Shakargarh (Punjab)

 

Shakargarh is the last city in Punjab on the northeast side on the border between Pakistan and India, at the distance of 135km from Lahore on the Kala Khatie-Narang Mandi Road. It is also considered a gateway to Kashmir.

Shakargarh is an agricultural area and rich in producing the best quality rice crop. There is a number of reserve forest areas in Shakargarh also.

Shakargarh is important as it is the first city of Pakistan where the River Ravi enters Pakistan territory. Another main feature of Shakargarh is the setting of Pakistan Standard time at the location of Inayatpur Grrotta village near Ikhlaspur.

About Narowal

Narowal lies on the right bank of the Ravi River on the border between India and Pakistan, at a distance of 98 km from Lahore via Kala Khatai Road. Its name is derived due to a Sikh landlord, Naro Singh Bajwa, who was the owner of the land before 1947.

Narowal has boundaries with Sialkot and Sheikhupura districts. It also has its boundaries with Kathua district of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as well as Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Amritsar districts of India. It is accessed easily via Sialkot-Lahore Motorway M-11 by turning right from Pasrur Interchange on Gujranwala-Pasrur road. It can also accessed via Sialkot through Sialkot-Lahore Motorway M-11, then following Zafarwal-Sialkot road. It is also connected with the railway on the Lahore-Sialkot track.

Shakargarh Tehsil has more than 97% literacy rate that is the highest in Pakistan. Masroor village is place in Shakargarh Tehsil from where the Pakistan Standard Time is configured.

Narowal is an agriculture region and is famous for rice production. Most of the population has agriculture as main profession. The land of the region is irrigated due to various canals and water of the Ravi River some areas. The Ravi River flows along the border between Pakistan and India like hide and seek game. At some places, it enters in the Indian territory, sometimes, it becomes the part of Pakistan. The Marala-Ravi-Link Canal also runs in the district, that originates from the Head Marala on the Chenab River. It also produces various other crops such as wheat, maize, sugarcane, etc. It is also famous for production of best quality Guava fruit as well as watermelon. Due to fertile, there are several forest reserve areas in the district to preserve the trees, bushes, and wildlife in it. Dense forest, located along the Ravi River, is homeland for various kind of wildlife such as wolf, chinckara, nilgai, etc. Area is also good for number of local as well as several migratory bird such as mallard, teal pintail, and geese.

Kartarpur is located on the right bank of the Ravi River and was founded in 1504 by the first guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak. He settled in Kartarpur after his twenty years of traveling. After his death in 1539, both Hindus and Muslims claimed him as their own, so built a mausoleums in his memory with common wall between them. Due to change of course of River Ravi, the mausoleums was washed away, but his son saved the urn containing his ashes and reburied it on the left bank of the Ravi River in India, now known as Dera Baba Nanak. The Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib was built at the location where he was died, so it is considered the second holy place for the Sikh religion. Now Kartarpur Corridor is built for the purpose to allow Indian Sikh to visit Pakistan in Kartarpur without a visa. They have to cross border after paying nominal entry fee to visit the Kartarpur site, they have to return India after their visit in the same day.

The climate of Narowal is mild hot in summer season due to proximity with Jammu and Kashmir. In winter season, the weather becomes much cold. It also receives considerable amount of rainfall that is also a reason of best quality rice production in the region.