Mailsi

Mailsi میلسی
—  City  —
Mailsi Location in Pakistan
Coordinates: 29°48′1″N 72°10′33″E / 29.80028°N 72.17583°E / 29.80028; 72.17583Coordinates: 29°48′1″N 72°10′33″E / 29.80028°N 72.17583°E / 29.80028; 72.17583
Country	Pakistan
Region	Punjab
District	Vehari
Tehsil	Mailsi
Union councils 31UCs
Government[1][2]
- Administrator	Asghar Majeed Bloch
- TMO	Mian Muhammad Azhar
Area
- City	5 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Population [3]
- City	7,04,878
- Density	3,550/km2 (9,194.5/sq mi)
- Urban	88,992
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC+6)
Area code(s)	0673

Mailsi is a city in Multan region,Pakistan.^[4] It is located at 29°48'1N 72°10'33E at an altitude of 126 m (416 ft).^[5]

It was the biggest tehsil of Multan District and two districts Lodhran and Vehari were carved out by taking land of Mailsi in 19th and 20th centuries. Vehari which is now district was sub-tehsil of Mailsi. Mailsi is famous for Jhandhir Library and Siphon at Sutlej river. Mailsi Siphon was constructed by Gamon construction company on 1964 is splendid piece of construction to contol water to manage between Sutlej river and Sindhnai link canal during flood.

Mailsi is municipality and also one of Tehsil Headquarters of District Vehari. The city's center is its most oldest part which consist of muhallas, koochas and bazaars having very narrow streets situated inside the circular road. Before partition of 1947 this part of the city was populated by Hindu merchants and landlords. There were some buildings of historic significance in the city which are mostly demolished, but few still exist like a very beautiful well " chasma baoli" built by a Chaudry Balik Ram Jugga however now this place is very much in deteriorated condition. 19th century's Mailsi tehsil office building is glimpse of English architecture but due to lack of maintenance it is in critical condition. Shrine of Syed Nathey Shah Gardezi is many hundred years old where people pay visits and an annual festival (meela) is held at this shrine. Tahseel bazaar, pipal bazaar, pakka bazaar, faddah bazaar, thana bazaar are situated in the old part of the city while Quaid e Azam (old Saleem Akhtar Road), Multan Road, Allama Iqbal Road (colony road) are glimpse of city expansion in the last few decades. The city is expended in area and size of population has increased substantially. First modern area was developed in 1960s for meeting the housing needs of Gamon company's European workers and engineers and this area is now Mailsi Garrison housing Pak army air defence units. Before partition in Mailsi city there were two cotton ginning factories (1. Roberts Cotton Factory 2. Ram Narayen Bholanath Cotton Factory) except this there was no major industry however increase in cultivated area resulted high production of cotton which led to establishment of many cotton ginning factories and oil mills.

Mailsi is situated on Lahore-Pakpattan and Bahawalpure-Karachi sections of railway line.

History

Mailsi city was founded by the Khichi Chauhan Rajputs, during the period of Muhammad Ghori.

Mailsi Tehsil was announced in 1849, and Mailsi town was declared as town committee in 1924. It was upgraded as a sub division in 1935, and demoted to a Tehsil in 1942. It was then upgraded as a Municipal Committee in 1953, and declared as a Tehsil municipal administration on August 14, 2001.

Geography and Climate

Mailsi is located in historic Indus Valley near the ancient city of Multan in central Pakistan. The area around the city is a flat, alluvial plain and is ideal for agriculture. There are many canals that cut across the tehsil, provide water for irrigation. Water of River Sutlej was sold to India in Indus Water Treaty therefore river mostly remains dry which has caused sever effects on the flora and fauna of the area. Under Indus Water Treaty Mailsi Siphon was built to control water of Sidhnai Link Canal and river Sutlej.

Mailsi features an arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The city witnesses some of the most extreme weather in the country. The highest recorded temperature is approximately 54 °C (129 °F), and the lowest recorded temperature is approximately −1 °C (30.2 °F). The average rainfall is roughly 127 millimeters (5.0 in). Dust storms are a common occurrence within the city.

Agriculture

Farming is largest economic activity in Mailsi. Agricultural products, especially cotton, wheat, Sugarcane and Henna, are major exports. Since independence, the amount of cultivated land has increased. Irrigation system have badly effected due to shortage of water in Sutlej River.

Mailsi lies in the temperate zone. The climate is generally arid, characterized by hot summers and cool or cold winters, and wide variations between extremes of temperature at given locations. There is little rainfall.

Mailsi has are four seasons: a cool, dry winter from December through February; a hot, dry spring from March through May; the summer rainy season, or southwest monsoon period, from June through September; and the retreating monsoon period of October and November. The onset and duration of these seasons vary somewhat according to location.

The climate of this area is very suitable for agriculture and most of its population is depending upon agriculture. Cotton, wheat, sugarcane and rice are very profitable crops here.

Government

Mailsi is a Tehsil Headquarters of the City and one of the Tehsil/administrative area of District Vehari. Head of Tehsil is Administrator Asghar Majeed Bloch while Rana Ashfaq ahmed is Tehsil Municipal Administration. Mailsi city is also the headquarters of Mailsi Tehsil, the city of Mailsi is administratively subdivided into 31 Union Councils.

Demographics

The majority of Mailsi's residents speak Saraiki, while Punjabi & Haryanvi are the second most spoken languages. A good portion of the people are conversant in Urdu. English is understood by the educated. The majority of the people are Muslims.

Following are the demographics of Mailsi, by spoken language:

Saraiki: 90.58 Haryanvi: 4.59% Punjabi: 1.14% Urdu: 1.86%

Culture

Culture consists of language, ideas, values, attributes, beliefs, customs, codes, institutions, tools, works and arts, religion,law, morality, ceremonies and festivals.

Marriages

The groom's relatives visit the girl's house and offer the proposal. If the proposal is accepted the "mangni" takes place. When the marriage date is fixed, the groom, with friends and relatives, goes to the house of the bride where the Nikah is performed and the dower money fixed. Nikah is performed by Nikah Registrar and is recorded on a legal proforma signed by both the parties. This is followed by Walima.

Dresses

Men's most usual dress is shalwar kamiz and kurta. However in offices and colleges shirts and trousers is a preferred dress. Karandi and Boski are commonly used as status symbols. Khusa and Peshawari chappal are traditional footwear. Men are habitual of wearing rings, and chains of gold.

Birth

The birth of a male child is considered an occasion of great rejoicing and is followed by the distribution of sweets to friends and relatives who come to offer congratulations to the parents. Soon after the birth of a child, the Mullah or an elderly male member of the family recites Azan (call for Muslim prayer) into the ears of the child. Money is also given to the Mueens (village artisans) on the birth of a male child at the time of circumcision ceremony which is either performed soon after the birth or less commonly after a few years. Circumcision is performed by a barber in the villages and generally by a surgeon in towns and cities. Haqiqa ceremony is performed both for a male and a female child. One goat is sacrificed in case of a girl and two in case of a boy.

Death

On the death of a person, neighbourers, relatives and friends assemble at the house of the deceased to console the bereaved family. Just after the death, the face of the deceased is turned towards the Ka'aba and the dead-body is kept in a proper posture. The corpse is bathed, and wrapped in a coffin of new cotton sheet. Camphor and rose water are sprinkled over the body which is placed on a Charpai and those present have a last look. The dead body accompanied by the mourners is then carried to the grave-yard where Namaz-e-Janaza is offered before it is lowered into the grave.

Superstitions

Some old superstitions have deep roots in the people. Pire and Faqeers exploit the innocent people. The evil eyes, crow crying, selling milk on particular days, keeping rice and sugar in the pot of money (at the time of marriage), calling someone from behind while he is leaving his house are some common evil believes of the residents.

Markets

Mailsi has two markets. One is on main road called the Quaid e Azam road and the other is in old portion of city called Fadda Bazar.

Education

First Government Primary School established in year 1864. In year 1920 Primary School was given status of Middle school. Later in year 1942 it became High School. First girls’ High School was established in year 1890, which later became Middle High School in year 1972.

In year 1976 Inter College for boys was established and in year 1980 Girls College was established. In year, 1986 Commercial Training Institute was established. In year 1995, both colleges (boy/girls) converted into degree collages.

Now there are two Government Degree Collages one for boys another for girls, five higher secondary schools and there are 596 government schools including 32 high schools.

Private sector is also participating in educational development to meet the need of time. Day by day private sector is improving to assist to educate people of Mailsi.

Computer education was started in year 1990, later many other private collages started their contribution. Now advance computer education like E-commerce, BCS, MCS even is also being offered in Mailsi.

Transportation

Mailsi میلسی is located on the northern alternate route of both railway and road to Vehari and Lahore, the capital of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The western route is the main route to Multan and in south-east side Bahawalpur & south-west is Kahror pakka. The city also has a direct link with Bahawalpur (68 km), Multan (75 km), Vehari(43 km), Kahror Pakka(35 km) and Dunyapur (25 km). Multan and Bahawalpur are the nearest airports with International flights.

Out of city

There is a regular bus(KBs)/Hiace/APVs service available running from early hours of the morning to late night. Daily routes includes Multan, Bahawalpur, Vehari, Lahore, Kahror Pakka, Lodhran, Khairpur, Jallah Jeem, Fatehpur, Khanpur, etc.

Railway

Mailsi Railway Station was built in 1928 during British rule before the independence of Pakistan. Mailsi is connected through railway line with Vehari, Burewala, Sahiwal, Lahore in Northern side and Bahawalpur & Samma satta, Karachi etc. on the southern side.

Air

The nearest airport is Multan International Airport, which is approximately 90 km by road from Mailsi. Thingi helipad is in use of the aviation wing of the Pakistan Army.

Telecommunication

The PTCL provides the main network of landline telephone with minority shares of few other operators like WorldCall. All major mobile phone companies operating in Pakistan provide service in Mailsi. Broadband internet access is available from DSL.

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Area reference
   Density reference
3. ^ Stefan Helders, World Gazetteer. "Mailsi میلسی". http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-172&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&geo=432205234. Retrieved 2006-04-17. 
4. ^ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Vehari - Government of Pakistan
5. ^ Location of Mailsi - Falling Rain Genomics