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Other Cities:
Multan
Faisalabad
Hyderabad
Muzaffarabad
Rawalpindi
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| Multan |
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Multan is a city in south central
Punjab province. It is built just east of the Chenab River. About
966 km from Karachi and more or less right in the center of the
country lie the ancient city of Multan. Multan, the 'City of Pirs
and Shrines' is a prosperous city of bazaars, mosques, shrines
and superbly designed tombs.
A circular road around the rampart gave access to the city through
thirteen gates. Some of the imposing structures of these gates
are still preserved. In the bazaars of the Old City one still
comes across tiny shops where craftsmen can be seen busy turning
out master-pieces in copper, brass, silver as well as textiles
in the traditional fashion.
The old city has narrow colorful bazaars full of local handicrafts
and narrow winding lanes. There are many places of historical,
cultural and recreational interest in the city. Multan is a commercial
and industrial center, it is connected by road a rail with Lahore
and Karachi and by air with Karachi, Quetta, and Faisalabad. Industries
include fertilizer, soap, and glass factories; foundries; cotton,
woolen and silk textile mills; flour, sugar and oil mills; and
a large thermal-power station. |
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Multan Qila |
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Multan Bazar |
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It is famous for its handicrafts (ceramics and
camel-skin work) and cottage industries. There are hospitals,
public gardens, and several colleges affiliated with the University
of the Punjab. The University of Multan was established in 1975.
Large, irregular suburbs have grown outside the old walled town,
and two satellite towns have been set up. The numerous shrines
within the old city offer impressive examples of workmanship and
architecture.
The Shams-e Tabriz shrine is built almost entirely
of sky-blue engraved glazed bricks. That of Shah Rukn-e Alam (Tughlaq
period) has one of the biggest domes in Asia. The shrine of Sheikh
Yusuf Gardez is masterpiece of the Multani style. Other shrines
include the Pahladpuri Temple and the Idgah Mosque (1735).
Mangoes of Shujabad district are the best in the world. Multani
khussa (shoes); embroidered clothes for ladies; embroidered cholas
for men; earthenware pottery, painted potter, camel skin ware
(e.g. lamps); carpets wooden products, especial lacquered wood.
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| Faisalabad |
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Until 1979 Faisalabad was formerly
known LYALLUPUR. It is a city and division of Punjab province.
It is connected by air, rail and road with Multan and Lahore and
by air with Lahore and Karachi. When founded in 1890, it was named
after Sir Charles James Lyall, lieutenant governor of the Punjab,
It became headquarters of the Lower Chenab colony and in 1898
was incorporated as a municipality. Industries produce chemical
fertilizer, synthetic fibers, drugs and pharmaceuticals, canned
products, ghee (clarified butter), oil, soap, textiles, hosiery,
sugar, and flour. It is also wholesale Market for cloth and grain.
Amenities include two parks, several schools, Agriculture University
Faisalabad (established 1961), and a number of affiliated with
the University of the Punjab. The chief crops are wheat, cotton,
and sugarcane. |
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| Hyderabad |
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Hyderabad is a city, district, and division in
the Sind province. The city is an administrative headquarters
and it lies on the most northerly hill of the Ganjo Takkar ridge,
just east of the Indus River. The third largest city in Pakistan,
it is a communications center, connected by rail with Peshawar
and Karachi and with Indian railways via the border towns of Khokhrapar
and Munabao.
Founded in 1768 on the site of the ancient town of Nirun-Kot by
Ghulam Shah Kalhora, the saintly ruler of Sind, it was named after
the prophet Mohammed's son-in-law, Ali, also known as Haydar.
It remained the capital of Sind under the Talpur rulers, who succeeded
the Kalhoras, till 1843 when, after the nearby battles of Miani
and Dabo, it surrendered to the British and the capital was transferred
to Karachi.
Incorporated as a municipality in 1853, it is an
important commercial and industrial center. Economic activities
include textile, sugar, cement, and hosiery mills, manufacture
of glass, soap, ice, paper, and plastics. 'There are hide tanneries
and sawmills. |
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Ornamented silks, silver-work and gold-work, and
lacquerware are also produced. Noteworthy antiquities include
the tombs of the Kalhora and Talpur ruler, palaces of the former
amirs of Sind, and a for (built 1782). Newly developed settlements
and industrial estates surround the congested old city area. Characteristic
of the city is badgirs (wind-catchers) fixed to housetops to catch
sea breezes during the hot season. A hospital, municipal gardens,
zoo, sports stadium, and several literary societies are in the
city. The Ghulam Mohammed (Kotri_ Barrage, including a lock to
facilitate river traffic, provides flood control. The University
of Sind with 32 affiliated colleges, founded in 1947 in Karachi
and moved to Hyderabad in 1951, lies across the Indus. Other education
needs are served by numerous government colleges, the Liaqat Medical
College, and specialized vocational institutions.
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| Muzaffarabad |
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Situated at the confluence of the Jhelum and the Neelum rivers.
Surrounded by mountains, it looks like a walled town. It is the
administrative capital of Azad Kashmir. Behind the Secretariat to
the east is a road climbing above the town from where one can walk
upto Pir Chinasi at 2,900 meters with good views of the Jhelum Valley
and the higher mountains above the Neelum to the north. From the
cool on the Abbottabad Road, you can walk along the ridge looking
over the Jhelum and Kunhar rivers.
Past the Red fort, crossing Neelum river at Ghori,
a few km way is 'Makra mountain' 3,890 meters which is visible
from Muzaffarabad and continues on to Shogran in the Kaghan Valley.
This is a superb short trek, although you need to camp overnight
halfway.
The upper Jhelum valley makes another interesting scenic excursion
from Muzaffarabad. Follow the Jhelum upstream, taking the road
beneath the Domel Bridge. This was the old route to Srinagar.
The valley is broad with raised terraces above the river. |
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maize are widely grown. Some 10 kms out of Muzaffarabad the river
widens to from a small lake. A landslide created this some years
ago. There is a small Angler's Hut here, which makes a pleasant
picnic spot. It is possible to take boats out on the river. Book
through the Tourist Department in Muzaffarabad.
The city was founded by Sultan Muzaffar Khan of
Bamba dynasty and was the seat of an independent State for quite
a long period under his successors. The city is now a combination
of old and knew buildings and a blend of different cultures and
languages. It has besides official buildings; farms, parks and
the historic forts standing on the banks of the Neelum, Muzaffarabad,
Mirpur, Rawlakot and Kotli are connected with Pakistan by the
Micro-weave system of telephone.
There are rest houses, good hotels and guesthouses
in Muzaffarabad City where the tourists can stay. The rather sleazy
bazaar in Muzaffarabad can be explored for its walnut carvings
and its Kashmiri shawls. It is sometimes possible to get a good
bargain. |
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| Rawalpindi |
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Rawalpindi, the commercial center of the Potowar
plateau, is one of the largest cities of Pakistan. It is a glamorous
mixture of ancient culture and modern traditions. In the past few
years,Rawalpindi has grown rapidly. Modern shopping complexes have
sprung up through out the city and it now boasts a collection of
High-Rise buildings. It has grown from a mere village to the largest
city in the area.
Rawalpindi is ideally located in the foot of the Margalla. It therefore
holds the unique status of being the staging ground for tourists
from around the world.
Throughout the ages, Rawalpindi has been on the route of invaders.
The first muslim invader, Mahmood of Ghazni (979-1030 AD), gifted
the city to a Gakkhar chief, Kai Gohar. The town however, being
on the invaders route, could not prosper and remained deserted until
Jhanda Khan, restored it and gave it the name Rawalpindi after the
villiage Rawal in 1493 AD. Rawalpindi remained under the rule of
the Gakkhars until Muqarrab Khan, the last Gakkhar ruler was defeated
by the Sikhs in 1765 AD. The Sikhs invited traders from other places
to settle here. This brought the city into prominence. Sikhs lost
the city to the British in 1849 AD. |
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The British, seeing the strategic importance
of the city, turned it into a military garrison in 1849 and established
a military cantonment south of the old city. It soon became one
of the major centers of the British Indian army. In 1879, the Punjab
Northern Railway was extended to Rawalpindi but the train service
was formally inaugurated on January 01, 1886. After the partition
of the subcontinent, Rawalpindi was made the General Headquarters
of the Pakistan Army and began to grow rapidly. Today, it is one
of the most important cities of Pakistan, both politically and economically.
Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Grand
Trunk (G.T) Road, It covers an area of about 2,300 acres and has
a play-land, lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant
and an open air theater.
The vast expanse of greenery at the Ayub Park, which incidentally
is the largest park in Pakistan, attracts people from far.
Ayub Park is the most beautiful place in Rawalpindi and is full
of greenery. People enjoy visiting it. Here is a beautiful scene
of one of the lakes of Ayub Park in which water lilies are groomed.
Those who care for their health go to Ayub park for tracking and
exercising early in the morning and in evening.
The water lilly lake of Ayub park is known through out Pakistan.
It is a natural lake in which Water Lillies blossom through out
the year. |
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