Bhakkar
| Bhakkar بهكّر | |
|---|---|
| City | |
  Bhakkar بهكّر Location in Pakistan | |
| Coordinates: 31°38′N 71°04′E / 31.633°N 71.067°ECoordinates: 31°38′N 71°04′E / 31.633°N 71.067°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| District | Bhakkar |
| Tehsil | Bhakkar |
| Elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Time zone | PKT (UTC+5) |
| • Summer (DST) | +6 (UTC) |
| Calling code | 0453 |
| Union councils | 42 |
Bhakkar (Urdu: بهكّر), is the principal city of Bhakkar District, Punjab, Pakistan. It lies on the left bank of the Indus river.
Administration
Bhakkar city is also the administrative centre of Bhakkar Tehsil one of the four tehsils of the district. Bhakkar Tehsil is sudivided into 17 Union Councils, three of which form the city of Bhakkar.[1]
Language
Following are the demographics of the Bhakar district, by spoken language:
- Punjab local people different dialects: 98%
- Other: 2%
Inhabitants of Bhakar district speak a great variety of Punjabi dialects.
- Majhi (Standard Punjabi spoken by 60%, Specially spoken in newly cultivated and city areas)
- Thalochi (Local Desert Punjabi dialect spoken by 30%)
- Jandali (Northern border area near Mianwali district)
- Shapuri (North Eastern border area near Khushab district)
- Jhangvi (South Eastern border area near Jhang district)
Other Languages include:
- Urdu is mother tongue of few people but being national language is spoken and understood by the sizeable population.
- English is also understood and spoken by few, mainly educated elite.
History
Bhakkar was founded probably towards the close of the fifteenth century by a group of colonists from Dera Ismail Khan.[2]
There is another view that Bhakkar was established by Jiskani Balochs and was named after Sardar Bakhoo Jiskani. During Mughal era Baloch tribes especially Jiskani tribe came from Kabul and started living here on the banks of Indus River. Jiskani Balochs still live in Bhakkar.
British rule
During British rule Bhakkar Town was part of Bhakkar tehsil of Mianwali District. It was located on the left bank of Indus River and was on the North-Western Railway line.[2]
The Imperial Gazetteer of India described the town as follows:
| “ | It stands on the edge of the Thal or sandy plain overlooking the low-lying alluvial lands along; the river, a channel of which is navigable as far as Bhakkar during the floods. To the west of the town the land is low, well cultivated, and subject to inundation, while to the east the country is high and dry, treeless, and sandy. A rich extent of land irrigated from wells lies below the town, protected by embankments from inundations of the Indus, and produces two or three crops in the year. The neighbouring riverain is full of date groves and fruit gardens; and in it stands a famous mango-tree, the fruit of which used to be sent to Kabul in the old days of Afghan rule. The municipality was created in 1874. Its income and expenditure during the ten years ending 1902–3 averaged Rs. 7,700. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 7,500, chiefly derived from octroi; and the expenditure was Rs. 8,600. The population according to the 1901 census of India was 5,312, at that time the town contained a dispensary and a municipal vernacular middle school. [2] | ” |
lions of bhakkar choudhary uzair jatt, choudhary nasir chattha,
Gallery
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Main entrance gate of Aman Town Bhakkar
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Thal Canal
