Faisalabad (Punjab)

 

Faisalabd, a major industrial center and 3rd most populated city in Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore, is located at the distance of 184km from Lahore. It is accessed through Islamabad-Lahore Motorway M-2 by turning left from Pindi Bhattian, 143 Km through Faisalabad Road. It is also connected with the Grand Trunk Road. Faisalabad is connected with all kind of transportation such as rail, road, and air. Faisalabad International Airport is used to operate local as well as international flights to the Middle East.

Faisalabad was the first planned city in 1892 by the British Ruler in India and named after Sir James Broadwood Lyall, Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, as Lyallpur, then in the 1970s, its name was changed from Lyallpur to Faisalabad with the name of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who had made financial contributions to Pakistan..

Faisalabad lies in the northeast alluvial plain of Punjab at the centre of the lower Rechna Doab between the Ravi and Chenab rivers. The lower Chenab canal flows in the center of the city and it is used to irrigate 80% of the agricultrual land in Faisalabad. It is connected with Chiniot, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, and Jhang. It produces cotton, rice, sugarcane, and wheat. Faisalabad also famous for the agriculture research in the University of Agriculture to develop and promote new methods in agriculture.

The climate of Faisalabad in dry and hot in summer season, whereas it is pleasant in winter season. It receives monsoon in July to September. Average rainfall in Faisalabad is around 24 inches annually.

Faisalabad is a major industrial city and is famous for the textile industry in Pakistan, there is a number of factories producing textile products such as yarn, silk, thread, garments, hosiery, etc. Most of the major textile brands, have their production units in this city. It contributes more than 50% of the Pakistan total textile shipments. It is also known as the Manchester of Pakistan. It also has a dry port to facilitates exports from this city. Along with textile, leather industry and light engineering are also important industries of this city. Faisalabad contributes more than 10% of the Punjab's GDP and 5% of the GDP of Pakistan.

The Faisalabad Clock Tower is one of the main landmark in Faisalabad city, it connects eight bazaars for selling different type of goods. All of the bazaars are connected different areas of the city in a well defined manner with the clock tower. Tourists must visit these bazaars to enjoy shopping as well as traditional life style of people. There are number of shops established before the independence of Pakistan in 1947. These are Katchery Bazaar, Rail Bazaar, Bhawana Bazaar, Jhang Bazaar, Kharkhana Bazaar, Gol Bazaar, and Chiniot Bazaar.

There are number of Parks in the city in which Jinnah Garden, also known as Company Bagh, is famous. The monument of Sir James Broadwood Lyall is also located there. Lyallpur Museum near the Allama Iqbal Library has a collection of artwork and photographs of regional history. Allama Iqbal Library and Municipal Public Library are opened for public for research purposes. Allama Iqbal Library was built in 1911 in its original colonial building. Its name was Coronation Library in the British Rule.