Dera Ghazi Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dera Ghazi Khan
ڈیرہ غازی خان
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City
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   Clockwise from top: Universal University Dera, Shrine of Ghazi Khan, for whom the city is named, Dera Ghazi Khan International Airport
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 Dera Ghazi Khan
Location in Punjab, Pakistan
Dera Ghazi Khan
Location in Pakistan
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Punjab |
| Division | Dera Ghazi Khan |
| District | Dera Ghazi Khan |
| Foundation of Old City | 1474 |
| Foundation of New City | 1910 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| Area | |
| • City | 70 km2 (30 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 11,294 km2 (4,361 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 123 m (404 ft) |
| Population
(2023)
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| • City | 494,464 |
| • Rank | 23th, Pakistan |
| • Density | 7,100/km2 (18,300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | +6 |
| Postal code |
32200
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| Dialling code | 064 |
| Acronym | DGK |
| Demonym | Digerian, Sulemani Balochs |
Dera Ghazi Khan (Urdu: ڈیرہ غازی خان), often called D.G. Khan, is a city in the southwestern part of Punjab, Pakistan. It is the 23rd largest city in Pakistan as of 2023. The city is located west of the Indus River. It is the main city for both Dera Ghazi Khan District and Dera Ghazi Khan Division.
Contents
History of Dera Ghazi Khan
How the City Began
Dera Ghazi Khan gets its name from a leader named Ghazi Khan. He was the son of Haji Khan Mirani. The city was founded in the late 1400s. This happened when Baloch tribes were asked to settle in the area by Shah Husein. He was the second Langah Sultan. For about 200 years, from the 1500s to the 1700s, the Dera Ghazi Khan region was part of the Mughal Empire.
Fifteen generations of the Mirani family ruled this area. This continued until the 1800s. In the early 1800s, Zaman Khan ruled Dera Ghazi Khan under the Kabul government. In 1819, the Sikh Army from Multan took over the area. This was led by Khushal Singh Jamadar, a general for Ranjit Singh. Dera Ghazi Khan then became part of the Sikh rule.
After Pakistan's Independence
After Pakistan became independent in 1947, many Hindus and Sikhs moved to India. At the same time, many Muslim families who had to leave India came to live in the Dera Ghazi Khan District. Some Hindus and Sikhs from Dera Ghazi Khan settled in Delhi. They helped create a new area called Derawal Nagar.
Geography and Climate
Dera Ghazi Khan is located at 30'03" N and 70'38" E. The city has a mostly dry climate. Winters are mild and dry, but summers are very hot and can be rainy. In summer, the temperature often reaches about 42°C (107°F). In winter, the lowest temperature is usually around 4°C (40°F).
Winds mostly blow from north to south. Because of the dry Koh-Suleman and sandy soil, strong winds are common in summer. Summer temperatures in Dera Ghazi Khan are often among the highest in Pakistan. Fort Munro, a hill station nearby, has cooler weather. Sometimes, snow falls in the higher parts of Koh e Sulaiman during winter.
| Climate data for Dera Ghazi Khan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.0 (77.0) |
30.0 (86.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
38.0 (100.4) |
42.0 (107.6) |
46.0 (114.8) |
44.0 (111.2) |
42.0 (107.6) |
40.0 (104.0) |
38.0 (100.4) |
32.0 (89.6) |
22.0 (71.6) |
46.0 (114.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.3 (68.5) |
22.1 (71.8) |
26.9 (80.4) |
33.5 (92.3) |
38.7 (101.7) |
41.5 (106.7) |
38.5 (101.3) |
37.4 (99.3) |
36.7 (98.1) |
33.4 (92.1) |
27.7 (81.9) |
21.9 (71.4) |
31.5 (88.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.2 (54.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
19.9 (67.8) |
26.0 (78.8) |
30.9 (87.6) |
34.2 (93.6) |
32.7 (90.9) |
31.9 (89.4) |
30.2 (86.4) |
25.3 (77.5) |
19.1 (66.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
24.2 (75.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) |
7.3 (45.1) |
12.9 (55.2) |
18.5 (65.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.4 (79.5) |
23.8 (74.8) |
17.3 (63.1) |
10.5 (50.9) |
5.3 (41.5) |
16.9 (62.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.2 (28.0) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
4.0 (39.2) |
9.5 (49.1) |
14.4 (57.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
18.6 (65.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 10.0 (0.39) |
17.5 (0.69) |
34.8 (1.37) |
21.7 (0.85) |
27.2 (1.07) |
38.4 (1.51) |
99.8 (3.93) |
87.5 (3.44) |
37.6 (1.48) |
4.8 (0.19) |
2.1 (0.08) |
19.8 (0.78) |
401.2 (15.78) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 222.2 | 206.8 | 234.3 | 259.2 | 290.1 | 247.7 | 241.3 | 261.1 | 271.1 | 283.2 | 249.7 | 220.4 | 2,987.1 |
| Source: NOAA (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
City Management
The Dera Ghazi Khan Municipal Corporation manages the city. It is divided into seven smaller areas called Union Councils. The city is also the main office for the Dera Ghazi Khan District. It is the administrative center for the entire Dera Ghazi Khan Division.
Education in Dera Ghazi Khan
Universities and Colleges
Dera Ghazi Khan has several important places for learning.
- Ghazi University: This university was started in 2012. It is named after Ghazi Khan, who the city is named after. The university is located in the center of the city.
- Mir Chaker Khan Rind University of Technology (MCUT): This is a public university that offers engineering education. It helps train skilled people for different technology fields.
- College of Agriculture, DG Khan: This college is a part of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. It teaches students about farming and related sciences.
- Indus International Institute: This is a private college linked with the National College of Business Administration and Economics. It has its own buses for students and a library.
- The College of Education: This college started in 1989. It became part of the University of Education in 2002. It trains future teachers and has hostels for students.
- Ghazi Khan Medical College: The government decided to open a medical college here in 2010. This was to improve healthcare in the southern part of the province. The college trains medical students and is linked with a teaching hospital.
- UAF College of Agriculture, Dera Ghazi Khan: This college is part of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. It teaches students about different areas of agriculture. These include plant breeding, gardening, and animal health.
- Govt. Institute of Technology: This is a large institute that offers diplomas and BTech classes. It teaches many technologies like Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and IT.
- Cadet College Fort Munro: This college is located in Fort Munro, a beautiful hill station. It is managed by the Pakistan Air Force.
- Virtual University of Pakistan: This university has a campus here since 2004. It offers both on-campus and distance learning, using technology.
- Allama Iqbal Open University: This university also has a campus in Dera Ghazi Khan.
- Akhuwat University of Engineering and Technology: This engineering university was approved in 2012.
People and Population
Most people in Dera Ghazi Khan are Sunni Muslims. The city has a history where wealthy landowners and leaders of Baloch tribes have played a big role in local and national politics. Some of these leaders use the title Sardar.
Dera Ghazi Khan is one of the oldest areas in South Asia. However, it has not grown as much as some other cities in Punjab. Studies from 2004–2005 showed that about half of the people in Dera Ghazi Khan district live below the poverty line.
Population Growth Over Time
Here's how the population of Dera Ghazi Khan city has changed:
| National Census Year | Population |
| 1972 | 72,343 |
| 1981 | 102,007 |
| 1998 | 190,542 |
| 2017 | 399,064 |
| 2023 | 494,464 |
Religions in the City
This table shows the different religions in Dera Ghazi Khan city in the past:
| Religion | Population (1901) | Percentage (1901) | Population (1941) | Percentage (1941) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Islam  |
13,295 | 55.7% | 18,810 | 58.53% |
Hinduism  |
9,988 | 41.84% | 12,989 | 40.42% |
Sikhism  |
165 | 0.69% | 157 | 0.49% |
Jainism |
143 | 0.6% | 106 | 0.33% |
Christianity  |
140 | 0.59% | 37 | 0.12% |
| Others | N/A | N/A | 40 | 0.12% |
| Total | 23,871 | 100% | 32,139 | 100% |
Getting Around: Transport
Airport
Dera Ghazi Khan International Airport is located near the city. It handles both flights within Pakistan and international flights.
Culture and Traditions
Fairs and Festivals
- Sangh Mela: This is a Vaisakhi fair held in March and April. It has been celebrated for centuries in Sakhi Sarwar. People from Jhang and Faisalabad often come to this festival. Both Hindus and Muslims celebrate it, especially during the wheat harvest season.
Local Food
- Sohan Halwa: This is a traditional sweet from the area. It is made by boiling water, sugar, milk, and wheat flour until it becomes solid.
Famous People from D.G. Khan
Many notable people come from Dera Ghazi Khan, including:
- Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (Pakistani academic)
- Farooq Leghari (former President of Pakistan)
- Mohsin Naqvi (Poet)
- Prabhu Chawla (Journalist)
- Asif Saeed Khosa (Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan)
- Nasir Khosa (Chief Secretary of Punjab)
- Latif Khosa (former Governor of Punjab)
- Amjad Farooq Khan (MNA)
- Zulfiqar Ali Khosa (former Governor of Punjab)
- Dost Muhammad Khosa (former Chief Minister of Punjab)
- Tauqeer Nasir (Actor)
- Hafiz Abdul Kareem (MNA)
- Awais Ahmed Leghari (MPA, former MNA)
- Usman Buzdar (Former Chief Minister of Punjab)
- Zartaj Gul (MNA) Former Minister for Climate Change
- Jamal Leghari (former MPA, Punjab Assembly)
- Imran Rafiq( Pakistani cricketer)
News and Media
The Daily Jang newspaper is published from Dera Ghazi Khan. Many other local newspapers are also published here. These papers are in Urdu, Saraiki, and Balochi languages. The Daily Kasak is another newspaper published in the city.
