Districts of Gujranwala Division> History, Industry, GEPCO

History of Gujranwala:

 Gujranwala is located in the North East of Punjab and it is the seventh largest city of Pakistan. Gujranwala is known for being the birthplace [ November 13, 1780] of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Punjab. He was born in a Haveli in Gujranwala’s "Purani Mandi" or " Old Market [ his territory included Khyber to the Jumna and Kashmir to Multan. It is from the descendants of Ranjit Singh that the British later were to obtain, under fraudulent circumstances, the famous Kohinoor Diamond. which now is part of the Crown Jewels. Gujranwala city appears to be 500 years old.

Districts of Gujranwala Division:

Once it was a District of Lahore Division and now it is a big Division with the following 6 Districts:

1. Gujranwala
2. Gujrat
3. Hafizabad
4. Sialkot
5. Mandi Baha ul Din
6. Narowal

Origin of Name Gujranwala:

The origin of the name Gujranwala is shrouded in mists of time. The first name of the settlement according to the compilers of the first edition of the district Gazette was Khanpur Shansi after an individual of the JUTT cast called Khan Shansi who founded 11 villages in the nearby area. For some reason, Gujar occupied the land from Jatt. They reach such dominance that the It seems likely that the district once contained the capital of Punjab, at an epoch when Lahore had not begun to exist.

British ruled over the city until the independence of Pakistan.

After Independence:

After the distribution of subcontinent India, all the Sikhs and the Hindus migrated to India and the Muslim pilgrims of the Eastern Indian-Punjab moved to Gujranwala.

Gujranwala Today:

Gujranwala now is an agricultural marketing center (grains, melons, sugarcane), it is also a commercial and industrial center, manufacturing ceramics, iron safes, copper, brass, and aluminum utensils. Cultivation in the surrounding area is dependent upon canal irrigation. Wheat, cotton, rice, barley, and millet are the chief crops. World 's best Quality Rice grows here. In 1951 the city was converted into the capital of the district which gave rise to the new industries in the city. The Gujranwala hydroelectric project provides power from the Chenab River. There are also rice and sugar mills and glassworks in the locality.

The city has an International Level Cricket Stadium, Jinnah Stadium also or formerly known as Municipal Stadium. Gujranwala, chamber of commerce & industry came into being. In November 1978, and the first elected executive committee (Majlis-a-Aamla) took the charge of the chamber. In all over Pakistan GCCI is one of those chambers who have their own building. The credit of construction of the chamber's building undoubtedly goes to its founders. Now apart from the chamber office, the Zonal / Circle offices of Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited and State Bank of Pakistan are functioning in the building. The city has many hospitals and several colleges affiliated with the University of Punjab.

General Information about the City:

The city is connected by rail and the Grand Trunk Road with Peshawar and Lahore. Gujranwala has a relatively glorious history.

Gujranwala, on the Grand Trunk Road from Rawalpindi to Lahore, now the third largest city in Punjab, is of little centrality, even in the provincial context, due to its proximity to Lahore; like a number of secondary cities, it has been benefitting from the spillovers of the capital of Punjab.

Situated on both sides of 'G.T. Road' which is the longest Road of Pakistan, Gujranwala is about 67 km to the north of Lahore. It takes 1 hour to be at the city by any Local Train from Lahore. The District comprises an area of 3198 sq. m. In 1981 the population was 7,522,352. Showing an increase of 29% Decade.

Famous Villages and Towns: 

The Gujranwala District includes many small villages like Kamonke, Eminabad, Ferozwala, Rahwali, Talwandi Ghakhar. The city is known as the "City of Wrestlers". It has produced famous wrestlers of the subcontinent, who have proved their skill and strength. This city is proud to attain fame in the subcontinent in this behalf with grand titles ever won by any city of the world. People are fond of food. The Hotels, Restaurants with their "Tikkas" "Chanps" "Kababs" are the favorite places of the people. In order to meet their appetite, the Gujranwala fisher department has made Artificial Fish Ponds near Eminabad, which serves as a hatchery for fishes for selling them in the market. Where they are being Fried or being served with Rice.

Major Exports:

The major exports of the city are Rice, textiles, carpets, transformers, garments, goods of glass, electric fans, sanitary fittings, surgical equipment, hosiery, leather products, metal utensils, auto parts sanitary wares and fittings.

GEPCO

The GEPCO (Gujranwala Electric Power Company) supplies the electrical power to commercial and residential sectors. Gujranwala Development Authority (G.D.A.) was created in 1989 under the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976 to establish a comprehensive system of Planning & Development in order to improve the quality of life in Gujranwala. The G.D.A. is headed by the Director General, G.D.A. The authority has two wings i.e. Urban Development and WASA.