Jhang District

Infobox Pakistan district
district = Jhang District
area = 8809
population = 536,000
pop_year =
density = 321.8
caption = Map of Jhang district, the green area shows the current area and boundaries of District Jhang, the adjacent districts of Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh were once Tehsils of Jhang district.
region = Punjab
established =
nazim = Sahibzada Hameed Sultan
naib_nazim =
seats =
tehsils = 4
languages = Punjabi, Urdu, Siriaki, English
website =

Jhang District (Punjabi/Urdu: جھنگ) is located in Punjab province of Pakistan, the city of Jhang is the capital of the district. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the district had a population of 2,834,545 of which 23.11% were urban [ [http://www.urckarachi.org/Population%20Table-5.htm Urban Resource Centre] ]

Location

Jhang is one of the oldest districts of subcontinent it was established almost 2000BC formerly it was known as riasat Jhagi Sial. Alexander the great was defeated here by Sial tribe in the region which is now known as Shorkot. Jhang is bordered by the districts Sargodha in north, Gujranwala in northeast, Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh in east, Khanewal and Muzaffargarh in south, Leiah and Bhakkar in west and Kushab in northwest.

The district consists of 4 tehsils: Ahmad Pur Sial, Chiniot, Jhang and Shorkot. [ [http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/admin_unit/admin_list_tehsil.html Administrative Units of Pakistan (Tehsils/Talukas)] Statistics Division, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Statistics, Government of Pakistan]

Geography

Jhang District covers 8,809 km². [1998 District Census Report of Jhang, Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, 2000 P.1] Almost all the area is plain cultivable land except in the North some rocks near Rabwah and Chenab Nagar at the banks of the Chenab River which belong to the series of Kirana Hills which in nature are like the mountains of Aravalli series. In the western part, a desert area called Thal extends from the banks of the Jhelum River to the far west in the districts of Khushab and Bhakkar, while the Sandal Bar area arises from the Pabbarwala area near the Gujranwala boundary as the land abruptly arises from the land level almost at ten feet (3 m) height and almost gains 30 feet (9 m) height and this tract runs up till 87 km in the south and has a breadth of almost 30 to 40 km. This while area comprised forest in past and no kind of cultivation was possible for almost 100 years before the British colonial government established a canal system and the town of Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) on 975 acres (395 ha) of land, which is now the textile industry hub of Pakistan. Between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab a small area of Kirana bar is also located in this district, which ends at the Ghoriwala village. The area alongside the banks of rivers Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum is called Hitthar (area in which flood water reaches), while the upland area between bars and hitthar is called Utar.

Climate and general soil conditions

The climate of the district is hot and dry during summer and cold and dry in winter. The surface of the district presents three distinct levels i.e. sand dunes of Thal on the extreme west, low lying river valley in the centre and old Sandal Bar on the extreme east. The rivers of Jhelum and Chanab make their way through the district and Trimmu Head-works is the pint of their confluence

Fauna and Flora

Trees of "jand" (Prosopis spicigera), "karir" (Capparis aphylla), "beri" (Zizyphus jujuba), "van" (Salvadora oleoides), "kikar" (Acacia nilotica), "shisham" (Dalbergia sissoo) and "aak" (Calotropois spp) are found within the district. [1998 District Census Report of Jhang, Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, 2000, P.3] Trees of jand, kreer, van, kikar, tahli, bohar are spread everywhere where there is no cultivation, while herbs of harmal, akrey, bathoo, etc are also found.

Jhangochi dialect

Jhangochi (also known as Jhangi) is the oldest and pure dialect of Punjabi Language, it has a widespread area starting from Khanewal at both ends of Ravi and Chenab ending into Gujranwala District. Almost the whole area shares the same tradition and culture. There are different aspects of the Jhangochi dialect of the Punjabi language and also the great culture of this area which created the romance stories of Heer Ranjha and Mirza Sahiba.

Famous Sufi saint Hazrat Sultan Bahoo's poetry is also in the same Punjabi dialect.

Culture

The District of Jhang is in a region which is known as Sandal Bar. Punjabi folk dances such as Jhummar and Sammi are from this area. Jhummar is a dance for men while Sammi is danced by women. The famous form of folk music is known as dhola or Jhang da dhola.The men wear turbans and dhotis (like a kilt) though in recent years people have started wearing the national dress which is shalwar kameez. The old women you will see will be wearing dhotis (skirts) but the younger women wear shalwar kameez because of cultural and social changes over the years. Tent Pegging (naiza baazi) is a very important sport and part of life for the people of Jhang, while kabaddi is a very famous traditional sport. Teeyan and Trinjan was till 40 years back an important activity for women but with industrialization women no longer weave cloth using the spinning wheels.

Religion

Jhang is predominantly Sunni Muslim with a very small Shia, and Christian minority. Sunni Muslims are in majority as compared to other sects. Sunni Muslim are in majority in rural and urban areas and Deobandi school of thought also has a major influence in the city of Jhang. Mualana Azam Tariq, Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi Sipra, Allama Sajid Naqvi,Allam Fazil Ali Alvi and Allamah Tahir-ul-Qaderi are the most prominent Muslim scholars of Jhang district.

The Christian writer and evangelist Gulshan Esther is a native of Jhang, though she now resides in Oxford, England.

Administration

The district of Jhang is administratively subdivided into 4 tehsils, these are: [ [http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=13&dn=Jhang Tehsils & Unions in the District of Jhang - Government of Pakistan] ]

*Chiniot
*Jhang
*Shorkot
*Ahmad Pur Sial

Tribes

The main tribes and castes of the district include:ArienKhokhar,Awan,Syed,Sial Sial is the biggest tribe of the distric Jhang, there are several subcaste of the sial i-e Jabboana,Sargana,Jangiana,Mighiana,Surbrana,Jatiana,Bharwana,Nitthrana etc. Ansari, Baloch, Bhatti, Bhojia Jat, Chadhar, Gillotar, Haral, Kathaia, Lalee, Maghiana, Nissowana, Naul, Sial, Sipra, Pathan, Syed, Thahim, Qureshi, Gujjar, Rajput, Shaliana and awan.

Famous people

* Hazrat Sultan Bahu A most famous Muslim Sifi, Writer and Sufi Poet
* Dr. Abdus Salam Nobel laureate in PhysicsQaiser ahmad sheikh formner mna from chiniot and well known industriliast
* Majeed Amjad(Often considered as best poet of urdu nazm)
* Sultan ul Asr Hazrat Pir Ghulam Dastgir Al-Qadiri, Fakhr e Kashmir, Sufi Saint, Leader of Pakistan Movement, Naib Ameer ul Mujahdeen Jihad e Kashmir (1947-49), Writer, Poet, Author
* Sahibzada Rifat Sultan, Urdu Poet
* Jafar Tahir, Poet
* Sher Afzal Jafery, Poet
* Prof. Dr. Tahir Al-Qadiri, Islamic Scholar
* Sahibzada Haji Sultan Abdul Majeed, Ex. Senator of Pakistan & Sajjada Nashin Darbar Mai Baap of Hazrat Sultan Bahoo
* Sahibzada Sultan Hameed, Former Federal Secretary & District Nazim Jhang
* Sahibzada Nazeer Sultan, Ex. Minister of State Pakistan & MNA
* Sahibzada Mahboob Sultan, MNA
* Prof. Dr. Sultan Altaf Ali, Islamic Scholar & Ex-Chairman Balochistan Text Book Board, Writter, Author
* Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Hassan, Ex. Director General (PR) PTCL Islamabad
* Sultan Arshad Al-Qadiri, Poet, Writer, Reasearcher, Author, Publisher, Chief Executive: Hazrat Ghulam Dastgir Academy (Pakistan), Chief Editor: Quarterly DASTGIR Quetta
* Sahibzada Muhammad Shahzad Sultan, DPO (Police)
* Sahibzada Muhammad Shehr Yar Sultan, DCO
* Muhsin Sultan, Short Story Writer, Author
* Nazeer Naji (Columnist)
* Mehmood shaam, Group Editor Daily Jang, Writer,
* Gulshan Esther (Christian leader)
* Mohsin Mighiana (Surgeon,writer&Author)
**Mhr.Sarfraz_ut_Tariq SIPRA [president Farmer Organization(F.O) disty Gilotraan]

Tourism

Darbar HAZRAT SHAH JEEWANA

It is located in Shah Jeewana the town named after him in Jhang.

Wazeer Mosque (Chiniot)

Ilam-ud-Deen Ansari, originally from Chiniot, Jhang, became one of the most respectable personality due to his knowledge and intellectual approach, besides being a good physician who cured Nur Jehan and was given the title of Wazir Khan.

Artisans from Chiniot excelled in designing and assisted the construction & designing of Taj Mahal, The Golden Temple, Shahi Masjid at Chiniot. Nowadays, Chiniot is known for its carved furniture.

Mazar (Shrine) of Hazrat Sultan Bahu

Born in Shorkot in 1039H, Sultan Bahu was a 17th century scholar and Sufi poet. He wrote his Diwan in Urdu, Persian and Punjabi and is suppose to have written 140 books. [1998 District Census Report of Jhang, Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, 2000 P. 15] His initially shrine was in the fort of Kergan by the banks of the River Chenab but with the river changing its course it was moved, not once but twice to its present location in Shorkot. [1998 District Census Report of Jhang, Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, 2000 P. 15] People from far off places come to attend his Urs held every January.

Heer's Tomb

The heroine of the famous love story, Heer Ranjha, Heer's tomb lies just north of Jhang on the way to Faisalabad. [1998 District Census Report of Jhang, Population Census Organisation, Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, 2000 P. 15] An annual fair is held at her tomb. A comprehensive account of her story is told by Waris Shah in his book.

hrines

*Darbar Hazrat SULTAN BAHOO (RA) : Tehsil Shorkot, Distt. Jhang.
*Darbar Hazrat Sultan Noor Muhammad, sultan Muhammad Nawaz & Sultan ul Asr Hazrat Ghulam Dastgir Al-Qadiri near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahoo
*Darbar Hazrat Sultan Noor Hassan & Sultan Abdul Majeed near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahoo
*Darbar Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Azeez near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahoo
*Darbar Hazrat Sultan Dost Muhmmad near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahoo
*Darbar Hazrat Sultan Ahmad Bakhsh near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahoo
*Darbar Hazrat Sultan Muhammad Hassan near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahoo
*Darbar Sultan Shah Sakhira At Mari Shah Sakhira
*Darbar Shah Sheikhan : Shadi Pur, Jhang Lalian Road, Jhang
*Darbar Mahni Sharif : Kot Lakhnana, 6th Mile, Gojra Road, Jhang
*Darbar Mangani Sharif Hazrat Pir Karam Hussain(RA)
*Hazrat Shah Jewana (RA) : Shah Jewana, Tehsil & Distt. Jhang.
*Sial Sharif : Sial Sharif, Sargodha Road, Jhang.
*Maai Heer : Faisalabad Road, Jhang Saddar.
*Peer Hathy Wan : Jhang City
*Shrine of Athara Hazari : Athara Hazari Jhang.
*Peer Hazrat Syed Dargahi Shah
*Peer Uch Gul Imam
*Baloki Shareef : Mochi Wala, Faisalabad Road, Jhang.
*Hazrat Shah Sadiq Nahang : Shorkot Multan road, Jhang.
*Darber Rodoo Sultan : Garrh MahaRaja road, Jhang.
*Darbar Peer Gohar Shah
*Darbar Peer Mohammad Shah Bukhari
*Peer Noor Ahmad Hashmi
*Darbar Mian Murad
*Peer Mirak Sial
*Darbar Mae Bap (Bahoo Sultan)
*Peer Abdr Rehman
*Peer Hasu Balail
*Darbar Noori Nahra
*Dhaji Peer
*Peer Durki shah
* Peer Hafiz Abdulkarim Yousaf Shah Road, Jhang.
*Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Ji: This sacred shrine of Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Ji is on Toba road outside Jhang. Buses or mini buses going to this place from Jhang are easily available. Its bus stop is on the bridge after Bagha Wala. From the bus stop one has to walk upstream along the canal. A Gurdwara was built by the followers on the mound where Sat Gur Dev Ji had stayed. A primary school is housed in the Gurdwara now.
*Mazar Hazrat Shah Balail in Hassu balail.
*Mazar Hazrat Noor Ashab Near Hassu Balail.
*Mazar Hafiz Abdur Razzaq in Imam Kot Hassu balalil.
*Darbar Peer Chiragh Shah Bokhari at Thana Mason Taseil Jhang
*Darbar Baba Ghareeb Ali in chak no.211 j.b Titraanwala
*Darbar Baba Haji Ahmad Darvesh Baghdadi. Shaheed road Jhang
*Darbar Noor Muhammad Awan Marhoom.Mai heer Jhang

Education

Jhang is a fast developing area of Punjab Province. Its community is very much hardworking and brave. Now education is picking up. This is a mixed community where most population is uneducated but we can hope that the future generations are blessed with higher and masters level education.

Educational institutes

*Chenab College Jhang
*Lahore College for Women University
*University of Veteriny and Animal Sciences, Jhang sadar
*Muahad ul Faqir Islamic University
*The Educators, Al-Syed Campus Jhang
* [http://www.imransoft.net I-SOFT College Of Commerce And Computer Sciences Jhang]
*Quaid-e-Azam Model School, Ahmad Pur Sial, Distt. Jhang
* [http://www.ghazalipilot.edu.pk Ghazali Pilot Schools Jhang]
*PEN School System, Jhang
*Govt. Degree College, Jhang
*Leaders Academy
*Oriel School System
*PAF College, Shorkot
*College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang
*Superior Group of Colleges, Jhang Sadar
*Faran College Jhang
*Sacred Heart High School
*Govt. Comprehensive Model High School Satellite Town Jhang also Known as Jamia High School
*Ghazali Education System
*Punjab international public school Bhawana
*Superior Group Of Colleges, Jhang Sadar
*Govt. Degree College, Jhang
*Chenab College, Jhang
*Chenab College, Chiniot
*Chenab College, Shorkot
*Ghazali College, Jhang
*Millat College Science & Arts, Jhang
*Govt. Islamia College, Chiniot, Distt. Jhang
*Govt. Talim-ul-Islam College, Rabwah, Jhang
*Govt. College, Shorkot, Distt. Jhang
*P.A.F. College, Rafiqui, Shorkot Cantt., Distt. Jhang
*Govt. College for Women, Jhang
*Govt. College for Women, Chiniot, Jhang
*National College & Textile Institute, Chiniot, Jhang
*Deen College, Chiniot, Jhang
*Govt. College for Women, Shorkot City, Jhang
*Govt. College of Commerce, Jhang
*Superior Group Of Colleges, Jhang Sadar
* Jamia Dastgireya Anwaar e Bahoo, near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahu
* Jamia Ghauseya Sultaneya Anwaar e Haq Bahoo Sultan near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahu
* Iqra University, near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahu

chools

*The Educators, Al-Syed Campus Jhang
*City School System, Jhang
*Faran Model School, Jhang
*Millat Secondary School, Jhang
*Leaders Academy
*Garrison Cadet School
*Govt Comperehensive Model High School, Jhang
*Govt. Islamia High School, Jhang
*Jhang Poli Technic Institute, Jhang
*MB High School, Jhang
*Oriel School System, Jhang
*Sacred Heart High School, Jhang
*The City School, Jhang
*Govt. Islamia High School, Chiniot
*Masoomeen Foundation High School, Chiniot=al-medina public school 198 j.b
* Sir Syed Model High School Shorkot Cantt.
* Al- Usman High School shorkot Cantt.
* Al- Rehman High School Shorkot
* Dastgir Educators, Near Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahu, Teh. Ahmadpur Sial
* college of veterinary and animal sciences jhang

References

Govt. Higher Secondary School Hassu Balail Ahmad Pur SiaL

External links

* [http://groups.msn.com/SULTANBAHU/ Hazrat Sultan Bahu
* [http://www.imransoft.net/jhang.htm I Soft Advertisement Solutions]
* [http://www.imransoft.net I Soft College Jhang]
* [http://www.punjab.gov.pk/District/jhang/jhang.htm Jhang District Profile: Govt of Punjab, Pakistan]
* [http://www.merajhang.com Mera Jhang] - A portal with all information regarding the District Jhang.
* [http://www.chenab.edu.pk Chenab College Jhang]
* [http://garrisonjhang.com/ Garrison Cadet School]
* [http://mohsincomplex.com/ Mohsin high schools & college]

See also

* Faisalabad
* Punjab
* Pakistan