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Faisalabad فیصل آباد
—  City District  —
Clock-wise from top: Faisalabad Clock Tower, Iqbal Stadium, Am-Tex Water Fountain, University of Agriculture, D-Ground Commercial Zone Peoples Colony Sector D, State Life and District Court.
Faisalabad فیصل آباد Location in Pakistan
Coordinates: 31°21′52″N 72°59′40″E / 31.36444°N 72.99444°E / 31.36444; 72.99444
Country	Pakistan
Region	Punjab
District	Faisalabad District
Autonomous towns	8
Union councils	289
Government
• Type	city District
• Nazim	Awais Asghar
• Naib nazim
Area
• City District	1,280 km2 (490 sq mi)
• Metro	5,856 km2 (2,261 sq mi)
Population (2010)[1]
• City District	4,177,246
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC+6)
Area code(s)	041
Website	www.faisalabad.gov.pk

Faisalabad, (Urdu: فیصل آباد) formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan.

Nicknamed the Manchester of Asia, Faisalabad remains an important industrial city west of Lahore. The city-district of Faisalabad is bound on the north by the districts of Hafizabad and Chiniot, on the east by Nankana Sahib, on the south by Sahiwal, and Toba Tek Singh and on the west by Jhang.

The city is at a road and railway junction, which has played an influential role in the development of Faisalabad's trade and economy. The surrounding countryside, irrigated by the Lower Chenab River, has seen expanded production of cotton, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables, and fruits, which form 55% of Pakistan's exports. The city is an industrial centre with major railway repair yards, engineering works, and mills that process sugar, flour, and oil seed. Produce includes superphosphates, cotton and silk textiles, hosiery, dyes, industrial chemicals, beverages, apparels, pulp and paper, printing, agricultural equipment, and ghee (clarified butter). Faisalabad is the site of the prestigious University of Agriculture, founded in 1909.

History[link]

Tomb of Sir James Broadwood Lyall located in Jinnah Gardens.

Faisalabad remained a semi-desert area where tribes traveled in gypsy manner. Because of impure ground water and its distance of 30 kilometres (19 mi) from any river (Chenab River in this case), it was never used as permanent residence by roaming tribes.^{[citation needed]}

Faisalabad was originally known as Chenab Colony, then Sandalbar and then Lyallpur. It was once part of ancient district of Jhang and Sandalbar, a 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi) area consisting mainly of thick forests and inhabited by wild tribes. The tract from Shahdara to Shorkot, Sangla Hill to Toba Tek Singh, was traditionally called Sandalbar.^{[citation needed]}

In 1870s the colonial era Punjab government decided to increase the cultivated land by making barrages and canals to meet the demand at European markets. This led to the canal based irrigation of the areas now comprising the district of Faisalabad. In 1880, a colonial officer, Captain Poham Young, with the support of Sir James Broadwood Lyall, proposed a new town. The design was based on the Union Jack, with eight roads radiating from a large clock tower in the centre. The eight roads developed into eight separate bazaars. The construction of artificial canals allowed the surrounding areas to be irrigated. The town grew rapidly as people were invited with promises of land. A large number of settlers came from different areas of Punjab especially from Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Ambala on the promise of large agricultural lands. With the extensively planned distribution of land the canal irrigated areas of Sandal Bar soon became populated. This led to a rapid transformation of the nomadic environment of the Bar into a more agriculture based one.^{[citation needed]}

In 1892 the government of India decided to join Faisalabad (then Lyallpur) with a rail link to major rail network to transport agricultural surplus to the ports to be shipped to European markets. In 1895 the rail link between Wazirabad and Lyallpur was completed. In 1896, Lyallpur was given the status of a tehsil of the Jhang District, and its administration was carried on in tents on the old Theh (Mound) of Pucca Mari near Tariqabad. The majestic Clock Tower was constructed out of the funds raised by the Sikh landowners, who collected it at a rate of Rs. 18 per square of land. The fund thus raised was handed over to the Town Committee, which undertook to complete the project.^{[citation needed]}

Pakistan Railways locomotive parked at Lyallpur Railway Station c. 1949

By 1902 the population of the town exceeded 4,000, including the new sialkoti jutts, particularly Bajwas, Kalloos, Cheemas & Chattas came to establish the agriculture land of Chenaab (called Chena bar). Houses and shops had been constructed to cater to the ordinary needs of the population. In 1903 it was decided to establish an agricultural college. In 1904 the new district of Lyallpur was constituted, composed of the tehsils of Lyallpur, Samundri and Toba Tek Singh, with a subtehsil at Jaranwala which later became a full tehsil. By 1906, the district headquarters began to function in Lyallpur and all the bazaars and settlements within the bounds of a ring road were nearing completion. The city began to spread outside the circular road. The Town Committee was upgraded to a Municipal Committee in 1909 and the Deputy Commissioner was appointed as its first chairman. In 1916, the grain market saw its shops surging with customers. In the same year the civil hospital was expanded. With the advent of World War II, there was an increase in political awareness across the city. Revolutionary meetings were held, fiery speeches made, and slogans written on walls.^{[citation needed]}

The First Colonisation officer Raja Aurangzeb Khan made sure that no individual in this district owned more than 25 squares (625 acres (2.53 km²)) of land. The merit or method of allotting the land was to check each individual's hand who was applying for some land, and if the hands showed that individual had worked hard in the past, only then was land given to him, which has led to a district where there aren't any big land owners, as the land has been equally distributed amongst hard working men and it is their hard work that has led to Faisalabad becoming the third richest district in Pakistan.^{[citation needed]}

The main roads in and out of the city were kept 1-acre (4,000 m²) wide; since creation of Pakistan a lot of roads have been taken over by land mafia. Some industrial areas were kept on the East of the main canal which is present-day People's Colony and Madina town. The urban areas were kept to the west of the canal, as sweet ground water flowed from the canal to the river Chenab, the consequence of changing former industrial area into urban areas has been a lack of proper drinkable water for those living in peoples colony and Madina town. Another industrial area was developed at the west end of town, now around the road towards the central Punjab town of Sargodha.

These earlier development of industrial areas led to industrialization of the city of Faisalabad right from its inception. Initial industrial setup were related to cotton and basic textiles, still the most dominant industry of the city with more value added products. Besides textiles food processing, grain crushing and small chemical industry was established in the pre-second World War era.

The prestigious Chenab Club, a social club built during the reign of the British Empire

In 1943, Mohammad Ali Jinnah came to Lyallpur and addressed a gathering of over 2 million in Dhobi Ghat Grounds.

After independence, the city of Lyallpur enjoyed considerable development, and became a major commercial and industrial center. The population grew quickly past one million. There was an expansion of the provision of health and education in the city. In 1977, the name of the city was changed to "Faisalabad" (City of Faisal), in honour of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who was held in high regard in Pakistan. In 1985, the district was upgraded to a division with the new districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.

Geography and climate[link]

Faisalabad stands in the rolling flat plains of northeast Punjab, between longitude 73°74 East, latitude 30°31.5 North, with an elevation of 184 metres (604 ft) above sea level. The city proper covers an area of approximately 1,230 square kilometres (470 sq mi), while the district covers more than 16,000 square kilometres (6,200 sq mi).

There are no natural boundaries between Faisalabad and adjoining districts. The Chenab River flows about 30 km (19 mi) to the north-west while the River Ravi meanders about 40 km (25 mi) south-east of the city. The lower Chenab canal is the main source of irrigation water, which meets the requirements of 80% of cultivated land. The soil of Faisalabad comprises alluvial deposits mixed with loess having calcareous characteristics, making it very fertile.

Due to its high evapotranspiration, Faisalabad features an arid climate. The climate of the district can see extremes, with a summer maximum temperature 50 °C (122 °F) and a winter temperature of −2 °C (28 °F). The mean maximum and minimum temperature in summer are 39 °C (102 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F) respectively. In winter it peaks at around 17 °C (63 °F) and 6 °C (43 °F) respectively. The summer season starts from April and continues until October. May, June and July are the hottest months. The winter season starts from November and continues until March. December, January and February are the coldest months. The average yearly rainfall lies only at about 300 mm (12 in) and is highly seasonal with approximately half of the yearly rainfall in the two months July and August.

Destinations from Faisalabad

	Chenab	Chiniot	Sheikhupura
	Jhang		Lahore
		Faisalabad    East
	Gojra	Sahiwal	Okara

Economy[link]

Agricultural exports form an important part of Faisalabad's economy

A PricewaterhouseCoopers study released in 2009, surveying the 2008 GDP of the top cities in the world, calculated Faisalabad's GDP (PPP) at $55 billion. The city was third behind Karachi ($78 billion) and Lahore ($60 billion). Faisalabad's GDP is projected to rise to $87 billion in 2025 at a growth rate of 5.7%, higher than the growth rates of 5.5% and 5.6% predicted for Karachi and Lahore.^[2]

Faisalabad has a strong industrial base including textiles, jewellery, home furniture, and pharmaceuticals, assisted by the expanding transport network which includes newly built motorway and highways to Lahore, Multan, Sargodha and Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Faisalabad is one of the three planned cities of the country.^{[citation needed]} The eight bazaars of the city each have different types of markets and goods.

The State Life Building - Faisalabad Zone

Before Pakistan's independence there were only five industrial units in Faisalabad; now there are numerous textile mills, engineering units and chemical and food processing units. Other industries include hosiery, carpets and rugs, nawar and lace, printing and publishing, and pharmaceutical products. There are also several thousand household industries, including some 60,000 power loom factories. The richest man of Pakistan and the owner of MCB belongs to this city. Local companies include Sitara group, Manno group (Rafhan foods), Crescent group, and Ibrahim group (owner of Allied Bank). Karachi and Faisalabad have the highest population growth rate in Pakistan.^{[citation needed]}

The textile industry of Faisalabad constitutes more than 65% of the textile export market of Pakistan, which itself forms 58% of total exports from Pakistan. This makes Faisalabad’s share of total exports from Pakistan more than 40%.^[3]

Shopping malls are springing up in the city to meet the needs of a trendier generation

The district is unparalleled for its agricultural productivity.^{[citation needed]} The area grew in importance as the grain belt of the Punjab during the wake of colonisation. This led to the economic development of towns and villages within the district. Faisalabad's major export crops include the Kharif crops which include maize, rice, sugarcane and bajra as well as the Rabi crops which include wheat, barley, gram and fodder (locally known as barseen). In addition to these, there are Zaid Kharif and Zaid Rabi crops. Zaid Kharif crops are toria, raiya, sarsoon and Zaid Rabi crop is tobacco. The use of tractors is becoming popular and is fast replacing the conventional ploughs. Improved varieties of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides have greatly increased per-acre yield and with that the prosperity of the peasant community which has toiled for three generations to transform a barren land into verdant fields. The Faisalabad district is famous for its fruit production. Important fruits are oranges, bananas, apples, sugarcanes, tangerines, fruiter, mangos, guava and Faalsa. The total area under fruit orchards is 34,517 acres (13,969 ha).^{[citation needed]}

Establishment of a dry port at Gatti, a few kilometers away from the main city has greatly boosted economic activities in Faisalabad by facilitating direct imports and exports of goods and cargo.^{[citation needed]}

The rise of the middle class as a result of economic boom in the past decade has led to the construction of major malls and shopping plazas amid investment from the United Arab Emirates as well as many European firms. Faisalabad has been called the "Manchester of Pakistan" because it has a major impact on the economy of Pakistan. The city generates 25% revenue for the trade and commerce activity of Pakistan.

Besides traditional industrial base of Faisalabad, the city has diversified a lot in other commercial activities. Banking sector has gained a lot of ground in the economy of Faisalabad. All the local and National banks have their regional corporate banking head offices in Faisalabad. A number of international banks like City Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclay's Bank, HSBC have their commercial banking operation in Faisalabad. In addition to banking, insurance sector has boomed. State Life Insurance, Eastern federal Union Insurance, Jubilee Insurance, AIG Insurance are a few to name as the major player in Faisalabad.

Education has stepped up as another major contributor to the economy of the city. Rise of a few good universities, many good professional schools and primary and secondary education schools by private sector has contributed a lot not only to the education sector but also to the economy of the city.

Faisalabad Chamber Of Commerce and Industries plays a vital role in the development of commerce and industry in Faisalabad. Established in 1975, the organization has been able to achieve several milestones for commercial and industrial development. Promote trade, industry and profession so as to achieve sustainable all round economic growth of Faisalabad plus Deal with concerns, issues and problems of the business community and effectively resolve the same. And create a proactive partnership between government and business community (locally, nationally and globally).

Faisalabad is home to the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, a body that represents the textile industry of Pakistan at all national and international forums. Mian Muhammad Mansha, an industrialist from Faisalabad has remained the chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association for a decade.

Government[link]

An outer view of Administrative Block of Central Jail Faisalabad, Pakistan in October 2011

Faisalabad district formerly consisted six sub-divisions: Faisalabad City, Faisalabad Sadr, Chak Jhumra, Samundri, Jaranwala, and Tandlianwala. In 2005, Faisalabad was reorganised as a City-District composed of eight autonomous towns:^[4]

1. Lyallpur Town
2. Madina Town
3. Jinnah Town
4. Iqbal Town
5. Chak Jhumra Town
6. Jaranwala Town
7. Samundri Town
8. Tandlianwala Town

City of Faisalabad is governed by the City District Government, chaired by the district coordination officer Naseem Sadiq. Since 2009 the government of Punjab has revived the colonial draconian system of commissionaire and enacted a commissionaire for Faisalabad. This has reduced the City District Government power, severely hindering the process of transfer of power to grass-root level.

Sister cities[link]

City	Region	Country	Year
Manchester	England	United Kingdom	1997
Kobe	24px Hyōgo Prefecture	Japan	2000
Los Angeles	California	United States	2009
Wuhan	Hubei	China	1986
Saint Petersburg	Saint Petersburg1	Russia	1962
Córdoba	Andalusia	Spain	1986
Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh	India	1970

^1 Federal City of Russia

Demographics[link]

The city of Faisalabad carried out a census in March 1981 which showed the population of Faisalabad city as 1,092,000, which indicates that growth rate of Faisalabad city is only 3.37 percent per annum. In April 1981 the survey was carried out again which recorded the population to 1,232,000 which made the growth rate approximately 4.6%. Given this growth rate, the population at the end of 1981 was estimated to be 1,240,000.

The emergence of Faisalabad as a major agriculture and industrial center created a great increase in the city's population. From a population of 69,930 in 1941, it rose to 179,000 in 1951, an increase of 152.2% this was mainly due to the settlement of Muslim refugees from East Punjab and Haryana who came from India and settled in Faisalabad. The population rose to a future figure of 425,248 in 1961, an increase of 137.4%. Faisalabad became a record in the demographic history for Pakistan by registering an overall population increase of 508.1% between 1941 and 1961. This record has never been matched by the largest city of Pakistan.^[5] In the 1998 census the city population was recorded as 2,009,000, growing at a rate of 21.3% per annum.^[6] According to the World Gazetteer, the estimate of the city is expected to have reached 5,000,000 in 2010.^[7]

Punjabi and Saraiki are the main languages of Faisalabad, although Urdu is the primary language of a sizable population. Punjabi, Saraiki and Urdu are equally understood and spoken, whereas English is the language of commerce, business and law.

The religion of a majority of Faisalabadites is Islam with small minorities of Sikhs, Christians and Ahmadis. Majority of Muslims belong to Sunni Hanafi school of thought with sizable population of Shiites.

Language[link]

Punjabi is the native language of the province and is the most widely spoken language in Faisalabad. Punjabi is the primary means of communication in both the city and adjoining rural areas. Punjabi has no official status in Faisalabad and some Punjabi activists have raised demands for recognition of Punjabi. English has become increasingly popular with educated and younger people due to its official status in government and preferred language status for business. Many Punjabi speakers in Faisalabad are known as Majha Dialect Of Punjabi. According to the 1998 census, 74% of the population are Punjabis; 20.2% are Urdu speakers and the Seraikis, at 5.4%.

Flora and fauna[link]

The Ravi River flows on the eastern and the Chenab River on the western boundary of the district. No other river passes through it. Floods are caused by the overflow of the Ravi on account of heavy rains in its catchment areas during the monsoon. Floods are a recurrent feature since the rivers cannot hold the vast amount of water flowing from the northern areas to the south of the country. These floods cause extensive damage to crops and villages periodically. The provincial government is proposing dams and barrages to control the flow of water in the future. However, local settlements are not keen on this idea.

The wildlife of the district includes foxes, boars, jackals and wild cats. Among the birds there are usually partridges, pigeons, doves, tilliars, lal menas, bias, parrots, quails, pochards, mallards and teals.

Culture[link]

A new mall currently in development on Sitiana Road

The McDonald's branch near D Ground

Compared to its more tourist-attractive provincial capital, Lahore, Faisalabad is basically an industrial and agricultural city. It is the largest business city in Punjab and it is a region for investment and economic prosperity. Textiles generate the best business in this city. There is a selection of sites and tourist attractions; however, even with such fast growth the country lacks historical significance since it was developed mostly in the last hundred years. The Faisalabad Clock Tower, locally called "Ghanta Ghar", was one of the first main market of Faisalabad and it is the oldest area of the city. Here one can find the remains of buildings which mainly belonged to the British Raj. This market has eight bazaars, forming a "Union Jack" (British flag), which can be seen from above. There are still structures from previous settlements such as Zoroastrian temples, Buddhist monasteries, Hindu mandirs and Sikh gurudwaras still visible, however, since the creation of Pakistan these have been converted into schools and museums. "D Ground" is the second most important market after Ghenta Ghar. The area has been continually developing into a shopping area with many brands from all over the world. It is seen at its busiest at night when local people come out for an outing. There are many local and western restaurants ranging from Namwah Chinese, Bundu Khan, KFC, Al Maida, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden, Sardines, Yummy 36, Cube and many open-air barbecues.

The Jinnah Garden is probably the best known park in Faisalabad. It is locally known as "Company Baagh". The tomb of Sir James Broadwood Lyall is here. He was the founder of this city and the city was first named Lyallpur in his honour. There are many food outlets, walking paths and cycling lanes, and a huge fountain structure. The park is often used by the local council for rallies, concerts, shows and melas. Getwala Park is a small park situated on the edge of Faisalabad. It is popular for family picnics and relaxing. Canal Park is on the west bank of the Rakh Branch Canal. It is also a good place for families.

The are several water parks, incorporating swimmings pools, slides and similar facilities, as well as an amusement park located near the Iqbal Stadium.

Rex City is a shopping mall that specialises in computer-related merchandise. Kohinoor One is another mall, serving more general requirements.

The Chenab Club is a social club in Jinnah Garden. It was the first such club in Faisalabad, being established in 1910. It is used by the elite society of Faisalabad.

Faisalabadi cuisine is very much Punjabi cuisine. The samosas of Faisalabad are different from any others because here you can get the chatani variety. The very famous name Chacha Samosay Wala is in the D Ground and Babar Chowk. Dahi Bhale is prepared by a Thele Wala at Jinnah Coloney, near Chatri Wala Ground. Gol Gappay are basically made with flour into a ball shape and filled with black grams, onions, potatoes and other supplements. The most famous is a person who sells gole gappe on tehla in the start of the AminPur bazaar. A sour drink called "khatta" is served with them. Biryani and pulao are very popular. Jehangir's Murgh Pulao is popular. English and continental foods are easily available. There are some Punjabi drinks like rabri, lassi, limo pani and sugar cane rusk.

Besides the local cuisine, Faisalabad is home to many national and international renowned food chains. Pizza Hut operates at three locations, KFC runs one restaurant and two take-away points, McDonald's operates two restaurants, and Hardee's has one restaurant. Some renowned national food brands like Lal Qila, Al-Nakhal, Bundu Khan, Bar B Q Tonight, Masooms, Usmania, Lasania and China Town have restaurants in Faisalabad. Local names for food are Sardines (a seafood specialty restaurant), Silver Spoon (for steaks and Pakistani cuisine), Real Taste (for BBQ), Namwah, Kingwah (for Chinese cuisine). A growing culture is of the Sheesha lounges and cafes like Jammin Java, Kaps and Sheesha lounge.

Faisalabad Arts Council is near Iqbal Stadium. The council has a major role in promoting the cultural activities and the art in the city. It has an auditorium, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium, named after Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan from Faisalabad, with a seating capacity of 500 people. Arts council organize many cultural events including exhibitions and cultural shows. The current resident director of the Arts Council is Ch Muhammad Asif Pervaiz, who has played an important role in its establishment and development.

An important cultural activity in Faisalabad is the culture of revering great Sufi saints. Faisalabad is home to the shrine of Sufi saints like Hazrat Noor Shah Wali and Hazrat Lasoori Shah. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan are two of the famously known followers of Hazrat Lasoori Shah. Many religious congregations (Mahafils) are set up on the 11th day of every lunar month to revere the greatest name of Sufism Hazrat Syed Abdul-Qadir Gilani. A number of Mahafil e Nasheed/Naat are held on the 12th of Rabi ul Awwal (third month of the Islamic calender) to celebrate the birth of Muhammad, prophet of Islam.

Sport[link]

A test match taking place at Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium

Cricket, a national sport in Pakistan, is the most popular sport in the city. It is played anywhere a city dweller will find a large piece of land. This is known as Bat aur Gendh. It is played in the narrow by-lanes of the city. Night-time cricket can be seen at weekends when people play brightly lit matches on less-traversed city streets, disused construction sites, parks and several grounds in the district. The oldest and only venue for international cricket matches is Iqbal Stadium. The Faisalabad Wolves, Faisalabad's local team, are based at this venue and often regional matches are played throughout the spring season which draws in plenty of crowds such as Faysal Bank T20 Cup. The ground hosted matches for the 1987 Cricket World Cup as well as the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

Other popular sports in the city are hockey, Weightlifting, association football, Kabaddi, table tennis, billiards and snooker, squash, and horse racing. Sports like badminton, volleyball and basketball have started to gain popularity as western influences have affected the locals. Faisalabad has its own team, called the PMC FC who take part in the Pakistan Premier League. The Punjab Medical College has its own stadium built on its campus to train and host matches for the sport.

The city has facilities for hockey. The Faisalabad Hockey Stadium on Susan Road mostly hosts field hockey matches for most national and some international matches. The stadium has plenty of shops and restaurants which bring a lot of life to the area. A new sports complex is being planned to host athletic and gymnastic matches as well as Olympic training for future Pakistan participation.

PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad is the city's only participant in the Pakistani Premier Football League. Athletico's city rival Panther FC plays in the 2nd Division of Pakistani Football pyramid.

Education[link]

University of Agriculture, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities of Pakistan

Tahir Auditorium at Divisional Public School & College Faisalabad

Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad Campus

The population of Faisalabad has a literacy rate of approximately 58%, with a split of 60% for males and 56% for females (all figures are higher than the national average). There are several institutions of higher education and several research centres including:

• University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
• Divisional Public School & College Faisalabad
• Divisional Model College

• Institute of Engineering & Fertilizer Research
• Institute of Cost and Management Accountants
• Institute of Chartered Accountants
• Government College University, Faisalabad
• National Textile University
• University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore Faisalabad Campus
• University of Faisalabad (also known as Medina University)
• Government College of Technology
• Punjab Medical College
• University of Education
• Punjab Group of Colleges
• Dar-e-Arqam Schools
• Faisalabad Grammar School
• Salafia University

Transport[link]

The M3 Motorway has allowed greater logistical networking for the city and transportation of goods

Faisalabad International Airport is approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city centre and is a major transit point for exporting goods to other parts of Pakistan and abroad. Passenger flights are run by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Airblue, Aero Asia International and Shaheen Air used to operate from the airport but have suspended operations from Faisalabad. Flights for some domestic and some international destinations are available from the airport. Major flying within Pakistan is towards Karachi, whereas major international destinations are Dubai, Jeddah and Glasgow.

The National Highway Authority has rebuilt and improved the standards of roads to meet international standards and improve logistical networks for freight companies. There is a public bus network as well as private coaches within the city and many privately operated auto-rickshaws and taxis to get around the city. Rental cars are also available.

Faisalabad Railway Station

There are many highways under the control of the National Highway Authority, linking Faisalabad with other cities of the country. The M3 access-controlled motorway connects Faisalabad with the motorway M2 near Pindi Bhattian which furthermore connects with Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Lahore and Multan. There is an expressway which connects Faisalabad with Lahore, Sheikhupura and Mananwala. The city is connected with Sargodha by a highway known as the Sargodha-Faisalabad road. Furthermore, motorway M4 is also under construction which will connect Faisalabad with Multan. The newly furnished Grand Trunk Road, otherwise known as GT Road, is a popular highway that links most parts of Pakistan as well as neighbouring countries. There are several bus operators that offer quick services to the provincial capital, Lahore, as well as Islamabad, Jhang, Multan, Peshawar, Karachi and several smaller localities. The Daewoo Express, Ravi Express, Kohistan Coaches, Khan Brothers, Nadir flying coach, Airport Limousines and Niazi Coach are some of the well-known services.

The main railway station was built in the 19th century by the British Empire. Today there are connections available to all parts of Pakistan including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Quetta, and Peshawar.

Media[link]

The Daily Express is the only national newspaper published from Faisalabad. (The Daily Asas used to publish from Faisalabad; it is now published elsewhere.) It is the product of Express Media Group, largely circulating in the Faisalabad Division. The Daily Express started publishing in Faisalabad on 17 September 2002.^{[citation needed]} There are other popular Urdu Faisalabadi newspapers including Daily Permanent News, Daily Shelter, Daily Awam, Daily Aman, Daily Tajarti Rahber, Daily Paygaam, Daily Business Report, Daily Report and the Daily Surrat-E-Haal.

Cinemas have fallen in number in the city since the ban on most Bollywood films. The lack of interest in English and Lollywood-related films has caused many cinema halls to close down and many owners to invest in other forms of entertainment. Punjabi stage dramas are still quite popular among Faisalabadis, and there are still some theatres operating quite successfully. There are many stars in Lollywood that hail from Faisalabad, which draws in the crowds from far and wide. Shows usually take place at night and involve a range of day-to-day topics as well as dances to many types of music from female artists.The DAWN Media Group. State-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) transmits five terrestrial and cable television channels. There also a number of private television channels that have offices in Faisalabad including Express News, Geo TV, Apna Channel and Punjab TV.

Weekly Lyallpur Akhbar is one of the oldest newspapers in district of Faisalabad. As a source of agriculture media this newspaper was established in 1933 and still serving rural and agriculture business communities. Their office is in Killa Gift Fund Trust Building, Inside District Courts of Faisalabad. Bashir Ahmad Mumtaz is publisher and editor of the newspaper.

FM radio[link]

The radio industry has expanded with a number of private and government-owned FM channels being introduced. The FM radio channels that broadcast in the city include the government-owned Radio Pakistan

Notable people[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Faisalabad test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator

Find more about Faisalabad on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Definitions and translations from Wiktionary
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• Faisalabad Government website
• Punjab Government website
• Faisalabad travel guide from Wikitravel
• Faisalabad at the Open Directory Project

Coordinates: 31°15′N 73°03′E / 31.25°N 73.05°E / 31.25; 73.05

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v t e Pakistan topics Basic topics · Alphabetical index of topics   History Ancient Stone age • Soanian • Mehrgarh • Indus Valley • Indo-Aryan • Achaemenid • Greco-Bactrian • Maurya • Gandhara • Indo-Greek • Indo-Scythian • Indo-Parthian • Kushan • Indo-Sassanid Medieval Indo-Hephthalite • Kamboja • Rai Dynasty • Shahi • Pala • Solanki • Muhammad bin Qasim • Ghaznavid • Ghurid • Mamluk • Khilji • Tughlaq • Sayyid • Lodi • Timurid Modern Pre-colonial Mughal • Afsharid • East India Company • Durrani • Sikh Confederacy • Sikh Empire • First Anglo-Afghan War • First Anglo-Sikh War • Second Anglo-Sikh War • Rebellion Colonial British Raj • Second Anglo-Afghan War • Durand Line • Third Anglo-Afghan War • Aligarh Movement • Hindi–Urdu controversy • Pakistan Movement (Muslim League • Two-Nation Theory • Jinnah's 14 Points • Lahore Resolution) • Partition • Independence • Dominion status Republic 1947 War • Baghdad Pact • Indus Treaty • 1965 War • 1971 War • Project-706 • Islamization • Baloch insurgency • Kargil War • 1999 coup d'état • War in north-west   Geography Locality Time • Borders • Subdivisions (Provinces • Districts • Cities) • Demographics • Climate • Weather records • Natural history • Archaeological sites • Natural disasters (Earthquakes • Floods) Geology Tectonics • Mountains • Volcanoes • Glaciers • Passes • Valleys • Deserts • Islands • Beaches • Wetlands • Rivers • Bridges • Lakes • Indus plain • Pothohar plateau • Sistan basin • Salt range • Gwadar bay • Arabian sea • Minerals • Coal fields • Oil fields • Gas fields Environment Ecoregions • Forests • Wildlife (Flora • Fauna) • Environmental issues • Protected areas (National parks • Game reserves • Sanctuaries) • Heritage sites • Botanical gardens • Zoos   Economy Infrastructure Planning Commission • Low cost housing • Employment • Poverty • Foreign aid • Water management • Water supply and sanitation • Fuel extraction • Electricity (Nuclear • Solar • Wind) • Transportation • Healthcare (Hospitals) • Education (Institutions) • Posting • Telecommunications • Satellite • Tallest buildings Industry Agriculture • Arms • Automobile • Fishery • Forestry • Horticulture • Husbandry • Labour force (Child labour) • Media • Mining • Pharmaceuticals • Silk • Textiles • Tourism Commerce Currency • Trading corporation • Stock markets • Securities and Exchange Commission • Trade unions • Banking (Banks) • Investment board • Companies   Government Government Executive President • Security Council • Federal (Prime Minister • Ministries/Cabinet) • Provincial (Government • Governors • Chief Ministers) • Local (Local Government • Union Councils) Legislative Federal (Parliament: Senate/Chairman • National Assembly/Speaker) • Provincial (Provincial Assemblies) Judicial Federal (Supreme Council • Chief Justice • Supreme Court • Shariat Court) • Provincial (High Court) • Local (District Courts) Law and crime Constitution • Provisional Constitutional Order • Law enforcement (Police • CID • ANF) • Capital punishment • Terrorism (State terrorism) Military History • Branches (Army • Air • Navy • Marines • Coast • Paramilitary • Nuclear) Related topics Politics (Elections • Political parties) • Intelligence agencies • Foreign relations • Jirga • Feudalism • Human rights (LGBT rights) • State of emergency, 2007   Culture Arts Architecture • Cinema (Films) • Dance • Folklore • Literature (Mushaira) • Music • Philosophy • Textiles • Theatre Community Diaspora/Immigration • Ethnicity • Feudalism • Gender disparity • Human rights (LGBT) • Marriage • Naming • List of Pakistanis • Religion • Social clubs • Women Lifestyle Clothing (Shalwar-Kameez) • Cosmetics (Mehndi) • Cuisine • Etiquette • Gun culture • Languages (Urdu) • Nationalism (Flags • Holidays • Symbols • Songs) • Prostitution Sports Athletics • Baseball • Boxing • Cricket • Cycling • Field hockey • Football • Gilli-danda • Golf • Kabaddi • Motorsport • Marathon • Olympics/Paralympics • Polo • Rugby • Squash • Tennis • Swimming Places Botanical gardens • Cemeteries • Churches • Forts • Gurdwaras • Heritage sites • Hindu temples • Libraries • Mausolea/Shrines • Mosques • Museums • Parks • Stadiums • Zoos Category · Portal  · Commons