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Gojra گوجرہ
GojraLocation within Pakistan
Coordinates: 31°9′N 72°41′E / 31.150°N 72.683°E / 31.150; 72.683
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
District	Toba Tek Singh District
Established	1896
No. of Towns	1
Government
• Union Councils	24
Area
• Total	431 sq mi (1,115 km)
Elevation	1,526 ft (465 m)
Population
• Total	117,892
• Density	270/sq mi (110/km)
• Estimate (2011)	796,087
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+6 (PDT)
Zip Code	36120
Area code	+9246
Website	www.tmagojra.com

Gojra (Punjabi, Template:Lang-ur), the administrative Capital of Gojra Tehsil, is the city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab in the province of Pakistan, and is located 30  miles (50 km) from Faisalabad, 170 km from Lahore, 125 km from Burewala, 157 km from Vehari and 20 miles (32 km) north of Toba Tek Singh. It has a history of more than hundred years, and as it was the centre of cultivated lands, the village was known for its "Mandi" (market) for cash crops. The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in Gojra.

The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the lower Chenab River, produces cotton, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables and fruits. The city is an industrial centre with major railway yards, engineering works, and mills that process sugar, flour, and oil seed. The City is also known for producing crops especially in Wheat production, as well as Sugar Cane and Cotton. Gojra has its own fabrics mills, which import and export fabrics to various countries. Gojra is home to the Govt Post Graduate College, Punjab Group of Colleges, Allied Schools (Pakistan) as well as Divisional Public School.

This city produced 112 international hockey players, the highest number from the same city, which is a world record There are several other sports teams that compete internationally and domestically, including hockey,kabaddi and snooker as well as other sporting events.

History

Pre Independence

Gojra city was established in 1896, when the colonisation of Faisalabad began. The railway line between Faisalabad and Gojra was laid in 1899. The town was given the status of notified area committee in 1904 and upgraded to a B-Class Municipality in 1925. In 1906, the population was 2,589, according to The Imperial Gazetteer of India "The business done in this rising mart on the railway, which has sprung into existence in the last six years owing to the extension of the Chenab Canal to the surrounding country, bides fair to rival in importance that of Faisalabad itself".

In 1919, following the Rowlatt Act, hartals broke out throughout Punjab, Gojra was affected by serious protests and a member of the Church Mission Society had to be escorted out of the town by loyal residents.

Post Independence

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. The partitioning led to a mass migration of an estimated 10 million people which made it the largest mass migration in human history. 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. 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. Gojra, 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..

After independence from Britain, in view of its increasing size, it was declared as 2nd class Municipal Committee in 1960. The town was raised to the status of Tehsil town and affiliated with the newly established district Toba Tek Singh on 01.07.1982. After the introduction of Devolution of Powers Plan, the Tehsil Municipal Administration Gojra came into being on 12.08.2001.

Geography

Gojra's Coordinates are as UTM : BQ74 Geographical coordinates in decimal degrees (WGS84)

• Latitude : 31.150
• Longitude : 72.683

Geographical coordinates in degrees minutes seconds (WGS84)

• Latitude : 31 09' 00
• Longitude : 72 41' 00

Geology

The district of Toba tek Singh is part of the alluvial plains between the Himalayan foothills and the central core of the Indian subcontinent.The alluvial deposits are typically over a thousand feet thick. The interfluves are believed to have been formed during the Late Pleistocene and feature river terraces.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.

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.

This 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 topography is marked by valleys, local depression and high ground.

Map visualization

v t e Adjoining cities to Gojra
Multan Jhang Chiniot Toba Tek Singh Gojra Faisalabad Kamalia Samundari Tandlianwala

Places

Places near Gojra are as following :

• Amirpur - Bahram - Bambai nawan - Bhukike - Bujianwala
• Burltonpur - Butala - Chahal - Chawinda - Duranpur
• Gahri gil - Ghaniake - Gil janubi - Gil sahbu - Goughpur

Government and Public Services

Civic Administration

The city was raised to the status of Tehsil town and affiliated with the newly established district Toba Tek Singh on 1 July 1982. After the introduction of the Devolution of Powers Plan, the Tehsil Municipal Administration Gojra came into being on 12 August 2001. The Canal rest house is the oldest building constructed during British government in 1898.

After Gojra has reachesd to tehsil status,then it has features as : It has an area of 1,115 km² and is administratively separated into 24 Union Councils.The aim of the city 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 Gojra 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.

Tehsil Municipal Administration

TMA Gojra established in 2001.Under Govt rules it was stated that TMA is responsilble for every action in regard of municipal administration. TMA Gojra Currently working efficiently in its specified domain.After independence in view of its increasing size, it was declared a 2nd class Municipal Committee. 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. http://www.tmagojra.com/

Law enforcement

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

Motorway M-4

Gojra was connect to motorway network of Pakistan on 16 March 2015, Governor Punjab Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan inaugurated Faisalabad to Gojra motorway M4. This toll plaza is also connecting Gojra to Multan,karachi and islamabad.This tool plaza also connecting this region to China–Pakistan Economic Corridor , which is further connected to China,which is game changer for Pakistan.

M_4 view

Religion and Ethnic groups

The province of Punjab, in which Gojra is the administrative seat, has prevalent sociocultural distinctions.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.

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.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. People live in tight-knit joint families, although a nuclear family system is emerging due to changing socio-economic conditions .

Prevalent minorities, particularly Hindu and Christian, feel a sense of vulnerability because of their religious beliefs. 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. 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.

Economics

Gojra is home to a major grain, Whole Corn & Sugar market.Before Independance ,this area is considered to be big mandi(market) of wheat,sugar cane and cotton.This city is purely an agriculturee land ,which fulfills its need with agriculture.

Anarkali Bazaar is the main commercial market of the city, and Sarafa Market is the oldest. Other markets in the city include thana Bazaar, sabzi Mandi and last but not the least mehdi shah Bazaar .

Gojra is also known for its custom painting business. Gojra is also known for its sugar cane and other agriculture products.

Major Banks in Gojra:

• National Bank of Pakistan
• Bank of Punjab
• Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited
• Habib Bank Limited
• United Bank Limited
• Allied Bank Limited
• Muslim Commercial Bank Limited
• Bank Alfalah
• Soneri Bank
• Meezan Bank

Land Records Management & Information System, Board of Revenue, Punjab Now "Arazi Record Center" Also Established In Samundri For Computerized "Fard & Mutation" The Office Located Between "City Thana" And "National Bank" http://www.punjab-zameen.gov.pk/

Rafiq Centre Gojra

Agriculture Products

This region is one of the best producer of orange "locally known as kenno". It contribute towards export standard quality of orange produced in all Pakistan. The majority of people living in this district have profession of agriculture and it produce several kind of agricultural and dairy products like meat, eggs, cotton, maize, several pulses, peach, guava, tomato, melon, water melon, mango, tobacco and onion Toba Tek Singh is very well known for Poultry and Tunnel farming too.

Culture

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. The city of Gojra customarily celebrates its independence day on 14 August every year by raising the Pakistan flag at every home and important Govt buildings . 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.

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. The festival of Basant which involves kite flying is an annual tradition in the city. City being decorated with national floats and lights .

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.The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad birthday is observed in the city which is often referred to as "Eid Milād-un-Nabī". There are a number of darbar and shrines which attract a number of devotees during the annual Urs . There are a number of Christian churches in the city where Easter and Christmas services take place each year.

Attire

Traditional attire in Gojra is Punjabi clothing such as the dhoti, kurta and pagri. Gojra men wear white shalwar kameez as do women but also with a dupatta (scarf). Mostly women wear burqas that may or may not cover the face.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.

Food

Gojra's 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. Tandoori barbecue specialties consist of a variety of naan bread served with tandoori chicken, chicken tikka or lamb shishkebab served with a mint chutney.

Street foods are a key element to cuisine. 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. 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.

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

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. During summer, drinks such as sugar cane rusk, limo pani (iced lemon water), skanjvi (iced orange and black pepper) and lassi are common.

Mand Barfi

Mand Barfi is a desert shop in Gojra. This Shop is very famous for it's Barfi. People visited from other cities to eat this special barfi.This sweet is made up of special and distinguish ingredients , which make it unique from others sweet.

Education

Government Institutes

Gojra's famous public institutions for higher education are :

• Government Postgraduate College
• Government Municipal Degree College
• Government M. C. High School
• Government Islamia High School

These publically funded institutions are working efficiently in their specified domain.They are producing graduates which are skillfull in various techniques and they excel in various field of life.

There is a commerce college as well being run by TEVTA in a specially designed building . This College is producing grduates which are expert in variouus techniques in educational as well as vocational level.This institute will change future of Gojra .

Private Institutes

The city also has 344 state run primary and higher secondary educational institutions, prominent institutions within the city boundry are

• The Royal School, The Dawn School , Al-Islah Model High School
• Al-Barqat School, Allama Iqbal High School , Punjab College Gojra
• Quaid-e-Azam High School , Muslim College Gojra , Jinnah College Gojra

The Punjab Group Of Colleges started classes in 2012 having programs of F.A, F.Sc, I.Cs, I.Com, B.Sc, B.A and B.Com. Gojra Campus of The Punjab Group Of Colleges is situated on Gojra-Faisalabad Road Near bypass Stop. Allied Schools is a school system ,a group of schools in Pakistan also opearating in Gojra. This school system is working under the Punjab Group of Colleges.

Languages

The population speaks Punjabi as mother tongue while the national language Urdu is also widely spoken.

The Arabic is taught in Madrasahs and Masjids as religious language. English as the official language is taught in all schools.

Health

Publically funded Govt are various hospitals in Gojra. Government funded Govt EYE CUM Hospital is also running in this area.This hospital is very famous in area because of its special services to it's patients.

There are various private hospitals in Gojra . They provide quality health treatment to patients.These are specialized in providing primary to specialized health care facilities to its citizens. These hospitals provide beds facility for its patients. In addition,there are also running private welfare institutions with specialized health care .

Sports

Following Sports are very Popular and famous in Gojra :

• Hockey
• Cricket
• kabaddi
• badminton

Hockey

Gojra contributed a number of players to the Pakistan Hockey team, including Iqbal Bali and Muhammad Aslam . When they returned to Gojra they established their own hockey teams, and provided free training to the youth of the city and created a nursery for the Pakistan hockey team and many of the Pakistan hockey team players.

The Gojra Hockey Club (a local club, has won this year's Jat Tar Singh memorial U19 (Under 19) hockey tournament, this high profile tournament was held in India, where Gojra city team competed again best of Indian U19 hockey teams and won the championship. The Gojra team won this title by defeating Amritsar Academy 4–2 at Ludhiana hockey stadium.

Manzoor-ul-Hassan (also known as Manzoor Sr.) and Rasheed-ul-Hasan, brothers were the main source of inspiration for hockey and established it in their native town. They brought Gojra to be recognised in the hockey playing nations of the world. Manzoor-ul-Hassan (1972–1982) played 154  games and scored 101  goals for Pakistan. He was given the name "Wall of China" because he was so hard to beat as he was a defender (full back). Rashid-ul-Hassan played 199 matches and scored 9  goals. He was the backbone of the Pakistan Hockey team from 1979 to 1987.

Gojra has produced 112 international hockey players.Gojra Hockey Stadium is only one at tehsil level in the country which had Astro Turf ground for the players, and several international matches have also been played on the ground. Gojra has distinct attribute that this city has mith that hockey is in blood of Gojra. Currently Pakistan Hockey team has many players from Gojra.

Hockey World Record

Gojra is very famous for its hockey love and it is said that Hockey is in blood of this City. Every person in this city loves to play hockey . This city produced 112 Hockey players . Gojra is the Only City in the World that has produced highest amount of athletes (112 International hockey players) that belonged to same city , which is world record as

• http://nation.com.pk/national/16-Aug-2012/gojra-has-produced-112-international-hockey-players

Govt MC High School Record

MC High School is very famous in Gojra. This School is known for its Educational and Sports History.Pakistan's hockey team is indebted to this school in the Punjab. Govt. M.C High School, has forged a remarkable reputation for taking children from poor backgrounds and training them to be international hockey stars.

This School produced 57 international Hockey players for Pakistan. .

Cricket

Ehsan Adil,which belonged to Gojra is a Pakistani international cricketer. He is a right-hand bat and right-arm fast. He has represented Faisalabad Wolves, Habib Bank Limited cricket team and Pakistan Under-19 cricket team. He has been selected in Pakistan's Test Squad for tour to South Africa in February 2013. Ehsan Adil had played was a month shy of his 20th birthday, when he played his first Test match, against South Africa in Centurion.

Notable people

• Tahir Zaman, Present Hockey Coach , Pakistan Hockey Federation.
• Ehsan Adil , Present Pakistan Crickter , Pakistan Cricket Board.

References

1. T. Singh$d_home&group_type=dist&group_id=332&group_name=T. T. Singh&js_pane=P-1004ba76975-10000&pview=true "Punjab Portal". Pportal. punjab.gov.pk. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
2. ^ "Gojra – Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 12, p. 306". Dsal. uchicago.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
4. Punjab disturbances, April 1919; compiled from the Civil and military gazette Canal rest house is the oldest building constructed during British government in 1898 . (1919)
5. ^ Crispin Bates, Phd (3 March 2011). "The Hidden Story of Partition and its Legacies". British History. BBC. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
6. ^ Yasmin Khan (2007). The Great Partition: The Making of India and Pakistan. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-12078-3.
7. Tehsil Administration of Gojra Archived 9 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
8. ":: WELCOME SCHOOL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ::". schoolportal.punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
9. "Hockey players honoured – Dawn Pakistan". Dawn.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
10. "Gojra club wins hockey final in India". App.com.pk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
11. http://nation.com.pk/national/16-Aug-2012/gojra-has-produced-112-international-hockey-players
12. http://www.awaztoday.pk/News-Talk-Shows/32356/School-that-has-produced-57-hockey-players-for-Pakistan.aspx
13. http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/547092.html

v t e Neighbourhoods of Toba Tek Singh
Administrations: Toba Tek Singh District
Tehsils	Pir Mahal Gojra Kamalia Toba Tek Singh
Cities	Gojra Kamalia Pir Mahal Rajana Sandhilianwali Toba Tek Singh (capital)
Towns and councils	Aligarh Bilasur Budhan Khuh Janiwala Kot Ram Chand Naya Lahore Randian
Villages	Ali Nagar Roda Angadpura Chak 284 GB Chak 285 GB Chak 288 JB Chak 356 JB Gariwal Nanaksar Rashiana Noor Pur Bhussi Kathian Chak 285 JB Chak 358 JB
Website: Toba Tek Singh District at NRB

• Use dmy dates from October 2011
• Populated places in Toba Tek Singh District