SIALKOT
Sialkot is located in Pakistan in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foot of Kashmir hills near the Chenab River.The city is about 125 km (78 mi) north-west of Lahore. The recorded history of Sialkot covers thousands of years. Sialkot has, since its foundation, changed hands from Hindu, Buddhist, Persian, Greek, Afghan, Turk, Sikh, Mughal and British rule to that of present-day Pakistan.
History of Sialkot
Sialkot became a part of the Muslim Sultanate of Delhi when the Afghan noble Sultan Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Ghauri conquered Punjab in 1185. He was unable to conquer Lahore but left a garrison in Sialkot. Later, Sultan Khusro Malik tried to capture the city but failed to do so. Sialkot then became a part of the Muslim Mughal Empire which was of Central Asian origin. The Mughal commander, Usman Ghani Raza, advanced towards Delhi by way of Sialkot which capitulated to his armies. Many Sufi missionaries settled in Sialkot district and converted the native population to Islam.Under the reign of the Mughal Emperor, Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan, Ali Mardan Khan held the charge of Sialkot.During the second world war sailkot was under the british government. During the Pakistan movement sailkot sported the muslim league. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Sialkot district. Most of the refugees have since settled and inter-married into the local population. Ever since, Sialkot has become one of the major industrial centres of Pakistan and is well known for its manufacture and export of surgical instruments, musical instruments, sports goods, leather goods, textile products and other light manufactures.
Educational institutions
Sialkot has a fairly well-developed educational infrastructure that comprises a University of Engineering Sciences and Technology (planned in cooperation with Sweden) a sub-campus of the Fatima Jinnah Women University, a sub-campus of the Virtual University of Pakistan, 8 Degree Colleges for Women, 5 Degree Colleges for Men, 2 Cadet Colleges, 6 Commerece Colleges, one Law College, one Medical College, one Homeopathic Medical College, one Nursing School, one Para-Medical School, one Poly-Technic Institute, with numerous Inter Colleges, Higher Secondary Schools and over 250 High Schools.
Sports
The Sialkot Cricket Team are known as the Sialkot Stallions. They are National Champions and have won The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy during the 2008-2009 season and were also national champions in 2005-2006 when thy won The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Golden League. Sialkot were runners-up in 2006-2007 and also won The ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup in 2005-2006 and 2006–2007 and RBS Twenty-20 Cup 2007-2008 and then 2008-2009 to complete a title hat-trick. The team's home ground is Jinnah Stadium.Sialkot annually hosts the Allama Iqbal Open Golf Championship at the Sialkot Golf Club. The Sialkot Hockey Stadium is located at Pasrur Road adjacent to the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park Sialkot. The Sialkot Sports Complex is under construction at Daska Road with Tartan track facility for track running events. Sialkot Junior Hockey Team play in National Junior Hockey League. The Crescent Hockey Club has played in the Surjit Silver Jubilee hockey tournament at Jalandhar in 2008. Demography
Population of the Sialkot city (proper) is about 510,863.[5] Its population density is 1160/km2 and population growth rate is very low as compared to other urban areas of Pakistan. In 1947, Sialkot was the 6th largest city[citation needed] in Pakistan (150,000) and in 2009, it is the 13th largest city. Punjabi is the main language of its people, Urdu and Pashto languages are also spoken . Major clans are Syed, Sahi, Ghuman, Bhalli, Sulehria, Bajwa, Cheema, Wains, Kang, Jatt (Tatla's), Arain, Rajput, Saddal, Chughtai, Awan, Kakazai, Butt, Mir, Sharif, Sheikh, Sulehria, Gujar, Khatana, Pathan (Pashtun origin), Mughal Quraishi and Siddiqui. As per 2007 report main tribe of district 15% Jat 13% Aryan,13% Kashmiri,14% Rajputs,25% Gujjars, 20% others. Literacy rate is among the highest in Pakistan. In urban areas, it is 73% and in rural areas, it is 54%. Employment in the agriculture sector is only 19.5% and 32% in elementary occupations. 95% of the population have electricity and 96% have the water facility. Sialkot has also attracted many labourers and other entrepreneurs many of whom hail from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), notably from Bajaur and Mohmand agencies who have set up vibrant businesses throughout the area.
Economy and industry
Sialkot is the fourth largest economic hub in Punjab after Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala. It is commercially linked with the Lahore Stock Exchange through its Sialkot branch, known as the Sialkot Trading Floor (STF). The State Bank of Pakistan and the Export Promotion Bureau of Pakistan have branch offices in Sialkot. After Karachi, Sialkot is Pakistan's second largest source of foreign exchange earnings through its exports and remittances from the overseas manpower. For the past several decades, the manufacturers and exporters of the city have been awarded the annual National Exports Award by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Sialkot has an Industrial Estate and an Export Processing Zone. Another Export Processing Zone is planned along the Sialkot Lahore Motorway. The per capita income of Sialkot is ranked among the highest in Pakistan.The history of industrialisation of Sialkot is very old. Sialkot is the world's largest producer of hand-sewed footballs, with local factories manufacturing 40~60 million footballs a year, amounting to roughly 70% of world production. There is a well-applied child labour ban, the Atlanta Agreement, in the industry since a 1997 outcry.
Notable residents
Sialkot city of Pakistan is also renowned for famous personalities. One of them is Imam Ali-ul-Haq (R.A.). Also known as Imam Sahib, the majority of Sialkot population is converted to Islam during 13th century A.D by Imam Ali-ul-Haq (RA).
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal the great eastern poet, Muslim philosopher and scholar was also born in Sialkot city of Pakistan. Also called Allama Iqbal, he paved a way for creation independent Muslim state, Pakistan by inviting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (R.A.) from London to Pakistan in order to struggle for Muslim homeland.
The famous poets like Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and Amjad Islam Amjad (also a lyricist) were also born in Sialkot city of Pakistan. Asghar Sodai who wrote national anthem “Pakistan Ka Matlab Kiya” is also considered as a famous Urdu poet from Sialkot city of Pakistan.
The famous Sialkot convention of all India Muslim league was organized by Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi a native to Sialkot. A good physician, mystic poet, scholar who contributed in Urdu and Persian poetry and a great devotee of Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H), named Dr. Qamar Tabish also belongs from Sialkot.
Famous Journalists like Kuldip Nayyer and Hamid Mir belongs to Sialkot too.
Political figures like Khawaja Asif who is significant PML(N) figure, Rehman Malik who is Minister of Interior Affairs of Pakistan and Chaudhry Amir Hussian who served as former Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan are also famous personalities of Sialkot.
Famous Pakistani Cricketers like Zaheer Abbas, Zahid Fazal, Ejaz Ahmed and current Pakistani Cricket Team Captain Shoaib Malik are also gems of Sialkot. Stars from Pakistani Hockey Team named Asif Bajwa, Kamran Ashraf and Shenaz Sheikh also famous personalities of Sialkot.
BATTLE OF SIAKOT ON CHAWINDA
IN 1965 INKO PAK WAR
Hilal-e-Istaqlal flag was awarded to Sialkot people for showing great courage and spirit during 1965 war with India.
Transport
Sialkot International Airport
Sialkot International Airport is the first-ever private-sector airport of Pakistan managed by the Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) consortium. It is near Sambrial and is noted for having the longest runway in Pakistan. Direct flights are available from Sialkot International Airport to Karachi, Islamabad, Sharjah, London, Muscat, Kuwait, Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh. Pakistan International Airlines has plans to start non-stop flights from Sialkot to Manchester and Barcellona. Hajj flights started in 2009.
Media
Radio * FM 104 {Buraq FM} * FM 101 {Radio Pakistan} * 94.00 {Dhamal FM} new
Television
* ATV * STV (sialkot)
SIALKOT DEVELOPMENT PROJCET
Sialkot international airport for the export of (sports goods.,gloves,surgical good,leather) that make it global market.(completed)
Sialkot lohore motorway
University of engineering science and technology Sialkot(UET)
Important place
Iqbal manzil Birth place of Dr. allama Muhammad iqbal
Jamia masjid siakot
Sikh gurdwara (sikh community visit every year)
Headwork marala
Clock tower
International airport Sialkot
