Gojra

Infobox City Pakistan
official_name = Gojra


emblem =
province = Punjab
city_

n1 = 33
n2 = 17
n3 = 0
e1 = 73
e2 = 21
e3 = 0
elevation_m = 465
area_total_km2 = 17
census_year = 1998
estimate_year = 2005
census_pop = 117892
estimate_pop = 143,369
population_density_km2 =
uc = 6
towns = 1
code = 046 International +9246
Nazim = Ch. Asad Zaman Cheema
Naib nazim =
footnotes =

Gojra (Urdu: گوجرہ), the capital of Gojra Tehsil, is a city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan [ [http://pportal.punjab.gov.pk/portal/portal/media-type/html/group/332?page_name=T.T.Singh$d_home&group_type=dist&group_id=332&group_name=T.T.Singh&js_pane=P-1004ba76975-10000&pview=true Punjab Portal] ] , it is located at 33°16'60N 73°20'60E [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PK/4/Gojra5.html Location of Gojra] ] and is located 50km from Faisalabad and 20 miles north of Toba Tek Singh [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V12_312.gifGojra - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 12, p. 306] ] . It has a history of more than hundred years, and being the centre of the cultivated lands, the village was famous for its "Mandi" (market) for cash crops. The market was mainly handled by the Hindus and Sikhs but more recently has been run by Muslims following the establishment of Pakistan.

History

Gojra town was established in 1896 when colonisation of Lyallpur (Faisalabad) began. The railway line between Lyallpur and Gojra was laid in 1899. The town was given the status of notified area committee in 1904 and upgraded as B-Class Municipality in 1925. In 1906 the population was 2,589 - according to the Imperial Gazetteer of India "The business done in this rising mart on the railway, which has sprung into existence in the last six years owing to the extension of the Chenab Canal to the surrounding country, bids fair to rival in importance that of Lyallpur itself"

After independence from Britain, in view of its increasing size, it was declared as 2nd class Municipal Committee in 1960. The town was raised to the status of Tehsil town and affiliated with the newly established district Toba Tek Singh on 01.07.1982. After the introduction of Devolution of Powers Plan, the Tehsil Municipal Administration Gojra came into being on 12.08.2001 [http://www.tmagojra.net/about_city.htm Tehsil Administration of Gojra] ] .

Demography

The City has a population of around 140,000 [ [http://population-of.com/en/Pakistan/04/Gojra/ Population Of Gojra] ] , the people of Gojra are kind and famous for their hospitality, but at the same time long-standing fights between different castes settled in Gojra make national news [ [http://www.dawn.com/2006/01/31/nat20.htm Political rivalry shifts to TMA offices - Dawn Pakistan]

Education

Gojra has a good literacy rate:

Educational Institutes

*Government Degree College
*Government Degree College for Women
*Government Inter College of Commerce
*Government Islamia High School
*MC High School
*Government Girls High School
*Millat Girls High School
*St Albert's High School
*St John's High School
*Govt Commercial Training Institute [ [http://gc333.sitesled.com/ Government Colleges District Toba Tek Singh] Gojra Commerce College]

Entertainment Places

*Jinnah Park
*Gojra Astro Turf Hockey Stadium
*MC & Islamia School Hokey Stadiums
*MC & Islamia School Cricket Stadiums
*Nawaz Sharif Park
*Lady Park
*AnarKali Park

Eye Surgery

Gojra was a renowned centre for eye surgery. Its fame for ophthalmic excellence was known throughout India. [http://www.gofund.org Gojra Eye Complex Pakistan] ] . One of the leading figures of Gojra was the eye surgeon, Dr. Harbhajan Singh. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98sep03/region.htm Eye care in his blood - Tribune India] ] He gave eyesight to a huge number of patients whose eyes could not be cured by many of the ophthalmologists in more sophisticated hospitals in big cities like Delhi, Lahore or Calcutta [http://www.gofund.org Gojra Eye Complex Pakistan] ] .

Hockey

Gojra became famous in Pakistan after contributing a number of players to the Pakistan Hockey team, including Iqbal Bali and Muhammad Aslam (famous as Aslam Roda). [ [http://www.dawn.com/2005/01/01/local6.htm Hockey players honoured - Dawn Pakistan] ] When they returned to Gojra they established their own hockey teams, and provided free training to the youth of the village. The biggest event in the calendar it used to be the annual fixture between these two teams. This match use to attract a huge crowd. This actually created a nursery for the Pakistan hockey team and many of the Pakistan hockey team players including Tahir Zaman, Muhammad Shahbaz Junior, Muhammad Qasim (died on the day of Eid ul-Fitr 2006 due to Cancer).

The Gojra Hockey Club (a local club, has won this years Jat Tar Singh memorial U19 (Under 19) hockey tournament, this high profile tournament was held in India, where Gojra city team competed again best of Indian U19 hockey teams and won this championship. [ [http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36477&Itemid=2 Gojra club wins hockey final in India ] ] The Gojra team won this title by defeating Amritsar Academy 4-2 at Ludhiana hockey stadium.

ee also

*Pakistan
*Toba Tek Singh
*Pirmahal
*Pakistan Hockey Team
*Manzoor-Ul-Hassan and Rashid-UL-Hassan Brothers were the main source of inspiration for the hockey and establishing it in their native town. They brought Gojra to be recognised in the hockey playing nations of the world. Manzoor-ul-hassan (1972-1982) played 154 games and scored 101 goals for Pakistan . He was given the name " wall of china" beacuse he was so hard to beat as he was defender (ful back). Rashid-ul-hassan played 199 matches and scored 9 goal. He was the back bone of Pakistan Hockey team from 1979 to 1987.

References

External links

* [http://www.qgc.edu.pk/ Quaid-e-Azam Girls College Gojra]
* [http://www.mamut.com/homepages/Pakistan/3/17/gojra/ Gojra]