Research Science and Technology (FIRST)
Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHM)
National Institute of Agriculture and Biology (NIAB)
Nuclear Institute of Biology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE)
Ayyub Agricultural Research Center
Sites of interest
The city has a number of sites of interest including several colonial-era buildings, two major sports stadiums, several public parks and amusement parks. Faisalabad Clock Tower
Victoria Memorial Chowk
Chenab Club
Faisalabad Railway Station
Gumti Water Fountain
Qaisery Gate (Rail Bazar)
Rex City
Faisalabad Hockey Stadium
Iqbal Cricket Stadium
Mansoorabad
Jinnah Garden
Sindbad
China Town
Batala Colony
Serena Hotel
Jawad Sports and Cultural Complex
Kaleem Shaheed colony
Madni Choke Samanabad
Nisar colony
Development
Faisalabad has a strong industrial base including textiles, jewellery, home furniture, and pharmaceuticals, assisted by the expanding transport network which includes newly built motorways to Lahore and Rawalpindi. Faisalabad is one of the three planned cities of country. The city is also home to numerous colleges and universities such as the Agricultural University and Punjab Medical College. The colonial-era grand clock tower (known locally as Ghanta Ghar) is located in the centre with eight roads radiating outwards in towards eight bazaars, each with different types of markets and goods. The rise of the middle class as a result of economic boom has led to major malls and shopping plazas amid investment from the United Arab Emirates as well as some European firms. The projects currently under construction include Motorway City, Kohinoor One, Doburg, Gateway Towers, Paradise-Inn Centre Point and Rehman Heights. Ghulam Muhammad Abad Colony, is the largest (population wise) colony of Faisalabad city. Hotels
Faisalabad Serena Hotel, Club Road
Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel, Kashmir Bridge East Canal Road
Hotel East Inn, Sheikhupura Road
Hotel One, People's Colony 1 Near Makki Hospital
National Hotel, Sargodha Road
Hotel The One The One Rabi Center Hurrian Wala Chowk People's Colony # 1
The Dynesty Hotel Jarranwala Road opp Kohi noor 1
Ripple Crown Hotel Ripple Plaza D-Ground
Grace Hotel Circuler Road Chiniot Bazar
Prime Hotel Kotwali Road
Rays Hotel Kotwali Road
Sandal Bar Hotel Satyana Road
Rex Hotel Satyana Road
Meraj Hotel Batala Colony Satyana Road
Sabina Hotel Press Markete
Al-Burraq Hotel Railway Road opp Standard Chartered Bank
Airport
The Faisalabad International Airport is approximately ten kilometres from the city centre, and is a major transit point for exporting goods to other parts of Pakistan and abroad. Passenger flights are run by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and several private airlines. Road transport
There are many roads in Faisalabad which connect Faisalabad with many other cities as well as it has its own fine road network. There is a public bus network within the city and many privately operated rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and taxis. Highways
There are many highways under NHA which link Faisalabad with other cities of the country. The M3 access-controlled motorway connects Faisalabad with motorway M2 near Pindi Bhattian which furthermore connects with Rawalpindi, Lahore etc. There is an expressway which connects Faisalabad with Lahore, Sheikhupura and Mananwala. City is also connected with Sargodha with a highway known as Sargodha-Faisalabad road. Furthermore, motorway M4 is also under construction which will connect Faisalabad with Multan. Rail network
The Central railway station is the main railway station built during the British reign around the nineteenth century. The station is used to take people to all parts of Pakistan from Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar and many more cities and towns of Pakistan. A large amount of cargo is exported and imported into Faisalabad with many deliveries a day from all parts of the Pakistan
