Bahawalnagar (Punjabi, Urdu: بہاول نگر), is the capital city of Bahawalnagar District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city of Bahawalnagar is the headquarter of the district and tehsil as well.[4] It is the 39th largest city of Pakistan by population according to the 2023 census. Old name of Bahawalnagar was Rojanwali/Ubbha. It was named Bahawalnagar in 1904 after Bahawal Khan V, the ruler of the Bahawalpur state comprising the present districts of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.[5] It is 262 km (163 mi) south of Lahore and about 175 km (109 mi) miles east of Bahawalpur. It is 65 km (40 mi) far from District Pakpattan. River Sutlej passes on the northern side at a distance of about 6 miles.[6]

Bahawalnagar
بہاول نگر
Municipal Committee Bahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar is located in Punjab, Pakistan
Bahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar
Location of Bahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar is located in Pakistan
Bahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar (Pakistan)
Coordinates: 29°59′34″N 73°15′13″E / 29.99278°N 73.25361°E / 29.99278; 73.25361
Country Pakistan
ProvincePunjab, Pakistan Punjab
DivisionBahawalpur
DistrictBahawalnagar
Union councils118
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Committee
 • ChairmanVacant[1]
 • Vice ChairmanVacant[1]
Elevation
163 m (535 ft)
Population
 • City
241,873
 • Rank39th, Pakistan
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)+6
WebsiteMunicipal Committee Bahawalnagar

History

edit

Bahawalnagar originally known as Rojhanwali[7] was a small settlement consisting of few huts and shacks. This village Rojhanwali is still in existence at a distance of about 1.5 miles north of the Railway Station. Bahawalnagar is located at the historic Delhi–Multan road constructed by Indian Muslim Emperor Sher Shah Suri.[8] The region around Bahawalnagar was part of Multan province of Mughal Empire.[9]

In the year 1895, a railway station was established and was named as Rojhanwali Railway Station. It was a junction between Bahawalnagar and Bhatinda at distance of 113 miles, now linking branch lines Amrooka and Fort Abbas. Before partition it was very busy junction. Trains used to run from Karachi to Delhi and vice versa via Bahawalnagar. Passenger trains also used to run from Bahawalnagar to Fazilka, Ferozpur. There was a loco shed and two institutes meant for recreation.[6]

In 1904 when Nawab Mohammad Bahawal Khan Abbasi IV,[10] who originally ruled over Bahawalpur State visited Rojhanwali the people asked that with His permission they want to rename the city on the name of Nawab, The Nawab allowed them with pleasure and since then the city is named as Bahawalnagar. With the advent of railways, 40–50 shops with a population of 100 dwelling units developed at existing railway bazar. Though this site was not fit for flourishing as the topographical features were not favorable and drinking water was unfit for health. With the introduction of canal system, it has become fertile area. The real achievement was Fordwah Canal which brought almost the entire district under the command of irrigation system. The town developed as colony town south of railway station.[6]

In the year 1900–1901, first police station post was established and in 1902–1903 the first primary school was established. In the year 1906 a panchayat committee consisting of nominated members was composed. 1914 Bahawalnagar was recommended as Tehsil and the police post Jweka was shifted to Bahawalnagar. A regular municipal committee was constituted in year 1922 along with many members. The Assistant Commissioner and Tehsildar were then appointed as Mir Majlis and Naib Mir Majlis.[6]

Education

edit
 
Govt post graduate college Bahawalnagar is the biggest college of Bahawalnagar District

The literacy rate of Bahawalnagar is less than 25% and unemployment rate is much higher than 25%.[11] As the literacy rate of this city is not quite enough but the government owned institutions are offering their services to increase the literacy rate. The sub-Campus of Islamia University[12] is also located in Bahawalnagar.

Sports ground

edit

Haider Stadium is the biggest stadium of Bahawalnagar City as well as Bahawalnagar District.[13]

Demographics

edit

Population of Bahawalnagar city.[14]

Census Year Population
1972 50,991
1981 74,533
1998 111,313
2017 160,883
2023 241,873

Administration

edit

Bahawalnagar is the administrative center of Bahawalnagar District, one of the five tehsils or subdivisions of the district, the tehsil is subdivided into 31 Union Councils.

Climate

edit

Bahawalnagar has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) with very hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation mostly falls in the monsoon season from June to September, although some rain also falls from February to April. Over the years, global climate change has affected Bahawalnagar as well as any other place on Earth and below comparison charts from Weatherbase and NOAA show the difference in rainfall and low temperatures between 1990 and 2015. The monsoon rains can be heavy and may cause floodings. Westerly waves can cause heavy rainfall and hail from November to May

Climate data for Bahawalnagar, Pakistan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20
(68)
23
(73)
29
(84)
36
(96)
40
(104)
41
(105)
38
(100)
37
(98)
36
(96)
34
(93)
28
(82)
22
(71)
32
(89)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4
(39)
7
(44)
11
(55)
17
(66)
22
(73)
26.9
(82)
27
(80)
27
(80)
24
(75)
17
(62)
11
(51)
6
(42)
17
(62)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18
(0.7)
18
(0.3)
21
(0.8)
13
(0.1)
28
(0.3)
79
(0.8)
162
(3.6)
145
(2.9)
59
(1.4)
25
(1.0)
5
(0.2)
1
(0.0)
50.5
(14.1)
Source: Weatherbase 2015[15]
Climate data for Bahawalnagar
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 29.3
(84.7)
35.6
(96.1)
41.5
(106.7)
45.6
(114.1)
48.0
(118.4)
50.1
(122.2)
46.0
(114.8)
42.4
(108.3)
42.0
(107.6)
42.0
(107.6)
37.0
(98.6)
29.6
(85.3)
50.1
(122.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.6
(65.5)
19.76
(67.57)
26.3
(79.3)
33.9
(93.0)
39.8
(103.6)
41.7
(107.1)
36.3
(97.3)
34.4
(93.9)
34.5
(94.1)
33.2
(91.8)
25.6
(78.1)
20.5
(68.9)
30.38
(86.68)
Daily mean °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9)
15.7
(60.3)
21.0
(69.8)
28.0
(82.4)
32.8
(91.0)
35.1
(95.2)
33.1
(91.6)
32.4
(90.3)
30.6
(87.1)
26.4
(79.5)
20.6
(69.1)
15.0
(59.0)
25.3
(77.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.8
(40.6)
7.4
(45.3)
12.5
(54.5)
18.5
(65.3)
23.7
(74.7)
26.2
(79.2)
27.7
(81.9)
26.4
(79.5)
24.7
(76.5)
17.5
(63.5)
10.6
(51.1)
6.6
(43.9)
17.2
(63.0)
Record low °C (°F) 0.0
(32.0)
−1.0
(30.2)
3.9
(39.0)
12.6
(54.7)
14.4
(57.9)
17.5
(63.5)
16.1
(61.0)
21.4
(70.5)
13.1
(55.6)
11.0
(51.8)
4.0
(39.2)
1.7
(35.1)
−1.0
(30.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 12.5
(0.49)
26.5
(1.04)
30.2
(1.19)
25.2
(0.99)
24.8
(0.98)
65.3
(2.57)
160.2
(6.31)
130.9
(5.15)
69.5
(2.74)
11.0
(0.43)
4.3
(0.17)
9.0
(0.35)
569.4
(22.41)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 222.4 218.9 250.8 274.3 269.1 213.9 218.3 256.6 279.3 284.0 260.8 223.5 2,971.9
Source: NOAA (1971–1990)[16][17]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Administrators' appointments planned as Punjab LG system dissolves today". The Nation (newspaper). 31 December 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Municipal Committee Bahawalnagar: Administrative Setup". Local Government Punjab. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  3. ^ "POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD DETAIL FROM BLOCK TO DISTRICT LEVEL: PUNJAB (BAHAWALNAGAR DISTRICT)" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 2018-01-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-25. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  4. ^ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Bahawalnagar – Government of Pakistan Archived 2012-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "TMA Bahawalnagar Website". Archived from the original on 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  6. ^ a b c d Bahawalnagar – Outline Development Plan, Govt of Punjab, 1978. Accessed 2017-02-24.
  7. ^ Nadīm, Fārūq (2005). Chaos: Research Articles on History and Socio Economic Situation of Pakistani Punjab. World Institute of Literature & Culture. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  8. ^ Khan, Sir Zulfiqar Ali (1925). Sher Shah Suri, Emperor of India. Printed at the "Civil and Military Gazette" Press.
  9. ^ Dasti, Humaira Faiz (1998). Multan, a Province of the Mughal Empire, 1525-1751. Royal Book. ISBN 978-969-407-226-5.
  10. ^ Bahawalpur (princely state)
  11. ^ "Explore Pakistan | Bahawalnagar". Archived from the original on 2016-02-08. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
  12. ^ "The Islamia University of Bahawalpur Pakistan – Department". iub.edu.pk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Pakistan Cricket – 'our cricket' website". pcboard.com.pk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Bahāwalnagar (Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  15. ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Bahawalnagar, Pakistan". Weatherbase. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-22.
  16. ^ "Bahawalnagar Climate Normals 1971–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  17. ^ "Pakistan's Monthly Climate Summary March, 2022" (PDF). www.pmd.gov.pk. Pakistan Meteorological Department. Retrieved 1 May 2022.

Bibliography

edit
edit