Basic History
Hafizabad is an old city. In ancient times, When in 327 B.C Sikandar-e-Azam attacked the Hindustan then this territory ' Sandal Bar ', ( Where is now the current Hafizabad is located ) was a populated area . Big cities were located in this territory and a lot of sub states were organized here in the presidency of Maharajaz and Rajaz. In Sixth century, the famous Chinese tourist Hewang Sayan when came here, this area was backward but not empty yet. Then the tourist moved to Sangla , he stayed one night in one good town called then Jai Pura . Which was located near village Koriala, but afterwards this territory became unpopulated and jungle-like area because of shortage of water and Afghan attackers.
This situation remained the same till King Akbar's Period . About village " Mehdi Abad " think that in Ashok's Period here was a big city located , which was a holy place for budhists which named after " Bodhaya " .
In King Akbar 's Period
Once upon a time, King Akbar came here for hunting. King lost his companies as he was busy in hunting. This territory was jungle like area and there was nothing to eat or drink. The King felt thirst and wanted to drink some water. Suddenly he saw the signs of smoke, was astonished to see the smoke. That how and from where this smoke is coming. He followed the way and found a cottage, and in the cottage there was a man named Sarmast . King told him about his thirst and asked to arrange some water , sarmast had no water , well he called up the grazing deer and milked to serve the king with milk . King drank the milk and asked the Sarmast that he was a king and please ask me for the thing you want , i would do what you want , Faqir Sarmast asked him to build a town for his pupils . King promised and ordered the current Hakim named Hafiz Meerak to construct and build a city here.
Hafiz Meerak did as the King ordered, and built a town here and the town was named after his name Hafizabad . About Hafizabad one authentic reference says that King Akbar wanted to name this town as Akbarabad but the name Hafizabad got popular until the King knew about its creation . King Akbar also remained the name same as Hafizabad . History Men think that this city came into being between 1556 - 1570. The main population was located there, where now recent old church is located.
Hafizabad - An ancient city
When railway line was being constructed for Hafizabad connecting it with other cities. Local people found some silver coins which was the currency in Tughlak Period. It means that Hafizabad was born before King Akbar 's Period, instead.
In Hafizabad, there was a toxal ( currency keepar ) , and a fort was also situated. This Fort remained a lot of years now there is " Thaanna Saddar " main police station and Tehsil. In the west of Tehsil, where now is Imam Bargah, there was a Chabootra where all the Muslims used to place their holy pieces named as Taziaz, it was the memorable place. Hafizabad - Sandal Bar which was called Dulla Bhatti 's Bar also was a famous city and this bar starting from here led to Khanewal.
Hafizabad - In different periods
In King Hamayoon 's period the majority of Hafizabad was Muslim . In Sher Shah Soori 's period the majority was Afghans . After Afghans , here Samra and Jatts of Got became power and Hafizabad was their property. In Aurang Zeb 's period Khatri and Arora came in power of the city , at this time Hafizabad became the small Hindu Town . After the death of Aurang Zeb, the Mughal Government became weaker and the conspiracies became stronger . First attack was done by Nadir Shah Irani on Hafizabad and then attacks after attacks were made. Chatta tribe attacked a lot . When Sikkhs came in power, this territory became the battle field between Muslims and sikkhs . Sahib Singh Bhangi, exploited this territory . The looters and bandits became power and the population was decreased gradually . People started to migrate , in short , terrorism was at its peak .
Hafizabad - Rebuilding and reconstruction
Investigation and research tell us that new Hafizabad reconstructed and rebuilt in 1760. The new town was also not attack free zone . Sardar Gor Bakhsh Singh Kapoor writes in his book that when in 1760 the city was renewed the forefathers and the old men started to make their houses and for this purpose they went to Sayyed Nagar (Near Ali Pur Chatta) , collected the wood and other building materials to construct their houses. In these times the groups of sikkhs used to fight over. These internal fighting's affected the local people badly . It was the period of Bhagh Singh Wirak , when a lot of Hindu people became sikkhs , as they wanted protection .
Geographical Position
The District Hafizabad has a total area of 2367 square Kilometers comprises two Tehsils, Namely
1). Hafizabad.
2). Pindi Bhattian.
The district is included in the agricultural area of central Punjab and is home of one of the most amazing canal networks of the world. Hafizabad is famous for its rice production. The Hafizaad city grain market and Jalpur Bhattian Grain market are considered the biggest rice export centers of the country.
The majority of the population in the district 97% is Muslim, while Christians and Ahmadis inhabit the areas in small numbers with the share of 2.9% and 0.1%, respectively Punjabi is the dominant language 98.7% while other languages spoken in the district are Urdu 0.9% Pushto 0.3% and Siraiki 0.1%.
Administrative Units.
Geographic Locations
The district is located at a longitude between 73 0 -12 and 73 0 -46 east and at a latitude between 31 0 -45 and 32 0 -20 north. The district spread over an area of 2367 square KM. it is bounded by district Gujranwala to the east, district Jhang and Sargodha and the River Chenab to the west, district Faisalabad to the south, district Mandi Baha-ud-Din and the river Chenab to the North west, and by district Sheikhupra to the south east. The whole district is a flat alluvial plain divided between low lying alluvial bands and an uplands area. The district is irrigated largely through tube wells as well as to a lesser degree by the lower Chenab Canal . ?The 1998 census notes that canal irrigation has significantly changed agricultural practice in the district.
Hafizabad district has a combined population of 832980, with a set ratio of just 922 females for the every 1000 males, Tehsil Hafizabad accounts for 58% of the population and Tehsil Pindi Bhattian for the remaining 42%. The district has an average 2.793 households and roughly 19382 population in each of the 42 union councils the dependency ratio is 86.5% for the district as a whole with a higher ratio in rural over urban areas. The average annual growth rate of 2.3% in 1998 has fallen from a rate of 3% recorded in 1981 between the two census periods, population density increased to 352 persons/KM from 240 persons/KM.
City of Rice
Hafizabad is called city of Rice and it is the biggest market of Rice.
Below mentioned types of rice are cultivated.
- Basmati 385
- Basmati 386
- Super Karnal
- Ery Nine
- Erey Six
- Super Fan
- KS 282
Rice in Pakistan
Rice occupies 2.5 million hectare that is 10.9% of the total cultivated area with production of 5.1 million tonnes of milled rice. In Pakistan 's agrarian economy rice plays multifarious roles. Firstly, it is second staple food and contributes more than 2 million tonnes to our national food requirement. Secondly, rice industry is an important source of employment and income for rural people. Thirdly, it contributes in the country's foreign exchange exchequer. For instance, during 1999-2000 about 2 million tonnes rice of worth 26 billion rupees was exported. The barter trade on Afghanistan border was in addition to this export. The significance of this commodity in our economy is evident from the above facts. Therefore, it is imperative to focus on the efforts needed to further improve its competitiveness in the international market.
In Pakistan , rice is grown under diverse climatic and edaphic conditions. Basmati predominates in traditional rice tracts of Punjab (zone 2). In Swat (zone 1) at high altitude mountain valleys, temperate Japonica rices are grown. In the South of NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan (zones 3 and 4) IRRI type long grain heat tolerant tropical rices are grown.
Do You Know ?
When the hindustan was still hindustan and the partition was not still done, annum income of Hafizabad just from Rice was 1.5 Crore. Peshwar, Agra , Mithra, Calcutta , Karachi , and Sukker were the main clients of Hafizabad. Up to 23 rice mills were there until the partition of Hindustan , the main rice mills were Sohna Mill, Shri Haweli Ram Des Mills, Sardar Sundar Mills , Doctor Manohar Lal Rice Mills, Rajindar Nath Mills , Seeta Raam Mills, Mela Raam Bhagwan Rice Mills, Jeeram Daas Mills , Baily Raam Rice Mills and others.
Literacy Rate
According to the census report of 1998 the literacy rate of the district is 40%. According to the fresh statistics the literacy rate is 55%. The enrollment ratio is 74%. The enrollment ratio of district Hafizabad and Rawalpindi is the largest ratio in the Punjab .
Literacy Rate
Weather
The average temperature in the District Hafizabad is 42 0 C and minimum 7 0 C. It is classified as a Luke warm city or as a hot climate area. The rainfall of the city is 790.9 millimeter with a higher average of up to 250 millimeters during the moon soon season in July and August.
Climate
The annual average temperature in district Hafizabad is minimum 14 0 C and maximum 34 0 C. The average rainfall per month ranges from 50-75 millimeters.
Forests
1162 sq km area is covered with forests where trees of Acacia, Shisham, Jujube Cypress are common.
Dress
A variety of dresses is used in district Hafizabad in villages men & women wear ?Teh Band? or loin cloth with shirt or wear ?Kurta'. Men wear Turbian or put cloth on their shoulder that is called ?Parna' or ?Patka' in native language. Comparatively prosperous villagers, men and women of towns and cities mostly wear ?Shalwar Qameaz?. There is a fashion to cover head with wool shawls in winter. The western dress is becoming popular rapidly among the young generation due to the effects of the modern communication.
Food
Food of the district is simple vegetables, pulses, meat, wheat bread and rice are the most popular diet.
In summer butter, curd and ?Lussi? are used commonly.
In winter bread of Mazie are eaten with greens. In the villages, the guests are served with ?Hulwa? or with ?Kheer?, whereas in cities custard is prepared for guests.
Language and accent
The local language of District Hafizabad is Punjabi. Although this language is spoken in different accents in different areas, but in spite of this it retains its originality. The villagers of Hafizabad use some particular words of Punjabi which generally are not spoken in other areas. Besides Punjabi, in most of Indian-migrated families, Urdu is spoken. Now Urdu is also being spoken in educated families.
Tribes and Castes
Many thousand years old caste system is still dominating the social set up of the district. This system not only affects the social life of the city but also the political affairs. Since a long time, the people of Hinjra and Aheer Caste were settled in District Hafizabad. However, Saansi, Gigray, Jogi, Rawal, Deendar, Malah, Bhirwaly, faqeer, Bhandha and Pakhiwas have also being living here among of these castes, bhatti, kharal and tarar are the major ones before partition, there was majority of people were Muslims here but large number of Hindus, Barhaman, Khatri, Kapur, Arorah, Khama and Chopra were also living here and they have great influence on the economic and social life. Sikh and Jatt were also included in great feudals. All of these Hindu and Sikhs migrated to India after partition at Muslims and different caste started living their as the result nature of caste system also change, so Hafizabad District can be divided into following areas according to castes and tribes.
Awan Area
This area is consisted of East Hafizabad , Garhi Awan, Garhi Ghouse, Kot Hashmat, Kot Qadir Bakhsh, Burj Fateh Ali, Solangi Awan, Karyala, Nanuana and Kot Hassan Khan.
Sayyed's Area
This area is situated in the West of Haifzabad for 16 km and is based on shah Jamal, Lakhi Shah, Loalian Wala, Peer Makal, Phulo Charagh Shah, Kot Mubarak and Rahgo Sayyadan.
Chattha Area
This area is based on the North East parts of the district and the Eastern parts of Vanike Road . It also includes Sultanpura, Bhiri Chatha, Chatha of Aloudin, Sooian Wala, Ramke Chatha, Chak Ghazi, Marth Chatha, Nikki Chatha and Chatha Shamsa.
Tarar
Their grandfather named Tarar, was an attendant in the army of Mehmood Ghazanvi. One of this off springs, named Nabi came Gujrat from Bhatneer (Bekanker). From his generation a person named Amrah came to Hafizabad after crossing Chanab and he settled there a village after his name that was Amrah Abad. Nabi had sever son's as a result the Tarar caste is devided into more sever branches, in Mughal period., this nation had great power. Tarars had great distinction in Farming their ratio of education is also great as compared to tribes of Jatt in Hafizabad. Over all, Tarar is an intelligent, beautiful and bold nation in Hafizabad, their major centers are Kolo Tarar , Vanike Tarar, Muzaffar and Solpur.
Kharal
Kharal is the most populated nation in Hafizabad. Apparently, they are known as Jatt but basically they are Rajput. They are from the generation of the popular Raja of Neshapur, Karan. One of the off springs left Neshapur and migerated to Punjab and fill finally reached Oach Shareef where he and his son were inspired by the preachings of Hazrat Makhdoom Jahanian and accept Islam as their religion. Kharal has 12 sons. Their generation moved to River Ravi from Och Shareef and settled there. But due to their internal conflicts, some of them came Hafizabad and started to reside there Chor Helra Phulbeer, Kalbeera, Lableera and Duluk are all branches of Karal. They are the hard working farmers occupy the largest part of Hafizabad.
Lodhi ke
According to the research of Mr. Morison, it is a brach of Kharal. But Lokhi Ke claim that they themselves are a separate nation. Their grandfather Lodhi belonged to Mozia Duvyapur which is situated at the bank of River Ravi. Later on he transferred to Sanglah. He had four sons. They all were notorious dacoit. They occupied the lands of Virks and Kinyaras and started farming there. When the Sikh era started, they populated their villages.
Hinjrah
They are one of the old settled nations of the district their grandfather was Hinyaron or Lakhat who migerated here from Hisaar and he settled here a village named Esnajab. The ruins of this villege remained here for the centuries. This city was near Kolo Tarar. The same nation populated another village Mandhianwala. Its ruins remained in near post close to Dohatta Azmat. The people of this nation had given shelter to the Bhattis of Bhat near almost eight centuries ago, but later one they themselves a were dominated by them. Nine sub castes of Hinjra are living in Hafizabad. They are very efficient farmers. A large numbers of them has migrated to District Vahari from here.
Chatha
There was a time when this nation was the mowst influential nation of this district. They are resding in the Northern East of Hafizabad. According to a tradition, they belonged to the generation of Chuhan Rajput and Raja Parthi Rai one of their grand son was Chatha. Generally they are considered Jatt.
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