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Faisalabad فیصل آباد‬ Lyallpur
Municipality
Clock Tower, Faisalabad
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Manchester of Pakistan
Faisalabad Location of Faisalabad Show map of Punjab, Pakistan Faisalabad Faisalabad (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan Faisalabad Faisalabad (Asia) Show map of Asia Faisalabad Faisalabad (Earth) Show map of Earth
Coordinates: 31°25′0″N 73°5′28″E / 31.41667°N 73.09111°E / 31.41667; 73.09111Coordinates: 31°25′0″N 73°5′28″E / 31.41667°N 73.09111°E / 31.41667; 73.09111
Country	Pakistan
Region	Punjab
District	Faisalabad
Settled	1892
Founded by	Sir James Broadwood Lyall
Government
• Mayor of Faisalabad	Razzak Malik
• Deputy Mayor of Faisalabad	3 zonal mayors
Area
• Municipality	1,300 km2 (490 sq mi)
• Land	840 km2 (325 sq mi)
• Water	430 km2 (165 sq mi)  33%
• Metro	5,860 km2 (2,261 sq mi)
Elevation	184 m (605 ft)
Population (2017)
• Municipality	3,203,846 [1]
• Rank	3rd, Pakistan
• Demonym	Faisalabadi
	[2]
Time zone	UTC+05:00 (PST)
ZIP code format	38xxx
Area code(s)	041
Vehicle registration	Three letters beginning with F and random four numbers (e.g. FDA-1234)
Former Name	Lyallpur
Official Language	Urdu
Native language	Punjabi
Languages (1981)	98.2% Punjabi 1.8% Others[3]

Faisalabad (Urdu: فیصل آباد‬‎; English: /fɑːɪsɑːlˌbɑːd/; Lyallpur until 1979) is the third-most-populous city in Pakistan, and the second-largest in the eastern province of Punjab. Historically one of the first planned cities within British India, it has long since developed into a cosmopolitan metropolis. Faisalabad was restructured into city district status; a devolution promulgated by the 2001 local government ordinance (LGO). The total area of Faisalabad District is 5,856 km² (2,261 sq mi)^[4] while the area controlled by the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) is 1,280 km² (490 sq mi).^[5][6]:8 Faisalabad has grown to become a major industrial and distribution centre because of its central location in the region and connecting roads, rails, and air transportation.^[7] It has been referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan".^[8][9] Faisalabad contributes over 20 percent of Punjab's GDP, and has an average annual GDP of $20.5 billion.^[10] Agriculture and industry remain its hallmark.^[11][6]:41

The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the lower Chenab River, produces cotton, wheat, sugarcane, maize, vegetables and fruits. The city is an industrial centre with major railway repair yards, engineering works, and mills that process sugar, flour, and oil seed. Faisalabad is a major producer of superphosphates, cotton and silk textiles, hosiery, dyes, industrial chemicals, beverages, clothing, pulp and paper, printing, agricultural equipment, and ghee (clarified butter). The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry monitors industrial activity in the city and reports their findings to the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and provincial government. The city has a major dry port and international airport.

Faisalabad is home to the University of Agriculture, Government College University as well as the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Beaconhouse School System, Divisional Public School Faisalabad and National Textile University. The city has its own cricket team, Faisalabad Wolves, which is based at the Iqbal Stadium.^[12] There are several other sports teams that compete internationally, including hockey and snooker as well as other sporting events.^[13]

History

The first university was built by the British Empire in 1906 with the foundation stone laying ceremony being laid by Sir Louis Dane, the then Lieut, and Governor of the Punjab.^[14]

Mohammed Ali Jinnah, in Lyallpur where he gave an historic speech at Dhobi Ghat, circa 1943

One of the earlier industrial exhibition at the University of Agriculture which is still a major exhibition held in the city today, circa 1949

Toponymy

Faisalabad district actually began as Lyallpur district in 1904 and prior to that, was a tehsil of Jhang district.^[15] During the British Raj, the city Lyallpur was named in honour of the then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall, for his services in the colonisation of the lower Chenab Valley.^[16] His surname Lyall was joined with "pur" which in old Sanskrit language means city.^[17] In the late 1970s, the Government of Pakistan changed the name of the city from Lyallpur to Faisalabad (meaning City of Faisal), in honour of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who made several financial contributions to Pakistan.^[18]

Early settlements

According to the University of Faisalabad, the city of Faisalabad traces its origins to the 18th century when the land was inhabited by a number of forest-dwelling tribes. It is believed these early settlements belonged to the ancient districts of Jhang and Sandalbar, which included the area between Shahdara to Shorekot and Sangla Hill to Toba Tek Singh.^[19]

Colonial rule

Map of Punjab, circa 1909

Partition of India, circa 1947

By the mid-18th century, the economic and administrative collapse of provinces within the Mughal Empire, from Punjab to Bengal, led to its dissolution.^[20] Internal unrest resulted in multiple battles for independence and further deterioration of the region, which then led to formal colonialisation as established by the Government of India Act 1858, with direct control under the British Raj from 1858 to 1947.^[21][22] In 1880, Poham Young CIE, a British colonial officer, proposed construction of a new strategic town within the area.^[23] His proposal was supported by Sir James Broadwood Lyall and the city of Lyall was developed.^[23] Historically, Faisalabad, (Lyallpur until 1979), became one of the first planned cities within British India.^[11]

Young designed the city centre to replicate the design in the Union Jack with eight roads extending from a large clock tower at its epicentre;^[24] a design geometrically symbolic of the Cross of Saint Andrew counterchanged with the Cross of Saint Patrick, and Saint George's Cross over all.^[25] The eight roads developed into eight separate bazaars (markets) leading to different regions of the Punjab.^[16][26] In 1892, the newly constructed town with its growing agricultural surplus was added to the British rail network.^[27] Construction of the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was completed in 1895.^[24] In 1896, Gujranwala, Jhang and Sahiwal comprising the Tehsils of Lyallpur were under the administrative control of the Jhang District.^[15]

In 1904, the new district of Lyallpur was formed to include the tehsils of Samundri and Toba Tek Singh with a sub-tehsil at Jaranwala, which later became a full tehsil in itself.^[28] The University of Agriculture, originally the Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute, Lyallpur, was established in 1906.^[14] The Town Committee was upgraded to a Municipal Committee in 1909. Lyallpur grew into an established agricultural tool and grain centre.^[29] The 1930s brought industrial growth and market expansion to the textile industry as well as to food processing, grain crushing and chemicals.^[16]

Independence

Lady Mountbatten, Vicereine of India, among the Hindu evacuees at the Punjab Scouts Camp, Layallpur during partition of British India

In August 1947, following three decades of nationalist struggles, India and Pakistan achieved independence. The British agreed to partition colonial India into two sovereign states – Pakistan with a Muslim majority, and India with a Hindu majority; however, more Muslims remained in India than what governing authorities believed would assimilate into Pakistan.^[30] The partitioning led to a mass migration of an estimated 10 million people which made it the largest mass migration in human history.^[30] India's Bengal province was divided into East Pakistan and West Bengal (India), and the Punjab Province was divided into Punjab (West Pakistan) and Punjab, India. There were also respective divisions of the British Indian Army, the Indian Civil Service, various administrative services, the central treasury, and the railways.^[31] Riots and local fighting followed the expeditious withdrawal of the British, resulting in an estimated one million civilians deaths, particularly in the western region of Punjab.^[30] Lyallpur, which was located in the region of the Punjab Province that became West Pakistan, was populated by a number of Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India, while Muslim refugees from India settled in the district.^[31]

In 1977, Pakistani authorities changed the name of the city to "Faisalabad" to honour the close relationship of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia with Pakistan.^[32] During the eighties, the city realised an increase in foreign investment.^[33] More Faisalabadis began working abroad as bilateral ties improved within the new dominion. This led to more monetary funds returning to the city that aided the development of the region.^[18] In 1985, the city was upgraded as a division with the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.^[19]

Government and public services

Faisalabad, a city district with eight subdivisions:
1. Lyallpur Town
2. Madina Town
3. Jinnah Town
4. Iqbal Town
5. Chak Jhumra Town
6. Jaranwala Town
7. Samundri Town
8. Tandlianwala Town

Civic administration

Faisalabad was restructured into city district status; a devolution promulgated by the 2001 local government ordinance (LGO).^[34] It is governed by the city district's seven departments: Agriculture, Community Development, Education, Finance and Planning, Health, Municipal Services, and Works and Services.^[35] The district coordination officer of Faisalabad (DCO) is head of the city district government and responsible for co-ordinating and supervising the administrative units.^[35] Each of the seven departments has its own Executive District Officer who is charged with co-ordinating and overseeing the activities of their respective departments.

The aim of the city district government is to empower politics by improving governance which basically involved decentralising administrative authority with the establishment of different departments and respective department heads, all working under one platform. The stated vision and mission of the city district government of Faisalabad is to "establish an efficient, effective and accountable city district government, which is committed to respecting and upholding women, men and children's basic human rights, responsive towards people's needs, committed to poverty reduction and capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century. Our actions will be driven by the concerns of local people."^[35]

Tehsil municipal administration

In 2005, Faisalabad was reorganised as a city district composed of eight Tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs).^[36] The functions of the TMA include preparation of the spatial and land use plans, management of these development plans and exercise of control over land use, land sub-division, land development and zoning by public and private sectors, enforcement of municipal laws, rules and by-laws, provision and management of water, drainage waste and sanitation along with allied municipal services.^[37]

There are 118 union councils in Faisalabad. Their role is to collect and maintain statistical information for socio-economic surveys. They consolidate ward neighbourhood development needs and prioritise these into union-wide development proposals. The council identifies any deficiencies in the delivery of these services and makes recommendations for improvement to the TMA.^[38]

Faisalabad Development Authority

The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) was validly established in October 1976 under The Punjab Development of Cities Act (1976) to regulate, supervise and implement development activities in its jurisdiction area.^[39][40] The FDA acts as a policy-making body for the development of the city and is in charge of arranging and supervising major developments within the city. It is responsible for the administration of building regulations, management of parks and gardens and subsoil water management. The FDA works with the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to control and maintain the water supply, sewerage and drainage.^[41] The FDA works to improve conditions in the slums.^[42]

Healthcare

Healthcare services are provided to the citizens by both public and private sector hospitals. The government–run hospitals are Allied Hospital, District HQ Hospital, Institute of Child Care,^[43] PINUM Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC) and General Hospitals in Ghulam Muhammadabad and Samanabad.^[44] There are a number of private hospitals, clinics and laboratories in the city, notably Ahmad Shah Medical Labs,^[45] Al-Rahmat labs, Mujahid Hospital lab, National Hospital lab & Agha Khan lab.^[46][47]

Law enforcement

Central Jail Faisalabad

Law enforcement in Faisalabad is carried out by the city police, under the command of the city police officer (CPO), an appointment by the provincial government.^[48] The office of the CPO is located in the District Courts, Faisalabad.^[49] Various police formations include district police, elite police, traffic police, Punjab highway patrolling, investigation branch, and special branch.^[50]

Water supply and sanitation

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), is a subsidiary of Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), established 23 April 1978 under the Development of Cities Act 1976.^[51] 2015 estimates indicate that WASA provides about 72% of the city's sewerage services and about 60% of their water services.^[52] The existing production capacity of WASA is 65 million imperial gallons per day (300 million litres per day), almost all of which is drawn from wells located in the old beds of the Chenab River. From the wells, water is pumped to a terminal reservoir located on Sargodha Road.^[53] Water is normally supplied for a total of about 8 hours per day to the majority of the city.^[53] The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided financial and hardware equipment to help improve the water and sanitation conditions in the city.^[54]

Geography

Location

Faisalabad lies in the rolling flat plains of northeast Punjab, at 184 metres (604 ft) above sea level. The city proper comprises approximately 1,230 square kilometres (470 sq mi) while the district encompasses more than 16,000 square kilometres (6,200 sq mi). The Chenab River flows about 30 kilometres (19 mi), and the Ravi River meanders 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the southeast. The lower Chenab canal provides water to 80% of cultivated lands making it the main source of irrigation. Faisalabad is bound on the north by Chiniot and Sheikhupura, on the east by Sheikhupura and Sahiwal, on the south by Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh and on the west by Jhang.^[55]

Geology

The district of Faisalabad is part of the alluvial plains between the Himalayan foothills and the central core of the Indian subcontinent.^[56] The alluvial deposits are typically over a thousand feet thick.^[57] The interfluves are believed to have been formed during the Late Pleistocene and feature river terraces.^[58] These were later identified as old and young floodplains of the Ravi River on the Kamalia and Chenab Plains. The old floodplains consist of Holocene deposits from the Ravi and Chenab rivers.^[59]

The soil consists of young stratified silt loam or very fine sand loam which makes the subsoil weak in structure with common kankers at only five feet. The course of the rivers within Faisalabad are winding and often subject to frequent alternations. In the rainy season, the currents are very strong. This leads to high floods in certain areas which do last for a number of days. The Rakh and Gogera canals have encouraged the water levels in the district however the belt on the Ravi River has remained narrow. The river bed does include the river channels which have shifted the sand bars and low sandy levees leading to river erosion.^[57]

Faisalabad is situated at the centre of the lower Rechna Doab, the area is located between the Chenab and Ravi rivers. There is a mild slope from the northeast to the southwest with an average fall of 0.2–0.3 metres per kilometre (1.1–1.6 feet per mile). The city is situated at an elevation of about 183 metres (600 ft). The topography is marked by valleys, local depression and high ground.^[60]

Climate

Faisalabad in summer

The weather in the city is monitored by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.^[61] The Pakistan Meteorological Department regularly provides forecasts, public warnings and rainfall information to farmers with the assistance of the National Agromet Centre.^[62][63] Faisalabad has been classified as a hot desert climate (BWh) by the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system.^[64]

Average annual rainfall is approximately 375 millimetres (14.8 in) and highly seasonal. It is usually at its highest in July and August during monsoon season.^[60]Record-breaking rainfall of 264.2 millimetres (10.40 in) was recorded on 5 September 1961 by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.^[65]

Demographics

Faisalabad was established as one of the first planned towns of British India covering an area of 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi).^[67] It was initially designed to accommodate 20,000 people. The city's population increased from 69,930 in 1941 to 179,000 in 1951 (152.2% increase).^[68] Much of the increase is attributed to the settlement of Muslim refugees from East Punjab and Haryana, India. In 1961, the population rose to 425,248, an increase of 137.4%. Faisalabad set a record in the demographic history of Pakistan by registering an overall population increase of 508.1% between 1941 and 1961. The industrial revolution of the 1960s contributed to population growth.^[68] In 1961, the population was 425,248. A 1972 census ranked Faisalabad as the 3rd largest city of Pakistan with a population of 864,000. In a 1981 census, the population was 1,092,000; however, the Faisalabad Development Authority estimated the number to be 1,232,000.^[68] In the 2017 consensus, the total population of the city was 3,203,846 ^[1]

Religion and ethnic groups

A Mughal inspired mosque in the old city. The majority of the population are Muslim.^[69]

Gurudawar Layallpur, a Sikh Gurdwara constructed during the reign of the British Empire in 1911

The province of Punjab, in which Faisalabad is the second largest city, has prevalent sociocultural distinctions.^[70] Population sizes vary by district but some distinguishing factors include a young age structure, high age dependency ratio, a higher percentage of males, a higher proportion of married population, and heterogeneity in castes and languages.^[70]:387

Islam is the common heritage in the region with a 97.22% Muslim majority according to the 1998 Pakistan census report and 2001 population data sheet.^[70] Islamic influences are evident in the fundamental values of various inhabitants including cultural traditions, marriage, education, diet, ceremonies and policies with may reflect stark differences in rural villages as compared to urban areas.^[71] People live in tight-knit joint families, although a nuclear family system is emerging due to changing socio-economic conditions.^[70] Ancient Pakistani culture prevails in most marriage practices in the region, as do certain restrictions related to ethnicity and caste. However, the influences of more modern societies have effected some change, particularly in the area of the dowry system. In following ancient culture, marriages are customarily arranged by the parents or matchmakers. In some instances, the husband must buy his wife from her parents.^[72] Marriage ceremonies, which can be more or less formal, include rituals which are universal in nature and hold sociological importance.^[71] Studies conducted in 2007 and 2013, the latter in an outlying rural village in Faisalabad District, acknowledged the existence of gender bias and discrimination against females, stating that "Gender discrimination is not a new phenomenon", and that it still exists in the modern world.^[70][71] It was further noted that situations may be worse in villages because "whenever a girl is born, nobody celebrates her birth, whereas when a boy is born, it means great joy and celebration."^[71]

Social change in the region has been a slow process but there are indications that change has occurred as more villages are exposed to various forms of media and modernized urban communities. It is further noted that there has been a "conscious and persistent effort" to educate rural and urban societies about gender bias and equality.^[71] In early 2014, there was a march known as the "White Ribbon Campaign" which took place in front of the Faisalabad Press Club. Protestors appealed to the government to adopt new laws "to protect women who are discriminated against in the family and workplace."^[73]

Prevalent minorities, particularly Hindu and Christian, feel a sense of vulnerability because of their religious beliefs.^[69] Labourers and farmhands comprise the countless Christian villages throughout Punjab; many are descendants of people who converted from Hinduism to Christianity under the British Raj, and considered low caste by virtue of their birth.^[30] A small population of wealthy, well-educated Christians have settled in Karachi; however, as a result of increasing Islamization, religious intolerance in Pakistani society, blashphemy laws and Islamist militancy, most have left Pakistan to settle in other countries where there is more religious tolerance, such as Canada and Australia.^[69][74]

Economy

The Chenab Chowk is a monument built to pay homage to the city being the largest producer of textile clothing in the country.^[18]

Metro Cash & Carry, the first foreign supermarket in Faisalabad.

Ghanta Ghar bazaar is made up of eight bazaars, where local grown produce is bought and sold.

Faisalabad contributes over 5% toward Pakistan's annual GDP; therefore, it is often referred to as the "Manchester of Pakistan".^[8][9] Faisalabad's average annual GDP is $20.55 billion (USD), of which 21% comes from agriculture.^[10][6]:41 The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the lower Chenab River, produces agricultural commodities such as cotton, rice, sugarcane, wheat, fruit and vegetables.^[75][76] The city has carved a niche as an industrial centre with its highways, railways, railway repair yards, processing mills, and engineering works. It is a producer of industrial goods and textile manufacturing including cotton and silk textiles, super phosphates, hosiery, dyes, industrial chemicals, clothing, pulp and paper, printing, agricultural equipment, ghee (clarified butter), and beverages.^[77]

The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry monitors industrial activity in the city and reports their findings to the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and provincial government.^[78] The city has a major dry port^[79][6]:25 and international airport.^[6]:26

Faisalabad is recognised as the centre of the textile industry in Pakistan, contributing to half of Pakistans total textile shipments.^[80] At the end of June 2012, textile mills employed 20% of the nation's workforce, and generated 1.3 trillion rupees ($13.8 billion) in textile products, most of which were exported to the US and Europe.^[80] While Punjab's economy is driven primarily by agriculture, the textile industry along with leather products and light engineering goods play an important role, with more than 48,000 industrial units spread across Punjab.^[81] In an effort to boost bilateral trade, Romania and Turkey have honorary-consulates in Faisalabad which enable trade links with the city.^[82][83]

The Faisalabad clock tower and its eight bazaars (markets) remain a major trading zone in the city.^[84] Each of the eight bazaars has a special name and is known for selling certain goods as follows:^[85]

• Katchery Bazaar, named for the court (Katchery) is known for its mobile phone and accessory market.


• Rail Bazar is a gold and cloth market.


• Bhawana Bazaar supplies electrical and electronic goods.


• Jhang Bazaar supplies fish, meat, vegetables and fruits.


• Aminpur Bazaar supplies stationery and interior décor.


• Kharkhana Bazaar is known for herbal medicines.


• Gol Bazaar contains dry fruit, as well as wholesale soap, oil, and ghee shops.


• Chiniot Bazaar is known for allopathic and homoeopathic medicinal stores, cloth, blankets, sofa cloth, and curtains. It also has poultry feed wholesale shops.


• Montgomery Bazaar (also known as Sutar Mandi) is known for yarn and raw cloth trading.

Faisalabad has received substantial funding from the government of Punjab and the city district government to improve infrastructure and roads to rural areas.^[86] In an effort to deal with the energy crisis, the FCCI has been working with private companies to develop renewable energy resources such as solar energy and the construction of dams within the district.^[87] CAE, a German-based renewable energy company, has disclosed plans to establish the first solar panel manufacturing facility in Faisalabad, second of its kind in Asia, with intentions of investing upwards of €100 million (Rs 12.9 billion) for its development.^[88]

Transportation

The M3 interchange connecting the M2 and M4 is an important junction for the city where it connects the north and south of the country.^[89]

Cars are driven on the left hand side, one of the remnants of the British empire.^[90] The photograph above is a typical intersection.

The front entrance to the 19th century colonial railway station.

There are seven platforms at the station with a number of cargo sidings.

Faisalabad International Airport is one of the top ten international airports in the country for air travel.^[92]

Faisalabad is well-connected by rail, road and air. Public transportation in Faisalabad includes auto-rickshaws, buses and railways. Faisalabad International Airport is located on the outskirts of the city, and operates flights to the Middle East.^[93]

Road

The majority of roads are under the control of the National Highway Authority, linking Faisalabad with other cities in the country.^[94]

National highways and motorways passing through Faisalabad

Faisalabad is connected to various parts of the country by several National Highways and Motorways:^{[53][94]:maps}

• The Grand Trunk Road, otherwise known as GT Road, is the original highway that links Faisalabad to most parts of Pakistan as well as neighbouring countries. GT Road was the main highway that ran through the district before the completion of the motorways.^[95]


• The M3 motorway (Pakistan) or M3 is an access-controlled motorway connecting Faisalabad with the M2 motorway (Pakistan) or M2 via the Pindi Bhattian Interchange. The M2 was the first motorway connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad to Lahore.^[94]:6


• The M4 motorway (Pakistan) or M4 is an access-controlled motorway connecting Faisalabad to Multan. The M4 once complete will join the M5 which will run to the southern city of Karachi.^[96]

The district government has worked with the National Highway Authority to connect Multan and Faisalabad.^[97] The construction of the M4 is scheduled for completion by 2019. The new motorway will help reduce congestion, boost trade, and reduce travel times and transportation costs from Faisalabad, a major textile hub to the major trade centre of Multan.^[96] One section of the M4 was inaugurated on 16 March 2015 which links Faisalabad to Gojra.^[98]

Buses

The Faisalabad Urban Transport System Service (FUTS) the main bus operator within the city. It was launched in 1994, and operates a number of large CNG buses and smaller Toyota hiace vans connecting the majority of the city.^[99] There is another public-private run bus operator, Brothers Metro, which is a consortium between the government of Punjab and a private firm who operates a fleet of air-conditioned CNG buses.^[100] Now the Metro Brothers (MB), the project of buses are also launched in city by Government of Punjab.

Rail

The Faisalabad railway station is the central railway station in the city. The railway line forms part of the Khanewal–Wazirabad railway line. Rail services are operated by Pakistan Railways, owned and operated by the Ministry of Railways.^[101]

Cargo Express services are operated by Pakistan Railways which runs from Karachi to Faisalabad via Multan. Twenty-seven bogies comprise the goods train, and are handled respectively by private contractors at the station.^[102] The station has a special cargo facility operated by the Ministry of Railways (Pakistan) for handling various goods from the city to other regions of the country. An express parcel service runs from Karachi to Lahore via Faisalabad.^[103]

Air traffic

Faisalabad International Airport is approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city centre and is a major airport for domestic and international travel. The airport includes a cargo facility. As of January 2016, passenger flights are run by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, and a number of middle eastern carriers. There are seasonal Hajj operations to Jeddah and Medina operated by Shaheen Air.^[104]FlyDubai became the first international carrier to launch operations from the city followed by Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and Gulf Air.^[105][106]

In 2015, significant upgrades and renovations to the airport were initiated by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, including updates to aviation technology, construction of additional areas and services for travellers, and the expansion of air traffic capabilities to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777.^[107]

Culture

The Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium is home of the Faisalabad Arts Council.^[108]

Chicken jalfrezi pizza is made with spicy tandoori styled chicken, two types of cheese and mixed peppers.

The Chenab Club is a social club built in 1904 and was inaugurated by British Officer Henry Cues. It was the first such club in the city.^[109]

Faisalabad, the third most populated metropolis in Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore^[110] is an epicentre for trade that has gained popularity for its colonial heritage sites.^[111] In 1982, the Government of Punjab established the Faisalabad Arts Council, a division of the Punjab Arts Council which is overseen administratively by the Information, Culture and Youth Affairs Department.^[112] The Faisalabad Arts Council building, designed by architect Nayyer Ali Dada, was completed in 2006. The auditorium was named after the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a Pakistani musician and singer.^[112]

Festivals

The Punjabi people celebrate a variety of cultural and religious festivals throughout the Punjab region, such as arts and craft, music, local events, and religious celebrations.^[113] The city of Faisalabad customarily celebrates its independence day on 14 August every year by raising the Pakistan flag at the clock tower in the Commissioner Office compound. Bazaars are colourfully decorated for the celebration, government and private buildings are brightly lit, and there are similar flag–raising ceremonies that are typically held in the district and its tehsils.^[114][115]

The arrival of spring brings the annual "Rang-e-Bahar" festival where the Parks & Horticulture Authority of the city district government organise a flower show and exhibition at Jinnah Gardens.^[116] The University of Agriculture organises a similar event at their main campus which is known as the "Kissan Mela".^[117] The festival of Basant which involves kite flying is an annual tradition in the city despite the ban.^[118] The provincial government introduced the "Canal Mela" which involves five days of festivities including the main canal in the city being decorated with national floats and lights ending with a musical concert to conclude the festival.^[119]

Being a Muslim majority the city religious observances include Ramadan and Muharram. The festivals of Chaand Raat, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are celebrated and are national holidays.^[120] The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad birthday is observed in the city which is often referred to as "Eid Milād-un-Nabī".^[121] There are a number of darbar and shrines which attract a number of devotees during the annual Urs.^[122] There are a number of Christian churches in the city where Easter and Christmas services take place each year.^[123][124]

Attire

Traditional attire in Faisalabad is Punjabi clothing such as the dhoti, kurta and pagri.^[125] Faisalabadi men wear white shalwar kameez as do women but also with a dupatta (scarf). The more conservative women wear burqas that may or may not cover the face.^[125] Combinations of Pakistani and Western attire are worn by women, such as an embroidered kurta worn with jeans or trousers, and half sleeve or sleeveless shirts with Capri pants. Men have adopted some of the modern Western styles for both casual and formal business dress such as dress pants, trousers, T-shirts and jeans.^[125]

Faisalabad Institute of Textile and Fashion Design at the Government College University (Faisalabad) teaches Fashion Design as part of their Fine Arts program.^[126] Some of the more conservative establishments and universities follow strict dress codes, such as the National Textile University in Faisalabad where a notice was issued on 27 April 2016 by university professor Muhammad Ashfaq. The intent of the notice was to "promote a positive image of the NTU and to maintain good moral, religious and cultural values among the faculty, staff and students." The dress code bans certain styles of Western attire including shorts, sleeveless shirts and shawls for men. Women are prohibited from wearing jeans, tights or leggings, sleeveless or half-sleeved shirts for women. Women are also prohibited from wearing heavy make-up and expensive jewellery.^[127]

Cuisine

Faisalabadi cuisine is very much Punjabi cuisine, with influences from the realms of the Mughal and Colonial empires. Key ingredients include rice or roti (flatbread) served with a vegetable or non-vegetable curry, a salad consisting of spiced tomatoes and onions, and yogurt. This is usually accompanied by a variety of South Asian sweets such as jaggery, gajar ka halwa, gulab jamun, and jalebi.^[128]Tandoori barbecue specialties consist of a variety of naan bread served with tandoori chicken, chicken tikka or lamb shishkebab served with a mint chutney.^[129]

Street foods are a key element to Faislabadi cuisine.^[130]Samosas (deep fried pastry filled with vegetables or meat) topped with an onion salad and two types of chutney. There is even a square dedicated to them in the old city.^[131] Other street foods include, dahi bhale (deep fried vadas in creamy yoghurt), gol gappay (fried round puri filled with vegetables and topped with tamarind chutney) and vegetable or chicken pakoras. Biryani and murgh pilao rice are a speciality in Faisalabad.^[132]

A typical breakfast in Faislabadi is halwa poori comprising a deep fried flatbread served with a spicy chickpea curry and sweet orange coloured halwa.^[131] It is customarily accompanied by a sweet or salty yoghurt based drink called lassi.^[133] During winter, a common breakfast is roghni naan bread served with paya curry.^[134]

Specialty drinks vary depending on climate. During winter, a variety of hot drinks are available, such as rabri doodh, a creamy dessert drink commonly made with full-fat milk, almonds, pistachios and basil seeds, dhood patti (milky tea), and Kashmiri chai, a pink coloured milky tea containing almonds and pistachios.^[135] During summer, drinks such as sugar cane rusk, limo pani (iced lemon water), skanjvi (iced orange and black pepper) and lassi are common.^[136]

There are American-style fast food franchises that cater to the local community such as McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and Pizza Hut.^[137]

Literacy

According to a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the 2015 literacy rate for Pakistan ranked 160th which is among the lowest literacy rates in the world.^[138]

In 1981, Faisalabad was among four districts in Punjab, which included Gujranwala, Jhelum and Gujrat, that were experiencing low literacy rates, due primarily to either a lack of resources or family pressure; the latter of which may also be attributable to illiteracy.^[138] In 1998, Faisalabad progressed to a higher literacy rate with the most improvement realised at the primary school level.^[139] In 2008, Faisalabad District ranked 51.9% which placed the district 9th in literacy out of the 34 Punjab districts.^[140]

In 2014, the city held its first literary festival which brought a number of writers to the city to encourage the community to follow the arts.^[141] Two literary groups were established, the Faisalabad Union of Column Writers and Faisalabad Union of Journalists, to bring together printed media personalities for the purpose of providing training to budding writers from the city.^[142]

Recreation

D Ground Central Park was rebuilt by the city district government which now includes miniature versions of the symbols of Pakistan such as the Mazar-e-Quaid, Minar-e-Pakistan, Minar e Pakistan D-Ground Park and Bab-e-Pakistan.

Iqbal Stadium, is an international cricket ground, home to the Faisalabad Wolves cricket team.

Parks and open spaces

Sir James Broadwood Lyall in Company Bagh, Faisalabad

Faisalabad is home to a number of parks, most of which are maintained by the Parks and Horticulture Authority, Faisalabad. The oldest park in the city is Jinnah Garden, the city's central park, commonly known as "Company Bagh" and where the monument of Sir James Broadwood Lyall is situated.^[143]

Other parks include Canal Park, a family park located on the west bank of the Rakh Branch Canal.^[18] The Gatwala Wildlife Park is a botanical natural reserve located at Gatwala that was renovated by the city district government.^[144] The Pahari Grounds near D Ground is another renovated park that has a Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabre on display.^[145]

Sports

Cricket is a popular sport in Faisalabad. Regional and international cricket matches are held in Iqbal Stadium,^[12] named after Pakistani poet Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal.^[146] The stadium is home to Faisalabad's local team, the Faisalabad Wolves.^[147] Iqbal Stadium hosted the 1987 Cricket World Cup,^[148] and the 1996 Cricket World Cup.^[149]

The Faisalabad Hockey Stadium located on Susan Road was constructed in 2002, and can accommodate 25,000 spectators. On 16 April 2003, the stadium was inaugurated by Khalid Maqbool, governor of Punjab. It is the third largest hockey stadium in the country.^[150] The stadium has hosted field hockey matches for both national and international competition but by the beginning of 2016 was reported to be in "pathetic condition as its astroturf has completed its life span about eight years ago." Commissioner Naseem Nawaz advised that efforts were under way to maintain the stadium.^[150]

In October 2002, the Government College University established a Directorate of Sports to promote university and national level sports for male and female players. Infrastructure and facilities are available for university players in track, hockey, tennis, basketball, table tennis, badminton and cricket pitch.^[151]

Education

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is part of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Agriculture (UAF).

In 2013, Faisalabad's literacy rate of 46% for females was noticeably lower than the 69% for males; rural literarcy was 49% compared to 74% in urban areas.^[152]

Faisalabad has several research and educational institutions, both public and private, such as the University of Agriculture, Government College University, National Textile University, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, University of Faisalabad, and the University of Engineering & Technology of Lahore.^[153] In 2014, the University of Agriculture ranked 1st in agriculture and 4th overall for universities in Pakistan according to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), and was ranked 142nd in the 2013 Top 200 World Universities for agriculture and forestry by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).^[154]

Education system

The education system is monitored by the District Education Officer (EDO) of the City District Government of Faisalabad.^[155] The city government reports its findings to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the Minister for Education. Funding is provided by the Government of Punjab, Pakistan, City District Government and the fees collected from schools. There are four levels of the education system in the city: Primary, Elementary, High and Higher Secondary Level. Primary level education is only compulsory.^[156] There are a number of schools for the assistance of children with special needs.^[157]

Government college University Faisalabad play ground

Govt.M.C.High School Samanabad

Public libraries and museums

There are two libraries that are open to the public: Allama Iqbal Library and Municipal Corporation Public Library. They are funded and regulated by the Government of Punjab, Pakistan under the service sector.^[158]

• Allama Iqbal Library is located on University Road, opposite the District Courts. The library is housed in the 1911-built colonial building originally named "Coronation Library" during the rule of the British Empire. In 2012, the building came under control of the Lyallpur Heritage Foundation^[159] and the Punjab Archives and Libraries Department.^[160]


• 
  Lyallpur Museum is located adjacent to the Allama Iqbal Library on University Road. It is a heritage museum and art gallery open to the public. The museum is primarily focused on regional history with a collection of artwork, artefacts and photographs.^[161]


• Municipal Library is located in Iqbal Park on Narwala Road, opposite the historical grounds of Dhobi Ghat.^[162] The library has a large collection of books, a photo gallery and a conference centre. In 2011, the library underwent a renovation costing 40 million rupees.^[163]


• The Forest Library at the Punjab Forestry Research Institute (PFRI) is one of two specialist libraries, the other being in Lahore.^[164] Opened in 1986, the research library is based at the Wildlife Research Center in Gatwala.^[165]

Media

Television and radio

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is responsible for the regulation and monitoring of electronic media entertainment in the country.^[166]Pakistan Television Corporation, is the state-owned regulated television broadcasting network.^[167] The government began licensing private broadcasters in 2002.^[168]

The government of Pakistan installed the first radio transmitters in the city on 15 September 1982.^[169] "Radio Pakistan" broadcasts three government regulated FM stations: "Radio Pakistan FM101, Radio Pakistan FM93 and Radio Pakistan Sautul Qur'an Channel FM93.4. FM101 became operational in 2002, FM93 went live in 2010 and FM93.4 Sautul Qur'an Channel went live in 2016; PBC all three stations are standard power KW 2.5.^[170]

Telecommunications

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is a government-owned organisation that is responsible for the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunications in the city.^[171] The organisation monitors and prevents illegal exchanges in the city.^[172]

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited is the main provider of fixed line, mobile and broadband services. Regional headquarters is located at the Central Telecom House in Chinot Bazaar.^[173] With the deregulation of the telecommunication sector by the Ministry of Information Technology, a range of companies now offer mobile and broadband services in the city.^[174]

Film and theatre

In 2008, the Government of Pakistan lifted a forty-year ban on Bollywood films which allowed Indian films to be played in cinemas.^[175] The cinema industry has since seen the introduction of new cinemas such as Cinepax by Hotel One,^[176] and Cine Nagina.^[177]

The Government College University in Faisalabad encourages students from the University of Agriculture to hold workshops and explore themes of peace and tolerance which can be used in an engaging and entertaining way to communicate complex issues to different audiences.^[178]

See also

• List of people from Faisalabad


• Faisalabad District


• Faisalabad Electric Supply Company

References

External links

Faisalabad test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator

• Faisalabad City District


• Punjab Government website


• 
  Faisalabad at Curlie (based on DMOZ)


• 
  Faisalabad travel guide from Wikivoyage