Wah Cantonment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wah Cantonment
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Cantonment
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Central Mosque
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 Wah Cantonment
Location in Punjab, Pakistan
Wah Cantonment
Location in Pakistan
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| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Tehsil | Taxila Tehsil |
| Established | 1949 |
| Area | |
| • City | 58.27 km2 (22.50 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 471 m (1,545 ft) |
| Population
(2017)
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| • City | 379,534 |
| • Rank | 22nd, Pakistan |
| • Density | 6,513.4/km2 (16,869.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Postal code |
47040
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| Area code(s) | 0514 |
| Literacy rate | 100% |
Wah Cantonment, often called Wah Cantt, is a special military town in Wah, Pakistan. It's like a home base for soldiers and their families. This town is part of the Taxila Tehsil in the Rawalpindi District, Pakistan. It's also one of the biggest cities in Pakistan by population.
Wah Cantt is about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the large cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It's also southwest of the Haripur District.
Contents
History of Wah Cantt
Wah Cantt is very close to the ancient city of Taxila. Taxila is famous for its old ruins. It's even called the "First University of the World" because people studied there long ago.
How Wah Got Its Name
The name 'Wah' comes from the time of the Mughal Empire. This was a powerful empire that ruled a long time ago. Emperor Jahangir was traveling from Kashmir to Lahore. He stopped in a village called 'Jalal Sar'.
Jahangir's army was tired and needed water. When the Emperor saw a fresh water source, he shouted, "Wah!" This word means "Wow!" or "Amazing!" in his language. After that, people started calling the area 'Wah'.
British Rule and Development
In 1849, the British took control of the area. They decided to make Wah Cantonment bigger. It became an important British military camp.
The Mughal rulers had a big impact on the buildings in the area. You can still see this in the beautiful Wah Gardens. Other famous places include the Wah Ordnance Club and the POF hotel.
The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) is a group of twenty factories. They make guns, armored vehicles, and other weapons. These weapons are used by the Pakistan Army to protect the country.
Military Life in Wah Cantt
Wah Cantt is a special place for soldiers. The whole area is carefully controlled. Cars can only enter through special gates. These gates are watched by Pakistan Military Guards.
To enter, cars need a pass or permit. Visitors can get a temporary pass by showing their ID card. They return the pass when they leave the city.
The city is managed by the Cantonment Board. This board helps run the military area smoothly.
Education in Wah Cantt
Wah Cantt is known for its excellent education. Almost everyone in the city can read and write. The literacy rate is very high, probably over 95%.
Schools and Universities
This small town has many colleges and schools. There are medical schools and technical schools too. Many students from Wah Cantt go on to study at top universities. They study both in Pakistan and in other countries.
The nearby ancient town of Taxila also has a long history of learning. This connection makes the area special for education.
In recent years, many new universities have opened. These include the University of Wah and the COMSATS University Islamabad, Wah Campus. The Swedish College of Engineering and Technology is another well-known engineering college. It is linked with the University of Engineering Technology Taxila.
