Lahore District

Lahore
لاہور
District
Country Pakistan
Province Punjab
Headquarters Lahore
Government
 • Type City District
 • District Coordination Officer Capt.(R) Usman (15-06-2014 to till date)
Area
 • Total 1,772 km2 (684 sq mi)
Elevation 216 m (709 ft)
Population (2013)
 • Total 12,218,345
Time zone PKT (UTC+5)
Languages (1981) 84% Punjabi
13.4% Urdu[1]

Lahore District (Urdu: ضلع لاہور‎) is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan that contains the city of Lahore, the district and provincial capital. The total area is 1,772 square kilometres (684 sq mi). According to the 2013 census, the population was 12,218,345, of which 81.17% were urban.[2]

History

Lahore District was agricultural region with forests during the Indus Valley Civilization. The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that invaded from Central Asia and settled in Punjab region. The Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Madras, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas, Saindhavas and Kurus invaded, settled and ruled ancient Punjab region. After overrunning the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. The Lahore was ruled by Maurya Empire, Indo-Greek kingdom, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire, White Huns, Kushano-Hephthalites and Shahi kingdoms.

In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Lahore District. During the period of British rule, Lahore district increased in population and importance.

The Sikhs owned up to 67% of the land in Lahore District. The Tehsils of Lahore and Chunian were predominantly Sikh.

The predominantly Muslim population supported Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Lahore District.

Administration

Until the local government reforms of 2000, Lahore was part of the now-defunct Lahore Division. With the revival of commissioner system division, Lahore was restored.

Under the latest revision of Pakistan's administrative structure, promulgated in 2001,[3] Lahore was tagged as a City District and divided into nine towns.[4] Each town in turn consists of a group of union councils.[5]

Administrative towns

  1. Ravi Town
  2. Shalimar Town
  3. Wagah Town
  4. Aziz Bhatti Town
  5. Data Gunj Bakhsh Town
  6. Gulberg Town
  7. Samanabad Town
  8. Iqbal Town
  9. A. Lahore Cantonment

[6]

Language

Dialects of Punjabi

According to 1981 census, 84% of district residents spoke Punjabi language while 13.4% spoke Urdu.[1]

First Languages of Lahore district in 1981

  Punjabi (84%)
  Urdu (13.4%)
  Others (2.6%)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Stephen P. Cohen (2004). The Idea of Pakistan. Brookings Institution Press. p. 202. ISBN 0815797613.
  2. ↑ Population according to 1998 census of Pakistan
  3. ↑ "The Local Government System 2001". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. August 14, 2001. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  4. ↑ "City District Governments". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  5. ↑ "City District". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  6. ↑ "Town Nazims & Naib Town Nazims in the City District of Lahore". National Reconstruction Bureau, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 2009-02-18.

External links

Coordinates: 31°25′N 74°20′E / 31.417°N 74.333°E / 31.417; 74.333

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