ImportMaster at 21:55, 24 May 2022

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Hafizabad
| official_name =
| native_name = {{Nastaliq|ضلع حافظ آباد }}
| native_name_lang = Punjabi/Urdu
| settlement_type = [[List of districts in Punjab, Pakistan|District]] of [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
| image_skyline = Greenery around jallan - panoramio.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Greenery near Jallan
| image_map = Pakistan - Punjab - Hafizabad.svg
| mapsize =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Map of Punjab with Hafizabad District highlighted
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Pakistan|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Punjab}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Divisions of Punjab (Pakistan)|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Gujranwala Division|Gujranwala]]
| seat_type = [[Headquarters]]
| seat = [[Hafizabad]]
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = District Administration
| leader_party =
| leader_title = [[Deputy Commissioner (Pakistan)|Deputy Commissioner]]
| leader_name = Muhammad Asif Raza
| leader_title1 = District Police Officer
| leader_name1 = Bilal Zafar Sheikh
| leader_title2 = CEO Health
| leader_name2 = Dr. Rehan Azhar
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 2367
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2017census"/>
| population_as_of = 2017
| population_total = 1,156,954
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1 = [[Time in Pakistan|PST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5
| blank_name_sec1 = District Council
| blank_info_sec1 =
| blank1_name_sec1 = Number of [[List of tehsils of Punjab, Pakistan|Tehsils]]
| blank1_info_sec1 = 2
| demographics1_title1 = Main language(s)
| demographics1_info1 = Punjabi
| website =
}}

'''Hafizabad District''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and {{lang-ur|{{nq|ضلع حافظ آباد}}}}) is located in [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]. Hafizabad was made a district in 1993; formerly, it was a [[tehsil]] of [[Gujranwala District]]. It is situated in central Punjab and is known for its rice industry on the agricultural side and rice industry on the industrial side and have top 5 exporters of rice from Pakistan.<ref name="PunjP">[https://www.punjab.gov.pk/hafizabad Hafizabad on Punjab Portal website] Retrieved 30 May 2021</ref>

The capital of the district, [[Hafizabad]], was built by the ''Rajpoot'', known for strengthening the administration of Punjab.

==History==
In 327 BC, when [[Alexander the Great]] invaded the territory that is now Pakistan, the territory of the [[Sandal Bar]] (where Hafizabad is now located) was a populated area. Big cities were located in the district, and many sub-states were organized here in the presidency of native Maharajas and Rajas. In 997 CE, [[Mahmud of Ghazni|Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi]], took over the [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid dynasty]] empire established by his father, [[Sabuktigin|Sultan Sebuktegin]]. In 1005, he conquered the [[Hindu Shahi|Shahi]]s in [[Kabul]] and followed it up by the conquests of the [[Punjab region]].

The [[Delhi Sultanate]] and later [[Mughal Empire]] ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly [[Muslim]] due to [[missionary]] [[Sufi]] saints whose [[dargah]]s dot the landscape of the region. During the [[Delhi Sultanate]] period, a large city was situated at the site of the present village of Mehdiabad. But afterwards, this territory became unpopulated and was reclaimed by the jungle since there was a shortage of water and later [[Pashtun people|Afghan]] incursions caused the population to leave. This situation persisted until [[Empire|Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar]]'s period. Hafizabad was formerly a place of some importance, and is mentioned in the ''[[Ain-i-Akbari]]'' as headquarters of a [[Palace|Mahal]]. Hafiz, the founder, was a favourite of emperor [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar]].<ref name="DSAL">[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V13_011.gif Hafizabad Town – Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 13, p. 5] Retrieved 30 May 2021</ref><ref>[https://www.punjab.gov.pk/hafizabad_history History of Hafizabad on Punjab Portal website] Retrieved 30 May 2021</ref>

After the decline of the [[Mughal Empire]], the [[Sikh Empire]] invaded and occupied Hafizabad District. The Muslims faced restrictions during Sikh rule.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

In 1846, Hafizabad came under the supervision of [[British Raj|British colonial rule]], when a settlement of land revenue was effected under order from the provisional government at [[Lahore]]. The predominantly Muslim population supported [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] and [[Pakistan Movement]]. After the [[Partition of India|independence]] of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while [[Muhajir (Urdu-speaking people)|Muhajir]] refugees from India settled in the Hafizabad region. Most of the Muhajirs have since assimilated into the local population.

==Geography==
Hafizabad is situated at {{convert|800|ft|m}} above sea-level in central Punjab. The district is located between 32°-20' north latitudes and 73°-12' and 73°-46' east longitude. The [[river Chenab]] forms the northern and northwestern boundary of the district. Hafizabad shares its borders with [[Sheikhupura District]] and [[Gujranwala]] District in the east, [[Mandi Bahauddin District]] in the north, [[Sargodha District]] in the west, [[Faisalabad District|Faisalabad]] and [[Chiniot District]] in the south. Hafizabad is situated at a distance of 303 km from the Federal Capital, [[Islamabad]], and is 109 km away from the Provincial Capital, Lahore.<ref name="PunjP"/> The district has a total area of 2,367 square kilometres and comprises two tehsils, namely [[Hafizabad]] and [[Pindi Bhattian]]. Major villages are [[Sukheke Mandi]], [[Jalalpur Bhattian]] , [[Vanike Tarar]], [[Kaleki Mandi]] and [[Kot Hasan Khan]].<ref name="PunjP"/>

==Administration==
The district is administratively subdivided into two tehsils, these are:
* [[Hafizabad Tehsil]]
* [[Pindi Bhattian Tehsil]]

==Climate==
The climate of the district is hot and dry during the summer and moderately cold in the winter. The maximum summer temperature in June is {{convert|50|C}}, while in winter, during January, the minimum temperature is {{convert|1|C}}. Owing to the proximity of the hills, there is more rainfall in the east than the west. The monsoon season usually starts in the middle of July and continues until September. The soil is alluvial and fertile.<ref name="PunjP"/>

==Industry==
Rice, power, and loom industries are important industries, located in Hafizabad city. Hafizabad Textile Power Loom industry is directly connected with [[Faisalabad]] which is a major industrial city in Pakistan known for its textile industry.<ref name="PunjP"/>

==Demographics==
At the time of the 2011 census the district had a population of 1,156,954, of which 584,668 were males and 572,188 females. Rural population is 754,225 while the urban population is 402,729. [[Punjabi Muslims|Islam]] is the predominant religion with 99.10% of the population while [[Christianity in Punjab, Pakistan|Christians]] are 0.73% of the population.<ref name="2017census">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/content/district-wise-results-tables-census-2017|title=District Wise Results / Tables (Census - 2017)|website=www.pbscensus.gov.pk|publisher=[[Pakistan Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>

At the time of the 2017 census, 96.29% of the population spoke [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and 2.23% [[Urdu]] as their first language.<ref name="2017census" />

According to the 1998 census, the district had a population of 832,980, of which 26.73% were urban.<ref name="PunjP" />

==Education==

Sub campuses of [[Sargodha]] University, and [[Virtual University of Pakistan]] and [[Government College University Faisalabad]] are established in the city.

Hafizabad has many colleges, including [[Punjab College]], [[Superior College]] and [[KIPS College]]. All these colleges offer a wide range of certificate and degree programs.

The education level is quite good as these colleges bring positions in [[University of the Punjab]].


==Politics==
District has nomination in [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] and [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab]] as prior to [[2017 Census of Pakistan]], Hafizabad District had two national assembly and three provincial assembly seats that has been changed into one and only MNA with three MPA. [[NA-87 (Hafizabad)]] is newly created constituency that has 684,447 votes, [[Chaudhary Shoukat Ali Bhatti]] won the [[2018 Pakistani general election|2018 election]] on [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf|PTI]] ticket from this constituency against [[Saira Afzal Tarar]] who was contesting from [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PMLN]] side.<ref>[https://www.geo.tv/election/NA-87 Shaukat Ali Bhatti (Winner) - Results of 2018 election -Hafizabad] Geo TV News website, Retrieved 30 May 2021</ref><ref>[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/836400-buzdar-discusses-hafizabad-uplift-package-with-mna Buzdar discusses Hafizabad uplift package with MNA (Member of National Assembly)] The News International (newspaper), Published 18 May 2021, Retrieved 30 May 2021</ref> and [[Mamoon Jaffar Tarar]], [[Muzaffar Ali Sheikh]] and Ahsan Ansar Bhatti win respectively as member of [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://nation.com.pk/16-Jul-2018/hafizabad-electoral-contests-appear-very-unpredictable |title=Hafizabad electoral contests appear very unpredictable|newspaper=The Nation (newspaper)| date=16 July 2018|access-date=30 May 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Neighbourhoods of Hafizabad}}
{{Districts of Punjab (Pakistan)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|32|04|12|N|73|40|48|E|type:adm2nd_source:itwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Hafizabad District| ]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Districts of Punjab, Pakistan]]

Hafizabad District - Revision history

ImportMaster at 21:55, 24 May 2022