Gujar Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gujar Khan
گُجر خاں
گوجر خان |
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City
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 Gujar Khan
Location in Punjab, Pakistan
Gujar Khan
Location in Pakistan
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Punjab |
| Division | Rawalpindi |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Elevation | 461 m (1,512 ft) |
| Population
(2023)
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| • City | 103,284 |
| Society | |
| • Languages | Punjabi (native and majority) Urdu (minority) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Calling code | 0513 |
| Number of union councils | 36 |
Gujar Khan is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the main town of Gujar Khan Tehsil. A tehsil is like a large administrative area or sub-district. Gujar Khan Tehsil is the biggest tehsil in Punjab by land area.
The city is about 57 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Islamabad, which is the capital of Pakistan. It is also about 220 kilometers (137 miles) northwest of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. Gujar Khan is surrounded by other important cities and regions. These include Rawalpindi and Islamabad to the north. To the south are Jhelum and Lahore. To the east is Azad Kashmir, and to the west are Chakwal and Khushab.
Gujar Khan is in the middle of the Pothohar Plateau in northern Punjab. This area is known for its brave soldiers and is sometimes called the Land of Martyrs. This is because two people from here have received the Nishan-e-Haider. This is Pakistan's highest military award for bravery. The city has a main district hospital and many other health services.
Contents
History of Gujar Khan
The name Gujar Khan comes from the Gujjars, a group of people who lived in this area a long time ago. Some Gujjar settlements can still be found in the Gujar Khan Tehsil today. The modern town was built by the British government after they took control of the region in 1848.
In the past, many Hindu and Sikh people lived in Gujar Khan. However, most of them moved to India when India and Pakistan became separate countries. Even so, you can still find old Hindu temples and Sikh Gurdwaras (places of worship) in the area. Today, most of the people living in Gujar Khan are Muslim.
How Gujar Khan is Managed
Gujar Khan is divided into 36 smaller areas called union councils. The main city of Gujar Khan is managed by a municipal corporation. This group helps run the city's services.
Population Growth
The population of Gujar Khan city has grown a lot over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census years:
| Census Year | Population |
| 1972 | 24,121 |
| 1981 | 33,920 |
| 1998 | 57,099 |
| 2017 | 90,149 |
| 2023 | 103,284 |
Natural Resources
In February 2002, large amounts of oil and gas were found near Gujar Khan. This discovery was made at a place called Tobra, about ten kilometers (6 miles) from the city. The Oil and Gas Development Company is working to develop this area. This oil field could produce about 1,600 barrels of crude oil every day.
Other places like Missa Kaswal and Ahdi are also important for energy in Gujar Khan. Missa Kaswal provides a lot of natural gas daily and also extracts large amounts of oil.
Getting Around Gujar Khan
Roads
Gujar Khan is located on the N5 National Highway. This is a major road that connects Islamabad and Lahore. There is also Railway Road, which links the east side of the city to nearby towns like Bewal and Islampura. Many smaller roads also connect the villages and towns in the region to the main city.
Trains
The Gujar Khan railway station is right in the middle of the city. From here, you can take trains to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Lahore.
Buses and Rickshaws
Local bus services offer many routes to nearby towns. Smaller shuttle buses travel to the villages around the city. There are also bus services to bigger cities like Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, and Lahore.
You can also find local auto-rickshaw drivers. They provide rides for people within the city and to nearby areas.
Famous People from Gujar Khan
Many notable people have come from Gujar Khan. Some of them include:
- Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz, a politician
- Raja Muhammad Sarwar, the first person to receive the Nishan-e-Haider award
- Mohammad Amir, a well-known cricketer
- Muhammad Javed Ikhlas, a former politician
- Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Muhammad Hussain Janjua, another soldier who received the Nishan-e-Haider
- Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, a former leader of the Pakistan Army
- Najaf Shah, a cricketer
Friendship Cities
Gujar Khan has special "Friendship" links with another city:
- Redditch, in Worcestershire, UK
