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.
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.
Over a period of time many new schools and colleges have been established in the district and the overall education standard has improved. Recently a new school system has emerged with the name Centurion which is a great milestone in the field of education. Among all the educationists Maj(r)Hasan Raza Awan has worked tremendously to raise the standard of education in the area. The largest enrolment ratio of the Punjab is in Hafizabad and Rawalpindi. Literacy rate is 64% in males and 44% among females.
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. hfdThe 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.
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.
For the first time railway line was done from Wazirabad to Hafizabad,and for the first time the train came to Hafizabad from Wazirabad on 15 August 1895. Then next step was taken to construct the railway line from Hafizabad to Sangla Hill Junction and this section was started on 1st January 1896. From Sangla Hill to Faisalabad Section ( Railway Line ) was started on 15 February 1896. Up to Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal , railway line section was completed on 23 December 1899 and 16 April 1900 respectively.
